Picking Up a General to Plow the Fields

Chapter 302: Agreement

Although his family were slaves, Lian Fang Zhou was willing to respect their opinions to a certain extent.

After all, this family relied on her but in some ways, she relied on them too.
She needed to them to work with her and never, under any circumstances, betray her.

People’s hearts could never be obtained by power and money alone.

Seeing Lian Fang Zhou not speaking, Zhang Liang became anxious: “Miss, I’m really not afraid of hard work! Please, Miss, promise me!”

“Alright, you go back first and wait until I have asked your parents.
Or, do you still need to discuss it with them?” Lian Fang Zhou asked.

Hearing this, Zhang Liang was a little disappointed but felt that there was still hope.
He nodded reluctantly and said: “Then I will go back and talk to my parents.”

“Alright, go on!” Lian Fang Zhou smiled at him.

The boy retired respectfully and when he was gone, Lian Ze turned to Lian Fang Zhou: “Sister, I think Zhang Liang would also be good at martial arts, I think Sister should agree! In this way, I will have a companion!”

His older Sister glanced at Ah Jian and said jokingly: “I can agree, but it doesn’t count! You might as well ask your master!”

Lian Ze looked at Ah Jian expectantly.

Ah Jian smiled: “Zhang Liang seems able to endure hardships, as he said, it’s just that his talent is a bit weak.
If he really wants to learn, its not impossible.”

Lian Ze hurriedly laughed and said: “The so called ‘diligence can make up for clumsiness’! How many things can you not teach? Brother Ah Jian, let him learn with me! I will also work to recognize a few words with him at night.”

However, Lian Fang Zhou and a few more things to say: “I can’t agree yet, let’s see what his parents think.
If his parents agree and Ah Jian is willing, I will naturally not stop him.”

Lian Ze was very excited.
With a wide smile, he said: “I think Uncle Zhang and his wife will agree! Zhang Liang is different than the people in our village, he will stick with it!”

Since Ah Jian had shown his proficiency in hunting wolves, many young men in the village had requested to learn martial arts from him and Lian Ze’s interest in becoming an older martial brother had increased, regarding himself as a senior with many younger juniors.

 But how many of these people really wanted to learn? After the momentary impulse and enthusiasm passed, the remaining monotony and seemingly endless suffering were not something they were willing to bear!

After a while, no one came to the door anymore.
However, they still respected Ah Jian.

Lian Ze was a little resentful, complaining that those people had no perseverance, but Ah Jian only smiled lightly and persuaded him with a few words.
From the beginning, he had never intended to teach them seriously: not everyone could learn his skills.

Zhang Liang didn’t disappoint.
That evening, he returned, saying that his parents had agreed and asked Lian Fang Zhou to approve the matter.

Lian Fang Zhou still personally confirmed this with Madam Li and Zhang Xiao Jun.
She could see that Madam Li was a little reluctant but both of them agreed in the end, adding that if Zhang Liang was naughty or unable to learn, the Miss could send him back.

After Lian Fang Zhou left, Madam Liu sighed and said anxiously to her husband: “What’s wrong with Ah Liang? Why does he need to practice martial arts? Ah, doesn’t he live a good life? This makes me feel so uneasy! I always feel that… that he has lost his mind recently, it’s different than before!”

Did Zhang Xiao Jun have no feelings? He clearly felt that Zhang Liang’s change had a lot to do with the conversation between him and the couple on that night.

Although he had outwardly listened to them, solemnly agreed that he would never have wrong thoughts about Fourth Miss, never peeking at her, or trying to appear before her, —and after observing him for a while, it did appear that he intended to do so— he was not the same as before.

“I think its good to learn a little martial arts.” Zhang Xiao Jun said, afraid to tell his thoughts to his wife.
He smiled comfortingly: “If you have more skills, you have more than one way to move forward, don’t you? In case we can’t be there in the future, it will be good for him, especially if he goes to a new master’s house.
Don’t worry! Do you not understand your child’s temperament? He won’t use martial arts to do evil!”

“That’s true!” Madam Li’s heart loosened and a smile finally appeared on her face.

Zhang Liang was overjoyed when he got Lian Fang Zhou’s approval.
He knelt down and thanked her before bowing his head to Ah Jian, saying: “I will trouble Master Ah Jian in the future!”

“Get up, you don’t need to be so polite in the future! I am very strict, if you can persist, you will persist.
If you wish to withdraw at any time, I will not hinder you!” Ah Jian was satisfied when Zhang Liang stopped referring to him as ‘master’.
Unidentified, it was impossible to accept any apprentices.

Besides, not just anyone could honor him as a teacher.

“Come on, get up!” Lian Ze happily pulled the other boy up and smiled: “It’s great, we can learn from each other in the future! You must stick with it!”

Lian Fang Zhou and Ah Jian were very amused when they heard this.

Zhang Liang nodded solemnly, agreeing with an ‘en’.

Lian Fang Qing came in from the outside, Xiao Hui at her heels, and saw Zhang Liang.
Her eyes lit up and she smiled, calling: “Ah Liang!” Then she said, “What did Second Brother say? Learn from each other? What are you learning with Second Brother?”

Lian Ze smiled: “Ah Liang will practice martial arts with Brother Ah Jian in the future, of course we will learn from each other!”

“Really? That’s great!” Lian Fang Qing clapped her hands, her lips raising slightly: “Ah Liang, you have to work hard, I’m waiting to see you defeat my Second Brother!”

“Heartless little girl, who gave you your birds nest? Who accompanied you to take Xiao Hui for a walk?” Lian Ze laughed.

The younger girl grimaced and curled her lips without resentment: “But every time you are so reluctant, all you can think about is practicing martial arts when you have free time! Hmph, when Ah Liang defeats you, then I will also learn and show you who is the best!”

“Oh, this little girl makes sense when she speaks!” The others in the room laughed as they listened to her.

“It does make sense, right sister?”

“I’m ashamed to pull my sister into the water!” Lian Ze said.

On the side, Zhang Liang smiled stiffly but his face was a little red as it hung down.
As soon as he had seen Lian Fang Qing enter, he had already put his head down and not dared to look at her.

Hearing her speak in that delicate, crisp, and beautiful voice declaring that she would also learn martial arts and defeat her Second Brother, Zhang Liang’s heart throbbed so hard he could not speak.
There was only one thought in his heart, which was: Fourth Miss wants me to learn martial arts so I can defeat Second Master! I must practice hard and strive to defeat him, as long as Fourth Miss is happy, I am willing to do anything…