Over time in this new world, he'd gotten used to most inconveniences, even almost resigned to the omnipresent lice, bedbugs, and other tiny pests constantly biting him here and there. Getting rid of them only worked temporarily, so out of habit, he grabbed all the mats from the house, dumped them in a tub of water, and left them until the bugs drowned. Then he washed himself and laundered his clothes.

  "The little ones'll just bring new fleas," he sighed. "But I can't wash 'em myself since the girls are more afraid of me than death. They'd have a heart attack if I made 'em bathe. Tsk."

  Sunbathing in just a simple cloth wrapped around his waist and loins, he waited for his clothes to dry. Neighbor Hong Shu stepped into the yard to hang laundry and shook her head disapprovingly. Nudity here was indecent, against morals, yet she didn't leave and calmly did her thing. She rolled her eyes, frowned reproachfully, but occasionally glanced at Zhang Min's body.

  "Hey, Hong Shu," he winked.

  "You should be ashamed! Tsk!" she scolded.

  "You seen my girls by chance?" Zhang Min asked as if ignoring her tone.

  "Oh! So you remembered the kids?" She planted her hands on her hips, ready to rant, but recalled the neighbor hadn't been drinking lately, wasn't abusing the children, and was even earning decently now, so she softened. "Saw 'em. Two days ago they crashed at my place. Where now, dunno."

  "Thanks," her words brought him relief.

  "Ah, poor things," Hong Shu sighed.

  "What can ya do? Where're they hangin'?"

  "Wander the street, check with traders. Probably no crumb of food in the house," the woman advised, returning to her laundry. "Rumors'll reach 'em, and the girls'll come home themselves."

  "Thanks, Hong Shu. Thanks for everything. Got a favor..."

  "Mm?" She turned to him.

  "Need 'em washed... I mean the kids. I'm payin'!"

  "How much?" she squinted.

  "One small silver coin. Fair?"

  "Not too much for bathin' kids?"

  "Want me to offer somethin' else?" Zhang Min grinned sweetly, eyeing her figure.

  "Shameless! Tsk! Ain't been beaten lately?" She reached for the wide paddle for beating laundry.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  "Wasn't serious, wasn't! But the silver's real. Wanna repay ya for all the help. Deal?"

  "Fine."

  In the midday sun, clothes dried fast. Clean and refreshed, Zhang Min tied his hair with a cloth strip, strapped his sword to his belt, and headed out for shopping. Rumors of yesterday's fight had spread among the slum dwellers, so neighbors shot wary glances, eyeing his weapon suspiciously. Though he'd beaten the two uninvited guests without witnesses, the whole neighborhood knew the details like they'd seen it themselves.

  For once, gossip is handy, he thought. The girls'll hear I'm back and come home.

  Aiming to fuel the rumor fire more, Zhang Min strolled leisurely, loudly greeting every neighbor or acquaintance. He made straight for the trading street in the district, where crowds gathered most, bought rice, various veggies, even some fresh meat, and along the way returned part of what he'd borrowed before.

  The old Zhang Min owed many shopkeepers and vendors on the trading street; kind-hearted folks pitied his two daughters and out of goodwill let goods on credit. Cash, of course, they never lent. When the amount grew hefty, they cut off credit and didn't expect to see their money again. But the hardened debtor, drunkard, thief, and scammer unexpectedly repaid part, shocking the traders.

  "The world's gone mad," the veggie seller shook her head, tucking fifty coppers into her bosom. "You dyin' or somethin'?" she suddenly exclaimed, covering her mouth.

  "Nope," Zhang Min reassured.

  "Maybe you're cursed?" she asked kindly. "I know a good shaman."

  "See ya. Better get goin'."

  After stirring up noise on the trading street, he headed home, but on the way visited a carpenter, ordering a big tub-shaped bath to scrub Xue and Minzhu clean of dirt and lice. The master promised to finish in a day and deliver right to the doorstep, but asked for a advance. Seizing the chance, Zhang Min discussed a new front door, installing a lock—even just inside—fixing shutters, and other small jobs. They agreed on a price, with repairs set for the tub delivery day.

  Back home, Zhang Min cooked a meat and veggie pilaf, making plenty so three people could eat well a couple times. Leaving the covered pot to simmer on embers, he sampled his culinary masterpiece, then ate and went to the yard for a stretch.

  From the scroll, Zhang Min had gotten a training method promising to make him very strong. It involved some mythical Life Force or Inner Energy to surpass human body's limits. But none of it fit his usual worldview, so he doubted and hadn't tested it yet.

  I've seen plenty of weird shit here, defyin' logic, he thought. Might as well try it.

  Following the scroll’s instructions, he began with a thorough warm-up, feeling muscles stiff from the day’s inertia slowly coming back to life. Then he moved on to the main part: a series of static stances where he had to hold uncomfortable positions, and dynamic movements requiring total concentration and control. He performed slow, powerful squats until a tremble spread unbearably through his legs; he did lunges that set every fiber of his thighs on fire; he pushed himself up in push-ups, feeling his arms and chest grow heavy as lead.

  What impressed him most were the exercises for strengthening tendons and joints, reminiscent of yoga. He strained to twist into what felt like unnatural poses, feeling his tight, stubborn ligaments stretch to the point of cracking. His body was seriously lacking flexibility. Sweat poured off him in streams, his breath grew ragged, but he found himself actually enjoying the practice—it cleared his head, distracting him from unnecessary thoughts.

  When he finally stopped, his body felt heavy and numb, every movement echoing with a pleasant yet exhausting fatigue. His first full training session complete, he washed his face with cool water, rinsing off the sweat and weariness, and returned to the house to wait for the children to come back.