3: Chapter 3 'Head of the Household'

"Fang Zhuo."

"Let me tell you, this girl is pretty, sure, but she has debts. 388,000 is no small amount. If you two start a family, you'll have to help pay that off."

Fang Dawei advised him sternly: "The most critical part is, do you know why she's in debt?"

Fang Zhuo nodded, then shook his head.

He could roughly guess some reasons, but he couldn't be sure.

For a Martial Arts Undergraduate with a Life Level of 18, normally speaking, with state subsidies for cultivation resources, family support, and the ability to earn money through part-time work, it would be difficult to accumulate such a large debt.

Debt aside, based solely on her looks and her status as a Martial Arts Undergraduate, she shouldn't have been matched with someone like him, a Martial Arts Junior College student.

This could only mean that after this girl, Bai Shiwei, went into debt, her credit rating dropped, which in turn lowered her evaluation within the Federal System.

Fang Dawei stated with certainty: "This girl definitely hasn't awakened a Martial Aspect! At a Life Level of 18, the hope of awakening a Martial Aspect is basically gone."

"That's why her family stopped investing in her, just like your dad and I did with you..."

"Ahem."

Fang Dawei cleared his throat, his expression unchanged, and continued: "It's not uncommon for students who performed well in the martial arts exams but failed to awaken a Martial Aspect after entering a Martial Arts Undergraduate program to fall into obsession as their Life Level increases, constantly pouring in time, energy, passion, and money."

"You don't watch the news, but there are plenty of red-eyed martial artists who sell off family property and take out loans everywhere, going all-in on the martial path, only to end up breaking their relationships with their families."

"Fang Zhuo, take your grandfather's advice: don't touch this girl. She will drag you down for the rest of your life."

"..."

Fang Zhuo understood.

What his grandfather said was pretty much the same as his own deductions.

This Martial Arts Undergraduate, Bai Shiwei, had gone into debt for the sake of martial arts practice. It was a coincidence that her situation was so similar to his own.

Both were obsessed with practicing martial arts but had failed to awaken a Martial Aspect.

However, she clearly had better talent, or perhaps a better family background, as she had consumed more martial arts cultivation resources.

Her Life Level of 18 was proof of that.

How should he put it?

This was exactly the kind of partner he was looking for. He wasn't afraid of them practicing; he was only afraid of them not practicing. He needed someone who was obsessed with martial arts cultivation!

But he couldn't tell anyone about the system, not even his family.

"Grandfather, don't worry. I'm just going to meet her and get to know her. It doesn't mean we'll definitely get married, and she might not even like your grandson."

Fang Zhuo smiled and added: "Besides, I'll only know the real situation after we meet."

Fang Dawei glanced sideways at his eldest grandson and snorted: "You brat, stop trying to dodge the issue. Don't I know what you're like?"

The two went back and forth.

The atmosphere grew tense.

Nearly seventy years old, Fang Dawei even rolled up his sleeves, revealing his muscular biceps, glaring with his beard bristling as if he were about to throw a punch.

"What are you two doing?"

Fang Wu, who had just finished showering, stood outside the door and asked, tilting his head.

Hearing the commotion, Li Ru also put down her spatula and ran over.

Fang Dawei, who was about to call for backup, immediately explained the situation.

"Son, listen to Mom. Pretty women can be very deceptive. You absolutely cannot go meet this Bai Shiwei; she might just wrap you around her finger."

Li Ru was pacing anxiously, trying to persuade him earnestly.

In her view, the 388,000 debt could be ignored; as long as they could live a stable life and her son liked her, that was fine.

She and her husband didn't have many savings, but the old man still had some.

However, they definitely couldn't afford for a martial artist who hadn't awakened a Martial Aspect to squander money recklessly.

"Fang Zhuo, your martial arts talent isn't bad. As a father, I didn't fulfill my duty. If we could have invested a bit more money during your high school years, you might have actually awakened a Martial Aspect."

Fang Wu sighed and continued: "Are you angry in your heart?"

"Dad, you've misunderstood."

Fang Zhuo helplessly spread his hands: "I'm not holding a grudge, and I don't mean to use this to upset you. Twenty-one isn't young anymore; several of my classmates have already married and had children."

In this era, with a parental license, there's a subsidy of one million for the first child.

Martial artists generally marry quite young.

Hearing this, Fang Wu breathed a sigh of relief: "In that case, you don't have to rush into a blind date. Haven't you always wanted to make one last attempt?"

"I'll buy you a spirit-nourishing pill."

"Why don't you take the spirit-nourishing pill first, try to awaken a Martial Aspect, and see if you succeed? Then you can consider settling down and starting a family, how about that?"

"...Dad!"

Fang Zhuo was stunned, his eyes reddening slightly.

His father, Fang Wu, was only a Primary Martial Artist who worked at a small martial arts gym, specifically serving as a sparring partner for the children of wealthy families.

The money he earned was hard-earned; one could say it came from getting beaten up.

With a monthly salary of over ten thousand, in this era, it was just enough to support a family—a moderate standard of living.

Saving up 500,000 was not easy.

"My Life Level is already 15. A spirit-nourishing pill can boost my mental energy significantly, but the chance of awakening a Martial Aspect isn't high."

"There's no need to waste that money."

Fang Zhuo said calmly.

With the system, he could just go on the blind date and get married, then rely on the system to earn martial arts cultivation resources. There was no need to use his parents' hard-earned money.

"No, my mind is made up!"

Fang Wu pressed his calloused hand onto his son's shoulder.

"This is my compensation to you; otherwise, I won't be at peace."

"Fang Zhuo, since your dad feels this way, and what he says makes some sense, just hold off on the blind date for now. Wait until the spirit-nourishing pill arrives and try to see if you can awaken a Martial Aspect."

Fang Dawei, on the other side, also pressed his hand onto Fang Zhuo's shoulder.

"..."

"You two old codgers!"

Fang Zhuo realized what was happening, then smiled: "Alright, I'll be honest with you. I'm definitely going to this blind date. When the Federal System matching results came out, I chose Bai Shiwei, and we've already set a time."

"You don't want me to break the agreement and get recorded by the Federal System's credit bureau, right?"

"Eldest grandson!"

"Fang Zhuo!"

"Son..."

The three of them spoke in unison, then looked at each other and smiled bitterly.

Fang Zhuo said calmly: "Don't worry, Grandfather, Mom, Dad. I promise that if this blind date goes well, I will be the head of the household in the future, and I won't let her manage the money."

"Hmph!"

"I'm just afraid you don't have that ability."

"You're just like your dad, henpecked."

Fang Dawei grumbled angrily, but after hearing his eldest grandson's promise, his anger subsided quite a bit. Fang Zhuo had always been strong-willed; since he had decided this, it would be hard to dissuade him.

After shooing everyone away, he returned to the study.

...

Eight o'clock in the evening.

After dinner, Fang Zhuo got a haircut from Tony the barber, took a shower, and left the house under the sighing gazes of his family, arriving at the meeting place on time.

It was a ramen shop.

You ask why a blind date would be at a ramen shop?

Fang Zhuo was also confused; he had set the time, but the woman had chosen the location.

Who knew what that Martial Arts Undergraduate, Bai Shiwei, was thinking?

Perhaps this woman had a special fondness for ramen?