Starting as a cowherd, he sought a way to cultivate immortality.

Before nightfall, Qi Sheng brought Li Youcai to apologize.

"Chen Chi, You Cai acted impulsively, don't hold it against him."

Having said that, Qi Sheng turned his gaze to Li Youcai behind him and said sternly:

"Apologize to Chen Chi right now!"

Li Youcai's face was grim. He took a step forward, cupped his hands, and said:

"Chen Chi, I was wrong about what happened today."

Chen Chi waved his hand, his expression indifferent.

He doesn't take Li Youcai seriously at all these days.

"It's nothing."

Seeing that Chen Chi was not in a difficult position, Qi Sheng's tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed. He took out three qian of silver from his pocket and handed it to Chen Chi.

"Here is your salary for this month."

Chen Chi took the silver and gave Qi Sheng, who had a friendly expression, a deep look.

His monthly wage was one qian of silver, but Qi Sheng gave him two liang more, clearly as an apology.

"Thank you, Butler Qi."

Qi Sheng chuckled and said:

"I heard from Youcai that you're not going to work for the Sun family next year? If it was just a momentary outburst, how about I teach Youcai a lesson to vent your anger?"

Upon hearing this, Li Youcai opened his mouth, but was immediately silenced by the glance Qi Sheng gave him.

Chen Chi shook his head.

"Butler Qi is overthinking it. I really don't want to herd cattle anymore, and it has nothing to do with Li Youcai."

"That's good."

Qi Sheng visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

After Chen Chi refused to marry his niece, he sent someone to investigate and found that Chen Chi really did have some connection with Qin Shan.

When Qin Shan's son, Qin Fufeng, passed the imperial examination for martial arts, Chen Chi was present at the Qin family's celebratory banquet.

From then on, he gave up the idea of ​​dealing with Chen Chi.

Unexpectedly, after Li Youcai was promoted to manager, he became arrogant and, after hearing about what happened back then, came to cause trouble for Chen Chi.

"In that case, we won't disturb you any longer." Qi Sheng cupped his hands in greeting and walked out of the house.

Chen Chi smiled slightly.

"It's freezing cold. Butler Qi should find someone to look after the cattle pen as soon as possible."

Qi Sheng readily agreed.

On the way back to the Sun family's house, Li Youcai muttered to himself:

"He's just a cowherd, why are you afraid of him?"

Upon hearing this, Qi Sheng became furious and turned around to slap Li Youcai across the face.

"idiot!

Once you become a manager, you forget who you are!

I didn't dare to touch him back then, can't you use your brain and think about why?

How could I have been so blind as to marry my niece to you?!

Li Youcai covered his cheek, watching Qi Sheng's figure walk further and further away, a flash of hatred crossing his eyes.

"Uncle-in-law, wait for me—"

He quickly chased after him.

……

The Lunar New Year was the most important event of the year for the people of Yan.

When Chen Chi stepped into the Qin residence, he saw that the courtyard was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and servants and maids were running around, creating a lively scene.

In the hall, Qin Shan, dressed in a bright red robe, sat at the head of the table, leisurely sipping his tea.

Seeing Chen Chi walk in, his face lit up with joy, and he greeted him:

"Xiao Chi, sit down quickly and try the tea that Magistrate Lu has bestowed upon you. I heard it comes from Anzhou in the south, and it tastes quite good."

"Then I'll benefit from Uncle Qin's good fortune," Chen Chi said with a smile.

After bowing, he sat down.

The maidservant beside him quickly stepped forward and poured him a cup of tea.

"How is it?" Qin Shan asked, staring at Chen Chi.

Chen Chi took a small sip and placed the teacup on the table.

"Not bad, it's delicate and pleasant, leaving a lingering fragrance on the lips and teeth."

Qin Shan laughed heartily.

"The gifts given by Magistrate Lu are always the best."

Chen Chi looked at Qin Shan.

In just over two years, Qin Shan's head seemed to have grown quite a few gray hairs.

"Uncle Qin, is there anything I can help with at home? Since I'm spending the New Year here, I'd like to lend a hand."

"Nonsense, what are you doing! Just keep me company and talk to me," Qin Shan retorted, then changed the subject.

"Xiao Chi, you should be twenty-two after the New Year, right?"

"Yes."

Qin Shan hesitated for a moment, then slowly said:

"You're not getting any younger. You can't stay single forever. You need to start thinking about having children."

"If you don't leave any offspring for the Chen family, I won't be able to face your father after I die."

Chen Chi cupped his hands and said:

"Uncle Qin, your nephew is focused on learning martial arts and has not yet thought about settling down and starting a family."

"Isn't my older brother also unmarried and childless?"

Qin Shan said in a deep voice:

"Xiao Chi, you are not like your older brother."

Your elder brother has a good talent for martial arts. He passed the county-level examination two years ago and became a martial arts scholar, which made me very proud. Although the chances of him becoming a martial arts graduate in this prefectural examination are slim, I am still content. And you…”

Qin Shan looked at Chen Chi, sighed, and continued:

"Since you learned my Savage Bull Body Tempering Technique more than two years ago, your strength has hardly improved. It seems you are not suited for martial arts."

"Instead of wasting your time, I'd rather find you a good family's daughter, settle down, and live a peaceful life. That's a hundred times better than learning martial arts."

Chen Chi smiled.

Because of my destiny of "accumulating strength before unleashing it", the Bull Body Tempering Technique is almost useless before I reach the perfect proficiency level.

But things are different now.

"Uncle Qin." Chen Chi stood up and bowed.

"My nephew has gained some insights into the Bull Body Tempering Technique these past two days, and lifting 200 pounds is no longer a problem for him."

"What?" A look of surprise flashed across Qin Shan's face, followed by a frown.

"Xiao Chi, don't tell me this kind of lie to cover it up."

"Uncle Qin, when have I ever lied to you?" Chen Chi's expression was calm, and his tone was full of confidence.

"If Uncle Qin doesn't believe me, I can go to the courtyard now and show you a few tricks."

"Okay." Qin Shan was half-believing and half-doubting, but he and Chen Chi walked out of the hall and into the courtyard.

Qin Shan summoned two servants and instructed them to move the stone lock from the storeroom to the courtyard.

Before long, the two servants came over with difficulty carrying the stone lock, their forehead veins bulging and their steps heavy.

With a "thud," the stone lock landed on the bluestone slab in the courtyard.

Qin Shan pointed at the stone lock, looked at Chen Chi, and said in a deep voice:

"This is a stone weight I bought before, weighing over two hundred pounds. If what you say is true, then try it."

"I've made a fool of myself."

Chen Chi walked up to the stone lock, bent down, and grasped the lock handle.

"Xiao Chi, don't push yourself too hard and hurt yourself," Qin Shan couldn't help but advise.

"Don't worry, Uncle Qin." Chen Chi looked up and smiled.

Although 200 pounds was no problem for him, he still pretended to be on high alert, took a deep breath, shouted, and "laboriously" slowly lifted the stone lock above his head.

Qin Shan stared intently at the stone lock above Chen Chi's head, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"This..." Qin Shan felt a little dizzy.

The Bull Body Tempering Technique emphasizes accumulation over time; how can one expect to achieve enlightenment overnight?

But faced with the facts, he had no choice but to believe them.

"Okay, okay, Xiao Chi, put it down quickly."

Upon hearing Qin Shan's words, Chen Chi seemed relieved and quickly threw the stone lock to the ground.

"Thump!"

The bluestone slab was smashed by the stone lock, leaving several cracks.

Qin Shan took Chen Chi's hand and walked towards the hall.

"Xiao Chi, I never expected that you could actually comprehend the Wild Bull Body Tempering Technique."

Judging from this, your martial arts talent might even surpass that of your older brother!

Seeing Qin Shan's agitated expression, Chen Chi quickly tried to calm him down:

"Uncle Qin, it's not that exaggerated..."

"What do you mean, 'no'?!" Qin Shan immediately interrupted, "Even your elder brother couldn't achieve enlightenment in a single day with the Savage Bull Body Tempering Technique and lift a two-hundred-pound stone lock above his head!"

"After the New Year, you don't need to herd cattle anymore. I'll pay for you to go to Xingyun Martial Arts School. The important thing is to study martial arts hard and make a name for yourself."

Chen Chi's heart stirred.

"Uncle Qin, I've saved up some money from herding cattle these past few years. It should be enough for the apprenticeship fee at the martial arts school. You don't need to pay for it."

Qin Shan said solemnly:

"That won't do. The money you're saving is for getting married in the future."

After arguing for a while, Qin Shan, as the elder, pressured Chen Chi into agreeing to pay for it himself.

"The master of Xingyun Martial Arts School, Jiang Xingyun, is highly skilled in martial arts. Your elder brother speaks highly of him, so he must be quite good."

"You're not young anymore, and Jiang Xingyun might not want to take you in, but with my and your older brother's influence, he probably won't refuse."

Chen Chi nodded.

Those who learn martial arts generally begin to hone their bodies at the age of sixteen or seventeen.

However, he has a destiny, and even if he only formally learns martial arts at the age of twenty-two, he still has the opportunity to catch up with others.

"Uncle Qin's kindness is immense; I will surely repay it in the future!"

Qin Shan laughed heartily and gently patted Chen Chi's back.

"As long as you succeed, that will be the greatest reward you can give Uncle Qin!"

That evening, the Qin residence was brightly lit with candles, and bursts of firecrackers could be heard outside.

The servants bustled about, serving dishes and wine, their laughter and greetings filling the air.

Chen Chi, unable to hold his liquor, passed out under the table and was eventually carried into a guest room by servants.