Qin Yin’s gaze swept across the area as she said in a low voice, "Young Master Lin, may I have a word with you in private?"
Lin Yan considered for a moment, then nodded.
The two moved to a secluded garden path. It was quiet, with no one around.
Zhuang Zheng saw Lin Yan and Qin Yin go to the flowerbeds behind the path, so he deliberately stood at the path’s entrance. That way, if anyone came, he could stop them and prevent Senior Brother Lin’s conversation with this Madam Lin from being disturbed. At the same time, if anything unfortunate happened, he could also bear witness for Senior Brother Lin.
"What did you wish to discuss, Madam? You can speak freely now."
"The Lin Family wishes to sponsor Young Master Lin’s Martial Arts Cultivation. We are willing to provide three hundred silver coins this year, and the same again next year."
’Sponsor me?’
Lin Yan had never expected that this Madam Lin sought him out to sponsor him. He was only at the Second-Time Skin Smoothing stage. ’With the scale of the Lin Family’s ironworks,’ he thought, ’they shouldn’t pay much mind to a Second-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist.’
’If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.’ He didn’t believe in free lunches falling from the sky. He shook his head and said, "I appreciate your kindness, Madam, but I am unworthy of such a gift. I cannot accept a reward for no merit..."
"Please don’t be so quick to refuse, Young Master Lin." Qin Yin interrupted Lin Yan, her gaze clear and sincere. "To tell you the truth, my husband passed away from a sudden illness two months ago. With no strong Martial Artist to back us, the family business can’t be sustained. We need a Martial Artist to hold the fort."
’A widow?’
Seeing Madam Lin dressed in white, a look of sorrow in her eyes, Lin Yan had a slightly inappropriate thought, though he knew he shouldn’t.
’To look your prettiest, wear your mourning best.’
’But the fact remained,’ he thought, ’my current strength isn’t enough to protect a business as large as the Lin Family’s.’
"I’m afraid you have the wrong person, Madam. My strength is hardly anything special in Guangping County Town."
"We chose Young Master Lin for two reasons. First, your strength already puts you at the forefront of the Second-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists, and you have immense potential in the Martial Arts. Second, your background is clean, with few connections to the major powers in the city. On these two points alone, very few in town are more suitable than you, Young Master Lin."
A faint smile touched Qin Yin’s lips. "But most importantly, Young Master Lin, you have a grateful heart."
Choosing Lin Yan was a spur-of-the-moment decision Qin Yin had made today, but she believed it was the most fitting one.
Ever since her husband’s passing, her mother-in-law—grief-stricken at having to bury her own son—had fallen ill overnight, leaving her to manage the sprawling Lin Family.
During this time, she and the family Steward had conferred several times. To maintain the family business, the most prudent choice was to invite a Third-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist. However, every Third-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist in the city had their own family backing them, and she was afraid of letting a wolf into the house.
The situation was much the same with the outstanding disciples from the various Martial Arts Halls.
That was until today, when she heard a member of the mansion’s Nursing Home mention a disciple from the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall named Lin Yan. Although he came from a common background, he had already reached the Second-Time Skin Smoothing stage after less than a year of training. Furthermore, he was known to be extremely grateful, having personally delivered a lavish gift to a Single-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist simply for a few words of guidance on choosing a Martial Arts Hall.
’Of course, a grateful heart and the Second-Time Skin Smoothing stage weren’t enough. He also needed to have true strength.’
And the fact that Lin Yan had defeated Cheng Zonghan with two punches a few days ago proved his strength was not weak among Second-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists.
’A clean background, potential, and a sense of gratitude.’ If she sponsored him now, then in two years, when Lin Yan reached the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing, he could protect the Lin Family’s ironworks business.
Although her husband was gone, the Lin Family could rely on its past connections to hold out for another year or two.
Seeing that Lin Yan still hadn’t answered, Qin Yin’s lips parted once more. "Until you break through to the Third-Time of Skin Smoothing, Young Master Lin, you will have no obligation to get involved in any trouble the Lin Family might face."
Lin Yan looked at Qin Yin. ’With terms this generous,’ he thought, ’I have no reason to refuse.’
"I am honored by the Lin Family’s high regard. I accept."
Hearing Lin Yan agree, the tension in Qin Yin’s brow eased, and a faint, relieved smile touched her lovely face.
Once they had reached an agreement, Qin Yin departed first. Lin Yan returned to Zhuang Zheng’s side, but Zhuang Zheng seemed entirely uninterested in what he and Qin Yin had discussed. When a servant from the Zhao Mansion announced the start of the banquet, the two of them followed their other senior brothers from the Martial Arts Hall into the main hall and took their seats.
That evening, the banquet was a lively affair of clinking glasses and endless toasts, with Zhao Linyuan as the undeniable center of attention.
The weakest guests at the entire banquet were Second-Grade Martial Artists, and there were a full two tables of Third-Grade Martial Artists.
Watching the young men and women at the banquet gaze at Zhao Linyuan with eyes full of envy and ardor, Lin Yan couldn’t help but sigh softly. "Nineteen years old, and I’m sitting here like a nobody."
Perhaps the only person there with the purest of intentions was Junior Brother Zhuang Zheng, who kept his head down, devouring the Treasure Meat and medicinal wine on the table. He had truly just come for a free meal.

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