Chapter Two: Coming Straight for Me!

In the large communal courtyard where many families lived together, gossip about everyday matters was inevitable. In the past two days, there had been plenty of talk about Bai Yu within this bustling neighborhood. Originally, this mischievous youth from the Bai family was already quite hopeless; after being struck by lightning two days ago for harassing the second Miss Li, he seemed to have become even more incorrigible.

Rumors spread that he complained about the latrine being unclean, found fault with the lack of oily meat at meals, and grumbled about the absence of hot water when washing his face... Such bizarre behaviors made him the subject of endless chatter among the neighbors.

Yet Bai Yu, an abstract youth from five hundred years in the future, paid no mind to their pointed fingers and murmurs.

Compared to the last life, when he was labeled mentally ill, this kind of social pressure was trivial.

A person with a performative personality never fears being the center of attention nor the judgments of society.

That evening at dusk, another meal that Bai Yu found almost impossible to swallow was served. Throughout the dinner, he remained silent.

Having been an orphan in his previous life with little relevant experience, Bai Yu truly didn’t know how to interact with a “father” figure, especially one he had only known for two days.

He couldn’t even bring himself to call this stranger “Dad.”

Moreover, this “father” was only in his thirties—psychologically more like an older brother than a paternal guardian.

So the abstract youth began to ponder whether to find a chance to discuss their forms of address—perhaps they could each call the other something different: he would call him “big brother,” and he would be called “son.”

But not today; they were still too unfamiliar.

As the meal neared its end, it was Bai’s father who spoke first.

“Starting tomorrow, you’ll come with me to work. That way, you won’t be idle at home causing trouble.”

Bai Yu searched his memory for what his father’s work involved: day after day in a foul-smelling stable, shifting hay, moving grains, cleaning dung, scrubbing... He wasn’t sure if others were willing to do this, but as a lethargic young man so lazy he’d been officially diagnosed as mentally ill five centuries later, Bai Yu couldn’t bear such hardship.

Besides, even after becoming a regular worker, the pay was low; if it was just about earning money, there were easier ways.

So Bai Yu resisted and asked, “Why?”

His father replied, “This year, you’ll come with me to get familiar with the stable and master all the tasks. Next year, when you turn sixteen and reach adulthood, you’ll take over this job. Then you’ll have a secure position and receive a government stipend!”

Bai Yu’s persecutory delusions flared up as he skeptically said, “You don’t mean to dump this dirty, exhausting task on me so you can slack off and enjoy life, do you?”

According to regulations, the military household Bai family was obliged to provide one worker to serve as a strongman for the elephant stable to fulfill their duties to the court.

If Bai Yu took over, of course his father would be freed.

Damn it! Bai’s father, faced with his son’s suspicion, was a little embarrassed but earnestly said, “How can you think that way? I can find a side job so that our family earns from two people. Then we can save money! It’ll be easier for you to marry. Don’t you want to get married?”

“No! I don’t want to!” Bai Yu reflexively rejected this as a clear-eyed modern soul.

Emptying one’s pockets for eighteen ceremonial festivals a year? Losing the family fortune for a bride price? Spending on gold, cars, houses?

Oh, this is the Ming dynasty? Even so, no thanks! Not even a dog’s chance!

Bai’s father was baffled. Why didn’t the temptation of marriage work? Aren’t boys at this age usually curious and eager to wed?

Smack! Bai’s father slammed the table, furious and frustrated: “You don’t want this, you don’t want that. What exactly do you want? Lazing about at home all day, causing trouble for me?”

After some thought, Bai Yu answered seriously, “If there’s any savings at home, buy some ink, brushes, paper, and inkstones. I want to practice writing and start preparing for exams.”

His father was at a loss. Maybe it was time to, while still young, put an end to this unruly son, save money, and start anew?

He pressed on, “If you really want to study, why were you kicked out by Mr. Yan after only three months at the community school?”

Bai Yu was helpless. The reasons were too complicated to explain, and he couldn’t possibly explain what AI was.

Anyone who had used AI knew it might be tricky to get it to design something like a flush toilet, but having it write essays or answer questions was instant and powerful.

It was practically a cheat tool for exams. Not trying the imperial exams would be such a waste.

Though a history novice, Bai Yu understood that in such a privileged, cutthroat ancient class society, having official rank could spare one many troubles.

Seeing his son’s lazy, impractical attitude and unwillingness to shoulder responsibility, Bai’s father was at a loss. He silently picked up a bamboo strip.

If reason failed, he knew a little about family discipline.

Bai Yu immediately looked terrified. In this era, the “Three Bonds” and “filial piety” were iron laws; fathers beating sons was both customary and justified, even to death.

“Wait, wait! Let’s talk this through!” Bai Yu called out.

Just as the father and son were locked in this extreme struggle, someone outside shouted, “Come out! There’s a meeting for the entire courtyard!”

Hearing “meeting for the entire courtyard,” Bai Yu was dazed, momentarily thinking he had entered a new game scenario.

Curious, he followed his father outside to the courtyard’s central area.

There, a dozen or so men stood—representatives from the ten or so households sharing this large courtyard.

Respected elders like Wang Taigong, Mr. Yan the Confucian teacher at the community school, and Li the bricklayer from the side house were all present.

Wang Taigong was the head of this courtyard, essentially the grassroots official appointed by the government, which was why neighbors respectfully called him “Taigong.”

According to the Ming dynasty’s grassroots system, every ten households formed a unit with a head responsible for management; the courtyard’s head roughly corresponded to this role.

Wang Taigong looked around at the assembled representatives and spoke calmly, “Today the yamen and the neighborhood chief have issued orders to expand the number of fire watchmen. Our courtyard has been assigned one quota.”

The so-called fire watchmen were a civilian force conscripted from the city’s residents to prevent fires and theft.

In other words, this was a form of forced labor, even harsher than later temporary work.

The main task was nightly patrols through streets and alleys, requiring long, tiring nights.

It was clearly an arduous and somewhat dangerous duty.

Such burdens rarely fell on the wealthy or officials but were borne by the common folk.

Standing behind his father, Bai Yu listened to Wang Taigong’s explanation with a heavy heart.

Life for the lower classes in ancient society was unbearably harsh.

Not to mention anything else, even forced labor like this could drive ordinary people insane, sometimes bankrupting entire families.

For example, three years ago, a palace fire destroyed the three main halls. During the reconstruction, the court conscripted tens of thousands of men from military households in the capital for labor, and the project was still unfinished.

People in later eras could hardly imagine the suffering caused by ancient conscription. Even the most capable in the twenty-first century never had to worry about being forcibly dragged into such grueling labor.

Wang Taigong stood on the steps and asked the crowd, “Neighbors, please speak up. Who should be assigned to serve this time?”

Mr. Yan, the Confucian teacher, was the first to speak: “I nominate Bai Yu! Instead of letting him laze about all day causing trouble and adding to our burdens, it’s better he serves as a fire watchman.”

Many others echoed this sentiment: “Very fitting! Since Yu has no proper work, let him take on the fire watch duty first.”

Among them, the bricklayer Li’s voice was the loudest—his daughter had just been harassed by Bai Yu a couple of days ago, and he was eager to have some peace of mind.

Bai Yu was speechless.

Damn! Everyone was targeting him!

Could this world get any better? Was there any chance for a decent life?

Just moments ago, he was lamenting the hardships of the lower classes; now the conscription fell on him.

Such misfortune! It must be the karma from his past life! He was so unwelcome!