Chapter 2: Better Pain Than Numbness
Li Xian froze, his movements stiff. Li Xiaofan asked, “Brother, what’s wrong?”
Li Xian smiled, patted Li Xiaofan’s head, and said, “Nothing, little brother. We must work hard so that others don’t bully us anymore.”
It seemed that his Transmigration was not without a Golden Finger.
He practiced his fists again and again, his will firm, and eventually, even metal and stone would yield.
“Brother, don’t worry! In just over a month, the Winter Exam will be here. I definitely won’t let you down,” Li Xiaofan said with determination.
“Good brother, let’s eat. We haven’t had meat in a long time.”
Li Xian’s eyes were moist. Since their father’s death, the two brothers had relied on each other. The elder brother was responsible, and the younger brother was quick-witted. It was just that the world was difficult, and the doors were tightly shut, making it hard to open them even a crack.
Now… he finally saw a glimmer of hope.
The two brothers only had one set of clothes, so naturally, they had no pot to boil water or cook meat. Every plant and tree outside the mountain forest was controlled by landlords, aristocratic families, and powerful clans.
Once a fire was lit and cooking smoke rose, bodyguards would immediately come looking. At the very least, they would get a good beating.
They could only go to Aunt Liu’s house next door to borrow her stove. Aunt Liu’s family was slightly better off; at least they had clothes to wear and somewhat resembled a family.
…
That night.
Li Xian changed into his Servant uniform and returned to Yihe Estate.
From today onwards, he would no longer be a free man, but the lowest Servant in Yihe Estate.
But if he couldn’t even eat his fill or wear warm clothes, what was freedom worth?
“I don’t seek fame or fortune now; I only wish to find a place to live and settle down in this chaotic world.”
Li Xian sighed in his heart, separated by high walls and large courtyards, wondering how his brother was doing.
“You guys are quite sensible; no one tried to run away. Since everyone is here, let me teach you the rules here.”
The person who came to receive the new Servants was not Luo Fang from the daytime, but his nephew, Bi Hao.
“This entire Estate, as well as the twenty thousand mu of fields and twenty-nine mountain peaks outside the Estate, all belong to Madam Zhuang.”
At this point, Bi Hao proudly puffed out his chest, feeling honored.
“Madam Zhuang recently went out and will be back in a few days. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, you lowly beasts. You’d better be careful with your eyes and not glance around. If you offend the Madam, be careful not to get crippled.”
“The Madam’s beauty is astonishing; she is a top-tier beauty. There was once a Servant who was so entranced after seeing the Madam that his eyes were gouged out and thrown into the river.”
Everyone felt a chill in their hearts upon hearing this.
“Alright, from now on, you will all work in this area. Work hard, or else you’ll get whipped, your skin will split and flesh will tear. Heh heh… your lives might not be safe.”
The Estate covered a vast area, with mountains and water. It housed over a thousand Servants, yet it still seemed very spacious, subtly indicating a shortage of manpower.
With memories from two lives, Li Xian had seen his share of the world. Yet, he was still greatly impressed.
“This is the Servant quarters. You will live here from now on. Tomorrow, at the fifth watch, you must get up and work. If anyone oversleeps, don’t blame me for stripping off his clothes,” Bi Hao said coldly.
The Servant quarters were not very large, yet they housed over a hundred people. The smell was undeniably unpleasant, a mixture of foot odor, body odor, and sweat, along with teeth grinding, farting, and sleep-talking.
Snoring rose and fell, making it extremely “lively.”
The beds were packed tightly together, with no space to spare. Clean, comfortable… such adjectives were ten thousand miles away from this place.
“Such a large Estate, yet it treats its Servants so harshly.”
There were eleven similar Servant quarters, arranged in a row. However, there were only five latrines for going to the toilet.
Since he was here, he would make the best of it.
The next day.
Li Xian was assigned to clean an abandoned house. The Estate had twenty pavilions and seventy-two elegant residences. It could be said that the labor was endless.
Li Xian and two other new Servants were led by two older Servants to a house that had been abandoned for a long time.
One of the older Servants ordered, “You, go sweep over there. You, go pull weeds. You, go clean the latrine.”
One of the new Servants asked, “What about you two?”
“Nonsense, we naturally have our own things to do. Hurry up, no more talking. It’s your first day, and you already want to be lazy?”
The old Servant’s face was full of disdain.
Li Xian frowned slightly, said nothing, and honestly followed the instructions to clear the weeds in the backyard of the building.
There were many weeds here, deeply rooted in the soil, making them very difficult to pull out. This kind of work, after two or three hours, would make his back sore and painful.
Li Xian patiently pulled them out one by one.
【Skill: Weeding】
【Proficiency: 12 / 500 Beginner】
【Description: Pulling weeds, a small skill, a three-year-old child, an eighty-year-old elder, who doesn't know how? Easy to get started, but mastery depends on fate.】
…
The Golden Finger appeared. Every time Li Xian bent down to pull a weed, he gained something, gradually finding the knack.
【Proficiency + 1】
【Proficiency + 1】
His speed also became faster and faster, and pulling weeds no longer felt so tiring.
【Proficiency Full.】
【Skill: Weeding】
【Proficiency: 0 / 1000 Mastered】
【Description: Back to the sky, feet on the ground. Though this Dao is small, it holds a unique charm. Young man… have you gained any insight?】
In this world, whether it be skills or Martial Arts, all can be divided into six stages: Beginner, Mastered, Minor Achievement, Major Achievement, Perfection, and Peak.
At this moment, Li Xian, in the Dao of pulling weeds, was already equivalent to a Servant who had diligently practiced for several years.
“As a Servant, my fate is not my own. How can I have free time? If I work too fast and complete the task ahead of schedule, I will definitely be ordered to do other tasks.”
“It’s better to intentionally slow down and use this spare time to improve my abilities.”
And so.
During breaks from pulling weeds, Li Xian occasionally stopped and waved his fists in the air, practicing Wild Bull Fist. The Wild Bull Fist only had “three forms,” and a set only took a few seconds.
【Proficiency + 1】
【Proficiency + 1】
Li Xian became more and more adept, directly feeling the gains with each punch.
He continued working until evening, with a lunch break in between. Although there wasn’t much grease, it was enough to fill his stomach.
【Proficiency Full】
【Wild Bull Fist Fragment】
【Proficiency: 0 / 1000 Mastered】
【Description: The fist may be fragmented, but the intent is not. The wild bull is brave and fierce, its punch astonishing.】
Li Xian felt a warm current slowly flowing towards his lower abdomen.
“This is… Internal Energy?”
“This world has Internal Energy?”
Li Xian sensed this warm current. He couldn’t say what it was, because he had never encountered the Dao of a Martial Artist.
But he was very clear that this thing was beneficial and harmless!
“Not bad, not bad. This feeling is truly unique, as if the whole person is invigorated.”
He tried to use his will to control the warm current, attaching it to his fist, and punched again. His punch greatly increased in power, rubbing against the air, faintly emitting the “moo” sound of a wild bull.
“Good heavens.”
Li Xian was overjoyed, but he dared not get carried away, quickly lowering his head to pull weeds.
As dusk approached.
Bi Hao walked to the abandoned building and inspected the Servants’ work one by one.
“Damn it, what kind of floor are you sweeping?” He lightly swiped his finger in the corner of a wardrobe, picking up a trace of dust. He immediately cursed, punching and kicking.
The Servant was beaten black and blue, not daring to make a sound.
Selling oneself into servitude, though it could provide food and clothing, the hardships and humiliation could only be swallowed by oneself.
“You, your work is not up to standard. Don’t even think about resting tonight. The laundry room happens to be short-handed, go help there.”
Bi Hao waved his hand and continued to inspect other areas.
“Whose latrine is this?” Arriving at the latrine, Bi Hao’s face was terrifyingly gloomy.
“I… it’s mine.” A new Servant trembled.
Looking at his age, he was about the same size as Li Xiaofan, only eleven or twelve years old.
“What is this?”
Bi Hao pointed to a pile of excrement, looking down at the Servant.
“Excre… excrement.” The Servant was confused.
“Lick it clean,” Bi Hao said coldly.
“Ah… ah?” The Servant was stunned. Bi Hao sneered, grabbed the Servant’s hair, pressed his face into the excrement, and said, “What ‘ah’? Lick it clean for me!”
“I’ll lick… I’ll lick.”
The Servant humiliatingly complied. Bi Hao’s gaze swept over everyone, warning, “I’m telling you, don’t think this is an abandoned house. Those who can live here are all the Madam’s Jianghu friends. For such people, even their feces and urine are fragrant, they are gold!”
“Let alone you, even me. If the Madam tells me to do it, I will absolutely obey and be proud of it!”
Immediately, Bi Hao looked at the Servant, “Is it fragrant?”
The Servant was afraid of being beaten and quickly nodded, “Fragrant, extremely fragrant.”
“Haha.”
Bi Hao laughed a few times and said, “That’s right, that’s how a subordinate, a subordinate who has sold himself, should be. If you had a special skill, then you would have some use and status. But do you?”
No one responded. Some had numb expressions, others had gradually accepted it. Li Xian, however, shook his head inwardly. No matter how difficult the environment or how lowly the status, a spark of spirit must never be lost!
Never, even in death!
Next, it was Li Xian’s turn.
“Are you the one who pulled the weeds?” Bi Hao looked at Li Xian meaningfully.
“Yes,” Li Xian nodded.
“Good.”
Bi Hao walked to the backyard, touching the whip coiled around his waist.
Compared to sweeping and cleaning latrines, pulling weeds was the most difficult. The former, once taught, could be handled with enough care. Pulling weeds… was the most tiring and the hardest to meet the standard.
Either the weeds wouldn’t be completely pulled, or the ground would be covered in mud. Servants who pulled weeds… usually got whipped!
However, when Bi Hao walked into the backyard, he was immediately dumbfounded. “Where are the weeds?”
“I’ve finished pulling them and put them on the cart,” Li Xian pointed to a nearby cart.
Bi Hao confirmed it was correct and stomped on the ground with his foot, immediately surprised. After pulling the weeds, he had even re-compacted the soil.
This young man either had experience as a house Servant or was meticulous and thoughtful in his work.
“Hmm, not bad, not bad. What’s your name?” Bi Hao rarely showed a smile.
“My name is Li Xian,” Li Xian replied truthfully.
“Li Xian?” Bi Hao shook his head, “That name is not good, not good for a Servant.”
“You did well today. You can go to the accounting office and receive three copper coins as a reward. Rest well tonight. Keep up the good work tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Master Bi, for your praise.”
Li Xian called out as usual. His current deference was not a lack of spirit, but a dormancy after recognizing reality.
When Bi Hao heard the words “Master Bi,” he felt even more refreshed, patted Li Xian’s shoulder, and laughed, “Hahaha, kid, you’re quite good at handling things.”
…
On the way back.
A new Servant ran over to strike up a conversation, “Brother Li, how did you do it? Can you teach me?”
Li Xian saw that they were all pitiable people and was willing to guide them, but he didn’t know where to start, so he just smiled, “Nothing, just practice makes perfect.”
“Just a flatterer, that’s all. ‘Practice makes perfect,’ hmph.” An old Servant nearby sneered disdainfully.
They had also started as new Servants and knew how to avoid certain pitfalls and protect themselves. At the same time, they were happy to see new people stumble.
“As fellow Servants, why do you have to be so confrontational? If you had given them a little advice during the day, these two young brothers wouldn’t have suffered such great humiliation,” Li Xian frowned.
“Advice? Advice my ass.” The old Servant disdained to say more.
“Brother Li, don’t say anything. I was very upset at the time, but now that I think about it, Master Bi was right. I don’t feel it’s a humiliation anymore,” the Servant who cleaned the latrine said numbly.
Li Xian wanted to say something but swallowed it, sighing that there was truly a demonic quality in this Estate. It made both the oppressors and the oppressed intoxicated by power.
Numb and indifferent, gradually assimilated.
Feces are feces. No matter how powerful the person, feces still smell bad.
Li Xian clenched his fist, his nails digging into his palm, secretly warning himself that he could be humble, but not numb.
“If I want to live a better life, perhaps… I can secretly learn other skills.”