Tian Yuan War Chronicles: The Path of Artifacts to Ascension – Chapter 1

Ch 1: Cattle and Horse Youth

“Little Beggar, come here quickly.”

“Okay, Master!” The impatient voice of Zhao Da, the blacksmith, came. Hua Kong, who was moving refined iron ore, quickly put down his work and ran to Zhao Da.

“Help Shan’er pull this cart of goods to Liu Ji’s in the east of the city,” Zhao Da said, pointing to the cart in front of him.

“Okay,” Hua Kong was very happy to be able to go out for a walk. He usually worked as a helper in the blacksmith shop and rarely had time to go out and play.

“You dog, you just like to go out and have fun, and you don’t think about doing more work. Hurry up, go early and come back early!” Zhao Da looked at Hua Kong so happy, and was a little unhappy, and scolded loudly.

“No! No!” Hua Kong quickly defended.

“Humph!” Zhao Da didn’t believe it, but he didn’t have time to pay attention to Hua Kong.

“Shan’er, quickly send the goods to Manager Liu, and buy a thousand catties of coal back.” Zhao Da said, took out a money bag from his arms and handed it to Zhao Shan.

“Okay, Father,” Zhao Shan took the money bag and put it in his arms.

“Also, take this jar of Huadiao Wine and this mountain deer leg to Manager Liu,” Mother Zhao also walked out of the back room, carrying a bamboo basket, and walked to Hua Kong.

“Okay, Master’s Wife,” Hua Kong took the bamboo basket. It was heavy, with some paper-wrapped Preserved Fruit, a brown wine jar, and a large deer hind leg in the basket.

“You woman are really nosy,” Zhao Da looked at the Huadiao Wine he had hidden for a long time, feeling reluctant.

“Humph!” Mother Zhao Huang Shi didn’t want to lose her composure in front of Hua Kong, so she just glared at Zhao Da.

“Shan’er, come back after finishing your work, don’t delay. Remember to call Manager Liu your uncle, we are distant relatives,” Huang Shi instructed.

“I know, Mother, you have said it many times,” Zhao Shan was a little impatient.

“You brat, come back early, Mother will make you delicious food,” Huang Shi said dotingly.

“Okay,” Zhao Shan replied.

“Xiao Kong, let’s go, take the things and don’t break the wine,” Zhao Shan turned to Hua Kong and said.

“Okay, Brother Shan,” Hua Kong nimbly climbed into the carriage and sat on the cart full of Ironware.

The carriage ticked along the Stone Slab Road in the city. It was midsummer, and the blacksmiths got up early to work to be cooler. When the sun was high in the afternoon, they would close the stove and go home to enjoy the cool.

At this time, it was just dawn, and there were not many pedestrians in the city. They were all people who got up early to work and do business. After walking for half an hour, they arrived at Liu Ji’s in the south of the city.

The Shop Assistant were already busy. Seeing Zhao Shan coming, they quickly led the carriage into the backyard.

“Xiao Kong, move the goods down, I’ll go find Manager Liu,” Zhao Shan took the bamboo basket from Hua Kong and left the backyard.

“Xiao Kongzi is here, everyone, hurry up and help unload these iron guys,” a Shop Assistant who knew him was eating his Breakfast while calling everyone to help unload the goods.

“Haven’t had Breakfast yet? Eat some,” another Shop Assistant who knew him handed over a Snacks.

“Thank you, Brother Wen,” Hua Kong thanked him. He had actually eaten Breakfast, but he still took it and ate it with relish. It’s good to work in a big Merchant House, there are Snacks for Breakfast, he thought in his heart.

“You’re welcome,” the middle-aged man called Brother Wen finished his Breakfast, climbed into the carriage and began to unload the goods.

“Mr. Li, please come and issue a Receipt,” Hua Kong quickly called Liu Ji’s warehouse to receive the goods.

“Xiao Kong is here,” Mr. Li replied, still eating Breakfast.

“Hello, Mr. Li,” After everyone unloaded the goods, Mr. Li strolled over, holding a stack of Documents in his hand, and Hua Kong quickly greeted him.

“Good! Good!” Mr. Li replied simply, and began to count the goods and register them.

“Brother, please check,” After registering, Mr. Li opened the Receipt and handed it to Hua Kong.

“Okay, thank you, Mr. Li,” Hua Kong checked the Receipt, quickly folded it and put it in his arms. This is also the reason why Hua Kong was called to deliver the goods together, Hua Kong is literate.

In his early years, his family’s harvest was a little surplus, so his Parents sent Hua Kong to Reading for a few years. But Hua Kong himself didn’t think he was a Reading material. All around him were illiterate Farmer, Hunter, and Artisan.

After school, Hua Kong didn’t think about continuing to recite and Reading, but like other children, he either went to the water to fish, or went into the mountains to set some traps, or shot some flying birds to have a good meal.

His Parents were all Farmer, and they didn’t expect him to really make something out of Reading, so they let him go.

After Reading for a few years, seeing that Hua Kong had become an eleven or twelve-year-old boy, and had also Reading and knew some characters, could write and calculate, they thought about finding a job for him in Duanshan City.

It happened that Zhao Da, one of the Zhao family brothers in the same village, opened an Ironware Workshop in Duanshan City and needed some handyman.

He heard that Hua Kong had Reading for a few years, so he persuaded Hua Kong’s Parents to call him to help, with free food and accommodation, and half a tael of Silver per month. Hua Kong’s Parents were also ignorant, and they agreed when they heard this condition.

This made Hua Kong suffer. After Reading for a few years, he basically hadn’t done any hard work. His skin was tender. Before, he had been talking about “Zhihu Zheye” with the teacher.

Now that he has entered the blacksmith shop, he not only has to help with bookkeeping, but also has to help with odd jobs. He has had a hard time this year.

According to everyone, the previous Accountant only calculated accounts and paid everyone’s Salary every day. He sat in the room all day long without going out. He Reading some idle books to pass the time.

Even Lunch was brought into his room by other handyman for him to eat.

However, Zhao Da was a blacksmith who worked hard, and he always felt that the Accountant was like a Master who didn’t do anything, and he was unwilling. So he brought Hua Kong from his hometown and drove away the Accountant.

For this matter, his Wife Huang Shi had a big fight with him, scolding him for being an ignorant country bumpkin, how could a young boy do the work of an Accountant.

Zhao Da was a rough man, he didn’t care about this, he felt that if he could recognize characters, he could do the accounting, so he forced Hua Kong to take over the work of the Accountant. In the first few days, he moved a small bench and stared at Hua Kong to do the accounting.

Although Hua Kong felt uncomfortable being stared at by him, he really finished the accounting in a few days.

After all, although Zhao Da named his shop Chengnan Zhao Ji Ironware Workshop, it was just a larger blacksmith shop.

When Huang Shi saw that Hua Kong had really understood the accounts, she fulfilled Zhao Da’s wish. No one wanted to disagree with money. After all, the previous Accountant had to be given one tael and five taels of Silver every month.

During the New Year and festivals, he had to pack a Red Envelope and give some festival gifts. What about Hua Kong? Half a tael of Silver was enough to send him away every month. After finishing the accounting, he had to do some odd jobs.

For this reason, Zhao Da was proud for a while. In order to prove that he was very wise, he specially gave Hua Kong a nickname ———— “Little Beggar”.

But other handyman don’t call him that, they all call him Xiao Kong. Everyone is illiterate, and they feel that Reading is still a bit of an aura.

More importantly, their Salary is now calculated by Hua Kong. What if he gets angry and calculates less Salary for him?

In fact, they are worried too much. Hua Kong doesn’t care much about this nickname.

Because when he was Reading before, the wealthy children in the Private School would use his name to make fun of him. For this reason, Hua Kong had fought with them several times.

But he came to the city from the village to Reading alone. All around him were locals from Duanshan City, and he was the only outsider. Every time he fought, he was basically beaten and never won.

But children are like this, there is no overnight feud. Every time they fight, they will be beaten by the teacher together. The next day, they will still Reading and play together.

Sometimes he would complain to his Parents why they gave him such an unlucky name, but his Parents told him that his name was given by a wandering Taoist.

Originally, his name was Hua Erlang. Just like his Elder Brother is called Hua Dalan, and his Elder Sister is called Hua Damei, it is simple and common.

Okay. Fortunately, my Elder Sister is not the eldest, otherwise wouldn’t she be called Hua Dajie? After knowing this, Hua Kong stopped struggling.

“Xiao Kong, let’s go,” Hua Kong, who was lying on the carriage and thinking wildly, was awakened by Zhao Shan’s shout.

“Okay,” Hua Kong nimbly took the empty bamboo basket.

The two went to the shop selling coal in the city and bought a thousand catties of coal. As usual, the eight taels of Silver had to be recorded in the account.

When they returned to the Ironware Workshop and unloaded the coal, it was already time for Lunch, and Hua Kong’s stomach was rumbling.

After cleaning the carriage, he quickly wanted to go to eat, fearing that he would miss this meal if he went late.

“Brother Shan, I’m going to eat.”

“Xiao Kong, wait a minute,” Zhao Shan called Hua Kong, looked around furtively, took out half a pack of Preserved Fruit from his arms, and handed it to Hua Kong.

“How can this be?”, Hua Kong’s eyes lit up, and he immediately looked around.

“Quickly put it away and go eat!”, Zhao Shan stuffed the Preserved Fruit into Hua Kong’s hand and hurried towards the inner room.

“Thank you, Brother Shan,” Hua Kong took the Preserved Fruit, packed it, and hurried to the place where the handyman in the front room were eating.

Hua Kong has been working as a handyman in this so-called Chengnan Zhao Ji Ironware Workshop for more than a year. The work he usually does is a bit tiring, but to be honest, it’s not bad overall.

It’s more comfortable than when he was in Private School before. At least every time he goes home, he doesn’t have to listen to his Sister-in-law complaining, “The family’s expenses are not enough, and we have to support someone who goes to Private School and eats for free.”

Farmer are always like this, with all kinds of bumps and bumps. Now here, three meals a day don’t cost money. In addition to keeping accounts every day, you can also learn some skills.

In the past year or so, Hua Kong has learned almost all the common processes in the Ironware Workshop. Although his skills are not yet proficient, he can still make some objects with a little effort.

Hua Kong often calculates that he will work here with Zhao Da for a few years, learn the craft of blacksmithing, save some Silver, and marry a Wife when he is eighteen years old. His little life can start booming.

Every time he thinks of this, Hua Kong will make a lewd smile like a pig, which makes outsiders look stunned.

“Xiao Kong is thinking about Wife again,” a handyman shouted when he saw Hua Kong’s lewd smile.

“Get out, I didn’t…”, Hua Kong defended.

“Haha, Xiao Kong doesn’t need to be shy. It’s normal for a man to think about Wife. Wait a few days and Brother will take you to Xunhua Street to experience the goodness of Wife,” another handyman said with a wretched tease.

“Brother Wu, no need, my Parents will beat me to death,” Hua Kong suddenly lost his energy. He is only thirteen years old, and his Parents have already strictly warned him not to go to inexplicable places.

“Don’t be afraid, Brother won’t tell. What? Could it be that your little sparrow can’t fly yet? Haha…”, the handyman called Old Wu teased.

“Haha…”, the other handyman also laughed.

“Sorry, I have a stomachache, I’m going to s*it,” Hua Kong fled in panic.

“Haha…”, the laughter behind him grew louder.