Ate a bowl of grass.
Chu Ning did not return to the bed to lie down, but sat by the door and began to think.
From the original host's memories, he knew that the dynasty he was in was called the Liang Dynasty.
The Liang Dynasty was not one where all were inferior except for scholars, but a dynasty where martial artists were held in high esteem.
Martial Artists could hold official positions within the government, the higher their strength, the higher their office.
In a world where martial force ruled, scholarly knowledge and understanding weren't that important.
If reason failed to persuade, then it was time to resort to physics.
It was rumored that the founding emperor of the Liang Dynasty could reverse the flow of rivers with a single palm strike, comparable to an immortal.
In the original host's memories, he only knew that the realms of martial artists were Martial Apprentices, martial masters, and beyond those he knew nothing.
"It seems that only through martial arts can one truly stand out."
Chu Ning understood that in such a world where martial artists were revered, even if he relied on knowledge from the modern world, it would be difficult to become wealthy through business.
Without the protection of martial force, wealth was hard to keep.
To practice martial arts, one needed martial arts manuals, but in the Great Liang Dynasty, these were controlled by the court and various martial artists and sects.
If common folk wanted to apprentice under a martial artist, the apprenticeship fees alone would cost dozens of taels, and even then, they would have to serve for several years before being allowed to begin their training.
Sects were too far away from Daning County; it was said that even the nearest martial arts sect was hundreds of miles away in the prefecture city.
The only way out for the poor was to enter the official school of the government, where martial training was free.
Chu Ning's father had come out of such a school, but martial artists who graduate from these institutions were not allowed to pass on their martial arts to their descendants, as these techniques were the property of the dynasty. Unauthorized teaching was considered a grave crime.
Although the school did not require tuition fees or a master, there were strict requirements: one must be able to lift a 200-pound stone lock above their head before the age of seventeen.
"So it's similar to public and private schools, private ones have no requirements but need money, while public ones have eligibility requirements."
Chu Ning murmured to himself. So far, the original host could only lift a forty-pound stone lock at most, and it was impossible to increase that strength to two hundred pounds within two years.
His gaze fell on several stone locks in the yard, and Chu Ning walked over to them. These were made by his father before he passed away; five years ago, he had been able to lift a thirty-pound stone lock.
The reason why his strength hadn't increased much in the past five years was quite simple: there wasn't enough nutrition.
In fact, this was also why it was difficult for common poor families in this world to produce martial artists; which poor family could afford meat at every meal? Without nutrition, there's no strength.
"Actually, forty pounds is not weak."
Compared to himself in his previous life, who had started by being able to carry a woman and ended up choosing to just lie down, the original host's strength was not small at all.
Chu Ning walked over to the stone lock, grabbed the handle of the thirty-pound version, and with some effort, he lifted it up.
"Damn, that was easy. That's not right."
Without further thought, Chu Ning tried the forty-pound and sixty-pound stone locks as well, lifting them with ease.
Something was amiss.
The original host's body didn't have that much strength.
Chu Ning switched stone locks and finally stopped at the ninety-pound one.
He could lift ninety pounds, but he couldn't hold it for five seconds.
"And that's because I haven't eaten my fill. If I had, lifting a hundred-pound stone lock wouldn't be impossible."
Chu Ning's eyes shone as he whispered softly, "System?"
There was no response.
"System binding in progress…"
"System loading 10%"
"System loading 20%…"
"System loading 99%…"
"Well, system loading failed."
Three minutes later, Chu Ning gave up talking to himself; he didn't have a system.
"Could it be because of the physical changes brought by my soul transmigration?"
While Chu Ning was deep in thought, the old auntie walked in with an empty bamboo basket, looking dejected.
Yesterday, young Ning wanted to eat something different, so she had gone out searching but couldn't find any other grass.
Seeing Chu Ning squatting in front of the stone lock, the old auntie asked curiously, "Little Ning, what are you doing?"
"Old Auntie, I can lift an eighty-pound boulder now," Chu Ning replied as he lifted the eighty-pound boulder before the old woman's astonished gaze.
Crack!
The bamboo basket fell from the old woman's hands. She stood still for a few seconds before excitedly approaching Chu Ning.
"Little Ning, come into the house with me."
...
...
In the cramped house, Chu Ning knelt in front of his adoptive father's spirit tablet.
The old woman was saying a whole bunch of things, mostly about how the original host's father must be watching over him from the afterlife and how the ancestors had shown their spirit.
Chu Ning caught a key point.
His deceased adoptive father was a martial master according to the Liang Dynasty's policies, his descendants could attend the official school, and after staying for six months, they could seek an arrest officer position in the county government office.
It was somewhat similar to modern relatives of employees getting priority for employment.
But thinking of his strength, he worried the old woman might not remember the numbers clearly and reminded her, "Old Auntie, the requirement to enter the school is two hundred pounds of strength; at most, I only have a hundred pounds. That's not nearly enough."
The old woman did not respond but walked over to a wooden chest beside the bed, rummaged through it, and found a set of clothes for Chu Ning to wear. He did as told and realized that the clothes were very loose; there was quite a gap between his arms and the cuffs.
This reminded him of when he was little and would stealthily wear adults' clothes; the garment was clearly not intended for the original host but for his father.
The old woman rolled up the sleeves and hem for Chu Ning, then cinched the waist tighter before looking at him and murmuring, "Our little Ning is an adult now."
...
...
Following the old auntie out the door, Chu Ning asked several times before finally learning whom the old lady was taking him to meet.
The arrest officer, Huang Zhongtai of Daning County, used to be a colleague of his father.
This was to request a recommendation letter for academic entry from Officer Huang.
The standard for school enrollment was a strength of two hundred jin and the applicant had to be under seventeen years old. Age was something that couldn't be falsified, but there was much room for manipulation when it came to strength.
Just like those key secondary schools in his previous life, one needed to reach a certain score to gain entry, but with money, one could also sponsor their way in.
Chu Ning had no money; thus, he could only rely on influence.
However, standing in front of the Huang family's grand mansion, Chu Ning was curious, how could there be such a big disparity even though they were both arrest officers?
It was like colleagues from the same company where one rented a house in the city to live, while another resided in a luxurious villa with a big garden and private swimming pool.
In the backyard of the Huang family's mansion.
Huang Zhongtai was catching fish in the pond, listening to his butler's report, falling into contemplation.
The wife of his former colleague, Chu Ping, had brought Chu Ping's son for a visit?
Who was Chu Ping?
After pondering for a while, he then remembered who Chu Ping was.
A constable from five years ago, who had drowned shortly after his promotion; he had had no private friendship with this Chu Ping.
"They come at this time, bringing along the son of Chu Ping..."
Huang Zhongtai's fingers ran over the armrest of his chair, quickly guessing the intentions of the old woman and the young boy.
The day for the school enrollment was approaching; they wanted a recommendation letter from him to enter the martial arts school. If they could stay for six months, they'd be eligible for a position in the government office.
This son of Chu Ping obviously lacked the necessary strength, or else they wouldn't have come seeking his help.
But to use connections for the Chu family, to whom he had no particular ties, was somewhat unworthy.
"Tell them I'm feeling unwell today and it's inconvenient for me to meet guests. Please ask them to return another time," said Huang Zhongtai, having made his decision, prompting his butler to turn to leave.
Just then, the float in the pond sank, Huang Zhongtai's eyes lit up, and with a flick of his right hand, a red carp was lifted out of the water.
"A carp, unexpectedly..."
There was a flash of surprise in Huang Zhongtai's eyes as he shouted to his butler, who had almost left the backyard, "Go to the gate and see what that Chu family kid is doing right now. Remember his expression and behavior, then come back and report to me quickly."
The butler hurried off and returned in less than three minutes.
"Master, the Chu family's child stands in front of the door, with a straight posture and a calm expression, showing neither anger nor nervousness."
At the age of fifteen, having followed his elder and been left outside a door for more than a moment, he still managed to maintain a calm expression, without the fury of feeling humiliated. Whether adept at hiding his emotions or truly patient, this temperament far exceeded his peers.
Huang Zhongtai rose from his chair and walked back to his study, where he wrote a note.
"Give them this and tell them I am under the weather and it's inconvenient to see visitors, but that I am aware of their intentions. They may take this note to see Master Liu at the school," he instructed.
"Yes, master."
The butler took the note, but his pupils contracted slightly upon seeing the words written on it.
Huang Zhongtai noticed his butler's surprised look and advised, "If you help, do it wholeheartedly."
"Don't worry, master. I understand what to say," the butler assured, grasping the intent of his employer.
At the gate of the Huang family estate.
The old woman was holding onto Chu Ning's hand, and Chu Ning could feel her anxiety, which was far from the calmness she showed on the surface.
He had a hunch that Officer Huang's camaraderie with his father was not deep.
Otherwise, the old auntie wouldn't have sought help at this time.
Just as Chu Ning was considering that the other party might not be willing to help, the gate of the Huang residence slowly opened.
A middle-aged man, dressed like a butler, came out quickly.
"Old Madam, I'm so sorry to hear that you and Young Master Chu are visiting. I was eager to personally greet you; however, the master has recently been unwell, and the doctor has strictly advised against leaving his bed," explained the butler earnestly as soon as he opened the door, and then he continued, "The master is already aware of your purpose and is thrilled to hear that your young man has martial arts potential. The master was quite moved, repeatedly saying that a tiger father does not have a dog son. He believes Brother Chu would be comforted in the afterlife and specifically instructed me to give this to Madame Chu."
Hearing the butler's words, the old auntie took the note, and upon reading it, was visibly excited. Chu Ning inwardly remarked that surely, those with money and power were smart, no matter the era.
Look how subtly those words were spoken; those not in the know would think this Officer Huang and his own father had a profound friendship before his father's passing.
And it wasn't just sweet talk; the job was done handsomely as well.
Chu Ning had just glimpsed the handwriting on the note.
"Young Ning is the son of my good friend, and now he shows promise in martial arts. I hope Brother Liu will take good care of him. Your grateful brother, Zhongtai."
After repeatedly bowing in thanks with the old auntie, they left, and when they got home, the old woman told Chu Ning to lie down and rest. He truly didn't have the strength left.
Just a bowl of grass's worth of energy had been exhausted by the trip.
Watching the old woman bend down to search under the stove for a while before coming out of the house with a small object wrapped in red paper, Chu Ning felt a touch of emotion. The old lady had only eaten half a bowl of grass, and he wondered where she found the energy to still be up and about.
Chu Ning, who had drifted off into a drowsy sleep, was roused by the aroma of rice.
When he opened his eyes, a bowl of fragrant rice was on the table, while the old auntie licked the rice crust from the spatula at the stove.
Where did the rice come from?
Instantly, Chu Ning understood that the old auntie must have pawned off the last of her jewelry.
"Little Ning, you're awake. Come eat." The old auntie heard movement behind her, put down the spatula, "I saw you sleeping soundly, so I ate without waking you."
"Okay."
Chu Ning did not uncover the truth; he sat at the table, picked up the bowl and chopsticks, and devoured the fragrant white rice mixed with a few salt-fried grasses, swallowing down each mouthful of rice and grass in turn.
...
...
PS: My dear readers, we meet again. The new book begins its journey!