Income and Expenditure Balance

Gu Sheng set aside his lingering worries and focused on Chopping Wood.

Right now, he could barely protect himself. Though he was worried about Gu Erniu, there was nothing he could do.

After Chopping Wood reached the minor mastery stage,

just as Gu Sheng had expected, he could chop more than five hundred pieces of firewood a day!

When Gu Sheng accepted the five copper coins from Gu He, he could clearly sense the surprise in Gu He's eyes.

It was intense.

Gu Sheng knew what Gu He was thinking. The sharp increase in the amount of wood he had chopped lately would definitely draw attention.

But he did not care. Strictly speaking, this small change was nothing much.

Besides, he had already prepared an explanation.

Looking at the scrawny youth before him, Gu He could not tell whether it was merely his imagination, but he felt that compared to their first meeting, the young man seemed to have filled out a little.

He handed the settlement work to the young servant beside him, then brought Gu Sheng to the woodshed.

Stacks of chopped firewood had been neatly piled on the other side, making him nod to himself in approval.

"How do you usually chop wood? Show me."

Gu He had a suspicion in mind.

Gu Sheng did not waste words.

He skillfully stood a round log upright, raised the axe with both hands, turned sideways, planted his right foot, twisted his waist and abdomen, drove his strength through both arms, and brought the axe down viciously.

Crack!

Amid the crisp sound of splitting wood, the round log was cleanly cleaved in two.

The entire process was crisp and efficient, without a single unnecessary movement.

Gu He's eyes grew increasingly astonished. He had practiced martial arts when he was young. Though he was not a martial artist, his eye for such things was exceptional.

In his eyes, Gu Sheng could mobilize his entire body's strength to such a degree that a single axe strike was no weaker than that of an ordinary adult.

Only experienced woodcutters possessed such technique.

"Not inborn superhuman strength..."

Gu He murmured to himself before asking,

"Who taught you how to chop wood before?"

Gu Sheng first nodded, then shook his head.

"I watched others chop wood before, but I never tried it myself."

Gu He slowly nodded and praised him.

"You've got good comprehension. Work hard, and the main household's woodcutting work will be enough to support you in the future."

Perhaps seeing an orphaned youth regain his footing in this world through his own two hands brought Gu He some joy. His expression softened, and even his tone became a little gentler.

Gu Sheng nodded in acknowledgment and watched Gu He leave.

He had wanted to ask Gu He about Gu Erniu entering the mountains, but when the words reached his lips, he swallowed them back down.

It was not appropriate.

After leaving the main household,

Gu Sheng took the clay jar containing the ointment from home. After applying the final thin layer, the jar was completely empty.

Gu Sheng washed the jar thoroughly with water.

After thinking for a moment, he picked a few blades of wild grass and wove them together. Before long, a simple grass cricket appeared in his hand. Under the night sky, it looked remarkably real at first glance.

Gu Sheng smiled in satisfaction and headed toward Gu Erniu's home with the jar and the grass cricket.

Gu Erniu's household was clearly much better off than Gu Sheng's. The mud bricks outside their thatched house were much sturdier and had far fewer holes, while the house itself was more than twice as large.

"Sister-in-law Erniu, are you home?"

Gu Sheng stood outside the fence and asked softly.

"Is that A-Sheng?"

"It's me."

The door opened, and Li Lian cautiously looked outside. Seeing that it was Gu Sheng, she let out a breath and said reproachfully,

"What are you doing here so late, A-Sheng? You gave your sister-in-law quite a fright."

Gu Sheng smiled somewhat awkwardly.

"I was busy chopping wood during the day..."

"Sister-in-law, I came to return the jar from last time. And this little thing is for Xiao Wan."

He handed the two items over.

When Li Lian saw the grass cricket, she asked in surprise,

"A-Sheng, you can do this too?"

"I just figured it out myself when I had nothing to do."

"What a pity. If you were in the city, you could make a living with this skill. Xiao Wan is asleep, so I'll thank you for him. When he wakes up and sees this little thing, he'll definitely be overjoyed."

Li Lian accepted it with a smile, knowing it was Gu Sheng's kind intention. After they exchanged a few pleasantries, she suddenly sighed.

"Your Brother Erniu sent you, didn't he? That's just the kind of person he is. He's been in the mountains so long this time. Who knows when he'll return?"

It was clear

that Li Lian was also deeply worried about Gu Erniu going into the mountains. Usually, he would never be gone for this long.

Gu Sheng fell silent and could only comfort her.

"Don't worry, Sister-in-law. Martial artists from the manor went with them this time. There won't be any danger."

Li Lian sighed. "I hope so."

"It's getting late, A-Sheng. Go back and rest early. You still have to get up early to chop wood tomorrow. Your Brother Erniu really is..."

Gu Sheng nodded with a smile.

"Don't worry, Sister-in-law. I chop wood at the main household during the day. If you need help with anything, just come find me. I can handle this work now."

"Alright, alright. Go on home!"

Gu Sheng turned and went home.

Seeing that nothing was wrong on Li Lian's side, Gu Sheng immediately felt relieved.

After returning home, he silently calculated his savings.

"Over the past few days, I've been using about two catties of rice bran a day. What's left in the rice jar can last me around twelve more days. That should be enough to last until Chopping Wood reaches major mastery."

"As for the fifteen copper coins I've earned from chopping wood, I'll keep them for now. Once Chopping Wood reaches major mastery and I can balance income and expenses, I'll buy rice in the manor."

"From now on, I need to eat two catties of rice every day. Otherwise, I won't put on any flesh. Being this thin won't do."

Over the past few days, with a full stomach and the exercise from chopping wood, Gu Sheng felt that his body had grown much stronger.

This was a good start.

"It may be slow, but it's safe."

Gu Sheng did not become complacent just because he had awakened a panel. This world was dangerous. It was better to proceed steadily and take things slowly.

The beginning was always the hardest part.

Earning the first pot of gold was the most difficult.

Over the next few days,

Gu Sheng continued Chopping Wood. His life followed a simple routine: chopping wood at the main household, resting at home. It was very regular.

Every so often, he would also visit Gu Erniu's home to see whether there was any heavy work he could help with.

Gu Erniu had originally said he would be gone for no more than three to five days, yet he still had not returned by the fifth day.

Gu Sheng could see the anxiety and worry on Li Lian's face growing at a visible rate.

In this world, if the man of the household died, it was difficult for a widow and child to survive.

He could only comfort her like this—

No one from the manor who had entered the mountains had returned yet, which meant they had merely been delayed.

He comforted himself the same way.

Gu Erniu had not returned, but life had to go on.

Gu Sheng continued Chopping Wood to grind experience.

His daily progress was steady: as much as 14%, as little as 10%. Major mastery was drawing ever closer.

Gu Sheng could also feel his body becoming stronger and stronger, while his ability to exert force was approaching a higher realm.

On the eighth day after Gu Erniu entered the mountains,

the sun was nearly setting.

Gu Sheng was chopping wood in the main household's rear courtyard.

As usual, he borrowed force as he swung the axe, but this time, Gu Sheng clearly felt something different.

In an instant,

Gu Sheng felt all his strength gather together, transmitted through his legs, hips, waist, and arms without the slightest waste, completely concentrated on the axe blade.

Crack!

Thud!

The wood split cleanly in two without the slightest resistance. Not only that, the axe blade continued downward and sank deeply into the stump below!

That force far surpassed what he had possessed before. It was much stronger than that of an ordinary adult.

Gu Sheng was stunned.

Then delight surged onto his face. Opening the panel, he indeed saw a new change in the martial arts section.

Martial Arts: Chopping Wood (Major Mastery 0%)!

The corners of his mouth lifted, and he could not help but smile.

"Chopping Wood has reached major mastery. My woodcutting efficiency will at least double! I can finally balance my income and expenses—and might even have some left over!"

Gu Sheng felt that life was about to get better.