Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

The next day!

Lin Chen got up and saw his mother walking around the yard with dark circles under her eyes, somewhat surprised.

Didn’t she sleep well last night?

"Mom, is there something bothering you?"

"It’s not a worry, I’m too happy to sleep."

Father Lin came out of the house, also with dark circles under his eyes: "Last night, after hearing you’re going to be appointed Ninth-Grade Imperial Decree, she was too excited to sleep."

Mrs. Lin glared at her husband: "And you slept? Who kept tossing and turning all night? If you hadn’t kept tossing, I’d have been asleep long ago."

"I wasn’t tossing and turning, I just drank a lot of wine tonight, my stomach feels uncomfortable."

...

Listening to his parents bickering, Lin Chen did not join in.

Indeed, given his mother’s nature, it’s not surprising she couldn’t sleep after hearing the decree news.

She probably spent the night thinking about how to brag to the other women in the village.

He had only mentioned it casually, the Military Affairs Department hadn’t officially issued the decree yet, so he advised not to announce it publicly. Though the chances of any issues are low, it’s just not desirable to let the old village chief find another excuse for a Bailiu feast to honor the ancestors.

Lin Chen realized the village chief’s enthusiasm for ancestor worship was to sell memorial slots.

Linhu Village has already made over a thousand taels of silver selling memorial slots, and last night the village chief even suggested to him to renovate and expand the ancestral hall, adding a hundred more slots.

"Mom, if you really can’t hold it in, you can say it, it’s alright."

Mrs. Lin shook her head: "No way, this thing hasn’t been finalized yet, can’t spread it around recklessly. At most, I’ll just tell your second aunt in private; she can keep a secret and won’t let it go out."

Lin Chen and Father Lin both rolled their eyes at the same time; once it enters the second aunt’s ear, it’s as if the whole village knows.

"As long as you’re happy."

Hearing this from her son, Mrs. Lin cheerfully went into the house: "I’ve made some porridge for you, eat it before you head out."

"Okay."

Lin Chen responded, realizing that while the panel isn’t fully updated and his cultivation technique has reached its limits, he’s not in a rush to practice more right now.

The Lin Family’s breakfast was much more abundant than usual, with a pot of thick millet porridge in the center, its golden rice oil and steaming aroma wrapped in grain fragrance, and Mrs. Lin had specially served it in newly bought green porcelain bowls.

At the table’s corner, a bamboo steamer held ten fluffy white buns, made from the fine flour from the town’s grain store, airy enough to pinch out cloud-like pores.

A plate of crisp pickled cucumber, and a bowl of marinated beef sticks, exuding the unique meat aroma of beef.

Not particularly refined, but enough to eat well.

"Chen’Er, I need to discuss something with you."

At the table, after drinking two bowls of porridge, Father Lin spoke, Lin Chen hearing his father’s words swallowed the bun in his mouth, stopped chewing, and looked at his father.

"Your uncle... ever since he went to find Lin Ming, he’s been missing. I’ve discussed with your second uncle, thinking of letting Hui’Er and your brother go find your uncle."

As he spoke, Father Lin was somewhat afraid to look his son in the eye. His sister-in-law and Lin Ming had done such things, and Chen’Er might have resentment towards his elder brother.

"It’s time to look for Uncle."

Lin Chen was momentarily stunned, then nodded with a smile: "Dad, you and second uncle can decide on this."

"Your second uncle was worried you might have some grudges."

"Why would I have grudges, that woman and Lin Ming brought it upon themselves, Uncle didn’t do anything, if the eldest brother finds him and he’s unwilling to return, then leave some money for him."

Towards Uncle Lin Hai, Lin Chen wasn’t particularly close, and Uncle left to bring Lin Ming back. His father and second uncle still have feelings for their older brother, and he needed to consider his father’s feelings.

However, Uncle has been gone for so long, either something has happened, or he knows what happened in Linhu Village and doesn’t have the face to come back. Lin Chen estimates the latter is more likely.

Even if the brothers find Uncle, he probably won’t want to come back.

"Hmm, if your uncle is unwilling to come back, just give him some money to settle outside."

Hearing his son not opposing, Father Lin was very pleased; the eldest, although no longer young, with some extra money at home, they could completely afford to find another wife for the eldest, remarry, and continue the lineage.

Lin Chen smiled without saying anything, his father’s happiness was all that mattered.

...

...

After the meal, Lin Chen headed to the lakeside to meet his teacher, unexpectedly finding Instructor Yu was also present.

"Teacher, Instructor!"

Yu Yongnian looked at Lin Chen, smiling: "Instructor, I’ve benefited from you once again, moving up two grades without doing anything. My wife even says the best decision in my life was to become an instructor at the Martial Hall in Kaohe Town."

From Junior Eighth Grade to Seventh Grade, it’s roughly a two-grade difference, typically there’s also a Junior Seventh Grade in between.

"This is all well-deserved for Instructor."

Lin Chen chuckled, realizing Instructor now calls his wife "teacher’s wife," seems like a happy event is approaching.

"I’m not declining, just feeling indescribable."

Yu Yongnian wasn’t a hypocrite, after his senior sister’s advice last time, he understood.

"Junior Brother Yu, I think it’s possible your position might rise further in the future." Jia Nanzhu smiled while stroking his beard: "Who can say Lin Chen won’t achieve other incredible feats?"

Jia Nanzhu adheres to the theory of praising pupils, never discourages or pours cold water on Lin Chen; in his eyes, Lin Chen is clear-headed and won’t get carried away.