Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Debt

The ox cart moved slowly, and the atmosphere was a bit oppressive.

Shen Wenxing sat on the cart holding his younger sister, looked at his father driving the cart, hesitated for a moment, then spoke.

“The masters say that fighting for life and death is one of the quickest ways for a martial artist to break through. I’ve been stuck at my current realm for a year…”

“But you can’t gamble with your life!” Shen Yuan shouted angrily in a rare display of anger!

Having been in this world for more than thirty years, he had dreamed of making a name for himself and giving his family a good life.

But the thought of sending his not-yet-fourteen-year-old son to the battlefield filled his heart with wrenching pain!

“Father.”

Despite being scolded, Shen Wenxing did not stop talking. Instead, he smiled and said, “Wenping and Wen’an are only four, and Ah Nu is just eight.”

“We have more than seventy acres of land, as well as orchards and forests to look after.”

“Mother is weak. If you leave, all these things will fall on me and mother.”

“Not to mention that my cultivation will be delayed, if mother gets worn out, what will happen to the rest of us?”

“I don’t want to neglect the Martial Dao.”

Shen Yuan did not speak.

Suddenly, on the ox cart, Shen Wenxing knelt down and bowed toward his father’s back, saying, “Father, forgive your son’s selfishness.”

“With you at home, I can feel less worried in the army and focus on my cultivation.”

Shen Yuan listened without responding, only slowly bringing the ox cart to a halt.

On the country path, he crouched alone by the roadside, looking towards Hidden Dragon Mountain and in the direction of Jinliu Village.

“Daddy, Ping’er can’t bear to be apart from you, and neither can the big pot.”

A pair of children came up behind, and Shen Wenping cautiously nestled into his embrace, looking up.

Shen Wenxing slowly crouched down beside them, smoothing his little sister’s hair that was blown by the breeze, saying, “Father, your son is not as fragile as you think. A Postnatal Martial Artist is highly valued in the army.”

“If I can truly become a personal guard under General Zhang, perhaps I might secure an official position, and then our family could gain more lands. Don’t complain that there’s too much land to work when the time comes.”

Shen Yuan snorted and glared at him without speaking.

After a long pause—

“What does Lingxiu think?”

“Is she really willing to let you join the army?”

Mentioning Huang Lingxiu brought a smile to Shen Wenxing’s face, and then he replied solemnly, “Senior Sister Lingxiu said that a good man should protect the country and expand territory.”

“She wants the person she likes to be a great hero, a Grand General.”

“Ha!” Shen Yuan suddenly stood up and laughed scoldingly, “That girl has quite an ambition!”

The oppressive atmosphere was somewhat eased by this jesting, and Shen Yuan sighed heavily, clasping his hands behind his back.

He knew that letting his son serve in his place was indeed the best option.

At the very least, Shen Wenxing’s chances of surviving on the front lines were much greater than his own.

Rationally speaking, the fortune-telling system was with him; as long as he was alive, it could help the Shen Family continue to thrive.

“Child, it’s been hard on you.” Looking at his son, already matching him in height, Shen Yuan gave a firm pat on his shoulder.

As parents, who wouldn’t want to shelter their children from the storm forever?

Shen Wenxing understandingly shook his head.

“Father has it tougher. The whole family relies on you for a living.”

At that moment, the father and son seemed like kindred spirits, exchanging smiles.

Left in the dark, Shen Wenping clearly didn’t understand the thoughts of her older brother and father. She looked up at the two of them, then glanced at the setting western sun and muttered, “Father, if we don’t leave now, we won’t make it for dinner.”

Shen Yuan squatted down, picked her up, and said, “Eat, eat, eat, you’re just a little foodie.”

“Let’s go home.”

With that, the three of them got on the ox cart and headed back to Jinliu Village.

At night, Shen Yuan tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Though the decision regarding military service had been made, he remained tormented by family bonds, uncertain of how to explain it to his wife.

“Something on your mind?”

Hu Yufen turned over and gently wrapped her arms around his, asking.

Having shared life for over a decade, they understood each other deeply.

Shen Yuan gazed at the dark ceiling, sighed softly, and finally shared the matter of military service.

Hu Yufen clearly hadn’t grasped the severity, thinking military service was merely a routine duty.

The Great Yu Dynasty had a system of routine duties, requiring men over fourteen to serve outside of peak farming seasons for two months.

Such duties involved familiarization with military camp life and basic training.

However, after the enthronement of the new Emperor Yu and his peaceful policies, these duties hadn’t been enforced for nearly thirty years.

“Our Shi Tou isn’t even fourteen yet; routine duty wouldn’t include him, so why worry?”

Shen Yuan sighed, saying, “I’m talking about military service, not routine duty.”

Hu Yufen was stunned, “What’s the difference?”

Shen Yuan explained, “Brother Yunxiao said that this time the court intends to fight the Western Wilderness Barbarian Race, to reclaim the three counties taken by the barbarians.”

“Military service requires all men not yet forty to enlist.”

“Which means those going might likely have to fight.”

“What!?” Hu Yufen sat up abruptly upon hearing this.

“Does that mean you also have to serve!?”

Shen Yuan nodded slightly, pulling her into his embrace. “During the day at the Martial Arts Hall, Brother Yunxiao suggested letting Shi Tou serve instead of me.”

“He said Captain Zhang Bin is now a general in the Yunzhong Border Army, and could arrange for Shi Tou to become his personal guard.”

“Have you agreed?” Hu Yufen asked, somewhat tense.

Shen Yuan shook his head, “I haven’t agreed yet, but Shi Tou has been trying to persuade me all the way.”

“That kid is so sensible it breaks your heart.”

Hu Yufen said nothing, her eyes already welling up with tears.

She was a smart woman and knew how dangerous it would be for her husband to serve and face battle.

By comparison, though young, their son was steady and stronger, making him the better choice.

Yet, how could she bear to part with the flesh of her flesh?

Neither spoke, both parents ensnared by guilt, unable to sleep.

Early the next day, Hu Yufen, her eyes swollen, found Shen Wenxing practicing martial arts in the courtyard, unable to resist approaching him.

“Mother?”

Shen Wenxing finished his practice and looked at her with a smile, seemingly without a worry in the world.

The more he acted this way, the sadder Hu Yufen felt, and tears couldn’t help but fall.

“Mother, what’s wrong?” Shen Wenxing rushed over, caring and asking.

Sniffling, Hu Yufen grabbed his arm, “Your father told me last night.”

“Son, you…”

Shen Wenxing paused but then reassured her with a smile, “Mother, it’s okay. Don’t you trust in your son’s abilities?”

“Take good care of yourself; I’ve already arranged with Senior Sister Lingxiu that when I return from the front lines, I’ll marry her and give you a big grandchild.”

Hu Yufen held back her tears and gently caressed his face.

As Shen Yuan said last night, their son was so dutiful it made one’s heart ache.

“What would you like for breakfast? I’ll cook it for you.”

The decision was irreversible, and all she could do was fulfill her duties as a mother during this time, ensuring her son was well-fed and cared for.

“How about some meat porridge? Little sister and third brother love it, and boil an egg for Ah Nu; that brat is growing and needs nutrition.”

Hearing this, Hu Yufen felt another wave of heartache.

“Alright, I’ll also boil you two eggs,” she said, then turned towards the kitchen.

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