(No mindless protagonist, no transmigration, no wish-fulfillment, no fantasy.) In the early Ming, in an ordinary small county town, the protagonist comes from a poor family. After failing the imperial exam, he loses heart and takes up blacksmithing. But he cannot accept that ten years of hard study have come to nothing, and before he knows it, he has been tricked into joining a band of thieves. After a series of twists and turns, he has no choice but to return to his old trade, eventually becoming a renowned local craftsman. His personality, however, brings him plenty of trouble...
