Getting His Bearings in the Sui Dynasty

While Zhang Sheng rested, time slipped by unnoticed, and the sky outside gradually darkened.

"I really do feel much better. I'm not half-dead like I was this morning. People can't do without food, after all! Food is the people's heaven, and that's certainly true."

After Zhang Sheng woke from his nap, his complexion had indeed changed. A little color had returned to his face.

At least he no longer looked quite so pale, and even his strength was gradually returning.

But as night fell, Zhang Sheng's stomach seemed to be hungry again.

Although he was still young and didn't eat much, he'd only had a little porridge that morning. How could that have kept him full for so long?

Just as Zhang Sheng was absentmindedly thinking about various things, a figure walked in from outside.

"Eldest Son of the Zhang Family! Have you rested well? Are you still feeling unwell anywhere? You must tell Uncle Dashan right away. Don't try to tough it out, all right?"

The sudden words interrupted Zhang Sheng's wandering thoughts. Seeing that it was Uncle Dashan, whom he'd met that morning, he immediately knew that Dashan had come to bring him food.

"Oh! It's you, Uncle Dashan! I'm fine now. My illness is all gone, and I have much more strength than I did this morning."

"That's good! Come and see the tasty food your auntie made for you. She wanted you to build up your strength so you don't fall ill again!"

Looking at the honest man before him, Zhang Sheng felt his eyes grow a little moist. Whether in modern urban society in his first life or after his second transmigration to the Douluo Continent,

he could be said to have experienced more than his share of human warmth and coldness. Perhaps only from his own parents could he have experienced such a heartwarming thing.

Yet, as it happened, Zhang Sheng had never felt a parent's love, even though he had lived two lives and was now in his third.

Just as the saying went, few transmigrators weren't all alone in the world. It was standard equipment for a protagonist (how sad; he didn't feel like a protagonist).

When Zhang Sheng saw the meal on the table, he was even more moved. There was a full bowl of white rice and two dishes,

as well as a bowl of chicken soup. Given the current circumstances, it was quite a feast.

After all, from what he'd observed, this was definitely no prosperous place. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been so sparsely populated, and the houses wouldn't have been primitive thatched huts.

"Eldest Son of the Zhang Family! Eat up! Your auntie made this especially for you. She wouldn't even let me have a bite, hehe!"

"Uncle Dashan! Please thank Auntie for me. I'll visit her in person another day, and in the future, I'll repay you both tenfold, a hundredfold."

"Listen to you, being so polite with your Uncle Dashan. I know you'll surely make something of yourself someday.

"Your job now is to put your mind at ease and get well. Your auntie and I can still afford to feed you."

Hearing Uncle Dashan's sincere words, Zhang Sheng didn't know whether Dashan had really taken his promise of repayment to heart.

Perhaps he really was hungry, but Zhang Sheng had never enjoyed a meal so much, not even when he'd begged on the streets shortly after arriving on the Douluo Continent.

Uncle Dashan watched Zhang Sheng wolf down his food, the smile never leaving his face. He was happier than if he'd been eating delicacies from the mountains and seas himself.

"Buuurp...! I'm so full! Auntie is a wonderful cook!"

"As long as you enjoyed it! Uncle Dashan will bring you more tomorrow!"

"Thank you, Uncle Dashan! Oh, right! Do you have time now, Uncle Dashan?"

Now that he'd eaten his fill, Zhang Sheng was eager to learn about his own situation. Otherwise, he was completely in the dark, which was unsettling.

"Of course I do. Is there something you need Uncle Dashan's help with? Just say the word. As long as I can do it, I won't refuse."

As Uncle Dashan spoke, he patted his chest, looking full of heroic spirit.

"Ahem!"

Uncle Dashan had left Zhang Sheng a little taken aback. He only wanted to find out where he was,

and whether he was still in the Douluo World he knew. Judging by Uncle Dashan's and the physician's clothes, he wasn't entirely sure, but he had his doubts.

"Uncle Dashan! I just wanted to chat with you and hear some stories."

When Uncle Dashan heard that he wanted a story, he immediately thought he understood. After all, his own little rascal often asked him for stories to lull him to sleep.

"Stories, huh? That's something I'm good at. Your little brother Huzi loves hearing my stories."

Uncle Dashan was brimming with confidence as he spoke, and he immediately prepared to begin.

"Back in my day..."

"No, Uncle Dashan, wait a moment."

"What is it? You don't like that one? I'll switch to another."

"No, I just wanted to ask you about what it's like outside."

"What it's like outside? Oh... you want to know about the city, right?"

Seeing that Uncle Dashan understood, Zhang Sheng hurriedly nodded.

"Yes, Uncle Dashan! You know I've never seen what it's like outside, so I'm a little curious.

"But I'm still young, and I don't dare go out alone, so I can only listen to you and learn a little about it."

"Eldest Son of the Zhang Family! You're right to think that way. Although it's peaceful outside now, there are still plenty of bad people,

"especially for a child like you with no parents at your side. You could easily be tricked into going with someone.

"So you must never run off alone. If you really want to go out, you have to ask Uncle Dashan to go with you, all right?"

"I understand!"

"That's a good boy. Since you're curious about the world outside, I'll tell you about it, so you don't go sneaking off on your own.

"Uncle Dashan doesn't know much about other places either. After all, I've never gone out to make my way in the world.

"I've lived in this little mountain village for twenty or thirty years. The farthest I've been is Heshui County, a little over thirty li from here."

"Heshui County?"

"Mm! Yes, Heshui County. It's a small county town under Luoyang City."

"What? Luoyang City! Is it that Luoyang City?"

When he heard the words "Luoyang City," Zhang Sheng sprang to his feet in excitement, nearly overturning the only little dining table.

It was no wonder Zhang Sheng was so excited. After all, anyone familiar with geography or history knew what Luoyang City represented.

It was immensely famous, and as a true son of Huaxia, he knew something about it.

"Eldest Son of the Zhang Family! What's wrong? Is there something wrong with Luoyang City?"

"No... nothing's wrong. I just thought the city's name sounded rather grand, so I got a little excited."

"Grand? I suppose it's all right. I just think it sounds pleasant, nothing more! You're making a fuss over nothing."

Zhang Sheng didn't argue with Uncle Dashan about it. All he wanted now was to find out whether he had returned to ancient times in his old world.

After all, judging by Uncle Dashan's and the others' clothing, this didn't look like modern society.

"Uncle Dashan! Do you know who the current emperor is?"

"Who the current emperor is? I do happen to know that. Something major happened a little while ago: the old emperor died,

"and the new emperor only recently took the throne. What was his name again? I think his surname was Yang, and his name was Yang something-guang."

"Was it Yang Guang?"

"Probably! I only found out from reading the public notice."

"It really is Yang Guang! Did I transmigrate to the Sui Dynasty, just after Yang Guang took the throne? It's still the Kaihuang era now.

"Next year it'll be changed to the first year of Daye. After that comes a whole series of bizarre moves that plunge the realm into chaos and set weapons clashing everywhere."

When Zhang Sheng confirmed that he had returned to the ancient Sui Dynasty, he was completely numb. This was no good time to be alive!

Things might be fine now, but within a few years, chaos would gradually spread, and lives would be as worthless as grass.

By the time the Great Tang was established, the population had been cut in half. Just how many people had to die for that to happen?

In any case, the more Zhang Sheng thought about it, the heavier his heart became, and his face grew a little pale.

Uncle Dashan, who was beside him, noticed that something was wrong with Zhang Sheng and hurriedly asked,

"Eldest Son of the Zhang Family! What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell again? Why don't you rest for a while? Once you're better, Uncle Dashan can tell you more about the outside world."

"Uncle Dashan! I'm fine. Maybe I just haven't fully recovered yet. I'll be all right after a little more rest."

Zhang Sheng was touched by Uncle Dashan's concern, but his thoughts were still in a bit of a mess, so his tone was somewhat stiff as he spoke.