Chapter 7: Paying Respects to the Village Head

  The fiery red sun slowly rose, driving away the darkness that enveloped the world. Zhao Fei pushed open the door, yawning and rubbing his eyes, which were dark from lack of sleep. Because he had thought about too many things the night before, and had fallen out of bed after only a short while, Zhao Fei hadn't slept very well. At this moment, he looked rather listless. Taking a deep breath of the fresh air outside, Zhao Fei felt his spirits lift slightly.

  "The air in this countryside is just leisurely, taking a few more breaths can make you younger by a few years." Zhao Fei muttered to himself. Walking around the yard, Zhao Fei took a few laps and exercised his body, feeling the slight soreness on it. Yesterday's exercise had brought Zhao Fei not intense pain, but rather a sense of strengthening his body.

  Before long, Mr. Li came out of the door and saw Zhao Fei in the courtyard, with a look of relief on his face.

  Zhao Fei hurried over to pay his respects as soon as he saw his mother come out.

  Seeing Zhao Fei's very tired face, looking at Zhao Fei's dark eye circles, Li couldn't help but ask with concern: "Feier, didn't you rest well yesterday? Why does your complexion look so bad? Don't go today. Take a good rest at home."

  "It's okay, Mother. I'm fine. It's just that I didn't rest well last night, but it's nothing serious. Don't worry too much." Zhao Fei hastily explained, seeing Li's worried expression. After a pause, he continued: "I will definitely persevere, Mother. I will make you proud."

  After listening, Li felt relieved, but still couldn't help but say with a hint of sadness: "But..."

  "I'm really fine, Mother," said Zhao Fei as he jumped up and down to show how healthy he was. However, due to the sandbags tied around him, his movements were quite awkward and uncoordinated.

  "All right, all right. No need to jump anymore, I believe you." Zhao Fei jumped and Li Shi was frightened, hurriedly pulled him back and opened his mouth to stop him.

  "Hehe." A burst of silvery laughter came from inside the house. "Brother, your jump just now was really laughable." Then, Duer suddenly ran out of the house with a teasing smile.

  She came to Zhao Fei's side, grabbed his arm and shook it. "Brother, brother, will you play with me?" Duo Er said with her big, shining eyes.

  Looking at Duo'er's clear eyes, listening to her voice like a skylark, Zhao Fei really couldn't refuse, and could only helplessly say: "Okay, I'll come back early this afternoon to play with Duo'er, okay?"

  "But... but." Duo'er looked extremely wronged.

  "Alright, Duan, don't disturb your brother anymore." Seeing Zhao Fei's helplessness, Li Shi hurried out to persuade Duan.

  When Duoduo heard her mother's words, she could only reluctantly give up. Then she glanced at Zhao Fei and said: "Okay, but brother, you have to remember what you promised me. If brother forgets, I won't be friends with brother anymore." Duoduo was afraid that Zhao Fei would forget, so she deliberately puffed out her cheeks to show the serious consequences of making her angry.

  Looking at Duo'er's expression, Zhao Fei couldn't help but laugh and cry, and could only say: "Mm-hmm. I'll remember, Duo'er, you can rest assured." As he spoke, Zhao Fei also pinched Duo'er's chubby little face.

  Looking at the lovely Duor, looking at Li's face still with a hint of worry, Zhao Fei felt very happy and content. This also made him cherish this life even more.

  I must protect Duer, protect my mother, protect my father, and protect this family from the disturbance of war, and live a happy life. But in this chaotic world, can it really be as wished? Can his thoughts really come true? You don't know, I don't know, and Zhao Fei won't know either. Who will know then? Perhaps only heaven knows.

  After dinner, Zhao Fei bid farewell to his parents and siblings, then walked out alone.

  Arrived at Zhao Feng's courtyard. Zhao Fei pushed open the gate and found that Zhao Feng was already waiting for him in the courtyard. He nodded towards Zhao Feng and asked, "Good morning, Brother Feng."

  "Hmm, early. Zhao Feng nodded and then asked again: "Why are you late today? I thought you weren't coming."

  "How could it be!" Zhao Fei said with a resolute expression. "Since I've already made up my mind, I won't give up easily. I talked to Mother about some things today, so I was delayed for a while."

  Zhao Feng nodded with a smile and patted Zhao Fei's shoulder: "Good kid, I didn't misjudge you after all."

  "Hehe, you're flattering me." Zhao Fei smiled and rubbed the back of his head, feeling a bit embarrassed by Zhao Feng's words. Suddenly remembering that he was supposed to be studying, he looked up at Zhao Fei and asked, "By the way, Brother Feng, I want to learn how to recognize characters and read books. But I don't know who to ask to teach me. Can you teach me, Brother Feng?"

  "I'm just a soldier, I can recognize a few simple characters, but reading books is not possible." Zhao Feng shook his head, showing some helplessness. Seeing Zhao Fei's disappointed expression, he hurriedly asked: "Why did you suddenly think of learning to read again?"

  Upon hearing Zhao Feng's response, Zhao Fei appeared somewhat disheartened. He said helplessly: "You also know about my own body, Brother Feng. I can only focus on strengthening it. But as for actually learning martial arts, that's not possible. Since martial arts are out of the question, I'll just have to focus on literature instead."

  After listening to Zhao Fei finish speaking, Zhao Feng also felt that it was true. He thought for a moment and then looked up and asked: "Do you really want to learn?"

  "Of course, Wind Brother, how could I deceive you? I really want to learn." Zhao Fei nodded firmly.

  "If you really want to learn, I'll go ask the village chief for help. He's the only one in the whole village who has knowledge. If you really want to learn, it's up to the village chief to help you." Seeing Zhao Fei's determined expression, Zhao Feng also nodded secretly and decided to help him out.

  "Then I'll have to trouble you with that, Brother Feng." Zhao Fei replied happily. Thinking to himself that this matter of studying was now settled.

  "What's the trouble, you and Xiao Yun are brothers, so you're my brother too. Helping your own brother with something is also a bit of trouble." Seeing Zhao Fei like this, Zhao Feng was also full of joy. "However, I must remind you that I can only help you mention this matter to the village chief, whether it succeeds or not is beyond my control."

  Zhao Fei nodded and said: "I know all these things, Wind Brother, you can rest assured."

  "That's it." Seeing Zhao Fei so clear-headed, Zhao Feng couldn't help but look at him with new eyes. "You continue practicing like I taught you yesterday. I'm going to go see the village head now."

  "Uh-huh, got it, Wind Brother." Zhao Fei nodded in response and watched as Zhao Feng walked out the door.

  Not to mention how Zhao Fei was trained, but after Zhao Feng left the house, he rushed straight to the village chief's courtyard without stopping. It can be seen that Zhao Feng is very concerned about Zhao Fei's affairs.

  Arriving at the village chief's house, he found the door tightly closed and didn't know if the village chief was home. Zhao Feng walked up to gently knock on the door and respectfully asked: "Village Chief, are you at home?"

  "Who's there?" was all that came from a worn-out voice inside the house.

  "It's me, I'm Zhao Feng." Seeing the village chief at home, Zhao Feng hastily replied.

  At this time the door opened and a thin old man walked out from inside, looking at Zhao Feng said: "Is Xiao Feng ah, come in and sit. I do not know what you came to find me for?"

  "Oh, it's like that, Village Chief." Then followed the Village Chief towards the house, Zhao Feng said to the Village Chief: "I came to find you today because someone entrusted me with something."

  "Huh?" The village chief looked at Zhao Feng with a puzzled expression and asked: "Who entrusted you? What is the matter?"

  "It's still not that kid Zhao Fei," Zhao Feng replied.

  "Zhao Fei?" The village head's expression was unusual.

  "It's not that, Little Fei told me he wants to read books and hopes I can teach him. But as you know, my own affairs are such that I can only recognize a few characters, let alone teach books. I see that the child is genuinely eager to learn, and in our village, your learning is the highest. So I've brought him to find you, hoping you can take him on as a student." Zhao Fei explained alongside the old man.

  "Oh? What did the child say?" A faint glint flashed in the old man's eyes.

  Village chief did not refuse, Zhao Feng hastily pleaded for Zhao Fei: "He said he found it difficult to achieve anything with martial arts, so he wanted to try his hand at literature. Village Chief, you see that Little Zhao Fei is really struggling, just take him in."

  The old man waved his hand to signal Zhao Feng not to speak, then thought for a moment by himself. Finally, he turned his head and said to Zhao Feng: "So, it seems that he does have some of his own insights. He can judge the situation and recognize himself, after all, still a good seedling. Tell him to come over now, I have something to ask him."

  Hearing this, Zhao Fei immediately reacted and hastily asked: "Village chief, does this mean you agree?"

  The old man smiled and nodded: "Even if I agree, you call him over, I'll ask him some questions. If he can satisfy me, I'll take him in."

  "I'll go thank the village chief first, I'll go call Little Fei to see you now." Hearing the old man agree, Zhao Fei walked out happily. Seeing Zhao Feng leave, the village chief also nodded in satisfaction.

  The conversation went in two directions, while Zhao Feng was discussing this matter with the village chief, Zhao Fei also searched for memories related to the village chief through Xiao Zhao Fei's remaining memories. However, there wasn't anything useful. Except for those from before, it really seemed like there was nothing else.

  "Xiao Fei, come here."

  Zhao Fei was absent-mindedly practicing when Zhao Feng hurried over and called out to him.

  Zhao Fei heard someone calling him and stopped. He turned his head to see that it was Zhao Fei. He hastily asked, "Feng Ge, how is it? What did the village chief say?"

  Zhao Feng's face lit up with joy and he said: "The village head has called for you, I think this matter is 80 or 90 percent likely to succeed."

  "Really?" Hearing Zhao Feng's reply, Zhao Fei was overjoyed.

  "Of course." Zhao Feng replied affirmatively.

  "Alright, I'll go find the village chief." Zhao Fei didn't wait for Zhao Feng to say anything else and hastily rushed towards the village chief's house.

  "Alas... what's the hurry." Zhao Feng was about to speak when he saw Zhao Fei hastily walking away. "This child is really something, how can he be so impatient? I haven't even finished speaking yet, and I hope the village chief won't mind."