The First Sage of Military Strategists

Chapter 4 Returning Home
When Han Qing returned to the side courtyard, he pushed open the door and entered. The eyes of more than thirty teenagers immediately focused on him, their expressions complex, some envious, some admiring, and some even fearful.

Just now, Yang Wu sent someone to inform that Han Qing has obtained the fourth spot, which means that Han Qing killed someone and performed exceptionally well.

Many of the teenagers present admitted that they lacked Han Qing's courage and decisiveness.

Han Qing returned to his seat, ignoring everyone's gazes, and continued sharpening his knife as if nothing had happened.

Although the others were curious, no one dared to approach Han Qing because he was usually taciturn and had a withdrawn personality, except for Liu San.

"Hello, Brother Han, congratulations! You're really amazing. You're bold, ruthless, and decisive. Even if you don't end up working in the government, you'll definitely amount to something in the future."

"We were forced into it," Han Qing said.

He was telling the truth. Even if Liu San and the others were eliminated, they could wait a few years and pay their money back later. But he couldn't do that. His parents were already sixty years old, and this was his last chance.

“That’s true, but if it were me, I definitely wouldn’t have done as well as you.” After saying that, Liu San turned around and went to chop wood.

This continued until dark, when most of the teenagers had gone back to their rooms to sleep. Han Qing was always the last to return to his room, and today was no exception. However, he went to Master Fang's door and knocked.

"What's the matter?" Master Fang opened the door.

Han Qing remained silent, offering a money pouch with both hands. Inside were the silver he had saved over three years, twenty coins a month, which he had barely touched.

“You are kind-hearted, no need to thank me, this is what you deserve. I may tell you, you are unlucky, all three spots were reserved in advance, otherwise you would have been selected directly without going through the test.” Master Fang turned and went back into the house, without touching the money bag, his voice drifting from inside.

“Mr. Fang, you have your reasons for doing things, and I have my principles. Please take this money,” Han Qing said.

“Interesting kid, do you think I need your few coins? Keep them safe! Tell me, haven’t you been home for three months?” Master Fang asked.

"Mm," Han Qing replied.

It wasn't that he didn't want to go home, but rather that he wanted to do more work to give himself a better chance.

"I'll go home and visit tomorrow," said Master Fang.

"Alright." Han Qing bowed deeply to the room and slowly withdrew.

After a while, Master Fang came out of the room, took a small sip from the jade gourd, but it wasn't wine inside, it was vinegar.

"This lad has a good character. If he has excellent aptitude and comprehension, it would be a good thing to give him a helping hand and build a positive relationship with him," Master Fang murmured.

Suddenly, a cold wind blew by, and Master Fang frowned.

"Ouch, my old migraine is acting up again."

He tightened his clothes, turned around and went back into the house, closing the door tightly.

...

The next day, before dawn.

Han Qing found Wang Zhubu, who was on duty that day, registered his name, and then turned and walked out of the yamen.

There was a long street outside the gate, with pedestrians hurrying by and wisps of cold mist drifting in the air.

Han Qing was only wearing a thin, coarse cloth garment, yet he did not feel cold at all; this was the effect of the Great Completion Green Wood Everlasting Spring Technique.

"Let's go to the market first. My parents love fish the most. They haven't been home for three months, so I should bring them some gifts." Han Qing thought to himself, then put sixty copper coins in his pocket and walked towards the market at the end of the long street.

The market was bustling with activity, with all sorts of merchants and peddlers setting up stalls to sell their wares—things that fly in the sky, run on the ground, and swim in the water, as well as food, clothing, and daily necessities.

Han Qing stopped in front of an old woman's stall and pointed to one of the blackfish.

The old woman's surname was Wu. She lived not far from his house and was considered his neighbor. She had no children, was only sixty years old, and was not in good health. Han Qing felt sorry for her and would patronize her business every time he passed by the market.

"Oh my, it's Xiao Han! You've grown taller in just a few months. How have you been lately?" Aunt Wu was incredibly enthusiastic and skillfully weighed a black carp. "Two catties, ten coins will do."

"It's alright," Han Qing said, tossing down fourteen copper coins before turning and leaving.

“Hey, this child…” Aunt Wu looked at Han Qing’s back, her eyes full of gratitude.

At the market, a pound of blackfish cost seven coins, which was the fairest price. She thought Han Qing was a good boy and wanted to charge him a little less, but Han Qing refused. Just as Han Qing was about to cross the market, he suddenly heard someone exclaim in the distance.

"A three-tailed white fox! That's a spirit beast! Good heavens, Brother Li has struck it rich! He must have made at least twenty taels of silver!"

"If I had Brother Li's hunting skills, I wouldn't be stuck in the mountains gathering firewood to make a living!"

"Brother Li, you've suddenly made so much money, why don't you go to Chunxiang Restaurant for a drink?"

"No, no, I'll save up to buy my wife a piece of jade. She's been with me for so long and she doesn't even have a decent piece of jewelry."

As Han Qing passed by, he glanced at a man with a square face, thick eyebrows, and big eyes, carrying a white fox on his shoulder, walking past surrounded by a crowd.

This man is named Li Tai, a prominent figure in Baiyun County, and is extremely skilled at hunting.

Han Qing admired them, but didn't take it to heart. Instead of envying others, he decided to improve himself.

Carrying the black fish, Han Qing soon arrived at the gate of a courtyard in the north of the city. This was his home. It wasn't large, but it wasn't dilapidated either; it was considered average in the county.

He saw that the door was locked and knew that his parents had not yet returned home. Across the street, there was a small pharmacy called Xinglintang, which was the family business passed down from their ancestors.

He unlocked the door and entered the yard, thinking that his parents would be back at noon. So he went to the kitchen to prepare a fish soup as a surprise for them.

His cooking skills weren't great, but the two elders appreciated the sentiment behind the meal; how delicious the fish soup itself was was secondary.

As noon approached, footsteps sounded outside the courtyard.

"Hey, why is the front door open? Could it be that Qing'er has returned?"

"definitely is."

The two elderly people walked into the courtyard one after the other. Han Qing heard the sound and came out of the room to greet them. The first thing he saw was that the two had white hair and he noticed a trace of worry between their brows. He felt even more guilty.

However, upon seeing Han Qing, the two elders' eyes lit up, and bright smiles appeared on their faces.

"It really is."

"Qing'er has grown taller again. Let your mother see. Life in the yamen must be very hard," Zhang Cuilian, the mother, murmured.

"It's not bitter," Han Qing replied.

"It smells of fish. Qing'er is more sensible now. She must have made fish soup again. I'm very pleased," Zhang Cuilian said with a smile.

"Go back inside first," Han Cheng, the father, urged.

A moment.

After finishing two bowls of delicious fish soup, Han Qing felt even warmer and more comfortable.

Suddenly, he smelled the aroma of Chinese medicine. He turned around and saw Han Cheng carrying a steaming bowl of medicinal soup as he walked over.

"Qing'er, after drinking this bowl of Three-Flavor Nourishing Soup, if you want to succeed in martial arts, you need to have sufficient qi and blood, and your body cannot be weak. This is our family's ancestral secret recipe. The manager of Wanchuntang has sent people to ask for it many times, offering hundreds of taels of silver to buy it, but I have never agreed," Han Cheng said with a smile.

Han Qing took the medicinal soup and gulped it down in several mouthfuls. After finishing, he said slowly, "Father, Mother, please don't cook health-preserving soup for me anymore. I'm very healthy and don't need it anymore."

The health-preserving soup was very expensive, and his parents doted on him almost to the point of spoiling him. They wouldn't even buy themselves a thick coat, and they were wholeheartedly paving the way for him.

Every time he goes home, his parents will cook nourishing soup to help him regulate his body and replenish his blood and qi.

He kept this sentiment in his heart, thinking that he couldn't let his parents down.

Now that he has strengthened his body with the advanced level of the Green Wood Longevity Technique, the effects of the health-preserving soup are negligible.

"Qing'er, don't worry, your father can still afford the cost of the health-preserving soup," Han Cheng said.

"We really don't need it anymore." Han Qing shook his head, got up and walked towards his house. He saw a deep worry between the two elders' brows. Clearly, Xinglintang's business was getting worse and worse.

(End of this chapter)