owlsbooks Chapter 9 3-Legged Stance
Chapter 9 3-Legged Stance
Even if Fifth Sister doesn't mention it, Yang Silang is also planning to go to Eldest Sister's house today.
Firstly, I wanted to share the good news that I had cleared the loan sharks so my older sister wouldn't worry.
Secondly, I wanted to see for myself how my older sister was doing.
He knew that his older sister was having a very hard time lately.
As a concubine, she had no money, no status in the family, and couldn't bear a son. She also had to go out every few days, missing half a day of work, to help her younger siblings who were victims of disaster. She even used her connections at the oil mill to get close to Master Zhu...
In the eyes of the "brother-in-law" and the first wife, it was their own money that was being lost.
Yang Silang had inquired and learned that his cheap "brother-in-law" had a bad personality, and his first wife was even worse, a person who was so calculating that she wanted to lick the jar of oil she sold.
No wonder the eldest sister's life is so difficult.
Before, there was nothing he could do to give back, but now that the oppression of usury is gone, Yang Silang, though he can't do much, still wants to do something, even if it's just to help his eldest sister's situation in the slightest.
He carefully wrapped the gift and, familiar with the way, turned into a side alley.
There were many pedestrians on the street. On the side of the alley, there was a black sign with red characters that read "Old Zhou's Oil Shop". A lantern made the sign barely bright.
Even before you get close to the store, you can smell a greasy odor in the air.
Upon closer inspection, one can discern subtle differences within this cloying flavor.
Once inside the shop, the small space was divided into an inner and outer area by square cabinets. Behind the cabinets, a row of shelves displayed oil products in different categories.
There was perilla oil and hemp seed oil for lighting lamps; almond oil and peanut oil for cooking; sesame oil and rapeseed oil; and peanut oil and soybean oil pressed by the shop itself, all stored in jars of different sizes.
Behind the counter sat a plump woman, listlessly fanning herself, while a waiter stood to the side, greeting customers.
After Yang Silang went inside, he immediately walked quickly toward the fat woman and bowed deeply in respect.
"Yang Jia Silang greets his kind benefactor, Grandma Yao!"
"May Grandma's wealth increase and may she make a fortune every day..."
"A small token of my gratitude, please accept it..."
He handed over the silver-patterned cotton he had wrapped in his hands.
This is a nice item, but unfortunately he doesn't have enough money. He can only afford this much, and it's probably barely enough to make a small vest for this fat woman, but it's still a token of his good intentions.
I must make this fat woman in front of me feel my sincerity; if she's in a good mood, my older sister will be more comfortable.
Grandma Yao did not immediately take the cloth, but looked at Yang Silang with a critical and scrutinizing gaze, her eyes still somewhat hesitant, as if she was trying to recall who this fellow was.
A few breaths later, she clapped her hands and remembered, then chuckled softly, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes as she looked at Yang Silang with a playful expression.
She raised her fan and gently covered her nose, seemingly trying to block out the faint, unmistakable smell of poverty emanating from the porter, even though the oil mill itself reeked of grease.
Yang Silang's smile was somewhat stiff, but his face was burning, as if he were an insect being scrutinized.
A thousand thoughts flashed through his mind.
I must look terrible in this humble and embarrassing state.
To become stronger, one must become stronger as quickly as possible... Even a three-legged stance is still a stance, and even if the slanted-eyed Song has some schemes, one still needs to learn from him!
This is the fastest way I can get stronger!
Yang Silang's mind raced. He was bent over, and he didn't know how much time had passed, perhaps very short or very long. He only felt that the waiter standing next to him was secretly looking at him, seemingly with some disdain.
"It's you..." Grandma Yao put down her fan, tapped the counter, and said, "Put your things down..."
He hurriedly placed the silver-patterned cotton on the counter.
Grandma Yao opened it without any hesitation in front of him, clicking her tongue in disapproval. Her expression showed a mixture of satisfaction and disdain.
"You're here to see your sister, right?"
"Hey buddy...go and call Da Ya over..."
The man responded and quickly ran off.
Yang Silang stood there awkwardly, waiting. In this fat woman's words, his elder sister was just a maid.
Grandma Yao ignored her and went to greet the customers who came into the store.
Not long after.
The curtain was lifted.
A woman with a headscarf tied around her head and wearing a coarse cloth jacket walked out quickly. Her sleeves were rolled up high, her arms were wet, and her eyes showed surprise. It was Yang's eldest sister.
This was a middle-aged woman with a pretty face, but she looked haggard, had sallow skin, and was somewhat hunched over. Her eyes and brows revealed a cautiousness, and she looked much older than her actual age.
"Sister..." She first bowed to Grandma Yao, who waved her hand. After receiving permission, she turned to look at Yang Silang, hurriedly pulled her younger brother outside the shop, and asked in a low voice.
"Fourth Brother, what brings you here today?"
"Are you feeling better? Are you still able to handle the work of a foot soldier?"
"I heard from the guy that you brought a gift? Are you struggling financially? We're still owing money to loan sharks..."
"I've saved up some more for you... don't think it's too little..." Sister Yang took out a dozen or so copper coins and was about to stuff them into Yang Silang's hand.
Yang Silang noticed that his eldest sister's two fingers were red and swollen, like several radishes rolled together, so she must have been working in the backyard just now.
He forced a smile, pushed the copper coin back, and quietly recounted the events of the past few days—the herbal soup from Caozhentang worked, his health was completely restored, his work as a foot soldier was going smoothly, and more importantly, he had already paid back the loan shark.
"Sister, I can now earn enough copper coins every day."
"I'll be able to pay back my fellow villager's money soon."
"You don't need to worry about me anymore..."
"This wooden hairpin is for you, and the candied hawthorn is for the child to have as a snack."
After hearing this, Sister Yang breathed a long sigh of relief, her eyes shining with a sense of accomplishment.
She carefully took the wooden hairpin—it was an ordinary item, but she held it in her hands as if it were a precious gold hairpin, and she seemed to really like it.
Then she immediately changed to a pained expression, and scolded Yang Silang in a low voice for wasting money. She already knew from the shop assistant that her younger brother had also given Grandma Yao half a bolt of silver-patterned cotton during his visit.
The siblings wanted to chat a little longer.
Inside, Grandma Yao coughed and said, "Da Ya, have you finished pressing the oil?"
Sister Yang quickly responded, patted Yang Silang's chest, told him to do a good job, and then turned and ran into the shop.
By the time Yang Silang entered the shop, the eldest sister's figure had already disappeared behind the curtain.
"Hmm?" When Grandma Yao saw Yang Silang enter the shop, she seemed puzzled as to why he hadn't left yet. She snorted coldly, her tone unfriendly.
Yang Silang hurriedly said that he was grateful and wanted to repay the favor. He had some strength and promised to deliver a cartload of water to the oil mill every day after work.
Oil mills are major water users.
Water is scarce in the mountain town, so these shops rely on water carriers and water trucks for their water supply.
Yang Silang's delivery of a cartload of water would not significantly impact the water carriers' income, while also benefiting the oil mill.
Sure enough, after hearing this, Grandma Yao smiled with satisfaction and said, "You are grateful."
Yang Silang bowed and took his leave, then left the oil mill and let out a long sigh of relief.
Only half a piece of silver-patterned cotton could earn Grandma Yao a moment of goodwill.
If Grandma Yao contributed a truckload of water every day, she might be in a better mood, and the eldest sister could live a comfortable life for a while.
Of course, over time, this might become taken for granted, and if water isn't delivered for a day, complaints will arise. This is not a long-term solution.
If you really want your older sister to have a good life, then your younger brother has to be successful, successful enough that your "brother-in-law" has to take him seriously.
His gaze gradually hardened.
-
A few days later.
Inside the Sanshui Club at Yue'erwan Wharf.
In a courtyard with blue bricks, a dozen or so porters stood scattered in a circle, all of them young and strong.
Yang Silang, Wang Daniu, Li Erhu, and Xiong Shan were among them.
The group was still determined to learn the three-legged stance and become strong-legged studs.
In the middle of the courtyard stood three wooden stake enclosures of varying heights: the lowest was no more than knee-high, the middle reached waist-high, and the highest was about the height of a person. The stakes in each enclosure were of uneven heights. Behind the three wooden stake enclosures was an iron vat, the purpose of which was unknown.
A burly man wearing only shorts, his naked body revealing his bulging muscles, scanned the crowd and said coldly.
"My surname is Wu, you can call me Boss Wu."
"I'm not exactly a martial artist, I'm just the best at the three-legged stance in the guild, so I was assigned to teach you..."
"We won't remind you of anything else, just this one thing!"
"This three-legged stance training will actually help you increase your strength by walking faster!"
"No matter how well you train, you're still just a cow or a sheep!"
"But martial arts practitioners learn killing techniques; those are tigers and wolves!"
"Don't become arrogant after learning just a few tricks. Don't go looking for trouble with your rudimentary skills. It's okay if you die, but don't cause trouble for the association!"
"Do you understand?"
Many of the young porters were stunned, and their faces, which had been flushed with enthusiasm, turned pale instantly.
Yang Silang noticed that Da Niu, Er Hu, and Xiong Shan had rather unpleasant expressions.
He didn't take it seriously... So what if there are cattle and sheep?
Even cattle and sheep have sharp horns; as long as they have the will to fight, they can pierce the bodies of tigers and wolves!
Inscriptions and supernatural powers are his own sharp edges!