Starting as a dockworker

Chapter 2 Loyalty and Righteousness Martial Arts School, Pork Lard Rice!

A fresh breeze from across the ocean has already reached this decaying land.

Stepping onto the cobblestone path, the streetscape is a mix of old and new, a sight to behold.

Appliance stores, watch shops, photo studios... these novelties sprang up like mushrooms after rain.

Beneath the blue bricks and gray tiles, the banners of the silk shop and the glass windows of the foreign goods store face each other.

Oil lamps and tin toys illuminated Western-style signs; girls in modern school uniforms walked by carrying "Mr. Democracy" magazines, while an old man in a long robe shook his head beside them, and the sounds of rickshaw bells and dock whistles mingled together.

The air was thick with the sweet scent of Western soap and the bitter taste of Western medicine, all mingling with the decadence of the opium den.

On the wall, proclamations of exorbitant taxes and wanted posters stood side by side; as gray-clothed soldiers walked by, pedestrians hurriedly gave way.

"Loyalty and Righteousness Martial Arts School..."

After crossing two streets, Li Xiao's gaze lingered for a moment in front of the martial arts school.

This martial arts school is located in a back alley, in a large courtyard with stone lions on both sides. A wooden plaque with the words "Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness" hangs at the entrance, and couplets on both sides read "Practice fists and feet to strengthen the body, learn martial arts to protect the family."

Zhongyi Martial Arts School has the lowest tuition fees in the city, and classes are held in the evening.

Most of the trainees were dockworkers, shop assistants, and errand runners...

"Martial arts exist in this world!"

Li Xiao initially thought this was a chaotic era similar to the Republic of China, until he witnessed a brawl between martial arts figures at the docks, where one man leaped three zhang (approximately 10 meters) high and shattered a granite slab with a single punch...

With power beyond that of ordinary people, how could Li Xiao resist such temptation?

For the past month, Li Xiao has been working at the docks. Every day, in addition to paying his share of the money he earns, he also has to buy a lot of food and equip himself with an old towel. His stomach is like a bottomless pit.

So far, he hasn't been able to raise enough money to pay for the martial arts school tuition.

"Li Asi".

A laborer dressed in tattered clothes like Li Xiao, with a mole on the corner of his mouth, came over to greet him.

"Kaiko?"

Li Xiao was slightly taken aback, then looked in the direction of the martial arts school and said, "You're going to learn martial arts?"

Liu Kai worked at the same dock as him, and was a foreman who made a living under him.

The two were of similar age, so they became acquainted.

He was a local. His family had some property in his younger years, but his father became addicted to gambling and squandered the family fortune, which led him to drift around doing manual labor.

However, his life was a little better.

Since we didn't enter the dock through the Black Tiger Gang's route, we didn't have to pay so much in fees.

"Yes, I just arrived yesterday."

Liu Kai said with a smile, "I saved up for a year and finally saved enough for one term's tuition to come and learn martial arts. I heard from the senior brothers there that as long as you can make a name for yourself, you'll have the opportunity to join a gang or become a bodyguard for a wealthy family. It's better than being a laborer for the rest of your life..."

As he spoke, he lowered his head and whispered, "Ah Si, you should hurry up and save some money to train at the martial arts school. These gangs will directly recruit people from the school. You're so strong, you'll definitely be able to do it! Look at how imposing Big Dog Qiang is, asking you for money every day. He's from a martial arts school..."

That's right, joining a gang isn't easy.

Previously, Li Xiao thought that with his strength, joining a gang would definitely be better than being a laborer.

But he had no connections, so he tried to talk to the big dog who exploited him, but the dog scoffed at him.

"You mean, Big Dog Qiang has practiced martial arts?"

"What do you think? Don't let his skinny appearance fool you, he's incredibly strong! Last year at the docks, seven laborers, relying on their strength, ganged up on him and refused to pay his share. Guess what happened?"

"What's wrong?"

"He beat them all to death on the spot with his bare hands; their heads were smashed to mush..."

"....."

Li Xiao took a deep breath. No wonder Big Dog Qiang looked down on him.

So he has this skill after all...

Honestly, even if I can carry a 600-pound sack right now, many people at the docks can do it too.

But it was simply impossible for him to deal with seven dockworkers at the same time with his bare hands.

"That's all, Ah Si, I'm going in."

Liu Kaizi pointed to the martial arts school, his face beaming with excitement.

"Don't forget your brother when you make it big!"

"Just you wait!"

Liu Kai waved confidently and turned to enter the martial arts hall.

One after another, many people headed into the gate of the Zhongyi Martial Arts School.

All sorts of people were there: dockworkers, restaurant waiters, rickshaw pullers...

I heard that martial arts schools used to be very strict about accepting students.

Age, physical attributes, background... none of these can be lacking.

But now the trend has changed; as long as you have money, even a beggar on the street can learn martial arts.

"The martial arts school is a stepping stone; only by entering the martial arts school can one have the opportunity to explore other paths in life..."

With this in mind, Li Xiao silently planned how to save money.

After walking through several streets, we arrived at a shantytown.

This place is like another world compared to the bustling areas of the city.

Bamboo supports formed pillars and beams, the roof was covered with straw, reed mats formed walls, and the ground was covered with dried mud. As far as the eye could see, there were densely packed, haphazardly constructed buildings where people and animals lived together, and the stench was overwhelming.

This is a gathering place for the poor; the rent is cheap, and one dollar can cover a month's rent.

Even before entering the house, you can smell a strong tobacco aroma.

Laborers and workers... many of them sat on benches outside, smoking cheap opium.

Li Xiao walked to the front of his house and pushed open the door.

A woman wearing a blue-and-white silk cloak was busy in the kitchen.

This woman was Fang Huishu, Li Xiao's mother. Her father, who was also Li Xiao's maternal grandfather, was Fang Hong, the former prefect of Qinghe. Therefore, her clothes were still in the style of the previous dynasty.

The sound of violent coughing coming from the kitchen from time to time pained Li Xiao.

The mothers in this world have suffered far more than the mothers in the previous life.

My father left when I was three years old, going to Shenghai to make a living, and I never heard from him again.

He abandoned his mother and child in the countryside.

His mother worked as a helper for other families, raising him single-handedly.

The daughter of a former prefect, whose hands, which had never lifted a finger, are now covered in calluses.

In this world, it's too difficult for a woman to raise a child alone.

Li Xiao vowed to make the mothers of this world live a good life and not suffer so much.

That night, the moon rose over the eastern mountains, resembling the shape of Mount Emei.

The tung oil lamps had a pungent smell, but they were inexpensive, and their dim yellow light illuminated the room.

Fang Shuhui brought out a bowl of stir-fried vegetables and tofu, and two bowls of rice from the kitchen.

One of the bowls of rice was filled to the brim in a large porcelain soup bowl, piled up like a small mountain.

"My son, ever since you woke up, your appetite has become more and more outrageous."

Fang Shuhui looked at Li Xiao and felt that her son had changed a lot in the past month.

Sometimes, he felt that the son in front of him was somewhat unfamiliar.

"Mom, how can you do hard labor if you don't eat?"

"Eat up, eat up."

Fang Shuhui was still quite gratified. No matter what, her son made her feel more at ease than before.

He's no longer that reckless, impetuous young man.

"Yes, Mom, you eat too. You eat the vegetables, I don't want any."

Li Xiao picked up the large bowl, poured in fragrant lard and soy sauce, and stirred it well.

Take a big spoonful, fill your mouth with it, and start chewing... Ah, so delicious!

The lard was rendered from purchased pork fat, from native pigs raised without any technological advancements.

The soy sauce is brewed by a time-honored brand using soybeans that have been sun-dried for a whole year; there's absolutely no technology involved.

This rice with soy sauce and lard is truly a delicacy!

After a long day, this was the most enjoyable moment for Li Xiao...

There's family, there's a hot meal...

This provides Li Xiao, who came here alone, with a safe haven in this unfamiliar world.