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The snow has stopped and the sky is getting dark.

Chen Mo carried a bundle of firewood that was taller than his entire body and walked down the ice-covered path in the back mountain.The bundle of firewood was tied with a thick hemp rope, and the hemp rope was cut into his thin shoulder flesh. The sweat mixed with the melted snow water soaked the coarse cloth jacket, leaving deep and shallow marks.He walked very slowly, stepping firmly on each step before putting down the other foot - a handyman had just fallen to death on this road last month, and when he lifted the frozen body, he could not break it straight.

When we reached the foot of the mountain, the sky was barely bright.Fatty Zhao, the manager of the firewood room, stood under the eaves with his hands folded and his eyelids drooped. It was not until Chen Mo stacked the firewood neatly in the corner that he snorted from his nostrils: "It's three quarters. If you burn half a stick of incense later, today's meal will be half."

Chen Mo didn't respond, but took out the half-palm-sized wooden sign from his arms.Fatty Zhao took it and scratched the number "twenty-seven" with his nails - this was Chen Mo's twenty-seventh bundle of firewood this month, and there were still three bundles left before he could get the full ration for the handyman.

"Go and fill up the water tank in the east courtyard." Fatty Zhao threw the wooden sign back, "Before noon."

"Yes."

Chen Mo's voice was very flat, without any ups and downs.He picked up the two huge wooden barrels at the base of the wall and walked towards the well platform.The barrel is old and has some burrs on the edges, which makes it prick your hands when you hold it.When he walked to the well, there were already four or five people lined up there. They were all handymen like him, wearing coarse short coats and with gray faces.

At the front of the team was a skinny old man, struggling to shake the windlass.The rope squeaked loudly, and the water in the wooden bucket hung up was only seven-percent full.The old man lifted the bucket tremblingly, and some water sloshed out, soaking his worn-out straw sandals.

"Old Zhoutou, your hands are shaking, I'm afraid you won't be able to live for a few days." The man ranked second sneered.

The old man called Lao Zhoutou did not say a word, but walked away slowly with his back bent and carrying a bucket.When Chen Mo passed by, his cloudy eyes seemed to turn towards him, but then they didn't.

When it was Chen Mo's turn, the sun had already climbed up to the eaves of the east wing.He hung the barrel on the well rope and held the handle of the pulley in his hand - it was cold and the wooden thorns pierced into his palm.He took a deep breath and started shaking.

Once, twice, three times.

The muscles in his arms tightened, and the pain spread from his shoulder blades to his elbows.This is the fifth trip to carry water today. Each trip has two buckets, and each bucket weighs at least fifty or sixty kilograms.He is sixteen years old this year and has been working as a handyman in the Qingyun Sect for exactly two years.In the past two years, he had grown a little taller, but he was still thin. The bones of his shoulders were ridged, and the outline could be seen through the thin skin.

The bucket was raised to the mouth of the well, and he leaned over to lift it.The moment he bent down, his spine made a slight creaking sound.He paused for a breath, waiting for the soreness and numbness to pass, then steadily lifted the bucket and poured it into the empty bucket he had brought.

When both barrels were full, he squatted down, put the pole on his shoulders, and stood up——

My calves trembled.

He immediately stopped, adjusted his breathing, and waited for the vain energy to pass before taking steps.The shoulder pole was made of hard wood, and it pressed against the flesh of the shoulders, quickly making the red marks from the morning's strangulation deeper.He walked steadily, and the water in the bucket barely made any ripples.From the well platform to the east courtyard, you have to pass through the entire courtyard, bypass the training ground, and then walk along a bluestone road.From time to time, Tsing Yi outer sect disciples passed by on the road. Their steps were light and their clothes were windy. No one glanced at the handyman carrying water.

Chen Mo didn't look at them either.His eyes fell on the ground three steps away from his feet, counting each step.

Three hundred and seventy-four, three hundred and seventy-five, three hundred and seventy-six...

When we arrived at the east courtyard, the sun was already high.He put down the bucket and scooped water into the large waist-high water tank.The water tank had to be filled with twelve buckets of water, and he had only completed the sixth trip.My shoulder was numb, and I couldn't feel the pain. There was only a dull feeling, as if the flesh and bones had been separated.

He stood there, closed his eyes, and took three deep breaths.

Then he bent down, picked up the empty bucket again, and walked back.

When the noon bell rang, Chen Mo finally filled the water tank.Fatty Zhao checked it over, hummed, and nodded in the direction of the kitchen: "Let's go eat. In the meantime, go to the back mountain and clear away the dead branches on the west slope."

"Yes."

The kitchen was filled with a mixed smell: greasy from inferior oil, sour from old rice, and turbid from sweat and firewood smoke.The handymen crowded around the long table, and each person had a stoneware bowl in front of them. The bowl contained a gray-brown paste mixed with a few unrecognizable vegetable leaves and scattered brown rice grains.

Chen Mo found a seat in a corner and sat down.He did not move his chopsticks immediately, but took out a square piece of paper from his arms, unfolded it, and spread it flat on the greasy table.

The paper was yellowed and had rough edges, and there were lines of small words written in charcoal on it.Those are his handwritings, neat but tender.

Chen Mo’s daily class

At three quarters of Yin hour: Get up, wipe yourself with cold water, and stand still for two quarters of an hour.

Mao hour: Cut firewood in the back mountain and make three bundles (completed before three quarters of Chen hour)

From three quarters to noon: handy work (carrying water/cleaning/carrying, etc.)

Noon: Eat, quarter of an hour

From no time to the time of application: handyman work

From the third quarter of Shenshi to Youshi: Refining Qi and breathing in and out (Basic Zhou Tian of "Qi-Yin Jue", three times)

From Youshi to Xushi: Body training ("Basic Body Tempering Technique" movements, two groups)

Xu Shi: Review the exercises and plan for the next day

Hai hour: going to bed

He had been looking at this piece of paper for two years, and the corners were frayed.He crossed the line "Refining Qi and Breathing" with his finger, paused for a moment, then put away the paper, picked up the bowl, and started eating.

He didn't eat quickly, but he ate carefully, chewing each mouthful enough times until the food turned completely mush in his mouth before he swallowed it.The bowl quickly reached the bottom, and he scraped up the last bit of residue on the wall with his fingertips and put it into his mouth.

There was a sound of spitting nearby.

"Damn it, pig food." A handyman with a sinister face pushed the bowl away, leaving a lot of paste at the bottom of the bowl.

Chen Mo glanced at it but said nothing.

"What are you looking at?" The handyman glared over, "If you eat the waste from the Four Spiritual Roots, it will be in vain. You might as well feed it to the dogs."

Chen Mo lowered his eyes, picked up his empty bowl and stood up, walked to the water tank next to the stove, scooped half a ladle of cold water, rinsed the bowl, and walked out of the stove.

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