When the three members of the family returned home, Hu Yufen was anxiously looking out from the door.
"Mother!"
"Mom!"
The two little ones hurried over upon seeing their mother.
Hu Yufen crouched down to sort out their clothes and looked up at Shen Yuan who was walking over, asking, "Husband, how was it?"
Shen Yuan smiled faintly, "The teacher accepted Ah Nu."
Upon hearing this, a hint of a smile appeared on Hu Yufen's face. Then, noticing the disappointment on her eldest son Shen Wenxing's face, she quickly crouched down, gently touched his cheek, and said, "Shi Tou, don't be discouraged. Your father and I will think of other ways."
Shen Wenxing nodded obediently, and the family of four returned to the courtyard.
"Later, let's separate this year's grain, keep enough to pay the taxes, store some, and sell the rest in town."
Shen Yuan said in a steady voice.
"Is it that urgent?" Hu Yufen asked with some confusion.
She wanted to wait a while longer since the new grain had just come in and the price wouldn't be too high.
Shen Yuan glanced at Shen Wenxing, who was playing in the courtyard, and said quietly, "I want to send Shi Tou to the Martial Arts Hall in town to learn martial arts."
"This child's mind isn't on books."
Hu Yufen also knew that her husband wasn't wrong, but she still felt a bit worried.
"I've heard that learning martial arts requires talent and the ability to endure hardship."
"More importantly, laying a good foundation costs a significant amount of money. Can our family afford it?"
In Jinliu Village, many families sent their children to the town's Martial Arts Hall.
They could afford it because they never considered buying herbal meals to condition their children's bodies.
They simply hoped to learn some skills through martial arts, and besides improving health, no one in the village would dare to bully them easily in the future.
After all, having a reputation for "learning martial arts" still carried some deterrent power.
Hu Yufen, being knowledgeable and reasonable, naturally didn't have only this in mind. She intended, like Shen Yuan, to provide the best resources for their child, putting in the utmost effort to help him succeed on this path.
"Don't worry about it. The family savings should last for two years, and I'll try to figure something out."
Shen Yuan sighed.
Indeed, people's greatest troubles stem from their desires.
If it weren't for wanting their two children to have promising futures, living honestly with their current family conditions wouldn't have so many worries.
The Hundred-Year Blood Toad's Exuvia obtained yesterday from Black Water Pool could fetch about two hundred taels of silver.
Coupled with the money saved over the years, and selling the grain, they might have nearly four hundred taels.
If nothing unexpected happens, supporting the eldest in learning martial arts for several years shouldn't be a problem.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was evening.
After dinner, the family went to rest early.
Moonlight like water hung in the center of the window lattice. Shen Yuan lay on the bed and, wanting to turn over, found Hu Yufen's entire leg was pressing on him.
Helplessly, he didn't dare to move.
Quietly looking at the canopy overhead, he pondered how to make some changes with the existing foundations to make the family more prosperous.
Time ticked away, and soon it was midnight.
[The Hexagram has been refreshed.]
[Today's Hexagram·Great Misfortune]: You decided to sell the Hundred-Year Blood Toad's Exuvia, which caught someone's attention. You were followed home, fought desperately, but the opponent was a formidable martial artist. Ultimately, you and your family were killed, and your household was looted.
Most of the time, the system hexagram concerns trivial matters, and Shen Yuan wasn't too concerned.
But every time the hexagram refreshed, he habitually glanced at it.
This time, however, seeing those blood-red letters gave him a startle, and he sat up from the bed!
Great misfortune!
Just for a Hundred-Year Blood Toad's Exuvia, he would be followed home by a martial artist, ultimately leading to his family's demise!?
Despite the summer's sweltering night, Shen Yuan was struck with a cold sweat by the words of the hexagram!
"Husband, did you have a nightmare?"
His movements also woke his sleeping wife beside him.
Hu Yufen sat up, and seeing the sweat on Shen Yuan's forehead in the moonlight, she asked with concern.
Shen Yuan came to his senses, turned, and looked at his wife.
The moonlight was gentle, with Hu Yufen's hair down, she appeared with a kind of mysterious beauty.
He gently embraced his wife and gradually tightened his hold.
Confused by his inexplicable action, Hu Yufen felt a bit breathless but didn't struggle, just quietly comforted him with her hand on his back: "It's all right, it's all right..."
Calming down, Shen Yuan released his arms and gently caressed his wife's cheek, lowering his head for a kiss.
After a release, Hu Yufen fell deeply asleep.
Shen Yuan glanced again at the hexagram in his Sea of Consciousness, making a resolution in his heart.
This Hundred-Year Blood Toad's Exuvia, no matter what, must not be sold!
Furthermore, apart from his wife, he wouldn't let anyone know he possessed the Hundred-Year Blood Toad's Exuvia!
The next morning, Shen Yuan got up early, ate a simple meal, and hurriedly left home.
As the sun rose, he came to a household at the eastern end of the village.
"Is Uncle Sun at home?"
In the courtyard, an elderly woman and two gray-clad servants were busy drying various herbs. Hearing the shout, the woman turned around.
"Ah Yuan, your Uncle Sun is at the herbal house; just go directly."
Shen Yuan nodded and headed towards the room in the southwest corner of the courtyard.
Upon reaching the door, a faint medicinal aroma hit him, refreshing his spirit with just one whiff.
Shen Yuan knocked on the door and only pushed it open after a voice inside said, "Come in."
"Uncle Sun, I'm here to get some medicine from you."
The herbal house had cabinets filled with herbs along the walls, with some grinding tools and various other implements in the center.
Behind a central desk, an elderly, stooped man with graying hair was carefully reading from ancient bamboo slips.
Hearing Shen Yuan speak, the old man looked up, squinting for a while.
"Shen Family kid?"
Shen Yuan nodded and bowed, "It's been really hot lately, and I've been feeling dizzy and nauseous, with no appetite. Could you please take a look and prescribe some medicine, Uncle Sun?"
The old man slightly nodded and said, "Sit down; it's likely a heatstroke."
Shen Yuan sat down in front, extending his wrist.
The old man placed his fingers on the pulse and sensing for a moment, said, "It's not too serious. I'll prescribe you some medicine; boil it at home and drink it like tea."
Shen Yuan expressed his gratitude and then asked, "Uncle Sun, my kid is preparing to learn martial arts in town. I wanted to ask if there's anything in particular regarding his diet we should pay attention to?"
While weighing the medicine, the old man said, "I may not understand the Martial Dao, but practicing martial arts is about having a good body, full of Qi and blood."
"If you want him to achieve something, herbal meals from the Martial Arts Hall are essential. For regular meals, it's better to stew lean meat with some common herbs."
Shen Yuan quietly noted these tips, then hesitated and asked, "The Martial Arts Hall's herbal meals are quite expensive; are they really effective?"
The old man chuckled at this.
"The herbal meals from the town's Martial Arts Hall use valuable herbs. Just the ten-year Blood Toad's Shedding alone is worth ten taels of silver per sheet."
"The Blood Toad's Shedding helps consolidate one's foundation, enhances vitality and nourishes the blood. Just a small piece can make a person energetic for a whole day, and when combined with other herbs, the effects are even greater."
Wrapping the medicine in kraft paper, the old man cheerfully concluded, "That's only because Anyang County has Blood Toads; elsewhere, a herbal meal might cost no less than ten taels of silver."
Feigning surprise, Shen Yuan remarked, "Learning martial arts really is an expensive endeavor."
The old man laughed, "Indeed. When I traveled to the County Government in my youth, I heard that the Noble Family Members consumed Hundred-Year Blood Toad's Shedding to train their bodies. The cost of herbal meals alone would be several hundred taels of silver each month."
"Alright, when you get home, gently simmer it for half an hour, add plenty of water, and drink it for two days."
Shen Yuan quickly bowed, "Thank you so much, Uncle Sun. How much is it?"
"Thirty coppers."
Shen Yuan paid the money and left the herbal house with the medicine in hand.