Starting with a daily divination to build an immortal clan

Chapter 37 Military Service
Shen Wenxing was honest and straightforward, and clearly hadn't thought that far ahead.

"Who did you learn all this from?" Shen Yuan asked.

Hu Yufen was in charge of teaching the children, and she generally wouldn't interfere unless it was a matter of great importance.

The key issue is that his wife, Hu Yufen, is not good at business, so naturally she couldn't teach her any of these things.

"My second brother taught me," Shen Wenping replied, tilting her head back.

Anu?

Shen Yuan was somewhat surprised after hearing this. Over the years, his second son, Shen Wenyan, had been learning from Lu Zhiyuan, but he didn't know much about what he was learning.

But in one's imagination, scholars and literati should look down on merchants who buy and sell, so how could Master Lu teach him these things?

"The Master's house has a large collection of books, and my second brother brought some back for me to read."

Upon hearing this, Shen Wenxing immediately became angry and said, "Father, we must teach that brat a lesson when we get back. Why did he have to teach my sister such scheming and manipulative business tactics?"

"The pot is broken!"

"I won't play with you!"

Hearing that he was going to teach his second brother a lesson, the little girl pouted and struggled out of his arms, sitting alone on the other side of the oxcart.

Upon seeing this, Shen Yuan couldn't help but laugh.

“Stone, don’t think of deceit and backstabbing when you mention businessmen.”

"The way of doing business lies in mutual consent. As long as you don't go against your conscience, harm others for your own benefit, and ensure that you don't lose money in every transaction, that is a great skill."

As soon as Shen Yuan finished speaking, the little girl looked at Shen Wenxing provocatively: "Did you hear that? Did you hear that?"

"That's what Father said!"

Looking at her innocent face, Shen Wenxing smiled helplessly, reached out and pulled her into his arms, pinching her little face and saying, "Big brother was wrong, okay?"

"So... will Big Brother teach Second Brother a lesson later?"

Shen Wenxing shook his head slightly.

In recent years, he and his father have been busy earning money to support their family, practicing martial arts, and Shen Wenyan has been helping with the education of his younger siblings.

His thinking was still not as open-minded as his father's.

The three chatted and laughed all the way, and soon arrived at the entrance of the martial arts school.

Shen Wenxing jumped out of the car first, then carried his younger sister down, and with the basket of peaches, walked towards the martial arts school.

The little girl ran ahead and soon spotted Huang Lingxiu teaching her disciples in the martial arts arena.

"elder sister!"

Hearing the call, Huang Lingxiu turned around, saw Shen Wenping, and instantly smiled broadly, squatting down to pick her up in her arms.

"Little girl, has your older brother arrived?" He kissed her little cheek, and Huang Lingxiu looked up into the distance.

The little girl turned her face towards her with her little hands, a little unhappy: "Look at me, sister, I miss you too!"

Huang Lingxiu was amused and gently tapped the tip of her nose with her finger, saying, "Alright, alright, look at you."

At this moment, Shen Wenxing and Shen Yuan, carrying peaches, also stepped into the courtyard.

Upon seeing them, Huang Lingxiu quickly went to greet them.

"Uncle Shen."

Shen Yuan smiled and nodded: "Stone, give me the peach, you two chat."

Huang Lingxiu quickly said, "Father is in the backyard, and Uncle is here too."

Shen Yuan nodded: "That's perfect."

As he spoke, he carried the peaches and walked towards the backyard.

In the back room, Huang Yunxiao gently skimmed the tea foam from his cup, his expression somewhat grave.

Huang Qingzhou, who was standing to the side, frowned and pondered for a moment before saying, "Does Brother mean that His Majesty is preparing to wage war against the Western Wilderness barbarians?"

"That's probably the intention." Putting down his teacup, Huang Yunxiao sighed, "A hundred years ago, the three prefectures of the Western Regions were conquered by the barbarians, which was a disgrace to the Great Yu."

"For the past hundred years, our Great Yu has lived in peace and harmony with the people, without any war. Now, the world has enjoyed bumper harvests year after year, and the granaries are overflowing. His Majesty is also quite ambitious and will surely reclaim the three counties of the Western Regions."

"In my opinion, this recruitment drive is for this very purpose."

Huang Qingzhou sighed softly.

"After just a few years of peace, war has broken out again, and I'm afraid many ordinary people will be affected once more."

"Qi'er and Lin'er are still with the border troops, this time..."

Huang Yunxiao's face was full of sorrow when the two brothers were mentioned.

The Huang family now only has these two male members. He had planned to use his connections this year to transfer his two sons away from the border army, but who would have thought that this would happen.

"Second brother, there is another matter that I am also quite worried about." Just as he finished speaking, Shen Yuan knocked on the door.

"Brother Huang."

Upon hearing that it was him, Huang Qingzhou immediately opened the door.

"Ah Yuan is here?"

Shen Yuan put down the basket of peaches and said with a smile, "These are peaches I grew myself. I brought a basket for you to try."

"Brother Yunxiao, what brings you back today?"

Huang Yunxiao smiled slightly: "I have something to discuss with Qingzhou when I get back."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuan immediately cupped his hands and said, "Then you two chat first, I'll go for a walk outside."

"No need," Huang Yunxiao said. "This matter happens to be related to you as well, so let's listen to it together."

……

Shen Yuan sat down, holding a teacup, his brows furrowed: "Recruiting soldiers?"

Huang Yunxiao nodded: "Although the official document has not yet been issued, it has been confirmed."

"Ah Yuan, what do you think?"

"Me?" Shen Yuan was slightly taken aback, somewhat puzzled.

Huang Yunxiao said, "According to the laws of the Great Yu, since you are not yet forty, you are still within the age range for military service. Once the recruitment document is issued, you will have to serve in the military."

"You didn't know these things?"

Shen Yuan was stunned.

He genuinely had no idea about these things and had no idea he was obligated to serve in the military.

At present, the children in the family are still too young. Although Shen Wenxing is able to help take care of the family temporarily, he is still just a child under fourteen years old.

If I were to serve in the military and go to the battlefield, what would happen to my family if something were to happen to me?
“Ah Yuan, I have an idea.”

Huang Yunxiao noticed his hesitation and, after a moment of contemplation, asked, "Isn't Shitou a little over thirteen years old this year?"

Shen Yuan nodded slightly, then his expression changed, and he shook his head repeatedly: "No way!"

"No, no, no!"

He vaguely guessed Huang Yunxiao's meaning, which was nothing more than letting Shi Tou "join the army in place of his father".

"Let me finish speaking," Huang Yunxiao said in a deep voice. "First of all, I heard from Qingzhou that Shi Tou's strength has now reached the peak of the Acquired Realm, making him an extremely powerful martial artist."

"Secondly, Shi Tou has a calm and steady personality, unlike the arrogance of a young man."

"One last thing... do you still remember Zhang Bin?"

Commandant Zhang?
Shen Yuan thought of that forthright man.

When Shen Wenping and Shen Wen'an were a month old, Zhang Bin and the Huang Yunxiao brothers visited their home.

“Brother Zhang is now the Left General of the Yunzhong Border Garrison. If you agree, I will use my connections to send the stone to him and have Brother Zhang take him in as a personal guard.”

"In this way, by following Brother Zhang, firstly, there will be someone to look after us, and secondly, unless there are special circumstances, we will not have to fight the enemy head-on."

"If we stay here for a few years, we might be able to earn some military merits, and then we can find a way to transfer him back."

Shen Yuan fell silent.

He knew that Huang Yunxiao was thinking of him.

But Shi Tou is only thirteen years old. In his previous life, a child like that would need his parents to pick him up and drop him off at school.

How could he bear to send him to the army and expose him to brutal fighting?

Inside the room, all three remained silent.

"Father..."

The door to the side room was pushed open, and Shen Wenxing's voice came through.

The three of them turned around and saw Huang Lingxiu and Shen Wenxing standing quietly outside the room.

“Father, Uncle Yunxiao is right.”

"This family can't live without you. Let our son go for his military service."

The two men had clearly already arrived outside the room and overheard their conversation.

Shen Yuan stood up, met his son's resolute gaze, his mouth slightly opened and closed, and finally turned into a sigh.

"My two elder brothers, I'll take my leave now."

He turned around, cupped his hands in greeting to the Huang brothers, and then pulled Shen Wenxing outside.

(End of this chapter)