Chapter 4 Zhang Tie

  Time flies, spring goes and winter comes.

  In the blink of an eye, Zhang Yang spent another two springs and autumns in the Qing Shi Inn.

  Now his internal strength has changed from a single thread to many, many threads. Although he hasn't reached the level of minor completion in internal skill, he's made great progress.

  It was Zhang who knew that he had started practicing the martial arts manual and couldn't help but worry, and actually studied the Xuan Yuan Gong with him.

  Alas, Zhang Yang's old man is now forty years old, his meridians have long been blocked, and he cannot cultivate.

  However, Zhang Dapang was obviously doing this for his son and didn't have any intention of cultivating himself. Later, seeing that his son's cultivation was going very smoothly, he gradually put his mind at ease.

  On this day, Zhang Yang, who was already five or six years old and had long since shed his split pants, was having lunch with his family in the inn when an elderly man with a worn-out appearance led a boy of six or seven years old into the room.

  Why was he called a young man? Although his face looked very youthful, about six or seven years old, his body was quite tall and strong, almost equal to Lao Zhang's.

  Of course, there is also an old reason for this.

  "What brings the village head here?"

  Zhang Dashang saw Lao Zhang and hurriedly put down his chopsticks to welcome him, smiling and asking.

  Li and Zhang Yang also turned to look, the small Qing at the next table eating, the waiter, and the cook all hurriedly stood up, didn't see the boss personally come to greet them?

  It's clear that although the three of them didn't have much experience, they were very perceptive and able to read between the lines.

  "This is Zhang Yuanjia's second son."

  The old man pointed to the young boy behind him, sighed and said slowly: "Ergou's mother passed away early, Zhang Yuan also caught a cold and left a few days ago, leaving only Ergou, a seven-year-old child with no one to take care of. I couldn't farm either, so I thought of coming here to find a way out for Ergou."

  Lao Zhang's words made Zhang Yang furrow his brow tightly, and what was happening in front of him was also something he had not expected.

  Pneumonia, should be similar to a cold, didn't expect it to take away a life. However, the seven-year-old boy in front of me has reached the point where he can no longer survive, clearly this inability to survive is due to starvation.

  Zhang Yang came from the 21st century of a blue planet, an era where people were picky about their meat, in stark contrast to the ordinary households here who couldn't even afford to eat meat and often starved to death.

  "So it was like that..."

  Zhang Dashang heard this and also sighed, after a moment's thought, just as he was about to say something, his son spoke up.

  "Dad, just let him stay and be a companion for me!"

  Zhang Yang, who knew that his family was well-off, naturally couldn't ignore the situation in front of him. He certainly couldn't just watch as the young man struggled to survive. The education he had received in his past life had long since been deeply ingrained in his bones.

  "Good!"

  Zhang Dashang readily agreed, for his own precious son, he was afraid to say a single word, lest he would be hurt. Besides, there were plenty of people in the house who could provide for him.

  The young boy behind Lao Zhang looked a bit timid, but when he glanced at Zhang Yang who was about to speak, his face was full of gratitude. Apparently, the changes in his family had made this seven-year-old boy mature beyond his age and able to distinguish right from wrong.

  "Is this the young master of the Zhang family? The little one is truly kind-hearted!" The old man looked at Zhang Yang, exclaiming in admiration.

  Zhang Yang stood up and said humbly: "Grandpa, you're being too kind!"

  The old man smiled and waved his hand, then Zhang Dapang invited the village chief to have lunch before sending him out of the inn.

  Looking at Lao Zhang's red and radiant face, Zhang Yang couldn't help but guess that this person who came at noon was probably thinking about this lunch.

  Zhang Dazhuang, the local landlord, naturally had a meaty lunch without any dietary restrictions. However, the new young servant Erdogzi was somewhat reserved and only ate a bit more after Zhang Yang's encouragement.

  At lunch, Zhang Yang also learned that his old father had bought a lot of land in Zhangjiacun and was the real landlord of several tens of miles around. His father's ancestral home was also in Zhangjiacun, and many people in the village were more or less related to him, such as the old village chief Laozhang and young Zhang Ergou.

  At the same time, Zhang Yang deeply felt the living conditions of many people here from just a few words. Their lives were mostly unbearable, with some dying from illness due to lack of money for medical treatment and others starving to death.

  They haven't read books or received education, and are ignorant. They don't know what freedom is, what life is, and live a lifetime of hardship like an ox plowing the fields.

  From then on, Zhang Yang had another follower, that is Zhang Erdou.

  As for the name Zhang Erdou, Zhang Yang naturally had some opinions about it.

  In ancient times, even in some remote rural areas of the previous life, there was a custom of giving children humble names. Because the living environment was relatively harsh, they hoped that their children would have strong vitality and be able to make a good living, so they gave them humble names.

  When the child grows up, give him a formal name.

  There is also a legend that the humble name was used so that when Yan Wang saw it, he would look down on it and not take the person's life.

  Under Zhang Yang's persuasion, a formal name was given to Zhang Er Gou, which is Zhang Tie.

  It was as if he had been persuaded, but in fact Zhang Yang only mentioned it, and this somewhat timid young man hastily agreed, even looking very happy.

  Although Zhang Tie was only seven years old, his complexion was somewhat nourished, and his skeleton was very tall and large, more than a head taller than Zhang Yang, who was two years younger than him, looking very sturdy.

  So Zhang Yang gave him a name, Zhang Tie. Sounds more powerful!

  Then Zhang Yang taught Zhang Tie to read and write, and even practiced martial arts.

  After more than half a year of learning to read characters, Zhang Tie didn't recognize all the characters, but he could understand some parts of the Xuan Yuan Gong martial arts manual.

  Under Zhang Yang's guidance, Zhang Tie also began to cultivate Xuan Yuan Gong.

  For being able to read and cultivate the legendary martial arts secret book, Zhang Tie was extremely grateful to this young master, and also extremely hardworking.

  In just a month or two, he dispersed the turbid energy in his dantian and cultivated his first strand of inner power.

  This speed is pretty good compared to an ordinary young man, but it's still a big gap compared to Zhang Yang who cultivated internal energy in just one night and even refined it a bit!

  Zhang Tie's efforts were all seen by Zhang Yang, who couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration. Although most people in this world are ignorant, they just lack an opportunity.

  Now Zhang Tie's opportunity is in his hands, and he has even changed Zhang Tie's life. This kind of control over someone else's fate makes Zhang Yang feel a little unreal.

  For a moment, Zhang Yang got a bit carried away, and a voice interrupted his daydreaming.

  Young master?

  Zhang Tie looked at the young master in a daze and couldn't help but call out to him.

  "Oh!"

  Zhang Yang came back to his senses, couldn't help but smile a little, and immediately began to point out the methods behind Zhang Tie's Xuan Yuan Gong. At this time, Zhang Tie could only understand a small part of the front section of Xuan Yuan Gong.

  Teach Zhang Tie to recognize characters and practice martial arts. Although it can be said that there is a part of the reason why Zhang Yang is bored, but more are some other ideas.

  It is said that a good man needs three helpers, and although Zhang Yang yearned for the world of rivers and lakes, he also needed help. However, the helpers he had cultivated since childhood were mostly loyal and devoted, which was the best thing possible.

  At the same time, Zhang Yang felt a different kind of flavor, one that was unique and similar to the taste of power.

  Thus, the rise of a religion, the sincerity of a study.

  Like master and servant, yet like friends.