Chapter 1: Dreaming Back to the Ming Dynasty

What do you have! Do you think I, Wei Ming, care about you? Shouting at me, what are you shouting for! Let me tell you! I’ve had enough! I’m done! Although he said this, his eyes were already filled with tears. In order to win over this girl, Wei Ming had exerted tremendous effort, employing various means. He had nearly reached the point of being unscrupulous. Originally, he was quite simple and honest coming from the mountains, but after four years of being immersed in the urban melting pot, Wei Ming was no longer the same person he once was. He had indulged in smoking, drinking, and nightlife. From time to time, he would sneak glances at the skirts of girls. He now felt too ashamed to return home to face his fellow villagers. Thinking back to when he was sent off to school, the village chief personally led the procession, beating drums and setting off firecrackers. But now? What could he bring back to his village? Just a diploma?

Hehe, what's the big deal! If we break up, we break up! Who's afraid of whom! A real man has no need to worry about having no wife! Wei Ming weakly leaned against the railing at the edge of the rooftop and took a big swig of Erguotou. He had no intention of returning to his small underground room of just a few square meters. The cold wind on the rooftop might help him regain some clarity.

"No, no, I didn't mean it, please, please let me go, okay? Let me do anything, just let me go!" Wei Ming saw several big men approaching and quickly curled up, hiding in the corner of the wall, hoping to escape this calamity. However, this was completely ineffective. One of the big men came over and lifted his frail body as if he were a chick. Although he grew up in a mountain village, he had been weak since childhood. This was also a major reason why he was determined to study hard. He was originally the top student in the school, but he was outmatched by the second-generation official whose father was the county mayor. The only spot for independent enrollment was given to this second-generation official who ranked second. Their high school was not particularly good, and that official's child did not even get into that prestigious university. If Wei Ming's college entrance examination scores were combined with the points for independent enrollment, he would have been able to enter that university. For this reason, Wei Ming even thought about causing a scene at school, or secretly throwing a brick at the director. However, in the end, he was too timid and did nothing. He ended up at this second-rate school.

What to do? The several burly men looked at each other, unsure of how to proceed. This matter was originally intended to be a lesson for this reckless young man, followed by a hefty extortion, and then it would be considered resolved. If they could recall today's incident in the future and happened to encounter this young man again, no one would mind giving him another beating. However, now this kid was insisting on making a scene, leaving the group of thugs at a loss. After all, no one wanted to escalate things to the point of causing a death.

Ah! They all say that if you don't seek trouble, you won't get into trouble. The little guy, before launching an attack, let out a loud shout, wanting to feel a sense of presence. However, this shout scared Wei Ming so much that he lost his footing and fell headfirst to the ground. The big man stared in shock at everything happening, muttering to himself: "What the hell"

"Do not be agitated; let us speak calmly." At this moment, the short individual had already circled around to Wei Ming's side. As expected, the short individual, who usually had a low presence, did not attract Wei Ming's attention. Glancing over at the burly man, the leader was both calming Wei Ming and signaling for the short individual to act quickly. The weather was not favorable; the rooftop was windy, and a small vest was hardly sufficient for warmth, it was very cold.

"Don't come over! If you come any closer, I'll jump!" Wei Ming climbed over the railing, looking terrified as he stared at several burly men.

"Peel my skin off, no, no, I still want to live, I still want to bring glory to my ancestors, I still want to... I cannot go with you, I cannot!" Wei Ming murmured to himself, while the strong men paid him no mind, thinking he was merely frightened. In the end, with a roar filled with tremors, Wei Ming, not knowing where he found the strength, broke free from the strong man's grasp. His movements became much more agile; rolling on the ground, he reached the edge of the rooftop.

The sound of the disconnection on the phone made Wei Ming feel a wave of headache. He squatted on the ground, pulling at his hair with all his might. Since childhood, whether it was family, teachers, or relatives, they all told him that only by getting into university could he have a successful future. Only then could he live in the city, marry a beautiful wife, and buy a big house to live in. However, he has now been admitted to university, yet everything he desires remains out of reach. The city life he dreamed of since childhood is not like this at all! If he had known it would be this way, why did he struggle so hard to study back then!

"To hell with this damn society!" I originally wanted to take another sip of wine, but I found that the bottle was already empty. I stood up unsteadily and angrily threw the wine bottle off the rooftop. With a loud crash, it seemed to smash something. Accompanying this was the sound of a car alarm. Wei Ming's drunkenness faded significantly. This is the eighth floor. What if it hits someone when thrown down? Accompanying this was the sound of a car alarm. Wei Ming's drunkenness faded significantly. This is the eighth floor. What if it hits someone when thrown down? Even if it doesn't hit anyone, what if it hits something else? I don't have the money to compensate anyone! I cautiously leaned out to take a look down and happened to see a few burly men pointing and gesturing towards me.

What? What are you saying! You actually dare to yell at me! Wei Ming, let me tell you, I won't fall for your tricks anymore! I'm telling you, if you don't resolve the issue with the house, then let's break up! Beep beep beep...

Young man, you have quite the audacity to even dare to smash the car of our boss at hetushucom.com. I see you must be tired of living! Get up!" A burly man took off his sunglasses and approached, reaching out to grab Wei Ming.

You all go ahead. I swear, I will compensate you, but not now; I truly have no money at the moment. Wei Ming thought that if they dared to come over, he would jump down. Even if he died from the fall, he could not allow them to capture him and skin him alive. The body and skin are given by one's parents; how could he let them do as they please? With the resolve to die, he was no longer so afraid, and his speech became much more fluent.

"Buying a house, buying a house, where do I have the money to buy that thing!" Standing on the rooftop, Wei Ming held a bottle of Red Star Erguotou in one hand and shouted into his phone with the other. His girlfriend had called again, urging him to buy a house and a car. Normally, he would never have the courage to shout at his girlfriend, whom he had finally managed to win over. But today, fueled by a bit of alcohol, he finally acted like a man.

Let you go? Who will let me go! Who told you to smash our boss's car? Kid, sins committed by heaven can still be forgiven. Sins of your own making cannot be tolerated, just leave!" Saying this, he was about to take Wei Ming away.

"Come down, come down, let's have a good talk." A burly man, who fancied himself somewhat clever, signaled to a shorter individual beside him, who nodded in understanding. The shorter man quietly approached Wei Ming from the other side. Due to his short stature, frail body, and lack of agility, he was often looked down upon by others. However, now he finally had an opportunity to showcase his abilities. Naturally, he wanted to seize this chance. Due to his short stature, frail body, and lack of agility, he was often looked down upon by others. However, now he finally had an opportunity to showcase his abilities. Naturally, he wanted to seize this chance.

Modern urban life exerts tremendous pressure on individuals. Wei Ming, who hails from a mountain village and has only managed to enroll in a second-tier university, feels this pressure even more acutely. As he approaches graduation, he finds himself without a job, while his girlfriend is pressuring him to buy a house and a car in order to get married. How can he, with no money to his name, confront this situation

"Alright, it was that kid who threw the bottle! Go grab him for me! I want to skin him alive!" shouted one of the burly men. Wei Ming heard everything clearly. Below, there was a commotion, and the man continued to stand there, cursing incessantly, but Wei Ming's mind was buzzing, and he couldn't hear anything. He felt in his pocket and found only twenty-eight yuan and fifty cents left. His phone, which he had bought from the second-hand market while trying to pursue that girl, was practically worthless. The clothes he wore were also counterfeit products. What 360 degrees, not Nike or anything like that. He had damaged someone else's car; how could he compensate them? Should he skin himself? He stole another glance at the burly man below, whose arms were covered in various strange tattoos, and Wei Ming believed that the guy was very likely to act on his threats. The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became. He wanted to run, but his legs felt weak. His ankles were trembling. He couldn't even stand, let alone run. After a while, with a loud "bang," the rooftop door was kicked open, startling Wei Ming awake.