On a winter morning, before the night had completely faded and the earth was still asleep, Li Xi had already crawled out of her warm bed and begun her new day. The rooster's crow still echoed in the air, and the sky was as dark as night. She slowly opened her eyes, looking at the gloom outside the window. Her languid movements seemed to be conversing with the cold season, full of a unique rhythm and cadence.
She got dressed and stepped out of the house. Taking a deep breath of the fresh air and feeling the cool morning breeze on her face, she warmed up in the yard before running towards the river. Her decision—to get up early every day for a run and then practice her martial arts later—was like a seed, deeply planted in her heart, beginning to take root and sprout.
The riverbank in the early morning was devoid of the daytime hustle and bustle; only a gentle breeze rippled the water's surface. Li Xi began her run, her heartbeat and footsteps dancing in harmony, as if playing a melody uniquely her own. Her determination and perseverance, like a flame, burned with a warm light in the cold winter.
After her run, Li Xi began her training. Every movement, every turn, was full of power and beauty. Her body traced graceful trajectories in the air, like an elegant swallow skimming across a lake. Her training was like a poem, expressing her love for exercise and her pursuit of health.
She believed that as long as she mastered the basics and forged a strong physique, the energy contained within the original owner's body could be better utilized. In her previous life, although she had all sorts of ingenious ideas, they were often rejected by her superiors and clients.
It was as if she was merely a porter, responsible for combining the designs of big brands with the concepts of other masters, and then, after a series of manipulations by the director, turning them into the company's own unique designs. She was often reprimanded for not copying, and was fired not long after. She continued looking for work, and in the years following graduation, she constantly heard stories of people making a fortune in design.
She once doubted whether she had chosen the wrong major, having lived a mediocre life until nearly thirty-one with no achievements. Now, her soul has transmigrated here, taking over the original owner's identity. Does this mean everything can start over?
After rinsing off the smell of sweat, Li Xi put on a black and white outfit and went into the kitchen. Ling'er and Uncle Wang and Aunt Wang were already busy. The three of them had become quite adept at kitchen work by the second day. Tian Tian was washing pots and vegetables very quickly. "Tian Tian, come with me to exercise every morning. Do you want to come?" Li Xi really wanted to train her, as it would be helpful for Lan'er if she learned something in the future.
"Really? Young Master Xi?" Tian Tian asked with delight. She really wanted to learn martial arts; having strong fists would be more convincing. "Of course, I'll teach you Qi cultivation after we close the shop today," Li Xi said, intending to teach her according to the manual.
Meng Zhelan walked in at this moment. Everyone had come to the kitchen to eat breakfast. "Yes, Tiantian, learn from Xier from now on. When I become famous, you will stay by my side and protect me," Meng Zhelan teased.
The restaurant staff also began to get busy, tidying up the stall, lighting charcoal braziers to warm the interior and provide a comfortable dining environment for the guests. As mealtime approached, many guests arrived one after another; a gentle breeze and fragrant aromas filled the air, and bowls of delicious food filled the restaurant with their aroma.
"Hey, have you seen the notice posted by the government? The flower thief has been arrested. I heard it was an anonymous hero who came to his aid when he saw injustice."
"I saw it today too. Good job catching him! That lecherous thief not only preyed on the girls in the brothel, but also went to harm the girls from good families." "That damned lecherous thief, he will surely perish because of his many evil deeds. Last time he preyed on the girls in the brothel, he happened to run into the madam and was seen in the act. She then went to the yamen to report the case."
"This morning, the madam went to the yamen and recognized him as the lecherous thief." "It's a pity for those women whose chastity has been ruined; they'll probably have to spend the rest of their lives in nunneries with only the flickering lamplight for company." The guests were all indignant, wishing they could take a knife and slash the lecherous thief to pieces.
Li Xi stood to the side, lost in thought. She regretted not kicking his manhood to pieces. It was a pity that the world was so harsh on women; the victim received no solace. Meng Zhelan finished calculating her bill at the counter and looked up to see Li Xi's mysterious smile. She called Li Xi over and asked, "Xiao Xi, was this your doing? Look at how smug you are."
"Oh dear, Lan'er, how did you know?" "I could tell just by looking at you." "Oh dear, I couldn't sleep last night, so I went to exercise and happened to run into that bastard..." "Be more careful in the future." Meng Zhelan knew that she wouldn't stand idly by when she encountered such a thing.
“Alas, in this world, bandits and thieves are ravaging the people every day, but the government does nothing. Life is better now, and there’s more money to be made, but it’s only made more parasites. What will become of us if things continue like this?” A middle-aged man sighed. “Nowadays, we are terrified to travel around as merchants. You have no idea how rampant those bandits are. Alas, we can only pay money to join large caravans.”
"Those city guards can't even catch a single flower thief..." "You don't know, lately those princes..." The diners whispered among themselves, unable to hear the gossip. Li Xi pretended to be refilling tea for the guests and went to the side to eavesdrop.
In ancient royal families, the struggle for power seemed never to end. The princes, vying for power, tried to place their own people in various locations, but this only led to chaos. On this stage filled with intrigue and self-interest, everyone wanted to be the protagonist, but each had to pay a corresponding price.
The common people could become their victims at any time, just as a coin has two sides, and every dynasty has its bright and dark sides. Li Xi didn't listen any further; she was currently just an ordinary citizen, and this kind of power struggle was irrelevant to her for the time being…
Just as she was lost in thought, someone called her. Looking towards the door, she saw, "Grandpa Sun, you're here! Please have a seat." "Yes, yes, yes," Grandpa Sun replied with a beaming smile. "What would you like to eat today?" "A bowl of millet and pumpkin porridge, noodles with minced meat sauce, two tea eggs, and fried rice with eggs," Grandpa Sun said, flipping through the menu as if he wanted more.
"Xiao Xi, how's your practice of that mental cultivation method going?" Old Master Sun raised his eyelids slightly to look at Li Xi. "Grandpa Sun, after reading your booklet, I've finally mastered the secret to controlling my internal energy, which I used to have trouble with. Thank you so much."
Grandpa Sun leaned back in his chair, smiling as he looked at Li Xi. Sunlight streamed through the window, bathing the two of them in its glow. Grandpa Sun's face revealed not only satisfaction but also a deep sense of anticipation.
"Hehe, that's very good," Old Sun repeated softly, as if speaking to himself, or perhaps to Li Xi. His eyes were filled with warmth and appreciation.
Li Xi always felt that he was a mysterious and unpredictable master, but he always had a sad expression, like an old man who had experienced many vicissitudes of life. Li Xi saw that he always looked at her with loving eyes, which reminded her of her lovely grandmother, and she couldn't help but want to care for him.
Li Xi sat with Old Master Sun for a while, and then went to attend to other matters after all the dishes were served. "Old Master Sun, please let me know if you need anything," Li Xi said, bowing slightly. It was noon, and students were coming home from school and entering various restaurants. Li Xi and the waiters were busy serving them. "Scholars, please, what would you like to eat today?" Li Xi handed them the cookbooks. She had made several more cookbooks last night, but with so many people yesterday, they couldn't be passed around properly, and things had gotten a little chaotic.
"Brother Chen, are you alright? My God, this restaurant has killed someone! I'm going to report this to the authorities! Brother Chen, wake up!" A man in blue was squatting on the ground, shaking the man who had fallen.
The other diners exclaimed, "My God, what happened?" A commotion erupted. "I don't know what's going on either. My friend Chen and I came here to eat, and halfway through the meal, he suddenly collapsed. It must be poisoned in your food!" "Huh? No way! We ate here too. Will we be alright?"...
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