Chapter 3: I Want to Be Strong (1/2)

  In fact, during the more than ten days of lying in bed, Cao Peng had thought about many things.

  Deep down, he still had some regrets about being reborn in ancient times. Being betrayed by his best friend was like a thorn stuck in his heart, making him very uncomfortable. But what could he do? He couldn't go back! This was an unchangeable reality for him.

  The various experiences of his past life made Cao Peng feel very tired as well.

  Especially the sentence before Yang Zi fired the shot kept echoing in his mind: Next life, don't be a hero again!

  Hero?

  It sounds glorious, but who can know the blood and tears behind it?

  People often say "good people have no good reward"! Cao Peng originally didn't believe it... But now, he can't help but believe. In the era of economy, Western winds are gradually prevailing. Reform and opening-up made China prosperous, but isn't it also a kind of decline? Cao Peng is powerless to change, just wanting to do his best. However, even so, he still ends up with a miserable outcome... Looking back, Cao Peng will feel a faint sense of loss, and an inexplicable fatigue.

  Reborn in Jian'an First Year, Cao Peng must make a choice!

  To be accurate, Jian'an 1 was not Three Kingdoms but rather the late Eastern Han dynasty when various heroes were vying for dominance.

  Cao Cao, initially followed the Son of Heaven to command the vassals; Sun Quan, seemed not yet in power; as for that great Han Emperor's uncle, also did not get a proper name.

  This is still a chaotic world where the situation has not yet become clear.

  Perhaps, he could blend into this chaotic world... However, Cao Peng's heart was clear that the Three Kingdoms had not yet appeared, but the tripod situation was already subtly emerging. Cao Peng was only thirteen years old this year and wanted to join this game, it was already too late! He missed the best opportunity to rise.

  In that case, there's no choice but to rely on it!

  But who can he rely on?

  Emotionally, Cao Peng was inclined towards Liu Bei.

  But in his heart of hearts, Cao Peng knew that the best choice was Cao Cao.

  Liu Bei is now in a precarious situation, struggling to survive. As for Eastern Wu, they have been marginalized by Cao's gang from the very beginning. The structure of Eastern Wu is a court controlled by the Jiangdong aristocracy. It can be said that the most powerful force in all of Jiangdong is not the Sun family, but rather the aristocratic families that rely on the Sun family. These aristocratic families have been cultivating private armies for years due to their long-standing conflicts with the local mountain barbarians... In fact, during the late Three Kingdoms period, almost all of Eastern Wu's military power was controlled by a single family - the Lu family, which is one of the oldest and most powerful aristocratic families in Jiangdong.

  Why did those aristocratic civil officials all surrender during the Battle of Red Cliffs?

  It's not that they are disloyal, but rather because their first consideration is not the Sun regime, but their own families.

  Even if they surrendered to Cao Cao, they could still rely on their troops and horses in Jiangdong, as stable as Mount Tai... Therefore, Lu Su would advise Sun Quan: Anyone in Jiangdong can surrender, but the lord cannot!

  So, Cao Peng also cannot choose Eastern Wu.

  As for Yuan Shao and Liu Biao's kind, they will never have a day where Cao Peng can rise to prominence...

  It seems that Cao Peng can only choose Cao Cao as his object. However, Cao Peng is very clear that although Cao Cao does not care about one's background and promotes people from humble families, there is a condition - talent! As stated in Cao Cao's recruitment order, anyone with a special skill will be employed. So, what are his strengths that can make him valued by Cao Cao, or even reused?

  Lowering his head, Cao Peng spread out his palms.

  He suddenly clenched his fists, stamped his foot and twisted his waist, throwing a punch into thin air.

  In a chaotic world, to stand out from the crowd, one needs either military power or strategic wisdom!

  Clever strategy...

  Cao Peng dare not say how excellent he is. After all, if he was really good at this conspiracy, he wouldn't have been betrayed by his best friend.

  Is it force?

  Cao Peng seems to have gained some confidence.

  In his previous life, he had studied under a local master of the White Ape Turning Back Fist for three years. However, during the late Warring States period, martial arts were in an awkward position, and ten years of hard practice couldn't withstand a single bullet. So after growing up, Cao Peng gave up practicing and focused on his work.

  Vaguely remembered after working for two years, Cao Peng paid a New Year's visit to his mentor.

  When he learned that he had given up martial arts, the white-haired old master's eyes revealed a sense of desolation and confusion...

  At the end of the Mu dynasty, martial arts became a way to strengthen one's body and gain fame.

  But in this era...

  Cao Peng couldn't help but close his eyes, trying hard to recall the various things he had learned when he practiced martial arts in the past. Fortunately, although he gave up practicing martial arts later on, the things he had learned were deeply etched in his memory. However, his current body was really too weak! To pick up those skills again, he would have to put in ten times, twenty times, or even a hundred times more effort! The path he wanted to take, from being poor in literature but rich in martial arts, was very long indeed!

  Apart from these, Cao Peng has a wide range of interests.

  Forensic investigation is a high-pressure job, always hovering between life and death.

  If you don't want to be crushed by that kind of pressure, you must learn to relax... Some people drink heavily; some people indulge in sensual pleasures. But Cao Peng's way of releasing work pressure is different from others: reading books and collecting books! He reads all kinds of books and collects all kinds of books, regardless of their value, as long as he likes them, he will buy them and collect them... Until later on, Cao Peng's home became like a small library, collecting all sorts of books.

  "The Great Wall of China was not built in a day!"

  Cao Peng muttered to himself, his clear and elegant face showing a faint smile.

  Cao Ju's five big and three thick, looks very strong. But if you look at Cao Peng's appearance, you absolutely can't imagine what Cao Ju looks like. People often say that children take after their mothers. Cao Peng looks more like Zhang Shi... but due to congenital nutritional deficiencies, he looks extremely weak.

  Thin arms and thin legs, to use an inappropriate metaphor: no matter how hard you chew, you can't squeeze out three or two drops of oil!

  This body, this physique...

  It's probably hard to survive for long in such a chaotic world.

  Cao Peng stood in front of the only copper mirror in his home, looking at the blurry image inside, and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

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  It's not easy to build up one's health.

  Cao Peng stretched his muscles in the cramped fighting room, but soon became exhausted and panted non-stop. Bai Yuan's Tong Bei Quan foundation was solid, but Cao Peng's foundation was really too poor! How bad was it? Even Cao Peng himself felt embarrassed to explain.

  Sitting on the couch and resting for a while, Cao Peng gradually regained his spirits.

  As soon as he stepped out of the room, Cao Ju was about to extinguish the fire and pack up his tools.

  "Dad, you're closing up already?"

  "Yes, for a long time now, except for you Wang Da Bo, there hasn't been a single customer coming in. I reckon nothing will happen today either."

  I'm going to pick up some things. Tomorrow, I'll go with your mother to Zhongyang Temple to fetch the sacred water. We won't work today... Peng'er, are you planning on going out?

  "Well, I've been cooped up at home for quite a few days, I think I'll take a walk around the neighborhood!"

  "It's good to go out for a walk, staying at home all the time might make you sick... But come back early, or your mother will worry again."

  Cao Peng revealed a brilliant smile, nodded in response, and then walked out of the courtyard gate.

  "This child has been seriously ill, but is actually much more cheerful than before!"

  Watching Cao Peng go out, Cao Jing's face also showed a relieved smile.

  In the past, Cao Peng's personality was a bit introverted and he didn't like to talk. Plus his body was weak, so he rarely went out. Occasionally going out to play, it was also forced by Cao Qiu's couple. Even if he went out, at most he would go to Wang Meng's home and exchange two sentences with Wang Mai.

  Now he actively asks to go out for a walk, which is undoubtedly a big progress.

  Cao Ju was a straightforward person, without any twists and turns. He couldn't have imagined that Cao Peng's body had actually become the soul of a thirty-year-old old man.

  Little did he know, Cao Peng was also complaining in his heart!

  This dead guy Cao Peng is too lazy...

  It's even more terrifying than the otakus of later generations.

  He rummaged through his memory fragments but didn't find much useful stuff.

  All I know is that Cao Peng studied "Cang Jie Pian" before, and apart from this, most of them are useless things. However, Cao Peng was a filial son in the past, with endless attachment to his sister Cao Nan and mother Zhang. Many memories were scenes of him playing with his sister when he was young.

  Nor did I know what this sister looked like.

  Cao Peng walked slowly along the road, appreciating the small town in front of him that was over 1,800 years old.

  Zhongyang Town is not big, with only two main streets and a ring road around the city, forming a "田" shape. The whole town is divided into four parts, east, south, west and north. In the center, there is a market, which is also the most lively place in the small town. Because to enter Zhongyang Mountain, you must pass through Zhongyang Town, so this town, although small, has everything it needs.

  There are wine shops and stores...

  The sky has turned cold, but the market in the small town is very lively.

  Cao Peng walked tiredly and sat down by the side of the road, watching the people coming and going, feeling exceptionally calm in his heart.

  "Ah Fu!"

  At this moment, Cao Peng suddenly heard someone calling his name.

  He turned his head and saw Wang Mai running over from the market with a bamboo basket on his back.

  "How did you get out?"

  Wang walked over to Cao Peng's side, sat down with a thud, and casually took off his backpack, placing it in front of him.

  In the bamboo basket, there were some hunting tools and a piece of coarse cloth, but I didn't know what it was used for. Wang wore a gray coarse cloth with a slanting collar, with a large belt around his waist. A black cloth wrapped his head, and his forehead was covered with fine, sparkling sweat beads...

  "Aren't you going home?"

  Wang Mai said: "Uncle is going into the mountains tomorrow, isn't he? My dad and I are accompanying Uncle, so my dad asked me to buy some things."

  "Is that so!"

  Cao Peng's heart moved, and suddenly felt warm inside.

  He knew that Cao Jiu entered the mountain to fetch symbol water for him, and Wang Meng's father and son were also for his sake, entering the mountain together.

  It feels great to be cared about!

  Cao Peng said in a low voice: "Wang Mai, thank Uncle on my behalf."

  Is there any use for the symbol of water?

  Cao Peng's heart was very clear...

  But he couldn't afford to disappoint their kind intentions.

  Wang smiled and said: "What's there to thank for? We're brothers after all."

  Brother!

  Cao Peng's heart skipped a beat suddenly.

  Betrayed by best friend, and that person had also repeatedly said 'we are brothers' words. But in the end...

  Cao Peng was somewhat sensitive and suspicious after his rebirth.

  Especially the two words 'brother', like a needle, pierced his heart and made it bleed profusely. For a moment, he fell silent, not knowing how to respond.

  Wang Mai saw that he didn't speak for a long time and his face looked somewhat unpleasant, so he couldn't help but feel some tension.

  "A Fu, what's wrong with you? Is something uncomfortable?"

  "It's okay!"

  Cao Peng snapped back to reality, forcing a smile. "I just suddenly feel a bit tired... I'm heading home, you should head back early too, and don't forget to thank Uncle for me."

  "Or I'll take you there?"

  "It's okay, I can go back by myself."

  Having said that, Cao Peng stood up.

  Just as he turned around and was about to leave, a sudden commotion broke out in the market.

  "This thing is obviously mine!"

  "You wretched woman, are you worthy of such fine jade? This is a treasured family heirloom, I was just holding it in my hand and admiring it, how did it end up with you?"

  "Cheng Zhanggui, this is a treasure passed down from my ancestors, how can you..."

  Bang!

  A loud slap interrupted the pleading voice.

  "What kind of person do you think I am? Don't you even want to find out? Do I look like someone who would embezzle your things? Let me tell you, if you don't hand it over today, don't even think about leaving my place."

  Cao Peng shivered and turned around to look at the market.

  That pleading voice was all too familiar! Although it had only been a short ten or so days, he still recognized it at once - it was the voice of his mother, Zhang.

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  February 18th, first update.

  Please collect and recommend!