Chapter 64: Li Shoucai

Jiang Wei had just finished setting up the traps on the mountain when night was nearly upon her.

Under the moonlight, she hurried back home; Jiang Xiaoxiao waited anxiously at the courtyard gate, and only when she saw that familiar figure did she finally exhale.

"Did you finish today's task?" Jiang Wei looked at the five-year-old little girl waiting alone at the gate, her heart warming slightly as she stepped forward and ruffled the girl's hair.

"Mm-hmm!" Jiang Xiaoxiao nodded. "I filled all the water jars, and I even filled both pots—once you get back, we can boil the water and bathe."

Jiang Wei nodded in satisfaction: "Good. If you keep training like this, you'll reach Third Order before winter."

"Mom, what happens when my Water System Ability upgrades to High Order?" Jiang Xiaoxiao asked, puzzled—would she still only be able to release water?

"Hmm…" Jiang Wei fell silent, lifting her gaze to the moon slowly rising in the night sky, as if recalling something, then spoke slowly: "I once had a friend who also had a Water System Ability. When hers reached Third Order, she could shape water into water arrows to kill. Though her damage wasn't as high as that of other friends I knew, it was enough for self-defense."

Jiang Xiaoxiao nodded in understanding—no wonder her mother had always pushed her to raise her Water System Ability to Third Order; she feared her daughter wouldn't be able to defend herself if alone…

"But I hope you won't slack off after reaching Third Order," Jiang Wei added. "Water System Ability is weak early on, but at Fifth Order it undergoes a qualitative change—it can condense water into ice, increasing its damage further. With greater mastery, you can even control the water in the heavens to form clouds, mist, and rain."

Jiang Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up—controlling the water in the heavens to form clouds, mist, and rain? That was real artificial rainfall!

If she could do that, she'd never fear drought again!

"Then Mom, what happens when my Water System Ability reaches Full Level?" Jiang Xiaoxiao asked, unable to contain her excitement.

"Don't be overambitious—reaching Full Level is nearly impossible. Even my closest friend, who had Water System Ability, never got past Sixth Order," Jiang Wei tapped her forehead with a finger. "The higher the upgrade, the harder it becomes. My friend took seven or eight years just to reach Sixth Order."

And this world has no Crystal Cores—upgrading Ability is even harder.

"Seven or eight years?" Jiang Xiaoxiao tilted her head curiously. Her mother had reached Ninth Tier in just ten years with her Space System Ability, barely one step from Full Level—why had her friend taken seven or eight years just to reach Sixth Order? Did this require talent?

Jiang Xiaoxiao's face was full of questions, but Jiang Wei said nothing further. Ability advancement truly depended on innate talent; her friend's talent, though inferior to hers, was still among the best of their peers—spending a few extra years could still lead to an impressive Ninth or Tenth Tier.

Unfortunately, fate was cruel—she never lived to see that time…

Jiang Xiaoxiao noticed Jiang Wei's expression darken, and she fell silent, no longer asking foolish questions.

She guessed her mother must have been thinking of her past comrades.

…

Meanwhile.

At this moment, the Li Family Ancestral House was in an uproar.

Old Man Li sat on the kang, his beard trembling with rage.

Old Matriarch Li sat beside him, her face grim.

Zhu Shi stood in the corner, head bowed, trying to shrink into the background.

Li Shoucai knelt on the ground, silent, his expression dismissive.

Seeing this, Old Man Li grew even angrier, snatching up a teacup from the table to hurl at the man on the floor.

Old Matriarch Li swiftly intercepted it. "Scold all you want—but why smash cups? Don't cups cost money?"

"How could I have given birth to a son like you!" Old Man Li slammed the teacup onto the table, his face flushed. "Li Shoucai, what do you want? Tell me—why didn't you go up the mountain to dig the ditch today?"

"There are plenty of people at home—why should I be the only one to go?" Li Shoucai turned his head away.

"You're the only man in the house—who else is going?" Old Man Li forced down his anger again. "Your older brother is in the State taking the county exams—he'll be back in a few months. Right now, you're the only male heir. Do a little more work around the house, and when your brother returns, we'll…"

"When my brother returns, you'll make me keep serving him?" Li Shoucai coldly cut him off. "Father, how many times have you used this excuse to brush me off? You've always favored your eldest. Since childhood, your eldest's family lived in comfort in Town while I toiled underground just to fund his Family Reading. He's already over thirty and still a Scholar Candidate—eventually he'll come back to farm. He can't lift a bucket or carry a load—what, are you planning to make me support him for life?"

Old Man Li's temple throbbed with veins, and though he wanted to refute, he had no reply—he had indeed favored his eldest son for years, pouring all his hopes into him, determined to see him earn a title and bring honor to the family.

But the family was too poor—only one son could be supported. The second son had resented this for years. He'd once comforted him by saying, "Once your brother earns his title, everything will improve." But gradually, the second son stopped listening. What could he do now…?

If things continued like this, the family would fall apart.

Old Man Li took a deep breath, then said: "Shoucai, just a few more months—can you endure it? If your brother fails to pass the Scholar Candidate exam this time, I won't fund his studies anymore. He'll come home and farm with you."

Li Shoucai's expression eased slightly. He glanced at the two sons standing behind Zhu Shi, then said: "Father, you've funded your eldest's studies for so long—if he fails this time, let my Dabao go to Town to study. Is that acceptable?"

Old Man Li's gaze followed him to Dabao behind Zhu Shi. "Shoucai, your Dabao is already twelve—he's probably too old…"

"Too old? Isn't your eldest over thirty and still studying for the Scholar Candidate exam?" Li Shoucai sneered, cutting him off again. This time, he was determined to make Old Man Li agree to Dabao's studies—or all his resistance these past days would be wasted.

He'd resented the family funding only his elder brother's studies for years. He himself had given up on reading—but he would make sure his son studied!

Only if his son rose above others could Old Man Li see that reading talent wasn't exclusive to his eldest!

"…Fine. Do as you wish."

In the end, Old Man Li could only agree. His second son was no longer easy to deceive—if he refused now, who knew what might happen next?

"Then it's settled—we'll wait until my brother returns," Li Shoucai finally felt relief. "Tomorrow, I'll go up the mountain and help dig the ditch."

Now he was working to fund his own son's studies—he'd have the motivation to labor.

(End of Chapter)