"Mom, how many jins did you buy?" Lin Feng asked casually, clearly just making conversation.
The Tusked Pig is a First Grade Demon Beast, equivalent to a First Grade Martial Artist in strength. It's also the lowest-ranking Demon Beast, but its meat is very delicious. Compared to regular pork, its Qi and Blood is ten times richer. Eating more of it can strengthen your Qi and Blood and improve your constitution.
Usually, one jin of Tusked Pig costs 300 New Coins, while his mother's monthly salary is only 3,000 New Coins. A jin of Tusked Pig meat is worth almost three days' wages, so they can only afford it during holidays.
But today, because of Awakening Day, demon beast corpses are all over the outskirts, so demon beast meat is going for half price.
This is also the one day of the year when many residents of Shore District buy demon beast meat—once a year, they stock up by buying dozens of jins and storing it in the fridge to last for half a year or more.
Today, Mom Lin didn't go to work, just to purchase demon beast meat.
Thanks to Awakening Day, tonight's meal is much richer than usual—almost like New Year's.
There's a big plate of Tusked Pig with green peppers, enough for one jin, and spicy-sour cabbage, plus braised carp, three dishes and a soup; the main staple is white rice.
Just as the food was set out, the door opened and a middle-aged man carrying a briefcase came in. He looked to be in his forties, was pretty plain looking and a bit chubby, giving a first impression of being honest and down-to-earth.
This was Lin Feng's stepfather, Ma Yingzong, known as Old Ma. Thanks to his brother's connections, he landed a government job, earning 3,500 New Coins a month with no other shady income—a true Qingshui Government Office worker, whose wages can't compete even with some temp workers.
When Lin Feng was seven, his mom got together with Old Ma. Although Lin Feng has never called him "dad," he still respects his stepfather deep down.
In Lin Feng's eyes, Old Ma is very ordinary: looks, background, a few little schemes, not much ambition. Otherwise, with his brother's connections, he wouldn't be doing so badly.
But no matter what, he's fulfilled a father's duty—raising Lin Feng and his big sister.
Most importantly, he loves Mom Lin very much. Since they got married, they've never fought, and although they don't live in luxury, the family's days are simple and joyful.
"You're home, eh?"
Old Ma put down the briefcase, changed into slippers and smiled at Lin Feng.
"Mm."
Lin Feng answered, but before he could say anything else, someone burst in energetically.
It was a teenage girl, short with big eyes and a small mouth, a round baby face—not very pretty, but quite cute.
"Brother, which demon spirit did you refine today?"
As soon as she entered, she didn't even change shoes before blurting out her question. Ma Lele is twelve years old and just started junior high. This afternoon, class was canceled as they were all in the classroom watching the Awakening Day live broadcast.
Not just them; lots of companies as well. On such an important day, nobody feels like working or studying.
"Brother, I saw Ya Ge on TV!"
"Enchanting Butterfly! An Eighth Grade demon spirit, so cool!"
Ma Lele exclaimed excitedly, completely missing the looks exchanged by her father and her elder sister.
"Brother, which demon spirit did you refine?"
"With how strong you are, you could at least refine a Sixth Grade demon spirit."
"I heard Ya Ge even signed with Juxing Club. She's going places, really successful!"
At this point, Ma Lele finally noticed the strange expressions on everyone's faces and trailed off, not daring to say any more.
Old Ma, being an adult, had already heard the news from the neighbors as soon as he got into the district, so he was purposely avoiding the topic. Meanwhile, Ma Lele went nuts at school seeing Ya Ge, and ran straight home after class, totally unaware of what had happened.
"Heh, it's no big deal."
Lin Feng smiled and patted Ma Lele's chubby cheek. He spoiled his stepsister—no blood relation—as if she were his real sister.
"I didn't find a suitable demon spirit today. The ones out there were too low-grade."
"Really, brother?"
Ma Lele seemed to perk up, jumping in surprise.
She was Lin Feng's number one fan—he was, in her eyes, an undisputed genius.
She didn't think her brother would ever lie to her, just a bit puzzled: "Isn't Ye Qiu supposed to have refined Thorny Demon Dragon, ranked forty-six on the Earth Chart? Brother, you didn't even want something so powerful?"
"Brother, you're starting to get picky!"
"Lele, come eat. A girl shouldn't be running around all crazy all the time."
Old Ma chimed in just right. He also hoped Lin Feng could become a Demon Spirit Master, which would raise their standard of living, but like Mom Lin, he wouldn't pressure Lin Feng.
Besides, Lin Feng is already at Seventh Rank Body Cultivator—getting into a top university would be no problem.
After graduation, he'll at least be a First Grade Martial Artist.
Even if he doesn't stay on the martial path—even as just a white-collar worker—First Grade Martial Artists can easily make twenty or thirty thousand a month, which is way better than Old Ma.
Martial Artists aren't just muscle-heads.
Strong Martial Artists aren't just energetic—they can work overtime for days, with better memory, comprehension, and reaction speed than regular people. Companies nowadays really need martial arts talent.
The future of this family still depends on Lin Feng.
"Thorny Demon Dragon's level is definitely high, but I had bad luck and didn't run into one."
Lin Feng laughed.
Mom Lin and Old Ma didn't take his answer too seriously—they figured he was just brushing them off, or trying to look good in front of his little sister.
Lin Feng didn't bother to explain further.
"Feng, eat more. You're still growing; eating well is how you'll get strong." At the dinner table, Mom picked out meat for Lin Feng, but didn't eat any herself.
Not just Mom; his big sister did the same.
Old Ma clearly wanted some too, but he gave his share to Lele, not eating any himself.
"Mom, Lele, and Old Ma—eat too."
Lin Feng picked out pieces of Tusked Pig for each one of them. He knew if he didn't, they'd never eat it themselves.
"Alright, that's enough, enough."
Lin Fang pressed down on Lin Feng's chopsticks with hers, tired face lit up by a genuine smile.
With a son so thoughtful, it's clear she felt relieved and happy.
"You're still in the Qi Blood Period—you need the nourishment. We're not Martial Artists, so eating demon beast meat doesn't really help us."
Lin Fang took the thinnest, smallest slice of meat, then put the rest back in Lin Feng's bowl; Lin Kerou did the same.
In their eyes, Lin Feng was the family's future backbone. As long as he got stronger, the family would have hope.
Old Ma ate a piece, and gave the rest to Lele.
"Alright, no more passing food around. I like fish—just eat up, alright?" Mom Lin urged.
"Brother, I'll give you some too." Ma Lele, copying the adults, put a piece of meat in Lin Feng's bowl, then buried herself in her meal.
Lin Feng couldn't help but laugh and cry.
Looks like I'd better start making money, or soon we won't even be able to afford meat.
But Lin Feng actually enjoyed this kind of life—a happy family of five, living in harmony.