Moreover being anxious wouldn't help much.
The rigid social hierarchy in this world was far more entrenched than in the modern era. With his individual strength alone, it was difficult for Wei Tu to transcend these social barriers.
If not for his aunt in the Huang residence helping him, he would never have had access to the health-preserving techniques that were rarely seen outside.
Upon arriving in this otherworldly realm and awakening to his past, Wei Tu had contemplated changing his fate.
But—
Engaging in business?
In a society focused on court officials, engaging in small-scale handcrafts or minor trades might be manageable. However, once it involves larger businesses, prominent families will inevitably compete for control.
Without adequate status to protect one's assets, pursuing such ventures is a path to disaster.
Becoming an official?
He would first need to study in a private school to establish a clean background, seek sponsorship from scholars, and then participate in the imperial examinations. He would have to fight through countless competitors to gain recognition.
In both his past and current lives, Wei Tu was intelligent and perceptive. However, compared to the prodigies in the region, he was far inferior.
And these local prodigies often spent their whole lives struggling to achieve the status of a scholar, frequently ending up as unsuccessful old students.
The imperial examination focused not only on morizing Confucian classics but also on understanding the voluminous comntaries on them, far more extensive than the classics in volu. Without an exceptional mory, one could hardly achieve success in the examinations.
If morization were simple, thods of cheating in the examinations, such as concealed notes, shorthand, carrier pigeons, and cheating in latrines, would not exist.
Furthermore, studying was costly. Supporting a full-ti scholar, who did not contribute to production, was a significant burden.
If not for having two young masters to support, the Li family’s household would not be so strained, eating at only twice a month.
Without a golden finger, Wei Tu knew he was just an average individual, struggling to change his circumstances.
Of course, Wei Tu had not entirely resigned himself. From a re tenant farr, he had beco a stableman in the Li residence, setting an example for many in the countryside.
He ate well and had a respectable position in the main household. This was the kind of life many rural people dread of.
.......
Ti passed quickly.
Seven days flew by, and Wei Tu, as agreed, handed over the Turtle Breathing Technique booklet to the gatekeeper of the Huang residence, to be delivered to Master Ruan.
Although he had morised the content of the booklet thoroughly, he made a copy with paper and pen to keep for himself, just to be safe.
After completing this task, Wei Tu's life returned to its usual routine of feeding horses, chopping firewood, and cleaning the courtyard.
The only change was that whenever he had free ti, he practised the Turtle Breathing Technique.
In fact, he practised not just nine tis a day but ten or eleven tis.
This was his only chance to cross social boundaries and change his destiny, so he naturally wouldn’t ignore it.
"Do one's best and leave the rest to fate.
"Effort will not betray those who are diligent."
Whenever he felt like giving up or being lazy, Wei Tu encouraged himself silently, reminding himself to stay motivated.
One month.
Two months.
By the ti three months had passed.
One evening, after finishing his practice of the Turtle Breathing Technique, Wei Tu finally sensed a subtle change within his body.
It was late autumn, approaching winter. The night frost was heavy, but Wei Tu felt no cold at all. Instead, he experienced a warm sensation flowing through his limbs and body, nourishing his physique.
It felt like soaking in a hot spring.
"The health-preserving technique hasn’t reached full mastery yet, but I’m already feeling this warmth. The state of sensing qi must be exceptional!"
Wei Tu was delighted.
He had learned about the training of martial artists in recent tis. Those celebrated swordsn in the countryside only knew a few moves and wielded big swords. They certainly did not possess his current level of ‘impervious to the cold.’
With progress in the health-preserving technique, Wei Tu remained focused and continued his practice until he was utterly exhausted before returning to his bed to rest.
[Turtle Breathing Technique (21/100): Nine repetitions per day, mastery in five years]
Before going to bed, Wei Tu checked the progress of the health-preserving technique with closed eyes. Seeing that he had completed over one-fifth of it, he felt quite satisfied and fell into a deep sleep with a contented snore.
The next morning.
Wei Tu woke up early and began his chores at the Li residence.
He fed the horses, chopped wood, and after working for nearly an hour, he noticed that his body still felt energised, with no sweat on his forehead.
His physical condition had improved significantly.
"Young Master Wei, Madam Li is looking for you," said a plain-looking girl dressed as a maid, erging from the inner courtyard and calling out to Wei Tu.
"Madam Li is looking for ?" Wei Tu was montarily stunned.
As an outsider, he had been restricted from moving about the inner quarters once he grew older. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have had to ask for leave through Xinghua last ti.
In a wealthy family, there were many protocols.
Even if the madam was calling him, a reason was required.
"I heard from Caixia that the madam and the master talked about you and Xinghua last night. It seems they might be willing to approve your marriage," Chunlan said with a smile, coming closer to Wei Tu and lowering her voice.
"Really?"
"The madam is going to approve my marriage with Xinghua?"
Wei Tu felt a surge of happiness. He hadn’t expected another piece of good news alongside his progress in the health-preserving technique.
"Let's go." Wei Tu set down the axe he had been using to chop wood and followed Chunlan through the moon gate into the inner courtyard of the Li residence.
Three months ago, he had obtained his ‘golden finger’.
Three months later, even though Wei Tu's fortunes had greatly improved, and with the [Late Bloor] fate, he was bound to achieve sothing in the future, he would not always be just a stableman.
Yet, Wei Tu had not looked down on Xinghua, the kitchen maid, nor thought that she was beneath him.
To elevate oneself and look down on others was a common practice in the ancient world.
However, Xinghua had always been kind to him since they were young. She had taken good care of him, making her the closest person to him in this world.
Wei Tu's nature was not so callous to imagine that she was beneath him.
Additionally, Wei Tu did not overly elevate himself. Mastering the health-preserving technique did not guarantee that he would find immortals or embark on a path to immortality.
The health-preserving technique extended life, but he would still face death at around a hundred years old.
Cherishing the present was the true path. It was not advisable to be overly ambitious.
Passing through the courtyard and several corridors, Wei Tu arrived at the Li residence's main hall.
Upon entering the inner quarters, Wei Tu kept his head bowed to show the proper etiquette. Once inside the hall, he slightly lifted his gaze to observe the people present. Seeing that the hall was occupied only by won and not the master, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Master Li Yaozu was known for his sharp tongue and miserly nature. He often turned reasonable matters into unreasonable ones, making him hard to deal with.
In contrast, Madam Li Tongshi was gentle, adept at managing the household, and widely regarded as a virtuous woman.
Madam Li Tongshi, dressed in plain clothes with a dark blue outer gown and white ribbon-tied cloth shoes, sat upright in the main seat.
She lifted her teacup and took a gentle sip. “Wei Tu, you have been part of the Li family for six years now. In these six years, the Li family should have treated you well.”
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