CHAPTER 377: CHAPTER 375: ONLY THROUGH BITTER HARDSHIP CAN ONE STAND ABOVE OTHERS

"Qiqi, you’re not planning to give up halfway, are you?"

Yuan Bao blinked, his little eyes looking at his god-sister with utmost clarity.

How could she not see that Wei Qiqi wanted to give up halfway?

After all, practicing martial arts is truly hard work.

Without a bit of willpower, one simply can’t stick to it.

After all, people like leisure and comfort.

An old saying goes, ’Endure the hardest hardships to be above the rest.’

But in this world, unless there’s no choice, how many people would willingly endure such hardship?

That’s precisely why families of wealth often produce wastrels. The reasoning is that simple.

"Uh, of course not!"

Wei Qiqi indeed couldn’t handle it, but being called a quitter by her sister left her a bit embarrassed. She wasn’t a quitter, she—wait, she wasn’t even made for martial arts in the first place.

"Alright Jiaojiao, sister’s arms are so sore, I really can’t stay with you!"

"You practice on your own!"

Realizing she wasn’t cut out for martial arts, what was there to not admit?

Quit halfway?

She was just here to join the fun, so it’s definitely not quitting halfway.

Yuan Bao had no choice but to watch her god-sister put down her sword and walk over to relax.

While she still had to keep practicing.

Her small frame endured hardships that shouldn’t be borne at her age.

"Persevere, persevere, I want to become a mighty expert, a cultivator, how could I be defeated by a bit of pain?"

"Endure the hardest hardships, and I’m above everyone!"

Yuan Bao gritted her teeth and persisted.

...

Finally, time’s up!

When Mei Jiu announced that she could rest, Yuan Bao felt like she was about to collapse.

Her entire body was aching, even more intensely than the initial pains of learning the basic body technique.

In the end, she was carried into the bath barrel by Mei Jiu, and the effect of the medicinal bath took her to an unknown number of stages of relaxation.

But by the time the medicinal bath was over, she felt extremely refreshed, almost as if reborn.

As for Wei Qiqi, she didn’t enjoy the medicinal bath and was still complaining about her sore arms while Yuan Bao had already recovered.

Mrs. Wei Shen saw her daughter’s state and tapped her forehead lightly, saying, "Look at your sister Jiaojiao, she’s way more formidable than you!"

"Mom, Jiaojiao wants to become an expert, I never intended to be one!"

Wei Qiqi felt unfairly judged.

If she’d known practicing swords was this exhausting, she wouldn’t have joined in the first place, and now she has embarrassed herself terribly.

"Qiqi, why don’t you try a medicinal bath, I’ll tell you, it’s so comfortable!"

Yuan Bao earnestly looked at Wei Qiqi.

In response, Wei Qiqi shook her head like a rattle drum, fiercely declaring she wouldn’t be fooled.

...

Through rare perseverance, Wei Qiqi finally endured her sore arms for several days until it slightly eased.

Yuan Bao, on the other hand, practiced swordplay every day, followed by a medicinal bath.

The all-over aching gradually distanced itself from her.

Day by day passed, and the weather got colder.

Autumn seemingly vanished in an instant, replaced by winter.

This year’s winter arrived somewhat earlier than the last.

After a heavy snow fell, it announced winter’s arrival, freezing the river surface solid, with each day colder than the last.

Yuan Bao’s training grew even tougher.

Practicing thrice in summer, thrice in winter.

Her little hands were already full of frostbite, looking particularly daunting.

Mrs. Wei Shen, seeing Yuan Bao’s hands, was heartbroken, and found palace secret recipes to help Yuan Bao care for her frostbitten hands. As for persuading Yuan Bao to stop practicing swordplay, Mrs. Wei Shen never said a word.

She was a clever person and could tell Yuan Bao, though small, was determined.

When Yuan Bao set her mind to something, she was bound to achieve it.

"Why is Jiaojiao so stubborn?"

Mrs. Wei Shen lay with Wei Shiyu on the warm heated bed, talking about Yuan Bao’s martial arts practice with deep pain, "Darling, did you go through this hardship back when you practiced martial arts?"

"We went through the same hardships back then, too!"

Wei Shiyu gently held Mrs. Wei Shen’s hand, "Jiaojiao has that determination, it’s a good thing. We must ensure we don’t hold her back."

"Moreover, Jiaojiao’s master isn’t just anyone. Even if the Eldest Princess sees them, she’ll treat them with respect."

"If Jiaojiao truly becomes her disciple, no one in this world would dare bully her!"

"But, haven’t you seen Jiaojiao’s hands? It nearly brought me to tears!"

"Endure the hardest hardships to be above others!"

Wei Shiyu wasn’t particularly moved.

He and his brothers went through the same in their time.

So many aristocratic families in Daxia, why does the Wei Family stand strong and consistently receive the Emperor Xia’s favor? It’s not because of any imperial favoritism but their own capabilities.

If the Wei Family’s descendants were all wastrels, how could the Emperor Xia show them extraordinary favor?

...

When Mrs. Xiao Li finally moved out of the Yuan Family Mansion, Yuan Bao also moved back from the Wei Family.

Though Mrs. Wei Shen was reluctant, she still sent Yuan Bao back.

After all, Yuan Bao bore the Yuan name.

Old Yuan and Mrs. Zeng were overjoyed to see Yuan Bao return.

In fact, during this period, the two elders were quite regretful.

But as seniors, they had to make certain choices.

At this time, Song Family and Mrs. Peng had also given birth and were still in confinement.

Both were pregnant at the same time and gave birth on the same day, two chubby boys born on the same day, same month, and year, truly an auspicious event.

At the time, Yuan Bao returned momentarily before going back to the Wei Family, as Mrs. Xiao Li was still at the mansion.

Yuan Bao didn’t want much interaction with Mrs. Xiao Li, so she naturally avoided her.

Yet this time, moving back, Yuan Bao still couldn’t avoid interacting with Mrs. Xiao Li.

The current Mrs. Xiao Li was very different from before.

Every now and then, she’d bring her second son to greet Mrs. Zeng.

This daughter-in-law brings the young grandson to visit her in-laws, who can find fault with that? Even Yuan Zhaodi, what could she say?

"Greetings, Fourth Aunt!"

One day, Yuan Bao just came out from Mrs. Zeng’s room only to bump into Mrs. Xiao Li carrying her little son.

These days, such unintentional meetings between the two were not infrequent.

Once or twice might be chance.

But after so many times, if you call it coincidence, Yuan Bao wouldn’t believe it.

With the births of Song Family and Mrs. Peng, many more servants were in the courtyard, all bought back by Yuan Zhaodi and Yuan Pandi.

Mrs. Xiao Li, wanting to buy off a few servants to inquire for some news here, wouldn’t find it hard.

"Greetings to the Jiafu Village Chief!"

Mrs. Xiao Li returned the greeting respectfully after Yuan Bao greeted her.

"Uh...?!"

Yuan Bao was instantly at a loss for words, utterly surprised by Mrs. Xiao Li’s response!