【It has been sixty days since I entered the academy. I, your younger nephew, know well that learning martial arts is no easy task, and have not dared to slack off, practicing diligently day and night. I am dull-witted and not as talented as my peers. Whenever I have doubts I cannot resolve, I seek out the instructor; if I am met with his rebuke, I only become more respectful and courteous, not daring to utter a word in response. When he is in a good mood, I ask again. Thus, though I am foolish, I have managed to learn something in the end.】

【In the dormitory, there are no rich or flavorful dishes to enjoy. My roommates are all dressed in fine embroidered clothes, wearing hats adorned with red tassels and jeweled ornaments, jade belts at their waists, a sword on the left, and fragrant sachets on the right, looking radiant like immortals. I, on the other hand, wear a patched robe and shabby clothes among them, without the slightest envy. For there is enough joy within me, and I do not care that my food and clothing are inferior to theirs. Such is the hardship and diligence of your nephew...】

【……】

【……】

After finishing, Nathaniel Clark gave the gatekeeper five silver coins, instructing him to deliver the two letters immediately, and only then did he return to the dormitory.

As soon as he entered, the aroma of meat filled the air.

Nathaniel Clark swallowed; fortunately, he had eaten his fill this time.

In the small courtyard, William Parker was fishing out beef from the pot. Seeing Nathaniel Clark return, he quickly called out, “Nathaniel Clark, I bought a beef leg earlier and it’s already cooked. Come and eat with me.”

“I already ate my fill in the mess hall. If I’d known you bought beef, I would have eaten less. Now I really can’t eat another bite.”

Nathaniel Clark lifted his shirt, revealing his round belly. William Parker laughed, “And you’re blaming me? It’s not like I made you eat so much.”

Lying on his own bed, even though William Parker was careful not to make any noise while gnawing on the beef leg, the aroma was impossible to hide. Staring at the ceiling, Nathaniel Clark thought to himself that half of what he wrote to Chief Huang was indeed his true feelings.

Among all the students at the academy, he probably had the poorest family background.

To gain strength quickly, you need proper nutrition.

In this era, nutrition means eating meat. Those who passed the entrance exam might not eat meat every meal, but at least they don’t have to eat only greens like he does.

Not envious?

That would be a lie.

If there was no envy, why would the author of “The Preface of Dongyang Ma Sheng” remember his classmates’ food and clothing so clearly?

Nathaniel Clark simply closed his eyes, listening as William Parker quietly tidied up the beef bones and left the dormitory. He sighed inwardly, knowing that his friendship with William Parker as roommates was probably coming to an end.

Today he used being full as an excuse to refuse, but what about tomorrow?

If he ate the beef William Parker bought—

Once or twice would be fine, but if it happened often, William Parker would probably start to mind.

Although William Parker’s family was decent, it wasn’t exactly wealthy. The martial artist in their clan was his uncle, not his own father.

If he kept refusing, and William Parker ate beef alone in the dorm, he’d feel awkward and embarrassed.

The growing distance between them was inevitable.

It wasn’t his fault, nor was it William Parker’s.

The fault was that he was simply too poor.

……

……

Day 70.

Nathaniel Clark’s strength had reached 410 jin.

In the past seven days, he had only gained 20 jin.

At this rate, reaching 500 jin in three months would be risky. He would need to rely on food supplements to break through to the third level of “Bull Demon Strength.”

Nathaniel Clark went to the mess hall and bought a beef leg. One beef leg cost thirty taels, ten times the price outside.

Just half a month ago, a beef leg was only twenty taels.

Medicinal herbs were even more expensive—so much so that when Nathaniel Clark asked the price of one, he turned and left immediately.

He could only sigh that buyers are never as shrewd as sellers.

The mess hall owner had figured out the students’ changing mentality.

At first, everyone was confident in themselves, so beef and herbs didn’t sell well, given the high prices.

But as the three-month deadline approached, those whose strength wasn’t improving fast enough started to panic, and would buy no matter how expensive it was.

Just like desperate gamblers, who, knowing the interest is sky-high, still dare to borrow—because if they win once, they can make it all back.

Nathaniel Clark put the beef leg in the pot to cook, not bothering to call William Parker, since William Parker no longer returned to the dormitory.

When William Parker first started eating beef, he felt awkward eating alone in front of Nathaniel Clark, so he went to Dorm A8 to eat with Charles Harris, and only came back at night to sleep.

According to William Parker, Charles Harris’s father was also a martial artist and got along well with his uncle.

But after William Parker saw Nathaniel Clark fetching water for Charles Harris, he never came back that night. Several times when Nathaniel Clark went to fetch water for Charles Harris and ran into William Parker, William Parker acted as if he didn’t see him.

Nathaniel Clark understood—William Parker felt embarrassed to share a dorm with him.

After all, out of all the students, he was the only one doing chores fit for a servant.

But Nathaniel Clark didn’t mind, since he had long expected this outcome. He didn’t resent William Parker; that’s just how people in this world think.

Just like ancient scholars—no matter how destitute, they’d rather rely on others’ charity than work as a bookkeeper or do small business. Poverty could be seen as a low point, but to do business or work for merchants was to willingly lower oneself.

The difference in mindset has nothing to do with the person.

Four beef legs were finished in four days, and Nathaniel Clark’s strength reached 440 jin.

Still no breakthrough to the third level of “Bull Demon Strength.”

Fifteen days left until the assessment.

No money left to buy more beef legs.