Chapter 1, My brother is named Liu Bei

He is aware of this for two reasons: on one hand, he has a certain understanding of the style of furniture and decoration in the room, recognizing that these items are from the Han Dynasty; on the other hand, he has heard that he has a brother in this life, who, although not his biological sibling, is a historically renowned figure. Coupled with his own age, he can roughly deduce that it is now the late Eastern Han period, before the famous Yellow Turban Rebellion has occurred. The Han Dynasty still resembles a magnificent high-rise building, which, although internally decayed, maintains an imposing and powerful exterior.

Although this result is not the best

Liu Xiu was pondering when his "mother" Tang approached with a long face, casting a glance at Liu Bei. Liu Bei immediately halted his conversation and bowed respectfully, saying: "I have met you, esteemed aunt."

Liu Xiu responded with a sound, remaining seated without moving, enjoying the service of the future emperor of Shu, yet feeling no sense of pride; instead, he secretly furrowed his brows. Perhaps it was due to having seen too many hypocritical individuals in his past life, or perhaps it was because he understood that this emperor, who truly rose from humble beginnings, was most adept at winning people's hearts, leading him to instinctively feel wary of Liu Bei's actions today

And! I don't even know what got into him, suddenly wanting to study. If he wants to go crazy by himself, that's fine, but he insists on dragging you into this suffering, and isn't it just because he wants our family to pay..." Tang was still chattering away, venting her frustrations about Liu Bei, who had already disappeared from sight, her indignation evident in her words. While speaking, she reminded Liu Xiu, "Son, when your grandfather comes back later, just say that you are still unwell and cannot study, do you hear me?"

It was precisely due to this commendable character that, in a friendship spanning generations, he exchanged a lifetime of savings for a piece that, despite being accompanied by an appraisal certificate from a certain expert, was ultimately determined to be a forgery. After falling gravely ill, he spent ten years honing his skills to become a master forger, and then meticulously devised a scheme that led that so-called expert, whose conscience was worth only three thousand yuan, to pay the price of ruin and bankruptcy.

Until now, Liu Bei has not yet become a disciple of Lu Zhi

To pay respects to a good teacher is akin to holding a golden rice bowl. Liu Xiu understands this principle as well. Although the system of passing down knowledge from master to apprentice has been abolished in the previous life, having a renowned mentor while pursuing a master's or doctor's degree is still a matter of great pride and significantly beneficial for future competition. Moreover, in feudal society, the bond between teacher and student was as close as that of father and son. As the saying goes, once a teacher, always a father. This applies equally to martial arts and academic studies.

In that moment, he suddenly understood that the destruction of the physical body is the most complete and direct form of annihilation; in the face of brutal force, everything else is but a fleeting illusion

Having been here for three months, after experiencing shock, fear, confusion, and a slight sense of rebirth, he has accepted the reality before him, discarded those unhelpful grievances, and begun to consider the more practical difficulties at hand. In this regard, Liu Xiu has always felt that he is a person with a thick skin to the point of shamelessness; when faced with any difficulty, he can always concentrate his energy on solving the problem as quickly as possible, rather than indulging in emotions that are of no help.

Looking at the gentle and almost ingratiating smile on the face of the young man before him, Liu Xiu smiled. Although he felt that the assertion made by the scholar, who claimed he would become a nobleman in the future, was largely nonsensical, he could not deny that even if it was nonsense, it was still somewhat insightful nonsense.

Liu Xiu gazed at the rippling reflection in the basin, observing the slight naivety and coarseness evident in his square face and features. He pondered what secret lay behind Liu Bei's unusual behavior today. In order to deal with that so-called expert, he had endured hardships for ten years, believing that he had gained some insights into human nature.

Although there is no evidence, he does not doubt at all that the two thugs who appeared to have encountered him by chance were hired by someone. Perhaps he cannot find the evidence, but he has never been one to be constrained by so-called evidence. Compared to those who seem just and yet have become distorted in essence before the law, he trusts his own strength more, even if that strength is not sufficiently powerful

Because this young man is capable of earning the unwavering loyalty of thousands, including the formidable Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun, and can persuade the exceptionally intelligent Zhuge Liang to come out of retirement to assist him. He stands as a hero alongside the cunning Cao Cao and the ambitious Sun Quan, known as Liu Bei, also referred to as Liu Xuande.

Brother, I have brought the water; you should wash up quickly. Look at you, all sweaty. It wouldn't be good if the elder sees you.

Seeing Liu Xiu remain silent, Liu Bei helplessly pursed his lips and continued, "This time is different from the past; this time, the gentleman is the esteemed scholar Lu Zhi from Zhuo County. After reaching adulthood, he has been studying and serving in various positions outside. If it were not for his poor health, he would not have returned home to recuperate, and it would have been impossible for us to even meet him, let alone study under him. I believe you are aware that he is a disciple of the great Confucian Ma Rong from Fufeng. If I could enter his school, even if it were just for record-keeping, it would not be a problem to later serve as a minor official in Zhuo County."

Tang Shi's words, which had flowed like a string of arrows, suddenly came to a halt. She pushed Liu Xiu away and looked at him with some concern, hesitatingly saying: "My child, are you truly still unwell, or have you once again been deceived by a few words from that rascal?"

Since he came into this world for more than three months, Liu Bei had visited him several times, but had never served him so proactively. On the contrary, when Liu Bei was in front of him, he always held his head high, rather than bowing submissively as he did in front of his "father" Liu Yuanqi and "mother" Tang.

There are no "what ifs" in this world, so Liu Xiu no longer dwells on those matters. After all, ten years ago, when he was preparing to take revenge on that expert with extensive connections both inside and outside the circle, he had already mentally prepared himself. Moreover, the current outcome does not seem to be the worst after all

It is not surprising for someone to be illiterate; the question is why Liu Bei should know this. Why would he bring up the matter of reading?

Liu Xiu stood up, walked out of the room, and moved around in the yard for a while. He then began to manipulate several stone locks, practicing until he was drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted before stopping. He sat on the stone locks, looking at the bulging chest muscles beneath his sweaty skin, revealing a satisfied smile. After resting for a while, he was just about to get up to fetch a bucket of water from the front yard to wash himself off when a young man, about fifteen or sixteen years old, approached quickly with a water bucket, smiling before he even spoke.

Having roughly understood the era he was in, and realizing that although his new home could be considered relatively well-off, it was certainly not one of power and influence, Liu Xiu knew that the greatest challenge he would face in the near future was to preserve this life he had regained. In chaotic times, a person is better off being a dog in peaceful days. Although Liu Xiu had a bit of scholarly arrogance, he understood this principle. He was also self-aware; while art might allow him to live a carefree life in times of peace, it could not provide him with even a shred of security in chaotic times. Even if one could wield a pen with brilliance, it was still not as tangible as a knife.

Moreover, he received an unexpected gift, which is that his current body is very strong, as strong as an ox. If he had been half as strong in his previous life, he believes that even if he were not a match for those two thugs, he could at least have made a clean getaway, avoiding such a humiliating death. Perhaps he would once again stand before that so-called expert, humiliating him once more, repaying him in kind.

Liu Bei glanced at him, handed the rolled-up towel to him, and sighed with relief, saying: "Now I can rest assured, there will definitely be no problem with going to study"

Liu Xiu stood with his back to Liu Bei, unable to see the expression on Liu Bei's face. He only sensed that Liu Bei's hand, which was wiping away his sweat, paused for a moment before returning to calmness, quickly drying his sweat. It was only then that Liu Bei turned to face Liu Xiu, while washing his hands in the water, and said: "Elder brother, seeing you like this, you must be fine, right?"

Liu Xiu is merely a master of art forgery, not a history expert. He is well-versed in the history related to artworks, but beyond that, he remains at the stage of listening to stories. After more than three months, he still has not figured out what year it is, only knowing that it is roughly the late Eastern Han period. This place is called Zhuo County, which should be in the north, but he is also unclear about the specific location.

Liu Xiu is not the kind of person who exudes overwhelming charisma. Since his brother, who is said to be born with a noble destiny, is destined to become a long-distance runner, toiling throughout his life before finally establishing himself in the southwest, what reason does he have to believe that he can shake his mighty frame, attract heroes, point his sword, and win the hearts of the world?

Liu Xiu suddenly realized, pondered for a moment, and then laughed softly, saying: "Mother, I also want to go to school"

Hmm. Liu Xiu smiled and nodded, bending his arm to strike a pose, demonstrating that he was in excellent health.

Liu Bei spoke slowly and unhurriedly, sounding rather plain; however, Liu Xiu sensed a hint of unease in his words. As soon as Liu Bei mentioned Lu Zhi's name, he recalled that Lu Zhi's name had been etched in history not because of his exceptional scholarship, but fundamentally due to two students: one was Liu Bei, who was currently persuading him to pursue his studies, and the other was the renowned Gongsun Zan of Baima, although it seemed that neither of them possessed much knowledge.

If the enemy does not move, I will not move

Indeed, Li Jun sent someone to invite Uncle to the city to discuss the matter of us going to school. Liu Bei stood up, lowered his head to look at Liu Xiu, who had been silently wiping his sweat, and his brow involuntarily furrowed. Liu Xiu had suddenly fallen into a coma three months ago and lay in bed for several days. Although he recovered quickly, he always felt that something had changed within him. Everything else remained the same; his brows were still the same, his eyes were still the same, but the common expression of indifference between his brows and eyes had gradually faded without him realizing it. Moreover, he no longer talked as much as before and had become more of a listener. Often, he felt a strange sensation that the Liu Xiu before him was a different person.

"Reading?" Liu He asked casually while wiping the sweat off his body. He did not look at Liu Bei's expression, but was very surprised inside. He did not know whether Liu Bei liked reading; it seemed that a person capable of achieving great things would not be illiterate. However, he was well aware of what kind of person this body originally belonged to; there was not a single piece of paper or a pen to be found in his room, certainly indicating that he was not someone who enjoyed reading.

Therefore, Liu Xiu is currently dedicating himself wholeheartedly to physical training, treating it as seriously as his previous life's fraudulent endeavors. He invests all his energy into this pursuit, practicing meditation to cultivate his vital energy every morning and evening. During the day, he engages with stone weights and stone locks in the courtyard, and at night, he runs long distances with added weight, seizing every moment to become stronger.

Hmph! Tang Shi huffed in annoyance: "You don't need to say much more. Not to mention that my Ah Xiu has been ill and hasn't fully recovered, even if he weren't sick, he is the type who gets a headache just from looking at a book. He simply isn't cut out for reading and writing, and he won't become a noble like you. He won't go to school, so there's no need for you to persuade him. You should go back and help your mother weave a few more pairs of straw sandals, then take them to the county to sell. Perhaps you can raise some tuition fees."

She launched into a scolding tirade, leaving Liu Bei's face flushed and filled with embarrassment. He could only mumble a few words before turning around and fleeing as if in haste.

Regarding this point, he is psychologically prepared. Even when that so-called prosperous era arrives, there will still be a significant number of illiterates. Moreover, since the printing technique has not yet emerged, the dissemination of books relies solely on hand-copying, making it even less likely for there to be widespread literacy. One can infer from the items in this courtyard that the original "Liu Xiu" was likely a physically strong individual with a simple mind, completely illiterate.

Liu Xiu let out a long sigh, then sat silently for a moment. He warmed his hands, first wiping his face, and then gently patting his entire body. Finally, he slowly opened his eyes, using a ray of morning light that filtered through the window to survey this strange yet familiar room.

Therefore, running away seems to be a relatively feasible option, and he currently possesses a physique that appears quite suitable for fleeing

Liu Xiu did not speak, merely smiling silently. He knew that the Li Jun mentioned by Liu Bei was the renowned scholar Li Ding, who had asserted that Liu Bei would achieve great success in the future. In the rarely distinguished Zhuo County, Li Ding was a notable figure, which explained why his "father" held such authority in the village and was so eager to accept Li Ding's invitation.

Thank you. Liu Xiu nodded slightly, while Liu Hetushu smiled silently, put down the water bucket, turned around to fetch a wooden basin, poured water into it, and before Liu Xiu could react, soaked a coarse cloth towel in the water. Then, quite naturally, he moved behind Liu Xiu, helping to wipe the sweat off his back while saying with a smile: "Let me help you wipe your back."

Perhaps it was heaven's providence; when he opened his eyes, he found himself not standing before Yama for judgment, but reborn in Zhuojun during the late Eastern Han dynasty. Although the four walls around him were vastly different from the environment he was once familiar with, for someone who inherently disliked the concrete jungle of steel and cement, these four earthen walls were not so difficult to accept.

On the night of vengeance, he burned the counterfeit "Tang Bohu's Lady with Flowers" painting, which had absorbed his heart and soul, in front of his old friend’s spirit. Afterward, he got thoroughly drunk but was attacked by two thugs on his way home. In the world of art forgery, he was nothing but a frail scholar, panting like a dog after running a hundred meters, and naturally, he was no match for the two thugs. Although he was furious like a mad dog and fought back, he was still stabbed twice, tragically collapsing on the street, becoming a dead dog.

The cold gaze of the "father" and the pained tears of the "mother" were not within his consideration. He was not even interested in understanding why this father looked at his own son with such indifference, a coldness that was even less than that directed at the younger brother, who seemed to be very far away from him. Was he not truly his biological son? Or was it because that kid had once said something impressive, leading to the belief that he would surely achieve more than his own son in the future? Liu Xiu acknowledged that the kid would indeed amount to something in the future, but at present, it seemed that apart from being somewhat mature for his age, he was not much different from other children, lacking any semblance of the innate aura of nobility.

Mao family? Liu Xiu thought for quite a while but still could not recall who this person was. However, from Liu Bei's accent, it could be inferred that this Mao family was likely a prominent figure in the vicinity, possibly even a local bully of sorts.

However, it is clear that "he" does not like reading, so why does Liu Bei repeatedly say "we" and continuously ask "how will you be in the future"?

The elder brother is wholeheartedly devoted to martial arts, probably unaware of how many methods the uncle has considered to provide him with a way out. Now that the opportunity has arisen, having become a disciple of Lu Zhi, in the future, even the powerful and influential Mao family will have to show some respect when mentioned. Liu Bei continued to speak leisurely, his tone light, as if he were not in the least bit anxious.