Wow!
A cold wind blew, and red leaves fluttered all over the mountain.
"Winter is coming."
Zhang Lingshan tightened his tattered gray shirt, licked the last bit of oil and water at the bottom of the bowl, showing an unsatisfied expression and sighing secretly in his heart.
It has been half a year since I came into this world.
As soon as it was light in the morning, I rushed to Hongye Mountain with my father to work as a laborer. Together with a group of men, we carried stones and wood up the mountain, and then carried the waste materials down the mountain to pave the road, and repeated this process.
In the evening, I hurried home, fearing that if I was a step late, I would encounter something dirty and die before dark.
But despite such hard work, the daily wage was only sixty cents, and the food was just steamed buns and cabbage. The little oil and water was only enough to soak the bottom of the bowl. It was far less comfortable than the carpenters and stonemasons who built the temple on the mountain.
So after Zhang Lingshan's father had worked hard to save up twenty taels of silver, he asked someone to send Zhang Lingshan to an old carpenter to learn a trade and find a way out.
However, Zhang Lingshan refused.
Strictly speaking, he was rejected by Zhang Lingshan before.
The original body was a child with ideals and ambitions. He had no interest in carpentry or any other crafts. He only wanted to learn martial arts, but he couldn't persuade his father, so he stole some money and went to Hong's martial arts school to become a disciple.
As a result, as soon as he reached the door of the martial arts gym, he was caught by his father and slapped hard, while the onlookers were watching the fun and laughing.
The original body was angry and ashamed, and banged its head against the wall in anger.
This collision knocked Zhang Lingshan over.
"Although the original body's behavior was a bit extreme, his idea was not wrong."
After living in this world for half a year, Zhang Lingshan deeply understood the original body's thoughts.
Practice martial arts, you must practice martial arts!
How can you have a bright future without practicing martial arts?
In such a world where human life is worthless and demons are rampant, ordinary people are not living, they are just muddling through, and they live one day at a time.
Only by becoming a powerful warrior can you experience the true taste of being alive.
Unfortunately, Zhang's father didn't even understand such a simple truth. He insisted on letting his son learn carpentry, which forced the original person to death.
In fact, it’s not that Zhang’s father doesn’t understand the truth, but because he knows too well that martial arts depends on talent. Without talent, practicing for a lifetime is just a waste of time, and may even cause injuries. It’s better not to practice.
According to Zhang's father, their Zhang family's ancestor was also a great martial arts master, but unfortunately, the world has changed so much that the bloodline has become thin when it comes to their branch.
He once imagined that his child was extremely lucky and would inherit his ancestors' talent for martial arts, so when Zhang Lingshan was eight years old, he asked someone to feel his bones, but the result was disappointing.
Later facts proved that what the bone-touching Taoist priest said was correct.
Not only does his child have no talent for martial arts, he is also shorter than his peers.
Now he is fifteen years old, but only less than 1.5 meters tall. If he were not in good physical condition, he would not even be qualified to carry bricks for Hongye Temple.
That's it, and you still want to practice martial arts?
I have to say, Mr. Zhang's idea is not wrong. If there is no panel...
"Open the energy panel."
Name: Zhang Lingshan
Martial arts: None
Energy: 0.3
Looking at the lonely 0.3, Zhang Lingshan felt helpless.
This 0.3 of energy was accumulated by eating and drinking well while recuperating from a head injury. If I make a living by moving bricks, I'm afraid I can't even accumulate 0.1, let alone 0.3.
In half a year, Zhang Lingshan had roughly figured out a way to accumulate energy.
If you want to accumulate energy, ordinary meals are of no use. Even if you eat a hundred white flour buns, you won’t be able to accumulate any energy.
Only meat and various rare medicinal herbs can provide energy.
And neither meat soup nor fatty meat is allowed.
It has to be pure protein.
Medicinal materials must be truly effective in curing diseases. Wild vegetables, radish leaves, fake ginseng roots, etc. are not acceptable.
Zhang Lingshan roughly calculated that with the current financial support his father gave him, if all of it was converted into lean meat and eaten, he could only accumulate two energy points at most.
But the most urgent task is not to accumulate energy, but to join a martial arts school and learn martial arts.
Because I don’t have any martial arts skills, I can only look at the energy but not use it.
But after paying the apprenticeship fee, I had no money left to buy meat.
Zhang Lingshan looked at the empty bottom of the bowl, his thoughts drifting far away, a trace of sadness on his face.
"Xiaoshan, keep this money."
A rough big hand suddenly touched Zhang Lingshan's arms and stuffed a crumpled piece of paper into the small pocket sewn in his arms.
"Dad, what is this?"
Zhang Lingshan felt around in his arms and couldn't help but feel surprised.
Today's wages for two people total only 120 coins, but this silver note should be worth 10 taels.
How come there are so many?
Zhang's father's rough face broke into a smile as he whispered, "The Lei family has taken on another six-month job at Jinguang Temple, but they don't need many people, and they only need experienced and capable workers. Old Lei recommended a few of us and even paid us three months' wages in advance. However, I won't be able to go back for the next six months, so your mother and your brothers and sisters will have to rely on you to take care of them."
"That's all I get for three months! Do I have to stay in Jinguang Temple for six months? Will there be any danger? Where is Jinguang Temple?"
Zhang Lingshan felt a little uneasy and couldn't help asking questions rapidly.
It is not easy to earn ten taels of silver these days, and they even provide food and accommodation and pay three months' wages in advance. It is so unbelievable that it makes people feel uneasy.
Father Zhang patted Zhang Lingshan on the shoulder and said with relief, "You have grown up and know how to worry about others. But don't worry, Old Lei is a good man and trustworthy, and the Lei family is also trustworthy. They are a wealthy family, so what difference does ten or twenty taels make? If someone has bad intentions, none of us will be able to leave the mountain today."
"That's true."
Zhang Lingshan nodded.
In fact, he still felt uneasy, but his father had made up his mind and it was useless for him to say anything. Besides, his father had already agreed to it and Old Lei had taken the money. If he suddenly changed his mind and didn't go, it would easily anger him.
So, that's it.
As long as he had strong military support, it was useless to be vigilant and worried. If the Lei family really wanted to sell them all to work as miners, he would be helpless.
The most urgent thing is to return to the city to learn martial arts and grow up as quickly as possible.
"Dad, I'm leaving now. Be careful when you're out there. Stay with everyone else and don't be too bold or you might get into trouble."
Zhang Lingshan wrapped his clothes tightly with a belt and gave instructions.
"Yeah, I see."
Father Zhang nodded heavily, his eyes slightly red, he was extremely relieved and sighed.
The child has finally grown up and knows how to care for others.
Apart from the fact that he insisted on learning martial arts and wasted money, Xiaoshan is the best kid in the world, alas.
After watching Zhang Lingshan and a few of his good friends leave together, Zhang's father withdrew his gaze and went to meet up with Old Leitou.
At the foot of the mountain.
Zhang Lingshan and his companions quickly entered the official road and quickened their pace towards Jincheng.
If you go out late after dark, it is said that there will be dirty things wandering outside, and you will be doomed if you encounter them.
Together with Zhang Lingshan were Wang Datou, the son of the Wang family, and Li Xiaole from the Li family.
The fathers of the two men were honest and hardworking men like Zhang's father. They were all left behind by Old Lei to work in Jinguang Temple, so each of the three of them now has at least ten taels of silver notes on them.
You are carrying a treasure.
Now I am afraid of encountering robbers blocking the road.
Although the probability of encountering robbers on the official road is very small, there are many people moving bricks with them in Hongye Temple.
What if someone knew that the three of them were carrying a large sum of money...
"Hey, what's the rush, you three? I'm short on cash right now, could you lend me some money?"
As an unpleasant laugh rang out, three young men with sneering expressions suddenly appeared from the left, right, and front.
"It's over. It's Li Hu and the other three."
Wang Datou's face turned pale, his whole body stiffened, and his calves trembled.
Li Hu and his two companions were well-known for their willingness to pay more attention to money than their lives. When they were moving stones on Hongye Mountain, many adults had borrowed money from them.
These three people are ruthless and have no ties to their family, so no adult can afford to offend them.
Aren't these three people going to be manipulated by others?
"Don't be afraid, there are three of us..."
Li Xiaole said he was not afraid, but his trembling voice betrayed him.