Seven taels of silver was enough to cover a common family’s expenses for an entire year.
“It isn’t that easy. I only weave the cloth. The hemp still has to be harvested, processed, twisted into fibers, soaked, and prepared. All of that costs money. In the end, I can earn at most two taels of silver a month.”
Fan Niang had once supported both herself and her father through her excellent sewing and weaving skills.
As a result, she knew the trade inside and out.
“That’s still impressive. My wife is truly talented. You’re clever and skillful enough to make money through weaving.”
Qin Ming praised her sincerely.
In truth, Qin Ming didn’t think much of that amount of money anymore.
After all, a single bear hunt had already earned him several hundred taels of silver.
Compared to that, two taels a month was insignificant.
Still, Fan Niang spent most of her time at home. Having something meaningful to do and earning a little extra income for the household wasn’t a bad thing.
Besides, in his previous life, finding a woman who was this young, beautiful, virtuous, and capable of managing a household so well would have been incredibly rare.
It felt as though he had found a priceless treasure.
Fan Niang blushed at the compliment.
Lowering her head, she took a sip of porridge. A hopeful look gradually appeared in her eyes.
“In the future… when we’ve saved enough money, we must bring my father here and take him to see the capital. He’s spent his entire life studying the classics, reading by lamplight for decades, yet he’s never even seen what the Imperial City looks like.”
Her voice carried both sympathy for her father and hope for the future.
“Studying won’t get you into the Imperial City. Fighting your way in would probably be easier.”
Qin Ming chuckled.
A familiar poem surfaced in his mind.
When autumn comes on the eighth day of the ninth month,
After my flowers bloom, all other flowers fade.
Their fragrance soars into Chang’an and fills the sky,
The entire city is clad in golden armor.
Those fierce and blood-soaked lines lingered in his thoughts.
The peasant rebel Huang Chao had once dreamed of entering the ranks of the powerful through the imperial examinations.
Yet in that era, powerful aristocratic families controlled everything. For scholars from humble backgrounds, climbing into the ruling class through talent alone was nearly impossible.
In the end, utterly disappointed, Huang Chao chose a far more direct path.
If books could not open the gates, then swords and spears would.
Thus began the bloody rise of a failed scholar who sought to carve his own destiny.
Qin Ming quickly shook his head, dismissing the unrealistic thought.
For him, living peacefully with Fan Niang in this small mountain village, enjoying a comfortable and prosperous life together, would already be the greatest blessing.
As for rebellion and claiming the throne?
Without powerful backing, immense wealth, and overwhelming military strength, such dreams were nothing more than fantasy.
“Husband, don’t say things like that. If someone overhears you, you’ll lose your head.”
Fan Niang hurriedly warned him.
“I was only joking. No one heard me.”
“I know a carpenter who specializes in making looms. Tomorrow I’ll go find him and pay a deposit of two taels.”
Fan Niang spoke eagerly.
“Where is this carpenter?”
“In a woodworking shop north of the county town. They also sell furniture. There are several carpenters there. Once the deposit is paid, they can finish a loom within a few days.”
“For the next few days, you shouldn’t go to the county town.”
“Why?”
“There are too many refugees coming down from the north. Bandits are appearing all along the roads. It isn’t safe for you to travel alone.”
Qin Ming looked at her before continuing.
“I’ll take care of the loom. You stay home and don’t worry about it.”
The moment he recalled his journey back from town the previous day, his brow furrowed slightly.
With his martial skills, he had no reason to fear starving refugees or bandits.
But allowing Fan Niang to travel to the county town alone was absolutely out of the question.
If the border war continued, even more refugees would flood into the region.
That wouldn’t merely affect public order in the county town. Eventually, the unrest would spread throughout the entire Heishan County.
When that happened, even small mountain villages like theirs would be affected.
The refugees might not dare challenge the government directly, but gathering in the wilderness and robbing ordinary people was entirely possible.
“I’ll listen to you, Husband.”
Fan Niang nodded obediently.
After dinner, Qin Ming felt exhausted and went to bed early.
…
The next morning, Qin Ming woke up before dawn.
“Good morning, Master!”
When he opened the door, he found Mu An already waiting outside.
“Who is this?”
Standing behind Qin Ming, Fan Niang looked at the unfamiliar young man with some caution.
“This is Mu An, the son of the Village Head from Mu Family Village, the one I told you about before.”
Qin Ming explained.
“Oh, I see. Then come inside and have a seat. I’ll make breakfast for you both.”
Fan Niang immediately greeted him with a smile.
“Thank you, Mistress.”
“Don’t call her that. I haven’t officially accepted you as my disciple yet.”
“Whether you accept me or not, I will always regard you as my master.”
Mu An answered seriously.
To him, Qin Ming was his savior.
No amount of respect would be excessive.
Moreover, Qin Ming’s martial skills had left an incredibly deep impression on him.
He genuinely wanted to become Qin Ming’s disciple, even if it meant working like an ox or horse in return.
“Very well. After breakfast, you’ll come into the mountains with me.”
“Thank you, Master.”
After expressing his gratitude, Mu An immediately began helping with chores, chopping firewood without being asked.
The first lesson of apprenticeship was learning to observe.
A good apprentice shouldn’t wait for instructions. He should notice what needs doing and do it himself.
Although Mu An was the Village Head’s son, the chief of Mu Family Village was merely the person who led everyone in farming and daily life.
From childhood, Mu An had chopped firewood, worked the fields, and helped with all kinds of farm labor.
Hard work had long since become part of who he was.
The three of them soon finished breakfast together.
Their provisions for the mountain consisted of rice balls stuffed with pickled vegetables.
Qin Ming and Mu An each carried five or six of them.
Once they entered the forest, they immediately began searching for prey.
Tigers had enormous territories.
They wandered constantly through the mountains in search of food and rarely remained in one place.
Their prey mainly consisted of rabbits, wild boars, blue sheep, and similar animals.
Because hunters had already heavily depleted the smaller animals around the outskirts of the mountains, anyone hoping to hunt a tiger had no choice but to venture deep into the wilderness.
Qin Ming was determined to find one.
From the moment they entered the forest, he headed directly toward the deepest parts of the mountains without stopping.
To be fair, Mu An’s stamina was quite good.
He had spent his childhood climbing mountains to gather firewood and was accustomed to difficult terrain.
Yet after following Qin Ming over two mountain ridges in succession, he was already breathing heavily and his legs were beginning to tremble.
Even so, determined to become Qin Ming’s disciple, he gritted his teeth and pressed on.
“Master, there’s nothing but fog ahead. Are we still going farther?”
As he stared at the mist-covered forest before them, a chill crept into his heart.
The air was damp and carried the smell of decay.
Ordinary villagers never dared set foot this deep into the mountains.
The area was shrouded in fog year-round.
Venomous snakes, poisonous insects, and deadly creatures lurked everywhere, while dangerous beasts roamed unseen through the forest.
Even experienced hunters usually formed groups of three to five people before entering such places.
Qin Ming stopped walking.
His sharp eyes swept across the dark forest swallowed by the thick mist, as if he could see straight through the veil.
Without turning around, he spoke calmly.
“If you’re afraid, you can still go back now. Just follow the trail and make your way down the mountain.”
Mu An looked at Qin Ming’s tall figure standing amidst the fog.
A surge of determination rushed through him.
His fear instantly vanished.
Straightening his back, he spoke without the slightest hesitation.
“Master, I’m going with you.”