Wang Gensheng returned home. Wang the Carpenter looked at him in surprise, polishing an iron bamboo arrow as he casually asked,
"Gensheng, why are you back so early?"
"Oh," Gensheng replied, "today a carriage came to the village. Da Tou said it went into the West Courtyard, and many people from the village went there too. They told us not to play outside and to go home instead."
From the moment Gensheng spoke, Wang the Carpenter was so shocked that he almost dropped the bamboo arrow he was holding; it slipped onto the wooden workbench.
Once Gensheng finished speaking, Wang the Carpenter was overcome with excitement. He ran out of the house using both hands and feet, looking toward the West Courtyard. Just in time, he saw the heads of households from all families in the village gathering, a large, surging crowd flowing into the West Courtyard.
"The rumors are true… Qin Village is backed by a great noble family."
Wang the Carpenter spun around in place, muttering rapidly in a low voice:
"The person who arrived by carriage must be from that noble family… I heard that every two years, Qin Village sends a batch of eight- or nine-year-old children to that family for training…"
"Could it be… that this is the year to take the children?"
"Could it be… that today is the day they come to collect them?"
Overcome with excitement, Wang the Carpenter sighed:
"Alas, Gensheng is only three years old—too young."
"No… even when Gensheng is of age, it may not even be his turn. After all, we haven't truly integrated into Qin Village yet… how could he be chosen?"
Suddenly, Wang the Carpenter's eyes lit up as he thought of something, his excitement returning.
"I cannot be discouraged. There are six years left. In these six years, we will fully integrate into Qin Village, and we will make sure Gensheng qualifies to be selected."
"But… how should we do it?"
"That's right—Da Tou and Da Shan…"
"Qin Yong and Qin An's families are the breakthrough!"
"I was planning to be patient and proceed gradually, but…"
"Time waits for no one. Only six years. That's too short. Looks like we'll have to be a little more aggressive."
…
Qin An strode into the courtyard, bow slung across his back, a scowl on his face. He saw Qing Niang and barked sharply:
"What's the matter? Why did you summon me in such a hurry? You scared off the prey I was about to catch!"
Qing Niang had been eager to speak but, intimidated by Qin An's scolding, she swallowed her words and lowered her head, trembling in place, too afraid to speak.
Qin An turned to Da Shan, squinting, his voice sharp:
"At this hour, why are you home instead of playing outside? Did you get into trouble again?"
"No, no! I didn't!" Da Shan waved his hands frantically, shaking his head to defend himself.
"Father, I'm not the only one—everyone else went home too. Now no one is playing outside."
Qin An froze. This was extremely rare. Usually, the adults were busy with work and didn't care much about the children, letting them play together in the eastern wasteland of the village.
For the adults to call everyone back, there must be a serious reason… but the timing doesn't match, does it?
Growing impatient, Qin An asked anxiously:
"What happened?"
Da Shan shivered and shouted:
"A carriage… a carriage entered the village. Oh, and the uncles and fathers working in the fields came back too. They told us not to play outside."
"A carriage?" Qin An's heart skipped a beat. His gaze sharpened as he looked at Qing Niang, urgently asking:
"What exactly happened?"
Qing Niang lowered her head and muttered:
"People came to the West Courtyard."
Sure enough, fear had come true. Qin An had missed it because he had been hunting.
"This is such an important matter… why didn't you say anything?" Qin An yelled at Qing Niang, furious, before dashing out of the house at top speed.
Qing Niang watched him leave, softly defending herself:
"I wanted to tell you, but you needed to give me a chance to speak."
Far ahead, Qin An did not hear her. As he ran out, he saw many people returning from the West Courtyard. His vision darkened.
It was over. He had truly missed it.
Seeing Qin Ding returning home, Qin An hurried up, saluted respectfully, and said in embarrassment:
"Uncle Ding, I was hunting earlier, saw the signal, and rushed back immediately… but I still missed it. What should I do now?"
Qin Ding shook his head sympathetically:
"Don't worry. It's understandable. The Young Master is magnanimous and won't hold it against you. Just relax."
Why did they all visit together? To avoid disturbing the Young Master one by one. They wouldn't make an exception just for Qin An.
Hearing this, Qin An felt his mind go blank.
The Young Master?
It wasn't a servant from the Hou Mansion coming to collect the children—it was the Young Master himself!
Qin An felt suffocated, a ringing chaos filling his head.
"The Young Master? Which Young Master? How could such a noble person come to our village?"
From what he had heard of Young Master Xu, he would live here for a few years. This was no secret. Qin Ding was about to explain but realized that speaking in the street might be disrespectful, so he opened the door and said:
"Come in and speak inside."
Qin An followed Qin Ding. Because Qin Ding was a martial practitioner, he had his own courtyard and house—no one else was there.
Qin Ding lived casually, so the room was a bit messy. Qin An didn't dare care, and besides, his mind was far from ordinary concerns.
"Sit." Qin Ding casually pointed to a chair on the right. He poured two cups of water, handed one to Qin An, then sat at the main seat, sipping his own before speaking:
"You mean Young Master Xu."
Young Master Xu… it was him?!
Qin An and Qin Yong were contemporaries. Qin Yong knew him, so naturally Qin An did too.
Young Master Xu was highly favored by the Hou, the most prestigious among the sons of the mansion.
"How could Young Master Xu come to our village?" Qin An blurted out, unable to control himself. He had missed the chance to pay his respects and his mind was in disarray.
Qin Ding had a suspicion but dared not speak. Qin An's attitude made him stern. His voice became cold and commanding:
"Qin An, such matters are not for us to speculate on."
As Qin Ding unleashed his martial aura, Qin An was instantly overwhelmed. He sank to the ground, shivering, begging:
"Please, Uncle Ding, calm your anger! Forgive my inadvertent mistake!"
(End of Chapter)