After the few boys all went home, Qi Yuanshan brought the children into the courtyard.
Grandpa Meng had been sitting on the kang, watching the outside through the glass window. He was happy watching the children play heartily.
Alas, getting old, one just wants some liveliness.
Seeing Qi Yuanshan lead a few children into the courtyard at this moment, he reached out and knocked on the glass window, urging him to come inside quickly to warm up.
"Uncle."
"Yuanshan, hurry up and take off your shoes and come onto the kang to warm yourself up."
"Alright."
Qi Yuanshan agreed, then took off his heavy cloak and hung it on the coat rack behind the door. He then sat on the edge of the kang, took off his boots, and sat opposite Grandpa Meng.
After drinking a cup of hot tea, Qi Yuanshan explained his plan.
"Uncle, I see that at this time of year, the village boys of this age have nothing to do but run around. I was thinking, if we could gather them together, they could train with the soldiers in the garrison for half a day each day. This would not only strengthen their bodies, but also serve as a reserve force for our garrison when the Tatars harass us."
Grandpa Meng listened, and then remembered the scene of the Tatars coming a few days ago, and strongly agreed.
"Not to mention, we were lucky to have these children during those days. Yuanshan, your method is feasible."
Seeing that Uncle Meng also supported him, Qi Yuanshan, with high spirits, added, "Of course, it's voluntary. Also, they will get a flatbread each day after training."
Hearing that they would get a flatbread after training, Grandpa Meng became even more pleased. "I suspect that just for this flatbread, there won't be a shortage of children."
Qi Yuanshan thought, and indeed, "At this time of year, every family has two meals, and they are all thin and watery, not enough to fill them. Some with worse conditions only eat one meal a day."
"So, your flatbread still has great appeal."
"Yes, boys of that age are at the age where they can eat their parents poor. I suspect many families will be happy to send their children over just for this one flatbread."
Qi Yuanshan thought of the grain he had painstakingly saved, and felt a little reluctant, his old face instantly fell.
Fu Xinci, guessing why Uncle Qi's face fell, secretly tugged at her grandfather's collar.
Grandpa Meng saw his granddaughter's mischievous little eyes, sighed with a sigh, and then said with interest, "Yuanshan, why don't you do this, you don't have to run back and forth. Let these boys train near my house every day. When they are tired, they can rest in the gatehouse, and I'll cover the cost of that flatbread."
"Uncle, how can this be."
"Yuanshan, you don't know, after this ordeal, I've seen clearly that everyone is not a coward. When the Tatars came, none of us old men retreated, and we all rushed forward."
Grandpa Meng thought of these things, and it was a comfort to his heart. He also bore the surname Meng, and when foreign enemies invaded, he hoped that the descendants of the Meng family would have backbone, and even if they died in battle, they must not retreat.
However, "Although we old men can still be of some use, we are far from being as good as these young boys."
As soon as he thought that his old arms and legs couldn't keep up, Grandpa Meng felt very regretful.
"So, I want to watch them train under my nose every day. This way, we old men can help keep an eye on them, and perhaps learn a trick or two, which might be useful when dealing with those beasts."
At this moment, Qi Yuanshan's mind only remembered the sentence Uncle Meng said, "perhaps learn a trick or two..."
Thinking of this sentence, Qi Yuanshan wanted to slap his thigh. He indulged in a luxurious fantasy, what if XinCi's master suddenly visited and saw these boys training.
Of course, he wouldn't think highly of these scruffy boys, but it was also possible that, on a whim, he might give them a few pointers, which would benefit them for a lifetime.
The more Qi Yuanshan thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. After Grandpa Meng finished his proposal, he immediately agreed.
After agreeing, he realized that something was not right. The grain should not all be paid for by Uncle Meng. But as a grown man, he was a bit hesitant and didn't say anything more.
He thought to himself that he would send a few bags of grain tomorrow.
Qi He had been listening from the side the whole time, and he was very happy to hear what Grandpa Meng and his father were saying.
"Dad, when can we start training?"
"Of course, the sooner the better."
"Dad, can anyone come?"
"Yuanshan, there should be an age limit, for example, from eight to fifteen."
"Uncle, it's not good for them to be too young. Let's set the age between ten and fourteen."
"Dad, why can't it be up to fifteen?" Fu Xinci also wanted to ask this question.
"Fifteen is old enough to get married, so they can't be counted as young boys."
"Oh."
Fu Xinci saw that her grandfather and Uncle Qi were talking with smiles in their eyes, and Qi He was listening with stars in his eyes.
Even Yu'er seemed to be attracted and chuckled along with Qi He from time to time.
Fu Xinci was also quite interested in this matter, especially when she thought of the military boxing that the captain had taught them to exercise, she was eager to try it out.
Alas, she had become lazy. Ever since she gained her wood element supernatural ability, she had neglected her physical training. Thinking that she hadn't practiced boxing in a long time, she felt a nameless sense of guilt. She was afraid that the captain would know and look at her with that disappointed "like a father looking at his unaccomplished son" gaze.
Oh dear, thinking about it made her feel ashamed to face the elders of Jiangdong, and she had prematurely given a single person the hardship of being a father.
When the guilty person realized it, she found Qi He had already dashed out and quickly found Meng Qishan and the others, all bringing their own staffs.
They stood in a row on the open space outside the main gate, demonstrating the staff techniques taught by Uncle Zhu with great vigor.
Shan Xiaocong, who had just run home, stood in his own courtyard and watched this scene clearly. Without time to inform the adults at home, he ran towards the Meng family courtyard.
Mrs. Huang: "What's wrong with this child today? He just got home and is gone again in the blink of an eye."
Shan Dongchen was more open-minded, "Xiao Cong is twelve already. Let's not restrict him too much. Otherwise, if he grows up to be timid, we'll still have to worry about him when he's old."
"Yes, my husband thinks long-term." With her husband's words, Mrs. Huang no longer pursued her son.
Outside the Meng family's main gate, many adults and children had already gathered. Qi Yuanshan took the opportunity to state his plan.
"Qi Bajiao, is that true?" Old Master Meng Wu was the first to ask, as his two grandsons were within the age range.
"Of course it's true. The boys at home are good in all aspects, and the age can be extended a bit."
"That's great."