Living a Life of Obscurity

In Huaiyuan County, Yingtian Prefecture, Qingzhou, Qi State, a fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth was practicing a certain style of fist technique over and over again.

Directly Strike the Yellow Dragon, Thousands of Soldiers Split Easily, Feint to the East, Attack to the West—the youth threw punch after punch. Sweat gradually soaked through his clothes.

A child's voice called out, "Big Brother, dinner is ready. Come inside and eat." The youth replied, "Coming." With that, he retracted his stance and entered the house.

His name was Li Fan, a second-year graduate student. While conducting an experiment, a tube furnace exploded, rupturing the hydrogen tanks in the laboratory and causing him to transmigrate to this world half a month ago.

Though he had been an orphan in his past life without any luxury, he had never worried about food thanks to the support of kind-hearted people and government welfare.

In this world, the original owner's mother had passed away prematurely due to a lack of Vital Energy after giving birth to his younger brother, Li Ping'an. His father had barely managed to keep the two brothers alive by working as a hunter and a carpenter.

Half a year ago, the father had ventured deep into the mountains, hoping to hunt a large beast to fund Li Bufan's studies and martial arts training. Not only did he fail to catch any prey, but he also had his arm bitten off by a tiger, leaving him despondent ever since.

Unable to hunt or work, the already impoverished family was pushed to the brink. Half a month ago, the father had said to Li Bufan in the night, "Son, I am finished. The bow and arrows on the wall and this house are yours now. I am a cripple and can no longer waste our rations, or all three of us will die."

Before Li Bufan could react, his father had slammed his head against the wall, leaving the two brothers behind.

The original owner, Li Bufan, had been so consumed by grief that he fainted. When he woke the next day, the person inside was no longer the same.

Fine. Since I am here, I shall settle here. I have taken your body to live another life, so your family is now my family.

He then hid the truth from his younger brother, disposed of his father's body, and told Li Ping'an that their father had gone to a very distant place and would not return for a long time.

After their father left, all that remained for the two brothers was a dilapidated thatched hut and half a jar of rice bran. Today, even that bran had hit the bottom.

With winter approaching and the weather turning freezing, the two brothers had no idea how they would survive.

"Big Brother, the Lin Manor is looking for a page boy for the Second Young Master. I want to try out for it."

Li Ping'an's youthful face showed a maturity beyond his years.

"A page boy?" Li Bufan's brows furrowed. He knew well that a page boy in this era was not just a servant for daily chores; if they encountered a wealthy young master with a penchant for the same sex, they might even be expected to warm the bed and provide entertainment.

"Brother," Li Ping'an lowered his head and said, "You don't have to lie to me. I know Father didn't go to a distant place. He is dead, and we are about to run out of food."

The old steward of the Lin Manor said they were only looking for boys with delicate features and a clean background. Under the care of their father and brother, Li Ping'an had grown up looking more handsome than other children, giving him an advantage in securing the position.

If he could please the master, perhaps... they would be able to eat meat.

"Say no more," Li Bufan said, walking out of the house without looking back. If anyone was going to sell themselves into servitude, it would be him; it wouldn't be his brother's turn. Blood is thicker than water; the original owner's memories and his own had merged, and this familial bond had naturally persisted.

Outside, Li Bufan resumed his stance and began throwing punches again.

Though he did not know the name of the fist technique he practiced, it was one of the few assets his father had left behind. It was by practicing this technique day after day, year after year, that his father had gained the strength to escape the tiger's jaws.

After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the day grew shorter as winter approached. Li Bufan finished his practice, instructed Li Ping'an to lock the door and stay inside until he returned, and then set off.

The clever Li Ping'an knew that his brother was likely going to sell himself.

The journey that usually took the time of one incense stick took Li Bufan half an hour. He struggled with his decision the entire way, but finally, with a firm gaze, he walked toward the gates of the Lin Manor.

At the end of the Blue Stone-paved street, a grand estate stood tall. The vermilion gates were studded with copper nails the size of bowls, glinting coldly in the sunset.

The plaque hanging above the lintel bore the characters "Lin Manor" in gilded gold, exuding an imposing aura. Two stone lions stood before the gate, baring their fangs and glaring, adding to the majesty.

Li Bufan stood beneath the high steps, looking up at the grand mansion, and took a deep breath. His washed-out, coarse cloth jacket looked completely out of place against the luxury of this wealthy household.

In his past life, he never imagined that one day he would come to such a place to sign a contract of servitude just for a few mouthfuls of food.

He clenched his fists, his palms damp with sweat from the long walk. The hesitation and struggle had been exhausted on the way here; now, only the resolve to carve out a path for his brother remained in his eyes.

He straightened his collar—despite its tattered state, he tried to maintain a shred of dignity—and stepped onto the cold Blue Stone stairs.

The two gatekeepers had long noticed the youth lingering at the entrance. Seeing him approach, one of them, a burly man with a face full of flesh, stepped forward to block the way.

"Go, go, go! Where did this poor brat come from? Don't you see what kind of place this is? Go beg somewhere else!"

The other man crossed his arms, eyeing Li Bufan with a critical and disdainful gaze, his lip curling.

Li Bufan stopped and tried to keep his voice calm.

"Gentlemen, please, I ask you to inform the steward. I am not here to beg. I heard that the Huichun Hall under the Lin Manor needs help, and I would like to apply for a position."

The burly man sneered, "Huichun Hall? You? Do you even know how to read? Can you use an abacus?"

"You haven't even grown your hair out yet and you want to enter Huichun Hall?"

"Get lost! Don't block the way!"

Li Bufan's heart sank, but he did not retreat. He remembered his father mentioning that although the Lin Manor was a prominent family in the county with strict rules, the old steward seemed to have a decent reputation and was not entirely unreasonable. He could not be scared off by the gatekeepers.

He cupped his hands again, his tone firmer. "Sir, I truly need work to support my younger brother."

"Could you please do me a favor and just pass the message to the steward? Whether he sees me or not is up to him. If the steward blames you, I will take full responsibility; I will not implicate you."

He spoke with sincerity, his eyes clear and stubborn. The composure and subtle anxiety, which seemed out of place for his age, caused the other gatekeeper, who had been silent, to raise an eyebrow. His gaze softened from disdain to scrutiny.

The silent gatekeeper nudged the burly one with his elbow and whispered, "Old Wang, look at this kid... he looks decent enough, and he speaks with some logic. He doesn't seem like a mere troublemaker."

"Why not... just tell Uncle Fu? It doesn't cost us anything to pass the word. What if Uncle Fu really is looking for someone? It would be worse if we blocked him."

The burly man, "Old Wang," frowned and glared at Li Bufan again. He seemed to find his companion's point reasonable, but he still felt his pride was at stake. He huffed, "You're such a busybody! Wait here!"

With that, he turned reluctantly, pushed open a side gate, and slipped inside.

Li Bufan felt a slight sense of relief. He stepped back and stood quietly outside the gate, waiting. The other gatekeeper ignored him and returned to his post, his gaze fixed on the street.

Time ticked by. The world inside the gate was silent, but Li Bufan's heart began to race. He could hear the thumping of his own heart, mixed with the trepidation of an unknown fate. He did not know what kind of destiny awaited him behind those vermilion gates.

Would they secure a glimmer of hope, or be turned away entirely, leaving the brothers in a desperate plight? Just as his thoughts were in turmoil, the side door creaked open once more.

The person who emerged was not the burly servant, but an elderly man dressed in a dark blue satin long gown with a refined, gaunt face.

His gaze was sharp, landing on Li Bufan like a hawk, and he spoke slowly, his voice steady yet carrying an unquestionable authority: "So, you are the one who wishes to see me?"

The old man's eyes were like torches, scanning Li Bufan from head to toe. That gaze seemed to pierce through his clothes, discerning the very sinews and intentions within.

"Yes, this humble youth Li Bufan greets you, Steward." Li Bufan followed the etiquette from his vague memories, cupping his hands and bowing deeply once more.

"Hmm." The old steward, Uncle Fu, let out a grunt from his nose as a response. "You say you want to seek employment at Huichun Hall?"

"Yes." Li Bufan lifted his head, trying to keep his voice clear and steady. "I have studied for a few years, I am literate, and I know some basic arithmetic. I beg you, Steward, to give me a chance."

"Studied? Literate?" There was no telling if Uncle Fu was pleased or angry. "There are plenty of poor boys in Huichun County who know a few characters."

"My Lin family's Huichun Hall deals with Medicinal Herbs and silver; clear accounts are the top priority. Why do you think you are qualified?"

Li Bufan's mind raced; he knew empty words were useless and he had to produce something tangible. He took a deep breath and said, "I dare not boast. But I remember that during the autumn tax collection last year, the county office posted the grain tax amounts for every household. I read it once and could recite most of it from memory. If you do not believe me, Steward, you may test me."

This was his bit of confidence as a science student from his past life; his logic and memory far exceeded that of an ordinary youth in this ancient era. The original owner had indeed studied intermittently with his father, so the foundation was there.

A flicker of subtle surprise flashed in Uncle Fu's eyes, though his face remained expressionless. He pondered for a moment before suddenly asking: "There are pheasants and rabbits in a cage; there are thirty-five heads above and ninety-four feet below. How many pheasants and rabbits are there?"

This was a classic mathematical problem, clearly intended to test his wit and arithmetic foundation.

Li Bufan answered without a moment's hesitation: "Twenty-three pheasants and twelve rabbits." He even subconsciously used the more elegant term "pheasant" rather than "chicken."

Uncle Fu's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly. He had not expected the youth to answer so quickly, and with such perfect accuracy.

"Oh? How did you figure that out?" Uncle Fu pressed, seemingly wanting to see if he had guessed or simply memorized the answer.

Li Bufan replied calmly: "Assuming all thirty-five heads were rabbits, there should be one hundred and forty feet. Since there are only ninety-four feet, I have overcounted by forty-six feet."

"Every time a rabbit is replaced by a pheasant, the foot count decreases by two. Therefore, twenty-three replacements are needed, meaning twenty-three pheasants; the rabbits are thirty-five minus twenty-three, which equals twelve."

His logic was clear and his delivery fluent. Uncle Fu stared at him for several breaths, the surroundings so quiet that the sound of wind brushing against the porch could be heard. The two servants also shed their previous contempt, looking at this ragged youth who spoke with such fluid confidence with a mix of suspicion and uncertainty.

After a long while, Uncle Fu spoke slowly, his tone softening just a fraction: "You are indeed a piece of jade worth carving. However, Huichun Hall does not currently need an accountant; we need an apprentice for odd jobs and hauling goods. The pay is low and the work is hard. Are you willing?"

Li Bufan felt a sudden surge of relief and almost let his joy show, but he forcibly suppressed it and bowed again: "I am willing! Thank you, Steward, for the opportunity! I do not fear hard work and will certainly give it my all!"

"Hmm." Uncle Fu nodded. "Tomorrow at the first quarter of the Dragon hour, find Steward Zhang at the back door of Huichun Hall, and he will arrange your tasks. Remember, the Lin family has strict rules; keep your hands clean, be observant, and do not be lazy or deceitful."

"Yes! I will keep that in mind!" Li Bufan replied respectfully. Uncle Fu said no more and turned back through the side door into the estate. The vermilion gate slowly closed, sealing off the two worlds.

Only when the door had completely shut did Li Bufan truly let out a breath, his back already slick with a thin layer of sweat. He turned and walked down the steps, his pace much lighter than when he had arrived.

Although it was only a grueling apprenticeship, at least... he and his brother had hope of surviving this winter. Meat might still be a distant dream, but there should be more rice grains in their porridge.

He looked up at the sky and quickened his pace toward home. He had to tell Ping'an the news immediately.