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

Wang Xiumei froze, staring intently at the bracelet, then looked up at Li Chuan, as if she wanted to say something.

Li Chuan understood his mother's meaning and said with a smile:

"Don't worry, Mother. My senior brother from the martial arts school recommended me to work at his house. I get a monthly salary of three taels of silver. I just delivered some medicine and received another three taels of silver as a reward. I have plenty of money."

Hearing him say that, Wang Xiumei finally felt relieved.

She was afraid that Li Chuan would scrimp and save to buy back the bracelet.

"Xiumei, what did you just say?!"

Li Nian pushed open the door and limped out.

His leg wasn't fully healed yet, and he needed to use crutches, but this time he was faster than ever before.

"Father, Chuan'er has successfully passed the test."

Li Nian stared at Li Chuan in disbelief:

"Ah Chuan, did you really succeed in getting through to the gate?"

Li Chuan nodded with a smile.

Upon receiving an affirmative answer, Li Nian laughed heartily and exclaimed "Good!" three times!

Then, with trembling hands, he pulled a crumpled old cigarette from his pocket.

He had quit smoking a long time ago in order to save Li Chuan a tael of silver for food expenses.

These cigarettes were rolled a few months ago, and I haven't been able to bring myself to smoke them.

Now that a matter has been resolved, it's only natural to celebrate.

In the snowy night.

Li Nian lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and only then did he calm down a little.

Grandma Lin also ran out.

Li Chuan said helplessly:

"It's just breaking through to the Ming Jin level, nothing to worry about. Let's go inside and talk about it."

After the group went inside, Wang Xiumei slammed the door shut and then locked it with a wooden bolt.

It seems like she wants to pour out all the pent-up frustration of this period of time.

Inside the room, Qin Sanfeng and Li Qing were already seated.

Li Qing's eyes were complicated as he whispered:

"Achuan, Grandpa made the right choice back then."

After lifting stones at home for two or three months, Li Qing increasingly realized how difficult it was to learn martial arts.

If he were to go to the martial arts school, he might not be able to succeed.

Li Chuan laughed and scolded:

"Brother, you're being too polite. We're family, why say such things? Once I've earned enough money, I'll definitely send you to a martial arts school too."

Qin Sanfeng couldn't stop smiling when she heard this:

"Achuan, you can put your brother's matter aside for now. Take care of yourself first."

Before Li Chuan had even made the initial request, his statement didn't necessarily mean anything.

But now that he has broken through to the Ming Jin level, bringing up this topic again carries a completely different meaning.

Li Chuan placed the roast chicken, beef, and rice wine he was holding on the table.

Wang Xiumei fetched some lamp oil and lit the oil lamp after a long time.

Under the warm yellow light, the steaming roast chicken emitted a wonderful aroma.

Li Chuan tore off a chicken leg and gave it to Li Qing:

"Brother, you need to eat more meat now that you're working on your health and energy."

Then, the remaining chicken legs were distributed to the grandparents, mother, and aunt.

Li Nian hesitated and said:

"Achuan, although you have successfully passed the test, you still need to be careful with your money. We can eat some pickled vegetables, but you can't neglect your martial arts."

Li Chuan replied:

"Grandpa, don't worry. I've taken on a temporary job at the Luo family's pharmacy, with a monthly salary of three taels of silver. From now on, you don't need to give me any money for food. I'll save the money to improve my own meals. How can I eat pickled vegetables every day?"

"A monthly salary of three taels? A martial artist who has passed the gate is indeed different. No wonder so many people save money to send their children in!" Qin Sanfeng said in surprise.

Li Qing said in a muffled voice:

"Mother, that's because A-Chuan is highly skilled. I've heard that many Ming Jin martial artists only earn about one tael a month, and two taels is considered a lot."

Qin Sanfeng shook her head in disbelief:

"Our family has truly produced a martial arts prodigy!"

Li Nian was finally relieved and focused on enjoying the long-awaited meat.

The family enjoyed drinking Shaoxing wine, eating chicken and beef, and occasionally chewing on a piece of fine white rice.

Everyone's face was filled with joy and happiness.

Li Chuan downed the rest of the rice wine in one gulp, then smacked his lips:

"This alcohol content isn't even as high as the beer from my previous life, and it barely tastes like alcohol..."

Ancient winemaking techniques were not advanced, and high-proof liquors were rare.

"No wonder there's a saying that you can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk. It's like drinking water for you. Even though I'm only good at drinking three cups, I could probably drink several kilograms of liquor." Li Chuan thought to himself.

After they finished eating, Li Chuan took Li Qingju stones and taught him many other hammering and forging methods.

For example, you can tie a few stones to your legs before lifting the stone for better results.

About an hour later, Li Qing took the initiative to let Li Chuan go back to rest.

After spending one night at home, Li Chuan prepared to leave.

Mingjin is not the end point, nor does it mean that everything will be stable.

The martial arts exam will be held in six months.

If one can pass the imperial examination for martial arts, one will be granted a partial official position and will be exempt from taxes and corvée labor for three generations.

If it were just taxes, that would be fine, since he could earn money anyway, so he wasn't too worried.

But forced labor was the most deadly.

When corvée labor was conscripted, each household had to provide one or two able-bodied men.

Even with his background at Songfeng Martial Arts School, he might not be able to stand up to the county magistrate.

They might end up being dragged off their peaceful martial arts school and sent to work on canal repairs...

That was a high-risk job; very few of those who went to perform corvée labor ever came back.

"After being exempted from corvée labor, my father and uncle can also return, if they are still alive..."

Li Chuan sighed.

He didn't have any deep feelings for his father and uncle in this life.

After all, he had just transmigrated, and these two had already been gone for several months.

More than anything, it's about reuniting family members.

Although his grandfather didn't say it, Li Chuan could sense that he often missed his two sons.

They are, after all, one's own flesh and blood.

She just rarely shows it in front of him.

"Only the top fifty will be selected in the martial arts exam. There are many martial arts schools in Anning County. Songfeng Martial Arts School alone has eight or nine disciples with internal strength. If I want to be sure of entering the top fifty, internal strength alone is not enough. My fighting style also needs to be up to par." Li Chuan thought to himself.

Judging from this situation, he needs to break through to the Dark Force level within six months, and at least master the Tongbei Fist. It would also be best if he could also learn another fighting style to make himself even stronger.

After thinking it through, Li Chuan stepped into the market, intending to choose a type of meat to consume long-term.

Although pork was cheap, it wasn't enough for him, who was already quite strong.

Even if you eat your fill, you can only replenish about 70% of your Qi and blood.

The remaining three points can never be filled.

Based on this, Li Chuan also had some guesses:

"I'm afraid that once you reach the Ming Jin stage, the required 'quantity' of Qi and blood increases, and the requirements for 'quality' also become higher."

He can only increase the quantity of pork he eats, but he can't improve the quality.

Therefore, one must consume higher-grade meat.

Li Chuan's gaze swept back and forth across the butcher shop.

Venison is a good choice, but it costs 150 coins per catty!

Li Chuan smiled bitterly.

This is too expensive for him; he now eats about two pounds of meat a day.

That means it costs 300 coins a day, which is 9 taels of silver a month!

His monthly salary is only three or four taels of silver, which is not enough to support such a diet.

"Deer meat, pangolin, and bear paws... one tael per pound, why don't you just rob them!"

Each one is more expensive than the last!

After searching for a while, Li Chuan finally found a suitable one.

Donkey meat!

As the saying goes, "Dragon meat in the sky, donkey meat on the ground."

Donkey meat not only tastes good, but also has outstanding nutritional value.

Most importantly, it costs fifty coins per catty.

If you eat two catties a day, that's one hundred coins.

Three ounces a month is already the best meat he can afford.

Li Chuan carried six catties of donkey meat back to Songfeng Martial Arts School.