Li Chungang Tofu Shop

Lin Ke spent the entire afternoon working.

After clearing the weeds from the courtyard, he fetched some water from the well farther down the street and wiped away the dust inside the house.

Minister Qi, meanwhile, had left after announcing the contest topic.

But before leaving, he had doubled back while Lin Ke was babbling away and given him another kick. Only then did he pat his backside and stroll off, thoroughly refreshed.

He also reminded Lin Ke that his undercover identity here was a porter.

Once again, he warned him not to reveal his secret.

After cleaning the courtyard, Lin Ke sat on a stool by the entrance to rest for a while, then stood up again.

The first thing he needed to consider was-making a living!

If he starved to death in this obscure little courtyard before he even learned anything, that would be rotten luck.

The alley was neither very wide nor very long, but it had everything: entertainment houses, restaurants, storytelling tea shops, painting studios, butcher shops, and more.

He got up and walked out through the courtyard gate, but the instant one foot crossed the threshold, a crisp sound rang out in his mind.

"Ding!"

"Chaoyang First Street harbors crouching tigers and hidden dragons. A noble gentleman establishes his livelihood from the smallest beginnings. Please choose."

[Choice one]

Take the rope from Li Chungang's hands beside the well and hold on for three seconds, then explain to Li Chungang and his grandchild that you are looking for work.

Gain: Great Confucian Li Chungang's attention, with an opportunity to become his disciple later.

Give up: The si and wu hours every day for one year.

[Choice two]

Visit the Immortal Realm Painting Studio, view Wang Lin's paintings, and directly praise her work as an immortal realm of painting.

Gain: Painter Wang Lin's goodwill and the opportunity to become her disciple and learn painting.

Give up: The wei and shen hours every day for half a year.

[Choice three]

Visit the Tongfu Grand Restaurant, speak with the proprietor, and explain that you are looking for work.

Gain: Become the proprietor's disciple and receive support in the merchant's path.

Give up: The you and xu hours every day for half a year.

Here it was!

New choices!

Lin Ke narrowed his eyes, his mind racing.

Beyond the supposed gains and sacrifices, what was the most effective, most powerful feature of this Noble Gentleman Choice System?

Reconnaissance!

Like that earlier "attention of an unidentified being."

Without the system's notification, Lin Ke would probably have simply chopped the wood and remained none the wiser.

And the same was true now!

The Confucian Path, a painter, a merchant... Lin Ke carefully considered them.

Judging from the wording of these three choices, none of these people were likely to be weak.

The system had even told him the fields in which they were most proficient and most powerful.

But were these three the strongest people on Chaoyang Street?

Were they stronger than Old Man Qi?

There was no point overthinking it... He shook his head. He would find out eventually anyway.

But as Lin Ke reconsidered the gains and sacrifices of the three choices, he suddenly realized something.

It seemed...

These three choices didn't conflict either!

In other words... he could take every single gain and sacrifice!

Having finished considering his options, Lin Ke glanced around.

Though short, the alley was bustling, with all manner of hawkers' cries rising one after another.

"Pork, pork! The freshest pork!"

"The latest painting by Great Wei's foremost talented lady is out! Come and see it, quick! This one has a story, too!"

"Hey, handsome, come have some fun~"

The various calls echoed back and forth. Anyone who didn't know better might have thought this was a commercial street in the heart of the capital!

Yet it was merely a little alley covered in muddy black sludge, its stench rising to the heavens.

Lin Ke couldn't imagine anyone other than people of servile status coming to browse in an alley that resembled a slum.

As he observed his surroundings, he searched for the targets of his choices.

They were easy to find.

The Li Chungang Tofu Shop, the Immortal Realm Painting Studio, and the Tongfu Grand Restaurant.

Lin Ke quickly located these places, then fixed his attention on one person.

To the left of the courtyard gate, a white-haired old man stood bare-chested beside the well, tugging on a rope with some difficulty.

The old man was powerfully built, and the muscles on his back heaved with every exertion.

He was the only person drawing water beside the well. No one else was there.

Was this Li Chungang?

Lin Ke's eyes brightened, and he strode toward Li Chungang as the old man drew water.

"Let me help you, sir." Drawing close, Lin Ke looked at the taut rope and spoke softly.

He acted just like a spirited young man who respected the elderly and cared for the young.

An actor, after all, excelled at acting.

Of course, Lin Ke believed he really was a young man who respected the elderly and cared for the young.

"Hmm? Hahaha, no need. These old bones still have some life in them." Li Chungang glanced at Lin Ke, a trace of amusement in his eyes.

Then he turned back and continued pulling with his arms on the taut rope extending into the well.

"Don't strain your back, sir." Smiling, Lin Ke didn't stop just because Li Chungang had refused. As he answered, he reached for the rope. "Let me help you."

"Haha!" Li Chungang grinned and handed him the rope, asking with a smile, "Can you manage it, lad?"

"Don't worry. I've got plenty of strength."

As Lin Ke spoke, he took the rope and peered into the well.

It was pitch-black inside.

First, he caught the end of the rope and wound it once around his hand.

But the moment Li Chungang let go, Lin Ke felt an immense tug through the rope, and his entire body pitched toward the mouth of the well.

Smack!

In an instant, someone slapped his shoulder, and the wooden bucket running wild at the end of his rope stopped.

He turned to look. It was Li Chungang who had helped him.

Seeing Li Chungang's smile, Lin Ke paid no mind to his own predicament; his eyes gleamed.

Just as he'd thought!

This really was an expert!

He turned back to look at the rope stretched taut over the well's mouth.

He knew the system had said he only needed to hold on for three seconds.

So he began exerting his arms and waist, straining to withstand the pull.

He also began counting silently: One, two...

Suddenly, just as Lin Ke stopped exerting himself, he felt as though something heavy had struck his waist, knocking him sideways.

The blow sent Lin Ke toppling to the side, and the rope flew out of his hands.

Fortunately, the three seconds were already up!

The first thing he did after falling was turn to look at Li Chungang. Only then did he notice a man standing beside the old man, his face covered in gray dust, a sweat towel tied around his head, and plain cloth clothes on his body.

Minister Qi!

Only he was in disguise, which made him...

The porter "Qi Dayan."

Minister Qi merely waved his hand, and the end of the rope that had already been dragged into the well reappeared in Li Chungang's hands.

"Hiss..." Only then did Lin Ke feel waves of pain coming from his hands.

It hadn't hurt much while the rope was digging into them, but once he let go, the pain hit, making both his arms tremble slightly.

"Not bad, haha." Li Chungang turned to look at Lin Ke's trembling arms and patted his shoulder. With a hearty laugh and a shake of his head, he looked back into the well.

Minister Qi spoke, sounding exasperated. "You little brat, if you don't fucking want your arms anymore, just say so. I'll take them off for you myself."

"Haha, Dayan, it's a good thing for a young man to have drive and a heart willing to help others!" Li Chungang chimed in with a laugh.

"It does hurt a little." Lin Ke stood up and rubbed his hands together, looking at Li Chungang as he said, "Carry on, sir. I still have something to do."

Then he looked at Minister Qi with a wry laugh. "Uncle Qi, hadn't you left?"

If he hadn't held on for three seconds just now, did that mean he wouldn't have been able to become a disciple, according to the system?

With Minister Qi here, how was he supposed to take a master?

Minister Qi's eyes widened, and he shouted, "If I hadn't come back, your arms would've been dragged into that well! What Li Chungang was drawing just now wasn't ordinary water!"

Lin Ke felt rather helpless. He truly hadn't expected Minister Qi to return after leaving.

Nor had he expected the first choice to be so dangerous. "I get it. I just wanted to help an old man!"

"Help an old man?" Minister Qi seemed even angrier at that. "You'd better help yourself first! Hah!"

As he spoke, he muttered a few more words in exasperation:

"Forget it. I don't know how you managed it, brat, but you even blundered straight into this Blood-Handed Butcher. Honestly..."