Chapter 44: Scoundrel

After arriving at the Cui Family Grain Shop, there was no trouble to speak of. Once the shopkeeper collected the silver, he honestly handed over the pre-prepared stale grain to Lu Chuan.

"Sun Mian!" Lu Chuan called out.

"Master, what are your orders?"

"If you want to practice martial arts, you must first build your physical strength. From now on, you will shoulder this burden. No matter where we go today, you must ensure that this carrying pole remains upon your shoulders!"

"All the way until we return to my home!"

"Only then may you put it down!"

"Do you understand?" Lu Chuan said coldly.

Sun Laizi's legs suddenly trembled. He glanced at the carrying pole, a look of apprehension crossing his face: "Um, Master, the—the weight of this is certainly not light!"

"Rest assured!"

"You can handle it!"

As he spoke, Lu Chuan tossed the carrying pole directly to Sun Laizi.

Are you kidding me? If he hadn't brought Sun Laizi along, he could have found a deserted spot and tossed the grain into his portable spatial dimension. But since he had brought Sun Laizi, he had a free laborer at hand, and it would be a waste not to use him!

"Master!" Sun Laizi cried out aggrievedly, "I am still a wounded man! How can you be like this?"

"How strange. Carrying a pole uses your shoulders; what does that have to do with the injury on your hand?" Lu Chuan said cheerfully. "If you are unwilling, you won't need to call me master from now on."

"I am willing!" The corners of Sun Laizi's mouth twitched violently. He shot a vicious glare at the heavily laden carrying pole, and then nodded: "Even if it weighed a thousand catties today, I would still carry it and follow by Master's side!"

After leaving the Cui Family Grain Shop, Lu Chuan went to the Hongtu County Weaving Bureau.

After explaining his purpose to the guards at the entrance, the guard unexpectedly waved his hand with extreme impatience: "What kind of joke is this? This is the Weaving Bureau! Not a carpenter's shop. If you want a loom, go straight to a carpenter's shop to have one made. Why are you asking around here at the Weaving Bureau?"

Hearing this, a look of surprise appeared in Lu Chuan's eyes.

That wasn't right, was it? This differed somewhat from what he had understood! Even if the Weaving Bureau didn't have any to spare, these guards should have at least reported upward before making a decision. Yet today, they had simply driven people away outright. Moreover, back at the entrance, Lu Chuan had clearly seen several idle looms sitting inside the Weaving Bureau!

However, despite his confusion, Lu Chuan did not linger there, as the guards before him already wore expressions that suggested they wanted to chase him off.

"Bah!"

"The people up top are truly foolish. If they're going to conduct a secret investigation, they actually use such a simple trick. Do they really take us for fools with no discernment at all?"

One of the guards planted his wooden staff on the ground, leaning his body naturally against the door panel.

"That's because you're sharp, Brother Long!" The other guard said, bowing and scraping. "None of the rest of us have that kind of discernment!"

"That goes without saying!"

...

The two of them chatted idly. Meanwhile, Lu Chuan took Sun Laizi and departed, wondering in his heart whether he should find a carpenter somewhere to have a proper loom built.

"Sun Mian!"

"Are there any well-known carpenters nearby?"

"A carpenter?" Sun Laizi thought about it with a puzzled expression. "There is one in Zhao Family Village. Quite a few people in our village used to go to him when they needed furniture made. But the man has a stubborn temper and charges high prices!"

"Aside from having good craftsmanship, he doesn't get along with the people from our village!"

"Zhao Family Village?" Lu Chuan smiled helplessly. "Talk about a small world!"

Still, he didn't pay it much mind. A loom didn't need to be rushed at this very moment.

The two of them walked toward Double Waters Village. To Lu Chuan's surprise, although Sun Laizi had been complaining bitterly the entire way, he had never once put the carrying pole down. One had to realize that there was well over two hundred catties of grain in those baskets! Even the current Lu Chuan would find it somewhat strenuous at times.

Upon returning home, Sun Laizi dropped the carrying pole onto the ground and immediately collapsed onto it, sitting flat.

"I'm worked to death!" Sun Laizi wore a mournful expression. "Master, have I passed the test for today?"

"You've passed!"

"Watch me!" Lu Chuan instructed, using one hand to continuously massage his own shoulders and the muscles across his chest.

"When you get back, massage yourself thoroughly. Do it for at least half an hour!"

"That way, the pain you feel tomorrow morning will be much less!"

"The same rule applies: come here at the crow of the rooster!"

"Follow my lead and practice!"

"I will not actively teach you; how much you learn by following my practice depends on your own ability. If you truly manage to enter through the door in the future, I will teach you deeper things." Lu Chuan admonished.

"Understood, Master!" Sun Laizi wobbled to his feet, a trace of gratitude in his eyes.

"Alright, head back!" Lu Chuan waved his hand at Sun Laizi.

Sun Laizi wobbled away on unsteady legs.

"He's quite a moldable seedling!" Lu Chuan watched the direction in which Sun Laizi departed, smiled, picked up the grain, and walked into the house.

"Master of the house!"

"You're back?"

Bai Siyu stepped forward to welcome him, asking with some curiosity, "You... took on a disciple?"

"Mn, he wanted to learn boxing from me, so I'll teach him a bit," Lu Chuan replied casually. "It doesn't take much effort anyway."

"Will you accompany me up the mountain tomorrow?" Lu Chuan glanced at Su Ruan nearby and asked.

A flash of excitement appeared in Su Ruan's eyes: "Really?"

"Alright!"

After uttering those words, a look of solemnity crossed Su Ruan's face. She then hesitated and said, "However, I'm a bit worried about leaving Xiao Bai and Dieyi both at home alone. What if people from the village, or people from Zhao Family Village, come by?"

"We don't really have to worry about people from our own village," Bai Siyu hurriedly said to comfort her.

At that moment, Chen Miaomiao spoke up.

"I know a bit of martial arts. Dealing with two or three people shouldn't be a problem."

Chen Miaomiao's voice remained as icy as ever.

Lu Chuan looked at Chen Miaomiao with some astonishment.

"Of course, if I had a sword, it would be even better!" Chen Miaomiao added.

"Are you kidding me?" Lu Chuan curled his lip. "Privately storing military weapons is a grave crime if you're caught!"

"Hmph!" Chen Miaomiao let out a cold snort and said no more, turning her head to the side.

Right at that moment, as if having made up her mind about something, Su Ruan leaned over gently to Lu Chuan's ear and whispered a few words.

"Really?" A flash of pleasant surprise crossed Lu Chuan's eyes.

"You—you agreed to it as well?" Lu Chuan asked excitedly, looking toward Bai Siyu.

Chen Miaomiao turned her head away completely.

"Shameless scoundrel!"