Chapter 196: Only Benefits and No Harm, You Can Set Your Mind at Ease
What in the world was this?
“Eldest Son?” Seeing that no one was speaking, Old Man Wen had no choice but to call out to Wen Xiuyi. Unwittingly, whenever Old Man Wen and the others encountered something they couldn’t be sure about, they would go ask Wen Xiuyi.
Wen Xiuyi looked at one person, then at another. Only after a long while did he say to Li Yi and Xun Feng, “Young Master Li, Young Hero Xun Feng, the children at home don’t know any better. Please don’t mind them.”
“Dad?”
“Eldest Uncle!”
Datou and Wen Fa spoke up together. As for Wen Jin, he had simply been dragged into this; whether he learned martial arts or not didn’t really matter to him, as long as he had books to read.
Li Yi pondered for a moment, then said, “Does Uncle worry that Xun Feng won’t teach them well?”
Wen Xiuyi glanced at him. How did I suddenly become ‘Uncle’? Who is your uncle? Even so, he still spoke honestly, “Since it has come to this, I won’t beat around the bush with Young Master Li. As you can see, we are just an ordinary peasant family. Young Hero Xun Feng’s martial arts are superb, which we have all witnessed with our own eyes. However, this is too much trouble for you both. Moreover, these few children only have a three-minute passion. It’s best not to cause trouble for the two of you.”
Datou bit his lip, looking at Wen Xiuyi with a face full of grievance.
His father had always granted his every request. Why was he refusing to let him learn martial arts this time?
Wen Fa still wanted to try and fight for it. “Eldest Uncle, we are serious! We will definitely follow Brother Xun Feng and learn properly.”
Wen Xiuyi turned his head and glared at him. Wen Fa immediately shut his mouth; he had never seen his eldest uncle look so stern.
Tears were already welling up in Datou’s eyes. He hesitated for a moment, walked forward, and stood right in front of Wen Xiuyi. Tilting his head up to keep his tears from falling, he bit his lip and asked, “Dad, why?”
Wen Xiuyi looked at him. He didn’t know if the stubborn streak in this boy was a good or bad thing. According to the plot of the original book described by Yao’er, this boy had relied precisely on this stubborn streak to eventually become the major villain who covered the sky with a single hand.
But in this lifetime, none of them wanted him to walk his original path. Learning martial arts wasn’t bad; it could strengthen the body and allow them to protect themselves. However, even if they were to learn, they couldn’t have Young Master Li and Xun Feng teach them.
Who were these two? They were from the capital and would return sooner or later. Could it be that halfway through their learning, the master would disappear? If they looked for a martial master to teach them after that, it would be difficult to teach them properly.
Wen Xiuyi was not stopping them from practicing martial arts; he simply wanted them to change the method.
“Datou, Dad is not forbidding you from practicing martial arts. It’s just that Young Master Li and Young Hero Xun Feng are only guests at our house, not permanent residents here. This is too much trouble for them. If you all truly want to learn martial arts, Dad will find a way to get a good master for you, rather than going to trouble others. Do you understand?
Young Hero Xun Feng saved your life, and we must know how to be grateful. This debt of gratitude hasn’t even been repaid yet, so how can we trouble him again to teach you stinky boys martial arts? Wouldn’t you say so?”
Wen Xiuyi explained to Datou with his usual patience.
Datou’s tears were slowly forced back down, his brow relaxed, and his shoulders softened. Only then did Wen Xiuyi let out a sigh of relief. This stinky boy, who exactly does he take after with this stubborn streak?
Datou did indeed let out a sigh of relief. He had originally thought his father wasn’t permitting him to practice martial arts, but it turned out his father just didn’t want to trouble Brother Li and Brother Xun Feng.
Thinking about it, what his father said was also right. Brother Li and Brother Xun Feng would leave for the capital sooner or later. In a short period of time, he definitely wouldn’t be able to learn much from them anyway, so it was better to seek out a different expert.
Having been influenced by the modern trio during this period, Datou’s emotions came quickly and left just as fast. He earnestly turned around, gave a proper bow to Li Yi and Xun Feng, and said, “Brother Li, Brother Xun Feng, it was my lack of consideration. Dad is right; Brother Xun Feng saved me, so I cannot cause more trouble for Brother Xun Feng and Brother Li.
Dad has already promised me just now that he will find another martial master to teach us martial arts, so we won’t trouble Brother Li and Brother Xun Feng anymore.”
Li Yi: “…”
Xun Feng: “…”
Good boy, how can he be so easy to coax? Doesn’t that mean my showing off over the past few days was all in vain?
Stealing a glance at his own young master, Xun Feng spoke up, “Uncle Wen, it’s no trouble at all. In any case, my young master and I don’t have much to do. Every day when the young masters return from school, I can teach them the basics so they can practice first. When Uncle Wen finds a suitable martial master, it will also save a lot of trouble.”
After he finished speaking, he silently shot a look at Li Yi, with a gaze that said only one thing: Young Master, I did my best.
Li Yi also spoke up with a completely solemn face, “Indeed, Uncle. Although it was Xun Feng who saved Datou, it was merely by chance. In such a situation, anyone else would not have sat idly by and done nothing.
Furthermore, during this period of time, the two of us, master and servant, have also caused quite a lot of trouble for the Wen family. This small matter can be considered our return. Xun Feng’s martial arts originate from a famous master. With him guiding Datou and the others to build a foundation, it will surely yield twice the result with half the effort.”
Wen Xiuyi glanced at Li Yi and narrowed his eyes. Why do I get the feeling that this person just really wants to sponge off our family?
Since that was the case, he might as well see what they actually wanted to do.
“This… wouldn’t it be too much trouble for Young Hero Xun Feng?” Wen Xiuyi put on a conflicted and difficult expression.
Xun Feng hurriedly spoke up, “No trouble, no trouble at all, Uncle Wen! It’s just that I have never taught apprentices before either. If I teach them poorly, I hope everyone will not blame me.”
Since things had reached this point, then so be it. He wanted to see exactly what this master and servant pair were trying to do by going to such lengths to stay at their house.
Seeing that Wen Xiuyi had agreed, the emotion on Datou’s face instantly turned from cloudy to sunny. Even Wen Fa was so excited he rubbed his hands repeatedly, nearly kneeling down on the spot to serve tea and call him master.
In the end, it was Xun Feng who said he was only teaching them the basics and didn’t deserve to be called master, which prevented the formal apprenticeship from happening.
However, as a result, Li Yi truly was going to stay at the Wen family regularly from now on.
Although he had accepted the matter of Xun Feng teaching the boys martial arts, Wen Xiuyi still felt a bit worried in his heart. Therefore, taking the opportunity the next day when he sent the boys to school, he sought out Manager Qiu.
“Old Qiu, we are considered family now. Give a brother the inside scoop—what exactly is the background of this Li family father and son? Why do I get the feeling that they are intentionally trying to stay at my house? What does my family have that’s worth them being so fixated on?” Wen Xiuyi was thoroughly bewildered.
Qiu Zhi had heard about the matter of Xun Feng teaching Datou and the others martial arts. Toward this matter, Qiu Zhi had no objections. Since they studied literature, martial arts naturally couldn’t be left behind either. With Datou’s natural talent, he would definitely not be mediocre in the future.
Rather than letting an ordinary martial master teach Datou, it was better to let Xun Feng do it. He was a top expert from the Imperial Guard Camp, after all; as long as Datou learned even fifty percent of his skill, protecting himself in the future would definitely not be an issue.
Hearing Wen Xiuyi ask this now, and seeing that Wen Xiuyi truly wore a face full of worry, Qiu Zhi smiled helplessly.
What can they be fixated on? They are fixated on your daughter’s miraculous, exquisite culinary skills, and your family’s endless supply of rare and peculiar things.
Who in the capital didn’t know that Prince Fu was the only one among the many princes and nobles who possessed absolutely no interest in state affairs or striving for fame and profit? He only loved the desires of the palate, to the point that the entire Prince Fu Manor from top to bottom consisted of foodies.
He dared to say that if the Princess hadn’t been held back by matters in the capital this time, the Princess of Fu would definitely be among those going to the Wen family to mingle for food and drink as well.
This was also why, after having lived in seclusion for many years, the only person he was willing to associate with was Prince Fu. He didn’t want to get involved in the affairs of the capital anymore, but he acknowledged Prince Fu as a friend, and he also acknowledged Li Yi as a student.
“Brother Wen, it is truly inconvenient for me to speak directly about the background of the Li family father and son. However, I guarantee on my character that these two are absolutely trustworthy and are not bad people. Furthermore, Datou being on good terms with Li Yi brings only benefits and no harm. You can set your mind at ease.”
