People of Troubled Times

Du Chengfeng arrived in another world.

It had happened more than two months ago. On a dark and windy night, Du Chengfeng had been sleeping fitfully when he suddenly felt a chill over his body. He closed his eyes, then opened them again, only to discover that not only was he uncovered by any blanket, he was not wearing a single stitch of clothing.

After spending two hours observing his surroundings, he finally confirmed that he was not dreaming in his bedroom. Another seven hours later, he finally confirmed that he had not been thrown into some prank show, but had truly arrived in another world.

Du Chengfeng did not know exactly how to describe this unfamiliar world. The way people dressed was somewhat like ancient times, but asking him which specific dynasty it resembled was a little too demanding of his knowledge.

What differed from the ancient world he had imagined was that the environment here was unexpectedly barbaric.

For his first three days in this world, Du Chengfeng had lived in the woods. On the fourth day, when he encountered his first stranger, the man's rustic clothes and honest-looking face made him think he could at least ask for a set of clothes and forge a good connection. Once he had found somewhere to settle down and become familiar with the area, he could repay the man's kindness. That would make for quite a fine tale.

As for whether he could repay him, Du Chengfeng was quite confident. He had studied quite a bit, after all, and could surely find some way to make money. Even if his knowledge could not be turned into cash in this environment, he was at least strong and sturdy, with some strength to spare. He could work for others when the time came, and earning back a set of clothes should not be difficult.

Working for others might be hard, but as the old saying went, "Since you have come, make peace with it." Once he understood his situation, Du Chengfeng quickly accepted reality. After all, wherever one lived, one still had to live. To support himself with his own abilities and repay his benefactor was already a pretty good life in Du Chengfeng's eyes.

But who could have expected that, even after Du Chengfeng had made it clear that he was human and openly promised a generous repayment in the future, the man who looked like a hunter would still raise the club in his hand at him?

"Later? No need to wait for later. Sell you, trade the money for wine—wouldn't that be better than any repayment?"

Hearing those words from the hunter-like man, Du Chengfeng realized that reason would not work in this situation.

If words would not work, then he could only fight.

The long club came crashing down, fists and feet flew—yet after three punches and two kicks, it was the fierce-looking hunter-like man who lay on the ground.

As compensation for the emotional damage of nearly being robbed, the man's clothes naturally ended up in Du Chengfeng's hands. And once he finally had clothes to wear, Du Chengfeng realized why he had been able to win barehanded.

There was no other reason. The hunter-like man was simply far too weak.

When he had been dressed, the man had looked somewhat vicious. But after stripping off his clothes, Du Chengfeng discovered that the hunter's limbs were even skinnier than his own.

With that little strength, he still went into the woods to hunt? A dog could probably carry him off in its mouth.

Fortunately, Du Chengfeng was kindhearted after all. After thinking it over, he only took the man's trousers, straw sandals, and the club that could be used for self-defense. As for the upper garment and that broken bow which looked ready to snap at a pull, he left them behind for the hunter to defend himself with.

After all, this hunter-like man had at least brought him an important piece of information.

There were people living nearby.

If he followed the trail the man had left on his way here, he would most likely find a village or some other settlement. For Du Chengfeng, who had spent three days gnawing on mushrooms in the woods, this was undoubtedly the best news possible. As for what he would do after arriving there, he did not think too much about it. Compared to that hunter, he could at least be considered a strong laborer now. Great wealth and high status were surely too distant, but if he worked hard enough, he should still be able to earn himself a meal.

Besides, physical labor was not all he could offer. He had studied some books, after all. Thinking of those popular novels where protagonists returned to ancient times and soared to greatness by exploiting an information gap, Du Chengfeng could not help feeling a little more confident.

And things did indeed unfold as he expected. After two days, he found a nearby village, and the village called Yang Family Fort quickly took him in. He started as a short-term laborer, working for the farming households, but Du Chengfeng was strong, learned quickly, and was willing to take on the tiring, troublesome jobs everyone else disliked. In just a month, everyone in the already small Yang Family Fort knew that the village had gained a sturdy worker who was diligent and efficient.

Of course, Du Chengfeng did not go without difficulties during this time. The gun shoots the bird that sticks its head out; once he stood out, people were bound to come looking for trouble. Fortunately, the local customs in the countryside were exceedingly plain and honest, and people settled problems in a simple, direct way.

With fists. If someone did not like the look of you, they beat you until you no longer dared show your face.

When several young men first blocked him at the village entrance, Du Chengfeng had been somewhat confused. But after looking at their thin arms and thin legs, then looking at his own arms, which had grown even sturdier after a month of labor, he sighed.

It was the same familiar three punches and two kicks. The hooligans who had come to trouble him were soon all lying on the ground.

They all made their living in the same village, so Du Chengfeng did not want to be too ruthless. More importantly, he wanted to know why these people insisted on causing him trouble. Ever since entering the village, he had treated everyone kindly, been humble and polite, and worked steadily. He had never offended anyone. Yet someone still came to pick a fight with him? It made no sense at all.

"How have you not offended anyone? We're beating you because of that! Ever since you came, the few of us haven't had anything to eat! Isn't that your fault?"

After delivering two slaps, Du Chengfeng listened as the lead hooligan cried and spoke, and only then did he learn that these men had not come after him without reason.

Before he arrived, these hooligans had been the village's labor force. Whenever a household had physically demanding work and needed a few young, strong men to lend a hand, they would call them over, pay them a little money, or feed them a meal. But after the young men gathered together, they began setting a uniform price and raising their rates against the farmers. The farmers did not like it, but in a place with few oxen and horses, there were always times when they needed able-bodied men for labor, so they had no choice.

After Du Chengfeng arrived, he was content with a little food and willing to work hard. Naturally, everyone preferred hiring someone with a stronger build, and so he ruined the good business these young men had been enjoying.

"Ah, this..."

Having understood the whole story, Du Chengfeng was speechless.

So this counted as malicious competition. No wonder they had come looking for trouble.

Still, he had no intention of changing. For him right now, survival was the highest priority. Only by first gaining a foothold in Yang Family Fort could he have the spare energy to plan what to do next.

Du Chengfeng had not thought much about his future. Even with plenty of knowledge beyond this era, he did not think an ordinary person like him could rise to any great heights. A stable income, a peaceful home, and a contented life would already be more than enough in his eyes.

Of course, since he had been ganged up on, he still had to collect compensation for emotional damages. After a round of searching, Du Chengfeng had another dozen or so copper coins in his pocket.

Added to what he had saved before, he now had a little over a hundred coins. It was not much, but it brought him much closer to his goal. During this period of helping with odd jobs, he had become quite familiar with Carpenter Li in the village. Carpenter Li had told him that if Du Chengfeng was willing to pay five hundred coins, the kindhearted carpenter would provide a few rafters and help him build a house near the village entrance.

Having a place to live was the first step toward settling down and living in peace, so Du Chengfeng naturally would not refuse such kindness. Five hundred coins for a small courtyard meant he had accepted a great favor from Carpenter Li. Du Chengfeng was penniless right now, but once he got things going and had an income, he certainly would not forget this debt of gratitude.

And now, two months after arriving at Yang Family Fort, after working hard and enduring several high-end yet rustic business wars, Du Chengfeng finally had five hundred coins in hand. He went to Carpenter Li, and before long, his small courtyard had taken shape.

This was his first home in this world, and the first true shelter that had ever belonged to him in both his lives. Five hundred coins could not possibly build a fine house, but he believed that through hard work, persistence, and constant repairs and improvements, this place that belonged to him would only get better and better.

A journey of a thousand miles began beneath one's feet. At this time, Du Chengfeng's heart was still filled with boundless hopes for a better life.

But just as he knocked on Carpenter Li's door, preparing to discuss how to build a latrine, he suddenly heard a bleak horn call.

Then the kindhearted Carpenter Li hurriedly shoved open the door and rushed out.

It was the first time Du Chengfeng had seen Carpenter Li so flustered.

"What are you still standing here for? Hurry to the fort!"

Carpenter Li yanked hard on Du Chengfeng's arm, with astonishing strength.

"Someone in the fort has sounded the horn! They'll be ringing the bell any moment now! Those riders are coming to attack! Keep standing around like a fool, and you'll lose your life!"

"...Huh?"

The sheer amount of information packed into those brief words left Du Chengfeng stunned. In that moment, the first thing he thought of was his little courtyard, still barely built.

All he wanted was a peaceful home and an ordinary life. Was that really so difficult?

New author, new book. Please recommend and bookmark it. Thank you, everyone.