Chapter 5: Home

Wen'er, have you finished your tasks? Have you had dinner yet?

Upon arriving here, everything suddenly went dark, and I could see nothing at all. I stood at the alley entrance for quite a while without regaining my sight. For a poor family, managing to have three meals a day is already considered fortunate, and they certainly would not waste lamp oil for lighting. Moreover, there is little to be done at night.

Although it is a county town under the jurisdiction of Xi'an Prefecture, in addition to the county government, Hancheng also serves as the administrative center of Tongguan Road in Tongzhou, highlighting its significance. In fact, even in later times, it was considered a sub-prefectural city.

As an eighteen-year-old adult, how could I still have someone ask me to wash their feet? Gao Wen couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart. It seems that the owner of this body has very poor self-care abilities, no wonder they are called a fool.

But the sky had already darkened, and lights began to flicker in the city, dazzling like the Milky Way above. Looking out, this Han City appeared exceptionally large. This somewhat surprised Gao Wen, who had originally thought that Han City would merely be the size of a small hometown town, with two or three streets laid out in a grid and a population of one or two thousand being quite good. Especially in a city in the northwest, it could not be compared to the counties in Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

It was the voice of his mother, and Gao Wen was taken aback; the elderly person's hearing was surprisingly good.

A row of weapons stands on the weapon rack, including white wax rods and long spears. Next to the weapon rack, there is a target made of straw, and on the wooden wall outside my room hangs a bow and a quiver of arrows

In a hurry to get home, Gao Wen began to jog at the back.

It was also his luck that he arrived at the city gate of DiTou before it had closed

At this moment, it is evident that Hancheng is quite large, with an estimated population of around 50,000 to 60,000. Even in modern society, this is considered impressive. This situation is understandable, as Hancheng serves as a transportation hub between Shaanxi and Shanxi, facilitating continuous trade and a bustling marketplace. However, recently, the incursions of the Tatars into Shanxi have significantly reduced the transient population, now less than 30% of what it used to be. With the cessation of hostilities between the Ming Dynasty and the Tatars, this place should soon be able to restore its former lively atmosphere. However, the recent incursions of the Tatars into Shanxi have greatly diminished the transient population, now less than 30% of what it used to be. With the cessation of hostilities between the Ming Dynasty and the Tatars, this place should soon be able to restore its former lively atmosphere.

Watching the arrow that had struck true, trembling on the earthen wall, and feeling the surging strength in his arms, Galwen was greatly astonished: Hiss, when did I acquire such accuracy and such great strength

This brought exceptional joy to Gao Wen, who had long been troubled by cardiovascular diseases and constantly overshadowed by the specter of death.

The strict household registration system implemented during the Ming Dynasty required commoners to obtain a travel permit from the government office if they wished to travel more than 100 li. They had to explain the reason for their journey and when they would return. Without the appropriate documentation, if caught, they could face imprisonment for a few days at best, or exile to the frontier for service at worst. In every city, as soon as night fell, the city gates would be closed, enforcing a curfew. If one returned home late and was locked out, they would have to spend the night in the wilderness.

By the time of the Hongwu period, such paramilitary organizations would naturally not be allowed to exist; however, the atmosphere of martial arts practice among the populace was preserved. The state also did not prohibit the common people from collecting weapons for the purpose of honing their strength. Of course, armor and crossbows had to be strictly prohibited

En. Gao Wen pushed open the slightly ajar courtyard door and walked in

Suddenly, the loom stopped, and then an aged voice said: "Wen'er has returned? The courtyard gate is not closed, come in quickly!"

The Fire God Temple has long since collapsed, and everywhere are the remnants of walls and narrow alleys, along with low and dilapidated houses. This should be the slums of Hancheng. Living in such a community, it can be imagined that the Han family's days are also quite difficult

Armor, fire, books, and crossbows are standard weapons of regular armies. What does a common citizen like you need these for? Do you intend to rebel?

The bow arm howls, soaring and flamboyant under the moonlight, like a dragon awakening from its slumber

At this moment, this composite yew bow fell into his hands, light as a feather, almost like an extension of his own arm, and he felt a subtle connection as if it were linked to his very bloodline

He responded with a muffled sound, still unsure of how to face the mother of this world. His heart was filled with both anticipation and confusion, truly embodying the sentiment of returning home with greater trepidation, afraid to meet old acquaintances

A gust of wind swept through, scattering the clouds in the sky. Suddenly, a bright moon hung high in the firmament, casting its milky-white light down, illuminating the courtyard clearly and brightly

At the far end of the yard are three rooms, the door of the central hall is closed, and a light is on inside, casting the silhouette of a stooped figure on the window paper

The day has gradually turned cold; after a night of freezing, one is bound to fall ill

Upon seeing the bow on the wall, a wave of uncontrollable impulse surged within Gao Wen's heart. Unable to resist, he picked it up and played with it for a while. He then took an arrow and placed it on the bowstring, drawing it back with a shout of "Hah!" before releasing it towards the distant target.

This short run covered a distance of ten miles, and I was drenched in sweat; however, it was strange that my breath remained steady, and my heart was beating strongly and steadily. Clearly, this new body is in excellent health

Yellow light is cast from above, revealing a half-collapsed earthen wall in front of me, the lowest point only two feet high, with thorns growing behind it as a form of concealment. Behind the earthen wall lies a rather large courtyard, approximately one hundred square feet. In ancient times, land was not valuable, especially in such slum areas.

I saw a stone lock placed against the wall, propped up by a weapon rack

Even though I know the location of my home in my memory, at this moment, it is difficult to find the direction

"It is enough to have eaten; the day has already turned cold, so it is better to rest early! Please wait a moment; once Mother finishes weaving this piece of linen, she will come over to wash your feet." The loom started to sound again, its rhythm somewhat faster than before.

It is evident that the former Gao Wen was a martial enthusiast; otherwise, why would he keep so many weapons at home, unafraid of attracting trouble

Upon reflection, it is indeed not a significant matter for common people in ancient times to keep a few weapons at home, especially in a place like Guanzhong where martial traditions were prevalent. Since the Northern Song Dynasty, which has been nearly several hundred years, various local militia groups, such as archery societies, have been organized in Shaanxi to maintain local security and, during wartime, to continuously provide qualified personnel for the nation.

With a single shot, it struck the bullseye and directly pierced through the straw target.

Even though the memory of the former Gao Wen still lingered in his mind, this was his first time observing an ancient city up close. Everything appeared so fresh that he unconsciously slowed his pace. After ten consecutive days of bright sunshine, the ground had long been covered with dust, and a gentle breeze swept through, filling his eyes with yellow and his mouth and nose with sand. He did not know how long he had walked, but he finally arrived outside his home located near the Fire God Temple

It is important to note that in the past, due to health reasons, he was unable to participate in any sports activities. After walking just one mile, he would become severely out of breath, let alone engage in archery, which requires long-term training.

At that moment, a low "thud thud" sound was heard. Although the sound was not loud, it was remarkably clear in the darkness. As if by reflex, Gavin walked towards the sound and soon arrived outside the familiar yet strange door of his home

That was Mother weaving, and the earlier "bang bang" sound was indeed the loom at work