Chapter 2

Unlike He Xicui's exaggerated imagination, Wang Kefan was not running wildly in the streets at this moment. Instead, he was jogging at a steady pace in the fields outside Hengshi Village.

This body was somewhat frail, probably due to years of sedentary study and lack of exercise. But the precious thing was that this body was only twenty years old, young and full of vitality. As long as he persisted in systematic exercise, he would soon become strong.

At twenty, it was truly a golden age. Wang Kefan was nineteen years younger! Just for this, the trip through time was nothing to complain about.

But he had been depressed these past few days, thinking of his beloved wife and daughter in the old world, which caused him a lingering pain in his heart.

There were also his elderly parents, who were in their seventies. Could they withstand the heavy blow of his sudden departure? If anything happened to them and he couldn't take care of them until the end, it would be an irreparable and immense regret!

The memories of his past life, the hard-to-let-go family ties, the unfulfilled responsibilities, the guilt and longing for his loved ones... Could all of this be easily diluted by the time travel? If possible, Wang Kefan would rather return to the old world and not have this twenty-year-old body.

But this was not something that could be changed by human effort. Wang Kefan could only accept the fact that he was separated from his loved ones in this new life.

As for his identity as an associate professor of political science at the PLA XX Political College, and other such status and positions, they were all fleeting clouds, not worth clinging to.

However, having spent over ten years in the military and continuing to work at a military academy after transferring to a civilian position, he had never left this big family. Suddenly losing his organization and being alone in the chaotic world of the late Ming Dynasty gave Wang Kefan a sense of unease and urgency.

So, as soon as his body recovered a bit, he resumed his habit of jogging and exercising.

He hadn't run far when he started to feel short of breath and his legs felt weak. Sweat appeared on his forehead, but unlike the exaggerated rumors, Wang Kefan did not "sweat like a torrent." With deliberate adjustment and practice, his breathing gradually became smoother, and his legs felt lighter and lighter as he ran.

The fourth young master of the Wang family had good relations with his neighbors. Everyone he met on the road would greet him, and Wang Kefan could call out their names without any slip-ups in his speech or accent.

Wang Kefan inherited the fourth young master's memories, so adapting to his new identity was not difficult. However, there was a side effect: every night, he would have dreams that felt like a split personality, with the Four Books and Five Classics and "On War" jumbled together in his mind. In the morning, he had to spend a while in a daze to figure out who he really was.

The real fourth young master had already gone to another world. May he rest in peace...

Wang Kefan made a large circle in the countryside and returned to Hengshi Village when the sun was high. He saw an old woman leaning by the door, shading her eyes and looking out. When she saw him, she greeted him with a joyful expression.

"Fan-ya, are you hungry? Come in and have breakfast," said the old woman, who was Wang Kefan's current mother, Lady Liu. She had taken good care of him these past few days, showing him meticulous attention, which made Wang Kefan, the impostor son, both moved and guilty.

He should call Lady Liu "Mother," but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He just mumbled, "Oh, what are you doing here? It's windy in the morning; you should wear a jacket."

Lady Liu didn't mind her son's rudeness. Her eyes were full of love as she replied, "It's nothing. I just came out early to get some fresh air, and it feels good."

Standing at the door to get fresh air and looking out into the distance, it sounded a bit strange. Seeing Lady Liu's kind expression, Wang Kefan suddenly understood. She was actually waiting for him, and he didn't know how long she had been waiting.

This reserved nature was somewhat similar to his mother in the old world, who never talked about family ties but quietly cared for her family behind the scenes.

Wang Kefan's heart warmed, and he stepped forward to support Lady Liu's arm and walked into the house. "Let's go home. I'll have breakfast with you."

As soon as they entered the courtyard, Xicui came out in a hurry and scolded Wang Kefan, "Oh, Fourth Young Master, where have you been? We've been looking for you!"

She scolded Wang Kefan for a moment, then turned to shout inside, "Fourth Young Lady, Fourth Young Lady, the Fourth Young Master is back!"

Fu Shihua responded and gracefully came out, her small steps and elegant posture adding to her charm. Wang Kefan glanced at the hem of her skirt and saw a pair of tiny embroidered shoes. Though not exactly three-inch golden lotus feet, they were definitely bound. This custom of deforming the body and the modern aesthetic were so different that Wang Kefan couldn't help but shake his head.

Fu Shihua met his gaze, lowered her head, and slightly bent her knee in a bow, saying softly, "It's truly a cause for celebration that you are feeling much better, my lord."

Wang Kefan bowed in return and apologized to everyone, "I didn't say goodbye this morning, and I made everyone worry. I'm sorry."

"That's fine," Xicui, who was quick to speak and favored by Lady Liu, replied, "The master and the young lady are so happy that you're better, they wouldn't mind."

"This girl, you have no manners, making the young lady laugh at you," Lady Liu pretended to be angry and glared at her, then smiled at Wang Kefan, "Shihua is truly virtuous. She has been looking out for you several times. If it weren't for the inconvenience of going out, she would have gone with Xicui to find you..."

"Thank you," Wang Kefan had to thank Fu Shihua again and glanced at her. This nominal wife was very beautiful, with delicate hands and smooth skin, clearly a well-off young lady from a wealthy family, but she seemed so unfamiliar and unreal.

Wife? His wife of many years in another world was hard to forget. Compared to her, Fu Shihua, who was like a stranger, gave him no feeling at all.

They talked and returned to the house. Lady Liu accompanied Wang Kefan to wash his hands and face, then sat down to untie his hair and personally helped him comb it.

"Fan-ya, you are a scholar with a degree. When you go out, you should at least wear a headband and a long robe, so people don't laugh at you..."

Although scolded by Lady Liu, Wang Kefan, having lived two lives, knew she meant well and immediately smiled and agreed.

He was not yet accustomed to the Ming Dynasty's attire. The clothes were manageable, but the hair was difficult to manage. Despite having the fourth young master's memories, Wang Kefan couldn't complete such a complex task. The hair bun he made was not impressive, and he attracted many strange looks while jogging.

As a military academy lecturer, Wang Kefan was very familiar with the history of the Southern Ming period and understood the significant meaning of hair in the late Ming Dynasty.

"Keep your hair, or lose your head; keep your head, or lose your hair." This saying explained everything. Hair represented attitude and stance. The Han clothing in the late Ming Dynasty was a symbol of defending the way, and it had to be retained at all costs. Unless one intended to be a loyal subject of the Qing, one would have to keep a "rat-tail" braid.

Thinking of this, Wang Kefan's brows furrowed, worried about his future situation.

The late Ming and early Qing periods were a time of chaos, filled with massacres and wars. Huguang was the front line of the Southern Ming and the Qing, and aimlessly drifting along would likely lead to disaster.

It was already early summer of 1644. In less than a year, Li Zicheng would lead his army south into Huguang, followed by the Qing army, and all of Hubei would fall.

With the chaos approaching, he needed to do something quickly!

His eyes inadvertently met Fu Shihua's, but before any sparks could fly, Wang Kefan turned away. This was another problem. He had inherited the fourth young master's body and his responsibilities in this world. With the chaos approaching, the burden of his parents and family was on his shoulders.

After a short while, Lady Liu finished styling Wang Kefan's hair, and the servants brought breakfast. They all sat down to eat.

"Fan-ya, there seems to be something going on in the clan. The head family has sent people to look for you several times. Do you want to go and see what it's about?" Lady Liu's tone was hesitant and worried. Wang Kefan had always loved reading and was unwilling to deal with the clan elders. Now, after his illness, he might not want to see them. But as a woman, she couldn't go out, and since her son was already of age, he was the head of the household in his father's absence and had to step up in critical times.

Wang Kefan agreed readily, "Sure, I'll go now."

In this era, the clan's control over the countryside was strong, even surpassing the authority of the government. The clan leader's word was absolute and could not be offended...

After breakfast, Xicui brought a new set of clothes and helped Wang Kefan put them on.

He wore a Lingyun headband, a blue silk sash around his waist, and a pair of cloud-headed shoes. Dressed in this wide-sleeved Han clothing, Wang Kefan felt a sense of solemnity, naturally straightening his posture and standing tall, looking even more handsome.

This was probably the meaning hidden in Han clothing. Although not as practical as short clothing, it was elegant and grand, restraining the wearer from indulging in comfort and laziness, and promoting self-cultivation and moral improvement.

Wang Kefan was wearing cloud-headed shoes for the first time and felt a bit awkward. Lady Liu bent down to help him adjust, and when she stood up, she was a bit dizzy and slightly sweaty. But she didn't bother to wipe it off, just stepped back and looked at her son lovingly, smiling, "As the saying goes, 'A man has three tight spots'—the headband, the waistband, and the shoes. With these three well-tied, my son indeed looks handsome!"

Wang Kefan's heart softened, and he naturally called out, "Mother, if there's nothing else, I'll go to the head family."

He turned to leave, but Lady Liu hesitated and called him back.

"Fan-ya, your father repeatedly instructed me that the Wang family is closely connected, sharing honor and disgrace. We must not let trivial matters damage our harmony..." Lady Liu's face showed a hint of worry as she instructed Wang Kefan, "I don't know what the clan wants, but remember to negotiate well and be yielding. It's never wrong to be humble, and don't argue with the elders."

Lady Liu's words were refined, probably a direct quote from her husband, Wang Rui, word for word, showing that they were deeply ingrained in her heart.

Wang Kefan was slightly taken aback, nodded, and left.