Physical immortality begins with Bajiquan

Fishing Fire Bay.

The morning sunlight streamed through the wooden lattice window and fell on a corner of the Qin family's shop.

Qin Ting sat on a bench, using the dim light to quickly make a new training uniform for Qin Heng.

Her needle and thread moved quickly and steadily, but she was a little anxious.

Xiao Heng said that he would definitely pass the martial arts examination and become a martial arts scholar, but three days have passed in a flash, and there is still no news about the results.

She bit off the cotton thread in her hand and was about to fold the clothes when she heard a series of chaotic footsteps and shouts outside.

"We've passed! We have a scholar in Yuhuo Bay! Qin Heng has passed the imperial examination and become a scholar! Qin Heng is a scholar!"

The voice grew closer, filled with barely concealed excitement.

Qin Ting's heart skipped a beat. She threw down the clothes in her hand, slipped on her shoes, and ran towards the door.

As soon as the wooden door was opened, Han Qing came running up, panting, waving and shouting from afar, "Sister Ting! Sister Ting! Great news! Fantastic news!"

Qin Ting's heart immediately jumped to her throat: "Aqing! What's wrong? Xiao Heng, he..."

"He passed! Sister Ting, Heng-ge passed!" Han Qing finally ran up to her, panting heavily. "Fifth on the second-tier list, thirteenth on the overall list! I saw the list with my own eyes. The officials are on their way, they'll be here soon!"

Qin Ting felt a buzzing sound in her mind, and her mind went completely blank. She stood blankly at the door, staring at Han Qing's mouth opening and closing, unable to react for a long time.

Eleven years of hardship surged into her heart like a tide. Her parents had passed away early, leaving her, a ten-year-old girl, to raise her six-year-old brother on the breakfast stall left by her parents. She had to get up before dawn to work, her hands would crack from the cold in winter, and she would get heat rash all over her body from the stuffy summer. All the hardship and exhaustion were just so that she and her brother could have a way to survive.

And now...

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The sound of a gong, growing louder as it approached, interrupted her thoughts. The entire street suddenly fell silent, and everyone looked toward the alley entrance.

Three figures in official robes turned the corner of the alley. The leading clerk carried a vermilion lacquered wooden tray, while two constables, one on each side, struck a gong. They walked proudly toward the Qin family's shop.

Upon reaching the shop entrance, the clerk cleared his throat and announced loudly, "Good news! Master Qin Heng of Yuhuowan in Heyang County has passed the county's martial arts examination with flying colors, ranking fifth on the second-tier list and thirteenth overall! Congratulations, Master Qin, on your achievement and bringing glory to your family!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a thunderous cheer erupted from the surrounding area. Neighbors, whether they had been visiting before or not, all rushed out and surrounded the entrance of the Qin family's shop, offering their congratulations in unison.

"Clatter!"

Looking at the bright red and gold-embossed congratulatory notice, Qin Ting finally couldn't hold back her tears. She hurriedly tried to wipe them away with her sleeve, but the more she wiped, the more tears streamed down her face, and she couldn't stop them no matter how hard she tried.

"Xiaoting, hurry up and get the good news!" Uncle Zhou from next door reminded her with a joyful expression.

Qin Ting then came to her senses and hurriedly tried to curtsy, saying, "This humble woman greets Your Excellency, thank you for your trouble..."

"Oh! Oh! This won't do, this won't do!" The clerk quickly bowed and dodged, his face full of smiles. "Master Qin is now a scholar of the imperial court, and you are his sister. How can you bow to us? This is good news, please accept it."

He handed the good news to Qin Ting with both hands, his attitude completely different from when he was collecting taxes.

"Xiaoting! Uncle Zhou congratulates your family!" Uncle Zhou bowed deeply to Qin Ting first. "You silly girl, all those years of hardship haven't been in vain! My sworn brother and sister-in-law can rest in peace now!"

Seeing this, the others also bowed and said in unison, "Congratulations, Miss Qin Ting! Congratulations, Master Qin Heng!"

Qin Ting quickly stepped aside and returned the greeting, saying, "No, no, we're all neighbors, there's no need for that!"

At this moment, Aunt Zhou pulled Zhou Ping over and congratulated him with a smile, "Ting'er, congratulations! Qin Heng is such a promising child, he'll definitely amount to something in the future!" Zhou Ping stood behind his mother, nodded to Qin Ting, and smiled sincerely. He recalled his younger brother Zhou An's disappointment a month ago when he failed the civil service exam, and felt a pang of emotion, but he was also genuinely happy for Qin Heng.

Without saying anything more, Qin Ting invited everyone into the shop, then turned and went into the kitchen, bringing out several baskets of freshly steamed white flour buns.

"We don't have anything good at home, so please try these auspicious steamed buns and share in the joy." She distributed the buns to the neighbors, and then handed a few to the clerks and officials, saying, "Gentlemen, you've worked hard, please have something to eat first."

The clerk took the steamed bun, beaming from ear to ear: "Oh! Thank you so much, Miss Qin! This auspicious steamed bun is truly blessed; we'll definitely try it when we get back."

At this moment, the official beside him announced loudly: "According to the imperial law, all those who pass the military examination are exempt from corvée labor for life, and one male in their household is exempt from corvée labor. Furthermore, their taxes will be reduced by 50% forever! This is a testament to the benevolent rule of the Holy Dynasty!"

Upon hearing this, everyone around them was filled with envy.

These ordinary people, who run shops and live in the streets, have been burdened by government taxes and corvée labor all their lives. They also have to pay local gangs a monthly "peace money" or "protection money." The layers of exploitation have left them struggling to breathe year after year, and their lives have always been a struggle.

As the neighbors gradually dispersed, Qin Ting counted out eight qian of silver from the silver box on the counter, gritted her teeth, pretended to be calm and generous, and walked up to the clerk to hand it over.

"You've worked hard on this trip, officers. Here's a little money for you to buy a bowl of tea."

The clerk took the silver, weighed it in his hand, and his smile widened. "Oh! Miss Qin, you're too kind! Alright, we won't bother you any longer. We'll come to pay our respects to Master Qin another day." With that, he left happily with two constables, banging a gong.

When Qin Heng returned from Songxuan Martial Arts School, the neighbors along the way greeted him with clasped hands and offered their congratulations. He returned their greetings one by one, and without stopping, went straight home.

As soon as he pushed open the shop door, he saw a lot of things piled up in the corner of the room. Qin Ting's eyes lit up when she saw him enter, and she teased him with a smile: "Xiao Heng, my little scholar brother! Look, these are all congratulatory gifts from the neighbors. These bundles of dried fish were given by Han Qing and Aunt Han, the ten catties of pork were brought by Aunt Wang, and Uncle Zhou's family gave two packets of danshen and angelica, saying that you practice martial arts every day and it's good for you to replenish your qi and blood."

"Also, the Cui family pharmacy sent someone with twenty taels of silver, and the wife of the Tiger Claw Gang leader also came to the door in person, left ten taels of silver and left."

She paused, reached up to tuck a stray hair behind her ear, and lowered her voice unconsciously: "Even Granny Tian's family asked Aunt Wang to send five catties of pork, saying that she was blinded by lard before and couldn't recognize the real gold. Now that she sees that you have passed the martial arts examination, she is both afraid and regretful, so she specially sent pork as an apology."

Upon hearing this, Qin Heng recalled Granny Tian's sharp and sarcastic words from back then, and his expression darkened slightly.

But then he thought that since his sister had already accepted it, he naturally wouldn't say anything, and he had another matter to attend to right now.

After a moment's hesitation, he changed the subject: "Sister, let's go to Datong Street in a few days."