Chapter 5: The Beginning
Chen Yuan didn't have any possessions.
He lived in a woodshed and wore old clothes.
He did business for the family, and because he was honest, he didn't dare to keep any money in his hands, so he was practically penniless.
When he said he was going to pack, he only packed a few pieces of clothing.
In no time, he shouldered his bundle and returned to the courtyard.
Just as he was about to enter the main room.
Inside, Chen Liu's strange and grating voice of complaint came through: "Master is indeed generous, a hundred taels, enough to support Yun'er and her brother's martial arts training for half a year."
"Why didn't you protect him like this before? You've raised a thankless wretch, and now you realize he's your son."
"With your relationship in this state, do you still think this kid will take care of you in your old age?"
Chen Ye grunted, "Even if he's an ingrate, he's still my son!"
"Why are you yelling at me? Do you think the old man would blame me for the way this kid turned out?"
"Haha... As a stepmother, even if I don't like him, without your consent as the head of the family, would I dare to let him go without food and clothes? Now you come to blame me."
Chen Ye's tone was stiff: "Now that Ah Yuan has split the family, everything in this house will belong to Yun'er in the future. Isn't that just what you wanted?"
"Agreeable?" Chen Liu said with a strange tone, "Don't even think about it. I, Liu Yulian, can't bear such a malicious reputation."
"Haha, if the master really doesn't want to see us three, then tomorrow I'll take Yun'er and the others back to my family!"
"What do you mean by that?" Chen Ye's tone softened: "If I didn't welcome you, Ah Yuan wouldn't have requested a separation."
Outside the door, Chen Yuan paused slightly but still walked in.
The couple glanced at him.
Chen Ye's expression slightly stiffened.
Chen Liu let out a cold snort.
"Dad." Chen Yuan didn't say much, his gaze only falling on a small cloth pouch placed on the table.
Chen Ye coughed.
He raised his hand and reached for the small package.
Chen Liu instinctively tried to stop him, but was a step too slow.
Chen Ye shot her a glare, grabbed the package, stood up, and handed it to Chen Yuan.
"Take it, from now on, it's not like home outside, be more careful by yourself. If it really doesn't work out, there will always be a meal waiting for you at home."
Chen Yuan nodded, silently accepting the package.
After weighing it slightly, the package had quite a few sharp edges, all of them silver coins, and it was quite heavy.
"Don't! Our family doesn't have that much rice to feed someone for free. If you leave and then come back, what kind of thing is that?"
Chen Liu said in a strange tone. Chen Yuan glanced at her. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Chen Ye's unnatural expression and shook his head inwardly.
I had some more words to say, but I swallowed them back.
The gratitude for raising me has been mostly repaid before my previous life ended, and when I died of illness, it was even more like a cancellation of karma.
Once he stepped out of the Chen family's gate, no matter how bad things got, he probably wouldn't come back again.
So, after securing the money pouch, he took one last look at Chen's father, silently turned around, and walked out of the main hall.
Just as he was walking to the courtyard.
He was met with two handsome young men and women walking out from the side room.
He glanced at them, then hurriedly walked out of the Chen family home.
From a distance, one could only hear the gradually fading voices behind: "Dad, Mom, where is Chen Yuan going?"
"He wants to learn martial arts? At his age, what martial arts can he learn? Isn't this just wasting money?"
"He's even splitting the family?"
"Ha! Chen Yuan really has the same temperament as his mother, both are so selfish and ungrateful to the family..."
"..."
...
No matter how the Chen family is, once Chen Yuan steps out of the house, it means nothing to him.
He turned out of the alley, looked up at the gradually brightening sky, and felt a bit uneasy about the days to come.
After splitting up, he was free and no longer had to endure being beaten and scolded. But it also meant losing the protection of Father Chen.
Thinking about the days of the impoverished people he had seen while living in the city, he felt somewhat apprehensive.
However, after weighing the heavy purse in the bundle behind him, a wave of anticipation washed over him, overshadowing the past.
"With these hundred taels of silver, the matter of practicing martial arts is settled."
Although the fees for apprenticing at the martial arts school in Yunshan City are considerable, they don't amount to a hundred taels of silver.
Thanks to the 'benefit' of having two younger siblings practicing martial arts at the martial arts school. The previous life had some understanding of the martial arts academy's tuition fees.
According to his memory, there are dozens of martial arts schools in Yunshan City, with annual tuition fees generally ranging from thirty to sixty taels.
Especially in the West City, where many poor people live, the martial arts schools are not large and the fees are relatively lower.
With Chen Yuan's current wealth of a hundred taels, even after paying the tuition, he can still keep more than half for future expenses.
Regarding this, Chen Yuan already had a rough goal in mind. "The matter of the martial arts school is not urgent."
"In Yunshan City, there are gangs everywhere, and the streets are filled with ruffians. Now that I have so much silver, if I don't find a stable place to settle down, I'm afraid I won't have a peaceful life."
The world is chaotic, and even a place like Yunshan City, which has numerous government offices, is not peaceful.
For example, when he was helping his family with their business, even with Father Chen's name as a support, he was still bullied by others.
Now that Chen Yuan is living alone away from home, he cannot afford to let his guard down.