Chapter 2: Martial Artist in the Mansion, Opportunity to Become Stronger

The day's labor quickly came to an end.

The sun quickly set, the sky turned dark, and the evening arrived.

The farmers had returned to their homes, and the steward had already prepared some porridge and steamed buns for distribution.

This Liu Family is considered a local tycoon in the County of Skyfire. They originated from salt merchants and were wealthy. They had built a canteen in the Liu Manor exclusively for family servants, tenant farmers, maidservants, and other underlings.

In front of the table, there were two steamed buns and a bowl of rice porridge.

Han Ye hadn't started eating yet, pondering over the "Cartload" that had popped up in her mind.

"Cartload (10/100): possesses great strength, equivalent to the strength of a cart-laden ox, and enduring energy."

After absorbing the attribute, he indeed felt a significant improvement in his strength.

Before, he used to be exhausted after a day's work.

But today, he hardly felt tired, and his energy recovered incredibly fast!

And this was even before he had reached the perfection of the "Cartload" attribute.

To obtain the true "Cartload" attribute.

He must wait until the attribute is fully collected?

Seems like he needs to continue picking up attributes.

But how were these attributes dropped?

Could it be randomly dropped?

Han Ye suddenly remembered that when Wang Da Niu was moving wheat ears, the attribute didn't drop at first, but later, after adding a few more bags of wheat ears, it dropped straight away.

Could it be that the attribute dropping needs to be triggered?

At this moment, Han Ye's eyes lit up.

He felt it was very likely.

As long as Wang Da Niu triggered the "Cartload", he could drop the attribute, and Han Ye could pick it up opportunistically.

Upon this realization, Han Ye was suddenly filled with enlightenment and excitement.

If he could directly pick up other people's attributes, he should be able to strengthen himself quickly.

This is the power of a loaded ox, with endless energy!

It couldn't be more useful.

He must find a way to accumulate this attribute in these days.

Having a clear goal, Han Ye felt his appetite had improved a lot.

Right then, he took a bite of the white steamed bun and sipped some rice porridge.

Although the flavors were very light, he enjoyed it, looking at the bun in his hand, he felt a bit emotional, missing the fast food delicacies from his previous life, especially his favorites, Luosifen and Pig's Trotters Rice.

Meanwhile, he was slightly surprised.

Had the landlord had a change of heart today?

Actually handing out white buns.

"Guys, look! Today, there's not only white buns, there's even meat soup to drink!"

Suddenly, the exclaimed voices of several villagers came from the side.

"Wow, it smells so good!"

Hearing this, Han Ye immediately turned his attention there.

Indeed, in the middle of the canteen, there was a pot of meat soup with oil flowers floating on the surface, and there were many pieces of meat foam on the top layer.

"I heard that today is the day when Miss Liu from Liu Manor has returned from practicing martial arts, she needs to nourish her body, and these are all made from leftover pork bones and fat."

"Well, then we really ought to thank Miss Liu, never mind, I'll toast first!"

"I want it too!"

A crowd of people rushed over just to have a bowl of meat soup.

In the end, the soup vanished in an instant.

Han Ye sighed while drinking the porridge.

As good as the meat soup was, battling through a long day's work only to fight a crowd of sweaty, coarse old men for it was too challenging.

"Brother Han, aren't you going to drink the soup?"

Suddenly, a hearty voice came from the side.

Han Ye looked up and immediately smiled, "So it's you, Da Niu."

Wang Da Niu gave a hearty laugh and sat down in front of Han Ye, placing in front of him a large bowl from his hand.

It was a bowl of meat soup with meat foam floating on top.

"I grabbed an extra bowl and can't finish it, thought of sharing it with brother Han."

Han Ye's heart warmed and he smiled, "Then I won't stand on ceremony."

He had been in this world for several months deprived of meat.

Having a bowl of meat soup was an extremely extravagant thing.

A bowl of oily pork bone soup warmed him up considerably, and seemed to compensate for the day's spent energy.

Seeing Han Ye drinking the meat soup, Wang Da Niu asked expectantly, "Are you going to tell the story of Journey to the West to the children in the village tonight? I'm really eager to listen, what happened to Sun Wukong afterwards?"

Han Ye smiled slightly, "No rush for the story, I've got something to do tonight. Tomorrow night, I'll tell it."

He planned to spend the night thinking about how to pick up attributes.

Although Wang Da Niu looked regretful, he nodded, "If brother Han has things to do, then I won't bother you. If you need help, don't hesitate to ask me, I'll definitely not shirk."

"Sure."

...

The dark night covered the sky, and the moonlight was like splendor.

After finishing his meal, Han Ye went for a stroll. Life in the village was simple. After sundown, once dinner was over, one could go to bed, as early awakening was necessary for the next day's work.

Even after this long, going to bed at this timing was something he was not used to.

Han Ye kept wandering around Langlang Village, contemplating how to pick up the most attributes.

Suddenly, he heard unusual noises coming from a house.

Listening to the hurried panting of a man and a woman, Han Ye gave a strange look.

He remembered that this seemed to be the house of Widow Liu from the village.

This Widow Liu was a wealthy family in Langlang Village. Her rich father in the county had some business, and the man who had moved into her house had died early, so she was quite uninhibited, licentious, unsatisfied, and lustful.

Any young man would be an object of her attention.

Han Ye shivered, just wanting to leave quickly.

Just then, a white orb of light dropped at the corner of the window in the house.

This left Han Ye dumbfounded.

Well, well, something can actually drop an attribute?

I'm really curious to see what it is.

Han Ye quietly moved to the corner of the wall. The noise near his ears was getting louder, but, despite his discomfort, he picked up the attribute.

'Pick up attribute: Friend of Women+3'

'Absorb?'

What the hell?

Friend of Women.

Han Ye was taken aback.

What is this attribute good for?

He immediately began to inspect it.

'Friend of Women (White): Doubles charm to married women, older women have a higher favorability towards you.'

Damn!

Han Ye's facial expression turned sour.

What is this thing good for?

The charm doubles to married women?

What use do I have for this thing!

Han Ye was speechless.

But on a second thought.

Although this attribute is useless now, perhaps it will be handy in some scenarios in the future.

For example, it could be used to build good interpersonal relationships?

After all, it is still an attribute.

Why not pick it up for free?

Pick it up!

With that idea in mind, Han Ye mutters a chant and directly draws the white light orb into his mind.

The panel in front of his eyes began to change slowly.

'Name': Han Ye

'Cultivation': Mortal

'Destiny': Late Bloomer

'Owned Attributes': Strength of a Bull (green), Friend of Women (white)

' Strength of a Bull (10/100): Extremely strong, equivalent to the strength of a bull, endless energy.'

'Friend of Women (3/50): Your charm to married women doubles, older women have a higher favorability towards you.'

It seems these attributes are graded.

The green glow is above the white.

If only fifty points are needed to fill up a whiteboard attribute, what will happen when it's filled up?

After collecting the attributes, Han Ye couldn't stand the noise overhead and turned to leave.

"Splash!"

Another white light orb dropped.

"Splash!"

Followed by another one.

Han Ye was stunned.

'Pick up attribute: Friend of Women+1'

'Pick up attribute: Friend of Women+2'

'Pick up attribute: Friend of Women+1'

...

Han Ye stayed in the corner for the duration of an incense burning.

He didn't idle, instead, he did single-hand push-ups on the ground to numb himself.

During this period, he picked up more than ten attributes.

He really had his fill of picking up attributes.

'Friend of Women (25/50): Your charm to married women doubles, older women have a higher favorability towards you.'

Han Ye checked his progress, growing increasingly excited.

Only four or five more times and it could be filled up.

Meanwhile, the noise inside the room finally ceased, replaced by the sound of snoring.

Only then did Han Ye stand up, glanced at the window screen, and slowly shook his head:

"Such lack of restraint."

...

When Han Ye decided to return to the tenants' barn where he resided, he found the lights in Liu Manor still brightly lit.

This puzzled Han Ye.

After all, Liu Manor was usually quiet at night.

Thus, he quietly sneaked in from the dog hole hidden behind the courtyard gate.

He heard the sounds of "huff and puff" along with the "thud thud" sounds of punches from the inner courtyard.

At this moment, a cold and serious voice rang out.

"Even though you're back home, you cannot slack off. Train hard. The Triennial Assessment is only six months away, and you don't have much time left!"

Han Ye hid amidst the artificial mountain group in the bamboo forest of the Inner Mansion, seeing a figure with an heroic posture, dressed in a deep green martial robe standing amongst the crowd.

Immediately, he remembered what the farmers had said at dinner.

It seems today is the day when the young lady returns from martial training.

"Is she the young lady of the Liu Family?"

Watching the imposing family servants swing their fists, with the air vibrating, a stable waist, and fierce moves,

Han Ye couldn't help but wonder.

Would they drop some more powerful attributes?

For a moment, Han Ye began to look forward to it.

He focused on these training martial artists, hoping they could drop something.

...