CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 38 CULTIVATION

Zhao Yao wandered for a while longer and then returned with Liang Run. When they got back, the little beggar that Liang Run had rescued had already woken up.

Seeing the little beggar eyeing them warily, poised for attack, Zhao Yao suddenly thought of a wolf. However, the little beggar before him could only be a weak little wolf cub that had been gravely injured.

Liang Run asked gently, "What’s your name?"

The little beggar did not speak.

"No name?"

The little beggar still did not speak.

Uncle Zhang said from the side, "This child seems to be unable to speak." Uncle Zhang had been by the little beggar’s bedside the whole time, and when the child woke up, he explained his current situation to him. He had spoken for most of the day, yet the child did not utter a word.

"Unable to speak?" Liang Run’s brow furrowed. "This makes things difficult."

"Uncle, let me talk to him."

Liang Run stood up and let Zhao Yao sit by the bed. He stood beside Zhao Yao, ready to protect him in case the little beggar suddenly attacked.

Upon seeing Zhao Yao, an exquisite and adorable little kid, the vigilance on the little beggar’s face instantly lessened considerably.

Zhao Yao carefully noticed that the little beggar occasionally glanced at Lai Man, and he gestured for Lai Man to come over.

Lai Man walked to Zhao Yao’s feet and affectionately rubbed against his leg.

Zhao Yao reached out and petted Lai Man’s head. Seeing this, the little beggar’s eyes became even less guarded, and Zhao Yao naturally noticed this change.

"His name is Lai Man, and he’s my good friend."

Lai Man wagged his tail happily and bobbed his head in agreement.

"Do you also have a friend like Lai Man?"

The little beggar looked at Zhao Yao and then at Lai Man, and then he slightly nodded.

"Dogs are our best friends; they protect us, never despise us, and are always loyal to us," Zhao Yao said with a smile. "Is your good friend like that too?"

The little beggar nodded again but still remained silent.

"So, where is your good friend now? Can they be friends with Lai Man?"

Lai Man barked softly at the little beggar, as if saying, "I’d like to be friends with your dog."

The little beggar’s expression suddenly turned sad. He bit his lip tightly and didn’t say a word.

"Did your good friend die?" Zhao Yao asked. "Were they killed by those people who beat you today?"

The little beggar nodded, his eyes red.

"Do you want to avenge your good friend?"

Upon hearing this, the little beggar’s eyes brightened first but soon dimmed again.

Zhao Yao patiently asked once more, "Do you want revenge? If you want revenge, I can help you."

The little beggar’s eyes lit up again. This time he did not nod but spoke instead, "I want to." His voice was very hoarse, as if he hadn’t spoken in a long time.

Uncle Zhang and Liang Run both exclaimed in unison, "You’re not mute, huh?"

The little beggar ignored Liang Run and Uncle Zhang, his eyes fixated on Zhao Yao intently.

"Do you want to personally avenge your good friend?"

The little beggar responded without hesitation, "I want to." Da Huang had been beaten to death by those bastards while trying to protect him, and he had always remembered this grudge. He had vowed that he would avenge Da Huang one day.

"To defeat those people, you need to make yourself stronger first. I can help you become stronger, but there are conditions."

"What conditions?"

"I can take you in, make sure you have full meals every day, even meat, so you don’t have to beg anymore, and find someone to teach you martial arts. But you must be obedient and loyal. Can you do that?" Zhao Yao added, "Oh, and I’ll also find someone to teach you to read and write."

Hearing this, the little beggar’s eyes widened like saucers, his dirty face full of shock.

"I don’t want useless people. If you agree to be with me, you must learn martial arts, learn to read and write..."

Zhao Yao’s words were eagerly interrupted by the little beggar, "I am willing!" The little beggar deeply envied those who could read and write. He often begged outside bookstores, listening to the students talk. He always fantasized about being able to read and write one day. Now that the opportunity was before him, he was more than willing. "I am willing to do anything. I will obey, and I will always be loyal to you."

Zhao Yao noticed that when he mentioned teaching reading and writing, the little beggar’s eyes suddenly became very bright. "Do you want to learn to read and write?"

"Yes!" the little beggar shouted loudly.

Zhao Yao and Liang Run were both somewhat surprised; they had not expected a little beggar to desire to read and write. For a beggar, the most important thing should be to fill their stomach, not to read books.

"What is your name?"

The little beggar shook his head and said, "I don’t have a name."

Zhao Yao was not surprised by this answer. He thought for a moment and said, "From today on, your name will be Ding Yuan."

"Ding Yuan?"

"Ding means strategic planning. Yuan means foresight." Zhao Yao said with a smile, "I hope you will become a person with both strategic planning and foresight."

Liang Run chimed in, "A person with strategic planning and foresight is a smart person."

"I hope that after reading, you will become a smart person. Can you do it?"

"Yes!" The little beggar’s expression grew excited. He wanted to get up and kneel toward Zhao Yao, but as soon as he moved, his injuries caused him pain, and he grimaced immediately.

"Just sit tight. It’s not too late to thank me when you are better." Zhao Yao said, pointing to Liang Run, "You will follow my uncle from now on. He will arrange your martial arts, reading, and writing education."

Ding Yuan looked at Liang Run with respect instead of wariness now.

"Yes."

"First, take good care of your injuries. You can only learn once you’re healed."

"Yes, young master."

"From today on, you are no longer a beggar. You are Ding Yuan."

Hearing this, Ding Yuan’s eyes turned red again. He quickly lowered his head, his voice thick with sobs, "I am Ding Yuan..." Before he finished speaking, his stomach growled. He froze for a moment, and then his face flushed red.

"There is still some food in the kitchen. I’ll go get it."

Soon, Liang Run came back with a bowl of bread.

Ding Yuan accepted the bread but did not devour it ravenously. Instead, he ate it slowly, one bite at a time. Although he was a beggar, his eating manners were surprisingly refined.

After Ding Yuan finished eating, Zhao Yao asked him a few questions, such as how old he was, if he had any family, when he started begging, and whether he had always been begging in the capital.

Ding Yuan told Zhao Yao that he did not know how old he was. It had always been just him, with no one else. He also said he couldn’t remember things from before, only the last two years. He didn’t even remember what his name used to be.

Zhao Yao speculated that Ding Yuan might have had a fever that damaged his brain, or he might have hit his head, causing him to lose all of his previous memories.

Ding Yuan’s body was very weak, and after speaking with Zhao Yao for a while, he couldn’t hold on any longer and fell asleep.

Zhao Yao and Liang Run went to the study, leaving Uncle Zhang to continue watching over Ding Yuan.

"Uncle, I’ll leave Ding Yuan’s training to you."

"Don’t worry, I will train Ding Yuan well. However, before teaching him martial arts, reading, and writing, he must first be taught some manners."

"Uncle, don’t reveal my identity to them for now."

Liang Run understood Zhao Yao’s concerns, "Alright."

"Uncle, nurturing and training people requires a lot of money. I’m afraid the money you earn in the capital won’t be enough."

"Should I expand the business then?"

"Uncle, your business can’t grow too big, or it will attract trouble."

"That’s true. If money is short, I’ll ask my parents to send some."

Zhao Yao pondered for a while and said, "Uncle, you have connections and influence in Yangzhou, so after the rebellion is quelled there, let Grandfather expand the business."

"That could work."

"Have Grandfather also engage in the business I discussed with Uncle. It’s very profitable."

"Alright, I’ll write to Grandfather tomorrow."

"Uncle, also have Grandfather take in some orphans or beggars." When the situation stabilizes in Qingzhou, he would also have his uncle train some people there.

"Alright."

"There are many scholars in Yangzhou, so Grandfather can support some impoverished students."

"Yao Yao, supporting those poor students is not very useful. Without recommendations, they can’t become officials." Just like himself.

"They can become retainers or strategists for me in the future. When I go to my fiefdom, they can help manage it." Zhao Yao was thinking far ahead. "Besides scholars, we can also support others, have them learn martial arts, study military strategy, and then send them to the army."

Liang Run was astonished at this, "Yao Yao, are you planning to have your own people in the army?"