Chapter 22: The sharpness of a sword comes from sharpening, so eat less bitterness if you can

Entered the city.

Lin Chen curiously looked at everything around him.

The three-foot-wide bluestone street was filled with pedestrians.

Shops lined both sides of the street, with various signs, some hung with red silk and written with gold characters, shining in the sun; others were simple wooden signs, showing the heritage of old shops.

Merchants and rich people in gorgeous clothes, merchants selling on the street.

The style of the entire county city was completely different from Hehe Town. Here, Lin Chen felt prosperity and vitality.

This was a look that the people in the town didn't have.

The people in the town worked hard for three meals a day, while the people in the city, especially the rich merchants and nobles, had long been free from the trouble of three meals, and their mental outlook was naturally very different.

Clear Wind Wu Tang.

Yu Yongnian took Lin Chen directly into the martial hall and arrived at the martial hall's reception hall. A martial hall servant served fragrant tea.

"Yu Lin Shidi is here!"

After a while, there were footsteps from the side door behind the screen, and a man walked out.

"Zhao Jingchuan."

Yu Yongnian responded with a smile and pointed to Lin Chen standing on the side: "This is Lin Chen, whom I mentioned the day before yesterday, the first one in our Hehe Wu Tang to develop Essence Qi."

"Disciple Lin Chen has met Yu Yu Jiaoxi Zhao." Lin Chen hurriedly bowed and saluted.

"Hmm, very good."

Zhao Ce's gaze swept over Lin Chen and then withdrew. He sat in the main seat: "Yu Lin Shidi has traveled far from the town, drink some tea first."

The two drank tea and chatted for a while, and Lin Chen listened silently on the side.

The more he listened, the more he felt something was wrong.

This Yu Yu Jiaoxi Zhao only chatted with Yu Yu Jiaoxi and didn't mention his joining the martial hall at all.

Yu Yongnian also found something wrong, put down the teacup, and asked: "Zhao Jingchuan, have the procedures for the martial hall been completed?"

"Yu Lin Shidi, this matter is afraid to be a bit difficult."

Zhao Ce suddenly sighed: "This session of students who developed Essence Qi within a year in the major martial halls is much more than in previous sessions. To be honest with Brother, I have seen seven students in these two days, and the martial hall's quota is not enough."

"Ten quotas, can't even one be left? And Lin Chen is the first in the martial hall. According to the rules, there should be an Open-Acupuncture Pill quota."

Yu Yongnian's face was a bit ugly. Each of the eight major martial halls would have ten Open-Acupuncture Pill disciple quotas. If the number of students who developed Essence Qi in the martial hall within a year exceeded eighty, it was indeed possible that students would not get the quota. But no matter how many people there were, the first-place student would definitely have a quota.

"Yu Lin Shidi, don't be excited. The martial hall quota was indeed left with two the day before yesterday, but the quota matter is not decided by me alone. The last two quotas were given to two other students by the Vice Kong Kong Guanzhu yesterday. I am also helpless."

Zhao Ce sighed lightly and looked at Lin Chen: "The martial hall quota is indeed full. If Lin Chen is willing to join the martial hall, looking at Brother's face, I can apply to the Kong Kong Guanzhu for a subsidy of ten taels of silver for Lin Chen for one year."

"No need."

Yu Yongnian refused directly. He brought Lin Chen to Clear Wind Wu Tang because he had walked out of the martial hall back then and had this incense friendship, so he gave priority to recommending Lin Chen to the martial hall.

Secondly, it was because of Lin Chen's situation, which was more suitable for the martial arts of Clear Wind Wu Tang, but this didn't mean there were no other choices.

"Since the martial hall quota is full, then Brother will not disturb Lin Lin Shixiong and will take his leave."

"Yu Lin Shidi, don't act on impulse, so as not to delay Junior Nephew Lin."

"Don't bother Zhao Jingchuan, Lin Chen, let's go."

Yu Yongnian left with a black face, and Lin Chen naturally followed. Having lived two lives, he still had the ability to observe words and colors. This Yu Yu Jiaoxi Zhao didn't look at him at all.

From the high-and-mighty gift expression of this Yu Yu Jiaoxi Zhao when he said he would give him a subsidy of ten taels of silver, Lin Chen understood in his heart that in this person's eyes, he wasn't even worth a subsidy of ten taels of silver a year.

"Bah, a fisherman's son, also wants to get an Open-Acupuncture Pill. Yu Lin Shidi is really daring to think, and only spent less than twenty taels to develop Essence Qi. Who is he trying to fool?"

Zhao Ce stood at the entrance of the hall, looking at the backs of Yu Yongnian and Lin Chen, and spat.

If he hadn't promised the day before yesterday, he wouldn't even give a subsidy of ten taels of silver.

He could give a subsidy of ten taels of silver a year, which was already giving Yu Yongnian face. Since he didn't appreciate it, then wait to be rejected in other martial halls.

"Go to Mantis Wu Tang."

Out of the gate of Clear Wind Wu Tang, Yu Yongnian looked at Lin Chen: "Don't be discouraged, the first place in each martial hall can get an Open-Acupuncture Pill quota from the martial hall. Clear Wind Wu Tang's quota is full, Mantis Wu Tang should have it."

"This disciple has troubled the instructor."

Lin Chen was sincerely grateful for Yu Yu Jiaoxi. From the time he entered the Wu Tang, Yu Yu Jiaoxi had taken care of him, and now, for his sake, he personally went to the martial hall to talk about his treatment.

A personal disciple, this is probably the treatment.

The two walked through most of the county city and arrived at Mantis Wu Tang.

After Yu Yongnian reported his identity and purpose, a martial hall servant led the two into the martial hall's reception room to wait. After a cup of tea, a young instructor came out to receive the two.

"I already know Yu Lin Shidi's purpose."

Qian Yong said with a smile, the Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo had sent a copy of the information of all students who developed Essence Qi in the county to each martial hall early this morning. He checked Lin Chen's information before setting the subsidy of fifteen taels.

"Brother Qian, Lin Chen spent less than twenty taels in total to develop Essence Qi, which can be verified in the records of the Wu Tang. In terms of martial arts talent, Lin Chen is no weaker than those noble children."

"Since this is the case, why didn't Yu Lin Shidi let Lin Chen join Clear Wind Wu Tang?"

Facing Qian Yong's counter-question, Yu Yongnian fell silent. Could he say that Clear Wind Wu Tang rejected Lin Chen?

"Spending less than twenty taels of silver to develop Essence Qi, Yu Lin Shidi comes from Clear Wind Wu Tang, such a disciple Clear Wind Wu Tang would not miss it."

Yu Yongnian continued to be silent. He couldn't say that Clear Wind Wu Tang's quota was full. Regardless of whether what Zhao Ce said was true or false, Clear Wind Wu Tang's quota was full before coming to Mantis Wu Tang, which was treating Mantis Wu Tang as a backup. If he said it, both sides would lose face.

He didn't believe Qian Yong couldn't guess this, but he still had to ask like this, and the intention was already clear.

The attitude was also clear: Mantis Wu Tang would not give Lin Chen this Open-Acupuncture Pill quota again.

"Sorry to bother you."

Yu Yongnian cupped his fists and said goodbye again.

"I won't send Yu Lin Shidi off."

After Yu Yongnian and Lin Chen left, Qian Yong snorted: "What kind of thing, Clear Wind Wu Tang doesn't want it, and wants to come to our Mantis Wu Tang to take advantage. What do you think our Mantis Wu Tang is? Spending less than twenty taels to develop Essence Qi, only a fool would believe it."

The entrance of Mantis Wu Tang.

Yu Yongnian looked at Lin Chen: "Don't be discouraged, Clear Wind Wu Tang and Mantis Wu Tang are unwilling to give you a quota, there are other martial halls to choose from."

Lin Chen nodded, but a shadow was cast in his heart. Things were not that simple.

It is a fact that he developed Essence Qi. As long as he develops Essence Qi, the martial hall can give him an Open-Acupuncture Pill quota. Now these two martial halls don't give it. On the one hand, they don't believe he spent so little money to develop Essence Qi, but more importantly, it is because of his family background.

It's just that these words are not easy to put on the table, so they used the excuse that the quota was full.

Cloud Hidden Wu Tang, Wild Wind Wu Tang...

The next two martial halls, as Lin Chen expected, were still rejected.

Walking out of the martial hall gate, looking at Yu Yu Jiaoxi, Lin Chen wanted to speak but stopped.

Emotionally, he should persuade Yu Yu Jiaoxi to stop. Every time he went to a martial hall and was rejected, it was also a kind of injury to the instructor, which was equivalent to rubbing his face against the other party.

But he really didn't want to give up the Open-Acupuncture Pill. His family background was indeed poor, so he had to grasp this opportunity.

One step late, every step late.

Only by taking the Open-Acupuncture Pill and occupying the advantage can he get more rewards in the monthly assessment of the martial hall.

After walking through the four martial halls, it was already near noon.

"Let's fill our stomachs first. There is a restaurant in the city with good dishes."

Yu Yongnian took Lin Chen to a restaurant not far from Clear Wind Wu Tang, and a smile appeared on his face again: "When I was practicing martial arts in the martial hall back then, I often came to this restaurant with several senior brothers in the martial hall."

"Shopkeeper, bring a plate of Flying Phoenix Claws, and look at serving two more dishes."

The so-called Flying Dragon Claws are pheasant claws, taking a nice-sounding name.

The dishes were served, Lin Chen ate silently, Yu Yongnian poured himself a glass of wine to drink, seeing Lin Chen not speaking, comforted: "There are four more martial halls, don't be discouraged. The path of the Martial Way is long and difficult. Don't be discouraged by these setbacks in front of you. The setbacks suffered today will be the driving force for your martial arts growth in the future."

"The fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold, and the sharpness of a sword comes from sharpening. This disciple understands this truth. Even if I can't get the Open-Acupuncture Pill quota, this disciple will not give up the path of the Martial Way."

Yu Yongnian was surprised: "I didn't expect you to be able to summarize such words. The sharpness of a sword comes from sharpening, this sentence is worth a big drink. You can't drink alcohol, so drink soup instead, and have a drink with me."

After a cup of soup, Lin Chen continued: "Yu Yu Jiaoxi, this disciple went back to the village this time, and the village chief told this disciple something. When Provincial Provincial Graduate Jiang left the village back then, he once told the village chief that if the descendants in the village have achievements in the Martial Way, they must inform him. Can this disciple write a letter to inform Provincial Provincial Graduate Jiang of the current situation?"

Lin Chen raised his head and said the idea that popped up in his heart.

If the major martial halls are unwilling to give him this quota, he can only write a letter to Provincial Provincial Graduate Jiang.

"If the instructor feels it is inappropriate, then this disciple will not write."

Yu Yongnian heard this and slapped the table: "Write, why not write."

Seeming to feel that his attitude changed too fast, Yu Yongnian explained: "Although suffering can sharpen your will, it is better to eat less bitterness if you can."

"This disciple listens to the instructor, then this disciple will go back and write a letter to Provincial Provincial Graduate Jiang."

"Don't rush to go yet, go to the Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo with me first?"

Yu Yongnian waved his hand, seeing Lin Chen's puzzled eyes, and said in a deep voice: "Go to the Poyang Poyang Wuzhengsuo to file a complaint!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 23 =====