Journey to the West: The Immortal Clan Begins by Feeding Monkeys at Five Elements Mountain

Chapter 19 The Wanderer Should Set Off
As the number of livestock in the village gradually increased, meat prices also dropped somewhat, no longer as expensive as in previous years.

The Jiang family's dining table then became more lavish.

While we don't eat meat at every meal, we do manage to have some oil and fat every other day.

A pot of lean pork congee in the early morning, simmering until fragrant; a bowl of bone broth in the evening, the broth bubbling happily in the pot.

The two boys grew stronger and stronger, and their sturdy frame became much more solid in no time.

In the past, I would complain of being hungry before I even finished one trip.

Now, he can only hold on for three or five rounds before he's willing to rest. Sweat rolls down his forehead and almost drips into his eyes, but he grits his teeth and refuses to give up.

The little girl can walk now, but her feet are still unsteady, and she stumbles and flutters around like a little ball of fluff.

On a sunny afternoon, the breeze in the courtyard was warm and gentle, carrying the sweet scent of clothes drying in the sun.

The two boys circled around their little sister, muttering sweet nothings they'd picked up from somewhere.

Suddenly, the little one tilted his head, a smile playing on his lips, and uttered a soft, sweet sound:

"elder brother!"

The sound was so soft it was almost imperceptible, yet it melted the heart.

The two boys immediately burst into laughter, their eyes squinting like strings of elm seeds.

Liu Xiulian leaned against the eaves, holding the dried clothes in her hands, a faint smile on her lips, but a hint of resentment in her eyes.

Seeing this, Jiang Yi's heart skipped a beat. He grinned and leaned closer to her ear, whispering something:
"My wife, don't be in such a hurry... How about we have another one?"

These words were spoken very softly, yet they clearly reached her ears.

Liu Xiulian didn't turn around; she just flicked her hand, making her clothes rustle loudly.

Once the year-end is over, the season has turned a new page.

With the addition of a new member to the Jiang family, the house and surroundings became more lively and welcoming.

During the Lunar New Year holidays, the courtyard was more bustling than in previous years.

The children chased each other, the dog chased the chickens, and laughter echoed with the crackling of firecrackers.

The adults calmly and patiently cleaned up the pots, pans, and stove, creating a joyful atmosphere.

The festive atmosphere of the New Year had not yet dissipated when Master Cen from the private school arrived.

He still looked the same, slender as bamboo, with a scholarly air in his eyes. Although his robes were faded from washing, they did not look shabby at all.

After taking their seats, they didn't exchange many pleasantries, but simply stated their purpose.

Instructor Lin from the county asked him to pass on a message.

Ask the Jiang family how they've decided on sending their child to the county commandant's office to learn martial arts.

Jiang Liang will turn six next year, and his steps will be firm enough for him to establish himself. It's time for him to lay a solid foundation.

Although Coach Lin said he was "not in a hurry" and that waiting a year or two would be fine.

But there was always a hint of urging in his words, as if he was afraid that the seedling would be delayed.

Liu Xiulian stood under the roof beam, her hands tucked into her sleeves, but her eyes were fixed on her son.

She remained silent, standing beside Jiang Yi as if with a single breath she would send her son away.

Jiang Yi bent down, squatting down to be at eye level with his son, and asked him in a low, slow voice:
"What are your own thoughts?"

The child's eyes were lowered, but a spark of light shone in them.

Coach Lin said he was a promising talent and would be able to master real kung fu in the future.

These words, though a year later, still resonate in his heart.

But when he looked up, he saw a faint wrinkle at the corner of his mother's eye.

It felt like there was a wad of cotton stuck in my throat, and the words I was about to say were swallowed back down.

I can't bring myself to say it, yet I can't bear not to.

Master Cen was a shrewd man. He changed the subject without batting an eye, stroking his beard as he said:
"At this age, there's no time to waste; it's time to make a decision sooner rather than later."

He paused, then slowly added:
"Anyway, he's reached the age where he should be. If he doesn't go to the county and stays in the village, he should be sent to the school to study the classics with me."

It sounded like proper, respectful talk between a teacher and student.

Jiang Ming entered the private school at this age.

Jiang Liang, however, was different. Upon hearing the words "school," his face fell, as if a ghost was lurking in the sound of reading.

He was naturally restless and dreaded the days of studying and learning to read.

Upon hearing Master Cen's words, he couldn't help but shrink back.

Jiang Yi could tell, so he patted his son on the back.

"Do what you think is right." She didn't speak up for him, but simply offered gentle encouragement:
What others say doesn't matter.

The child pursed his lips, but the light in his eyes grew even brighter.

He finally nodded, his tone youthful yet firm, as if reciting a vow:

"I want to go to the county to learn martial arts so that when I grow up, I can protect my father, mother, and younger sister."

These words seemed to have been hidden in his heart for a long time, carrying a touch of youthful earnestness.

Once the words were spoken, the matter was settled.

Master Cen nodded slightly, his expression unchanged, but a hint of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

He then wrote back to Instructor Lin, instructing the Jiang family to begin preparations, and that Instructor Lin would personally come to fetch them another day.

After saying that, he stood up and walked to the threshold, then suddenly, as if speaking casually, he added with a hint of helplessness:
“These next few days…you should try to persuade that kid Jiang Ming again.”

His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly carried a hint of a teacher's helplessness.

Jiang Yi smiled and agreed, but his words were ambiguous. He personally saw him off and watched the slender figure walk out of the courtyard.

After Master Cen left, the courtyard became quiet.

The wind swept across the eaves, making the green tiles fall silent.

Liu Xiulian didn't say anything, she just tucked her sleeves in and turned to go into the kitchen.

Soon, a fire broke out inside, pots and pans clattered, and firewood flickered.

The dinner that night smelled even better than during the holidays.

The night grew deeper, and the village lights had long been turned off.

Inside the Jiang family's house, a small oil lamp was still burning, casting dappled shadows on the wall.

Liu Xiulian bent over the table, sewing clothes stitch by stitch.

The fabric was leftover good material from the Lunar New Year. I had intended to save it for when my daughter was older, but tonight I used it all up.

Jiang Yi remained silent, sitting to the side, holding his restless little daughter, and softly humming a tune to lull her to sleep.

His hands were never idle; he would hand over scissors one moment and help straighten the thread the next. He didn't say a word, but he was there.

The lamplight flickered, casting the long, slanted shadows of the family of three on the wall.

The next morning, just as the sky began to lighten, the morning mist still clung to the eaves and the tips of the grass.

Jiang Yi put on his coat, got up, and drove half of the livestock up the mountain to graze, as usual.

When I returned, it was just getting light, and the sound of footsteps driving stakes could already be heard in the courtyard.

Jiang Ming was unusually serious today, patiently correcting his younger brother's unsteady steps again and again.

The two brothers were used to playing around, but now they acted like the eldest brother and father, their words carrying a sense of entrustment.

"Only when your stance is firm can your punches be powerful. Don't think about fancy moves; first, establish a solid foundation."

Jiang Liang heard it clearly and did as he was told with great enthusiasm, while still making a fuss about it:
"Brother, when I go to the county town, I'll bring you sugar figurines when I come back for the holidays! And those sticky candied hawthorn skewers, the really long ones!"

His voice was still childish, but his eyes shone like the rising sun.

To him, the county town was just a giant candy shop, both novel and sweet, full of things he had never seen before.

In just a few days, Instructor Lin from the county stepped into the village.

They walked quickly, still covered in dust, heading straight for the Jiang family's courtyard.

As soon as I stepped inside, before I could even catch my breath, my eyes fell on two figures erecting stakes in the courtyard.

The two brothers, one taller and the other thinner, stood firmly and steadily, their backs and waists like pine trees, their breath restrained, a sight that would make one's heart skip a beat.

Coach Lin's eyelids twitched, and after taking a closer look, he couldn't quite believe his own eyes.

A year ago, I noticed that these two brothers had extraordinary physiques and were indeed good material for martial arts.

However, at that time, saying that they had a chance to enter the prefecture was just empty talk and shouldn't be taken seriously.

But the current situation...

Over the course of a year, he neither went to a martial arts school, nor ate medicinal cuisine, nor learned boxing from any master.

However, he only practiced stance training diligently in the courtyard and took a cheap medicinal bath once every half month.

He managed to transform a skeletal frame into a body with muscles that adhered to the bones and a calm, focused breathing.

Compared to the wealthy young men in the county who ate well, trained early, and were waited on hand and foot, he was even more robust and relaxed.

What kind of truth is this?

(End of this chapter)