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Chapter 1: Fate of Great Blessings

**Chapter 1: Fate of Great Blessings**  

Wei State, Yunze Prefecture, Tonghe County, Osmanthus Village.  

A small brick house stood with mottled exterior walls made of mud bricks and topped with a gray-tiled roof. Inside, it consisted of three bedrooms and two living rooms.  

This house, about 100 square meters in size, was typical of the area, with similar old brick-and-tile homes scattered throughout Osmanthus Village. Despite its modesty, it had taken the Xiao family—a lineage of fishermen—generations of hard work to build.  

"The family has nothing but four bare walls," Xiao Fan murmured as he surveyed his surroundings. His home was sparsely furnished: a bed, a table, and a few stools. The starkness reminded him of how poor he was, and he let out a heavy sigh.  

A few days ago, Xiao Fan had suffered a high fever that unlocked the memories of his previous life. At first, he dismissed the notion as impossible, but after observing the unfamiliar world around him for several days, he could no longer deny it—he had been transported to a different world.  

The memories from his past life, however, had only resurfaced recently due to some mysterious delay.  

In his previous life, Xiao Fan had been young and ambitious, holding a bachelor's degree and earning an annual salary of RMB 60,000 in education and training. To supplement his income, he worked as a Didi driver at night and took on occasional freelance jobs. Despite his determination, his efforts ultimately wore him out.  

Tragically, the entire industry he worked in collapsed unexpectedly, leaving him unemployed overnight. The company bosses transitioned to driving Didi themselves.  

Adding to his misfortune, he had invested in an unfinished housing project and purchased crude oil stocks, only to lose everything. The money he had earned was insignificant compared to the debts that would haunt him for lifetimes.  

After drowning his sorrows in alcohol one night, he woke up in this strange new world.  

Reflecting on his past, he regretted heeding the advice of a so-called wealthy man, who claimed courage outweighed degrees from prestigious universities. That man became the richest person alive while Xiao Fan faced utter ruin.  

'But this new life might be even worse,' Xiao Fan thought grimly, piecing together the memories in his mind.  

He had landed in Wei State, a feudal dynasty. Nearby was the expansive Yunmeng Lake, a source of livelihood for thousands of fishermen. Xiao Fan belonged to this fishing community.  

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The life of a fisherman sounded appealing—spring fishing, autumn harvests, summer raising, and winter battles. Yet the reality was far harsher. Expenses for firewood, rice, oil, and salt piled up, and the fishery tax was higher than the agricultural tax. Additional extortionate fees, gang oppression, and berthing charges added to the burden.  

Illness was catastrophic. Unlike his previous life, where modern systems allowed people to survive even with debts, this world offered no safety nets. Xiao Fan wondered how he could survive.  

"Brother Xiao!"  

A soft, pleasant voice broke his train of thought. A young girl, about sixteen or seventeen, emerged from the house. She wore a linen headscarf and had a natural, unspoiled beauty. Her large, expressive eyes and flawless skin made her look ethereal.  

Though clad in a thick skirt, her curvaceous figure was evident. Despite her youth, she carried an air of maturity.  

She struggled to carry a wooden bucket filled with water into the house.  

This girl was Mu Qingyao, Xiao Fan's child bride.  

"Why didn't you call me for such heavy work?" Xiao Fan hurriedly took the bucket from her hands and placed it on the ground. His expression softened as he gazed at her.  

During his illness, Mu Qingyao had cared for him diligently, saving his life.  

"It's fine, Brother Xiao. You've just recovered from a serious illness. Leave these small tasks to me. After all, it's just the two of us now," Mu Qingyao replied, brushing the sweat from her forehead. Her gaze was filled with affection and dependence.  

Sold to the Xiao family as a child bride, Mu Qingyao had grown up as Xiao Fan's childhood companion. Despite their circumstances, the Xiao family had treated her kindly.  

However, tragedy struck a few months ago. Xiao Fan's parents, overburdened by work, had fallen ill and passed away one after the other. Now, only Xiao Fan and Mu Qingyao remained to support each other.  

At just sixteen years old, Mu Qingyao had taken on the responsibility of running the household, including cooking, cleaning, and other chores. Yet she bore these burdens without complaint, finding joy in their simple life together.  

Unfortunately, in a world as harsh as theirs, even the desire for an ordinary life was an unattainable luxury.  

"Is there any rice left at home?" Xiao Fan's stomach growled, reminding him of his hunger.  

"Yes, we still have enough for three days," Mu Qingyao replied.  

"But I heard the Dragon King Gang plans to increase their fees by 30%. The villagers are already grumbling about it. If we pay, we'll be left destitute," she said, her voice trembling with frustration.  

The Dragon King Gang was a powerful local gang that controlled the fishing industry in the region, extorting money from more than a dozen villages around Yunmeng Lake.  

Refusal to pay their exorbitant fees meant certain ruin.  

As Xiao Fan's face darkened, his eyes fell on the water bucket. His reflection shimmered in the rippling surface. Suddenly, a golden light flashed between his eyebrows, and a mysterious message entered his consciousness.  

[Fate: Fate of Great Blessings]  

[Effect: If You Survive a Catastrophe, You Shall Be Blessed.]  

"Fate?" Xiao Fan murmured, stunned.  

Everyone in this world was said to have a unique fate, which shaped their destiny. Yet his fate seemed extraordinary—one of the rarest kinds.  

Could this be the change he so desperately needed?  

Before Xiao Fan could explore this revelation further, he heard frantic footsteps outside the house, followed by loud shouts.  

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