Her strength was extraordinary, far beyond that of ordinary people. With just her physical power, it was unlikely anyone could bully her. Yet, she still persisted in practicing her physical techniques, which piqued his curiosity—why was she so committed to this training?
“Of course it can,” Yu Li replied. “This set of techniques was originally created to temper and strengthen the human body, so it naturally improves physical fitness.” Thinking of something, she added, “Once your body recovers, if you’re interested, I can teach you too.”
She scrutinized him. Although he hadn’t become emaciated from long-term illness, his body was still very frail and thin.
Even if he fully recovered, he’d likely be a delicate scholar with no strength to even truss a chicken—a pitiful sight. If he ever encountered a strong man, a single punch would knock him down.
Too weak. It would be best for him to train with these techniques.
Fu Wenxiao didn’t refuse. Smiling, he nodded. “Sure, when the time comes, I’ll trouble you to teach me.”
“No problem,” Yu Li said, then added a word of caution. “But how much you can achieve depends on yourself.”
This set of techniques was more suitable for the post-apocalyptic New Humans. As for the people of this world…
At best, they could train to the point of easily scaling walls. Anything beyond that would be impossible. Their physical constitution simply couldn’t compare to that of genetic warriors; they wouldn’t be able to leap across rooftops or vault dozens of meters in a single bound.
Yu Li knew that no matter how hard she tried, she wouldn’t be able to reach her past life’s level.
However, with her abilities, she could first use them to heal her body and restore it to its peak condition. Then, by using her abilities to continuously stimulate her body’s potential, she could at least improve her current physical strength significantly.
Fu Wenxiao didn’t dwell on it too much and smiled as he nodded.
With his sharp eyes and quick mind, he had already memorized the movements she practiced in the courtyard after just one observation.
Unfortunately, his body was too weak to practice them now, which left him somewhat regretful. Otherwise, he could have joined her in training.
At night, as they lay in bed, Yu Li held Fu Wenxiao’s hand and used the remaining bit of her ability to treat his body.
Lately, she had been taking two bowls of tonic medicine every day, one in the morning and one in the evening. With the support of the tonic, her ability replenished quickly after each use.
Whatever surplus ability she had left, she used entirely to treat his body.
After completely exhausting her ability, Yu Li let go of his hand, feeling utterly drained.
“Li Niang,” Fu Wenxiao called softly in the darkness.
Because she needed to treat him, the two of them were much closer than usual, unlike their typical arrangement where they slept on opposite sides of the bed with a gap in between. Now, his voice sounded as if it were right by her ear, very close.
Yu Li mumbled a response.
Had it not been for the months they’d spent together, during which she had begrudgingly gotten used to his presence while awake, this level of proximity would have made her instinctively slap him off the bed.
Fu Wenxiao asked, “Li Niang, are you very tired?”
He knew that every time she held his hand to treat him, she would be utterly fatigued afterward.
Although he didn’t understand exactly how her treatment worked, the places she touched would emit a faint and almost imperceptible warmth that slowly spread through his body. He guessed this was part of her healing method.
Yu Li murmured an affirmation, already on the verge of sleep.
“Li Niang, if you’re too tired, don’t push yourself too hard,” he said softly. Every time he saw her this exhausted, it pained him.
“It’s fine,” Yu Li mumbled. “I’ll sleep, eat more tomorrow, and I’ll be fine…”
Her voice gradually faded into silence, and soon there was no sound.
Listening to her steady breathing, Fu Wenxiao knew she had fallen asleep.
He lay there with his eyes open, feeling his body gradually become lighter.
At moments like this, the lingering pain and illness that usually plagued him seemed to retreat significantly. It made his nights more bearable, sparing him from the suffocating sensation of drifting into a sleep so deep that he feared he might never wake again.
His expression grew complicated.
So, this was the reason she ate so much every day and still remained so thin?
Although she looked healthier and plumper now compared to when they first met, she was still far too slim compared to an average person. In his heart, he wished she could gain more weight, so she would look healthier.
—
When Yu Jin told her family that she planned to go to the county town to start a business, Yu Lao’er and his wife were stunned.
Yu Yin and Yu Zhu already knew of her plans and were fully supportive.
“Second Sister, this braised offal is delicious. Your rice balls will definitely sell,” Yu Yin said confidently about her sister’s venture.
Yu Zhu, while eating braised offal, nodded enthusiastically.
Her cheeks puffed up with food as she said, “With rice and meat, lots of people will want to buy them.”
Yu Jin, now full of confidence, replied, “Tomorrow, I’ll make some for you all to try. If everything’s fine, I’ll head to the county town the day after tomorrow to set up a stall.”
“Second Sister, will you be able to handle it on your own? How about I go to the county with you?” Yu Yin offered, worried that her sister might struggle alone.
Yu Jin thought about it and said, “Alright, let’s see how things go first. Once I get the hang of it, I’ll manage the stall on my own.”
Third Sister needed to stay and learn embroidery from Aunt Zhou, and her temperament was well-suited for it. Once she became accustomed to running the stall, Third Sister wouldn’t need to help her anymore.
Yu Zhu immediately chimed in, “Second Sister, I can help you too.”
Yu Jin patted her on the head. “Let’s talk about it after you’ve fully recovered.”
“I’m fine now,” Yu Zhu pouted. “I don’t even feel dizzy anymore.”
In the early days, she had suffered from severe dizziness and could only lie in bed. But gradually, she recovered and was now able to get out of bed and move around more. She felt better with each passing day.
“Second Sister, take Little Sister with you,” Yu Yin suggested. “You can also stop by the medicine hall and have the doctor check on her. If the doctor says she’s fine, she can help you with the stall.”
Yu Yin needed to stay and learn embroidery from Aunt Zhou, so she couldn’t always help Second Sister with her business. This arrangement worked well, as Little Sister could assist instead.
Since Little Sister was young and couldn’t contribute much to the farm work, it made more sense for her to help with the business.
Yu Jin thought it over and agreed with a nod.
Yu Zhu cheered in delight and continued eating the braised meat.
Yu Lao’er and his wife, listening to their daughters discussing plans back and forth, realized this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision.
They had clearly thought it through thoroughly.
Yu Jin had even gone to her brother-in-law’s house today to learn how to braise offal from her mother-in-law.
She was very well-prepared.
“Jin Niang, will this really work?” Liu Shi asked uncertainly.
“It will,” Yu Jin said firmly. “Yesterday, I went to the county town with Elder Sister and scouted things out. This business will work.”
Liu Shi thought for a moment and quickly made a decision. “In that case, go ahead and do it. If you need any help, just let me know,” she said.
She had decided to support her daughter.
Since her daughter wanted to try, as parents, they should support her and not hold her back.
Hearing this, the three Yu sisters looked at her in surprise, seemingly not expecting her to say such a thing.
In their hearts, their parents were simple and timid, not the kind of people they could rely on.
Ultimately, they felt they had to depend on themselves.
This was why Yu Jin had never considered discussing her plans with them from the start.
However, hearing Liu Shi’s words still brought some comfort to Yu Jin. Parents didn’t need to be particularly capable, but at the very least, they shouldn’t be a burden.
She replied, “Alright, I’ll let you know if I need anything.”
Liu Shi smiled, her dark, thin, and aged face seeming much more relaxed.
Yu Lao’er, watching his wife and daughters talk, opened his mouth and managed to stammer out, “Jin Niang, I can help too.”
He had noticed that his wife had changed a lot recently. If it had been the old her, she would never have said what she did earlier.
Seeing his wife like this made him realize something, and a vague sense of unease stirred in him. He felt he couldn’t just sit idly by.
Yu Jin replied simply, “Got it.”
If necessary, she would involve her parents in helping. After all, they ate from the same pot; only by working together could they lead a better life.
—
Yu Jin was diligent. Early the next morning, she got busy and spent most of the day making preparations.
In the afternoon, Yu Li returned from the county town and went directly to the Yu household. She brought some offal from the butcher shop for Yu Jin and also came to taste her rice balls.
The rice balls were wrapped in clean vegetable leaves. Inside was tightly packed mixed-grain rice, which contained soft and creamy bean paste, bits of chopped braised offal, and a drizzle of braised sauce over the top.
Yu Li took a bite and found it quite tasty.
The texture of the mixed-grain rice was coarse but dry and filling. The freshness of the vegetable leaves, the smoothness of the bean paste, and the savory meat flavor of the braised offal and sauce combined to create a dish with rich layers and a satisfying taste.
After finishing, Yu Li asked, “Second Sister, how much are you planning to sell a rice ball for?”
Each rice ball was about the size of an adult man’s fist, packed tightly. One was enough to make an average person 60–70% full, while laborers doing heavy work would need about two.
Yu Jin replied, “For rice balls this size, two wen for a vegetarian one and three wen for one with meat. What do you think?”
Two wen was one less than the cost of a bowl of plain noodles, and the portion size was about the same.
Yu Jin, quick-witted as always, continued, “If someone feels this isn’t enough, I can offer larger portions: three wen for a vegetarian rice ball and four wen for a meaty one. The three-wen vegetarian rice ball would have more mixed-grain rice and an extra drizzle of braised sauce, enough to fill most people. The four-wen meaty rice ball would be the same size as the three-wen vegetarian one but with extra meat. For all rice balls with meat, the price is always one wen higher than the vegetarian ones.”
In the county town, getting full for three wen was a very reasonable deal.
Yu Lao’er, who had worked odd jobs in the county town, commented that the pricing was very affordable. If he were buying, he would definitely choose this. Most laborers at the docks would likely be willing to spend this amount.
Liu Shi nodded in agreement as well.