Daily News: You promised yourself to be a fisherman, but you've become a martial arts god?

"Uncle, this blanket is so big and warm! I won't be cold when I sleep now!"

"There's still so much meat!"

"Wow, it's candied hawthorn berries that Duoduo likes!"

Duoduo hugged the newly bought quilt on the kang (a heated brick bed), looked at the meat on the table, and two strings of candied hawthorns, her little face full of happiness.

My uncle said this morning that he would buy a quilt while fishing, and he actually did buy a quilt.

"Erlang, why did you buy so much stuff?"

Zhao Lijuan said reproachfully.

These two quilts are seven-pound cotton quilts, with fine fabric covers. Each quilt can be sold for one tael of silver, so the two quilts would be two taels of silver.

Including fish and shrimp, it would cost more than two taels of silver.

That much silver is enough for an ordinary family to eat for more than half a year.

"Sister-in-law, I caught a lot of grass carp today and sold them for a good amount of money."

Li Nian picked up a string of candied hawthorns and handed it to Duo Duo, then hugged Duo Duo to her chest.

"Erlang, you've caught fish and sold them, so you need to be careful with the money."

"You're not young anymore; it's time for you to settle down and start a family."

"Your sister-in-law and older brother are incompetent; they didn't save you any money for your future wife. You'll have to save some money yourself."

"As long as Duoduo and I have food to eat, we'll be fine."

Zhao Lijuan said earnestly.

Men reach adulthood at fifteen, and many men are married before the age of eighteen.

Their family was poor, and even matchmakers were unwilling to come.

"Sister-in-law, there's no rush for marriage."

"Right now, I want to make sure you and Duoduo have a good life."

Li Nian said earnestly.

Most ordinary people in this world get married to continue their family line, and once the dowry is agreed upon, they get married.

He is a person who has experienced the trials of modern society, and he pursues love in his heart. He will not marry just any woman.

Furthermore, he plans to pursue martial arts so that he can better protect his sister-in-law and niece in the future.

Getting married too early can limit one's martial arts development.

"Erlang, I am still your sister-in-law, and Duoduo is just your niece. You are so good to us, mother and daughter. I am worried that outsiders will gossip about you and other girls will misunderstand you."

Zhao Lijuan spoke earnestly.

She was touched by Li Nian's kindness to the mother and daughter, but she didn't want to ruin Li Nian's life because of herself.

"Sister-in-law, you and Duoduo are my family. It's only natural for me to be good to you!"

I don't care what others say!

"Besides, I won't accept girls who look down on my family!"

Li Nian looked directly at Zhao Lijuan, her voice firm and powerful.

He wants to make amends for his mistakes in his past life, fulfill his promise to his elder brother, and take good care of his sister-in-law and niece who are truly devoted to him.

Even if the Heavenly King himself came, he couldn't be swayed!

"Jiro..."

Zhao Lijuan's eyes reddened, and she felt a warm feeling in her heart.

The two gazed at each other for a long time.

After a long while, Zhao Lijuan's cheeks flushed, and she turned her head slightly away.

The beauty blushed shyly, like a white begonia just beginning to bloom under the moon, its pink blush hidden in its white petals, making Li Nian somewhat infatuated.

A volcano erupted in my heart, spewing out the word "beauty".

"Erlang...you've been busy all day, I'll go cook."

After saying that, he hurriedly went to the kitchen.

"Uncle, your face is all red. Did you get frostbite while fishing today? Let me give you a hug."

As Li Nian was engrossed in her thoughts, she heard Duo Duo's tender voice and then she was embraced.

Li Nian came to her senses, her face full of embarrassment.

He wanted to help Zhao Lijuan cook, but Zhao Lijuan was afraid that he would cook too many dishes again like yesterday, so she stopped him.

Helpless, Li Nian had no choice but to play with her niece, Duo Duo.

We'll talk about catching the bluefish and going to the martial arts school when we eat.

Dusk.

Zhao Lijuan brought the prepared food to the table.

Zhao Lijuan used a small portion of the meat to make three dishes, all of which smelled delicious.

There's a good amount; enough to eat.

She knows how to manage money carefully and is a woman who is good at managing a household.

"tasty!"

Li Nian picked up a piece and put it in her mouth, finding it so delicious that she couldn't help but exclaim.

Zhao Lijuan used to do all the cooking at home; she was a good cook.

"Eat more if it's delicious."

Zhao Lijuan smiled with satisfaction and added another large spoonful of rice to Li Nian's bowl.

Li Nian took the rice bowl and truthfully told Zhao Lijuan about the blue water fish she had caught that day, the high price she had paid to Qinyun Martial Arts School, and her plans to learn martial arts.

He considered Zhao Lijuan as family, so he should have spoken up about it.

"Azure Fish!"

"One hundred taels of silver!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Lijuan was so shocked that she opened her mouth wide and covered it with her hand, feeling both surprised and delighted.

The Blue Water Fish is a rare and precious fish, extremely difficult to catch.

Li Nian's older brother has been in the fishing industry for so long, but he has never caught a single fish.

In fact, no one in the entire village had ever captured it.

Unexpectedly, Li Nian actually caught one.

And it sold for such a high price.

No wonder Li Nian bought so many things today.

After a while, Zhao Lijuan calmed down.

"Erlang, now that you've caught the Jade Fish and made so much money, and the martial arts master has accepted you, you should practice martial arts diligently."

"These days the world is not peaceful. Just now, when Duoduo and I were waiting for you, we heard some villagers talking about how someone in the neighboring village was injured by thugs."

"If you practice martial arts, you'll be safer when you go out, and Duoduo and I will feel more at ease."

Zhao Lijuan said.

Li Nian nodded emphatically.

The outer city is not the same as the inner city.

There were constables patrolling the inner city, so it was rare to see anyone causing trouble.

The outer city was a place where all sorts of people lived, and bandits and outlaws roamed freely.

Robbery, murder, arson, rape, and kidnapping were common occurrences.

Even if you report it to the authorities, no one will take care of it.

Furthermore, no one dared to report it to the authorities.

In this world, the poor are as worthless as weeds.

If you want to live a peaceful life and not be bullied, you have to toughen up your fists!

However, learning martial arts is not something that can be done overnight.

After settling the money for the jade fish tomorrow, we'll find a place to stay in the city. My sister-in-law and niece will be safe, and I'll have less to worry about.

After all, my sister-in-law is a famous beautiful young woman in the surrounding area.

After my elder brother died, there must have been many men who still cared about him.

He didn't want anything to happen to his sister-in-law!

dong dong dong-

While we were eating, there was a knock on the door.

"Open the door, it's me."

It was Sister Zhang's voice.

Li Nian got up and went to open the door.

"Hey, Erlang, you're eating."

"There's pork, fish, and shrimp. Erlang is really something, exchanging fishing for so much food."

Sister-in-law Zhang walked into the room, looked at the food on the kang (a heated brick bed) and the table, and her words had a hidden meaning.

"Sister-in-law Zhang, have you eaten yet? Why don't you sit down and eat with us?"

Li Nian said politely.

He wouldn't offend Sister-in-law Zhang without a reason before things had turned sour between them.

Ultimately, Zhang Daniu was a servant of the Zhang family, responsible for guarding the village. If he acted rudely, he could easily be used as a pretext to cause trouble.

"I just ate, so I won't eat anymore."

"I came here this time to ask you, Erlang, for your best time."

"Would you like to come to my house and help out?"

Sister-in-law Zhang said.

As he spoke, his eyes kept darting around the room, as if searching for something.

A smug look flashed in his eyes when he saw where the grain was stored.

Li Nian immediately realized that Zhang Dasao was looking for the location of their grain storage so that Zhang San could come and steal it that night.

Asking him this time if he's willing to join forces is just giving him one last chance.

In order to catch Zhang San red-handed, he did not hide the grain too well. He simply placed it in the corner of the room and covered it with a winnowing basket. Anyone who looked closely could easily spot it.

"Replying to Sister-in-law Zhang, I am the only male in my family. I have my sister-in-law and niece to take care of me, so I cannot come to your house to ask for help. Please forgive me."

Li Nian politely declined.

"Okay, okay, okay!"

Sister-in-law Zhang said "good" three times in a row, a barely perceptible sneer appearing on her lips.

There is such a thing.

I like.

Once Zhang San steals your family's grain, let's see if you'll come and help me out!

With a cold laugh to herself, Sister-in-law Zhang swayed her large hips and left.

Li Nian narrowed his eyes, a cold, razor-sharp glint flashing within them.

"Tonight you'll see what happens when you steal my grain!"