Liu Jinshan didn't know what to do about the Chen Family anymore.
He had already sent Black Tiger Ling, a powerhouse of the Bone Refining Realm, yet he still hadn't managed to bring down the Chen Family.
One must know that the strongest member of the Liu Family, County Commandant Liu Jiang, was only at the Bone Tempering Realm, the third stage of martial arts.
If even Black Tiger Ling failed, didn't that mean if his younger brother Liu Jiang took action, he would also fail?
Liu Jiang was the pillar of the Liu Family; if anything happened to him, the Liu Family would transform from a martial arts Family in the county town into nothing more than small landlords in a village!
Unless he was completely certain, Liu Jinshan didn't dare let Liu Jiang take action.
"Father? Are we really just going to let the Chen Family off like this?"
Thinking about how he wouldn't even have a chance to seek revenge against Chen Chuanwu, Liu Xingye's face was filled with resentment and frustration.
"This Chen Changsheng is not easy to deal with; their Family is a bit strange!"
Liu Jinshan muttered to himself. He originally had one more trick: taking advantage of this drought to have the landless peasants beg the Chen Family for their tea-planting methods.
They were all from Kaoshan Village; if Chen Changsheng refused to help people in their time of need, it would only ruin his Family's reputation!
However, this move would harm others without benefiting himself; while it would make Chen Changsheng lose his secret tea-planting recipe, the Liu Family wouldn't gain anything from it.
"Let's not be enemies with the Chen Family for now. We'll maintain a friendly facade while we investigate them thoroughly. Once we've cleared up their background, we'll strike!"
Liu Jinshan pondered for a long time before finally deciding to hold back for now. He looked at the resentful Liu Xingye and said:
"Xingye, I know you want revenge, but the Family comes first. Endure for a while. Once we figure out the Chen Family's background, everything will be easy to handle!"
No matter how unwilling he was, Liu Xingye knew that with his own strength, he was no match for the Chen Family, so he could only nod helplessly.
————————————————
With the Liu Family ceasing their actions, Chen Changsheng's life became peaceful once again.
After having another drink with Wang Yong and his disciples, Chen Changsheng gave each of them a sum of silver and sent them down the mountain.
Afterward, he had Chuanwen bury Black Tiger Ling's corpse in the back mountain. After all, the Chen Family didn't have any experts at the Bone Tempering Realm yet, so claiming a reward with Black Tiger Ling's body wouldn't make any sense!
Then, Chen Changsheng decided to harvest all the medicinal herbs on the half-mountain and replant new seeds.
After all, wealth stirs the hearts of men!
Especially in this year of great disaster, this medicinal field worth ten thousand taels was a glaring target. There was no telling how many people it would attract to take risks!
"Father, are we really harvesting them? These herbs have been growing for five years!"
Chen Chuanwen was somewhat reluctant to let go of these herbs; after all, the older the medicinal herbs, the higher their value.
If these herbs were left untouched, their value would increase significantly every day.
"If we don't harvest them, what will you use for Bone Tempering? Second son, let me tell you, money and resources are external things; only strength is truly your own!"
Chen Changsheng spoke seriously to Chuanwen, taking the opportunity to educate him.
Then he looked at the old herb farmer and, under Chuanwen's reluctant gaze, said decisively:
"Uncle Zeng, let's do it. Harvest all the herbs today!"
"Alright, Boss!"
Seeing that Chen Changsheng had given the word, Old Man Zeng led the laborers to begin harvesting the herbs together.
Medicinal herbs aren't like wheat; you can't plant much per acre. By the end of the morning, the herbs on the half-mountain were all gathered.
Chen Changsheng instructed Old Man Zeng to replant the seeds and then returned to the Courtyard House with the herbs.
Looking at the warehouse filled with medicinal herbs, a smile appeared on Chen Changsheng's face. With this batch of herbs, the entire Family's strength would see significant progress!
"Although we usually refined medicine, we only drank it once every seven or eight days. With so many herbs this time, there was enough for a bowl a day for two or three years!"
"Let's start refining. Let's see if these five-year-old herbs have enough kick!"
Chen Changsheng took out an iron pot, retrieved the herbs according to the proportions, controlled the temperature, and began refining.
Having refined five elements soup countless times, Chen Changsheng was already extremely skilled.
In one smooth motion, a pot of five elements soup was refined.
"Smells like medicine!"
Chen Changsheng scooped out a bowl, took a sniff, and gulped it down in one go.
Soon, a warm current appeared in his lower abdomen, and Chen Changsheng began practicing the Five Elements Stance Art!
After finishing a set of punches, Chen Changsheng exhaled a mouthful of stale air, instantly feeling refreshed!
"These five-year-old herbs indeed have a better effect than ordinary ones!"
After experiencing it, Chen Changsheng was quite satisfied with the effects of the five elements soup, so he called the whole Family over to drink the medicine and practice martial arts.
Except for five-year-old Chuanjie, who was in the house reading the Thousand Character Classic, everyone else came.
Chuanjie was still young; Chen Changsheng planned to let him learn to read and write first. Once he turned eight and his Meridians had matured, he would teach him martial arts!
With sufficient nourishment from the five elements soup, the martial arts cultivation of everyone in the Chen Family could be said to have advanced by leaps and bounds.
Time gradually passed. Chen Changsheng led the whole Family in practicing cultivation in the morning and saber techniques in the afternoon. Without the Liu Family causing trouble—and even with the Liu Family's intentional gestures of goodwill—the Chen Family's daily life was very comfortable.
Meanwhile, Chen Chuanwu followed the Master of the Iron Spear Hall in the county town to practice martial arts and soon inherited his Legacy.
Under Master Li Wen's intentional tempering, Chen Chuanwu challenged almost all the martial arts halls in the county town. His reputation as the number one of the younger generation resounded throughout the entire county!
Five years slipped away just like that!
Outside Kaoshan Village, the nineteen-year-old Chen Chuanwu had grown broad-shouldered and sturdy, with only his thick eyebrows and large eyes faintly showing glimpses of his former boyish appearance.
"Chuanwu, here to see little sister Wang Juan again?"
By a small river in Kaoshan Village, the women washing clothes saw Chuanwu approaching and began to tease him one after another.
"What gift did you bring for Wang Juan this time? Show us!"
Chen Chuanwu was made to blush by the group of women. Just then, a delicate-looking young girl ran out from the crowd, grabbed Chen Chuanwu, and ran away without looking back.
The women washing clothes immediately burst into fits of laughter.
This delicate-looking young girl was Wang Yong's eldest daughter, Wang Juan, who had just turned eighteen this year. She and Chuanwu could be considered childhood sweethearts and fellow disciples!
"Brother Chuanwu, why did you come here to find me today? Aren't you afraid of being laughed at by those women in the village!"
Wang Juan smoothed her loose hair and spoke in a generous manner.
"Uh, well, I came to find you because I have something to ask you..."
Chen Chuanwu's tone was a bit stuttery. While this fierce man was exceptionally agile in martial arts competitions, he appeared a bit dull when it came to romance.
"Oh! Are you going to say it or not? If not, I'm leaving..."
Seeing Chen Chuanwu hesitating and unable to speak clearly, Wang Juan pretended to leave.
This made Chen Chuanwu anxious. Forgetting his shyness, he quickly grabbed Wang Juan's hand and pulled a small box from his person.
Opening the box, inside lay a golden ring!
"Juaner, I, Chuanwu, have liked you for a long time. I want to marry you. Are you willing to marry me?"