Cherish the Present

Beyond that, Even if he was anxious, it wouldn't do much good.

The class stratification of this world was far more rigid than the modern era; with his strength alone, it was nearly impossible to cross social classes.

If not for his Second Aunt, who served as a concubine in the Huang Residence, helping him this time, he would never have been able to access a Health Cultivation Technique that was rarely seen in outside bookshops.

After arriving in this other world and awakening his past-life memories, Wei Tu had certainly thought about changing his fate.

But—

Engage in commerce?

In an officialdom-centered society, running a small handicraft stall was fine, but once it involved big business, a major clan would inevitably come to seize it.

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

Become an official?

First, enter a private school to study, obtain a clean identity, find a stipend scholar to vouch for him, then take the Imperial Examinations, fighting his way through a thousand troops and ten thousand horses before he could earn a scholarly title.

Wei Tu, having lived two lives, was sharp enough with the blessing of past-life wisdom.

But when truly compared to the child prodigies of a ten-li radius, he fell far short.

And these village prodigies often spent their entire lives struggling to earn even the lowest scholar title, ending their days in the miserable fate of an aged examination candidate.

Reciting the Confucian classics was just the basic skill in the Imperial Examinations; the real difficulty lay in understanding the commentaries on the Confucian texts, whose word count far exceeded the classics themselves. Without a good memory, one could spend a lifetime and still fail to win a scholarly title in the exams.

If the written portion were simple, where would all the various cheating methods in the Imperial Examinations come from?

Concealing texts in one's clothes, writing with miniature brushes, sending messages by carrier pigeon, cheating with chamber pots...

Moreover.

Studying cost money. Raising a scholar who was detached from productive labor was no easy feat!

If it weren't for having to support two Young Masters in their studies, the Li Residence's main household wouldn't have been so tight on funds, eating meat only twice every ten days.

No Golden Finger.

Wei Tu knew he was merely of average talent; it was nearly impossible for him to turn his life around.

Of course, Wei Tu hadn't completely given up over the years. Starting as a tenant farmer, he had worked his way up to Stableman at the Li Residence, becoming a role model for many country folk.

He ate well.

He had standing before the master's household.

This was the life many country people dreamed of.

Time flew by.

Seven days passed quickly. As agreed, Wei Tu handed over the illustrated manual of the "Turtle Breath Qi Cultivation Technique" to the gatekeeper of the Huang Residence, asking him to deliver it to the martial arts instructor of the Ruan Family.

As for the contents of the manual, though Wei Tu had already memorized it by heart, he still played it safe by using brush and paper to copy it, writing a duplicate and keeping it hidden on his person.

After finishing this task, Wei Tu's life returned to calm. Every day, he fed the horses, chopped firewood, and swept the courtyard.

The only difference was that whenever he had free time, he began practicing the Stance Training of the "Turtle Breath Qi Cultivation Technique."

Even more than that.

He didn't just practice nine times a day.

But ten times, eleven times a day.

This was Wei Tu's only chance to cross class boundaries and change his fate, so he naturally wouldn't neglect it.

"Do your best and leave the rest to heaven."

"Hard work pays off."

Whenever he wanted to give up or slack off, Wei Tu silently encouraged himself, keeping himself alert.

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 sensed a slight change within his body.

It was already late autumn, nearing winter, with heavy night frost and biting cold, but Wei Tu felt no chill at all. Instead, he felt streams of warmth surging through his limbs and bones, nourishing his physique.

This feeling was like soaking in a hot spring.

"If the Health Cultivation Technique hasn't reached great success, yet warmth has already arisen in my body, then the Qi Sensing Realm must be extraordinary!"

Wei Tu was overjoyed.

In recent days, he had inquired about the training of martial artists. Those blade-wielders famed in the countryside only knew some Martial Arts Techniques and could swing a few big knives; they were nowhere near his current state of "fearing no cold."

With progress in the Health Cultivation Technique, Wei Tu didn't let his mind relax. He continued practicing the Stance Training until he was utterly exhausted, then returned to the heated brick bed to rest.

"Turtle Breath Qi Cultivation Technique (21/100): Train nine times daily, achieve mastery in five years."

Before sleeping, Wei Tu closed his eyes and glanced at the progress of his Health Cultivation Technique. Seeing it had already surpassed one-fifth, he felt deeply satisfied and soon fell asleep, snoring softly.

The next morning, at daybreak.

Wei Tu rose early and began his chores around the Li Residence.

After feeding the horses and chopping firewood for nearly an hour, Wei Tu noticed his body still felt cool, with not a single bead of sweat on his forehead.

His physical fitness had improved by a large margin.

"Brother Wei, the First Mistress is looking for you." A plain-faced young woman dressed as a maidservant emerged from the Inner Quarters and called out to Wei Tu.

"The First Mistress is calling for me?" Wei Tu was taken aback.

He was one of the Outer Males. As a child, he could still move freely within the Inner Quarters, but after growing older, that was forbidden.

Otherwise, last time he wouldn't have had to ask Xinghua to request leave on his behalf.

In a wealthy household, there were many formalities.

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

"I heard from Cai Xia that last night, when the First Mistress and the Master were in bed, they talked about you and Xinghua. It seems they're about to give their approval." Chun Lan covered her mouth with a smile, leaned close to Wei Tu, and lowered her voice.

"When that happens, you'll have to give me some lucky money," she teased.

"Really?"

"The First Mistress is going to approve my marriage to Xinghua?"

Wei Tu's heart swelled with joy.

He hadn't expected that, on top of his breakthrough in the Health Cultivation Technique, another piece of good fortune would come knocking.

"Let's go." Wei Tu put down the axe he was using to split firewood, stood up, and followed Chun Lan through the moon gate, stepping into the Inner Courtyard of the Li Residence.

Three months ago.

Three months later.

Although Wei Tu's life circumstances had changed drastically, with the Late Bloomer destiny clinging to him, he was certain to rise in the future.

He wouldn't remain a stableman forever.

But Wei Tu didn't look down on the cook maid Xinghua because of this, nor did he think this maidservant of the Li Residence was unworthy of him.

Kicking those who fall and flattering those who rise—that's the way of the world.

However, Xinghua had been close to him since childhood at the Li Residence, and she had always looked after him. She was, in fact, the person he was closest to in this world.

Wei Tu's heart wasn't so cold as to forget that.

Besides.

Wei Tu didn't think too highly of himself either. Mastering the Health Cultivation Technique didn't mean he would surely find an immortal and step onto the path of cultivation.

The Health Cultivation Technique extended one's lifespan, but after a hundred years or so, one would still die of old age.

Seizing the present was the true principle; reaching for the clouds was not allowed.

Walking straight through the courtyard and passing several covered corridors, Wei Tu arrived at the main hall of the Li Residence.

Entering the Inner Quarters, Wei Tu kept his head lowered out of respect for the rules.

Only when he stepped into the main hall did he raise his eyes slightly, taking a look at the people inside.

Seeing that only the womenfolk were present, and not the Master, he breathed a sigh of relief.

The Master, Li Yaozu, was known far and wide as a "sharp-tongued man"—harsh in speech, miserly by nature, and capable of twisting wrong into right.

Not easy to get along with.

The First Mistress, Madam Li, was the opposite—gentle in temperament, skilled in managing the household, and widely praised as a virtuous woman.

Seated in the main chair, Madam Li wore a simple cloth dress, with an indigo-blue overcoat, and on her feet, cloth shoes and socks tied with white silk ribbons.

It was a very plain and clean outfit.

She raised her teacup, took a light sip, and said, "Brother Wei, you've been with the Li family for six years now. In these six years, the Li family has treated you well, I should think."

PS: Two chapters a day, another one coming tonight.