Chapter 1: Vengeance Served on the Spot
Pain.
Intense pain.
Li Aiguo gritted his teeth, enduring the torment as he slowly opened his eyes. The agony on his face was quickly replaced by astonishment.
A soot-blackened ceiling, walls stained with grime, a crooked square table, a stool with a broken leg, an old-fashioned iron thermos, and a washstand made from rebar—these were all the furnishings of the room.
In the corner, thick webs of spiders crowded together; the window was battered and draughty, its panes patched with yellowed old newspapers. Dampness filled the air, lending the room an aged atmosphere. The only thing that stood out was the brightly colored calendar on the wall.
"1956"—those vivid red characters struck Li Aiguo’s gaze, sending a sharp pain through his head.
Memories from the previous owner of the body surged over him like a tide, threatening to drown him.
It was true. Like many ambitious youths on Planet Blue, Li Aiguo had crossed over—traveled through time—to this fervent era.
The original owner’s name was also Li Aiguo, eighteen years old this year, and motherless since childhood. His father had been a proud train driver.
The trains of that era were primitive, their safety minimal. During an emergency, the father was gravely injured; after months bedridden, he passed away. Li Aiguo had been just fifteen then—not yet old enough to inherit his father’s post, so he entered the Railway Academy to study.
After three years of diligent study, the original Li Aiguo graduated, and only a skills test stood between him and becoming a train driver.
“I used to steer luxury cruise ships; now, in this era, driving a big train is still pretty much my field,” he mused. “Hiss... it hurts...”
Li Aiguo clutched the bed’s edge, trying to sit up, and the pain washed over him again.
Cough, cough... This body seemed off somehow.
He rolled up his sleeves: bruises and swollen welts covered his arms.
He lifted his torn shirt: a savage, bloody gash marred his belly.
He pulled up the legs of his work trousers: scars crisscrossed his shin.
Not a single part of him was unscathed.
“To beat someone like this... what cruel hearts,” he said bitterly, searching the original owner’s memories for the humiliating past.
When his father was alive, as a first-class train driver, he earned eighty-nine yuan a month; their family lived well.
Moreover, Li Aiguo was known as the handsomest lad in the Capital, favored by many young women.
Relatives from the Qinjia Valley Commune arranged a match for him—a fiancée named Qin Huairu. She was a commune member, but from a good family, clever and sweet-tongued, and most importantly, beautiful.
She was the type whose figure caught the eye before anything else, whose presence lingered even after she left, reminiscent of a movie’s femme fatale.
Li Aiguo, young and hot-blooded, couldn’t resist and agreed.
At first, Qin Huairu fulfilled her duties as fiancée—often staying with the Li family in the capital, helping with chores.
Everything changed after Li Aiguo’s father was injured.
Though his father’s medical bills were covered and the railway gave a generous subsidy, Li Aiguo was dutiful, unable to bear seeing his father suffer. Over the next few years, he sought out famous doctors, but failed to save his father, exhausting the family’s savings.
Qin Huairu, seeing the Li family in decline, didn’t hesitate—she took the bridal gifts and married into the Jia family in the Middle Courtyard.
Li Aiguo, humiliated and angry, demanded an explanation from the Jia family. Instead, Jia Xudong and Shazhu joined forces to beat him, breaking his arm.
Li Aiguo hadn’t expected such brutality, and went to report the assault to the local committee.
The First Uncle of the courtyard, Yi Zhonghai, came out as usual to mediate, hoping to resolve the matter within their community.
Yi Zhonghai, being childless, wanted Jia Dongxu as his adopted son, so he always protected him.
Now, Li Aiguo saw Yi Zhonghai’s true colors and refused to comply.
Yi Zhonghai, fearing for Jia Dongxu and Shazhu’s futures, ordered them to beat Li Aiguo nearly to death.
Afterwards, they tossed him in his room, intending to let him die—silencing him for good.
...
Li Aiguo recalled the original’s dying resentment, his teeth grinding.
“These beasts, I will never let you get away with this!”
Yet, in his past life, Li Aiguo was a luxury cruise ship captain and part-time human photographer. In this era, displaying such skills in public would mark him as a hooligan.
Surviving here was a monumental challenge, let alone seeking revenge.
He would have to start small.
Suppressing the pain, Li Aiguo struggled to sit up, searching beneath the damp, black bedding for a small bundle woven from white thread.
Inside were some worn bills and ration coupons.
Eight yuan and twenty cents in cash;
National grain coupons for ten jin;
Sugar coupons for two jin;
Two match coupons;
And various other ration slips—for cloth, eggs, condiments, vests, stools...
...
This was all Li Aiguo owned.
If he was frugal, it might last two months.
Once he passed the train driver’s exam, life would surely improve.
Recalling the knowledge from the railway school, Li Aiguo suddenly noticed a transparent screen appearing beneath his eyelids.
Bright red letters glowed on the screen.
---
Steam Engine Driving: 21
Cooking: 15
Bicycle Riding: 95
Manual Nuclear Bomb Assembly: 0
Lithography Machine Manufacturing: 0
Sow Postnatal Care: 0
...
Current Remaining Skill Points: 0
(Out of 100, 60 is passing; skill points are earned through diligent study and practice...)
---
Li Aiguo’s eyes widened.
As expected, for those who crossed over, the system might be late, but it never failed to arrive.
After careful study, Li Aiguo understood its purpose.
The system encompassed every skill in the world—from making two-dimensional foil to playing marbles, numbering in the hundreds of thousands.
As long as skill points were added to a subject, its proficiency increased.
Skill points could be gained by reading, learning, and practicing.
With the system’s support, becoming a train driver would be easy.
If he could endure until spring came, he would surely achieve great things through his own efforts.
Li Aiguo clenched his fists tightly.
Wait... the pain seemed to have faded.
He rolled up his sleeves and saw that his wounds had lightened considerably.
The bloody gash was now scabbed.
Where his arms had once been delicate, sinewy muscles now grew like the roots of an old tree.
Clearly, the system had greatly improved his physical condition.
But...
That wasn’t necessarily good for Li Aiguo right now.
He had planned to report the assault to the police; now, with his wounds healing, the evidence was gone.
Li Aiguo was not one to hold grudges.
If he had a score to settle, he avenged it immediately.
Listening to the laughter coming from the Middle Courtyard, Li Aiguo curled his lips in a cold smile, stood, and walked slowly toward the door.
He opened it.
Outside, the sun was bright, birds sang, and flowers bloomed.
A burly figure stepped into the light.
...