[Survival Probability: 83%]
'I have another half a year to prepare, I can still improve a bit more.'
Zhang Feng is still growing, and his constitution hasn't reached its peak yet.
"You don't want to go to school? You want to practice martial arts?"
His master frowned upon hearing that Zhang Feng didn't want to go to school, "In modern times, this isn't considered a good thing.
But if you can hone a 'craft' to perfection, it's not impossible either."
The master is very confident in Zhang Feng's martial arts skills.
He believes that Zhang Feng, choosing post-modern martial arts, can also make a name for himself.
"Have you talked to Uncle Zhang about it?" Brother Haozi looked at Zhang Feng in surprise,
"Your life's big decisions, the master can't just decide that."
Brother Haozi then looked at the dumbfounded master,
"Master, you can't be confused! This isn't something you can decide."
"Right." The master realized afterward and quickly said, "Xiaofeng, you need to discuss this with your dad, the master can't make this decision."
Each era has its own rules.
In this era, a master, in many people's eyes, is no more than an 'elder teaching crafts.'
How could their words count for much?
Besides making some parents feel like they are meddling, there's not much use.
"Junior Brother!" The third senior brother also advised, "You can't just make the decision to drop out on your own!"
"Mm, I know."
Zhang Feng's eyes were firm, determined to train, without a reason.
If he had to define one,
it's because he's already persisted for eighteen years.
In this life, Zhang Feng has shown his perseverance.
The master and the third senior brother are witnesses to his step-by-step growth.
...
Two days later.
In the afternoon.
In a hardware market on the North Third Ring Road.
Zhang Feng was pondering while walking towards Zone A.
'The trait of Family No. 2 is "ordinary," theoretically, it shouldn't interfere with my life.
Because it's always been like this over the years.'
Through the experiences of these years.
Zhang Feng fully understood what "family: ordinary" means.
As long as he wasn't doing anything wrong.
His father and they were generally supportive of his choices.
Zhang Feng thought as he looked towards his small family shop at the corner.
His father and older brother were moving goods for customers, bag after heavy bag of screws being sent to the customer's car.
One bag weighs about a hundred pounds.
Huffing and puffing.
The old customer was also strenuously helping out.
"Leave it to me, I'll do it."
Zhang Feng walked over in a few quick steps, took the screws from his father's hands, picked up another bag, and easily put it on the old customer's van.
"Your family's strong man is back!" The old customer knew Zhang Feng.
But was still amazed at this young man's strength.
'This kid from the Zhang family is incredible…'
He always felt that after not seeing him for a period of time, the young man's strength increased significantly.
He still clearly remembered that a year ago, although Zhang Feng could also lift two bags of screws, he couldn't do it with such ease.
"Xiaofeng, be obedient, go write the invoice." Zhang Youfa, who looked a bit elderly, didn't want Zhang Feng to tire himself, trying to take the goods from Zhang Feng's hands.
Zhang Feng just slightly avoided him and put the two bags of screws on the car.
Continue, take, move.
Zhang Feng, not out of breath, said, "Dad, you go write the invoice, I'll load the goods with my brother."
There were only twelve items in total.
His brother, father, and the old customer together had already loaded four items.
The rest were supposedly for Zhang Feng and his brother to load together.
But Zhang Feng took one in each hand.
By the time his brother loaded one, just when he turned around.
Zhang Feng had already finished loading everything.
"Come on, bro, take a break." Zhang Feng dusted off his hands and looked at the laughing old customer, "Uncle Duan, come in and have a rest?"
"No, no." The old customer moved his slightly aching waist, saw Zhang Youfa coming out with the bill, and waved his hand, "The construction site is urging, gotta go, gotta go."
Honk-honk—
The small car drove off.
Zhang Feng watched it for two moments and then turned to his father, "Dad, I want to talk to you about something."
"What's up?" Zhang Youfa gestured to go inside and talk, "Your second brother is back from a business trip, brought some tea, said it was for the martial arts hall, but was worried it would interrupt your training, so he left it with me first.
Hey, yesterday afternoon after leaving it, he left overnight for another place."
The second brother now works for a company, often running out of town.
The older brother has married, succeeded the family business, and helps in the store.
The older brother's wife chose to work outside, not in the store.
Later on.
The three sat in a small office.
The older brother fiddled with the tea maker for a while, filling it with water.
The father sat on a slightly worn-out sofa, always smiling happily at Zhang Feng,
"Xiaofeng, what's up this time coming home?"
"Well..." Zhang Feng hesitated for a moment before saying, "I don't want to go to college anymore."
"What? You don't want to go to school anymore?" Zhang Youfa was filled with confusion.
But he also knew that this youngest son had had his own ideas since childhood, so he didn't get angry.
"Why?" Zhang Youfa asked, "Is the pressure too much at school? But once you're in college, the schedule is more flexible.
It won't affect your martial arts hobby that you've loved since you were little."
Zhang Youfa is an open-minded father, very supportive of his children's choices.
But he also knew that Xiaofeng was juggling between school and the martial arts hall, which surely brought a lot of pressure.
Even so much so that Zhang Feng's college entrance exam scores weren't ideal, and he could only get into a safety net regular university.
Still, at least he had a school to attend, which already made Zhang Father quite grateful.
"Exactly, Xiaofeng." The older brother also expressed his concern, "Is the pressure too much?"
"No pressure." Zhang Feng shook his head, reassuring his concerned family before saying, "Dad, big brother, you both know I've been practicing Martial Arts for over ten years.
I'm about to turn eighteen, and I'm thinking of visiting Martial Arts schools in different places outside of town.
It's been my dream since I was a child."
"What kind of reason is that to not go to school?" The big brother was a bit annoyed, "It doesn't seem related to school, does it?"
"Is it dangerous?" Zhang Youfa frowned and asked, "Are you going to compete or something?"
"Exactly!" The big brother suddenly felt it might be dangerous too and advised, "You should just go to school."
"Dad, big brother, I know what I'm doing." Zhang Feng looked at his relatives' concerned eyes and simply said, "I just want to focus my energy now, concentrating on one thing."
Silence.
Whish—
At this moment, the only sound was the boiling water warming the tea.
Zhang Feng didn't speak, quietly took the tea leaves brought by his second brother, and brewed tea for them.
A few minutes passed.
Zhang Youfa solemnly spoke, "Dad respects your choice!"
The big brother blew the steaming tea, reluctant to speak.
Zhang Feng nodded and left the small shop.
The tea in the big brother's hand was still hot.
...
Hard training is an art.
How to train? How to practice?
How not to hurt oneself yet practice effectively and to the maximum—it's something a Martial Artist needs to spend a lifetime learning.
Fortunately, Zhang Feng has Fighting Memory.
Plus, his master continuously instructing and checking on him day in and day out.
It kept Zhang Feng on the right path.
In the following four months,
Zhang Feng stayed rooted in the Martial Arts school, not returning home.
Until the end of the year.
Snowfall drifting down.
In the morning.
Zhang Feng called home in advance, saying he was coming back.
Then he packed up and bid farewell to his master and the others.
Afternoon.
Zhang Feng had just stepped out of the Martial Arts school, which he hadn't left for four months, only to find his father, big brother, sister-in-law, his three-year-old nephew, and second brother holding a bunch of New Year's goods, standing at the entrance.
"If you're going to train, train well. Our family will celebrate the New Year here with the grand master today, adding some festive spirit here too."
Father's face was red from the cold, yet he wore a genuine inner joy.
He missed his child.
If he wasn't afraid of disturbing his child, he would have come earlier.
Just like today, when the child said 'break'.
He mobilized the whole family to come directly.
"Little brother!"
"Third uncle!"
The big brother's family also cheerfully looked at Zhang Feng.
"You've grown taller." The second brother, still as fond of showing off, didn't wear a padded jacket in the snowy weather but wore a somewhat thin trench coat.
Only this time he didn't take it off, but tied it around his waist.
"Second brother has grown up too." Zhang Feng also smiled at them.
Dammit, don't be so nice to me.
First family, then master and senior siblings.
For a moment, Zhang Feng suddenly wanted to stay in the adventure world, to stay in this big family.
...
The Martial Arts school was bustling for a few days.
After the New Year.
In early spring.
Zhang Feng went into seclusion again for a period, welcoming the final round of enhancement.
[1: Basic Physique]
[2: Expired Love Letter]
[3: Strange Carrot X2]
...
Three strange options appeared this time.
All were types Zhang Feng had never seen before.
Zhang Feng first looked at '1'.
[Basic Physique: Rare]
[Effect: Your current constitution increases by 5%]
Enhancing constitution was like the previous constitution points, but this time it was a percentage.
This is a great immediate combat strength boost!
Truly worthy of 'rare entry'.
Zhang Feng was tempted, but still looked at 2.
[Expired Love Letter: Ordinary, Limited to This Adventure World]
[Effect: Upon sending, you can rekindle your past relationship with Zhu Lingping, making up for emotional regrets during your adventure]
"Zhu Lingping?"
Zhang Feng fell into reminiscence, thinking of that clingy little girl from his childhood.
But after they graduated from elementary school, the two lost contact.
He heard her family moved somewhere, Zhang Feng also forgot.
Now he could send a late-arrived love letter and rekindle the childhood relationship.
Zhang Feng didn't expect the text to be so romantic.
He reminisced about his childhood in this world for a while.
Zhang Feng looked at choice 3.
[Strange Carrot X2: Rare, Double Happiness]
Another rare one?
And with an added strange entry?
Zhang Feng looked towards the description with anticipation.
[Effect: Constitution +1 after consumption]
[Double Happiness: Upon selection, one will appear in the current world, and one will appear in the real world]