He arrived at the back kitchen.
On an octagonal table, the last bowl of steaming medicinal soup had already been prepared.
A middle-aged auntie wearing an apron wiped her hands on it.
"If you, young man, didn't show up now, I would have had to drink this bowl of medicinal soup myself!"
Jiang Ning grinned sheepishly, "Sorry! I was practicing my punches and couldn't interrupt!!"
"Don't talk about that useless stuff, hurry up and drink this bowl of medicinal soup; if it gets cold, the medicinal effect won't be as strong!" the auntie in the apron urged.
Jiang Ning said no more and quickly picked up the last bowl of black medicinal soup from the table.
Sniffing it at the tip of his nose, he was greeted with a not-so-pleasant scent.
Immediately, he held his breath and gulped the soup down in large mouthfuls.
Whoosh—
It wasn't until the entire bowl of medicinal soup was in his stomach that he breathed out a long sigh.
"I'm leaving, time to go home!" someone said, and one by one, they left the back kitchen yard...
By this time, the sunset had completely sunk behind the mountains, twilight was deepening, and nightfall was beginning to descend.
...
After leaving the Canglang Martial Arts Hall, Jiang Ning looked back at the hall behind him.
The next moment, he strode toward the outside of the city, gradually losing the weakness he had felt just after his punching practice.
"The Martial Arts Hall's medicinal soup is indeed good, although it's not as clearly effective as wild ginseng, drinking a bowl every day is rewarding!"
Full of excitement, Jiang Ning walked on, when suddenly his expression changed, and his gaze abruptly sharpened.
He saw Xu Yunfeng in his constable uniform at a corner of the street ahead, his right hand on his waist holding a standard long knife, looking at Jiang Ning with a faint smile, but seeming like a venomous snake.
Observing Jiang Ning walking towards the outer city, Xu Yunfeng followed Jiang Ning closely at a measured distance.
To the casual observer, the constable seemed to be simply on a routine patrol.
It took Jiang Ning a full hour to walk from the Canglang Martial Arts Hall in the inner city to his residence in the outer city.
He walked along the main roads of the city, avoiding all the less crowded alleyways.
...
Outer city.
Jiang Li sat in the courtyard, and the moment he saw Jiang Ning's figure, a smile appeared on his face.
The next moment.
His expression suddenly turned cold, and his eyes became piercingly sharp.
"Brother Li!" Xu Yunfeng looked at Jiang Li and smiled nonchalantly.
"Xu Yunfeng, don't push it too far!!!"
"What do you mean by that, Brother Li?" Xu Yunfeng smiled again, "There's been some chaos in the city lately, with frequent gang fights. I've just been escorting your younger brother home, Brother Li. Shouldn't you be thankful instead of treating me like an enemy who killed your brother?"
Hearing this, Jiang Li's eyes were filled with lethal intent.
Unconcerned, Xu Yunfeng simply smiled again, "Brother Li, rest assured, from now on, whenever I encounter your younger brother, I will escort him all the way to prevent him from getting hurt by those reckless gang members!"
Even if Jiang Li were slow-witted, he fully understood the implication behind Xu Yunfeng's words.
Watching Xu Yunfeng's departing figure, Jiang Li couldn't help but feel a sense of powerlessness.
If it had been before, he would have dared to draw his knife against the brazen Xu Yunfeng.
But now, with his right hand useless, most of his martial arts were gone, and how could he stand against Xu Yunfeng, who was about to advance in rank?
And behind him, he not only had his younger brother but also his wife and children.
A wave of powerlessness rose in his heart.
Seeing Jiang Ning come home.
"Little brother, are you alright? Xu Yunfeng didn't do anything to you, did he?"
Jiang Ning shook his head, "Big brother, I'm fine!"
He then confidently spoke, "You don't have to worry about me, big brother. Xu Yunfeng coming to our door today was just to pressure you into submission. He isn't going to move against me easily now, and besides, now that I am a disciple of the Canglang Martial Arts Hall, he wouldn't dare to provoke Wang Jin."
He had figured this out as soon as he had seen Xu Yunfeng.
So even though Xu Yunfeng had followed him all the way, he wasn't flustered.
Wang Jin of the Canglang Martial Arts Hall was no small figure in Luoshui County, and Jiang Ning had read records about him.
With Wang Jin's character, if a Martial Arts Hall disciple were senselessly killed on the streets, he would dare to storm into the government office and beat the responsible constable to death.
After all, behind Wang Jin was the Master Wang from the army stationed outside the city.
A figure with military power, entitled to watch from the sidelines—who would dare provoke him lightly?
Therefore, Jiang Ning was very clear that Xu Yunfeng following him and appearing in front of his big brother was nothing more than pressuring him!
However, being just an ordinary disciple of the Martial Arts Hall wasn't enough to make Xu Yunfeng truly wary. If he could become a true disciple of Wang Jin, then he would truly have nothing to fear from Xu Yunfeng.
To be a true disciple of Wang Jin meant even common arrest officers had to give him face, to give face to Wang Jin.
At that time, he should really be temporarily safe.
I must work even harder now!
Jiang Ning's determination was even more firm at this moment.
Meanwhile.
Hearing Jiang Ning's analysis, Jiang Li also nodded somewhat reassuredly.
"Ah Di sees things most clearly!" he exclaimed.
Then Jiang Li's face lit up with a smile, "Ah Di, come with me quickly, your sister-in-law has prepared a grand meal and is waiting for you!"
Jiang Ning smiled and hurried to keep up with his elder brother's pace.
But at that moment, his heart wasn't as light as he had shown.
He knew that Xu Yunfeng wouldn't forcefully make a move on him to press his elder brother unless he deliberately walked down an unpopulated alleyway.
However, Jiang Ning hadn't forgotten the words he had just said.
"I will escort you wherever you go in the future to prevent those gangsters who can't see clearly from harming you!"
This undoubtedly contained another layer of threat.
Xu Yunfeng wouldn't make a move himself, but he might hire someone to do it.
For example, the thugs from various gangs.
At this time, Jiang Ning didn't know if his elder brother had picked up on the underlying message in Xu Yunfeng's words, but he decided not to point it out.
Even if he did, it wouldn't help, and it would only increase the worry and concern his elder brother had.
He could only rely on himself to deal with such threats. As long as he became stronger, he would naturally handle these minor threats.
After all, Xu Yunfeng was only a constable and not even in the martial ranks yet. How powerful could the hooligans he commanded be?
When his own strength improved, he would naturally be fearless.
...
Entering the hall.
"Wow~ Wow!!"
"Little Dumpling is back!!"
"It's finally time to eat!!!"
"I'm starving flat like a bean bun!!!"
Sitting on the stool, Little Dumpling happily dangled her short legs, her face beaming with joy.
"Uncle!" the little boy beside her said in a nonchalant tone.
This child was none other than Jiang Li's eldest son, Jiang Yiming.
"How's your homework coming along, Jiang Yiming?"
"You don't need to worry about it, Uncle!" Jiang Yiming replied indifferently.
"Don't be rude to your uncle!! Do you remember what I told you before?" Liuu Wanwan gave Jiang Yiming a stern glance.
Jiang Yiming involuntarily shrank his neck.
"Sorry Uncle! I was thoughtless!" he said.
Jiang Ning smiled, patting his head.
"Uncle, me too!!!" Little Dumpling shook her short legs frantically.
Seeing this, a smile spread over Jiang Ning's face, and he obligingly patted her head too.
"You both take your seats!" Liuu Wanwan said.
She then lifted the inverted bowl covering the dishes, and suddenly, wisps of steam arose, filling the room with the delicious scent of food.
"Wow! Wow!!!"
"Look at all that meat!!!"
Little Dumpling's eyes sparkled as she gasped in amazement.
Sensing the aroma of the food,
gurgle—
Jiang Ning's stomach also let out several hunger pangs.
"It seems Ah Di is really hungry!" Jiang Li laughed heartily.
Jiang Ning gave a shy smile.
Having practiced boxing all afternoon, his stomach was indeed completely empty.
"The two of you stop chatting and start eating!" Liuu Wanwan said.
She then placed a bowl full of rice in front of Jiang Ning.
"Thank you, sister-in-law!" Jiang Ning said genuinely.
"Now that you've joined the Martial Arts Hall, make sure to train hard! Don't let down the expectations your elder brother has for you," Liuu Wanwan filled Jiang Li's bowl as she spoke.
"Don't worry, sister-in-law!" Jiang Ning assured her.
"Thank you, wife!" Jiang Li took his bowl of rice and responded cheerfully.
At the dining table,
Jiang Li spoke up, "Ah Di, how did your martial arts training go today?"
As he spoke, Jiang Li placed a large piece of marbled meat into Jiang Ning's bowl.
"Very well!" Jiang Ning nodded affirmatively.
"It seems Ah Di has a natural talent for martial arts!" Jiang Li said, pleased.
"Little Dumpling is so amazing!!" Little Dumpling clapped her hands enthusiastically.
Even Jiang Yiming couldn't help but to take another look at his thrifty Uncle Jiang Ning before burying his head and busily devouring his meal.