"Lin'er, this sweet and sour pork tenderloin is especially flavorful. Have a few more pieces," said Xia Lin's mother. Xia Lin looked at the bowl in front of him piled high with food and said helplessly, "Mother, how can I finish all this?"
His mother picked up another piece of beef and said, "Why can't you finish it? These are all your favorites. You won't be able to eat them once you're away. The conditions on the mountain are not as good as at home. I'm worried that you'll suffer there. I want you to eat more before you leave so that you can put on some weight. What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Mother, I'll eat," Xia Lin replied.
Jiang Yun, who had rarely joined the Xia family for lunch today, stood up with a wine cup in hand and said, "General, Madam, please rest assured. Although our Xiaoshan School is on the mountain, we won't treat your son badly in terms of food, clothing, shelter, and transportation."
Xia Lin felt a bit guilty when he heard this. It was actually he who had actively begged Jiang Yun to take him as an apprentice, but his mother and elder brother had taken their anger out on Jiang Yun. So sometimes their words were rather harsh. However, his mother and elder brother were angry with Jiang Yun because of him, and he had indeed hurt the hearts of these two people who loved him. So Xia Lin didn't say anything to them but would apologize to Jiang Yun in private.
Fortunately, Jiang Yun was quite magnanimous. He said he didn't mind and understood the love of Xia Lin's mother and elder brother for their son (younger brother). Moreover, although their words were a bit unpleasant, they didn't treat him, the guest, badly in daily life at all.
The general glared at his son and wife disapprovingly and then said to Jiang Yun with a smile, "Brother Jiang Yun, I'll leave my good-for-nothing son to you. This rascal has been spoiled since childhood. It's good for him to go out and get some training. You don't have to treat him differently just because he's my and my wife's son. Treat him the same as the other disciples. If this rascal doesn't listen, please teach him as his master."
Xia Lin's elder brother frowned after hearing the general's words and said, "Father, Lin'er has never suffered since childhood. It's okay that you only allow him to take one personal servant. But now you're saying this. Master Jiang, I'll trouble you to take good care of my younger brother. If he makes a mistake, I hope you'll mainly focus on teaching him and don't punish him physically. He's still young."
The general said angrily, "Young? You went to the battlefield to temper your mind when you were ten and could kill the enemy when you were twelve. Look at him. He's almost fifteen and still acts like a child!"
Xia Lin's mother picked up some more food for her younger son and said, "A man comes of age at twenty. Lin'er is only fifteen. He's still a child."
Xia Lin, the center of the topic, felt extremely embarrassed. He quickly finished his meal and left.
He would leave with Jiang Yun the next day and it would take half a month on the road to reach their destination. That night, Xia Lin just couldn't fall asleep. He got dressed, put on his fox fur coat, and left his room.
The world outside was very bright. The snow reflected the moonlight, making everything in the courtyard clearly visible. Breathing out a few puffs of hot air, Xia Lin folded his mattress and sat on the ground, sipping hot tea.
After drinking half a cup of hot tea, Xia Lin heard footsteps. He saw Jiang Yun also come out. Dressed neatly, Jiang Yun sat down beside him.
"Why are you out too? Old people should go to bed early," Xia Lin deliberately joked with Jiang Yun. In fact, Jiang Yun was only ten years older than Xia Lin. At twenty - five, he was not old at all.
Jiang Yun wasn't angry. Like Xia Lin, he held a cup of hot tea and said, "I can't fall asleep. I came out to get some fresh air. Maybe I'll feel sleepy later."