Crafting an Immortal Race with Daily Hexagrams

Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Buying a Sword

The youngest son is a renowned martial arts fanatic. Shen Yuan thought the two brothers would train until late, but who knew that after just half an hour, Shen Wen’an returned to the house looking disinterested.

Trailing behind him, Shen Wenyan stormed in, angrily saying, ”These Sword Skills were taught by the master, yet you’re the one being picky!”

”You don’t want to practice; I don’t want to teach either!”

Hearing the brothers argue, Hu Yufen came out from the inner room.

”What’s going on here?”

”Ah Nu, are you bullying him again?”

Shen Wenyan complained, ”Mom, he’s the one who bullied me!”

Hu Yufen turned to look at the silent Shen Wen’an and sat down near him. ”What’s going on?”

Shen Wen’an paused for a moment before saying, ”Second brother’s Sword Skill isn’t good.”

”He said the master’s Sword Skills are mere show, not real skills, and he doesn’t want to learn them...”

Seizing the moment, Shen Wenyan added in a voice tinged with sarcasm.

Over the years, their family had great respect for Lu Zhiyuan, and now they were being belittled by a five-year-old.

”If you don’t want to learn, then forget it. It’s not a big deal.”

Hu Yufen didn’t blame him too much.

Parents around the world often favor their youngest. Shen Wen’an was introverted from a young age, didn’t like to talk, and had slight personality flaws. Hu Yufen showed him extra affection.

”Mom!”

Seeing that his mother didn’t even utter a single word of reproach, Shen Wenyan was a bit unhappy.

”Alright, hurry up and go wash up and sleep.”

Shen Yuan, who had been silent, jokingly scolded and chased Shen Wenyan out.

Watching his youngest son quietly stroking the Wooden Sword beside him, he slowly sat down and said, ”Do you like swords?”

Shen Wen’an nodded without speaking.

”Shall I make you a new one tomorrow?”

The little guy’s hand paused slightly, and he turned to him and said, ”I want a real sword, like the one second brother has.”

Before Shen Yuan could respond, Hu Yufen expressed her displeasure.

”You can just keep dreaming about that.”

”A sword costs at least a dozen silver coins, and you don’t even know how to use one. What’s the point of having it?”

”Let your father make you a Wooden Sword to play with instead.”

Disappointment appeared on Shen Wen’an’s face. Without further fuss, he picked up the Wooden Sword in front of him and walked towards the bed in the corner of the hall.

All of this fell into the eyes of Shen Yuan, the old father, and it left him feeling uneasy.

At night, the couple lay on the bed.

”We should have enough silver coins at home these years, right?”

”What do you plan to do?” Hu Yufen turned and asked.

”Wen’an likes swords, let’s buy him one.”

Although he hadn’t been a father in his previous life, he once fantasized about how to nurture his own children in the future.

If a child has interests, as long as they’re not illegal or criminal, you must support them wholeheartedly.

”You’re just spoiling him...”

Hu Yufen complained, then sighed, ”Then go to town tomorrow and see. Buy him a cheap one.”

A smile appeared on Shen Yuan’s face, and his large hand mischievously crept towards her delicate body.

...

After intimacy, Hu Yufen panted slightly and said, ”Wenping and Wen’an are growing up, and the house is just not big enough.”

”Should we consider expanding?”

”And maybe build a decent pigpen and cow shed.”

A few years ago, they caught a litter of wild pigs from the mountain, leaving seven piglets.

When Shen Wenping and Shen Wen’an had their full-month celebration, one was slaughtered. The remaining six have grown to over thirty pigs over the years.

That’s due to Shen Yuan’s intentional control.

”It’s time to expand.”

They saved some money these years, and when Shi Tou returns from the army, he plans to discuss marriage with Huang Lingxiu, so he ought to have a new house.

The youngest, Shen Wen’an, doesn’t even have a private room, currently living in a corner of the hall in a makeshift space separated by straw curtains.

”I’ll ask Village Chief Yang Bo later to see if there’s any vacant land in the village.”

Hu Yufen nodded, and the couple fell asleep in each other’s embrace.

At midnight, Shen Yuan woke habitually to glance at the Turtle Shell in his Sea of Consciousness.

[Hexagram refreshed!]

[Today’s Hexagram · Calm]: Wind at the hour of the rabbit, clouds rise at the hour of the dragon, rain falls at the hour of the sheep, receiving water one-foot-zero-twenty-eight.

No sign of the rain stopping?

It must be the rainy season.

Anyang County always experiences an unending rainy season between spring and summer each year, lasting as little as ten days and sometimes extending over a month.

If the rain is strong, it easily leads to flooding.

When Shen Wenyan was born, it was the unending rain that caused flooding disasters.

After thinking for a moment, Shen Yuan decided to check the situation tomorrow. If possible, he would move the stored grains to the mountain to hide them.

If flooding does occur, grain prices will definitely rise. Stocking up now ensures the family won’t suffer from hunger.

The following morning, when he woke up, it was already raining.

The drizzle was neither heavy nor light.

This type of rain tends to last a long time.

After breakfast, Shen Yuan brought two raincoats and conical hats and called Shen Wen’an.

”Let’s go, I’ll take you to town to buy a sword.”

The little one’s expressionless face briefly showed a rare smile upon hearing this. He quickly took the raincoat and jumped onto the cart.

Father and son rode the cart slowly through the rain.

Shen Wen’an squatted on the cart, clutching the Wooden Sword in his arms, curiously observing the raindrops falling from the sky.

Yunshui Town Martial Arts Hall.

When the cart stopped, Shen Wen’an was a bit curious.

”Aren’t we going to buy a sword?”

Shen Yuan lifted him off the cart and said, ”I’m not familiar with the blacksmith’s shop. We need Uncle Huang to help us pick.”

”Come on.”

The two took off their raincoats and walked into the Martial Arts Hall.

”Uncle Shen?”

At the entrance of the Martial Arts Hall, Huang Lingxiu came face to face with them and hurriedly greeted Shen Yuan upon seeing him.

”Lingxiu, is your father home?”

”He’s gone to the county. Are you looking for him for something?” Huang Lingxiu said, squatting to entertain Shen Wen’an, but this kid gave no response.

”It’s nothing serious; Wen’an wants a sword. I’m unfamiliar with swords, so I wanted to go to the blacksmith shop with your dad to have a look and buy one for him.”

Upon hearing this, Huang Lingxiu looked surprised at this future little brother-in-law.

Such a young age, and he wasn’t satisfied with Wooden Swords, wanting a real one?

”Wen’an, tell sister what kind of sword you want?”

Talking about swords finally got some reaction from the little guy.

”Like the Grass Chapter Sword.”

The Grass Chapter Sword was Shen Wenyan’s sword, a gift from Lu Zhiyuan.

He liked it very much and had secretly taken it several times when Shen Wenyan wasn’t paying attention, only to be caught and scolded before he could finely inspect it.

Huang Lingxiu had seen the Grass Chapter Sword too and laughed, saying, ”Then how about I take you to buy one?”

Shen Wen’an nodded repeatedly.

Seeing this, Huang Lingxiu immediately found an oil-paper umbrella and prepared to take him out.

Shen Yuan hurriedly pulled out a money bag from his pocket, ”Lingxiu, take some money.”

Huang Lingxiu didn’t reach out to accept, just said she had some with her and ran out the door.

In the Martial Arts Hall, Shen Yuan shook his head with a smile.

This girl’s personality is hearty, lacking the typical shyness of girls. His son being favored by her is truly a blessing.

About half an hour passed before their figures appeared at the Martial Arts Hall’s door, Shen Wen’an holding a brand new long sword in his arms.

With the sword and scabbard measuring nearly three feet, it almost matched his height.

”Uncle Shen, Wen’an’s Martial Dao talent is remarkable; better than Shi Tou. You should quickly have him start practicing with medicinal meals.”

Huang Lingxiu shook water from the oil-paper umbrella and spoke.

Shen Yuan smiled wryly; he recognized that his youngest son’s talent was excellent. But being too young and having personality flaws made coming to the Martial Arts Hall problematic.

Huang Lingxiu learned during the trip that Shen Wen’an was attached to home and didn’t like interacting with strangers.

”Let’s do it this way. The Martial Arts Hall isn’t particularly busy nowadays. I’ll come by Jinliu Village every few days to bring medicinal meals to Wen’an and guide his practice.”

”Will that be too much trouble?”

Shen Yuan felt deeply touched but was worried about troubling Huang Lingxiu.

”It’s no trouble; we’re family.” Huang Lingxiu replied jovially, placing herself as the elder sister-in-law.

”It’s settled then.”

”Uncle Shen, sit down first. I’ll get someone to prepare some food, and you can leave after having lunch when the rain eases.”

She poured them tea and then ran out again.