Chapter 26: Pregnancy Pulse

Cheng Feng was curious how the dynasties of this world could exist for so long, but he reflected that this world was different from his past life and could not be judged by conventional logic.

During this past month, Cheng Feng had not been practicing martial arts as usual.

He was simply studying characters and practicing Calligraphy.

The fountain pen calligraphy from his past life was completely useless here.

Aside from practicing brush calligraphy as a child in his past life, Cheng Feng had long since forgotten it.

Only when he formally picked up a brush to write did he realize it was truly difficult.

Upon inquiring, he found that brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were a luxury, with transaction prices sky-high.

They were absolutely not things that Ordinary people could obtain.

Even brushes and ink of average quality cost two taels.

That's right, one set was the cost of one month's tuition at the Martial Arts Hall for Cheng Feng.

Because Cheng Feng had higher requirements for food and drink while practicing martial arts—refined rice, refined flour, and meat—he had spent over one tael this month.

That was out of the five taels for Cai'er; there was still about four taels left.

As for the forty taels Cheng Feng still had, two taels went to literacy, two taels to renew his Martial Arts Hall membership for the month, and another two taels to buy brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.

Following Qian Ming's advice, he got a few sets of tonic medicine; two sets cost one tael of silver, and he took four sets, to be drunk every seven days, costing another two taels for the month.

That totaled eight taels.

This left him with thirty-two taels.

Cheng Feng could only sigh that money really didn't last long.

In order to save on brushes and ink and avoid waste,

Cheng Feng set up a tree branch and a fine sand tray at home to practice Calligraphy.

Of course, during this time, he also pulled Cai'er along to practice Calligraphy together.

Beyond their mutual progress, after more than a month, the Panmian also displayed the Calligraphy skill.

Name: Cheng Feng

Lifespan: 16 (62)

Talent: More Children More Blessings

Skills: Fishing (Proficient 90/100)

Archery (Beginner 2/100)

Horse Stance (Beginner 66/100)

Calligraphy: (Beginner 1/100)

Fortune Point: 0

The additional points also signaled Cheng Feng's twenty-one days of diligent training.

Cheng Feng didn't dare practice too much, fearing he would ruin his body.

He could only balance it out,

like his work in his past life, splitting it into day and night shifts, working six days and resting one.

It was strange, though; why were there no signs of pregnancy in Cai'er yet?

Wasn't it said that women with large hips were good at bearing children?

With silver in hand, Cheng Feng really wasn't afraid of not being able to afford to raise them.

Originally, Cheng Feng had thought about copying more books at Lin You's house.

As it turned out, the characters he wrote were truly unsightly, so this matter was temporarily halted.

He would come back once he had practiced his writing well.

After ten days of Cheng Feng's diligent Calligraphy practice, he saw that the points for the Calligraphy skill had only increased by 2.

Cheng Feng could only be glad that he had the Panmian for assistance; otherwise, his aptitude was truly too Ordinary.

Among the vast masses, would there be a shortage of one Ordinary person?

Of course not.

Yesterday, having rested for a day, he looked at Cai'er, who was graceful, charming, and wearing a Cheongsam.

It made Cheng Feng's appetite stir.

Cheng Feng just loved this shy, tacit understanding from Cai'er.

It truly maxed out Cheng Feng's sense of masculine satisfaction and vanity.

He became increasingly doting toward Cai'er in his daily life.

Who wouldn't love a wife who treats one with mutual respect and is as gentle as water?

The next day, Cai'er felt some nausea while eating.

Cheng Feng had a hunch and hurried to invite a skilled doctor from the medical hall.

Upon examination, sure enough, it was a pregnancy pulse.

Cheng Feng gave the doctor a small red envelope and saw him out the door.

Looking at the Horse Stance, which was still 22 points away from reaching the Proficient level,

Cheng Feng felt a sense of regret; this child had truly come at the right time.

Having been together for a long time, Cai'er also slowly came to understand her man.

He was worried that he wouldn't be able to "do things" at night anymore.

She offered her man an idea: "Master, I'm afraid you'll have to make a trip to buy a maid for the bedchamber."

Cheng Feng hadn't expected Cai'er to turn around and comfort him, so he laughed: "Not only a maid, but we must also have a matron to serve you."

The two of them laughed incessantly, setting this matter aside to talk properly about what new clothes they should add for the child.

Cheng Feng kept telling Cai'er to take good care of herself, and he even took ten taels from his own treasury to prove it with action, saying there were things to buy for the child, grandly declaring that money was no object, so that Cai'er, this newly pregnant woman, could be at ease.

How could Cheng Feng fail to see the dimness in Cai'er's eyes?

But there was no help for it; his own aptitude was limited, and he would never achieve great success in martial arts.

He could only rely on the Panmian, rely on adding points with Fortune Point.

Only then could he bring a better life to himself and to this family.

He didn't just have Cai'er; he also had parents and brothers.

Even if they didn't say it, as long as he had the ability, he had to pull them up somehow.

In this world, family members were the people Cheng Feng was closest to and could trust the most.

Moreover, he also needed to open up sources of wealth.

He made a rough calculation of the necessary expenses in the city.

Studying and practicing martial arts, food and lodging, plus the unavoidable medicinal soups.

Expenses exceeded income; he could only hope to enter the Outer Disciple ranks, as the Martial Arts Hall should have arrangements.

In the words of Niu Laoshi, once you enter the gate, even if it is just as an Outer Disciple, you are no longer an Ordinary person.

The Martial Arts Hall would also arrange for Outer Disciples to work in the hall's businesses and issue wages.

It was said that the monthly amount was not small.

That was the true way out for children from poor families.

He only had twenty-two taels left now.

Fortunately, the basic conditions had already been established.

Adding one more woman would not be a hindrance.

In a few more days, when the points were enough, he should be able to enter the Outer Disciple ranks; that way, he would have a source of income.

He wouldn't be left without a root, eating away at his savings.

While Cheng Feng spoke words to put Cai'er at ease, he also said he needed to buy a few maidservants to wait on her, fearing it would be dangerous for Cai'er to keep cooking and such; he headed straight for the Tooth Agency when he went out in the afternoon.

The progress of the Horse-Stance Post could not be delayed, and Cai'er also needed someone to take care of her during her pregnancy.

A sense of urgency spread from Cheng Feng's little treasury.

Damn it, money was needed everywhere.

Without money, one could not live a good life.

At the old place, the South City Tooth Firm, the clerk was not the one who had served him before, and Cheng Feng was no longer the same Cheng Feng who had just arrived.

After chatting with the clerk for a moment upon entering, he asked straight out: "Do you have any new stock?"

He had already looked at the batch Zhang Caier was in, and Cheng Feng hadn't taken a fancy to many of them.

The clerk's reply did not disappoint Cheng Feng: "Yes, guest, but most are from out of town; does the guest have any requirements?"

Cheng Feng asked: "Are there any women with a pretty face and a decent figure?"

"Yes, guest. These are all from the east, fleeing war and famine; they are strangers in a strange land and can only sell their children, hoping a good family will buy them, which counts as a way out," the clerk sighed.

Ignoring the clerk's sigh, the distance from the east to the south was at least a thousand miles.

Had the situation in Great Zhou deteriorated to such a degree?

He had the clerk lead the way; there were some new faces among the locals, but Cheng Feng took one look and skipped past them.

There was nothing that caught his eye, and the two he had taken a fancy to before were already gone.

They had probably been bought!

Arriving at a new room, the women inside, each with a nervous expression, all looked toward Cheng Feng.

There was dullness, indifference, excitement, fear, and longing.

Their gazes were different, but all held a craving to be fed.

Cheng Feng suppressed the discomfort in his heart and warned himself that he was not wealthy or noble, so he should handle his own affairs first.

In these chaotic times, the number of pitiful people was countless; how many could he save?

He shouldn't get himself dragged down too.