Chapter 7, Street Fighter

The mother is very worried and often scolds him for this, yet she cannot restrain him

He himself was not even aware that he had become this fierce.

With no men left at home, in the vibrant land of Youzhou where everyone mingles daily, Liu Bei must step out as a man to strive and uphold the family name; he cannot escape this responsibility

Under his leadership, his gang has been developing increasingly well, with more and more street youths hearing of his reputation, admiring him, and wanting to follow him, as the path of the street king becomes smoother and smoother

He began to consciously train his martial skills, making wooden swords and sticks for himself, and practiced every day whenever he found the time

After Liu Bei recovered, the mother and son discussed their situation and decided to slightly expand their business with the remaining assets. As a result, their lives were no longer a struggle at the brink of subsistence, but they were able to manage a modest level of sustenance.

At the beginning, it was merely a minor skirmish, and Liu Bei, with his small stature, could only follow behind other prominent figures, waving flags and shouting as a lackey

From that time on, Liu Bei and his mother entered a state of moderate prosperity, where they had enough grain to eat and could occasionally enjoy a small piece of meat

Liu Bo has always remembered the assistance Liu Hong provided him in the past, and now Liu Bei has helped his son avoid bullying and beating. For this, he is very grateful to Liu Bei

On that day, Liu Bei, with bloodshot eyes and wielding a stick, fought through his injuries to overturn the four bullies who were tormenting Liu Hui, thus saving Liu Hui

However, after experiencing the matters concerning Liu Hui and the books, Liu Bei realized that if he did not demonstrate his own courage and martial prowess, making others aware that he was not to be trifled with, he would forever be regarded as an easy target for bullying by others

He feels that although becoming a street thug at a time when he has no way out is not honorable, it may not be an unworthy means of making a living

Initially, Liu Bei believed that his mother was right; being kind to others was the way to survive. By working diligently and cautiously accumulating wealth, he thought he might even manage to secure a meal.

Liu Bei took this opportunity to expand his business, upgrading his straw sandal shop to a daily necessities store, and began to sell a range of common household items, resulting in an increase in income

However, when Liu Bei was fourteen years old, the leader of the gang was trapped by a rival gang, leaving the group leaderless and on the verge of collapse, facing the imminent disbandment of its members.

During that meal, Liu Bei consumed three large bowls of food in one go, experiencing a long-lost feeling of fullness

To put it bluntly, the people of Youzhou are generally characterized by a tendency towards book burning and scholar burying. When faced with decisions, they are indecisive; they prefer to take action rather than engage in discussion, and if they can take your life, they will not let you off easily. The death of a person is not news; it is the survival of the living that makes headlines

Although he was not yet twelve years old at that time

Street Fighter

Moreover, due to his literacy, education, and eloquence, he quickly gained the appreciation of the gang leader and became the second-in-command of the gang, beginning to handle some of the core operations of the organization

The feeling of hunger no longer followed him like a shadow, nor did it pursue him relentlessly like a malevolent spirit seeking his soul. During that period, Liu Bei felt as though his soul had transcended.

With his reckless determination and a meticulously crafted stick, he quickly gained a bit of fame, which in turn attracted the attention of some street figures

During a time of widespread panic, Liu Bei remained unperturbed

However, Liu Bei did not think so

It is akin to the street where Liu Bei and his mother wove mats and sold shoes, where there are always individuals coming to collect something akin to protection fees

The chicken soup, simply seasoned with a bit of salt and devoid of any spices, possesses an extraordinary aroma that penetrates to the very core, so fragrant that it brings tears to Liu Bei's eyes, as if the soup he drinks transforms into tears flowing out.

Perhaps it is an innate fierceness, in any case, Liu Bei's courage is growing increasingly bold, and when he takes action, he becomes more and more ruthless, even independently applying strategies from military tactics during group activities.

At that time, Liu Bei was very hungry and was planning to avoid trouble, but after walking a few steps, he still sighed

The people of Youzhou, in order to protect themselves and their families, naturally rose up in resistance. Over time, they became vigorous and courageous, valuing strength and martial prowess, adhering almost entirely to the law of the jungle

The frequency of his injuries began to increase without limit; there were times when he was the one doing the beating, and there were times when he was the one getting beaten. When he was the one hitting others, he appeared imposing and formidable, but when he was on the receiving end, he was left battered and bruised, looking utterly disheveled

It can be said that the light of civilization from Luoyang cannot possibly illuminate the land of Youzhou at all

He no longer remains an honest businessman, but instead has begun to tread the path of bravado and aggression

Consider it a gesture of gratitude

At the age of eleven, Liu Bei successfully joined the gang on the street where he conducted his business due to his bravery and penchant for fighting, embodying the adage that if one cannot defeat them, one should join them

The child knows this path is difficult, but apart from this, the child has no other choice; the child does not wish to let the mother continue to suffer.

When the boss wins, he rushes up with the minions to kick those enemies lying on the ground a few times. If the bosses are knocked down, he quickly runs away with the minions, not caring about the bosses' lives.

This bowl of chicken soup completely soothed his inner self

He resolved the issues with those who sought trouble, paid for a doctor to treat Liu Bei's injuries, and also sent a considerable amount of five-zhu coins and rice to Liu Bei's family, even including a few chickens and ducks, stating that it was to help Liu Bei regain his strength with some meat.

He particularly enjoys leading the team in surprise attacks, skillfully employing the tactic of feigning an attack in one direction while striking in another.

The power of the government is indeed vast, yet there are always areas that the government cannot reach or is reluctant to manage

Youzhou is a border region of the Han Dynasty. Since ancient times, the Han people of Youzhou have coexisted with various Hu tribes. During the strong period of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the situation was relatively stable; however, after the mid-Eastern Han, Youzhou frequently suffered from raids by foreign Hu cavalry, and the Han army was unable to provide protection.

After he grew slightly taller and gained a bit more strength, he began to participate in some collective group sports on the streets

I also had the long-awaited opportunity to eat chicken and drink chicken soup

Despite his mother's dissatisfaction with Liu Bei's actions and her concerns for his safety, Liu Bei did not give up on this hard-won "foundation"

This change not only alleviated all protection costs for the family straw sandal shop, but also provided an additional source of income

Liu Bo's gratitude indeed helped Liu Bei and his mother improve their living conditions for a while, allowing them to enjoy a period of ample meals

On an unexpected occasion, Liu Bei encountered his cousin Liu Hui, who was being bullied by the local rascals, while on his way home helping his mother gather raw materials.

He realized that with his current background, it was indeed impossible to pursue a path to fame and recognition, as he lacked the necessary capital

Subsequently, on a stormy night filled with thunder and rain, Liu Bei experienced a second epiphany and decided to undergo a transformation

At that time, Liu Bei recognized Liu Hui and knew that his father, Liu Bo Liu Yuanqi, was a person of considerable standing within the clan, managing the family business quite well, possessing substantial wealth, and being the only kind-hearted individual willing to occasionally assist Liu Bei and his mother.

Subsequently, he continued to rely on his tenacity to gather a group of local streetwise individuals who admired him, and soon gained a position of status within the gang

He stepped forward, leading more than ten street thugs who admired him to launch a night raid on the enemy's stronghold, practicing the principle of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, and eliminated the enemy's leadership who were celebrating with food and drink.

Although she was very worried and reluctant for Liu Bei to do such things, the reality of the situation left her with no choice but to treat Liu Bei as anything but a child to be cared for

According to the mother's thoughts, the mother and son could henceforth escape hunger, manage a small business well, achieve a modest living, accumulate some wealth, and when Liu Bei grows up, arrange a marriage for him, thus ensuring the continuation of the family line and honoring their ancestors

Liu Hui was of a petite stature and was quite frightened at the time, collapsing to the ground and unable to move. When he saw Liu Bei approaching with a bruised and battered face, wanting to help him, he fainted on the spot, leaving Liu Bei feeling quite frustrated

Despite only having an income that guarantees basic sustenance, a portion of it is still taken away by these individuals. Liu Bei often felt displeased, but his mother always restrained him from engaging in conflict with them, preferring to incur financial losses to avoid disputes rather than confront these people

As time went on, the situation became increasingly perilous, for Liu Bei gradually grew taller and developed a more imposing presence, thus beginning to emerge as one of the key players in the street brawls alongside the big shots.

Because Liu Bei gained insights from this experience regarding the benefits that military power brought him, as well as the exhilaration of defeating his enemies, he further engaged in contemplation.

However, there may be another path to pursue, one that is more in line with the current realities and has a higher probability of success

Upon hearing this, Mother could only shed tears and urged Liu Bei to take utmost care of his safety