"They're waiting for you," Qiuli reminded.
Zhu Changle looked towards the dock and, seeing that they were indeed all looking this way, quickly ran over, putting aside the thoughts she had just moments ago.
"Mister Qiu's voice is recovering even better," Zhu Changning remarked, tossing the cleaned fish bones into the fire and wiping his hands. He dropped this comment before heading to the dock, as he needed to understand what he was supposed to supervise.
Qiuli didn't respond.
At the dock, Zhu Changle walked through the crowd with her hands behind her back, satisfied to see that they were either eating or had finished eating, clearly having taken her brother's words to heart. Ensuring everyone had meat to eat was her father's responsibility; her job was to train these people. Her master had taught her that one should think about what's appropriate for their position and not concern themselves with matters beyond their scope. Simply put, know your limits and don't overreach.
"Is it tasty?" she asked.
Everyone nodded in unison. The aroma of meat made their mouths water involuntarily, and those still eating savored each bite even more.
"Now that you've eaten my meat, prepare yourselves for my torment," Zhu Changle said, rolling up her sleeves and trying to look like a villain. However, her smiling face was so cute and kind that it made everyone laugh instead.
"Your training will be divided into three parts," she continued, her expression turning serious as she got down to business. "The horse stance is the first part, one hour every day. The second part is a set of body techniques that you'll learn in the water, which will make your bodies more agile. The third part doesn't require practice, but you need to sew four bags at home. Fill each bag with sand, with the two tied to your ankles weighing over five pounds each, and the ones on your arms can be slightly lighter. I hope you'll wear them at all times except when sleeping or when absolutely necessary to remove them, including during training. Of course, this will be extremely difficult, but this seemingly foolish method is very effective. If anyone can't handle it, you can drop out."
Looking up at the sky, Zhu Changle beckoned to Aunt Feng. "Teach them the Agile Ape Technique. Practice it in the water for better results."
Aunt Feng nodded.
"Oh, and teach them that three-move boxing technique as well. Although it's just a simple three-hit combo, when combined with this footwork, it's enough for ordinary people and easy to learn."
"Yes," Aunt Feng replied.
Zhu Changle crossed her arms and looked at the forty-eight people before her, who were still unaware of what they were about to face. "You don't have much time, you know. I'll let you in on a secret – I'm about to make my move soon."
Seeing her point towards Gu'an, everyone's eyes lit up. Could Miss Zhu mean...?
"If you want to be of help, work hard," Zhu Changle said, naturally not intending to reveal everything. The more they anticipated, the less she would say. She jumped off the rock, waved her hand, and ran off. It was all about luring the snake out of its hole, and she had already laid enough bait.
Although she said she was leaving it to the two of them, Zhu Changle truly did wash her hands of it. That very afternoon, she went up the mountain to hunt. Despite losing without a doubt, she didn't mind at all when she saw the abundance of game. What did this mean? It meant that the mountain was extremely rich in wildlife, ensuring a steady supply of meat for the coming days.
When she brought back large quantities of game for two consecutive days and distributed it all to the forty-eight trainees, things began to stir beneath the surface, out of her sight.
"More people are coming to seek out Luo Ding," Zhu Maonian said, pacing back and forth. The signs were becoming increasingly evident.
"Changle may seem to be striking randomly, but every move hits the vital point," Zhu Changwang smiled. "Luo Ding's balance was built on everyone having nothing. Now that Changle has given some people something, that balance is naturally disrupted."
Zhu Maonian nodded. This was precisely the case – balance is difficult to establish but easy to destroy.
"Did you teach her this?" he asked.
Zhu Changwang lowered his gaze. "Since leaving the capital, I haven't taught her anything."
Zhu Maonian was surprised. "Not even pointing her in the right direction?"
"Not at all."
Father and son both knew exactly what this meant. Zhu Maonian was so shocked that he stood up again after just sitting down and began pacing back and forth, walking faster and faster. This, this... was Changle making all these decisions on her own? Yet every step aligned perfectly with his plans. He had thought Changwang was guiding her, but now...
"If it were my previous doctor, he would surely have noticed that I wasn't as ill this time, and Qiuli's medicine was quite effective," Zhu Changwang said, pulling back the covers and getting out of bed. Although still laborious, it was far from the struggle he had displayed in front of Changle.
"You did this on purpose?" Zhu Maonian asked.
"Yes."
Zhu Maonian frowned slightly. "There's no need for this. The Zhu family isn't in such dire straits that we need to force her."
"If I didn't expect to live to forty or fifty, if I had any confidence of living to thirty, I would only need her to lend a hand," Zhu Changwang said, slowly walking with his cane, stopping to rest after every few steps. "With each bout of illness, I can clearly feel my body growing weaker. Father, I may not be able to hold on until Changning matures."
"Changwang..." Zhu Maonian's voice was hoarse. They hadn't broached this topic for years, and its sudden mention left him unsure how to face it.
Zhu Changwang smiled and shook his head. "Some things don't cease to exist just because we don't speak of them. There's no need to avoid it. On this journey, I've been thinking – if I were to suddenly pass, who in the family could help you? Changle was the first person I thought of, especially after hearing that Master Zhong had been taking her on travels since she was nine. I knew then that even if I were gone, there would be someone to share your burdens. Events have proven that I was right to think so."
"She's so young. Aren't you overestimating her?" Zhu Maonian asked.
"When she was little, she was so clever that even her mother almost wanted to spread a rumor that she was simple-minded," Zhu Changwang replied. "Later, I worried that her talents might be wasted, but clearly my concerns were unnecessary. Master Zhong has taught her well. I only needed to test her slightly, and she revealed her capabilities. Moreover, she's not even aware of this aspect of herself. Do you think she planned all these actions in advance?"
"She didn't?"
"No, she's relying on instinct."
Zhu Maonian, who had just stopped pacing, began again. His fingers, clasped behind his back, opened and closed restlessly, betraying his inner turmoil. If she hadn't planned any of this, how had she managed to hit every point so perfectly?
Zhu Changwang sat down, supporting himself on the table, thoroughly satisfied to see his father lose his usual composure due to shock. After all, he couldn't be the only one surprised, could he?
"That Qiuli," Zhu Maonian said after some thought. "Should we attribute half the credit to him?"
"He has helped, but what to do and how to do it were all decided by Changle," Zhu Changwang replied. "Everyone she's directing is acting based on her decisions, including Changning." He smiled. "The other night, Changning came to me specifically to discuss Qiuli's ulterior motives. Even he has noticed, which shows how obvious Qiuli is being."
Zhu Maonian rejected the idea without hesitation. "This man is unsuitable."
"I remember you once said that as long as Changle herself was willing, you wouldn't interfere in her marriage," Zhu Changwang said in a mild tone. "This man, who exactly is he?"
