Poverty Forces Change

After lunch, everyone began practicing under Zhang Meng again.

That afternoon, Zhang Meng merely led them through [Giant Elephant Fist] once before letting everyone practice on their own.

As soon as Zhang Meng left, the atmosphere in the training ground was no longer as solemn as before.

Some disciples gathered in twos and threes, whispering among themselves as they stopped training.

"The path of martial arts lies in balancing work and rest.

"Blindly training yourself to the bone only gets half the result for twice the effort."

Such words reached the ears of the disciples still practicing in the field, and some of them began to waver as well.

Still, most of the disciples continued cultivating diligently.

Generally speaking, the newly enrolled disciples were more driven to forge ahead.

Some older disciples had been here for nearly a year, yet saw no hope of breaking through to Ninth Grade, so they simply gave up on themselves.

Li Beichen glanced at He Keji from the corner of his eye.

Though the man looked refined and scholarly, with the air of a bookish gentleman, when he performed [Giant Elephant Fist], his strikes whipped up gusts of wind.

Compared to the others, his proficiency might not have been higher, but his movements were far more powerful and weighty.

His strength was clearly a good thirty percent greater than everyone else's.

Moreover, He Keji had not used [Giant Elephant Ointment] that morning, yet he still retained considerable stamina that afternoon.

"Looks like Brother He really does have some skill."

Li Beichen withdrew his attention and began focusing entirely on every move and stance of his own.

The twelve forms of [Giant Elephant Fist] each tempered different parts of the body. As one performed the forms, the muscles would be stimulated.

They began to grow and harden.

More importantly, it could integrate the force of the entire body, allowing one's strength to flow through every part of oneself.

Although it was Li Beichen's first day practicing martial arts, he had already gained the faintest trace of such an insight.

He continued practicing for most of the afternoon.

Following the full rhythm to complete [Giant Elephant Fist] once took a quarter of an hour.

That morning, Li Beichen had gone all out and practiced [Giant Elephant Fist] over ten times before he was completely exhausted.

Yet that afternoon, he had only barely managed ten repetitions as well.

Then he no longer had the strength to continue.

[Giant Elephant Ointment] could ease soreness and prevent muscle damage, but it could not restore stamina.

Li Beichen walked to the side, poured himself a cup of hot water, and drank.

With a thought, he opened the proficiency panel.

[Martial Art: Giant Elephant Fist—Incomplete (Beginner)]

[Progress: (33/100)]

[Traits: None]

"Only 3 more points than at noon..."

After Zhang Meng's guidance that morning, Li Beichen's progress had risen to 23. He had then seized that feeling and gained another 7 points of proficiency.

Yet throughout the entire afternoon, he had only gained 3 points.

The farther he progressed, the more Li Beichen realized that even when he practiced with complete focus, the drain on his stamina would still slow the growth of his proficiency.

Li Beichen could not help comparing [Hunting] and [Locust Stone], the two skills he knew.

Based on his previous experience, after grinding away diligently for an entire day, their progress was nearly double that of [Giant Elephant Fist].

"The difficulty of raising this martial art's progress is far greater than those skills like hunting."

Li Beichen thought to himself.

Closing the panel, Li Beichen took out [Giant Elephant Ointment].

Without hesitation, he took out one-tenth of it and applied it to his aching muscles once more.

Zhang Meng had told him that the sooner he entered a grade, the better.

If he saved this bit of ointment, then tomorrow's training efficiency would surely be greatly reduced.

As for silver, he could think of another way to earn it.

Feeling the medicinal power of [Giant Elephant Ointment] seep deep into his muscles, Li Beichen could not help muttering.

"This Giant Elephant Ointment is already this effective, and it's only a defective product. Just how potent must Giant Elephant Meat-Refining Ointment be?"

"Ten taels... I need to make money..."

As for making money, Li Beichen already had some ideas.

By the time he returned to Clear Creek Village, it was already evening.

Li Beichen had long been ravenous.

He took out the venison, cut off two palm-sized pieces, boiled them in plain water, sliced them up, and dipped them in chili and salt. It made for an exceptionally delicious meal.

It was also highly nourishing.

After eating nearly a pound of venison, Li Beichen felt his whole body brimming with strength.

[Giant Elephant Ointment] was powerful, but restoring stamina still required eating to replenish one's energy.

After eating and drinking his fill, Li Beichen did not stop to rest. He headed straight for Wang Er's house in the west of the village.

The method he had thought of for making money had to start with Wang Er.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Brother Wang Er, are you home?"

"I am. Is that Little Brother Li?"

Wang Er opened the door and welcomed Li Beichen in with a smile.

Meanwhile, Wang Er's wife was sewing children's clothes by the light of an oil lamp.

When she saw Li Beichen enter, she set aside her needlework and went to pour him some tea.

"No need, Sister-in-law. I can do it myself."

"Come, I'll pour it for you."

Sister-in-law Wang smiled as she poured Li Beichen a cup of tea.

"Little Brother Li, I heard from the villagers today that you went to Ram City to learn martial arts."

Wang Er looked at the martial academy disciple uniform Li Beichen had yet to change out of.

"Wife, look at Little Brother Li's clothes. That's the martial academy's disciple uniform. The disciples who come to our butcher shop to buy meat wear almost the same thing."

"How impressive."

"Later, I'll send our child to learn martial arts too. If that doesn't work out, they can always come back and slaughter pigs."

Sister-in-law Wang rolled her eyes at him.

"You don't even know whether it'll be a boy or a girl. Would you have a girl learn martial arts and slaughter pigs too?"

After chatting casually with Wang Er and his wife for a while, Li Beichen explained why he had come.

"Brother Wang Er, if I needed a large amount of pig offal, how much would it usually cost per jin?"

"This offal reeks and tastes gamey. It usually goes for five or six copper coins per jin. If you need it, I can bring some back for you."

"But what if I have a secret recipe to make a braising stock that removes all its foul smell, leaving it richly savory and fragrant, with a lingering taste? If you and I joined hands to run this business, could we make it work?"

"You really have such a secret recipe?!"

Wang Er shot to his feet in shock.

"Brother Wang Er, bring back some pork intestines and pig liver tomorrow night. Once the martial academy finishes tomorrow afternoon, I'll gather the ingredients for the recipe. We'll try it tomorrow night, and then we'll know."

Hearing this, Sister-in-law Wang immediately poked Wang Er.

"You blockhead, why aren't you thanking Little Brother Li for giving you a helping hand?"

Wang Er came to his senses and quickly cupped his hands.

"Thank you... Brother Beichen, for giving me this opportunity."

Wang Er slaughtered pigs and ran a butcher shop, so he was a merchant of sorts. He knew that if this recipe succeeded, it would mean a steady stream of silver.

Not only in Ram City—even in the villages surrounding Clear Creek Village, every village had its own pig butcher.

Pig offal could be obtained anywhere.

But Li Beichen's secret recipe was one of a kind.

"Brother Wang Er, Sister-in-law Wang, there's no need for this. When I fell on hard times and ended up here, it was thanks to Brother Wang Er that I made it through those difficult days. If I strike it rich, who else would I seek out if not you two?"

"It's getting late. That was all I came for today, so I'll be heading back first. I still have to enter the city tomorrow to practice martial arts!"

Li Beichen said his goodbyes and left.

Behind him, Wang Er and his wife watched his departing figure and could not help speaking quietly to each other.

"Wang Er, this Little Brother Li will be extraordinary someday. He's learning martial arts and has secret recipes too. Stay close to him."

"I know. When I saw Brother Beichen last year, I knew he wasn't an ordinary man. He's someone who can accomplish great things!"

"Oh, stop bragging. Tomorrow, remember to pick some better pork intestines and pig liver, then come back early so I can clean them in advance."

"Got it, wife!"