Chapter 1: The Cao Family's Offspring

Those who engage in combat with Cao Zhan also turn a blind eye to certain matters

Death, this is a word that Cao Chan fears. Moreover, the reason he fears death is that he detests anyone who seeks to take his life

"Young Master Cao, why have we not seen that charming young widow?"

Most of those who did not join in the commotion were elderly men, individuals who understood their fate. Some looked at Cao Chan with unusual gazes, reflecting the saying: thirty years in the east of the river, thirty years in the west. This is the principle.

Cao Chan paid no attention to these people and continued to diligently work on his tasks. "It's really shaking now. Hahaha." Laughter erupted from all around, expressing surprise at Cao Chan's performance today. However, the young vegetable seller nearby was genuinely annoyed.

Cao Chan maintained a cold expression, ignoring the scornful or mocking gazes from those around him. He busied himself with setting up a stall on the street, taking down straw sandals and straw mats from his load to sell.

However, what has always weighed heavily on the minds of the common people is Cao Chan's past behavior, which involved bringing along a few servants to stir up trouble and to tease respectable women. He would oppress the common folk as well. Cao Chan has not been shy about engaging in these disgraceful acts.

However, the cowardly actions of the vegetable-selling youth did not provoke laughter or mockery from those around him. This was because, facing the penetrating gaze of Cao Chansheng, they felt a sense of fear in response to his seemingly profound words.

Secondly, it is generally not a crime to beat Cao Shan, as many of the officials and yamen runners in this city have suffered losses at the hands of this young man in the past

In the past, those who walked arrogantly are now selling straw sandals. In this great Han dynasty, such changes can occur at any moment. Have you not seen the Yellow Turban rebels outside the county? It is chaotic; if the city walls were to fall, everyone would face the fate of losing their homes and families.

In this vegetable market, under the astonished gazes of those around, the young vendor instinctively took a step back. After stepping back, the vendor was almost stunned. When did the usually weak-eyed Cao Chan suddenly possess such a sharp gaze? This kind of gaze is often seen in a certain type of person. That is, it has been observed in the officials responsible for patrolling the city nearby.

If this gaze were cast back to those years, the vegetable seller would not have been in such a predicament. However, Cao Chan is now merely a seller of tattered mats and straw sandals

This is not fear, but rather a sense of disorientation following a wave of weakness. Amidst bouts of dizziness, Cao Chan slightly steadied his mind, casting a faint glance at the surrounding crowd before calmly sitting down in a meditative posture. With his eyes half-open, he appeared to be in a state between sleep and wakefulness, yet there was an occasional coldness emanating from his gaze that made one feel a certain chill.

With this thought in mind, the young vegetable seller forcibly restrained his body from stepping forward to give Cao Chan a beating. He glanced at Cao Chan hesitantly and retreated.

Approaching with ill intentions, he smiled and said

A pair of straw sandals, a bundle of straw mats, meticulously arranged on the stall

"In dealing with others, it is better to leave a margin." This was the last sentence spoken by Cao Chan, directed once again at the young vegetable seller.

Cao Chan's expression remained as indifferent as ever. He raised his head and looked at the person who was stepping on the straw sandals his mother had woven all night. His gaze was as cold and sharp as a knife, so piercing and frigid that it seemed capable of penetrating the skin and reaching the innards.

This prevents his frail body from suffering further injury, but another consequence could be that it might crush the vegetable vendor

One cannot afford to underestimate him. A furtive glance at Cao Chan revealed a fleeting cold glimmer, causing the vegetable seller to instantly turn his head, filled with increasing trepidation towards Cao Chan

If this continues with another beating, it might very well be his end

Therefore, just now, Cao Chan's heart had been in a state of tension. Now that he has relaxed, Cao Chan can clearly feel a layer of cold sweat oozing from his skin, dampening his clothes

"How is it that - the picture - is being drawn, the young master is quite imposing today?" It was surprising to see the previously weak and cowardly Cao Chan remain silent, displaying indifference and a look that seemed to invite a beating. A young man selling vegetables nearby was displeased.

Seeing that the people around were calm and their emotions had settled, Cao Chan let out a sigh of relief and released his grip on the carrying pole. Fighting relies on ruthlessness; if others are ruthless, you must be even more so. Otherwise, you will always suffer losses. If the vegetable seller had truly come up to confront him just now, Cao Chan would not have shown any mercy. His first move would definitely have been aimed directly at the opponent's head

Among the citizens of this city, nearly 30 percent harbor negative feelings towards Cao Chan

Isn't that so? The young master is showing off his power today, as if returning to the past. Have you all forgotten? Back in the day, the young master was quite the figure, someone who could walk sideways in the county. On the other side, a vendor selling small clay figurines and crafts was boasting about Cao Chan's past, but it seemed to be laced with an unmistakable sarcasm.

Seeing Cao Chan fiddling with his straw sandals, he stepped on the sandals beside Cao Chan's hand. With a cold smile, he said: "Cao Gongzi really thinks it's still the same as back then? Remember, you are now just a seller of straw sandals. How many people did you offend back in the day? Today, you have as many enemies as you had offenses. Put on a good face for me, and maybe I will let you off the hook. Otherwise, hmph. Don't blame me for shortchanging you."

Identity, Cao Chan never imagined that in the twenty-first century, he would possess such an identity. Engaging in a disreputable profession, his reputation is in tatters

Cao Chan was carrying a burden, which contained several pairs of straw sandals and a few rolls of straw mats. He walked slowly into the county town, and every few steps along the street, small vendors nearby would gather, occasionally hurling a few sarcastic remarks at Cao Chan.

The change in the atmosphere of selling vegetables was naturally felt by Cao Chan, who let out a bitter laugh in his heart. What a wretched identity this is, with a reputation so foul it is frightening. Wherever he went, he could sense a disdainful gaze, a feeling of resentment, and a look that seemed to want to devour him.

A few words, and the surrounding common people. The populace had never even heard of it, but the phrase "thirty years in the east of the river, thirty years in the west of the river" spoken by Cao Chan was easily understood. It planted the seeds of fear in the hearts of these common folk. The Cao family had once enjoyed glory; who knows when they might rise again? Yet they were merely ordinary citizens, and it was unlikely that even three generations above them would produce a wealthy heir.

The atmosphere became tense as it seemed that the vegetable seller was about to take action, and the people around held their breath, intently watching the good show that was about to unfold. "Fight." Since Cao Chan's downfall, such scenes have occurred countless times. Firstly, it is quite a spectacle, as fights are not common in the county town.

However, since he has taken on the role of Cao Chan, Cao Chan will naturally not sit idly by. It is important to note that this body can no longer withstand any further blows. The true master of this identity was only able to usurp it because he suffered a beating and, upon returning home, was unable to recover from a high fever. It was a case of borrowing a corpse to return to life.

Ah, Young Master Cao, why do you appear so downcast today

His gaze turned icy, and Cao Chan quietly placed his hand on the yoke lying on the ground, coldly stating: "It has been several days since we last parted; you should look at me with new eyes." As he spoke, Cao Chan cast a cold glance around at the onlookers, those who were ready to stir up trouble. He coldly remarked: "A group of foolish commoners who do not understand various principles, but there is one thing you must remember. Thirty years in the east of the river, thirty years in the west. I, Cao Chan, have also experienced glory; perhaps in a few years, our positions will be reversed." He coldly reiterated: "A group of foolish commoners who do not understand various principles, but there is one thing you must remember. Thirty years in the east of the river, thirty years in the west. I, Cao Chan, have also experienced glory; perhaps in a few years, our positions will be reversed."

Cao Chan is also a person; he needs to survive, and he fears death. Otherwise, he would not have transformed from a modern youth with a wealthy family into a destitute and impoverished individual, still gritting his teeth and coming out to sell straw mats, hoping to stay alive

The gazes from all around felt overwhelming. It made the vegetable seller feel utterly humiliated. He decided to teach that wretched shoe seller a good lesson.