Surviving in the chaos of battle, I'm grinding for proficiency.

The outer city of Huangshi County.

Large numbers of displaced people lined up to wait for relief from the city.

Li Chuan took a closer look and found that the porridge was so thin it was like water, with only about ten grains of rice visible.

Even so, many people still put in a lot of effort to squeeze in.

"If Huangshi County is like this, will Anning County become like this one day?" Li Chuan couldn't help but wonder.

Although there are many gangs in the outer city of Anning County, and they often fight, there is at least a relatively stable order.

But if thousands or tens of thousands of refugees were to wander outside the city, no one could guarantee that the city would not be breached!

Even martial artists with both visible and hidden strength are not invincible; they can be injured by a knife or killed by poison.

Even with a master of internal energy to keep things under control, there is still a considerable risk.

"If there's a chance to make money, it'll be safe to settle my family in the inner city."

As Li Chuan walked and pondered, he soon arrived at Jia's Pharmacy.

Luo Houping went in with a smile and chatted with the pharmacy owner. A little while later, he came out carrying a cloth bag.

Through a corner, Li Chuan could see the silver ingots gleaming inside.

"Everyone lend a hand and unload this thing. Go get some rest!" Luo Houping instructed the others.

After unloading the goods from seven carriages, Jia's pharmacy sent a few more people to load another batch of medicinal herbs onto them.

Luo Houping explained to Li Chuan:

"It's not easy to come to Huangshi County, so we should naturally exchange what we have. We will also buy some of their unique medicinal herbs."

After everything was done, the group spent the night in the outer city.

The next morning, they set off back to Anning County.

This batch of goods is lighter, so the carriage can travel faster.

Li Chuan gained Luo Houping's favor and finally no longer needed to travel outside.

Instead, he got into the carriage.

Taking advantage of this rare free time, Li Chuan diligently practiced Tongbei Quan (a style of Chinese martial arts).

This unexpected incident made him pay more attention to his playing style.

Having great strength is useless if you can't use it.

Through his tireless efforts.

Two days later.

Li Chuan unleashed his final move, "Throat Piercing and Heart Locking."

Its five fingers formed claws, making it exceptionally fierce.

[Tongbei Fist Proficiency +1]

[Tongbei Quan has reached the minor mastery level]

[Skill: Tongbei Quan (Minor Mastery)]

[Proficiency: 1/2000]

At the very moment of the breakthrough, Li Chuan had a strange feeling.

It felt as if some kind of shackle within me had been removed.

Previously, when using Tongbei Quan, I always felt restricted.

It's like wearing ill-fitting clothes; it works, but it's just uncomfortable.

But things are completely different now.

Whether it's a "throat-piercing, heart-locking" strike, a heavy-hitting "rib-splitting, mountain-splitting" strike, or a grappling-style "arm-wrapping, tendon-severing" strike, it's all about delivering a powerful blow.

They all felt like fish in water.

It was as if it were an extension of his own arm!

"This small change is enough to increase my strength by 20%!" Li Chuan thought to himself.

A look of satisfaction flashed in Luo Houping's eyes:

"Congratulations to Achuan for your breakthrough."

……

Another day passed, and we finally returned to Anning County.

Li Chuan looked at the familiar four characters "Luo Family Pharmacy" and felt somewhat dazed.

This medicine delivery trip took eight or nine days.

The results were also extremely fruitful.

First, if you perform well during the delivery of medicine, you will receive an extra reward.

Secondly, Tongbei Quan broke through to a minor level, finally acquiring a fighting style that matched Ming Jin, and his strength reached a new level.

Luo Houping took a sip of tea and coughed.

Everyone perked up, knowing it was time to reward those who had contributed.

"Uncle Lin, three qian of silver."

"Gao Wenlu, four qian of silver."

"Wang Youwei, one tael of silver."

Everyone exclaimed in surprise, never expecting that Wang Youwei actually had one or two taels of silver.

Wang Youwei subconsciously looked at Li Chuan.

I knew he must have said a few nice things about me.

He silently kept this kindness in his heart, thinking that he would repay it one day.

Luo Houping read out more than a dozen names in succession.

Only Li Chuan has not yet been mentioned.

Everyone held their breath, eager to see how much reward Li Chuan, the greatest contributor to this mission, would receive.

"Li Chuan...you have done a great service in protecting the medicine, averting a crisis and preserving the reputation of the Luo family. You are hereby rewarded with three taels of silver!"

Everyone gasped in surprise.

Three liang is their monthly salary for one and a half months!

These cartloads of medicinal herbs were only worth a few dozen taels of silver, and the Luo family shop couldn't possibly make a profit from them all.

The costs themselves are not low, and the profit is at most a dozen or so taels of silver.

Under these circumstances, Li Chuan was given a reward of three taels of silver.

It can be said that a large portion of the profits from this drug deal went to Li Chuan.

Luo Houping never forgot to encourage everyone:

"As long as you do your job well, you'll be well rewarded."

After waving everyone away, Luo Houping called Li Chuan to his side:

"Achuan, you did a great job this time. It has changed my opinion of you a lot."

"You know your Ah Zheng, also known as your Senior Brother Luo, has a temperament. He likes to make friends from all walks of life. In recent years, he has recommended many people to our medicine delivery team, but most of them are mediocre and unfit for important tasks."

"But you are different; you are decisive and ruthless, yet also meticulous in your thinking."

"Go back and prepare well. I will take you with me when I deliver the precious medicine."

Li Chuan's pupils contracted.

These are rare medicinal herbs, far superior to ordinary herbs.

These seven carriages alone are worth several hundred taels of silver!

As it turned out, his somewhat risky choice was the right one.

"Thank you so much for your guidance, Uncle Luo!"

Luo Houping smiled gently:

"Go back. Even those with inferior aptitude have a sliver of hope for a second attempt."

After Li Chuan left, Luo Houping's expression instantly darkened, his hawk-like eyes flashing with cold light:

"Those wolves are suspicious. Go find traces of those teenage refugees. If you discover any connections..."

"Don't let a single one escape!"

If we don't kill some people, people will really think the Luo family is easy to manipulate.

……

Before Li Chuan left, he received an advance on his monthly salary.

With the three taels of silver he received as a reward, his net worth suddenly reached six taels!

Li Chuan stroked the texture of the silver in his pocket:

"It feels like I've won a huge prize..."

The world hadn't fallen into chaos yet, and silver was still quite valuable.

Five taels of silver was enough for a family of three to live on for a year.

His family scrimped and saved, working from morning till night every day, but they could only afford to give him one or two ounces of food money each month.

Six taels of silver is undoubtedly a huge sum of money!

Moreover, he would receive at least three taels of silver as a monthly salary from then on.

Moreover, it's not just three ounces; there's a substantial commission for each delivery of medicinal herbs!

It can be said that he became extremely wealthy.

At least I can eat meat every meal without any pressure!

Li Chuan felt a surge of excitement, but he didn't go to the market to buy food first.

Instead, they went to the pawnshop and redeemed the jade bracelet that their mother had pawned earlier.

Then I went to the market and bought three roast chickens, a pound of beef, ten pounds of white rice, and two jugs of Shaoxing wine.

……

The hour of Xu (7-9 PM).

Li Family Breakfast Shop.

Winter nights always fall very early; by 7 PM, it's almost completely dark.

Under the dim moonlight, Wang Xiumei wearily saw off the last table of guests and slumped into a chair.

Running a breakfast stall is a very tiring job.

Not to mention that this shop is open from morning till night.

By the time I've cleaned the shop thoroughly each day, it's almost midnight.

After a brief rest, it's time to get up again at 3 AM to prepare ingredients.

Wang Xiumei's long-term overwork has left her looking extremely haggard.

However, thinking of Li Chuan, who was far away at the martial arts school, she felt a sense of satisfaction.

As long as my son is doing well, it's all worth it.

"I wonder how Chuan'er is doing now. Is he cold in this freezing weather? Is two taels of silver enough for him?"

Mothers are always like this.

Unlike fathers who hope their sons will become successful, mothers often just want their children to be happy.

"Knock knock knock".

Who is it?

"Mother, I'm back."

"Squeak."

Wang Xiumei opened the wooden door and saw a familiar face. She was stunned for a moment, then her face lit up with surprise and joy:

"Chuan'er, why are you back? How are you doing at the martial arts school? You look so haggard. Has anyone been bullying you? How are you eating...?"

Wang Xiumei went on and on.

Li Chuan didn't find it annoying at all; he just listened patiently.

"Oh, by the way, Chuan'er, how did your knocking on the gate go?" Wang Xiumei carefully looked at Li Chuan's face, afraid that he was unhappy.

"It's alright, I was just asking. Even if it doesn't work out, it's okay. You can come back to the breakfast shop; you won't go hungry!" Wang Xiumei quickly added.

Li Chuan said with a smile:

"Mother, I've succeeded. I'm now a Ming Jin martial artist and my master's disciple."

"Oh my!" Wang Xiumei exclaimed, shouting inside, "Grandpa, A-Chuan has successfully overcome the obstacle!"

Wang Xiumei felt that all her hard work during this period had been rewarded.

Tears welled up in her eyes instantly, and she murmured:

"Day, can you see that? A-Chuan has really made something of himself..."

She subconsciously touched the jade bracelet on her wrist, but then remembered that she had already pawned it.

Just as she was feeling a little disappointed, a bracelet with a shimmering, glassy luster appeared before her eyes.