Chapter 23

Chang Yan's words opened up another path for Jiang Sheng.

Sometimes, lowering prices is not the only promotional method, giving away complimentary gifts works too.

It looks like I'll have to go to the county tomorrow to pick out some nice flower ribbons, these are especially popular with the aunties, pairing them with wadded jackets will definitely sell well.

After thinking it through, Jiang Sheng breathed a sigh of relief, this crisis of competing for business was finally over, and she had also grown a bit wiser.

Only when she rested at night did Jiang Sheng realize belatedly.

Even Eldest Brother Xu Mo couldn't think of this, so how did Fifth Brother Chang Yan know so cleverly what to do?

He seemed nonchalant, as if he had long known what to do.

He could fathom people's minds so thoroughly.

For example, the cotton jackets that the Zhang family bought for twelve wen, he wanted to purchase them for eleven wen. It wasn't that he was greedy for that one wen discount, but rather to make the Zhang family lose several dozen wen, so they would learn their lesson and not dare to come compete for business again.

For example, he knew to use living people for advertising, and he knew he could maintain the fourteen wen price by giving away complimentary gifts. Even if the aunties who had bought grey cotton jackets before were unhappy, at most he could just give them a flower ribbon, and that would make the aunties beam with joy.

The more Jiang Sheng thought about it, the more she admired Fifth Brother Chang Yan's intelligence.

But didn't he lose his memory?

Puzzled, Jiang Sheng fell asleep.

The next day, Fang Heng took her to the county to purchase flower ribbons. They gave them away as gifts when they returned to the village. Although some people still complained that the fourteen wen grey cotton jackets were expensive, more people bought them.

In just a few days, both the grey and flower cotton jackets were sold out.

The only remaining flower cotton jacket, which Chang Yan had tried on before, Jiang Sheng gave to Auntie Zhang when Wen Zhiyun came to the dilapidated temple to change Eldest Brother Xu Mo's medicine.

Auntie Zhang was extremely happy. She held the flower cotton jacket and tried to pay.

Jiang Sheng laughed cheerfully, "Auntie, you don't have much money either, keep it to spend on flowers. Grandpa Zhou's legs cost quite a bit of money!"

This was no lie. Grandpa Zhou Zhang had sprained his foot and had to lie in bed for a full month and a half. Including medical fees and medication, it totaled fifty-one wen.

For a well-off family in the village, this was a huge sum. It distressed Grandma Zhou so much that she lay in bed for several days afterwards unable to recover.

"That won't do." Auntie Zhang didn't want to take advantage of the child. She forcibly stuffed ten wen into Jiang Sheng's hand, "This is all Auntie has. Good child, you take it."

Jiang Sheng had no choice but to put it in her pocket, thinking to find an excuse to return it tomorrow.

When she returned to the dilapidated temple...

Wen Zhiyun was changing the medicine on Eldest Brother Xu Mo's leg. Jiang Sheng went over to take a look, but couldn't make heads or tails of it. Fortunately she still had her mouth. "Big brother, when will your leg be able to walk on the ground?"

Xu Mo smiled, "Fourth Brother said today it could." This was terrific news. Jiang Sheng widened her eyes. Fourth Brother really knew how to keep things secret, not leaking a hint of wind.

She absolutely would not admit that recently she had been absorbed in making money and neglected Eldest Brother.

After Wen Zhiyun removed the wooden splint, sterilized the wound again, and applied medicinal powder, he supported Xu Mo to stand on the ground to test it out.

"There might be a slight weakness due to muscle atrophy, but if there is any stabbing pain, don't persist," he cautioned.

Xu Mo nodded. As he was about to grab Wen Zhiyun for support, he seemed to recall something. He changed to the further away Zheng Ruqian instead.

Wen Zhiyun's face immediately turned red.

Fortunately Xu Mo was perceptive and promptly explained, "Fourth Brother, your health is weak. I'm afraid I'd press down too heavily on you."

The flush on Wen Zhiyun's face instantly turned deathly pale. If possible, he didn't want to be frail either, or as delicate as a young lady.

Sometimes he felt that the brothers treated him even more carefully than their sister.

This wasn't what Wen Zhiyun wanted. He wanted to be a man, one who could stand tall and protect his sister.

After confirming Xu Mo could stand on the ground without pain and was slowly able to shuffle along, Wen Zhiyun walked out of the dilapidated temple, coming to the leeward side of the house.

Fang Heng was there bare-armed, training in the sunlight -- twisting, turning, grasping, chopping.

Although his frame was still small, it did not affect his aura of killing intent, and the urge to hack the opponent into thousands of pieces.

When Fang Heng finished a set, he was already panting heavily.

Wen Zhiyun offered a handkerchief.

Fang Heng waved it aside, picked up his clothes from the ground and rubbed himself roughly before putting them back on. "Why did Fourth Brother come?"

"Third Brother, I..." Wen Zhiyun gritted his teeth, "I want you to teach me martial arts."

"I want to become stronger. I don't want everyone to feel they need to accommodate my weakness."

Fang Heng was stunned. He hadn't expected this brother of his who even panted when running to have this kind of ambition. He immediately became interested. "Alright, I'll teach you. First assume a horse stance."

He demonstrated a posture which Wen Zhiyun imitated studiously.

"Lower your hips more, even more, arms straight, right, more standard, hold for half an hour."

After fifteen minutes, Wen Zhiyun fainted.

Fang Heng was dumbfounded. He turned and carried Fourth Younger Brother on his back, rushing back to the dilapidated temple.

Xu Mo was still persisting in standing. He no longer needed support and was about to try walking a couple steps himself, when suddenly a whirlwind came in and he saw Fang Heng place Wen Zhiyun on the straw.

"Third Brother, what happened to Fourth Brother?" Jiang Sheng bounced over, utterly shocked. "Did you knock out Fourth Brother?"

Fang Heng was really at a loss for words. "I didn't... it was Fourth Brother. He said he wanted to learn martial arts from me. After assuming a horse stance for a bit..."

Oh forget it, no point in explaining.

He lowered his head and rushed to the stove. He found half a bowl of still warm water which he brought over to feed Wen Zhiyun.

But he was only used to handling blades and spears. Where would he have this kind of delicate skill? He directly poured the half bowl of water in. He nearly choked Fourth Younger Brother to death. Jiang Sheng hurriedly snatched over the bowl, "Let me do it. I'm afraid if I let Third Brother feed him any more, I'll lose another brother."

Fang Heng's face turned red as he retreated to the corner.

Jiang Sheng took out a clean spoon and carefully fed Wen Zhiyun spoonfuls of warm water.

Before long, Wen Zhiyun blearily opened his eyes.

When he saw Jiang Sheng feeding him, his cheeks first turned red, then immediately switched to shame and anger.

He had originally wanted to learn martial arts to protect his sister, but now he had instead made his sister take care of him. He was truly a useless brother.

Thinking this, Wen Zhiyun didn't want to drink any more water. He staggered up and buried his head under the quilt.

"Fourth Brother," Jiang Sheng was shocked. "Fourth Brother, what's wrong? Are you cold? Even if you're cold, you shouldn't cover your head. Your bottom is still outside."

The person under the quilt had a beet red face and wriggled like a worm, finally burrowing entirely into the quilt.

So embarrassing he wished he could die.

Jiang Sheng blankly set down the bowl and spoon, looking towards Zheng Ruqian.

Zheng Ruqian spread his hands, indicating he didn't know.

She looked at Chang Yan. Chang Yan kept his head lowered without speaking.

She had no choice but to seek help from Eldest Brother Xu Mo, who the family unanimously agreed was the smartest.

"I think Fourth Brother doesn't like being weak," Xu Mo slowly pondered then said. "Wanting to learn martial arts to strengthen the body is of course good, but Fourth Brother, everyone has different strengths. You needn't force yourself with martial arts. If you perfect your medical skills, you can also stand tall and protect others and yourself."

When Xu Mo finished speaking, the entire dilapidated temple became quiet.

Zheng Ruqian was the first to nod and pound his chest, saying, "I don't have any impressive skills like my brothers. I can't read, have no martial prowess, and no medical expertise, but I will do business well."

Doing business and earning money was the path Zheng Ruqian had found for himself that his brothers could not surpass him in.

Fang Heng sighed, "Everyone has their own strengths. I can do martial arts because I've trained since I was little. That's how it is for families like mine. Aside from this I can't do anything else. I even worry you'll all look down on me."

Xu Mo also slowly said, "All I can do is read some books of sages and wise men, completely useless. Sometimes I envy Fourth Brother for being able to heal illness and save lives, for being able to use it to make a living."

After the three spoke, Jiang Sheng became dejected.

"I have nothing. For doing business, I need Second Brother to accompany me. I also don't know martial arts, don't know how to read, and have no medical skills." The little girl looked up and wailed, "Turns out the most useless one is me!" As she spoke, she still glanced at Chang Yan, "At least Fifth Brother is good looking. Even he is better than me."

Chang Yan, "..."

Seeing Jiang Sheng about to break down in sobs, Wen Zhiyun timidly poked his head out and tightly grasped her hand, "Jiang Sheng, don't worry. I'll always be with you."

"Me too," Zheng Ruqian chimed in.

"Me too," Fang Heng refused to be outdone.

"Of course me too," Xu Mo smiled gently. "We'll be with our little sister always, forever."

"Always, forever," Chang Yan said softly.

This was a promise.

Never to be broken.