Du Chengfeng arrived in another world.
It happened more than two months ago, on a dark and windy night. Du Chengfeng was in a hazy sleep when he suddenly felt a chill over his body. He closed his eyes and opened them again, only to find himself not only without a blanket but also without a single piece of clothing.
After spending two hours observing his surroundings, he finally confirmed he wasn't dreaming in his bedroom. After another seven hours, he finally confirmed he wasn't part of some prank show but had truly arrived in another world.
Du Chengfeng didn't know how to specifically describe this strange world. People's clothing somewhat resembled styles from ancient times, but pinpointing the exact dynasty was a bit too challenging for his knowledge reserve.
Moreover, unlike his impression of such ancient worlds, the environment here was surprisingly wild.
Du Chengfeng spent the first three days in the woods after arriving in this world. On the fourth day, when he encountered the first stranger, merely looking at the person's rustic attire and simple face, he thought at least he could ask for some clothes from him and form a kind relationship. Once settled and familiar with the surroundings, he could repay the stranger, which would make a good story.
As for the possibility of repaying, Du Chengfeng was quite confident. He had read quite a bit, finding ways to earn money wasn't impossible. Even if his knowledge might not translate into wealth in this environment, at the very least, he was strong and had some strength. Doing labor work, he could at least get himself a set of clothes.
Although doing labor might be hard work, as the old saying goes, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. After understanding his predicament, Du Chengfeng quickly accepted reality. After all, living life requires endurance everywhere. Being self-sufficient and repaying benefactors seemed like a decent life to Du Chengfeng.
But who would have thought that even though Du Chengfeng had indicated he was human and assured of a generous reward later, that man, who seemed like a hunter, still raised a stick against him.
"Later? No need for later. Sell you, get money for wine, isn't that better than any reward?"
Upon hearing the seemingly hunter-like man say such a thing, Du Chengfeng realized that reasoning wouldn't work in this situation.
If reasoning doesn't work, then the only option was to fight.
Sticks smashed, fists flew, and after only a few punches and kicks, it was the fierce-looking man who appeared like a hunter lying down.
As compensation for almost being robbed, naturally, that set of clothes fell into Du Chengfeng's hands. Finally having clothes to wear, Du Chengfeng realized why he could win even when unarmed.
The reason was simple: the man who seemed like a hunter was just too frail.
While wearing clothes earlier, the man appeared somewhat fierce, but after removing the clothes, Du Chengfeng discovered the hunter's limbs were even skinnier than his own.
With such little strength, entering the woods to hunt? It'd be a wonder if a dog didn't carry him away.
Fortunately, Du Chengfeng was kind-hearted. After some thought, he only took the man's pants, straw shoes, and the stick for self-defense. He left the upper clothing and the ragged bow, which might break with a tug, for the hunter's protection.
After all, the man who seemed like a hunter had provided him with important information.
That is, there were inhabitants nearby.
By tracing back the path that the man came from, he could likely find a village or settlement. For Du Chengfeng, who had been eating mushrooms in the woods for three days, this was undoubtedly great news. As for what to do after arriving, Du Chengfeng hadn't thought too much. After the comparison with the hunter, he could at least be considered a strong laborer. Living in wealth might be a bit distant, but earning a meal by laboring was probably achievable.
Moreover, he wasn't only capable of physical labor. He had read some books. Thinking of those popular novels where the protagonist returns to ancient times and thrives by exploiting informational gaps, Du Chengfeng couldn't help but feel more confident.
The reality was indeed as he thought. After finding a nearby village within two days, the village called Yang's Fortress quickly accepted him. Though he started as a temporary laborer, working for the farmers, his strength, quick learning, and willingness to do tasks that others found tiring earned him recognition. In just a month, the small village of Yang's Fortress knew there was an industrious, quick-moving laborer in the village.
Of course, Du Chengfeng wasn't without difficulties during this time. As the saying goes, the nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Drawing attention would naturally invite trouble. But luckily, the rural community was overly simple, and the villagers resolved issues quite directly.
That is, with fists, if they disliked you, they'd thrash you until you didn't dare show face again.
When those young lads first blocked him at the entrance of the village, Du Chengfeng was initially puzzled. But after looking at their skinny limbs and then at his own, which had grown even stronger after a month of labor, Du Chengfeng sighed.
It was still the familiar three punches and two kicks, and the few hooligans who came looking for trouble were already lying on the ground.
All living in the same village, Du Chengfeng didn't want to be too harsh. Moreover, he wanted to understand why these people insisted on troubling him. Ever since he moved into the village, he had always been kind and courteous, working diligently without offending anyone. How could anyone have a reason to pick a fight with him? It made no sense.
"How have you not offended anyone! We're here to hit you! Ever since you came, we haven't had enough to eat! Isn't that your fault?"
With two slaps, listening to the ringleader crying while speaking, Du Chengfeng finally understood that these people had a reason for troubling him.
Before he arrived, these hooligans were the labor force in the village. When families had some physical work to do and needed young, strong lads, they would call on these guys, giving them some money or a meal. Once these young men grouped together, they started setting a unified price and even hiked the prices for the farmers. Although the farmers were unwilling, in this place lacking cattle and horses, there were always times when they needed strong men for labor, so they had no choice.
After Du Chengfeng came, he was content with just a little food and willing to work hard, naturally making villagers prefer to hire this sturdier figure, thus ruining these young men's business.
"Ah…"
Understanding the whole story, Du Chengfeng was speechless.
It turned out that he inadvertently ended up in unfair competition, no wonder these people sought trouble with him.
However, he had no intention of changing his ways because, for him now, survival was the top priority. Only by gaining a foothold in Dock Fortress could he plan what to do next.
Regarding the future, Du Chengfeng hadn't thought much. Even with knowledge beyond this environment, he felt that as an ordinary person, he wouldn't achieve anything too grand. Having a stable income and living a peaceful life was already good enough for him.
Of course, since he got beaten up, he had to ask for some compensation. So, after searching around, Du Chengfeng ended up with a dozen more copper coins in his pocket.
Including those that Du Chengfeng had saved, he now had about a hundred coins. Although it wasn't much, it brought him closer to his goal—through these days of helping, he had become familiar with Li the Carpenter in the village, who had promised that as long as Du Chengfeng could pay five hundred coins, the good-hearted carpenter would supply some rafters to help him build a house near the village entrance.
Having a place to live is the first step toward a stable life, so Du Chengfeng naturally wouldn't refuse this kindness. Getting a small courtyard for just five hundred coins meant owing a big favor to Li the Carpenter. Though currently penniless, once he got on his feet, he wouldn't forget this kindness.
Now, two months after arriving at Dock Fortress, through his efforts and several high-end yet simple business negotiations, Du Chengfeng finally had five hundred coins and found Li the Carpenter, quickly getting a rough shape of the small courtyard.
This was his first dwelling in this world, also the first place of his own in two lifetimes. Even though five hundred coins couldn't build a great house, he believed that with effort, persistence, continuous renovations, and improvements, the place would eventually become better.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. At this moment, Du Chengfeng still held infinite longing for a better life in his heart.
But just as he knocked on Li the Carpenter's door to discuss how to build a latrine, he suddenly heard a desolate horn sound.
Soon, the good-hearted Li the Carpenter anxiously rushed out through the door.
This was the first time Du Chengfeng saw Li the Carpenter so flustered.
"What are you standing here for! Hurry up and get to the Dock Fortress!"
Li the Carpenter tugged Du Chengfeng's arm with surprising strength.
"Someone sounded the horn in the fortress! They're about to ring the bell! The horsemen are coming to attack! If you stay stunned, you'll lose your life!"
"...Huh?"
The flood of information in the brief words left Du Chengfeng dazed. At that moment, the first thing that came to his mind was his barely-built little courtyard.
All he wanted was to settle down and live an ordinary life. Was that too much to ask?