Seeing Zhao Hus mother seemed to have made up her mind, Lin Mou habitually touched his nose and said: "Auntie Zhao, I was orphaned at the age of ten and relied on my neighbors for support. You treated me like a son or nephew, so even if you dont say it, I wont forget your familys kindness. However, my abilities are limited now, and I couldnt take care of everything... Since you insist, Zhao Hu doesnt seem to mind either. Lets go to the county together tomorrow to change his household registration. But, Zhao Hu doesnt need to follow me to Jiangning, Mei Zi, Ze Wa, and Dong Wa are still minors and need Zhao Hu to stay behind and take care of them."

  Madam Zhao was naturally delighted. According to what was said, Zhao Hu was supposed to follow Lin to Jiangning to get the monthly allowance, but if he really went with him, those monthly allowances would be enough for his own expenses, and there would be nothing left for the family to rely on. Lin did not want Zhao Hu to follow him, and if Zhao Hu stayed at home, he could at least replace two laborers, plus he could avoid various additional tasks, so their previously tight days could suddenly become relaxed, how could she not be happy?

  Zhaos family happily went to the old house with Zhao Hus father, and Lin Jingchang also left with a slight drunkenness. Zhao Hu didnt say a word at first, but after everyone had dispersed, he asked Lin Xian: "Since you agreed to be my best man, why did you go to Jiangning without letting me follow? This is not pleasant for me!"

  Zhou Pu sat on a bench on one side, smiling as he watched Zhao Hu interrogate Lin Xie. He liked Zhaos straightforward and forthright personality, so he wanted to see how Lin would take charge.

  Lin Tie looked at Zhao Hu and knew he was trustworthy, asking: "Are you really going to follow me to Jiangning?"

  "I think I have some advantages too, is it reasonable to only take advantage of you?" Zhao Hu said with a huff, "Besides, when you go to Jiangning, dont you need someone by your side to take care of you?"

  In Zhao Hus view, Lin Xie must have used Zhou Pu as his attendant and would also let Zhou Pu follow him to Jiangning. He felt angry that he was not as highly valued by Lin Xie as this outsider.

  Lin Xie smiled and said, "I know you have a bit of strength and have practiced boxing. Do you want to learn from Master Zhou? You should be able to see that Master Zhou is skilled in both hands."

  "Come on, dont be afraid to bully me because of my age," Zhou Pu knew that Lin Xie had made up his mind and walked over with a smile. "Lets exchange hands..." Zhou Pu had practiced martial arts in his early years and had also learned the flower frame. For half his life, his fist and footwork no longer had any routines, only using scattered hands to spar.

  Zhao Hu thought that Lin Xie, after being ambushed, wanted to recruit two capable bodyguards to protect him fully, and didnt notice that Lin Xies way of addressing Zhou Pu had changed. He knew that when Zhou Pu said "lend a hand", it meant to exchange blows. With the courage of a newborn calf not fearing a tiger, he said: "Alright...". His right hand clenched into a fist and extended forward, inviting Zhou Pu to make the first move. Zhou Pus wrist came over, and with a quick flip, he was about to grab Zhao Hus arm. The movement was as fast as lightning. Zhao Hu was startled, initially thinking that Zhou Pu was just physically strong. In his surprise, he tried to dodge but couldnt avoid it, and his wrist was caught by Zhou Pu. Zhou Pu didnt change his move to lock Zhao Hus throat or cover his eyes, but instead used force to test him, to see if Zhao Hu had any strength, whether he was stiff or not. Zhao Hu indeed had a strong arm and wrist power. Seeing Zhou Pu competing with him in strength, he felt happy inside, and hadnt even used all his strength yet. Unexpectedly, Zhou Pus wrist suddenly exerted force, and with a clenched fist, directly punched Zhao Hus chest. Zhao Hu took this blow to the chest, retreated three or four steps, almost falling back, and didnt catch his breath until after a while.

  Zhao Hu only then realized that his two moves of "Village Style" were not even in the eyes of others, and he was stunned there, not knowing what to say.

  "How is it?" Lin Xuan asked with a smile, seeing Zhao Hus somewhat dejected expression. "You now know that Master Zhou is not just an ordinary refugee who escaped from Jibei. Letting Master Zhou work with you is not to dampen your enthusiasm - since you insist on following me to Jiangning, there are some things that need to be made clear to you, and that means you must keep it confidential, not even telling Jingchang."

  Zhao Hus temperament was a bit rough, and if it were someone else, they would have hesitated. He only asked, "Is there anything else that cant be said to others?" His tone sounded like he was ready to jump into a big pit in Jiangning with Lin Xuan without any hesitation. Rather than saying his temperament was rough, its better to say that he trusted Lin Xuan deeply. He only said, "I just know that youve changed a lot this time compared to before."

  "Of course, there will be some changes. You dont really think I can escape so easily from the robbers in Baisha County? What I said to Lu and Chen today is mostly made up. Some things are frightening to talk about, so its better not to say them for now, lest everyone worries. However, since you insist on following us to Jiangning, you will eventually see and hear something. As long as you understand in your heart, dont leak anything out. If some things get leaked, there will be no small trouble." Lin said, he wanted to keep Zhao Hu by his side, although he wouldnt tell him all the inside information now, but some things had to be made clear to avoid any mistakes.

  "I know this, Im not a three-year-old kid..." Zhao Hu said.

  "Enze is learning martial arts from Master Zhou, including sword fighting. You can also ask Master Zhou to teach you a thing or two." Lin Dai said.

  "Can Master Zhou accept me as his apprentice?" Zhao Hu turned around and asked Zhou Pu with great enthusiasm.

  Lin Tie also chimed in with a flattering tone: "Youve worked hard, Master Zhou."

  "What I know is just a small trick, Lin brothers skills are the real killing technique. Zhao Hu, why pick up sesame seeds when youve lost watermelon?" Zhou Pu said.

  "Whats the art of killing? I just happened to be born with some innate abilities," Lin Tie said, not wanting Zhao Hu to think he had changed much, and lightly brushed off the events of the past few months. "As for the art of killing, nothing surpasses the sword and spear. One brave warrior cant withstand ten veteran soldiers. The technique lies not in the sword, but in the soldier. You, Zhao Hu, have also had over a dozen subordinates before, so you should have some understanding of this aspect... Perhaps one day youll be able to earn military merit and become a general."

  Once a household slave, they were registered as a mean household. Even if they later removed their registration and became good people, there would be strict restrictions on their participation in the imperial examination and entering officialdom for several generations. However, in this dynasty, in order to reward military merit, those with mean households who joined the army and accumulated merit to remove their registration did not have this restriction, and could even obtain a military merit title to glorify their ancestors.

  Zhao Hu thought that since he had acknowledged Zhou Pu as his master, he should say that he and Chen Enze couldnt share a bed with Zhou Pu, but instead should spread out another bed on the floor of the west wing, which would be more proper. However, Zhou Pu kicked him: "Where did all these broken rules come from?"

  ***************

  Zhao Hu, Zhou Pu and Chen Enze all went to the west wing to rest. After a while, snoring sounds came over, rising and falling in succession. Even with two doors in between, it was still noisy enough to make Lin Xuan unable to fall asleep.

  Lin Xuan was originally heavy-hearted, and at the beginning of winter, it wasnt particularly cold. He slept with his window open, gazing at the moonlight in front of his bed, which was as white as frost. Lin Xuan was thinking about the affairs of the Lin family. He knew that if he proposed going to Jiangning, Seventh Lady would be very disappointed, but there was no other way - they couldnt afford to waste any more time on Longshan Island.

  ***************

  The next morning, Zhao Hu sent Lin Fu, Zhou Pu and Chen Enze to the county seat with a mule cart. Before they left, he told his mother about the decision that "Lin Fu is going to Jiangning and he will also go to Jiangning". His mother didnt say anything, but after they left, she went to help out at Lins mansion. Last night, Zhao Hus mother had been thinking back and forth, it was good that Zhao Hu stayed behind, but who knows if Lin Fu would have a great future, then Zhao Hu following him would also have a career, besides, the meaning of the seventh lady was also hoping that Zhao Hu could follow Lin Fu.

  Zhao rushed to the Lin familys mansion, where someone was harnessing a horse carriage in front of the gate. It was one of Second Masters attendants. Zhao pondered that Second Master would be going out for a long journey early in the morning, and she carefully entered through the side door.

  Everyone in the big house knew that there was a grudge between the second young master and the seventh lady, and Zhao was invited by the seventh lady to come to the Lin family to help with the chores. Zhao usually avoided the second young master carefully, so as not to be scolded for no reason.

  The Lin family was quite considerate of their servants and treated them well. Normally, not just anyone could come in to help with the chores. Zhao Shi, although a bit rough around the edges, was only a village woman from a farming household, but after the Seventh Lady entered the Lin household, she specifically requested that Zhao Shi be allowed to enter the manor to serve her, and thus Zhao Shi had the opportunity to work in the large estate.

  Madam Zhao only later came to know that Seventh Madame couldnt put down the thought of taking care of Lin Xie, but when she had just entered the Lin household, the cold guns and dark arrows of the fierce struggle in the big mansion were severe. The six madames all harbored malicious intentions towards her, waiting for her to reveal some weakness so they could mock her. She naturally couldnt directly go take care of a Lin household son who was already quite distant from the main family. When Lin Xie grew up to be fourteen or fifteen years old, Seventh Madame was again a beautiful and elegant young woman in her early twenties, and her position in the Lin household was unstable, so she would even more need to avoid suspicion. Madam Zhao originally had a kind heart, before Seventh Madame entered the Lin household, she took extra care of the young Lin Xie, after Seventh Madame entered the Lin household, she invited Madam Zhao to come help with the chores at the big mansion, Madam Zhao even more enthusiastically treated Lin Xie like her own son or nephew and took care of him. Others only thought that Madam Zhao had a kind face and a compassionate heart, but wouldnt randomly think about Seventh Madames head.

  "Madam Qi is indeed kind to this child," Zhao thought to herself, still thinking of Lin Xie as a child. "This poor child is really stubborn and doesnt know how hard Madam Qi has worked all these years. He wont even stay to help Madam Qi out, but instead wants to go to Jiangning for no reason. Has that fox spirit in Jiangning really captivated his heart?"

  Madam Zhao rushed to the front yard of the Lin familys steward, today was the day for checking accounts. The Seventh Lady was already there checking accounts, seven or eight accountants stood together in silence, two of them looked very ugly, probably scolded. When Madam Zhao entered the yard, the Seventh Lady saw her and threw the account on the table, only saying: "Ill come back after lunch..." and asked Madam Zhao to follow her to the Cuiyuan at the back.

  Zhao told Madame Qi about what happened at Lin Jus old house at the foot of the village last night.

  Madam Qi nodded and said, "Lin Xie has become a better person this time around. I was going to advise him not to quarrel with the Zhao Guisheng family, but instead leave a good name in Shanglin, which is more important than anything else... did he agree to let Zhao Hu follow him?"

  "Xiucai agreed to let Zhao Hu follow him, but for some reason, he wanted to go to Jiangning and didnt plan to stay in Shanglintou..." said Zhao.

  "Hes made up his mind......" The Seventh Lady Gu Ying slightly furrowed her brow, and then, those delicate eyebrows like green hills relaxed, but she let out a faint sigh and said to Zhao Shi, "He should have his own ideas too. Ill go to the lake tomorrow, you wait for him to come back and tell him."