Zhao Hao opened his eyes to an unfamiliar sky. A hazy gray expanse loomed above, with wisps of smoke curling gently into the air. The scent of burning firewood and damp earth filled his nostrils. He tried to sit up, only to be met with a wave of soreness—every bone in his body felt as if it had been shattered and pieced back together.
"Where… am I?" he muttered, startled by the hoarseness of his own voice.
Surrounding him was a rustic townscape. The uneven stone-paved road stretched ahead, flanked by low, mud-brick houses with thick thatched roofs. A few villagers in coarse linen tunics walked past, casting him curious yet wary glances. Their attire seemed as though it had come straight out of a historical drama—rough fabric garments, straw ropes tied around their waists, and woven sandals on their feet.
Zhao Hao glanced down at himself. He was still wearing his bright orange reflective vest from the construction site, and in his hand was a wrench, caked with mud. Moments ago, he had been directing a crane at the site when a sudden dizziness overtook him. The world spun, a deafening roar filled his ears, and then—nothing.
"Did I… just time-travel?" The thought was so absurd that he almost laughed. But everything before him felt undeniably real—the lingering scent of smoke, the distant crowing of roosters and barking of dogs. This was not the modern world he knew.
Staggering to his feet, he dusted off his clothes and tried to make sense of the situation. As a civil engineer, he was used to solving problems with logic and reason, but nothing in his experience had prepared him for this.
"Hey, young man! Where are you from?"
A raspy voice interrupted his thoughts.
Zhao Hao turned to see an elderly man leaning on a wooden cane, scrutinizing him with narrowed eyes. The man's faded blue robe hung loosely over his frail frame, his face weathered with deep wrinkles, but his gaze remained sharp and shrewd.
"I… I'm from out of town," Zhao Hao hesitated, deciding to keep his true circumstances to himself for now.
"Out of town?" The old man frowned. "Judging by your clothes, you certainly don't belong here."
Zhao Hao looked down at his fluorescent vest and let out a wry chuckle. "Yeah… I guess I do stand out."
The old man studied him for a moment before sighing. "Times are hard. Everyone has their own troubles. If you have nowhere to go, you can rest at my place for a bit."
A wave of gratitude surged through Zhao Hao. He quickly expressed his thanks and followed the old man into a simple mud-brick house. The interior was sparse—a wooden table, a few bamboo chairs, and a stack of farming tools in the corner. The old man poured him a bowl of warm water, and as Zhao Hao grasped the rough ceramic edge, an odd sense of unreality washed over him.
"Sir, where exactly is this place?" Zhao Hao asked cautiously.
"This is Qingyang City, under the rule of the Liang Dynasty," the old man replied slowly, eyeing him with curiosity. "Judging by your appearance, you must have traveled quite a distance."
Zhao Hao nodded, mentally noting the unfamiliar names. He had never come across "Qingyang City" or the "Liang Dynasty" in any history book. Could this be an alternate timeline? A parallel world?
"What's been happening in Qingyang City recently?" Zhao Hao continued, trying to gather more information.
The old man sighed. "Nothing major, but a heavy rain a few days ago flooded many homes because the city's drainage ditches are blocked. The officials haven't addressed it, so we common folk have to fend for ourselves."
Zhao Hao's mind immediately clicked into problem-solving mode. As a civil engineer, drainage systems were his specialty. If he could fix this issue, perhaps he could secure a foothold in this world.
"Sir, I have some experience with drainage systems. I might be able to help," he said earnestly.
Surprise flickered in the old man's eyes. "You know about this kind of thing?"
Zhao Hao nodded. "I've studied it for years."
The old man fell silent for a moment, then abruptly stood up. "Alright. I'll take you to see the village chief. If you can truly solve this, it would be a great help to us all."
Following the old man out of the house, Zhao Hao felt a mix of nerves and excitement. This was his first step in this strange new world. No matter what challenges lay ahead, he had to face them head-on.
On the street, children laughed and played, their carefree voices echoing through the alleyways. Zhao Hao watched them, a newfound sense of responsibility stirring within him. Perhaps, just perhaps, his arrival here could make a difference.
— End of Chapter 1 —