Yang Lian'Er's eyes glinted. "I noticed that too. I just can't tell which school of sinister techniques it belongs to."
"It looks like a technique from the Eagle Claw Skill school."
"Eagle Claw Skill..." Yang Lian'Er murmured, a scornful look appearing on her face.
"It seems that ever since that lackey, the Eagle Claw Prince, fell from grace in the imperial court, his descendants have become more and more pathetic. To actually go after a mere rickshaw puller... it's disgusting."
"Should we investigate?"
"There's no need. He was likely caught up in my affairs and suffered this senseless calamity."
"So that's why you offered him such a high price? As compensation?" Aunt Fan asked, sounding a bit surprised.
"Mm, that's part of it," Yang Lian'Er said with a smile. "But also... the fellow's skill with the rickshaw is getting better and better. The ride back was so smooth, without the slightest bump. I nearly fell asleep."
Recalling the sight of Wu Liangchen running earlier, Aunt Fan had to admit the young man was indeed quite skilled at pulling a rickshaw.
However, this also sparked a sliver of suspicion in Aunt Fan.
'This boy was clearly afflicted with a grievous internal injury, one that was almost certainly fatal. So how did he make such a miraculous recovery?'
'And his stamina is much greater than before. He doesn't seem like someone just recovering from a major illness at all.'
'Could it be that an expert helped him?'
This was the only logical explanation Aunt Fan could think of.
After all, the sinister technique that had afflicted Wu Liangchen was exceptionally vicious; only a martial arts grandmaster equally proficient in such arts could have removed it.
This was also why Aunt Fan had suddenly agreed to Yang Lian'Er's proposal.
If there truly was a martial arts grandmaster backing Wu Liangchen, then this was a good way to befriend them.
"Alright, stop pondering about that guy. I'm starving, Aunt Fan," Yang Lian'Er whined playfully, pouting at her.
The usually stern and unsmiling Aunt Fan actually revealed a rare smile when faced with Yang Lian'Er's coaxing.
"What do you want to eat?"
"I want braised pork belly, sautéed pork intestines, and a side of mapo tofu," Yang Lian'Er said, practically drooling.
"Alright, I'll go make it now."
Wu Liangchen, of course, knew nothing of this. He pulled the rickshaw back to Brother Yuan Er's house first.
Yuan Er had been waiting for a long time and breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Wu Liangchen return.
"Brother, what kept you so late?"
"I got a big fare. Second Brother, this is for you." As he spoke, Wu Liangchen handed over the copper coins he had already set aside.
Yuan Er was startled the moment the coins were in his hand; he knew from their sheer weight that it was no small amount.
"Why so much? Brother, you can't let yourself take a loss."
"Don't worry, Second Brother. That's your thirty percent. Also, this is the fee to rent the rickshaw for half a month. Could you do me a favor and go to the company tomorrow to rent this vehicle for half a month?"
Watching Wu Liangchen pull another large handful of coins out of his pocket as if by magic, Yuan Er was left dumbfounded before he finally couldn't help but speak.
"Brother, did you go and rob a pawnshop or something?"
"Of course not!"
"Then how did you get so much money?"
"I happened to run into a regular customer today, and she hired me for a whole month."
As Wu Liangchen said it, he couldn't help but feel it sounded strange. 'It's almost as if I'm being kept by her.'
"Oh, I see." After getting a clear picture of the situation, Yuan Er finally relaxed and said cheerfully.
"Brother, you've certainly got good fortune on your side. Come on, let's us brothers have a drink or two."
"Not tonight, Second Brother. I have to get back quickly. I can't rest easy leaving Mengchan home alone."
"Alright then, you go on. Be careful on the road." Hearing this, Yuan Er stopped insisting and hurried him along.
After saying goodbye to Brother Yuan Er, Wu Liangchen hurried home. On the way, he stopped by a cooked food shop that was open until the early morning and bought a roasted chicken, two jin of pig's head meat, and five freshly baked sesame flatbreads.
He figured his sister wouldn't be asleep yet, so they could have a late-night snack to get some much-needed nutrition.
'His sister was so skinny before. There wasn't anything to be done when they were broke, but now that they had money, he had to make sure she was well-fed.'
When he got home carrying the food, Wu Mengchan was indeed still awake, keeping vigil by the table.
The moment she saw Wu Liangchen, her drowsiness vanished and she immediately brightened up.
"Brother, you haven't eaten yet, right? There's congee warming in the pot, and a large flatbread. I'll go..."
"Don't trouble yourself. We'll save the congee for breakfast. Come on, have a couple of drinks with me."
On the way back, Wu Liangchen had also made a point of buying a jug of rice wine.
When Wu Mengchan saw all the food Wu Liangchen had brought back, her face filled with astonishment.
One had to know that the two of them had never eaten such a lavish meal before, not even for the New Year.
"Brother, why did you buy so much? This is too wasteful."
Wu Liangchen chuckled. "If I bought any less, you'd just find some excuse not to eat it."
Previously, whenever they had anything remotely decent to eat, Wu Mengchan would take two bites at most before claiming she didn't like it, leaving the rest for Wu Liangchen.
So, knowing this quirk of his sister's, Wu Liangchen had to buy more than enough, even if he couldn't finish it all himself.
As they were brother and sister, there was no need for ceremony. He tore open the lotus leaf wrapping, revealing a still-steaming roasted chicken. Tearing off a drumstick, Wu Liangchen handed it to Wu Mengchan.
"Here, one for each of us."
Wu Mengchan took it gingerly and brought it to her lips for a bite.
"How is it? Tastes good, right?" Wu Liangchen asked with a smile.
"Mhm!" Wu Mengchan nodded emphatically, but tears began to stream down her face, falling faster than she could wipe them away.
Wu Liangchen instantly panicked.
"What's wrong? Why are you crying all of a sudden? Did someone bully you?"
As he spoke the last words, a frenzied killing intent flashed in Wu Liangchen's eyes.
This sister was his only family in this world after he had transmigrated, and Wu Liangchen doted on her immensely.
Therefore, the moment he saw her cry, his mind immediately conjured up images of her being bullied, and he could no longer suppress the murderous intent that surged within him.
"I'm okay, Brother. I just... I feel so happy, it's like I'm in a dream," Wu Mengchan said, wiping the tears from her cheeks with a sweet smile.
Just half a month ago, her brother had been lying in bed on the verge of death. Back then, Wu Mengchan had felt as if her whole world was collapsing.
Now, only half a month had passed, and not only had her brother made a miraculous recovery, but he had also grown more mature and dependable, and he showered her with care.
All of this filled the girl, who had been steeped in hardship since childhood, with an immense sense of happiness, so much so that it felt unreal.
After hearing his sister's explanation, Wu Liangchen also felt a sting in his nose.
'This poor girl... she's really had it rough.'
'Just this small taste of happiness was enough to make her feel like she was in a dream.'
"Don't you worry, Sis. Our lives are only going to get better from here on out. After a little while, once my income is stable, you won't have to go to that laundry anymore. I'll provide for you."
Wu Mengchan nodded vigorously. "Mhm!"
「The night grew deep.」
Having had two cups of rice wine, Wu Mengchan was already sound asleep. Wu Liangchen, however, only lay down on his bed after completing his unskippable routine: a full set of the Five Animals Fist.
But he couldn't fall asleep. The events of the night turned over and over in his mind.
The original owner's mysterious, grave illness; the strange hostility from the rickshaw company's boss, Yang Hu; and the wildly popular actress he'd met today—all these threads tangled together in Wu Liangchen's mind, gradually weaving into a clear picture.
At the same time, memories that his body's previous owner had forgotten began to surface. For instance, he now recalled how strangely Yang Hu had behaved upon learning he was pulling the rickshaw for Yang Lian'Er.
As these thoughts coalesced, Wu Liangchen abruptly sat bolt upright.
"Wait... Is that man out of his mind?"