Assassin Farmer

Chapter 45

”你再睡会儿，我先起来烧水。早上想吃什么？”随着林司曜刚睡醒时略略低哑的嗓音传至她耳边，刚要越过他身的苏水潋已经安然躺在他的位子了，趁势在她唇角偷了个香，就立在床边穿起了外衫。

“You can continue to rest for a bit, I’ll go boil some water. What do you want to eat for breakfast?” Suddenly, Lin Si Yao’s low voice sounded by her ear. Taking advantage that Su Shuilian was right above him, trying get to past him, he quickly stole a kiss from her before getting up and putting on his outerwear.

“我也起来吧，总不好天天被喜翠看到我赖床。何况，今天是最后一天了，趁早完成了也好安心。”苏水潋扯扯林司曜的衣摆，有些不好意思地说道。

“I’ll also get up, it’s not good for Xicui to see me always lazing around whenever she comes. Plus today is the last day, it would be better if we can finish it earlier.” Su Shuilian tugged at the hem of Lin Si Yao’s clothes as she shyly said.

“可以吗？”林司曜穿戴整齐，扶她起身靠坐在床头，回头从衣橱里拿出一套荷绿色的旧衣，换她的话说，刺绣时穿旧衣，更加自在便利。

“Can you?” Lin Si Yao quickly dressed up before he gently helped her up. He went to the wardrobe and picked out a worn out green clothes. She had said that wearing old clothes when embroidering was more convenient and comforting.

苏水潋敌不过他执意要帮她穿衣的动作，红着耳脖子由着他服伺自己穿好衣衫，挽好发髻。

Su Shulian could not win over him in terms of getting dressed, so she helplessly watched him dress her up and do her hair.

见他丝毫没有任何做这些女人该做的分内事时的别扭，忍不住弯起嘴角，心底浮起一股难以明状的满足感。这样的他，哪里还有初见他时的冰寒清冷呀，明明就是一个疼惜自己的好夫君啊。或许劳婶与田婶说得没错，他，真是个不可多得的好汉子呢。

Watching him without any sense of awkwardness in helping her, Su Shuilian could not help but feel satisfaction. He was no longer the cold man she had met before, but a pampering husband. Maybe Aunt Lao and Aunt Tian was right, he was a rarely found, good husband.

“好了。”林司曜完成最后一个动作，插上那支用碧玉扳指换来的白玉簪子，带上白玉耳子，回头见她正抿唇而笑地神游天外，忍不住拧拧她秀挺的鼻尖，好笑地问：“想什么哪？”

“It’s finished.” Lin Si Yao finished his last action, as he placed the hairpin into her hair. After he helped her put on her white jade earrings, he saw her face plastered with a silly smile. He could not help but pinch her nose and ask, “What are you smiling about?”

“呀好了吗？没……没什么”苏水潋瞬间回神，羞涩地抚了抚脑后高高挽起的清爽发髻，低低说了声“谢谢”，就捧着发烫的双颊跑去厨房间洗漱了。

“Ah, done? No… nothing.” Su Shuilian quickly returned from her daze as she shyly felt her hair before quickly adding, “Thank you” and blushed as she ran to the kitchen to wash her face.

林司曜失笑地摇摇头，虽然不明白她在羞什么，不过看她这副模样，想必是与自己有关了。许是想到了昨晚上那幕激情四射的交缠。林司曜眼底一暗，压下再度扯她上床缠绵的强烈渴望，三两下就收拾好卧房，一跃去了河边洗漱清醒了。

Lin Si Yao smiled as he shook his head. He was puzzled as to what she was blushing about, but from her reaction, it must have been related to him. She must have thought back to last night’s passion… Lin Si Yao’s eyes darkened as he suppressed his urge to bring her back into bed again. After a few moves, the bed was quickly tidied up and he then left to the river to sober himself up with cold water.

—

“师父，师父”待苏水潋与喜翠进了绣房赶最后一日的活计，林司曜刚收拾好碗筷，晾晒好衣物，蹲在后院的空地上处理那一堆死伤的野物时，田大宝扯着少年略略粗嘎的嗓子敲响了院门。

“Shifu*! Shifu!” After Su Shuilian and Xicui entered the embroidery room, Lin Si Yao cleared the plates and bowls and hung the washed clothing. As he was about to squat down in the backyard to weed out the weeds, Tian House’s Dabao’s young juvenile voice called out from their door.  

(Shifu, 师父 – master/teacher of martial arts)

“师父，林大哥，请你收下我吧。我一定会好好学武，不怕苦不怕累的，一定学得与你一样厉害。你就收下我吧。”田大宝一见林司曜开门，就跪在院门口，直直跪立着不肯起身，非得林司曜应允他的请求才罢休。

“Shifu, Big brother Lin, please take me as your disciple. I will study hard! I’m not afraid of hardships and I’ll learn to be just as powerful as you! Please accept me!” When Tian Dabao saw that Lin Si Yao had opened the gates, he knelt down and bowed as he pleaded. He refused to get up, not until Lin Si Yao would accept his request.

林司曜定定地看了他几眼，随即也不再理会他，兀自回到野物旁，继续忙起手上的活。

Lin Si Yao solemnly glanced at him a few times before he turned back and continued to root out the weeds.  

田大宝一看，心下凉了半截，心想那戏场子里演的拜师一幕压根就是假的，不实用的，自己跪了老半天，那林大哥也没发应，哪里有戏里唱的那样——师父立即就点头应允了呢？假的假的，明显是做戏骗娃子的。

When Tian Dabao saw this, his felt as if he was poured on with cold water. He thought back to the plays he watched, he had acted the same way as he kneeled to beg to become a disciple. But after so long, big brother Lin continued to ignore him, what happened to the shifu accepting these kinds of request without a second thought. Ah of course, those plays were simply playing with little children.

这样想着，田大宝心里有些委屈，虽然依旧跪得笔挺，可时不时地抬眼偷瞄不远处收拾野物的林司曜，终究还是娃子心性。

Even with this grieving thought, Tian Dabao remained kneeling as he occasionally glanced at Lin Si Yao not too far away, after all he still had a child’s heart.  

“大宝，大宝，你干啥子跪在这里？”远远的，田婶与田大富两人沿着村道跑来，跑到院门口，扫到院子里正不吭一声兀自收拾着野物的林司曜，田婶有些气闷，好哇，还道是个疼媳妇的好汉子咧，竟然让自个儿宝贝儿子下跪在门口，一跪还半个多时辰，这要不是方家婆娘给自己通风报信，这得跪到啥时候去呀？有什么大错值得罚自己儿子如此吗？

“Dabao, Dabao, what are you doing kneeling here?” From afar, Aunt Tian and Tian Dafu ran over to the gates before they swept a glance at Lin Si Yao who was silently tidying the yard. Aunt Tian was annoyed, wow, what a good husband he was, to have let her precious son kneel here for more than an hour. If not for Fang House’s poniang notifying her, he would have continued to kneel like this. What big mistake had her son made to be punished like this?

田婶一急，就要冲动地进去质问林司曜。田大富虽然得过林司曜的木材，见此情景心里也不免有气，就打算随了自己婆娘进去闹。

Aunt Tian was angry and was about to charge into the yard at Lin Si Yao. And Tian Dafu, although he had a good impression of Lin Si Yao after their woodworking contract, was also annoyed and had wanted to rush in with his wife.

“哎呀，娘，我这是拜师呢，你和爹来凑啥子热闹？快走快走”田大宝见田婶捋着袖子似要进去找架，赶紧扯着她的衣摆不耐烦地说道。

“Aiya, mom, I’m here requesting to be a disciple, what are you doing? Quickly go.”

“啥？啥拜师？”田婶和她田大富闻言均一愣，“大宝，你给娘我说说清楚，啥拜师？”田婶扯着自己儿子要从地上起来，而田大宝则死活不肯起来，这一来一去地两人扯得面红耳赤。直至田婶呼啦一把扯烂了自己儿子的衣领子。

“What? What disciple?” Both Aunt Tian and Tian Dafu were stunned, “Dabao, speak more clearly, what disciple?” Aunt Tian attempted to pull Tian Dabao off the ground, but he refused to stand up no matter what. This tug of war resulted in both parties’ faces to flush red. Until Aunt Tian suddenly tugged at Tian Dabao’s collar.

“好哇，你个死小子，和你母亲杠上了是不？给我回去，现在就给我回家去。什么拜师不拜师的。”田婶气急败坏地吼道。

“Ok you little rascal, you dare go against your own mother eh? What disciple or not, get home this instant! ” Aunt Tian could not take this any longer as she yelled angrily.

“你先听听儿子怎么说的吧。”田大富倒是有些惊讶于自己一天到晚只知道贪玩的儿子，啥时候这么执着地要求做一件事了。偷眼看看院子里面依然面无表情剥着狐皮、兔皮的林司曜，以及卧躺在他脚边的那两只眯眼补眠的大狗，似乎摸到了一点头绪。遂制止了自己婆娘继续无理取闹。

“You should listen to his explanation first.” Tian Dafu was confused with his son’s current behavior. He was usually playful and naughty, it was rare for him to be so serious. He stole a quick glance at the expressionless Lin Si Yao who was skinning fox and rabbit’s fur in the yard. Looking at the two big dogs by his side squinting their eyes, he seemed to have gotten a clue as he tried to calm his wife.

“爹，我要拜林大哥为师。”田大宝跪得直挺挺地说道，不是恳求，而是陈述。

“Dad, I want to big brother to be my Shifu.” Tian Dabao said, not in a pleading voice, but in a firm tone.

“为啥？”田大富一时没会过意，脱口而出地问道。

“Why?” Tian Dafu did not mind as he immediately blurted out.

“学林大哥的武功啊。等我长大了，我也要和林大哥一样，去林子里打猎，去城里卖皮毛换银子，这样，爹娘就不会这么辛苦了。”而且还可以娶到一个如仙子姐姐一般的漂亮姑娘呢。不过，这句话，田大宝可不敢如此光明正大地说出口，还是留着自己心底慢慢偷笑好了。哼，看以后狗子他们不嫉妒死我。

“So big brother Lin can teach me martial arts. This way, when I grow up, I can be like him and hunt in the forest and earn some taels from the animal fur. This way, father and mother won’t suffer from hardship.” And also marry a pretty person just like Fairy jiejie. However, Tian Dabao could not say this out loud and could only snicker in his heart. Humph, let’s see if Gou’zi and them will be jealous of him later.

田大富与田婶听完都为之一震。特别是田婶，一把抱住田大宝的身子，“好儿子乖儿子，是娘错怪你了。”田婶有些腼腆地自我检讨，随即扯扯田大富的衣袖，示意他进去说说，别让儿子继续跪下去了。心下对于大宝想拜师学艺一事倒也不反对。当然，不是为了大宝说的要孝顺爹娘一辞，而是希望他借着学武，一来可以杜绝他整日乱窜，像个野猴子似的不着家，二来也暗暗希冀，若真像林司曜这般武功大成，说不定就能化了他后脑勺上压迫神经的淤血块呢。

When Aunt Tian and Tian Dafu heard this, they were all shocked, especially Aunt Tian. With one move, she tightly hugged Tian Dabao’s body. “Good Dabao, it’s mom’s fault for recklessly blaming you,” she embarrassingly explained as she pulled on Tian Dafu’s sleeves, indicating for him to go in and talk to Lin Si Yao. About this matter, she no longer blamed her son for requesting to be a disciple. The reason was not because of his filial reason, because it was beneficial for him to learn martial arts. One, it could end his wild animal-like days. And two, she had hoped that if he were to become as skilled as Lin Si Yao, maybe he would be able to clear his brain thrombosis and resume normal mental growth.

田大富自是见过林司曜的轻功的，一个纵跃，就可以飞出几丈几十丈远。听说一柱香的时间就能往返一趟城里。这样的顶尖高手，虽然不明白他怎么会甘于屈居在繁花镇这个虽然依山傍水、美丽宁静却偏远无名的小镇里。许是高手总喜欢特立独行吧。

Tian Dafu has already seen Lin Si Yao’s excellent qinggong. With a single leap, he was was able to travel tens of feet. He had even heard that he was able to travel from this town to the city in about the time to burn incense (30 minutes).  He could not understand why a master such as him would settle down at an although beautiful town, with mountains on one side and water on the other, it was nameless. Perhaps, experts are just unconventional.

“干啥？还不进去，真要咱儿子跪上一天啊。”田婶见田大富皱着眉杵在门口，却迟迟不见他进去，急得推了推他。

“What? What are you dawdling around for? Do you want your son to kneel all day?” When Aunt Tian saw Tian Dafu frowning while looking at the gates with no intention of walking in, she nudged him.

“咳咳……”田大富无奈地进了院子，清了清嗓子，“那个……大兄弟……”

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“Oh ok….” Tian Dafu helplessly walked into the yard and lightly said, “Uh that…”

林司曜不等他继续说下去，手头的皮毛都已全数剥离了物身，径自起身，将那堆血淋淋的皮毛收入了大木盆，打算待会拿去河里漂洗去臊，随后来到水缸旁舀了几瓢清水洗净了双手。

Lin Si Yao did not wait for him to finish as he was already done skinning the animals and placed their bloody fur into a large bucket. He walked to the water tank and scooped out a bit of water to wash his hands and intended on heading to the river to wash the smell off of the fur.  

这一系列动作下来，杵着的田大富也好，门口的田婶、跪着的田大宝也罢，都是眼珠子随着林司曜的举动而滴溜溜地转，直至林司曜擦干双手，抹去袖口上些许因剥皮毛而溅上的血渍。

Every move he made, not to mention Tian Dafu, even the two at the door watched silently until he dried his hands and wiped away the blood stains in the cuff of his sleeves from the skinning.

“那个……大兄弟……大宝他……”田大富搓搓双手，不知该如何开口。门口几人的对话，那林司曜又不是没有听到，要真想收大宝为徒，怎么不吭一声呢？既然对方没有收徒的打算，自己这么强行进来劝说又有什么作用呢。

“That… uh… about Dabao…” Tian Dafu rubbed his hands together, unable to start. Their words were already heard by Lin Si Yao, if he had wanted to accept Dabao as a disciple he would have long agreed. Since the opposing party had no intention to take him in, what was the point for him to force this request?

这样想着，田大富也没再继续往下说，只是一个劲地搓着双手，有些无措地看看林司曜，又回头看看田大宝。心里直叹气。

With this thought, Tian Dafu found it hard to continue on. He continued to rub his hands together as he helplessly looked at Lin Si Yao. He turned back to look at Tian Dabao and sighed internally.

林司曜径自走到院门口，朝昂着脖子，跪得笔挺的田大宝，淡淡地说了一句：“一旦开始，可容不得你说放弃就放弃。”

Lin Si Yao walked by the gate towards the currently kneeling Tian Dabao with his head down and lightly said, “Once we start, we will not stop even if you give up.”

田大宝眨眨眼，好不容易搞明白林司曜说的话，欣喜地直点头：“不放弃，不放弃，死也不放弃。师父师父在上，受徒儿一拜”田大宝激动地忆着年初时去城里看大戏学来的拜师一幕，边说边要朝林司曜磕头。

Tian Dabao blinked his head, it took a while for him to process those words, soon he happily nodded and said, “I won’t give up, won’t give up, even if I die, I won’t give up! Shifu, great shifu, please accept this bow from this disciple!” Tian Dabao excitedly recalled the scene he had watched during the New Year’s play in the city. He repeated the words and was about to kowtow to him.

林司曜衣袖一佛，制止了大宝磕拜的动作，并运气挥起了他，“今后不要动不动就下跪。”

With a flick of his sleeves, his stopped Dabao’s mid-action of a kowtow, reminding him, “From now on, don’t kneel at every turn.”

“知道了，师父”田大宝喜滋滋地站直身子，下意识地揉了揉已经疼到发麻的膝盖，嘴里连连应道。

“I understand, Shifu.” Tian Dabao happily straightened up. He subconsciously rubbed his already numbed knees and replied.

田婶看着心里听不是滋味的。

When Aunt Tian saw this, she felt upset.

莫说自己这个宝贝儿子在家里还没遭过这种罪呢，如此乖巧的言听计从更是从未有过的事。唉，真真是应了儿大不由娘的古语。只是，心智才九岁的大宝，真的吃得了练武的苦吗？她虽然大字不识一个，可是练功要吃苦的道理还是知道的。看那些在街头卖艺的，哪个不是咬紧牙关死熬过来的？大宝……能行吗？

Although she could not say that he was always well behaved at home, but he had been so sensible. It seems the old saying, ‘an older son, need nay help from mother’ was correct… But Tian Dabao was only mentally nine, could he handle the hardships? For a woman her age, she had naturally suffered through many… but she knew that there was a lot more torment when learning martial arts. Dabao… was he up to it?

“行了，今天先回去吧，膝盖好了再来。”林司曜这样说着，转身走到那堆没了皮毛的野物边，随手拎起一只野兔，丢给了还傻愣着的田大富，说了两个字“不送。”就端起大木盆，穿过厨房往河埠头走去了。

“Ok, you can go home today, when your knees heal, come back then.” After he said that, Lin Si Yao turned around and from the basket of skinned animals, he pulled out a random skinned hare and threw it towards the dumbfounded Tian Dafu. With a “Won’t send (you off),” he took the large bucket of bloody fur and headed past the kitchen and towards the river.

两只狼崽翻开耷拉着的眼皮，扫过田大富手里的野兔子，目光亮了亮，随即想到林司曜的无声威胁，只好又乖乖地合上了眼皮，晒着秋日晌午的太阳，继续酣睡。

The two wolf puppies opened their eyes as they gazed at the rabbit in Tian Dafu’s hands, but when they recalled Lin Si Yao’s silent warning, they could only close their eyes and go back to their afternoon nap.

“这……他爹，这是给咱们的？”田婶指指田大富手里的肥硕野兔，欣喜地问。

“That.. he, was this given to us?” Aunt Tian excitedly asked, pointing at the fat hare in Tian Dafu’s hands.

“应该是吧。”田大富搔搔头皮，提着那只野兔走出院子，似是自言自语地说道：“许是给大宝的见师礼吧。”

“It seems like it.” Tian Dafu scratched his head and walked out of the gates. As if speaking to himself, “It might be a gift to complete the propriety/ceremony (?).”

“啥？见师礼？那我们得交束修吗？”田婶想到这个事，忧心忡忡地朝田大富问道。

“What? Does that mean we have to give him teaching fees?” When Aunt Tian thought of this, she asked Tian Dafu worriedly.

田大富一听，扫了眼走在自己身边，兀自傻乐的田大宝，随后朝自己婆娘吩咐道：“赶明儿，你陪大宝一道去，按着学堂里的规矩交点束修。”

When Tian Dafu heard this, he glanced at the dazed Dabao by his side before he turned to his wife and said, “Tomorrow, you and Dabao will go to and give him the fee according to the schools.”

田婶也只得点点头，心里则禁不住心疼。虽然儿子就一个，还是个心智有损的，可是，要她掏出几十个铜子，还是有些舍不得呀。。.。

Aunt Tian could only nod, her heart could not help but be pained. Although he was her only son, he was mentally disabled. However, for her to take out tens of coppers, she was a bit unwilling…

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”你再睡会儿，我先起来烧水。早上想吃什么？”随着林司曜刚睡醒时略略低哑的嗓音传至她耳边，刚要越过他身的苏水潋已经安然躺在他的位子了，趁势在她唇角偷了个香，就立在床边穿起了外衫。

“You can continue to rest for a bit, I’ll go boil some water. What do you want to eat for breakfast?” Suddenly, Lin Si Yao’s low voice sounded by her ear. Taking advantage that Su Shuilian was right above him, trying get to past him, he quickly stole a kiss from her before getting up and putting on his outerwear.

“我也起来吧，总不好天天被喜翠看到我赖床。何况，今天是最后一天了，趁早完成了也好安心。”苏水潋扯扯林司曜的衣摆，有些不好意思地说道。

“I’ll also get up, it’s not good for Xicui to see me always lazing around whenever she comes. Plus today is the last day, it would be better if we can finish it earlier.” Su Shuilian tugged at the hem of Lin Si Yao’s clothes as she shyly said.

“可以吗？”林司曜穿戴整齐，扶她起身靠坐在床头，回头从衣橱里拿出一套荷绿色的旧衣，换她的话说，刺绣时穿旧衣，更加自在便利。

“Can you?” Lin Si Yao quickly dressed up before he gently helped her up. He went to the wardrobe and picked out a worn out green clothes. She had said that wearing old clothes when embroidering was more convenient and comforting.

苏水潋敌不过他执意要帮她穿衣的动作，红着耳脖子由着他服伺自己穿好衣衫，挽好发髻。

Su Shulian could not win over him in terms of getting dressed, so she helplessly watched him dress her up and do her hair.

见他丝毫没有任何做这些女人该做的分内事时的别扭，忍不住弯起嘴角，心底浮起一股难以明状的满足感。这样的他，哪里还有初见他时的冰寒清冷呀，明明就是一个疼惜自己的好夫君啊。或许劳婶与田婶说得没错，他，真是个不可多得的好汉子呢。

Watching him without any sense of awkwardness in helping her, Su Shuilian could not help but feel satisfaction. He was no longer the cold man she had met before, but a pampering husband. Maybe Aunt Lao and Aunt Tian was right, he was a rarely found, good husband.

“好了。”林司曜完成最后一个动作，插上那支用碧玉扳指换来的白玉簪子，带上白玉耳子，回头见她正抿唇而笑地神游天外，忍不住拧拧她秀挺的鼻尖，好笑地问：“想什么哪？”

“It’s finished.” Lin Si Yao finished his last action, as he placed the hairpin into her hair. After he helped her put on her white jade earrings, he saw her face plastered with a silly smile. He could not help but pinch her nose and ask, “What are you smiling about?”

“呀好了吗？没……没什么”苏水潋瞬间回神，羞涩地抚了抚脑后高高挽起的清爽发髻，低低说了声“谢谢”，就捧着发烫的双颊跑去厨房间洗漱了。

“Ah, done? No… nothing.” Su Shuilian quickly returned from her daze as she shyly felt her hair before quickly adding, “Thank you” and blushed as she ran to the kitchen to wash her face.

林司曜失笑地摇摇头，虽然不明白她在羞什么，不过看她这副模样，想必是与自己有关了。许是想到了昨晚上那幕激情四射的交缠。林司曜眼底一暗，压下再度扯她上床缠绵的强烈渴望，三两下就收拾好卧房，一跃去了河边洗漱清醒了。

Lin Si Yao smiled as he shook his head. He was puzzled as to what she was blushing about, but from her reaction, it must have been related to him. She must have thought back to last night’s passion… Lin Si Yao’s eyes darkened as he suppressed his urge to bring her back into bed again. After a few moves, the bed was quickly tidied up and he then left to the river to sober himself up with cold water.

—

“师父，师父”待苏水潋与喜翠进了绣房赶最后一日的活计，林司曜刚收拾好碗筷，晾晒好衣物，蹲在后院的空地上处理那一堆死伤的野物时，田大宝扯着少年略略粗嘎的嗓子敲响了院门。

“Shifu*! Shifu!” After Su Shuilian and Xicui entered the embroidery room, Lin Si Yao cleared the plates and bowls and hung the washed clothing. As he was about to squat down in the backyard to weed out the weeds, Tian House’s Dabao’s young juvenile voice called out from their door.  

(Shifu, 师父 – master/teacher of martial arts)

“师父，林大哥，请你收下我吧。我一定会好好学武，不怕苦不怕累的，一定学得与你一样厉害。你就收下我吧。”田大宝一见林司曜开门，就跪在院门口，直直跪立着不肯起身，非得林司曜应允他的请求才罢休。

“Shifu, Big brother Lin, please take me as your disciple. I will study hard! I’m not afraid of hardships and I’ll learn to be just as powerful as you! Please accept me!” When Tian Dabao saw that Lin Si Yao had opened the gates, he knelt down and bowed as he pleaded. He refused to get up, not until Lin Si Yao would accept his request.

林司曜定定地看了他几眼，随即也不再理会他，兀自回到野物旁，继续忙起手上的活。

Lin Si Yao solemnly glanced at him a few times before he turned back and continued to root out the weeds.  

田大宝一看，心下凉了半截，心想那戏场子里演的拜师一幕压根就是假的，不实用的，自己跪了老半天，那林大哥也没发应，哪里有戏里唱的那样——师父立即就点头应允了呢？假的假的，明显是做戏骗娃子的。

When Tian Dabao saw this, his felt as if he was poured on with cold water. He thought back to the plays he watched, he had acted the same way as he kneeled to beg to become a disciple. But after so long, big brother Lin continued to ignore him, what happened to the shifu accepting these kinds of request without a second thought. Ah of course, those plays were simply playing with little children.

这样想着，田大宝心里有些委屈，虽然依旧跪得笔挺，可时不时地抬眼偷瞄不远处收拾野物的林司曜，终究还是娃子心性。

Even with this grieving thought, Tian Dabao remained kneeling as he occasionally glanced at Lin Si Yao not too far away, after all he still had a child’s heart.  

“大宝，大宝，你干啥子跪在这里？”远远的，田婶与田大富两人沿着村道跑来，跑到院门口，扫到院子里正不吭一声兀自收拾着野物的林司曜，田婶有些气闷，好哇，还道是个疼媳妇的好汉子咧，竟然让自个儿宝贝儿子下跪在门口，一跪还半个多时辰，这要不是方家婆娘给自己通风报信，这得跪到啥时候去呀？有什么大错值得罚自己儿子如此吗？

“Dabao, Dabao, what are you doing kneeling here?” From afar, Aunt Tian and Tian Dafu ran over to the gates before they swept a glance at Lin Si Yao who was silently tidying the yard. Aunt Tian was annoyed, wow, what a good husband he was, to have let her precious son kneel here for more than an hour. If not for Fang House’s poniang notifying her, he would have continued to kneel like this. What big mistake had her son made to be punished like this?

田婶一急，就要冲动地进去质问林司曜。田大富虽然得过林司曜的木材，见此情景心里也不免有气，就打算随了自己婆娘进去闹。

Aunt Tian was angry and was about to charge into the yard at Lin Si Yao. And Tian Dafu, although he had a good impression of Lin Si Yao after their woodworking contract, was also annoyed and had wanted to rush in with his wife.

“哎呀，娘，我这是拜师呢，你和爹来凑啥子热闹？快走快走”田大宝见田婶捋着袖子似要进去找架，赶紧扯着她的衣摆不耐烦地说道。

“Aiya, mom, I’m here requesting to be a disciple, what are you doing? Quickly go.”

“啥？啥拜师？”田婶和她田大富闻言均一愣，“大宝，你给娘我说说清楚，啥拜师？”田婶扯着自己儿子要从地上起来，而田大宝则死活不肯起来，这一来一去地两人扯得面红耳赤。直至田婶呼啦一把扯烂了自己儿子的衣领子。

“What? What disciple?” Both Aunt Tian and Tian Dafu were stunned, “Dabao, speak more clearly, what disciple?” Aunt Tian attempted to pull Tian Dabao off the ground, but he refused to stand up no matter what. This tug of war resulted in both parties’ faces to flush red. Until Aunt Tian suddenly tugged at Tian Dabao’s collar.

“好哇，你个死小子，和你母亲杠上了是不？给我回去，现在就给我回家去。什么拜师不拜师的。”田婶气急败坏地吼道。

“Ok you little rascal, you dare go against your own mother eh? What disciple or not, get home this instant! ” Aunt Tian could not take this any longer as she yelled angrily.

“你先听听儿子怎么说的吧。”田大富倒是有些惊讶于自己一天到晚只知道贪玩的儿子，啥时候这么执着地要求做一件事了。偷眼看看院子里面依然面无表情剥着狐皮、兔皮的林司曜，以及卧躺在他脚边的那两只眯眼补眠的大狗，似乎摸到了一点头绪。遂制止了自己婆娘继续无理取闹。

“You should listen to his explanation first.” Tian Dafu was confused with his son’s current behavior. He was usually playful and naughty, it was rare for him to be so serious. He stole a quick glance at the expressionless Lin Si Yao who was skinning fox and rabbit’s fur in the yard. Looking at the two big dogs by his side squinting their eyes, he seemed to have gotten a clue as he tried to calm his wife.

“爹，我要拜林大哥为师。”田大宝跪得直挺挺地说道，不是恳求，而是陈述。

“Dad, I want to big brother to be my Shifu.” Tian Dabao said, not in a pleading voice, but in a firm tone.

“为啥？”田大富一时没会过意，脱口而出地问道。

“Why?” Tian Dafu did not mind as he immediately blurted out.

“学林大哥的武功啊。等我长大了，我也要和林大哥一样，去林子里打猎，去城里卖皮毛换银子，这样，爹娘就不会这么辛苦了。”而且还可以娶到一个如仙子姐姐一般的漂亮姑娘呢。不过，这句话，田大宝可不敢如此光明正大地说出口，还是留着自己心底慢慢偷笑好了。哼，看以后狗子他们不嫉妒死我。

“So big brother Lin can teach me martial arts. This way, when I grow up, I can be like him and hunt in the forest and earn some taels from the animal fur. This way, father and mother won’t suffer from hardship.” And also marry a pretty person just like Fairy jiejie. However, Tian Dabao could not say this out loud and could only snicker in his heart. Humph, let’s see if Gou’zi and them will be jealous of him later.

田大富与田婶听完都为之一震。特别是田婶，一把抱住田大宝的身子，“好儿子乖儿子，是娘错怪你了。”田婶有些腼腆地自我检讨，随即扯扯田大富的衣袖，示意他进去说说，别让儿子继续跪下去了。心下对于大宝想拜师学艺一事倒也不反对。当然，不是为了大宝说的要孝顺爹娘一辞，而是希望他借着学武，一来可以杜绝他整日乱窜，像个野猴子似的不着家，二来也暗暗希冀，若真像林司曜这般武功大成，说不定就能化了他后脑勺上压迫神经的淤血块呢。

When Aunt Tian and Tian Dafu heard this, they were all shocked, especially Aunt Tian. With one move, she tightly hugged Tian Dabao’s body. “Good Dabao, it’s mom’s fault for recklessly blaming you,” she embarrassingly explained as she pulled on Tian Dafu’s sleeves, indicating for him to go in and talk to Lin Si Yao. About this matter, she no longer blamed her son for requesting to be a disciple. The reason was not because of his filial reason, because it was beneficial for him to learn martial arts. One, it could end his wild animal-like days. And two, she had hoped that if he were to become as skilled as Lin Si Yao, maybe he would be able to clear his brain thrombosis and resume normal mental growth.

田大富自是见过林司曜的轻功的，一个纵跃，就可以飞出几丈几十丈远。听说一柱香的时间就能往返一趟城里。这样的顶尖高手，虽然不明白他怎么会甘于屈居在繁花镇这个虽然依山傍水、美丽宁静却偏远无名的小镇里。许是高手总喜欢特立独行吧。

Tian Dafu has already seen Lin Si Yao’s excellent qinggong. With a single leap, he was was able to travel tens of feet. He had even heard that he was able to travel from this town to the city in about the time to burn incense (30 minutes).  He could not understand why a master such as him would settle down at an although beautiful town, with mountains on one side and water on the other, it was nameless. Perhaps, experts are just unconventional.

“干啥？还不进去，真要咱儿子跪上一天啊。”田婶见田大富皱着眉杵在门口，却迟迟不见他进去，急得推了推他。

“What? What are you dawdling around for? Do you want your son to kneel all day?” When Aunt Tian saw Tian Dafu frowning while looking at the gates with no intention of walking in, she nudged him.

“咳咳……”田大富无奈地进了院子，清了清嗓子，“那个……大兄弟……”

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“Oh ok….” Tian Dafu helplessly walked into the yard and lightly said, “Uh that…”

林司曜不等他继续说下去，手头的皮毛都已全数剥离了物身，径自起身，将那堆血淋淋的皮毛收入了大木盆，打算待会拿去河里漂洗去臊，随后来到水缸旁舀了几瓢清水洗净了双手。

Lin Si Yao did not wait for him to finish as he was already done skinning the animals and placed their bloody fur into a large bucket. He walked to the water tank and scooped out a bit of water to wash his hands and intended on heading to the river to wash the smell off of the fur.  

这一系列动作下来，杵着的田大富也好，门口的田婶、跪着的田大宝也罢，都是眼珠子随着林司曜的举动而滴溜溜地转，直至林司曜擦干双手，抹去袖口上些许因剥皮毛而溅上的血渍。

Every move he made, not to mention Tian Dafu, even the two at the door watched silently until he dried his hands and wiped away the blood stains in the cuff of his sleeves from the skinning.

“那个……大兄弟……大宝他……”田大富搓搓双手，不知该如何开口。门口几人的对话，那林司曜又不是没有听到，要真想收大宝为徒，怎么不吭一声呢？既然对方没有收徒的打算，自己这么强行进来劝说又有什么作用呢。

“That… uh… about Dabao…” Tian Dafu rubbed his hands together, unable to start. Their words were already heard by Lin Si Yao, if he had wanted to accept Dabao as a disciple he would have long agreed. Since the opposing party had no intention to take him in, what was the point for him to force this request?

这样想着，田大富也没再继续往下说，只是一个劲地搓着双手，有些无措地看看林司曜，又回头看看田大宝。心里直叹气。

With this thought, Tian Dafu found it hard to continue on. He continued to rub his hands together as he helplessly looked at Lin Si Yao. He turned back to look at Tian Dabao and sighed internally.

林司曜径自走到院门口，朝昂着脖子，跪得笔挺的田大宝，淡淡地说了一句：“一旦开始，可容不得你说放弃就放弃。”

Lin Si Yao walked by the gate towards the currently kneeling Tian Dabao with his head down and lightly said, “Once we start, we will not stop even if you give up.”

田大宝眨眨眼，好不容易搞明白林司曜说的话，欣喜地直点头：“不放弃，不放弃，死也不放弃。师父师父在上，受徒儿一拜”田大宝激动地忆着年初时去城里看大戏学来的拜师一幕，边说边要朝林司曜磕头。

Tian Dabao blinked his head, it took a while for him to process those words, soon he happily nodded and said, “I won’t give up, won’t give up, even if I die, I won’t give up! Shifu, great shifu, please accept this bow from this disciple!” Tian Dabao excitedly recalled the scene he had watched during the New Year’s play in the city. He repeated the words and was about to kowtow to him.

林司曜衣袖一佛，制止了大宝磕拜的动作，并运气挥起了他，“今后不要动不动就下跪。”

With a flick of his sleeves, his stopped Dabao’s mid-action of a kowtow, reminding him, “From now on, don’t kneel at every turn.”

“知道了，师父”田大宝喜滋滋地站直身子，下意识地揉了揉已经疼到发麻的膝盖，嘴里连连应道。

“I understand, Shifu.” Tian Dabao happily straightened up. He subconsciously rubbed his already numbed knees and replied.

田婶看着心里听不是滋味的。

When Aunt Tian saw this, she felt upset.

莫说自己这个宝贝儿子在家里还没遭过这种罪呢，如此乖巧的言听计从更是从未有过的事。唉，真真是应了儿大不由娘的古语。只是，心智才九岁的大宝，真的吃得了练武的苦吗？她虽然大字不识一个，可是练功要吃苦的道理还是知道的。看那些在街头卖艺的，哪个不是咬紧牙关死熬过来的？大宝……能行吗？

Although she could not say that he was always well behaved at home, but he had been so sensible. It seems the old saying, ‘an older son, need nay help from mother’ was correct… But Tian Dabao was only mentally nine, could he handle the hardships? For a woman her age, she had naturally suffered through many… but she knew that there was a lot more torment when learning martial arts. Dabao… was he up to it?

“行了，今天先回去吧，膝盖好了再来。”林司曜这样说着，转身走到那堆没了皮毛的野物边，随手拎起一只野兔，丢给了还傻愣着的田大富，说了两个字“不送。”就端起大木盆，穿过厨房往河埠头走去了。

“Ok, you can go home today, when your knees heal, come back then.” After he said that, Lin Si Yao turned around and from the basket of skinned animals, he pulled out a random skinned hare and threw it towards the dumbfounded Tian Dafu. With a “Won’t send (you off),” he took the large bucket of bloody fur and headed past the kitchen and towards the river.

两只狼崽翻开耷拉着的眼皮，扫过田大富手里的野兔子，目光亮了亮，随即想到林司曜的无声威胁，只好又乖乖地合上了眼皮，晒着秋日晌午的太阳，继续酣睡。

The two wolf puppies opened their eyes as they gazed at the rabbit in Tian Dafu’s hands, but when they recalled Lin Si Yao’s silent warning, they could only close their eyes and go back to their afternoon nap.

“这……他爹，这是给咱们的？”田婶指指田大富手里的肥硕野兔，欣喜地问。

“That.. he, was this given to us?” Aunt Tian excitedly asked, pointing at the fat hare in Tian Dafu’s hands.

“应该是吧。”田大富搔搔头皮，提着那只野兔走出院子，似是自言自语地说道：“许是给大宝的见师礼吧。”

“It seems like it.” Tian Dafu scratched his head and walked out of the gates. As if speaking to himself, “It might be a gift to complete the propriety/ceremony (?).”

“啥？见师礼？那我们得交束修吗？”田婶想到这个事，忧心忡忡地朝田大富问道。

“What? Does that mean we have to give him teaching fees?” When Aunt Tian thought of this, she asked Tian Dafu worriedly.

田大富一听，扫了眼走在自己身边，兀自傻乐的田大宝，随后朝自己婆娘吩咐道：“赶明儿，你陪大宝一道去，按着学堂里的规矩交点束修。”

When Tian Dafu heard this, he glanced at the dazed Dabao by his side before he turned to his wife and said, “Tomorrow, you and Dabao will go to and give him the fee according to the schools.”

田婶也只得点点头，心里则禁不住心疼。虽然儿子就一个，还是个心智有损的，可是，要她掏出几十个铜子，还是有些舍不得呀。。.。

Aunt Tian could only nod, her heart could not help but be pained. Although he was her only son, he was mentally disabled. However, for her to take out tens of coppers, she was a bit unwilling…

”你再睡会儿，我先起来烧水。早上想吃什么？”随着林司曜刚睡醒时略略低哑的嗓音传至她耳边，刚要越过他身的苏水潋已经安然躺在他的位子了，趁势在她唇角偷了个香，就立在床边穿起了外衫。

“You can continue to rest for a bit, I’ll go boil some water. What do you want to eat for breakfast?” Suddenly, Lin Si Yao’s low voice sounded by her ear. Taking advantage that Su Shuilian was right above him, trying get to past him, he quickly stole a kiss from her before getting up and putting on his outerwear.

“我也起来吧，总不好天天被喜翠看到我赖床。何况，今天是最后一天了，趁早完成了也好安心。”苏水潋扯扯林司曜的衣摆，有些不好意思地说道。

“I’ll also get up, it’s not good for Xicui to see me always lazing around whenever she comes. Plus today is the last day, it would be better if we can finish it earlier.” Su Shuilian tugged at the hem of Lin Si Yao’s clothes as she shyly said.

“可以吗？”林司曜穿戴整齐，扶她起身靠坐在床头，回头从衣橱里拿出一套荷绿色的旧衣，换她的话说，刺绣时穿旧衣，更加自在便利。

“Can you?” Lin Si Yao quickly dressed up before he gently helped her up. He went to the wardrobe and picked out a worn out green clothes. She had said that wearing old clothes when embroidering was more convenient and comforting.

苏水潋敌不过他执意要帮她穿衣的动作，红着耳脖子由着他服伺自己穿好衣衫，挽好发髻。

Su Shulian could not win over him in terms of getting dressed, so she helplessly watched him dress her up and do her hair.

见他丝毫没有任何做这些女人该做的分内事时的别扭，忍不住弯起嘴角，心底浮起一股难以明状的满足感。这样的他，哪里还有初见他时的冰寒清冷呀，明明就是一个疼惜自己的好夫君啊。或许劳婶与田婶说得没错，他，真是个不可多得的好汉子呢。

Watching him without any sense of awkwardness in helping her, Su Shuilian could not help but feel satisfaction. He was no longer the cold man she had met before, but a pampering husband. Maybe Aunt Lao and Aunt Tian was right, he was a rarely found, good husband.

“好了。”林司曜完成最后一个动作，插上那支用碧玉扳指换来的白玉簪子，带上白玉耳子，回头见她正抿唇而笑地神游天外，忍不住拧拧她秀挺的鼻尖，好笑地问：“想什么哪？”

“It’s finished.” Lin Si Yao finished his last action, as he placed the hairpin into her hair. After he helped her put on her white jade earrings, he saw her face plastered with a silly smile. He could not help but pinch her nose and ask, “What are you smiling about?”

“呀好了吗？没……没什么”苏水潋瞬间回神，羞涩地抚了抚脑后高高挽起的清爽发髻，低低说了声“谢谢”，就捧着发烫的双颊跑去厨房间洗漱了。

“Ah, done? No… nothing.” Su Shuilian quickly returned from her daze as she shyly felt her hair before quickly adding, “Thank you” and blushed as she ran to the kitchen to wash her face.

林司曜失笑地摇摇头，虽然不明白她在羞什么，不过看她这副模样，想必是与自己有关了。许是想到了昨晚上那幕激情四射的交缠。林司曜眼底一暗，压下再度扯她上床缠绵的强烈渴望，三两下就收拾好卧房，一跃去了河边洗漱清醒了。

Lin Si Yao smiled as he shook his head. He was puzzled as to what she was blushing about, but from her reaction, it must have been related to him. She must have thought back to last night’s passion… Lin Si Yao’s eyes darkened as he suppressed his urge to bring her back into bed again. After a few moves, the bed was quickly tidied up and he then left to the river to sober himself up with cold water.

—

“师父，师父”待苏水潋与喜翠进了绣房赶最后一日的活计，林司曜刚收拾好碗筷，晾晒好衣物，蹲在后院的空地上处理那一堆死伤的野物时，田大宝扯着少年略略粗嘎的嗓子敲响了院门。

“Shifu*! Shifu!” After Su Shuilian and Xicui entered the embroidery room, Lin Si Yao cleared the plates and bowls and hung the washed clothing. As he was about to squat down in the backyard to weed out the weeds, Tian House’s Dabao’s young juvenile voice called out from their door.  

(Shifu, 师父 – master/teacher of martial arts)

“师父，林大哥，请你收下我吧。我一定会好好学武，不怕苦不怕累的，一定学得与你一样厉害。你就收下我吧。”田大宝一见林司曜开门，就跪在院门口，直直跪立着不肯起身，非得林司曜应允他的请求才罢休。

“Shifu, Big brother Lin, please take me as your disciple. I will study hard! I’m not afraid of hardships and I’ll learn to be just as powerful as you! Please accept me!” When Tian Dabao saw that Lin Si Yao had opened the gates, he knelt down and bowed as he pleaded. He refused to get up, not until Lin Si Yao would accept his request.

林司曜定定地看了他几眼，随即也不再理会他，兀自回到野物旁，继续忙起手上的活。

Lin Si Yao solemnly glanced at him a few times before he turned back and continued to root out the weeds.  

田大宝一看，心下凉了半截，心想那戏场子里演的拜师一幕压根就是假的，不实用的，自己跪了老半天，那林大哥也没发应，哪里有戏里唱的那样——师父立即就点头应允了呢？假的假的，明显是做戏骗娃子的。

When Tian Dabao saw this, his felt as if he was poured on with cold water. He thought back to the plays he watched, he had acted the same way as he kneeled to beg to become a disciple. But after so long, big brother Lin continued to ignore him, what happened to the shifu accepting these kinds of request without a second thought. Ah of course, those plays were simply playing with little children.

这样想着，田大宝心里有些委屈，虽然依旧跪得笔挺，可时不时地抬眼偷瞄不远处收拾野物的林司曜，终究还是娃子心性。

Even with this grieving thought, Tian Dabao remained kneeling as he occasionally glanced at Lin Si Yao not too far away, after all he still had a child’s heart.  

“大宝，大宝，你干啥子跪在这里？”远远的，田婶与田大富两人沿着村道跑来，跑到院门口，扫到院子里正不吭一声兀自收拾着野物的林司曜，田婶有些气闷，好哇，还道是个疼媳妇的好汉子咧，竟然让自个儿宝贝儿子下跪在门口，一跪还半个多时辰，这要不是方家婆娘给自己通风报信，这得跪到啥时候去呀？有什么大错值得罚自己儿子如此吗？

“Dabao, Dabao, what are you doing kneeling here?” From afar, Aunt Tian and Tian Dafu ran over to the gates before they swept a glance at Lin Si Yao who was silently tidying the yard. Aunt Tian was annoyed, wow, what a good husband he was, to have let her precious son kneel here for more than an hour. If not for Fang House’s poniang notifying her, he would have continued to kneel like this. What big mistake had her son made to be punished like this?

田婶一急，就要冲动地进去质问林司曜。田大富虽然得过林司曜的木材，见此情景心里也不免有气，就打算随了自己婆娘进去闹。

Aunt Tian was angry and was about to charge into the yard at Lin Si Yao. And Tian Dafu, although he had a good impression of Lin Si Yao after their woodworking contract, was also annoyed and had wanted to rush in with his wife.

“哎呀，娘，我这是拜师呢，你和爹来凑啥子热闹？快走快走”田大宝见田婶捋着袖子似要进去找架，赶紧扯着她的衣摆不耐烦地说道。

“Aiya, mom, I’m here requesting to be a disciple, what are you doing? Quickly go.”

“啥？啥拜师？”田婶和她田大富闻言均一愣，“大宝，你给娘我说说清楚，啥拜师？”田婶扯着自己儿子要从地上起来，而田大宝则死活不肯起来，这一来一去地两人扯得面红耳赤。直至田婶呼啦一把扯烂了自己儿子的衣领子。

“What? What disciple?” Both Aunt Tian and Tian Dafu were stunned, “Dabao, speak more clearly, what disciple?” Aunt Tian attempted to pull Tian Dabao off the ground, but he refused to stand up no matter what. This tug of war resulted in both parties’ faces to flush red. Until Aunt Tian suddenly tugged at Tian Dabao’s collar.

“好哇，你个死小子，和你母亲杠上了是不？给我回去，现在就给我回家去。什么拜师不拜师的。”田婶气急败坏地吼道。

“Ok you little rascal, you dare go against your own mother eh? What disciple or not, get home this instant! ” Aunt Tian could not take this any longer as she yelled angrily.

“你先听听儿子怎么说的吧。”田大富倒是有些惊讶于自己一天到晚只知道贪玩的儿子，啥时候这么执着地要求做一件事了。偷眼看看院子里面依然面无表情剥着狐皮、兔皮的林司曜，以及卧躺在他脚边的那两只眯眼补眠的大狗，似乎摸到了一点头绪。遂制止了自己婆娘继续无理取闹。

“You should listen to his explanation first.” Tian Dafu was confused with his son’s current behavior. He was usually playful and naughty, it was rare for him to be so serious. He stole a quick glance at the expressionless Lin Si Yao who was skinning fox and rabbit’s fur in the yard. Looking at the two big dogs by his side squinting their eyes, he seemed to have gotten a clue as he tried to calm his wife.

“爹，我要拜林大哥为师。”田大宝跪得直挺挺地说道，不是恳求，而是陈述。

“Dad, I want to big brother to be my Shifu.” Tian Dabao said, not in a pleading voice, but in a firm tone.

“为啥？”田大富一时没会过意，脱口而出地问道。

“Why?” Tian Dafu did not mind as he immediately blurted out.

“学林大哥的武功啊。等我长大了，我也要和林大哥一样，去林子里打猎，去城里卖皮毛换银子，这样，爹娘就不会这么辛苦了。”而且还可以娶到一个如仙子姐姐一般的漂亮姑娘呢。不过，这句话，田大宝可不敢如此光明正大地说出口，还是留着自己心底慢慢偷笑好了。哼，看以后狗子他们不嫉妒死我。

“So big brother Lin can teach me martial arts. This way, when I grow up, I can be like him and hunt in the forest and earn some taels from the animal fur. This way, father and mother won’t suffer from hardship.” And also marry a pretty person just like Fairy jiejie. However, Tian Dabao could not say this out loud and could only snicker in his heart. Humph, let’s see if Gou’zi and them will be jealous of him later.

田大富与田婶听完都为之一震。特别是田婶，一把抱住田大宝的身子，“好儿子乖儿子，是娘错怪你了。”田婶有些腼腆地自我检讨，随即扯扯田大富的衣袖，示意他进去说说，别让儿子继续跪下去了。心下对于大宝想拜师学艺一事倒也不反对。当然，不是为了大宝说的要孝顺爹娘一辞，而是希望他借着学武，一来可以杜绝他整日乱窜，像个野猴子似的不着家，二来也暗暗希冀，若真像林司曜这般武功大成，说不定就能化了他后脑勺上压迫神经的淤血块呢。

When Aunt Tian and Tian Dafu heard this, they were all shocked, especially Aunt Tian. With one move, she tightly hugged Tian Dabao’s body. “Good Dabao, it’s mom’s fault for recklessly blaming you,” she embarrassingly explained as she pulled on Tian Dafu’s sleeves, indicating for him to go in and talk to Lin Si Yao. About this matter, she no longer blamed her son for requesting to be a disciple. The reason was not because of his filial reason, because it was beneficial for him to learn martial arts. One, it could end his wild animal-like days. And two, she had hoped that if he were to become as skilled as Lin Si Yao, maybe he would be able to clear his brain thrombosis and resume normal mental growth.

田大富自是见过林司曜的轻功的，一个纵跃，就可以飞出几丈几十丈远。听说一柱香的时间就能往返一趟城里。这样的顶尖高手，虽然不明白他怎么会甘于屈居在繁花镇这个虽然依山傍水、美丽宁静却偏远无名的小镇里。许是高手总喜欢特立独行吧。

Tian Dafu has already seen Lin Si Yao’s excellent qinggong. With a single leap, he was was able to travel tens of feet. He had even heard that he was able to travel from this town to the city in about the time to burn incense (30 minutes).  He could not understand why a master such as him would settle down at an although beautiful town, with mountains on one side and water on the other, it was nameless. Perhaps, experts are just unconventional.

“干啥？还不进去，真要咱儿子跪上一天啊。”田婶见田大富皱着眉杵在门口，却迟迟不见他进去，急得推了推他。

“What? What are you dawdling around for? Do you want your son to kneel all day?” When Aunt Tian saw Tian Dafu frowning while looking at the gates with no intention of walking in, she nudged him.

“咳咳……”田大富无奈地进了院子，清了清嗓子，“那个……大兄弟……”

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“Oh ok….” Tian Dafu helplessly walked into the yard and lightly said, “Uh that…”

林司曜不等他继续说下去，手头的皮毛都已全数剥离了物身，径自起身，将那堆血淋淋的皮毛收入了大木盆，打算待会拿去河里漂洗去臊，随后来到水缸旁舀了几瓢清水洗净了双手。

Lin Si Yao did not wait for him to finish as he was already done skinning the animals and placed their bloody fur into a large bucket. He walked to the water tank and scooped out a bit of water to wash his hands and intended on heading to the river to wash the smell off of the fur.  

这一系列动作下来，杵着的田大富也好，门口的田婶、跪着的田大宝也罢，都是眼珠子随着林司曜的举动而滴溜溜地转，直至林司曜擦干双手，抹去袖口上些许因剥皮毛而溅上的血渍。

Every move he made, not to mention Tian Dafu, even the two at the door watched silently until he dried his hands and wiped away the blood stains in the cuff of his sleeves from the skinning.

“那个……大兄弟……大宝他……”田大富搓搓双手，不知该如何开口。门口几人的对话，那林司曜又不是没有听到，要真想收大宝为徒，怎么不吭一声呢？既然对方没有收徒的打算，自己这么强行进来劝说又有什么作用呢。

“That… uh… about Dabao…” Tian Dafu rubbed his hands together, unable to start. Their words were already heard by Lin Si Yao, if he had wanted to accept Dabao as a disciple he would have long agreed. Since the opposing party had no intention to take him in, what was the point for him to force this request?

这样想着，田大富也没再继续往下说，只是一个劲地搓着双手，有些无措地看看林司曜，又回头看看田大宝。心里直叹气。

With this thought, Tian Dafu found it hard to continue on. He continued to rub his hands together as he helplessly looked at Lin Si Yao. He turned back to look at Tian Dabao and sighed internally.

林司曜径自走到院门口，朝昂着脖子，跪得笔挺的田大宝，淡淡地说了一句：“一旦开始，可容不得你说放弃就放弃。”

Lin Si Yao walked by the gate towards the currently kneeling Tian Dabao with his head down and lightly said, “Once we start, we will not stop even if you give up.”

田大宝眨眨眼，好不容易搞明白林司曜说的话，欣喜地直点头：“不放弃，不放弃，死也不放弃。师父师父在上，受徒儿一拜”田大宝激动地忆着年初时去城里看大戏学来的拜师一幕，边说边要朝林司曜磕头。

Tian Dabao blinked his head, it took a while for him to process those words, soon he happily nodded and said, “I won’t give up, won’t give up, even if I die, I won’t give up! Shifu, great shifu, please accept this bow from this disciple!” Tian Dabao excitedly recalled the scene he had watched during the New Year’s play in the city. He repeated the words and was about to kowtow to him.

林司曜衣袖一佛，制止了大宝磕拜的动作，并运气挥起了他，“今后不要动不动就下跪。”

With a flick of his sleeves, his stopped Dabao’s mid-action of a kowtow, reminding him, “From now on, don’t kneel at every turn.”

“知道了，师父”田大宝喜滋滋地站直身子，下意识地揉了揉已经疼到发麻的膝盖，嘴里连连应道。

“I understand, Shifu.” Tian Dabao happily straightened up. He subconsciously rubbed his already numbed knees and replied.

田婶看着心里听不是滋味的。

When Aunt Tian saw this, she felt upset.

莫说自己这个宝贝儿子在家里还没遭过这种罪呢，如此乖巧的言听计从更是从未有过的事。唉，真真是应了儿大不由娘的古语。只是，心智才九岁的大宝，真的吃得了练武的苦吗？她虽然大字不识一个，可是练功要吃苦的道理还是知道的。看那些在街头卖艺的，哪个不是咬紧牙关死熬过来的？大宝……能行吗？

Although she could not say that he was always well behaved at home, but he had been so sensible. It seems the old saying, ‘an older son, need nay help from mother’ was correct… But Tian Dabao was only mentally nine, could he handle the hardships? For a woman her age, she had naturally suffered through many… but she knew that there was a lot more torment when learning martial arts. Dabao… was he up to it?

“行了，今天先回去吧，膝盖好了再来。”林司曜这样说着，转身走到那堆没了皮毛的野物边，随手拎起一只野兔，丢给了还傻愣着的田大富，说了两个字“不送。”就端起大木盆，穿过厨房往河埠头走去了。

“Ok, you can go home today, when your knees heal, come back then.” After he said that, Lin Si Yao turned around and from the basket of skinned animals, he pulled out a random skinned hare and threw it towards the dumbfounded Tian Dafu. With a “Won’t send (you off),” he took the large bucket of bloody fur and headed past the kitchen and towards the river.

两只狼崽翻开耷拉着的眼皮，扫过田大富手里的野兔子，目光亮了亮，随即想到林司曜的无声威胁，只好又乖乖地合上了眼皮，晒着秋日晌午的太阳，继续酣睡。

The two wolf puppies opened their eyes as they gazed at the rabbit in Tian Dafu’s hands, but when they recalled Lin Si Yao’s silent warning, they could only close their eyes and go back to their afternoon nap.

“这……他爹，这是给咱们的？”田婶指指田大富手里的肥硕野兔，欣喜地问。

“That.. he, was this given to us?” Aunt Tian excitedly asked, pointing at the fat hare in Tian Dafu’s hands.

“应该是吧。”田大富搔搔头皮，提着那只野兔走出院子，似是自言自语地说道：“许是给大宝的见师礼吧。”

“It seems like it.” Tian Dafu scratched his head and walked out of the gates. As if speaking to himself, “It might be a gift to complete the propriety/ceremony (?).”

“啥？见师礼？那我们得交束修吗？”田婶想到这个事，忧心忡忡地朝田大富问道。

“What? Does that mean we have to give him teaching fees?” When Aunt Tian thought of this, she asked Tian Dafu worriedly.

田大富一听，扫了眼走在自己身边，兀自傻乐的田大宝，随后朝自己婆娘吩咐道：“赶明儿，你陪大宝一道去，按着学堂里的规矩交点束修。”

When Tian Dafu heard this, he glanced at the dazed Dabao by his side before he turned to his wife and said, “Tomorrow, you and Dabao will go to and give him the fee according to the schools.”

田婶也只得点点头，心里则禁不住心疼。虽然儿子就一个，还是个心智有损的，可是，要她掏出几十个铜子，还是有些舍不得呀。。.。

Aunt Tian could only nod, her heart could not help but be pained. Although he was her only son, he was mentally disabled. However, for her to take out tens of coppers, she was a bit unwilling…