Oppression, Resistance

"Uncle Liu, a bowl of old-leaf tea, please."

Li Chuan arrived at Old Liu Tea Shop and took a seat on a long bench without standing on ceremony.

"Ah, A-Chuan is back. Sit down, sit down first."

Uncle Liu smiled as he placed a coarse porcelain bowl in front of Li Chuan, grabbing a handful of green loose-leaf tea to toss inside.

He lifted a copper kettle and poured boiling water over the leaves, causing them to tumble within the bowl.

An instant, bitter fragrance of tea wafted into the air.

"Uncle Liu, I asked for old-leaf tea," Li Chuan asked, puzzled.

Old-leaf tea cost one copper coin a bowl, while this steamed green tea cost two—enough to buy two flatbreads. Ordinary people could rarely bring themselves to drink it.

Uncle Liu chuckled.

"A-Chuan, I've watched you grow up since you were a child. Why would I serve you old-leaf tea? Don't worry, this one is on me."

"What brings you here to sit for a while today?"

Li Chuan took a sip of the scalding tea, a faint taste of steamed greens lingering in his mouth.

"Uncle Liu, I came here to ask you about something. You know my family's shop; usually, there isn't even a spare seat at this hour. Why is there not a single soul here today?"

Uncle Liu sighed, hesitating over whether he should speak.

"Uncle Liu, don't worry, I know what I'm doing!"

As soon as these words left his lips, Uncle Liu looked around cautiously before leaning into Li Chuan's ear to whisper.

"A-Chuan, you need to prepare yourself."

"It's Liu Hu from the Black Bear Gang. He wants your shop; it's become common knowledge among the neighbors."

"A few days ago, he went to see your grandfather, and his attitude was extremely aggressive."

"Your grandfather is a stubborn man. No matter what was said, he refused to sell."

"And if you ask me, he shouldn't sell. Offering only five taels of silver—what could you even do with that?"

Uncle Liu gave a bitter laugh.

"Later, he angered Liu Hu, who shoved your grandfather. It seems he even broke his leg..."

"These past few days, he's only gotten worse. He warned everyone in the neighborhood not to go to your family's breakfast shop."

"He said that doing so would be making an enemy of him!"

"From time to time, he sends those thugs to your place to cause trouble. They smash this, they break that, and then they run off. No one can do anything about him."

"Just yesterday, the old hen that Sanfeng raised for eggs was smashed to death!"

Uncle Liu sighed as he spoke, his tone filled with sympathy.

Li Chuan said nothing, merely drinking the green tea in his bowl, gulping it down mouthful by mouthful.

So that was it; he had wondered how an old hen could have died for no reason!

In these times, a hen that could lay eggs was precious. People usually treated them like treasures; such strange occurrences didn't just happen.

It turned out to be that damned Liu Hu, committing every evil deed imaginable!

Before, it was just verbal threats, but now it had escalated to direct violence.

For an elderly person, a fall was the most dangerous thing of all.

Something terrible could happen at any moment!

This Liu Hu was trying to drive his family to their deaths!

The swirling steam obscured Li Chuan's eyelids, but cold light flickered in the eyes hidden beneath.

Observing Li Chuan's expression, Uncle Liu hesitated before speaking again.

"A-Chuan, Liu Hu also let it be known that you spend your days at the martial arts hall drinking and carousing instead of training properly, and that you have no hope of breaking through the barrier. He told your grandfather to give up that hope..."

Li Chuan drained the tea in one gulp, swallowing the leaves along with it.

"Thank you for telling me, Uncle Liu. I'm heading back now."

He stood up and slapped the copper coins onto the table.

After he left, Uncle Liu counted them.

Ten copper coins!

Uncle Liu's hands trembled as he took them, a heavy feeling in his heart.

He had watched Li Chuan grow up, and seeing him oppressed to this extent made him feel terrible.

But in this world, just surviving was difficult enough. He had a grandson waiting to be fed; how could he possibly have the ability to help others?

In a daze, he recalled a line he had seen at the schoolhouse in his youth.

The world is a sea of bitterness, and everyone is struggling and sinking within it.

Li Chuan returned home.

"Chuan'er, come over and eat. Mother stewed chicken soup for you. You need the nutrition for your martial arts training, so drink plenty!" Wang Xiumei called out to Li Chuan.

Li Chuan looked up and noticed his grandfather, Li Nian, limping toward him.

When he asked what happened, his grandfather only smiled and said he had accidentally tripped.

His aunt, Qin Sanfeng, placed a chicken leg in his bowl.

His cousin, Li Qing, served him a bowl of golden chicken soup.

In front of them, however, sat only brown rice and salted vegetables.

Even with the fragrant chicken soup right there, no one touched their chopsticks.

Li Chuan could sense that their smiles were not quite bright; they seemed to be troubled by something.

They must be uncertain because of what Liu Hu said, but they don't want to ask me directly if I really went to the brothel.

Li Chuan knew exactly what was going on.

In truth, Liu Hu wasn't wrong; the original owner of this body had indeed done such things.

But since he had transmigrated here, he naturally had to smooth over this lie.

Otherwise, if his family found out they were working themselves to the bone to support such a person, they would likely fall ill from the sheer frustration.

Li Chuan drank the chicken soup, ate the chicken leg, and took a bite of the fine white rice.

The more he ate, the more bitter it tasted.

He wanted to ask them to eat with him, but he was refused every time.

Only by mastering martial arts can I give my family a better life.

Li Chuan secretly made up his mind that once he resolved this matter, he would return to the martial arts hall and train until he reached the threshold of the Gate-Knocking stage.

After finishing the hen, Li Chuan could feel a sense of "fullness" in his body.

At his current stage, the demand for "Qi and blood" was immense.

Yet, being able to eat meat only once every two days was clearly not enough.

If I could eat like this every day, my progress in martial arts would be much faster!

Li Chuan thought to himself.

After resting for a moment following the meal, Li Chuan said with a smile:

"Big Brother, now that I'm full, let me teach you how to lift stones."

With that, he stepped forward and lifted a fifty-pound stone with one hand.

He lifted this stone to show his family, hoping to give them some confidence.

"My master says my accumulation of Qi and blood is almost complete, and I will be able to knock on the Gate soon!"

Sure enough, once everyone saw his display of strength, the gloom between their brows dissipated significantly, and they began to praise him one after another.

Li Qing worked hard to lift the stone, while Li Chuan stood by, occasionally offering guidance and pointing out errors in his form.

The others watched from a distance with smiles, all their worries cast to the back of their minds.

In this brief moment, the entire Li family seemed to have returned to how things used to be.

About an hour later, Li Qing set the stone down and looked at Li Chuan earnestly:

"A-Chuan, I've practiced enough. You should go back and rest early; you mustn't delay your Gate-Knocking because of me."

Li Chuan returned to his bright room.

The other rooms were dark; only his own had a lamp lit.

Lamp oil was expensive, so it couldn't be used carelessly.

"Whew."

Li Chuan blew out the oil lamp and sat quietly on the bed.

Once he heard the breathing of the others become steady, he climbed out of bed with light, cautious steps.

"Take a piece of black cloth for a mask, and bring the flint and tinder..."

Li Chuan repeatedly checked the items on his person, ensuring nothing was missing, before quietly stepping out of the room.

"Bang, bang, bang, bang!"

"It's cold and freezing, watch out for the chill!"

The night watchman struck the clapper four rapid, consecutive times, signifying that it was the fourth watch: the Hour of the Ox.

A bright moon hung high in the sky, casting moonlight that looked like salt.

Autumn cicadas chirped from high branches from time to time, and a cool breeze made the leaves rustle.

Li Chuan felt a cold, murderous intent in his heart.

A dark night with a high wind—it was the perfect night for killing!