Chapter One: Two Lives
Great Qian, Cangzhou, Dian’nan Prefecture City.
Between rows of tightly packed streets and houses, the broad flagstone avenue was alive with bustling traffic and throngs of pedestrians weaving through, their voices mingling with calls from vendors.
A beggar, his clothes faded and with holes, yet washed clean, no more than sixteen or seventeen in appearance, slender and frail—so much so that his clothes hung loosely—stopped three feet before a young couple. “Blessings upon you, sir and madam! May you soon be blessed with children and grow old together in happiness!”
The husband was a scholar. Hearing the beggar address him as “sir,” a hint of delight touched his heart; the beggar seemed suddenly more agreeable. Newly married, the couple found the auspicious words pleasing. Thinking it harmless to seek a bit of good luck, the scholar took a few copper coins from his pocket and tossed them into the beggar’s chipped bowl.
“Thank you, sir and madam! Thank you!” Zhuang Jin bowed, smiling and repeating his thanks as he watched the couple depart, inwardly remarking that even begging was an art.
Any profession, to do it well, one must love it. For months now, he had treated begging as a craft to be studied, and indeed it yielded results.
He had gained a few insights. For instance: when begging, it was essential not to be too clean, nor to emit any unpleasant odor that would drive people away. But one mustn’t appear too neat either; if the beggar’s clothes were less patched and torn than those of passersby, who would feel pity and give alms?
Beyond appearance, being too silent was a disadvantage. One needed the courage to speak, but not just to kneel and bang one’s head on the ground, competing in who bowed harder or louder. Such rivalry held no future. It was better to read people’s expressions and adapt; never use flowery words with someone who clearly couldn’t read—plain speech was best. When encountering a pregnant woman, always wish her a healthy, chubby son…
Zhuang Jin’s favorite targets were pregnant women, young couples, and—
Just then, he spotted someone and quickly strode over to the gambling house’s entrance. Bowing, he spoke loudly, “Greetings to you, sir! Today your face radiates fortune—a sign of luck and wealth flowing in!”
“Well said! A reward for you!” The gambler, a burly fellow with a fondness for culture, was in good spirits after winning money. Hearing these words, he reached into his pocket, paused briefly, then laughed and tossed something into the beggar’s bowl with a clear, pleasant ring.
It was a shard of silver!
...
“A piece of silver! That’s worth at least several dozen coins!” Not far off, another beggar, short and scrawny with protruding ears, watched the scene, his eyes reddening with envy.
---
The little beggar was known as “Little Ears.” Just the day before, he’d happened to witness Zhuang Jin repeatedly earning generous rewards. Comparing it to his own experience, where his appearance often drew scorn and he might earn a coin or two after ages, he decided to follow Zhuang Jin today to learn from him. He thought, “So that's why this fellow hasn’t been squeezing into the vegetable or grain markets with us lately—he’s mastered this skill!”
He never would have guessed that the usually taciturn Zhuang Jin became so eloquent when begging!
Excited, Little Ears thought, “I’ve learned it! With this trick, I’m bound to earn big money too!”
His heart aflame, he saw Zhuang Jin lingering at the gambling house and went to another street, eager to try the “may you soon be blessed with children” blessing. But when he approached several women, they covered their mouths and noses with disgust and avoided him.
It was a long while before a woman came near. Little Ears rejoiced. He intended to greet her and kneel for alms as usual, but recalling what he’d learned, he stopped himself. Taking two steps forward, he put on a smile and said loudly, “Madam, may you soon be blessed with children! May you soon be blessed with children!”
Widow Wang, seeing Little Ears, felt pity for her fatherless son and was about to give him a couple of coins. But as she came closer and heard his “blessing,” her face turned green.
A widow, “soon blessed with children”? It could only mean one thing—adultery. Such words sullied her reputation and demanded punishment; her anger twisted her mouth, and she smashed her basket at him.
Little Ears had raised his head expectantly, hoping for a reward, but instead the basket flew at him, hitting him painfully and sending him scurrying like a startled mouse.
...
Zhuang Jin had no idea Little Ears was failing at imitation. He continued wandering the streets in search of kind souls. By dusk, he tallied his earnings and estimated his total wealth. “One tael of silver—at last, I’ve saved enough,” he thought.
Just then, he spotted someone in the distance wearing an official’s uniform. Without drawing attention, Zhuang Jin crouched down, lowered his head, and pushed his bowl forward, affecting a muffled voice, “Spare some change, sir, for a passing beggar!”
“That’s the uncle from my previous life,” Zhuang Jin glanced at him as he moved with the crowd, remembering.
Zhuang Jin was not of this world. According to his predecessor’s memories, months ago the Shen family and the Medicine King Gang clashed, plunging the city into chaos that night. The previous father died, and the uncle and younger uncle set their sights on the family property, planning to sell off Zhuang Jin and his mother. The mother, being shrewd, saw through their plot, pretended to cooperate, and arranged for Zhuang Jin to escape. To preserve her honor, she drowned herself.
Before fleeing, the mother disguised Zhuang Jin—changing clothes, applying mud and grease, dotting his face with a mole—so the uncle and younger uncle couldn’t find him. Afterward, the little money he carried ran out and he died of cold and hunger, making way for Zhuang Jin’s arrival.
---
“His name and appearance are exactly the same as mine from my past life—is this Zhuang Zhou dreaming of the butterfly, or the butterfly dreaming of Zhuang Zhou?”
Unable to make sense of it, Zhuang Jin shook his head and refocused on his predecessor: “Normally, with a dead father and a sixteen-year-old son, the uncle and younger uncle wouldn’t have acted so ruthlessly… There must be more to it. The uncle and younger uncle were full brothers, while the father was born of another wife whom the old patriarch had taken. The old man gave the father a share of the family wealth, which the uncle and younger uncle resented, leading to such tragedy after the father's death.”
“Perhaps there’s another reason. The chaos months ago was disaster, but also opportunity. Many died, leaving vacancies. The uncle worked in the government office, the younger uncle in the Medicine King Gang. To advance, they needed connections, and connections require real money. Thus, they targeted the family.”
“In any case, whatever the reason, I’ve inherited this karma. There’s no choice; if I didn’t, would the uncle and younger uncle spare me? I’m not so naive.”
“The uncle and younger uncle are low-ranking—a clerk in the prefecture office and an ordinary gang member—merely larger ants in the eyes of the powerful. But for a beggar, they are mountains. So, for my own safety, I must attend the Shen family’s third recruitment for martial apprentices tomorrow!”
According to his predecessor’s memories, the Shen family had dominated the city for over a century, while the Medicine King Gang was only a recent challenger. If he passed the Shen family’s martial apprentice selection and became a true martial artist, joining the Shen family, the uncle and younger uncle would be nothing to fear.
“Martial artist…” Zhuang Jin’s heart filled with longing. He’d once witnessed a martial artist strike, sending a man flying with ease, and knew that this world truly possessed supernatural power: “Having a father and mother is good, but possessing one’s own strength is better. Power in one’s own hands—that is the real path to greatness!”
Thinking thus, he carried his dog-beating stick, paused before a stall, and looked over the baked goods—flatbreads, buns, steamed rolls, corn cakes. He chose two white steamed buns, then headed toward his lodgings. Passing through a secluded alley, he suddenly sensed something and stopped.
Ahead, a group blocked his path.
...