Chapter 4: Cherish the Present

Besides.

Even if he were anxious, it would be of no use.

The class rigidity of this world far exceeded that of the modern era; with his own strength alone, it was difficult to transcend his social standing.

If not for the help of his second aunt, who served as a concubine in the Huang residence, he would never have been able to get his hands on a health-cultivation technique, which were rarely seen in the bookshops of the outside world.

After arriving in this strange world and awakening the memories of his past life, it wasn't as if Wei Tu hadn't thought about changing his fate.

But—

Go into business?

In a society where officialdom was the standard, running a small handicraft trade was fine, but once it involved big business, it would inevitably be snatched up by the great families.

Without the corresponding status to protect one's property, it was simply a path to self-destruction.

Become an official?

One had to first enter a private school to study, obtain a clean identity, find a government-subsidized student to act as a guarantor, and then participate in the imperial examinations, fighting one's way out from among thousands of competitors to even be eligible for a title.

Wei Tu had lived two lives and, blessed with the wisdom of his past, could be considered clever.

However, when compared to the child prodigies of the surrounding ten miles, he was far inferior.

And these local prodigies often spent their entire lives unable to obtain the title of *xiucai*, most ending their lives in the miserable state of an elderly, failed scholar.

Memorizing Confucian classics for the imperial examinations was merely the basic requirement; the difficulty lay in the understanding of Confucian commentaries, which were far more voluminous than the classics themselves. Without a good memory, it was hard to win a title in the examinations in one's lifetime.

If the *Mo Yi* (ink-meaning) section were simple, where would all the various methods of cheating in the imperial examinations come from?

Concealing notes, miniature scripts written with mouse-whisker brushes, carrier pigeons, cheating via chamber pots...

Furthermore.

Studying cost money. Supporting a scholar who produced nothing and did not engage in labor was a difficult task!

If it weren't for the need to support two young masters in their studies, the life of the Li family wouldn't be so tight, with meat served only twice every ten days.

Without a golden finger.

Wei Tu knew he was only of average talent; it was fundamentally difficult for him to turn his life around.

Of course, Wei Tu hadn't completely given up over these years. He had struggled from a mere tenant farmer to become the stableman of the Li residence, already becoming a role model for many in the countryside.

He ate well.

He had status in front of his masters.

This was the life many country folk dreamed of.

...

Time passed in a flash.

Seven days went by quickly. As agreed, Wei Tu handed the illustrated manual of the "Turtle Breath Qi-Cultivation Technique" to the gatekeeper of the Huang residence, instructing him to deliver it to the Ruan family's martial arts master.

As for the contents of the manual, although Wei Tu had already memorized it by heart, he still transcribed it with pen and paper just to be safe, keeping a copy hidden on his person.

After finishing this, Wei Tu's life returned to calm: feeding horses, chopping wood, and cleaning the courtyard every day.

The only difference was that whenever he had spare time, he began to practice the stance training of the "Turtle Breath Qi-Cultivation Technique."

In fact.

He didn't just practice nine times a day.

He practiced ten, eleven times a day.

This was the only possibility for Wei Tu to transcend his class and change his own destiny; naturally, he would not neglect it.

"Do your best, and leave the rest to fate."

"Hard work pays off."

Whenever he wanted to give up or be lazy, Wei Tu would secretly encourage and warn himself.

One month.

Two months.

Until three months had passed.

That evening, after finishing the movements of the Turtle Breath Qi-Cultivation Technique, Wei Tu finally discovered a trace of something unusual within his body.

It was late autumn, nearing winter, and the night frost was heavy, but Wei Tu did not feel the slightest bit of cold. Instead, he felt streams of warmth surging through his limbs and bones, nourishing his physique.

This feeling was like soaking in a hot spring.

"The Qi-Cultivation Technique hasn't reached great success yet, but a warm current has already been born in my body. Then... the Qi-Sensing Realm must be extraordinary!"

Wei Tu was overjoyed.

Over these days, he had inquired about the cultivation of martial artists. Those swordsmen who were praised in the countryside only knew some basic fisticuffs and could swing a broadsword; they certainly did not possess the state of "not fearing the bitter cold" that he had now.

With progress made in the health-cultivation technique, Wei Tu did not slacken his mind. He continued to practice the stance training until his muscles were soft and weak, only then returning to the *kang* bed to rest.

[Turtle Breath Qi-Cultivation Technique (21/100): Nine practices a day, success in five years.]

Before sleeping, Wei Tu closed his eyes and glanced at the progress of the technique. Seeing that it had reached more than one-fifth, he felt greatly satisfied and fell into a deep, snoring sleep.

The next morning, early.

Wei Tu rose early and began working in the Li residence.

Feeding horses, chopping wood—after nearly an hour of labor, Wei Tu found that he still felt cool, with not a single drop of sweat on his forehead.

His physical fitness had improved by a large margin.

"Brother Wei, the Eldest Mistress wants to see you." A girl with an ordinary appearance, dressed as a maid, walked out from the inner residence and called out to Wei Tu.

"The Eldest Mistress is calling me?" Wei Tu was stunned.

He was a male servant from the outer residence; he could move about the inner residence when he was young, but that was forbidden once he grew older.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have asked Xinghua to help him ask for leave last time.

In a wealthy household, there were many rules.

Even if the Eldest Mistress summoned him, she had to find a reason.

"I heard from Caixia that when the Eldest Mistress and the Master were sleeping last night, they talked about you and Xinghua. I'm afraid they are going to grant their permission." Chunlan covered her mouth and giggled, leaning close to Wei Tu and lowering her voice.

"When the time comes, you must give me a wedding gift," she teased.

"Really?"

"The Eldest Mistress is going to agree to my marriage with Xinghua?"

Wei Tu was also happy in his heart.

He hadn't expected that as his health-cultivation technique broke through, another happy event would come knocking.

"Let's go." Wei Tu put down the axe he was using to chop wood, stood up, and followed Chunlan through the moon gate into the inner courtyard of the Li residence.

Three months ago.

Three months later.

Although Wei Tu's life circumstances had changed significantly, and with the [Late Bloomer] destiny trait by his side, he would certainly succeed in the future.

He would not be a stableman forever.

But Wei Tu did not look down on the kitchen maid Xinghua because of this, nor did he think that this maid of the Li residence was unworthy of him.

Flattering the high and trampling the low was the norm in the world.

However, Xinghua had been close to him since they were children in the Li residence, and she had always taken good care of him; she could be said to be the person closest to him in this world.

Wei Tu's character was not yet so cold.

Besides.

Wei Tu did not overestimate himself either. Reaching great success in the health-cultivation technique did not mean he could find an immortal and embark on the path of immortality in the future.

Health-cultivation techniques extended life, but after reaching a hundred years or so, one would still die when their lifespan ended.

Seizing the present was the truth; being overly ambitious was not desirable.

Walking straight through the courtyard and passing through several corridors, Wei Tu arrived at the living room of the Li residence.

Entering the inner residence, because he strictly observed etiquette, Wei Tu kept his head lowered.

Only when he entered the living room did he raise his eyes slightly to look at the people inside.

Seeing that there were only women in the room and no sign of the Master, he breathed a sigh of relief.

The Master, Li Yaozu, was a famous "sharp-tongued" man in the surrounding ten miles; his words were biting, his nature was stingy, and he would argue that even unreasonable things were reasonable.

He was not easy to get along with.

The Eldest Mistress, Li Tongshi, was the opposite: gentle in nature, skilled in managing the household, and a virtuous woman praised by all.

Sitting in the main seat, Li Tongshi wore simple cloth clothes, an indigo-blue jacket with a wide lapel, and woven cloth shoes with white ribbons tied on her feet.

It was a very plain attire.

She lifted her teacup and took a light sip. "Brother Wei, you have been in the Li family for six years now. In these six years, the Li family should have treated you well."

...

PS: Two chapters a day, there will be another chapter tonight.

(End of chapter)