Chapter 1 Barely clothed, sharing robes with their brothers

In late autumn, the rains are continuous and the temperature is gradually freezing.

In front of the dilapidated thatched hut.

Before dawn, Li Xian was already throwing punches. He was shirtless, his skin was red from the cold, and he was radiating heat.

He threw punch after punch, seemingly able to disperse the chill in the air so that he wouldn't feel cold.

He wore a pair of coarse cloth trousers on his lower body, which were covered with patches and were slightly loose. The trouser legs were covered with mud that had dried into grime.

"Brother, why don't you put on some clothes? I'm in the house and it's not cold. Don't freeze."

Inside the thatched hut, the simple wooden window was pushed open, revealing a delicate and youthful face.

His name was Li Xiaofan, and he was Li Xian's younger brother. He was wearing a long coat covered in patches and his body was curled up.

"I'm not cold, look, I'm steaming hot. We only have one set of shirts, you're weak, so you wear it."

"Besides, I practice boxing and martial arts. If I ruin my clothes, I won't have anything to wear."

Li Xian smiled and comforted her, but a bitter feeling welled up inside her.

He knew that people were poor in ancient times, but he didn't know they were this poor that they couldn't even afford clothes!

Half a month ago, he transmigrated to this world and merged with the original owner "Li Xian" into one person, with memories of the two lifetimes overlapping.

This is Qingning County, Southern Heaven Domain, Qiongtian Prefecture, in the Great Wu Dynasty.

The original owner's mother died early, and his father was a hunter. His right hand was bitten off by a bear, and he became depressed. Later, he became addicted to gambling, squandered all the family's wealth, and committed suicide.

In the end, all that was left for the two brothers was a dilapidated hut... and a piece of clothing that they had taken from their father!

Winter is coming, and the weather is freezing... The two brothers don't know how they will get through it.

"Brother, I'm not going to take the exams anymore. The Lin family is hiring servants, and I... I want to sell myself."

Li Xiaofan's youthful face revealed an unusual precocity.

"Not going to study anymore?" Li Xian frowned. "With such great talent, are you just going to waste it like this?"

“Brother!” Li Xiaofan lowered his head and said sadly, “After Father died, they took everything away. We can’t hunt anymore, we can’t farm, and we can’t survive.”

"The Lin family is hiring servants. I'm good at math, so I'm sure I can get a good job. If I please the manager, I'll get some extra silver. Not only will we brothers have clothes to wear, but maybe... we can even eat meat!"

At this point, Li Xiaofan managed a weak smile.

"Stop talking." Li Xian didn't even turn his head back, and repeated his martial arts punches again and again. A hint of irritation flashed through his heart, "If anyone needs to raise you, it should be your brother. It's not your turn to raise me."

"But…"

"No buts."

Blood is thicker than water. The original owner's memories and her own memories were intertwined and inseparable, so this kinship naturally continued.

Li Xian is Li Xiaofan's brother, his own brother.

The boxing style practiced by Li Xian was called "Raging Bull Boxing," which was a fragmentary scroll containing only three forms.

Each time he practices, a surge of heat rises within him, strengthening his muscles and bones. It's the only thing his gambling-addicted father left behind that can be considered an inheritance.

“My brother is right.”

"If we could go hunting in the mountains, why would my brother and I have to face the dilemma of starvation and freezing to death? In this world... hard work can't bring wealth!"

"If we want to survive, we have to make some choices. My younger brother is still young, and his college entrance exams are just around the corner. We can't give up on him now!"

"Only if my younger brother passes the exam can we truly make something of ourselves!"

Within a radius of dozens of miles in Qingning County, every blade of grass, every tree, every mountain, and every stone has already been claimed.

Before his death, Li's father was a hunter for the Luo family. He would go hunting in the mountains and earn a small share of the profits.

Occasionally, they could cut off some meat from their prey to taste. Unfortunately, before Li's father died, he incurred a large gambling debt, and the Luo family then hired other hunters.

The debts of the father must be paid by the son... The Li brothers still owe an enormous amount of debt.

The sky gradually brightened.

Li Xian, shirtless, walked out of the house, saying as he left, "Brother, I'm going to dig some wild vegetables for breakfast. You study hard and don't go out and get cold."

Li Xiaofan watched Li Xian's retreating figure, his eyes welling up with tears. His nails dug into his palms as he murmured to himself, "Brother, I won't let you down. Once I pass the Heavenly Official exam, we'll both have a good life! I'll find you a beautiful wife, the best of everything!"

...

Instead of picking wild vegetables, Li Xian went to Yihezhuang, outside Qingning County.

This estate is vast, and it's rumored that a very important person lives there. Hundreds, even thousands, of servants all serve her alone!

Dozens of people have already stopped here, all of them half-naked. Li Xian sighed silently. The world is like this, and he and his brothers are not the only ones suffering.

"Come, come, those who want to sell themselves into the manor, line up in one row, don't crowd. Our Yihe Manor doesn't need unruly beasts."

The gate opened, and a middle-aged man holding a long whip walked in. He shouted casually, but his voice carried far.

This man was named Luo Fang, the manager of Yihe Manor. He was followed by seven or eight henchmen, all of whom were tall and neatly dressed.

A shoving commotion ensued, and suddenly one person fell to the ground.

"Smack!"

Luo Fang frowned, then lashed out with his whip, striking the man. Instantly, the skin tore open, and blood gushed out. Before he could even scream, he was beaten unconscious.

Luo Fang cursed, "You dog! Didn't you hear me tell you to stand in line? Get him out of here! Letting someone like this into the manor will only offend the lady's eyes!"

Two strongmen behind him lifted him up and threw him to the side of the road like a stray dog.

Li Xian turned his head and sighed silently. This man was probably doomed. The steward and his attendants were all surprisingly strong.

"From my memory... it seems that martial artists are very powerful?"

Li Xian didn't think much of it and stood obediently in the crowd.

Luo Fang shouted, "We don't support idlers in our village. Madam is kind-hearted, a celestial being. Winter is approaching, and I know many people will surely not survive."

"Perfect timing, we're short-handed in our village. I'm giving you a way to make a living, so cherish it. If you miss this opportunity, you won't get another one."

Luo Fang paced back and forth, head held high and chest puffed out, his sense of superiority undisguised.

“We are now recruiting thirty menial workers. There are more than thirty of you here... um... the last few, you can leave now, there’s no more for you.”

Upon hearing this...

A woman behind her suddenly knelt on the ground and cried out, "Sir, sir, please be lenient with me... My baby has no breast milk. I'll do anything as long as you let me into the village, please!"

"Get out. What does it matter to me if a worthless life of yours starves or freezes to death?" Luo Fang coldly shouted, driving the woman away.

Li Xian felt sorry for the woman and was powerless to help her, so he could only ignore her.

The remaining people entered the mansion in turn to register their basic information. Even the servants were divided into different ranks.

People like Li Xian, who had just joined the manor, were among the lowest of the low. The other servants who had joined the manor earlier couldn't help but raise their chests when they looked at them.

"The price for selling yourself is 525 cash, plus a set of menial clothes. Food, clothing, and lodging will all be provided within the estate. In addition, you will receive a monthly stipend of 50 cash. If you have no objections, then sign the contract."

The accountant looked at the servants and said calmly.

The servants were overjoyed and rushed to sign. Li Xian, however, felt a pang of sorrow; human life was so worthless.

Looking at the contract of servitude, he gritted his teeth and wrote down his name.

"Oh, your handwriting is not bad." The accountant raised his eyebrows and looked at Li Xian twice.

After signing the indenture, each of them received their payment and servant's clothes.

"You have one afternoon. Go home and share the good news with your families. Starting tomorrow, you will not be allowed to leave the village without permission."

Luo Fang said to the servants. Feeling that it was not enough, he cracked his whip, hitting the air with a sound like a firecracker.

"Also, don't think you can just take the money and run. My Yihezhuang (a gambling den) doesn't offer easy profits!"

...

"Hey bro, I'm back."

Li Xian returned to the thatched hut and shouted a few times.

"Brother, where are the wild vegetables? Why are you taking so long to pick them?" Li Xiaofan's thin body was completely wrapped in a long coat.

The two brothers shared a set of clothes; Li Xian wore the pants, and Li Xiaofan wore the shirt.

"Why eat wild vegetables? Let's have some meat today," Li Xian said with a smile, taking out some pork that she had just bought from the market.

The quantity wasn't much, but it was enough for the two brothers to taste the meat.

"Brother! You..."

Li Xiaofan's body trembled; he had already guessed the reason.

Li Xian laughed heartily, "I sold myself to Yihezhuang for 525 coins and a set of clothes."

“From now on, we can’t go in and out easily. Let’s have a good meal together, brother. I’ll take off your father’s clothes and give them to you. We also have five hundred coins left.”

"You study hard, I'll work in the village, and if there's any money left over, I'll find another opportunity to give it to you."

Li Xiaofan's eyes welled up with tears. "Brother...you..."

Li Xian laughed heartily and gently patted Li Xiaofan's head, "I'm your brother, so I have to take responsibility. Your photographic memory is something I can't match at all."

"By the way, I've recently gained some new insights into the Wild Bull Fist. I'll demonstrate it for you a few more times. Remember, it's always good to have some self-defense skills."

Li Xiaofan wiped away her tears and nodded emphatically, "Okay."

Li Xian assumed a fighting stance in the room and threw a punch, like a bull charging at its prey.

suddenly--

[Punching a fist ten thousand times, with unwavering will and indomitable spirit, awakening one's destiny – Heaven rewards diligence.]

[For every effort you make, you will receive something in return.]

[Incomplete form of the Wild Bull Fist]

[Proficiency: 456/500 Entry]

[Description: The style of this fist technique is simple and unadorned, yet its power is like that of an ox, refined through rigorous training. There are no shortcuts to this style; only diligent practice will suffice.]

(End of this chapter)