Chapter 1: Li Er

It is not that he has any complaints about the poverty of living in a bare house; being a little poor is not a big deal, after all, there is still a place to shelter from the wind and rain, and he is quite content. As a time traveler, can he really continue to live in poverty forever?

This statement may seem a bit exaggerated, but he has secretly tested his strength. With one hand, he can split a stone slab that is two fingers thick, and with one kick, he can break a jujube tree thicker than a thigh. He can even move the stone mill weighing six to seven hundred pounds located under the big tree at the village entrance, although it requires some effort. But where does such strength come from for an ordinary person

The earth is desolate, and the sunlight is lifeless and dry.

Entering the village through the dilapidated gate, the first thing that catches the eye is an old locust tree towering over ten zhang high. Beneath the tree, there is a grinding stone and a platform made of piled stones, which should serve as a pleasant spot for cooling off in the summer. Continuing straight from the large tree at the village entrance is the road that runs through the entire village, with irregularly arranged houses scattered on both sides of the road. Some houses have high foundations, while others have low foundations, creating a rather chaotic appearance. Continuing straight from the large tree at the village entrance is the road that runs through the entire village, with irregularly arranged houses scattered on both sides of the road. Some houses have high foundations, while others have low foundations, creating a rather chaotic appearance.

Oh oh oh

What is even more alarming is that he is only 13 years old. Still a minor, yet he has developed a beast-like physique, what is going on here

There is an inconspicuous small village by the Mengshan Mountain, which is quite small, with only about thirty households. However, the entire village is surrounded by a tall stockade wall, protecting the houses under its wings from the attacks of wild beasts and malicious individuals

Iron Bull

Every time the young man wakes up and opens his eyes, the question that comes to his mind is that as a liberal arts student, he has been struggling in society for many years. Although his work is a complete mess and he is living in a state of destitution, he can only attribute it to his bad luck after experiencing a car accident

What makes it even harder for him to accept is that ever since his rebirth, he hasn't even had the courage to look in the mirror, can you imagine how distressing that is

However, this is how Li Kui acted. Except for a small portion that he had to exchange for salt and necessities at the market, everything was consumed by him and his mother. Such wasteful behavior was viewed with both jealousy and hatred by the people of Baizhang Village. There was also a fool who often hung around Li Kui's house, eating and drinking without restraint, but that is another story.

Being foolish, poor, and unattractive, when a person reaches this point, their confidence in life is nothing more than a fleeting cloud, and whether it exists or not has already become unimportant. However, this is not the greatest trouble. There is still a persistent trouble that has been haunting him, making it difficult for him to endure

Yet this household, which indulges in meat every day without restraint, has sparked much jealousy among the villagers

This is merely a minor issue

What evokes jealousy is that no one dares to eat meat at every meal like the family of Li Kui. The reason for their resentment is also related to eating meat; every household in Baizhang Village is wealthier than the family of Li Kui, yet they are reluctant to eat meat, and the smell of meat only adds to their distress.

In the few months since his arrival, although Li Kui did not focus on finding ways to become wealthy, as he still needed to familiarize himself with the process, the Li family had already undergone a quiet transformation

He is truly worried that if he is not careful, someone in front of him might be killed by his uncontrollable power, which would lead to a lawsuit for manslaughter

The boy's chest rose and fell slowly, as he was in a deep sleep

From a distance, amidst the undulating mountains, the occasional roar of beasts, tormented by hunger, rises above the rest, unsettling the hearts of those who hear it. In the summer mornings, the birds chirp incessantly, but by winter, they tuck their heads beneath thick feathers, hiding in haystacks and tree hollows, blinking their small, dark eyes as they gaze at the colorless winter landscape, feeling lost and reflecting on the hardships of avian life.

The houses are mostly low and dilapidated, with many people's courtyard walls having collapsed. A few wooden sticks are casually propped up to keep the chickens and ducks in, yet people continue to live there without concern.

The disappointing crow always disrupts the tranquility of the mountain village, appearing very out of place, and can evoke an immense sense of annoyance in people's hearts. It has earned the title of the most unpopular animal in winter.

The sound of roosters crowing came from the neighbor's courtyard, and suddenly there was some reaction on the kang. He finally opened his eyes, or rather, it wasn't really opening his eyes. Who could know why, after his time travel, he would sleep with his eyes open? This habit left him speechless; what if dust fell from the roof and got into his eyes? Wouldn't that be uncomfortable?

Moreover, the voice in his dream that called him 'Iron Bull', although he could not be certain, he mostly had some suspicion that it was that blackguard named Song Jiang calling him, which made him even angrier. Li Kui had been utterly loyal to Song Jiang back in the day, only to be ultimately harmed by him. And he was not Li Kui at all; how dare you, Song Jiang, this blackguard, provoke me!

He utilized various hunting and trapping knowledge acquired from later generations, combined with the mountains and forests surrounding the village, to enable the Li family, who could barely afford to eat, to enjoy meals with meat every day, akin to a 'bottomless coffin.' According to the perspective of the poor, the game hunted should be exchanged for money and saved, as this is the principle of frugality.

His physical foundation is exceptionally strong, with a strength that is difficult to control. It is manageable when he is alone, but when interacting with others, he can easily cause harm. He resembles a giant standing in a land of little people, and with a careless move, he could inadvertently cause someone's death

The winter morning light, through the thin mist, sparingly spills over this hilly region of Lunan

The eaves were adorned with an abundance of cured meat, leading the entire village's men and women to have a newfound understanding of Li Kui. However, in the villagers' impression, Li Kui was still seen as a simple yet mischievous lad. He was considered simple because of his straightforward personality; he spoke his mind without any circumlocution. He was deemed mischievous because the village's youths were afraid of him, as nearly every family's young boy had been taught a lesson in manners by Li Kui's fists.

When fortune turns, one can traverse with great luck, but why can he not become a prince or a noble scion, at the very least a child of a wealthy family? Yet, he has become Li Kui, a lovable fool. Even if he is an ordinary person, it is still better than turning into a fool, isn't it

The one who is aware of provoking dissatisfaction yet remains oblivious to restraint is the second son of this family, Li Er

No one would think of eating a crow. Firstly, this creature is considered very inauspicious, being entirely black, having a rather gloomy appearance, and primarily feeding on carrion. It gives the impression that the meat of such a bird is as foul-smelling as decayed flesh, and is also associated with countless plague viruses

So infuriating, Li Kui propped himself up, sitting on the cold, hard kang, gritting his teeth and cursing: "Song Jiang, this young master will not let you off!"

However, when it comes to the most dilapidated household in the village, it must be the one located at the far west of the village. Other families may be poor, but at most, their courtyard walls have collapsed, and they have at least made some repairs. This particular household, on the other hand, has four rooms, yet two of them do not even have roofs. Being this impoverished, there is essentially no need for a courtyard wall, and even a door seems superfluous. After all, what could possibly be of interest to a thief in such a destitute home?

The sounds of clashing swords and galloping horses echoed in his ears, along with what seemed to be a call coming from a distant place. The youth's brow furrowed, his hands and feet stiff as if trying to grasp something, yet he returned empty-handed in vain

He does not wish to follow the original path of Li Kui to become a strongman. Because if he accidentally kills someone, he would have to flee to a foreign land, living in hiding and drifting in Jiangzhou. He is even less willing to become a rebel. As long as there is a glimmer of hope for a living, who would be willing to take this step

The crow is not stingy with its unique voice; this fellow is the least afraid of humans and particularly loves to show off. While other birds eat grains, it dines on meat like a nobleman. To eat meat requires a certain demeanor and courage; even on the coldest days, it stands majestically like a king on the high platform of a palace, dressed in a dark robe, looking down from above, occasionally letting out a loud call, seemingly to emphasize its superiority. However, the response to their proud calls is often not the enthusiastic cheers of subjects, but rather the angry retaliation of people throwing stones, which causes this great lord to become displeased and fly away cursing.

Having stayed in Baizhang Village for several months, he surprisingly found himself still nestled within the mountain village, which was due to some unspoken difficulties. He had to spend several months familiarizing himself with Li Kui's body, which made him quite uncomfortable

The blackened walls bore clear traces of smoke and fire, which contrasted with the white snow accumulated on the roof. In winter, the rooster's crowing came a bit later, and within the house, there was only the soft sound of breathing and the profound silence of darkness. The summer house was somewhat cooler, and the only soft item in the bare room was a pitch-black quilt covering a young boy.

Iron Bull

What angers the youth the most is that the person he has crossed over to is none other than Li Kui