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

Li Nian forced a smile and said:

"Ah Chuan, I didn't scare you, did I? Don't worry about things at home, I'll handle it."

Grandma Chen came over and lovingly touched Li Chuan's hand:

"My Chuan'er has suffered. The autumn wind is blowing hard now, so don't let him catch a cold."

As the youngest grandson in the family, and with the hope of passing the imperial examinations, Li Chuan was very much loved by his grandparents.

To earn money for his martial arts training and medicine, the elderly couple, who should have been enjoying their retirement, also came to help out at the breakfast shop.

Working from morning till night every day, I gradually became thinner.

After all, a family like theirs can't possibly earn money only for one morning.

My uncle's family also includes my aunt and cousin.

The family consists of six people, plus his expenses for martial arts training.

The breakfast stall sells steamed buns in the morning and noodles in the afternoon and evening.

Even so, it was barely enough to support him at the martial arts school.

I heard that he occasionally borrows money from others to make ends meet.

It could be said that the whole family had pinned their hopes on him.

Li Chuan couldn't help but curse under his breath again.

Such a family is something many people would love to have.

Not only did the original owner not cherish it, but he also used his family's hard-earned money to win a smile from a beauty.

Damn it!

"Xiumei, invite Sanfeng and Aqing to dinner," Li Nian said to Wang Xiumei.

Before long, Qin Sanfeng, dressed in gray and white linen, sat down with Li Qing.

Aunt Qin Sanfeng and cousin Li Qing run this breakfast shop together with them.

After my father and uncle were conscripted for forced labor, the two families depended on each other for survival.

Ordinary people with no connections can only survive by sticking together and helping each other.

Li Chuan looked down and saw that Qin Sanfeng and Li Qing both had large and small blisters on their hands.

That's what they earned working day and night at the breakfast shop.

He observed that his aunt, Qin Sanfeng, had a worried look in her eyes, as if she had something on her mind.

"Sit down and eat," Li Nian said.

Li Chuan shifted his gaze to the octagonal table in front of him.

You can vaguely tell that this eight-immortal table is made of good material.

But recently, due to lack of funds for repairs, some cracks have appeared on it, making it look rather unsightly.

The other five people each had a bowl of brown rice and pickled vegetables in front of them.

Only in front of Li Chuan were fine white rice and braised pork.

The aroma of meat filled the air.

Li Chuan could hear the sounds of people swallowing, more or less.

The family was originally quite wealthy, but the two men were conscripted for corvée labor, and they also had to support Li Chuan's martial arts school. Now they live frugally and have become like this.

Looking at Li Nian and his grandmother Chen, who are nearly sixty years old, they still eat coarse rice and pickled vegetables.

Li Chuan felt a pang of sadness for no apparent reason.

Cousin Li Qing looked at the tender braised pork, his mouth watering involuntarily. After hesitating for a moment, he said:

"Grandpa, I want to eat meat too."

Li Nian thought for a moment, then scooped a spoonful of juice for Li Qing, before shaking off half of it before reaching the bowl.

Qin Sanfeng said with dissatisfaction:

"Dad, you're being so unfair! Hasn't Aqing sacrificed enough for the family all these years? You won't even give him a piece of meat!"

Li Nian glared at her:

"Sanfeng, Achuan is the hope of the whole family. Aqing, please be patient for now. Once he passes the imperial examination, will he forget your help?"

If we wait for him, does that mean our own son deserves to suffer?

Qin Sanfeng's eyes were slightly red.

Since her husband left, the pressure on the breakfast shop has increased dramatically.

Aqing worked tirelessly with her every day, and all the money they earned was used to support Li Chuan's martial arts training, while their own son couldn't even afford a piece of meat.

Seeing his mother's eyes redden, Li Qing seemed to have made up his mind and said in a deep voice:

"Grandpa, I want to learn martial arts too!"

Wang Xiumei looked surprised and quickly tried to dissuade him:

"Ah Qing, not just anyone can learn martial arts; you need to have the natural talent."

Li Qing's voice was hoarse:

"A few days ago, I was also found to have inferior physical constitution."

Li Qing looked at Li Nian, hoping to get a positive answer from him.

Unexpectedly, Li Nian frowned:

"Aqing, don't be ridiculous. You don't know our family's situation. We can only afford to support Achuan's martial arts training."

Li Qing gritted his teeth:

"We're both of inferior aptitude, so why should I have to work myself to death at the breakfast stall while Ah Chuan can go to the martial arts school to train? In terms of contributions to this family, I'm much greater than Ah Chuan!"

Li Nian said coldly:

"Ah Qing! Ah Chuan has been learning martial arts at the martial arts school for four months, and he's almost at the crucial moment of breaking through. In terms of the chances of a breakthrough, he's much better off than you!"

Qin Sanfeng wiped away her tears and stood up:

"Father, you're always so biased. A-Chuan is your grandson, but isn't A-Qing?"

"Since that's the case, let's just... split up!"

The Li family's money was originally intended for Li Nian to manage. Qin Sanfeng's talk of dividing the family property was actually a way for them to earn and keep their own money.

But these family ties are often maintained by money.

If they separate, it means their relationship is over.

It implies that we should each go our own way and never see each other again.

Li Nian was so angry that he trembled and slammed his fist on the table.

"You've all turned against me! I want your money? I'm doing this for the family! I could be resting in the countryside, not having to work so hard. But so that A-Chuan can make something of himself, get tax and corvée reductions, and not have to suffer the pain of separation from loved ones, I, an old man, have come to work in this shop!"

"Did I ever have even the slightest selfish motive?"

Li Qing bit his lip until it bled.

For the family, for the family, it's always for the family.

It's better to leave a home like this!

Just as Li Qing was about to get up and leave, a voice suddenly rang out.

"Brother, if you want to learn martial arts, I can teach you first. After I pass the imperial examination, I will send you to a martial arts school."

Li Chuan looked at the flushed faces of the crowd and spoke slowly.

"What?" Li Qing was stunned.

In my memory, ever since this younger brother joined the martial arts school, he has never really respected him and has never bothered to call him "brother."

Wang Xiumei immediately became anxious:

"A-Chuan, your priority should be practicing martial arts properly. Don't let small things cause you to lose sight of the bigger picture!"

Li Nian nodded as well:

"Achuan, don't be silly. Don't let this affect your martial arts training, or you'll end up gaining nothing."

Li Chuan smiled:

"It won't interfere with my martial arts practice. I'll just tell my older brother a few tips."

After much persuasion from Li Chuan, Li Nian reluctantly agreed:

"Alright, every time you go home, take some time to teach Aqing for an hour or two, but don't make it too long."

After everyone was seated, Li Chuan picked up a piece of braised pork and handed it to Li Qing:

"Big brother, you eat meat."

Li Qingping was usually a man of few words. Li Chuan's previous words had made him feel extremely guilty, and this action touched his heartstrings even more.

Li Qing shook his head:

"Achuan, eat. I was rash before. You are the most promising student in the family to pass the imperial examinations. I can't hold you back because of you!"

Li Chuan couldn't persuade him otherwise, so he had no choice but to eat it himself.

The atmosphere at the dinner table changed from tense to harmonious.

Li Chuan ate the delicious braised pork, feeling somewhat wistful.

Often, what leads to the breakdown of a family is something trivial.

But everyone's circumstances are different, making it difficult for them to understand each other, and no one is willing to compromise.

In the end, it fell apart.

Sometimes, a small concession can bring understanding and a resolution.

He also learned this lesson through hard work and struggle in society in his previous life.