Chapter 4: Meeting My Little Sister Again

The morning sun crept through the cracks in the shack's wooden walls, casting faint golden streaks across the dirt floor. The air was cool, carrying the scent of damp earth and morning dew.

Zhang Ye opened his eyes. He hadn't really slept.

His body was exhausted, but his mind had been racing all night. The village. The money. The necklace. Too many questions, not enough answers.

Across the room, Xiao Lan was still asleep, curled up on the thin straw mat. Her tiny form rose and fell with slow, steady breaths.

Zhang Ye sighed. Let her sleep a little longer.

He stood, stretching out the stiffness in his muscles. This body is weak. I need to fix that.

His hand drifted to the black-and-white necklace resting against his chest.

This thing brought me here. But why?

The strange artifact had activated right before his death surging with power and dragging him into this new life. But now? It was silent.

Zhang Ye frowned, holding it up to the morning light. There has to be a reason.

But before he could think further a soft yawn.

Xiao Lan blinked awake, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

"Brother…?"

Zhang Ye tucked the necklace under his robe. "Morning."

She sat up, stretching. "Is it time to go?"

He nodded. "We'll eat first, then head to the village."

Xiao Lan perked up. "Really? You think we'll find work?"

Zhang Ye smirked. "If we don't, I'll make work."

Xiao Lan giggled. "That sounds like something Father used to say."

Zhang Ye stilled.

Father.

The memories were hazy distant fragments of a man who had once stood tall, strong… before he had left them behind.

Zhang Ye pushed the thought away. The past doesn't matter. Only what comes next.

He ruffled Xiao Lan's hair. "Come on. Let's get moving."

Today, they'd step into Qinghe Village.

And Zhang Ye would take the first step toward changing everything.

The dirt path to Qinghe Village was uneven, winding through patches of dense forest and open fields. The morning air was crisp, carrying the distant scent of smoke and fresh earth.

Xiao Lan walked beside Zhang Ye, her small feet kicking up dust as she struggled to match his pace. But she never complained.

Zhang Ye kept his eyes ahead. The village wasn't far now.

"Brother," Xiao Lan piped up, tilting her head. "What kind of work do you think we'll find?"

Zhang Ye hummed. "Depends. What kind of jobs are there?"

Xiao Lan counted on her fingers. "Um… carrying sacks of rice for the miller, sweeping the tea shop, helping the blacksmith with errands, or gathering herbs for the old healer lady."

Zhang Ye frowned. Nothing pays well. "Which job pays the most?"

Xiao Lan scrunched her nose. "The mill, maybe. But they don't hire kids."

Zhang Ye clicked his tongue. Figures.

"Then we'll have to find another way."

Xiao Lan pouted. "You always talk like you have a plan, but you don't, do you?"

Zhang Ye smirked. "That's the secret. I make the plan as I go."

Xiao Lan giggled.

The trees began to thin, and soon, rooftops came into view. Qinghe Village.

It was small no more than fifty wooden houses clustered together, with narrow dirt roads weaving between them. Smoke curled from chimneys, villagers bustled about carrying baskets, and the faint clang of metal rang from a blacksmith's forge.

Zhang Ye took it all in, eyes scanning for opportunity.

Then, he noticed something.

A commotion near the village square.

A group of villagers had gathered, murmuring among themselves. In the center, a boy lay sprawled on the ground, clutching his stomach while another boy stood over him, arms crossed smugly.

Xiao Lan's face paled.

"Brother," she whispered, gripping his sleeve. "That's… that's Bai Shan!"

Zhang Ye raised a brow. "Who?"

She bit her lip. "The village chief's son. He...he always picks on people."

Zhang Ye exhaled. Of course. Every village had a brat like this.

Bai Shan smirked, looking down at the boy on the ground. "That's what you get for getting in my way," he sneered.

The villagers muttered, but no one stepped in.

Zhang Ye sighed.

He had planned to find work first.

But this might be more interesting.

Zhang Ye clicked his tongue. He had just arrived, and already, there was a village brat causing problems.

Bai Shan stood with his arms crossed, grinning down at the boy on the ground. His clothes were cleaner, his boots newer a clear sign of privilege.

The boy on the ground groaned, clutching his stomach. Dirt smeared his face, and his lower lip was bleeding.

No one moved to help.

Zhang Ye glanced at Xiao Lan. She looked uneasy, her small hands balled into fists.

"You know him?" he asked.

She hesitated. "The boy on the ground? That's Ah Liu. He's an orphan too. He does odd jobs around the village."

Zhang Ye exhaled through his nose. So the rich brat was bullying the poor kid. How original.

Bai Shan stepped forward, nudging Ah Liu with his foot. "You still breathing?" He snickered. "Maybe next time, you'll know better than to walk in my way."

Ah Liu grit his teeth but didn't speak.

Zhang Ye sighed. Guess I can't ignore this.

He stepped forward. "Oi."

The crowd turned. Bai Shan's smirk faded slightly as he looked at Zhang Ye. "Who the hell are you?"

Zhang Ye smiled lazily. "Just a passerby. But it looks like you dropped something."

Bai Shan frowned. "What?"

Zhang Ye pointed at Ah Liu. "Your dignity. It's on the ground. Want me to pick it up for you?"

The villagers gasped. A few stifled laughs slipped through the crowd.

Bai Shan's face darkened. "What did you just say?"

Zhang Ye yawned. "You're a little slow, huh? Let me say it simply picking on weaker people makes you a loser."

Bai Shan's fists clenched. "You bastard"

He swung.

Zhang Ye barely moved. He tilted his head slightly, letting the punch sail past his ear. Too slow.

Before Bai Shan could recover, Zhang Ye flicked his fingers lightly tapping Bai Shan's forehead.

It wasn't a hard hit. Barely a touch.

But Bai Shan stumbled back. He flailed, trying to keep his balance, but..

THUD!

He landed on his ass in the dirt.

Silence.

Then....laughter.

The villagers chuckled, some outright laughing at Bai Shan's stunned expression.

Zhang Ye smirked. Easy.

Bai Shan's face turned red. He scrambled up, glaring. "You!"

Zhang Ye raised a brow. "You wanna try again?"

Bai Shan's mouth opened then closed. He looked at the crowd, at the villagers still grinning.

His face twisted.

"Tch!" He turned on his heel. "I don't have time for idiots!"

He stomped off, shoving past people.

The tension faded. The villagers turned to Zhang Ye with newfound curiosity.

Xiao Lan tugged his sleeve. "Brother, was that really necessary?"

Zhang Ye smirked. "Probably not. But it was fun."

Xiao Lan sighed, but she was smiling.

Meanwhile, Ah Liu pushed himself up, wincing.

Zhang Ye extended a hand. "You alright?"

Ah Liu hesitated before taking it. "Yeah. Thanks."

Zhang Ye dusted off his hands. "No problem. But tell me where can I find work around here?"

Ah Liu wiped the dirt from his face, still wincing from Bai Shan's kick. He looked at Zhang Ye with a mix of curiosity and surprise. "You're new here, huh?"

Zhang Ye nodded. "Just arrived. Looking for work."

Ah Liu scratched the back of his head. "Not many good jobs left. The mill pays best, but they don't hire outsiders. The tea shop might need help, but old Madam Wu is picky."

Zhang Ye hummed. Nothing solid yet. "What about the blacksmith?"

Ah Liu snorted. "Master He? Good luck. That old man doesn't even let people step near his forge unless they impress him."

Zhang Ye smirked. "Then I'll just impress him."

Ah Liu blinked. "You sure talk big."

"Only when I can back it up."

Ah Liu studied him, then grinned. "I like you. Come on, I'll show you around."

Xiao Lan perked up. "Really?"

Ah Liu nodded. "You helped me out. Least I can do is help you."

Zhang Ye nodded, pleased. Helping him had already paid off.

But before they could leave

A voice interrupted.

"Wait."

A middle-aged woman stepped forward. Her clothes were simple but well-kept, her sharp eyes scanning Zhang Ye carefully.

"You said you're looking for work?" she asked.

Zhang Ye crossed his arms. "That depends. Who's asking?"

The woman smirked. "I'm Madam Wu. Owner of the tea shop."

Ah Liu choked. "You?! You never hire outsiders!"

Madam Wu ignored him. She looked at Zhang Ye. "You embarrassed Bai Shan. I like that."

Zhang Ye chuckled. "That's all it takes?"

She shrugged. "The brat's been a pain for years. If you're willing to work, I'll give you a chance."

Xiao Lan's eyes lit up. "Brother! That's great!"

Zhang Ye raised a brow. "What's the pay?"

Madam Wu smirked. "You get two meals a day, plus a few copper coins."

Zhang Ye thought for a moment. Not great. But better than nothing.

He nodded. "Alright. When do I start?"

Madam Wu turned. "Now."

Zhang Ye sighed. So much for taking it slow.

Xiao Lan giggled. "Brother, you're already making a name for yourself!"

Zhang Ye smirked. "This is just the beginning."

Then, he followed Madam Wu toward the tea shop.

The tea shop sat near the village square, a modest wooden building with faded red banners hanging over the entrance. The scent of freshly brewed tea drifted through the open windows, mixing with the crisp morning air.

Madam Wu led Zhang Ye inside. The interior was simple several wooden tables, a counter stacked with ceramic teapots, and a few customers already seated, sipping their drinks.

A middle-aged man with a potbelly and a scruffy beard stood behind the counter, wiping a teacup. His eyes flicked up when they entered, narrowing. "What's this?"

"A new helper," Madam Wu said.

The man snorted. "He another stray?"

Zhang Ye smirked. "You could say that."

Madam Wu ignored the comment. "His name's Zhang Ye. He'll be helping with cleaning, carrying, and serving customers."

The potbellied man scoffed. "So, an errand boy."

"Call it what you want." Zhang Ye shrugged. "As long as you pay me."

The man let out a short laugh. "He's got guts."

Madam Wu smirked. "That's why I hired him."

She turned to Zhang Ye. "Start by cleaning the tables. If you do a good job, maybe I'll teach you how to brew tea properly."

Zhang Ye sighed, rolling up his sleeves. "Got it."

As he grabbed a rag and started wiping down the tables, Xiao Lan stood by the door, watching excitedly. Ah Liu leaned against the counter, grinning. "Never thought I'd see someone talk back to Uncle Mo and live."

Uncle Mo, the potbellied man, grunted. "We'll see how long he lasts."

Zhang Ye smirked. "Long enough to get rich."

The shop filled with chuckles.

And just like that, Zhang Ye's first job in this new world had begun.