The medicinal herbs were incredibly effective. Half a month later, Qin Fengming's grandfather was already able to get out of bed and walk slowly. Seeing this, the family was naturally overjoyed, and life gradually returned to peace.
Qin Fengming sometimes played on the mountain with his village companions, occasionally gathering firewood and picking wild fruits.
But when no one was around, Qin Fengming would take out the little calabash and secretly play with it. Aside from its dazzling and attractive surface, the calabash showed no other peculiarities, which left Qin Fengming extremely puzzled.
This afternoon, on the mountain path leading into Qin Family Village, more than ten people riding tall horses suddenly appeared. These individuals were all strong young men, and the last horse carried some goods.
Qin Fengming, who was playing on the hillside, immediately stopped his frolicking with his companions upon seeing them. He looked at the newcomers with a puzzled expression.
Qin Family Village was located in a remote area, and it was rare for so many outsiders to visit.
In a short while, the group of people and horses arrived before them. The leader dismounted and carefully observed the Children. Suddenly, his gaze fell upon Qin Fengming, and he immediately showed a look of pleasant surprise, saying,
“Little Sanzi, Third Brother, don't you recognize me? I am your Elder Brother, Qin Xiang.”
“Elder Brother Qin Xiang?”
Upon hearing this, Qin Fengming was stunned. When his Elder Brother left, he was only seven or eight years old. In his memory, his Elder Brother was thin, with somewhat dark skin, and a height slightly shorter than his father's.
However, the person in front of him was tall and mighty, with an imposing demeanor and a ruddy complexion.
Upon closer inspection, Qin Fengming could vaguely make out some of his Elder Brother's original appearance. He immediately jumped down the hillside, ran a few steps, and grabbed his Elder Brother's hand, shaking it vigorously, his face showing a look of pleasant surprise.
Qin Xiang stroked Qin Fengming's head, his face beaming with excitement: “Third Brother, are our father, mother, grandfather, and grandmother all well now?”
“They are all very well. Let's go home quickly. Grandmother and Mother often talk about you.”
Seeing his Elder Brother, although Qin Fengming was puzzled as to why his Elder Brother had changed so much, the smile on his face did not diminish.
Today, Qin Hong had not gone into the mountains but was at home organizing hunting tools. Suddenly hearing that his eldest son had returned, he was overjoyed and, with his family, rushed to the courtyard gate.
“Parents, Grandfather, Grandmother above, your unfilial son Qin Xiang bows to you.”
Seeing his parents and others from afar, Qin Xiang quickly dropped the reins, ran forward quickly, and knelt on the ground to pay his respects to everyone.
Qin Hong and his son, with tears in their eyes, helped Qin Xiang up and led him into the courtyard.
The more than ten young men who came with Qin Xiang were extremely well-behaved. At Qin Xiang's command, they unloaded the items from the horses. It was then that everyone realized the goods carried on the horses were cloth, grain, and meat and wine.
While everyone was talking, the Clan Chief, having heard the news, also came to the Qin Family with some of the elder members of the Clan.
Given such a lively event, Qin Hong naturally instructed everyone to use the grain and meat brought by Qin Xiang to prepare a feast to entertain the villagers.
During the banquet, Qin Xiang finally recounted his two years of military experience, which immediately filled everyone with pleasant surprise.
It turned out that after Qin Xiang joined the army, he served under a military officer named Li Bingtan, who was then a Commander of a Thousand in Qijia City.
After two months of training, Li Bingtan saw that Qin Xiang was very quick-witted, intelligent, and willing to endure hardship. Delighted, he promoted him to be his personal guard and personally guided Qin Xiang in martial arts.
Just half a year ago, Li Bingtan was ordered to suppress the bandits entrenched in Langtiao Stream southeast of Qijia City. During the battle, Qin Xiang performed heroically, not only saving Li Bingtan from the bandit leader's blade but also personally slaying him.
This successful suppression of the bandits was commended by the higher-ups. Li Bingtan was promoted to Commander of Qijia City, and out of gratitude for Qin Xiang's life-saving act, he strongly recommended Qin Xiang for promotion to Commander of a Hundred, to serve under him.
This time, Li Bingtan went to Yingzhou City to report on his duties and brought Qin Xiang with him. When they arrived at Tenglong Town, Li Bingtan knew that Qin Xiang was a local and granted him a day's leave to return home to visit his family.
Upon hearing Qin Xiang's military experience, everyone present showed envious expressions. A Commander of a Hundred was already a military officer. The small Qin Family Village had actually produced a Commander of a Hundred, which made everyone feel proud.
After the banquet, the Clan Chief and others bid farewell and departed. Qin Xiang arranged accommodation for the soldiers who came with him, and only then did he have the opportunity to exchange farewells with his family.
Although he had thoroughly recounted the family's affairs, Qin Hong did not mention a single word about the experience of buying medicine.
“It is the Qin Family's blessing that Third Brother was able to turn danger into safety. Grandfather is already old, so it's best to go into the mountains less from now on. I receive twenty taels of military pay each month. After keeping what I need, I will send ten taels home each month. If used carefully, it should ensure we have enough to eat and wear.”
Qin Xiang caressed his grandfather's injured leg, tears shimmering in his eyes.
“Xiang'er, my health is quite good, you don't need to worry about me. The family's expenses for food and clothing are also fine. You should keep the military pay you receive.”
Stroking his eldest grandson's head, the Grandfather's face showed a benevolent expression.
As everyone was chatting, Qin Xiang suddenly thought of something and immediately said with a serious expression: “Father, Grandfather, I heard the Commander mention that in half a year, there will be the Luoxia Valley Disciple selection assembly. The age range is eight to twelve years old. Little Brother's age is just right. I wonder if you would like him to go and try?”
Qijia City is under the jurisdiction of Yingzhou Commandery. Luoxia Valley is one of the two major Jianghu Schools closer to Yingzhou Commandery. The other School is Crouching Tiger Mountain. These two major Schools, in the eyes of ordinary people, are extremely large Jianghu Schools.
Actually, this is not the case. These two Schools are actually subordinates of Immortal Cultivation Sects. It's just that Immortal Cultivation Sects have rules that they are not allowed to show themselves in the secular world, so they choose a Martial Forest School to act as their representative and handle some secular affairs.
Qin Hong had heard of Luoxia Valley. There was a restaurant opened by Luoxia Valley in Tenglong Town, which was very popular. However, he had never thought of letting his son join a Jianghu School. Unable to make a decision immediately, he could only consult his father.
“Luoxia Valley is a major School near Yingzhou Commandery. I heard that a Child from Yue Family Village, which is thirty li from us, joined Luoxia Valley. In just a few years, Yue Family Village became the most famous village in Tenglong Town, and this is not unrelated to Luoxia Valley.”
“Father, then can Little Sanzi go and try?”
“Of course he can try, but it also depends on whether Little Sanzi is willing to go,” the Grandfather thought for a moment, looking at Qin Fengming with affection.
Qin Fengming did not fully understand what his Elder Brother said, but he had always envied his Second Brother, and now he knew his Elder Brother had become a General. In his young heart, he already longed for the world outside the mountains.
Seeing that Qin Fengming did not refuse, everyone began to discuss how to participate in the selection.
“The Commander once said that for the Luoxia Valley Disciple selection, each city can recommend candidates, and the Commander happens to have a few spots. It shouldn't be difficult for me to ask the Commander for one.”
Upon hearing Qin Xiang's words, everyone was extremely happy.
Qin Xiang stayed at the Qin Family for only one night, then, due to military duties, he led his group and left the mountain village.
Before leaving, he left fifty taels of silver, instructing his mother that the silver was for Qin Fengming to recuperate, and saying that the selection would be very arduous, so Qin Fengming should train diligently. He would return in four months to pick him up.