Life in a Simulation - Chapter 18

After returning home, Zhou Ming quickly adjusted his mood.

Indeed, in a world where class rigidity was extremely high, there were very few avenues for social mobility for the commoner class. Although in many stories passed down by commoners, there were tales of farmers’ sons who, by rescuing a knight, became squires and eventually rose to nobility, how many such examples were there in reality?

Perhaps it was precisely because they were rare that these stories could spread so widely.

Shaking his head, it was clear that he had been misled by these stories and had taken a detour.

“It seems I need to change my approach. Just being a farmer is useless; there’s no way to rise in the world,” Zhou Ming thought.

Many ideas flashed through his mind.

Become a merchant?

In this world, there were already many itinerant merchants who traded goods between different territories. Given the varying produce and prices in each territory, coupled with poor information exchange, the chances of making a fortune were high. If he joined these merchants and used some of the ideas in his head, becoming a wealthy tycoon wouldn’t be too difficult.

How about becoming a bandit who dominates the mountains and forests?

The world was vast, with many noble territories having less than 10% development. There were dense, impenetrable dark forests (where the light was black due to the high density of plants) and swampy wildernesses. With plenty of wild animals and ample space to move around, if he raised a banner and gathered a group of people in the wild, he could easily become a carefree and free-spirited mountain king.

There were also other free professions to choose from, such as craftsmen, mercenaries, and sailors, as long as he left Granling.

However…

Alice.

His only sister, it was impossible to take her and run away quickly. They would easily be caught by the lord. Moreover, with Alice’s appearance, even if they left Granling, if they encountered ill-intentioned people outside, he alone wouldn’t be able to stop those kidnappers or mercenaries from taking her to some place and selling her for a good price.

Zhou Ming felt a headache coming on. Alice, whom he had raised by himself, couldn’t be without feelings. It was impossible to abandon her and go out into the world alone, unless he had the super strength to take down more than a dozen knights.

Looking at his own body, which was just over 12 years old and barely capable of self-preservation…

“I’ll endure for a few more years. Once I’ve built up my body and have the strength to protect myself, everything will be easier.”

With this thought, starting from that day, Zhou Ming increased the intensity of his daily training. His morning exercises were increased to 800 push-ups, 200 frog jumps, 200 pull-ups, and a 3,000-meter run. His evening spear thrust training was raised to 2,000 repetitions.

However, Zhou Ming’s new training plan hadn’t been in effect for long when Steward Brunold, accompanied by several ill-looking servants, knocked on his door and completely disrupted his training schedule.

“Layne, starting next week, you are assigned to work on the lord’s farm as a weekly laborer. Don’t forget to show up for work!” Steward Brunold’s face was filled with a sense of vindictive pleasure.

“Weekly laborer? Isn’t that something for citizens over 16 years old? I’m only 12. Why am I being assigned to do weekly labor? That doesn’t comply with the territory’s laws!”

Zhou Ming retorted. In this world, although the lords exploited their subjects severely, they hadn’t reached the point of killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. Most territorial laws stipulated that citizens over the age of 16 were obligated to perform weekly labor.

“Master Edward’s word is the law! For you, a lowly farmer who has nothing better to do than daydream about living in the castle and becoming a squire, Master Edward says that you must be given something to do to dispel these absurd notions! Starting next week, you must perform weekly labor, or I will reclaim the land you cultivate and revoke your right to use the plow oxen and heavy plows!”

Steward Brunold had already made up his mind about Zhou Ming! Cultivated land, plow oxen, and farming tools were the very foundation upon which a farmer survived. Without these, a farmer had only two paths: wait to die or flee.

“I will go next week, Steward Brunold.”

Zhou Ming lowered his head and spoke in a deep voice, his fists already clenched secretly.

“Hahahahahaha~”

“A lowly farmer, dreaming of rising to nobility like a phoenix, forget about it!”

“Exactly, he should take a good look at himself in the mirror and see who he really is.”

“All he’ll ever do in his life is deal with wheat stalks. When he’s old, he’ll realize how ridiculous he was in his youth.”

Brunold left with the group of servants, laughing wildly, while Zhou Ming, left in the house, had his fingernails almost digging into his flesh.

…

Three days later, early in the morning.

Zhou Ming, shouldering his hoe, went to the lord’s wheat fields on the east side of the castle to work with the other farmers from the town.

“Layne, don’t work too hard, but also don’t be too slow. Otherwise, Brunold will make you work late. Also, don’t take long breaks during the day, or your weekly labor for today won’t count as completed. You’ll be required to continue the next day until Brunold acknowledges that you’ve completed three weekly labors,” kind-hearted Uncle O’Neil advised Zhou Ming during the work.

“I know, thank you, Uncle O’Neil.”

Zhou Ming, who was weeding with his head down, nodded and noticed that Steward Brunold’s gaze was fixed on him. Seeing the faint smile on his face, he felt a sinking feeling in his heart and lowered his head again, silently weeding the field.

As evening approached and the sparse stars twinkled in the sky, the farmers in the field could barely make out each other’s outlines.

The day’s work was done. Looking back at the 5 acres of wheat field he had hoed that day, Zhou Ming felt relieved. He had completed no less than the other adults, so there shouldn’t be a problem.

“Young Layne, not up to standard, today’s weekly labor doesn’t count!”

A voice filled with triumph came, shattering the last bit of hope in Zhou Ming’s heart.

“Steward Brunold, I hoed 5 acres of land today, that should count as one weekly labor,” Zhou Ming stepped forward and argued in a low voice.

“No, no, no,” Brunold shook his head and said, “These 5 acres were not completed by you, but by Mr. Ward from the town. Your task completion is 0.”

The farmers around them began to murmur.

“This is too shameless. We all saw Layne working all day, and Brunold says he did nothing today.”

“I wonder why Ward didn’t come to do the weekly labor with me today. It turns out that because Brunold is his uncle, he let Layne do the work for him.”

“Poor Layne, I don’t know what he did to offend Steward Brunold to be treated like this…”

“Shh, keep it down! Brunold is a petty and stingy man. Don’t get on his bad side!”

Afraid of offending Steward Brunold, no one dared to speak up for Zhou Ming.

Seeing this, Zhou Ming didn’t say much. He just silently shouldered his hoe and returned to his home.

For six consecutive days, while all the other farmers had finished their three days of weekly labor and returned to their own fields, only Zhou Ming remained, still working in the lord’s wheat field. Steward Brunold also continued to sit by the field with several servants, watching him with interest.

“Dad, I have some good news. Master Edward has agreed to let me be his squire!”

At that moment, a round-faced, chubby boy ran over to Brunold, his excess fat jiggling as he excitedly reported the good news.

“Really? That’s wonderful, my son! Fantastic, fantastic! I’m so proud of you!”

The short and fat Brunold jumped up, hugging his son with excitement as their chunks of fat collided. Both were so moved that they were in tears.

“Congratulations, Master Baum. You are sure to become a noble gentleman in the future!” The servants also came forward one after another to flatter and ingratiate themselves, lifting the chubby boy named Baum to the skies.

“Huh, Dad, who is this person working in the field? Is today a weekly labor day?” Seeing Zhou Ming, who was weeding with his head down, Baum asked in confusion.

“No, no, this boy here is the farmer’s son who went to the castle for the squire selection last time. I’m making him weed a bit more to clear his head,” Brunold explained to his son with a smile.

“Dad, clearing his head like this won’t work. This is better,” Baum waddled over, twisted his plump behind, and kicked Zhou Ming’s buttocks.

“Hahahahahaha~”

Watching Zhou Ming rolling on the ground, Brunold, his son Baum, and the servants laughed wildly together.

Life in a Simulation - Chapter 18

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Hate that cliffhanger, don’t you?

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