Film and TV: From the Start, I Conquered Guandong and Shook the World with Gold

Synopsis: In 1904, the land of Qilu is strewn with starving corpses. Zhu Chuanren transmigrates as Zhu Kaishan's third son. The moment he opens his eyes, his family of five has no rice to cook. His eldest brother's future father-in-law suddenly raises the bride price: one dou of millet, not a single grain less. His second brother gets fired up and wants to go into the mountains to wipe out bandits, while his fourth brother is so hungry he drinks cold water to fill his stomach. His mother stares at the empty rice jar and says, “At this rate, the whole family will starve to death.”

Chuanren pats the pouch of croton seeds at his waist. “Come on, let's head into the mountains.”

That night, the bandits' water jars are drugged, leaving dozens of men so weak-legged they can barely stand. Chuanren blocks the cave entrance alone, knocking them down one by one like moles in a game. By dawn, a full sack is stuffed with gold, silver, and valuables.

His mother asks where he got the money. He says, “I found it.” She believes him.

With boat tickets, provisions, and Xian'er, who's running away with them, the whole family heads to the Northeast. When they reach Yuanbao Town, they learn that the Russians and the Japanese are locked in a fierce war. Gold is everywhere, but so are blades.

Standing at the dock and looking out at the ruins of Port Arthur, Chuanren clenches the dagger behind his waist. “In times like these, you have to be ruthless to survive.”

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.