At the end of autumn, the rain kept pouring, and the temperature gradually froze.
In front of the dilapidated thatched hut.
Before dawn, Li Xian was already practicing his punches, bare-chested, his skin tinged red from the cold and his whole body emanating steam.
Punch after punch, as if dispelling the chill in the air, so he wouldn't feel the cold.
He wore coarse cloth pants below, full of patches, slightly loose, with muddy cuffs dried into grime.
"Brother, why don't you put on the clothes too? I'm inside, not cold, don't let yourself freeze."
Inside the hut, a simple wooden window was pushed open, revealing a delicate and youthful face.
His name was Li Xiaofan, Li Xian's younger brother. He wore a patch-covered long jacket, his body curled up.
"Brother is not cold. Look, I'm steaming all over. There's just one set of clothes, you wear it since you're weak."
"Besides, I'm practicing martial arts. If I ruin the clothes, there'll be nothing to wear."
Li Xian comforted with a smile, but a wave of bitterness surged in his heart.
He knew that ancient times were poor, but not this poor, not even having clothes to wear!
Half a month ago, he had traversed into this world, merging with the original "Li Xian," two lives' memories overlapping.
This place was the Great Wu Dynasty, Southern Celestial Domain, Qiong Heavenly Mansion, Qingning County.
The original's mother passed away early, the father was a hunter, his right hand bitten off by a bear, leading to depression. He later got into gambling, lost the family wealth, and took his own life.
Finally leaving the brothers with merely a dilapidated hut... and a piece of clothing stripped from their father!
Winter was coming, freezing cold... the brothers had no idea how to endure it.
"Brother, I won't study for the exams anymore. The Lin Mansion is hiring housekeepers, I... I'm thinking of indenturing myself."
Li Xiaofan's youthful face bore an unusual maturity.
"Not studying anymore?" Li Xian frowned, "Such talent wasted?"
"Brother!" Li Xiaofan lowered his head, saying sadly, "After father died, they took everything, no hunting allowed, no farming possible, we can't survive."
"The Lin Mansion is hiring housekeepers, I'm good at arithmetic, sure to find a good job, hopefully pleasing the steward for some broken silver. Not only will we have clothes, but maybe... we might even taste some meat!"
Saying this, Li Xiaofan forced a wry smile.
"No more." Li Xian didn't look back, repeatedly practicing the martial punch, a flicker of irritation crossing his heart, "If anyone should support, it should be your brother supporting you, not the other way around."
"But..."
"No buts."
Blood is thicker than water, the original's memories and his own had mingled, becoming indistinguishable, thus the familial bond naturally continued.
Li Xian was indeed Li Xiaofan's brother, a solid real brother.
Li Xian practiced a fist technique called "Wild Bull Fist," a remnant scroll with only three forms.
Every practice stirred a warm flow in his body, strengthening his flesh and blood. It was the only asset left by the gambling father.
"Little brother is right."
"If we could hunt in the mountains, why would we brothers face starvation and freezing? This world... hard work doesn't lead to wealth!"
"To survive, sacrifices must be made. Little brother is young, close to exams, definitely can't give up now!"
"Only by passing the exams can we truly make something of ourselves!"
In an area spanning dozens of miles in Qingning County, every plant and stone already has an owner.
Father was once a hunter for the Luo Family, hunting in the mountains, earning small profits.
Occasionally, he could cut off some meat to taste. Unfortunately, before father died, he left a huge gambling debt, and the Luo Family hired other hunters.
Father's debts fall to the sons... The Li brothers still owe massive debts.
As the sky brightened.
Li Xian, bare-chested, walked out of the house, telling, "Brother, I'm going to dig some wild vegetables for breakfast. You study well, don't go out and catch cold."
Li Xiaofan watched Li Xian's back, eyes wet, nails digging into his palms, muttering to himself, "Brother, I won't let you down. Once I become a Celestial Official, we brothers will have good days ahead! I'll find you a beautiful wife, the best for you!"
...
Li Xian didn't go for wild vegetables but headed outside Qingning County to [Yihetang Manor].
The manor covers a vast area, rumored to house a very important person. Hundreds, thousands of servants served her alone!
Dozens were already staying here, all with clothes barely covering them. Li Xian sighed quietly; times were tough, not only for him and his brother.
"Come, come, those willing to indenture themselves, line up orderly, no crowding. Our Yihetang Manor doesn't accept unruly animals."
The gates of the manor opened, a middle-aged man carrying a long whip came forward, his shout resounding far and wide.
His name was Luo Fang, the steward of Yihetang Manor. He was followed by seven or eight attendants, all tall and neatly dressed.
The crowd jostled, suddenly someone slipped and fell to the ground.
"Pa!"
Luo Fang furrowed his brow, swung the whip, and struck the person. Instantly the skin split open and a lot of blood flowed out. Before even a scream could be heard, the person was knocked unconscious.
Luo Fang cursed, "You dog, I told you to stand in line properly. Didn't you hear me? Carry him away. Allowing such people into the manor would dirty Madam's eyes!"
Two strongmen behind him picked the person up and threw him by the roadside like a stray dog.
Li Xian turned his head to look, sighed silently, and thought that this person probably didn't have a way to survive. The steward and his entourage were surprisingly powerful.
"In my memory… is it true that martial artists have great abilities?"
Li Xian didn't think much and stood honestly among the crowd.
Luo Fang shouted, "Our manor doesn't keep idlers. Madam is kind-hearted, almost like a celestial being. With winter approaching, surely many won't survive."
"Just right, our manor is lacking hands. We're giving you a way to live, you must cherish it. Miss this chance, and there won't be another."
Luo Fang paced back and forth, holding his head high with undisguised superiority.
"We're now hiring thirty servants, but there are more than thirty of you… hmm… the few at the back, you can leave, there's no spot for you."
Upon hearing this.
A woman in the back dropped to her knees with a thud, wailing, "Master, Master, please show mercy… my child has no milk, if I could enter the manor, I'll do anything, I beg you."
"Get lost. A worthless life, starving or freezing to death, what does it have to do with me?" Luo Fang coldly dismissed her, driving the woman away.
Li Xian pitied the woman but could do nothing, only turn a blind eye.
The remaining ones entered the manor in sequence, to register their basic information. Even as house servants, there are distinctions and layers.
Someone like Li Xian, newly entered as a servant, is the lowest rank. Those who entered earlier couldn't help but puff out their chests when looking at them.
"The selling price is five hundred and twenty-five wen coins, plus a set of servants' cloth. Meals and accommodations are provided in the manor, and additionally, you receive a monthly salary of fifty wen. If no objections, sign the indenture contract."
The accountant looked at the servants and said indifferently.
The servants were overjoyed and scrambled to sign. Yet Li Xian felt a pang of sorrow at how little human life was worth.
He looked at the indenture contract, clenched his teeth, and wrote his name.
"Oh, pretty good handwriting," the accountant raised an eyebrow, examining Li Xian with renewed interest.
After signing the indenture contract, each received their signing money and servant clothes.
"You have the afternoon to return home, share the good news with your family; starting tomorrow, you cannot leave the manor without permission."
Luo Fang told the servants, feeling it wasn't enough, he cracked the whip in the air, creating a sound like firecrackers.
"Also, don't think about taking the money and running. Yihetang Manor's benefits aren't that easily taken advantage of!"
...
"Ah Di, I'm home!"
Li Xian called out several times upon returning to the thatched cottage.
"Brother, where's the wild vegetables? Why did it take so long to pick them?" Li Xiaofan's small body was wrapped entirely in a long coat.
The two brothers shared one piece of clothing, Li Xian wore the pants, and Li Xiaofan wore the coat.
"Forget the wild vegetables, today we eat some meat." Li Xian laughed, taking out some pork he had just bought at the market.
It wasn't much, but enough for the brothers to taste the flavor of meat.
"Brother! You…"
Li Xiaofan's body trembled, already guessing the reason.
Li Xian laughed heartily, "I sold myself to Yihetang Manor, got five hundred and twenty-five wen in cash, plus a set of clothes."
"But from now on, I can't come and go freely. Let's have a good meal together, brothers. I'll give you Dad's coat to wear, and there's still five hundred wen left."
"You should study hard, I'll work in the manor, and if there's spare money, I'll find a way to get it to you."
Li Xiaofan's eyes were wet, "Brother, you…"
Li Xian laughed heartily, caressing Li Xiaofan's head, "I'm your brother, it's my duty to have some responsibility. Your photographic memory is a skill I can't match."
"By the way, I've had some new insights into the Wild Bull Fist recently, I'll practice it a few more times for you to see, you'll have to remember it, you should always have some self-defense skills."
Li Xiaofan wiped his tears and nodded earnestly, "Okay."
Li Xian set up his posture in the room, punched out, resembling a wild bull charging.
Suddenly—
[Punches thrown ten thousand times, perseverance strong, unyielding intent, awaken Life Chart·Heaven rewards diligence]
[There is always reward where there is effort.]
[Wild Bull Fist Incomplete Form]
[Skill Level: 456/500 Beginner]
[Description: The fist's wind is simple, its momentum like a bull, refining flesh and blood. This fist technique has no shortcuts, only "diligence".]