In the summer, as the sun sets and the evening glow fills the sky, a wedding just concluded in Chenjia Village. Guests, having feasted, gradually disperse, leaving behind echoes of laughter in the small village.
Chen Yuan follows his parents, dressed in a coarse linen short coat, carrying a bulging cloth bag in his right hand while holding his ten-year-old sister's hand with his left as they head home. The dim sunlight casts long shadows behind them.
"Chen Dahua has really gained face today; his daughter-in-law is so beautiful…" His parents comment with a hint of envy about the wedding. His sister excitedly chimes in, marveling at the festivities and the lavish banquet.
Despite not following all traditional wedding customs due to their poverty, this simple wedding is one of the most significant events in Chenjia Village aside from festivals, drawing nearly half of the village's families.
Chen Yuan smiles as he listens to his sister's enthusiastic chatter, gently reminding her to avoid potholes and stones on the dirt road.
"Second brother, the braised pork was so delicious! I want more… Second brother, did you eat that white cake? It was so sweet… Second brother, I didn't know chicken could be eaten; isn't chicken just for laying eggs?" His sister bombards him with questions, causing Chen Yuan's smile to fade.
Looking down at his frail sister, he softly replies, "Little sister, whatever you want to eat in the future, your second brother will buy it for you."
"Really? Then I want to eat chicken! No wait, chickens lay eggs for money; let's have braised pork instead. And that white cake was sweeter than sugar…"
Her voice grows increasingly cheerful while Chen Yuan falls silent.
"Wild girl, just you wait; you want everything expensive!" Chen Tiezhu scolds from behind.
"Enough! The child finally got to enjoy a feast; can't she talk about it?" Chen Lishi pushes him lightly.
Tiezhu glares at his wife but turns away without saying more. The little girl pouts and looks down at her shadow.
Chen Yuan grips her hand tighter as they approach a small courtyard with two thatched cottages enclosed by a thorny fence. A rickety wooden door sways slightly as Tiezhu unfastens it, leading the family into the larger cottage. Chen Yuan places the cloth bag on a rough wooden table inside.
The room is dimly lit with only a small window covered in yellowed paper. On the table sits a small candlestick with a half-burned candle.
From a cabinet missing half a door, Chen Lishi retrieves a chipped clay bowl and takes out five heavy coarse flatbreads from the bag, pouring some crumbs into it. These flatbreads are leftovers from the feast distributed among neighbors; Chen's family received five.
Lishi looks at Chen Yuan and then puts down the bowl to hand him one flatbread: "Er Niu, you eat a lot; didn't fill up at the feast? Have another flatbread."
"Thank you, mother," he replies as he accepts it.
"Why are you being polite? Don't act like those bookish kids who know how to talk…" Lishi scolds him lightly but smiles broadly, her eyes crinkling with wrinkles.
Tiezhu chuckles: "Don't say that; Er Niu is mature for his age; he'll surely succeed in life."
He sits down at the table with a long smoking pipe and takes a deep drag before exhaling slowly with satisfaction.
Chen Yuan smiles again but puts the flatbread back into the cloth bag.
Lishi frowns: "Saving it for later?"
"I'm not hungry yet; I'll eat before bed. Otherwise, I'll wake up starving in the middle of the night," he explains.
"Alright then, go chop some firewood," she instructs.
"Okay, I'll do it now," he replies and heads into another thatched cottage.
This smaller cottage has limited space; on one side lies a dirt bed covered with a patchy straw mat while various farming tools clutter the other side.
Chen Yuan glances outside and carefully loosens his clothes. An astonishing sight occurs: his stomach unnaturally sinks inward revealing four flatbreads hidden within—yet externally he appears unchanged.
He retrieves the four flatbreads and places them into his cloth bag before restoring his stomach's appearance to normal and re-dressing himself.
He lifts a corner of the straw mat and covers the bag before grabbing an axe from among the tools and stepping outside.
From a pile of firewood in the corner of the yard, he picks up a small stack of wood and sets up a thick log upright before swinging his axe down decisively.
Crack!
His arm muscles bulge as he cleaves through each piece of wood effortlessly.
Crack!
Another swing breaks another log apart.
Crack! Crack!
With each swing of his four-pound iron axe, he splits wood after wood without breaking a sweat.
His little sister grows bored inside and comes out to watch him chop wood, clapping her hands: "Second brother is so strong; that's amazing…"
After an hour of chopping wood, he stacks it neatly beside the stove.
By now, night has fallen completely. After feeding the chickens and telling Lishi he's done for now, he takes his sister back to their small cottage to sleep.
After playing all day long, she quickly tires out. Chen Yuan tells her a story about "Wu Song Fighting The Tiger," soothing her until she drifts off to sleep.
However, Chen Yuan finds himself wide awake as he listens quietly to Tiezhu and Lishi chatting in another room.
As night deepens and moonlight rises slowly overhead casting soft light through their window onto their straw mat,
finally Tiezhu's snoring fills the air leaving only the sounds of chirping insects and his sister's gentle breathing beside him.
Quietly rising from bed without making noise, he tiptoes over to a corner where he retrieves a piece of yellow clay from behind the wall revealing a narrow hole hidden within it.
From inside this hole emerges a coarse cloth bag which he carefully opens outside under the moonlight after checking that no one is around.
Underneath countless stars shining brightly overhead,
he pulls out an object from within—the white jade tablet (jue). Its delicate quality emits faint blue light under starlight.
Suddenly all stars seem to twinkle together forming beams of white light descending upon him from above.
Chen Yuan closes his eyes feeling enveloped by refreshing coolness washing over him making him feel pleasantly tingly all over.
After ten breaths pass by, both blue light from jade tablet fades away along with white light disappearing too.
Opening his eyes again brings forth an overwhelming sensation of hunger rising within him,
despite having just feasted earlier—he feels like someone who has been starving for three days on an escape route with stomach growling incessantly.
Swallowing hard once more returns him back inside where he places jade tablet back into its bag hiding it once again within wall cavity before pulling out those five coarse flatbreads devouring them ravenously one after another.
Before long all five flatbreads are consumed—an amount usually sufficient for two days' worth of food—yet barely leaves him half-satisfied.
Lying back down on bed feeling emptiness within his stomach causes him to sigh softly,
having spent three years in this world without experiencing many full meals at all.
Originally hailing from Earth as a Han Chinese individual who graduated from an ordinary university specializing in computer science,
he followed trends founding an internet company which remarkably secured multiple rounds of funding—within two years reaching valuations exceeding ten billion dollars making him one of China's renowned young entrepreneurs overnight,
surrounded by various temptations due to wealth gained early on;
falling into indulgence amidst luxury—fast cars beautiful women leading nights filled with excesses;
alcohol acting like poison coursing through veins while lust became akin blades cutting through flesh leading ultimately towards complete health deterioration diagnosed late-stage stomach cancer eventually landing him bedridden during last two years alive where despite trying every advanced treatment available nothing proved effective enough ultimately leading him toward realization right before death—
that perhaps destiny hadn't favored him but merely aligned circumstances allowing fleeting success achieved through sheer luck rather than any innate superiority whatsoever;
past extravagances felt like mere dreams fading away without trace left behind;
as regret intertwined painfully alongside suffering closing eyes finally bringing forth end—
upon reopening them found himself transformed into Chen Er Niu instead residing within region called Qi country where language script differed vastly compared against Han Chinese yet development level mirrored ancient times resembling cultural customs closely related though still distinctively unique overall;
three years ago when only ten years old contracted severe cold unable afford treatment succumbed eventually leading way for soul transition occurring thereafter occupying body now belonging previously deceased child while jade tablet accompanied spirit arriving here alongside—
having once owned such artifact during previous life purchasing it amongst many antiques collected after achieving entrepreneurial success later realizing its significance beyond mere aesthetic value alone;
during one auction event held by Sotheby's catching immediate attention prompting hefty expenditure made acquiring item cherished deeply never parting ways until discovering its extraordinary capabilities post-transitioning;
under starlight jade tablet activates every twelve hours drawing celestial light into body enhancing physical attributes significantly resulting heightened strength flexibility agility sensory perceptions becoming clearer sharper overall mental acuity improving drastically;
however only upon hunger dissipating can subsequent activation occur otherwise even if twelve hours elapsed celestial infusion proves ineffective altogether;
after realizing these remarkable properties hidden within jade tablet excitement surged forth momentarily tempered quickly by caution instilled through past experiences shaping newfound prudence avoiding sharing secrets regarding its nature even with closest kin keeping knowledge concealed until opportune moments arise for utilizing powers effectively;
yet given family's impoverished circumstances struggling merely maintaining basic sustenance throughout three years allowed minimal opportunities engaging in such activations having only undergone twenty-one instances primarily coinciding special occasions like festivals ancestral rites weddings relatives visiting etc.—
only during these rare moments could ample food supply be accessed ensuring full bellies experienced;
despite limited occurrences thus far yielding substantial enhancements granting physical prowess far exceeding average individuals coupled control over bodily functions achieving meticulous precision levels unheard previously attained—
today during banquet managed sneakily obtaining several leftover flatbreads concealing them expertly utilizing abdominal muscles keeping them hidden successfully evading detection enabling this latest chance for celestial infusion opportunity presented itself—
although consuming five flatbreads left him feeling merely half-satisfied knowing tomorrow would bring same struggle against hunger pangs looming ahead waiting indefinitely till next celestial infusion opportunity arises again eventually;
with heavy heart sigh escaping lips enduring sensation between fullness emptiness closing eyes gradually drifting off into slumber peacefully unaware what awaits upon awakening next morning…