Chapter 54 Reluctantly Agree

Chapter 54 Reluctantly Agree

Chapter 54 Reluctantly Agree
Butler Liu shook his head, "I don't know, he just said he had something urgent to do, or he wanted to see you in the study, it's really rare!"

Xiao Xia felt a little nervous as he followed the housekeeper all the way to the central hall and walked into a small courtyard. This was the outer study of the owner, Xiao Cong. The outer study was different from an ordinary guest hall or a VIP guest hall. It was usually used to receive important confidants and to handle confidential matters.

Or you can host very good friends to show your friendship.

In the study, Xiao Xia bowed to the head of the family, Xiao Cong. Xiao Cong smiled and said, "I've been very busy recently and haven't had time to pay attention to you. I heard from Liu Lang that you've been in seclusion for two months?"

Xiao Xia secretly cursed Lao Liu for being too quick-tongued, but there was nothing he could do because Lao Liu had always been a talkative person.

"Reporting to the master, I am studying!"

Xiao Cong just asked casually. He pondered for a moment and said, "Xiao Mo Ke, you still remember it, right?"

"He's my grandfather!"

Xiao Cong nodded, "Since you remember, you are not a member of the Xiao family. You actually know it in your heart!"

"My mother is from the Xiao family, and I am half a member of the Xiao family!"

Xiao Cong smiled and said, "At the beginning, the princess and I had an agreement that I would take care of you for five years, until the end of the year. Starting from the beginning of next year, you will be completely free. I will not stop you from going anywhere you want. Of course, if you want to stay, that's totally fine."

Xiao Xia nodded silently. He didn't know what the patriarch meant by saying this to him.
Xiao Cong stared at Xiao Xia for a while and said, "Only you, me and Zhang Jue know your true life story. Everyone in the mansion thinks you are a descendant of the Luoyang Xiao family. I hope you can keep this secret forever!"

"Junior, please remember this!"

"Let's talk about business!"

Xiao Cong laughed again and said, "You agreed to participate in the Three Xiaos Fighting Competition last time. Why did you change your mind again?"

Xiao Xia didn't say anything. After the head of the family drove Zhang Jue away, he didn't want to participate anymore.

Xiao Cong added, "It's a rare opportunity for all three Xiaos to gather in Jiangning. I hope you can go and see the place where the Xiao family rose and fell in the past. Especially since your mother was born in the Jinling Xiao family, it would be a great honor for your mother to have contact with them. You will most likely return to the north next year, so I hope you won't miss this opportunity."

Xiao Xia originally wanted to refuse outright, but then he remembered what Zhang Jue had said, that participating in the competition would be considered as repaying the Xiao family's favor.

Xiao Xia said, "I am not qualified to go to Jiangning!"

Xiao Cong smiled faintly, "You are not going to compete, so you don't need any qualifications!"

Xiao Xia suddenly thought of something else, and asked tentatively, "But I heard that if you are selected, you will get 200 strings of cash?"

Xiao Cong laughed dumbly and said, "You treat them equally too!"

Xiao Xia was finally satisfied. He nodded and said, "Since the Patriarch has a request, Xiao Xia will obey!"

After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Xia asked again: "Can I give my old house in Erjia Lane to Lao Liu's family?"

Xiao Cong smiled slightly, "Since you asked, I have to give this face, so let's give it to Liu Lang's family! In addition, I found a job for his father to copy books. He can earn a few strings of money a month, and their family will live a better life."

"Thank you, Master!"

"Go ahead! Prepare well for a few days, and then you and Zhu Balang can go together!"

"Ah! Hachiro was chosen too?"

"He performed outstandingly and has been ranked first among the second-level warriors!"

Xiao Xia was overjoyed and then said goodbye and left.

After leaving the main residence, Xiao Xia rode his donkey and hurried to the county government office.

However, halfway through the journey, he met Xiao Zhurong, who was full of excitement.

"Xiao Qilang, I passed the exam!" Xiao Zhurong said excitedly, clenching his fists.

It is not surprising that Xiao Zhurong passed the third-level martial arts exam. The standard for passing the third-level martial arts exam is to master more than ten sets of sword techniques or boxing techniques, and then lift weights of up to 250 kilograms.

Xiao Zhurong has mastered 17 sets of sword techniques, and also knows a lot of boxing and sword techniques. He can lift 260 kilograms steadily. But Xiao Xia didn't expect him to finish so quickly.

"Why so fast? I want to go see the county government's martial arts arena!" Xiao Xia complained.

Xiao Zhurong chuckled, "The third rank exam is individual, and I'm the only one taking the third rank exam, so I was arranged to be the first one. The third rank examiner is my former master Yin Kaishan."

Xiao Xia was surprised. Jiangdu County was full of hidden talents! Wasn't Yin Kaishan a founding hero of the Tang Dynasty? It seemed that there was another person named Lai Huer who was also from Jiangdu.

"Is Yin Kaishan from Jiangdu?"

"No, his grandfather was the Minister of Agriculture of the Chen Dynasty and settled in Jiangdu. He died of illness two years ago and was buried in Jiangdu. Yin Kaishan came to Jiangdu to mourn for his grandfather. He is very skilled in martial arts. The Xiao family hired him as the chief instructor of the martial arts school. Starting last year, the county government officially hired him as the chief examiner of the third rank of martial arts."

"Who will be the examiner for the first and second rank?"

Xiao Zhurong shook his head. "The county government only tests the third rank. The first and second ranks are examined by the county government, but Yin Kaishan is the examiner. The fourth rank and above in martial arts are examined by the Ministry of War. I heard that only a few people can pass. Once you pass the fourth rank, you have the opportunity to be appointed as a lieutenant by the Ministry of War. The fifth rank is appointed as a general, and the sixth rank is a lieutenant. Of course, it's just a chance. Other conditions are also required, such as background and support."

The two men walked, leading the horse and the donkey.

Xiao Zhurong asked, "What does the Patriarch want you to do?"

"Let me go to Jiangning!"

Xiao Zhurong's eyes widened suddenly, "You want to go to Jiangning too?"

Xiao Xia nodded, looking very helpless, "I have no choice but to agree!"

Xiao Zhurong punched him on the shoulder, "It's really unfair that a kid like you can go to Jiangning! You've never practiced martial arts in a martial arts hall!"

"I am handsome and will be your leader holding the sign."

"Go to hell, you're just like a sorghum stalk, and you still think you're a handsome man!"

Xiao Zhurong suddenly stopped, looked him up and down, and said in surprise: "Xiao Qi, I found that you have grown a lot stronger!"

"Eating a lot and pooping a lot, even a donkey grows fast, let alone humans!"

Xiao Zhurong laughed out loud, "Your evaluation of yourself is quite fair!"

Xiao Xia patted his shoulder and said, "Let's go together then!"

"Of course we go together!"

The two of them walked towards the Samurai Institute, chatting and laughing.

When they reached the gate, Xiao Zhurong suddenly remembered something and said to Xiao Xia with a smile, "Didn't they say that if you were selected, you would get 200 strings of cash? Do you remember that?"

Of course Xiao Xia remembered that the reason why he agreed to let the master go to Jiangning was, to some extent, for the two hundred strings of cash.

"The master of the family has also agreed to give it to me. How about two hundred strings of cash?"

Xiao Zhurong explained: "My father said that everyone wanted Tiger and Leopard Pills, so he decided to give only half of the money, and the rest would be used for Tiger and Leopard Pills, which were charged at four strings of coins per pill."

Xiao Xia's face suddenly darkened. He had just sold so many Tiger and Leopard Pills with great difficulty. What else did he need?
Seeing that he looked unhappy, Xiao Zhurong smiled and said, "If you don't want the Tiger and Leopard Pills, you can ask for something else! Xiao Qilang, I think this is an opportunity. The family will definitely give you something good that you may not be able to buy even if you have money."

Xiao Xia's expression became a little better, so he asked, "What else can we choose?"

"Everything about samurai!"

Xiao Xia looked back at his donkey, then at Xiao Zhurong's tall and handsome horse.

"I want a good horse!"

(End of this chapter)