The Great Yuan Dynasty.
Baiyang County, Guo Wei Martial Arts Hall.
A young man was focused on practicing the Iron Mountain Fist. This fist technique was the introductory method for the Guo Wei Martial Arts Hall, and only those who could cultivate Fist Force with it within a year could become official disciples.
The young man had now been training for nearly a year. He trained bitterly day and night, drenched in sweat, hoping only to cultivate Fist Force sooner.
Unfortunately, to this day, the Iron Mountain Fist still felt soft and powerless in his hands. No matter how much strength he used or how fast he moved, that Fist Force simply refused to appear.
WHOOSH!
Suddenly, a booming sound echoed across the entire training ground.
"Wow, Hei Hu did it."
"Hu is amazing."
"Hu!"
The booming sound came from the fist of a sturdy young man who had joined the Guo Wei Martial Arts Hall six months after Chu Lingguang.
To think he was the first to cultivate Fist Force.
Everyone around was drawn to the sound of Hei Hu's Fist Force cutting through the air, and the sounds of praise and admiration were endless. They all knew that once you cultivated Fist Force, you could become a student under Guo Wei and a candidate for the Martial Arts Examination. Two years later, you could take the exam and perhaps even become a Martial Scholar.
Once you passed, you would have an official rank, be exempt from taxes, and could even become an official.
This was the goal for all of them, and it was Chu Lingguang's goal as well.
'Am I destined to be a commoner in this life?'
Watching Hei Hu's fists roar with Fist Force, Chu Lingguang couldn't help but fall into self-doubt.
He had been a promising young man working in a sweatshop back on Blue Star, earning 2,800 a month. After graduating from junior high, he had followed his cousin to the city to work, determined to save up money and get married. But after working two consecutive night shifts, he had collapsed. When he woke up, he found his soul had transmigrated into the body of a teenager with the same name in the Great Yuan Dynasty.
Chu Lingguang quickly learned that the Great Yuan Dynasty was a world of Martial Arts, where the strong preyed on the weak and martial prowess was supreme.
To gain a foothold in this world, he sold all his farmland to join the Guo Wei Martial Arts Hall. He trained diligently every day, all for the sake of cultivating Fist Force and earning an official rank.
Now, almost a year had passed, and he couldn't even achieve Qi Sensitivity, let alone cultivate Fist Force.
Master Guo had even declared that he wasn't suited for martial arts and advised him to find work as a long-term laborer and start a family soon.
Feeling dejected at the thought, Chu Lingguang walked out of the Martial Arts Hall.
"Dad, Mrs. Liu left, and now there's no one to do the laundry. Did you find the person I asked you to?"
"I found a few before, but you weren't satisfied with any of them. We'll have to wait a bit longer."
"Those people were clumsy and always so picky. If you don't find someone suitable soon, I'll wash your clothes to rags, see if I don't."
"You little rascal, I really don't know what to do with you."
As he walked out of the Martial Arts Hall, Chu Lingguang heard Master Guo arguing with his daughter. He quickened his pace to leave, wanting to avoid any trouble.
"Guang'er, are you done with your training?"
Before long, a woman coming out of the courtyard of a wealthy household called out to Chu Lingguang.
"Second Aunt."
Chu Lingguang saw it was his Second Aunt, Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family.
His Second Aunt was a good person and was always trying to arrange a marriage for him.
A marriage was almost arranged last year, but he sold his farmland and spent the money on the Martial Arts Hall, so the woman's family returned the betrothal gifts overnight.
For that, Chu Lingguang got an earful from Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family for an entire evening.
'Now my money is gone and I still haven't cultivated Fist Force,' Chu Lingguang thought with deep regret. 'If I hadn't sold the land to train with Master Guo, maybe my wife would be pregnant by now. Life might be a little harder, but it would still be better than being single my whole past life.'
"Let's walk together!"
Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family said.
"Second Aunt, you're getting off work so early today?"
Chu Lingguang was puzzled.
Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family worked for Landlord Wang's family, responsible for laundry and cooking. Usually, she could only leave after preparing dinner for the Wang family, but there was still some time before dinner.
"Come over here with me."
Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family pulled Chu Lingguang away from the gate of Landlord Wang's home and said with a sigh, "Young Master Wang made a mistake. The Wang Family is going to sell the mansion, and I've been let go."
"What! What did Young Master Wang do?"
Chu Lingguang was completely caught off guard. The Wang Family were local gentry, and Master Wang was a respectable figure. To think the Wang Family would collapse just like that.
"Young Master Wang offended a Martial Arts Scholar. Master Wang had to spend his entire fortune just to save his son's life."
Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family explained.
"Is Young Master Wang crazy?"
Chu Lingguang was shocked.
A Martial Arts Scholar had an official rank and was a powerful martial artist. Although Master Wang was wealthy, he was just a merchant. If the other party wanted Young Master Wang's life, Master Wang could only spend his fortune to avert disaster.
He had sold all his farmland and entered the Guo Wei Martial Arts Hall to train precisely so he could obtain a rank through Martial Arts, marry a good wife, and live a life free of worries.
Unfortunately, that path was now closed to him.
"Never mind him. Let me ask you, how is your fist training going?"
Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family didn't want to talk too much about her old employer.
"Master Guo advised me to give up."
Chu Lingguang didn't hide it from Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family.
"If you hadn't sold the farmland back then, you and Chun Ju might have…" Hearing this, Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family was filled with anger, but she couldn't bear to finish her sentence. Instead, she said, "I rendered two pounds of lard yesterday. Take a bowl of it home with you later."
"There's no need, Second Aunt. I still have some at home."
Chu Lingguang knew his Second Aunt's life wasn't easy either, especially now that the Wang Family had fallen and she had lost her source of income.
"What are your plans now, Second Aunt?"
he asked, changing the subject.
"I'll see if any other wealthy families are hiring. If not, I'll go with your uncle to mix clay at the tile factory. If all else fails, I'll take in laundry to wash at home and just charge a little less."
Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family already had a plan.
"When I was leaving the Martial Arts Hall just now, I heard Master Guo say he's looking for a deft laundress. Why don't you go and try, Second Aunt?"
Hearing the word "laundry," Chu Lingguang remembered the argument between Guo Wei and Guo Fang.
"Really?"
"Yes, why would I lie to you about something like this?"
"Then take me there, quickly."
"Er… alright."
Chu Lingguang took Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family back to the Martial Arts Hall.
At that moment, Guo Wei was all smiles. Hei Hu had joined the hall and cultivated Fist Force in less than half a year; he was a promising seedling for martial arts. With proper training, he might even become a Martial Scholar or perhaps a Martial Arts Scholar.
"Master Guo, this is my Second Aunt. I heard the Martial Arts Hall needs a laundress, and my aunt happens to be an expert at it, so I brought her to try out."
Chu Lingguang introduced her.
"Hello, Master Guo. I did the laundry and cooking for the Wang Family for five or six years, so I'm quite skilled. Please forgive my intrusion, Master Guo."
Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family said, her tone neither servile nor overbearing.
"You were doing fine at the Wang Family's place. Why the sudden thought to come work at my Martial Arts Hall?"
Guo Wei asked with interest.
"I was dismissed by Master Wang."
Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family explained.
"Why were you dismissed?"
Guo Wei asked again.
"Perhaps I did something wrong and displeased Master Wang. But rest assured, if I can work at the Martial Arts Hall, I will be extremely careful."
Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family said earnestly.
Guo Wei couldn't help but give Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family a second look. Others might not know what happened with the Wang Family, but he knew perfectly well. After Young Master Wang got into trouble, Master Wang had come to him for help. It was only with his assistance, and Master Wang's willingness to part with his silver taels, that Young Master Wang's life was spared.
Since Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family worked for the Wang Family, she must have heard the rumors.
'She knows but pretends she doesn't, and she doesn't slander her old employer. Her character is decent.'
"First, wash the clothes in the Martial Arts Hall. If you're careful enough, I'll pay you ten percent more than the Wang Family did."
Guo Wei decided to give her a try. He didn't want to argue with his daughter anymore.
"Thank you, Master Guo! However many clothes there are in the Martial Arts Hall, I'll wash them all for you today."
Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family was overjoyed.
"Take your Second Aunt to the laundry room."
Guo Wei ordered.
"Yes, Master Guo."
Chu Lingguang also had a look of pleasant surprise, not expecting that he could actually help his Second Aunt. But when he arrived at the laundry room and saw two large barrels overflowing with clothes reeking of sweat, he was a bit dumbfounded.
"Second Aunt, you can't finish all this by yourself today. I'll help you."
Chu Lingguang rolled up his sleeves.
"No, you should go home right now."
Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family stopped him.
Chu Lingguang realized it too. If anyone found out, how could his Second Aunt keep her job at the Martial Arts Hall?
"Then… take your time washing, Second Aunt. I'll head back first."
"Mhm, don't worry. Your Second Aunt can handle it."
Left with no other choice, Chu Lingguang could only go home.
「The next morning.」
Chu Lingguang found an extra bowl of lard and two boiled eggs on his stove.
The eggs were still warm; they had just been delivered.
He chased after her to the doorway but saw that Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family was already far away. A smile appeared on his face. He knew his Second Aunt must have secured the job at the Martial Arts Hall and had brought the lard and eggs to thank him.
He cooked a pot of brown rice porridge, ate both eggs, and then went to the Martial Arts Hall to practice. In the front courtyard, he saw rows of clothes that had been washed the previous night, now hanging out to dry.
Guo Wei stared at the clothes for a moment, then turned and saw Chu Lingguang, calling out to him, "Chu Lingguang, your time at the Martial Arts Hall is almost up, isn't it?"
"I know, Master Guo."
Chu Lingguang understood what Guo Wei meant.
"I've written a letter of recommendation for you. Go work as a long-term laborer for the North City Li Family."
Guo Wei said in a heartfelt tone.
Although Chu Lingguang had no talent for martial arts, he was hardworking and diligent. On top of that, Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family had washed all the clothes overnight; she was so meticulous and fast that even his daughter had praised her. For these reasons, Guo Wei wanted to give Chu Lingguang a hand.
"Thank you, Master Guo."
Chu Lingguang gave Guo Wei a sincere bow.
Guo Wei was nearly a Martial Arts Scholar and a capable man known for miles around. With a job introduction from him, the employer would surely give Chu Lingguang preferential treatment.
Guo Wei accepted Chu Lingguang's bow, left the recommendation letter, and departed on a long journey.
When Chu Lingguang looked up, he found that text had appeared before him.
"Helped Second Aunt find a job, gained 35 Favor Points. Helped Guo Wei find a laundress, gained 5 Favor Points. Simultaneously received the gratitude of Second Aunt and Guo Wei, and obtained one set of the Basic Breathing Technique."