Chapter 2: The Village
Han Li wandered the forest for hours, his mind racing. The gods' words echoed in his head. What kind of gift could he possibly have? In his old life, he had been painfully average—no skills, no achievements, no future.
As the sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, Han Li spotted smoke rising in the distance. His stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten in what felt like forever.
Following the smoke, he found a small village nestled in a clearing. The houses were simple, built from wood and stone, but there was a warmth to the place that made Han Li's chest ache with longing. Children played in the dirt paths, while adults bustled about, carrying baskets of fruit or tending to livestock.
Han Li approached cautiously, unsure of how he would be received. His clothes were strange—a simple shirt and pants from his old world—and he had nothing to offer. But to his surprise, the villagers welcomed him with curious but kind smiles.
The village elder, an old man with a long beard and a walking stick, approached him. "You look like you've traveled far, young man. What brings you to our humble village?"
Han Li hesitated. "I… I'm looking for work," he said finally. It wasn't a lie—he had no idea how else he was supposed to survive.
The elder stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Hmm. Our innkeeper has been complaining about needing help in the kitchen. Perhaps you could start there."
"Kitchen?" Han Li echoed. He wasn't much of a cook, but he didn't have the luxury of being picky.
The elder led him to the inn, a cozy two-story building with a thatched roof. The innkeeper, a stout woman named Auntie Mei, sized Han Li up with a skeptical eye. "You don't look like you've done a day of honest work in your life," she said bluntly.
Han Li flushed. "I'll work hard, I promise."
She snorted. "We'll see. You'll start with chopping vegetables and cleaning. Don't mess up, or you're out."
The next morning, Han Li reported to the kitchen. It was chaos—pots clanging, steam rising, and Auntie Mei barking orders. Han Li felt completely out of his depth, but as he picked up a knife and started chopping vegetables, something strange happened.
His hands moved with a fluidity he didn't understand, slicing the vegetables with precision. It felt natural, like his body knew what to do even if his mind didn't. Auntie Mei noticed and raised an eyebrow.
"Not bad for a beginner," she muttered.