Chapter 24: Hut Upgrade
Bean Village.
Night fell.
Chu Jiu, like last night, lit a candle and began recording today’s video diary with a mirror.
The most noteworthy thing today was naturally the hot pot dinner.
Chu Jiu described how spicy and fragrant the hot pot was in vivid detail, so much so that he wiped the corners of his mouth.
As he spoke, he thought of Little Can, whose fur stood on end from the spiciness, but still tried to pretend to be strong.
Thinking of this, Chu Jiu couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Unfortunately, the system forbade him from mentioning specific spirit beasts.
He could only prop his chin with one hand and smile at the mirror, “The little friends also liked the hot pot very much, each one ate more happily than the other.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the image on the mirror began to jump violently.
Huh?
Chu Jiu was sure that he wasn’t mistaken this time.
He suddenly opened his eyes wide and stared at the flickering snowflake lines on the mirror—
Just then, there was a muffled “bang” behind him, like something had fallen to the ground.
Followed by a weak and ambiguous “meow.”
Chu Jiu was startled and, without thinking, turned and rushed to the bedside.
Behind him, a line of words gradually appeared on the mirror:
[Visitor 001: Is it really that delicious?]
*
Running to the bedside, he saw Little Can huddled wetly at the foot of the bed, with an overturned wooden water basin beside it.
It seemed the little guy wanted to drink water and accidentally knocked over the basin on the bedside table.
Chu Jiu knew this little guy didn’t like being wet, so he quickly wrapped it in the sheet: “What’s wrong? Did you want to drink water and couldn’t hold the bowl?”
Little Can looked up at Chu Jiu, as if it had just woken up from a dream, the whole kitten was a bit dazed.
Chu Jiu poured another bowl of water and fed it to him little by little, while gently stroking its back: “Did you have a nightmare? Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid…”
After finishing a bowl of water, Little Can seemed to be sleepy again, its body slowly curled up into a ball again, and its eyes gradually closed.
Chu Jiu didn’t get up to leave immediately, he waited until the little guy’s breathing was completely even before tiptoeing back to the table and picking up the mirror.
Huh?
This mirror… why is it suddenly pitch black?
Not to mention the previous “video recording interface,” even the ordinary reflection image was gone?
Just as he was wondering, a system prompt popped up:
[Video recording equipment has malfunctioned, the system will repair it for the host as soon as possible.]
Equipment… malfunctioned?
Chu Jiu shook the mirror in his hand, and couldn’t help but think of the constantly changing lines just now.
Was it his imagination, but those lines seemed to be trying to form some words?
Just as Chu Jiu was somewhat confused, the system popped up a new prompt:
[Today’s video reward and equipment damage compensation totaling 800 Pioneer points, please click on the background to check.]
800 points?! Such a high reward!
In just an instant, the slight doubts in Chu Jiu’s heart were covered by joy.
Yay!
Sharing the soy sauce recipe, a reward of 600 points; villagers selling tofu, a commission of 100 points; and now there’s another huge sum of 800 points!
Adding the remaining 380 points from repairing the fence, he had a total of 1880 points, enough to develop the woodland and repair the hut!
Chu Jiu blew out the candle with satisfaction.
*
Arsa Star.
Adjutant He gave a long report to Lu Qingyan.
He said that they had been unable to locate the source of the live broadcast for a while, but yesterday they finally made a breakthrough.
It was all thanks to the question Marshal Lu asked with his mental energy, which formed a two-way interaction with the mental energy carrying the live broadcast, that the monitoring bureau was able to track the source of the broadcast in the vast expanse of time and space.
Moreover, Marshal Lu’s question was very clever and fit the context perfectly, it definitely wouldn’t arouse the enemy’s suspicion!
As expected of Marshal Lu!
In a while, the monitoring bureau would be able to parse the specific coordinates and find out where the Zerg were hiding.
“Your Excellency,” Adjutant He looked at the superior in the optical brain projection, his expression excited, “Can I know if you have any formulas or models that can be used for reference or promotion when confirming the other party’s mental energy channel?”
The monitoring bureau’s workgroup had done hundreds of millions of calculations, but had not been able to find a channel that could “resonate” with the other party.
In fact, “not finding it” was the most normal outcome.
After all, there were thousands of permutations and combinations of mental energy patterns, and the probability of cracking the other party’s combination and precisely arranging a pattern that could resonate with it was so low that even “finding a needle in a haystack” was not enough to describe it.
Lu Qingyan’s expression was calm: “I didn’t calculate specifically.”
The admiration and excitement in Adjutant He’s eyes were almost tangible: “Understood!”
As expected, Marshal Lu’s talent was beyond the reach of any person or intelligent system!
Lu Qingyan: “After parsing the coordinates, don’t act rashly, report all actions to me first.”
Adjutant He: “Yes!”
After listening to the rest of the report, Lu Qingyan turned off the optical brain.
He stood up and looked at the real-time space projection behind him.
He indeed didn’t calculate deliberately.
It should be said that at that moment, his mental energy automatically crossed endless time and space and arrived at another world.
It was as if…
In that world, something was calling his mental energy.
*
Another morning.
Glug-Glug drooped its head listlessly, and the little leaves on its head were a bit wilted.
Chu Jiu was patiently coaxing the child… no, he was carefully reasoning with his partner.
“Glug-Glug, you see, the blueprint for repairing the house also needs bamboo, right?”
“We really don’t have enough bamboo right now, we have to let Roar Roar Rabbit plant it first—”
“When it grows a lot and a lot of bamboo, you’ll have enough materials to make water pipes, windows, stairs…”
“So it’s not that repairing the house isn’t important! It’s very important! Everyone’s work is important!”
When Glug-Glug woke up in the morning and heard Chu Jiu say that he wanted to use the Pioneer points to “develop the woodland” first, and that “repairing the house” would have to be postponed for a few days, the little sapling almost withered on the spot.
Now that it heard Chu Jiu say that even repairing the house required bamboo, and a lot of bamboo, it felt a little better.
But the leaves on its head were still drooping, like a pitiful little plant.
Roar Roar Rabbit touched its little leaves with its ears: “Don’t worry, I’ll grow a lot of bamboo very, very quickly, so you can build a very beautiful house, please wait!”
Little Can, who was originally squatting on the shelf overlooking them, jumped to Glug-Glug and meowed, “Don’t be sad, Chu Jiu will arrange everything.”
Glug-Glug’s leaves gradually unfolded, and there was light in its bean eyes.
It shook its head: “Okay, I’m, I’m not in a hurry anymore.”
Roar Roar Rabbit patted its snow-white little chest:
“Watch me, roar roar roar!”
*
Like developing the field before, after Chu Jiu confirmed “building the woodland,” the system marked several green grids for him.
Chu Jiu found a place not far from the water storage wooden bucket and close to the river.
In his impression, “bamboo” and “streams” always appeared together, and bamboo shoots also sprouted one after another after rain. Bamboo should like relatively moist soil?
After choosing a place, the energetic Roar Roar Rabbit turned into a rapidly spinning white fluff ball and began to cut trees, remove weeds, and loosen the soil.
While spinning at high speed, it roared:
“Roar roar roar, I must plant faster this time!”
“I must grow a lot and a lot of bamboo for Glug-Glug!”
The highly motivated Roar Roar Rabbit worked surprisingly efficiently. Before long, Chu Jiu received a notification:
[Congratulations to the host for successfully developing the woodland!]
[The area’s development level has increased to 3%!]
[Please note that the host’s current cultivable land has reached its limit. To unlock more cultivable land, the host needs to upgrade to Level 10 Pioneer.]
Ah… reached the limit? Can’t cultivate other fields in the short term?
Chu Jiu was a little surprised at first, but on second thought, according to the current crop harvesting speed, the crops produced by one field and one woodland were already enough.
For example, the bamboo forest where bamboo rhizomes were just buried.
Normally, it would take about 60 days for bamboo shoots to emerge and sprout. But this bamboo forest only needed 72 hours to harvest bamboo shoots, and 96 hours to harvest the first batch of bamboo.
Chu Jiu squatted on the edge of the empty woodland that had been watered and fertilized, but had not yet sprouted bamboo shoots, and happily reached out to press the soft soil, praising, “It’s great, we’ll have bamboo in four days.”
The Roar Roar Rabbit next to him wiped his sweat:
“Roar roar roar, it would be even better if we could get bamboo tomorrow!”
Chu Jiu smiled and said, “If you want to get bamboo tomorrow—unless it rains tonight.”
“In our place, after a good rain, bamboo shoots will all break through the soil.”
But Chu Jiu also knew that it was “spring rain” and “spring bamboo shoots.” It was still autumn, and it was already relying on the system’s cheat to survive the planted shoots.
So Chu Jiu didn’t think too much, just patted the soil on his hands and body: “Let’s go, let’s see how Glug-Glug’s doors and windows are repaired.”
Little Can, who had been listless and sleeping all day in his pocket, tilted his head thoughtfully after hearing Chu Jiu’s words.
*
Evening.
No need to record a video today. After Chu Jiu washed the little guys in the basin, he went to bed early.
The moon outside the window gradually rose to the middle of the sky.
Little Can, who was sleeping by Chu Jiu’s pillow, groggily propped up his body, rubbing his little face with his paws.
Since last night, it had felt something was wrong with itself.
It couldn’t tell what was wrong.
It only vaguely remembered that a voice came from a very distant place, so far away that it was beyond its imagination, and reached its mind.
The moment it heard the voice, it jumped up uncontrollably and knocked over the things around it.
But whose voice was that? Why did it hear this voice?
Little Can was very confused.
It put its little paws together and stared blankly at Chu Jiu lying on the pillow.
This human’s sleeping posture was as bad as ever.
The sheet was kicked to the ground, the pajamas were rolled up to the chest, and the hands and feet were hanging in the air.
Little Can silently landed on the ground, bit the corner of the sheet, and jumped up again, re-covering Chu Jiu with the sheet.
Chu Jiu turned over, kicked the sheet away again, and pressed the sheet under him.
Little Can: …
It shook its head, jumped onto the windowsill, slipped out of the window gap, and ran to the newly opened woodland.
The bamboo shoots hadn’t sprouted yet, and the ground was still bare.
That guy with the bad sleeping posture should want to harvest bamboo immediately.
It tilted its head, thinking of what Chu Jiu had said during the day, “After a good rain, bamboo shoots will break through the soil…”
Rain…
Little Can raised its cat face, its icy blue eyes staring at the night sky.
The night sky was clear and cloudless, the moonlight was as bright as snow, and there was no sign of rain at all.
Little Can’s eyes narrowed.
In its eyes, faint blue light patterns appeared.
The light patterns slowly rotated and condensed, like an unpredictable nebula.
Little Can stretched out its little paws towards the sky.
Rain.
Rain.
Little Can chanted silently.
Drip.
A drop of water fell on its little paw.
Drip drip drip…
More and more water droplets fell pattering, soaking a circle of watermarks on the black soil, and also wetting the fur around Little Can.
Little Can trembled twice, still standing motionless in the rain.
*
Chu Jiu was awakened by the muffled thunder and the sound of rain.
He drowsily thought, “It’s raining… ? Can the vegetables in the field and the bamboo in the ground grow faster…”
While thinking, he stretched out his hand to grab the fluff ball sleeping by the pillow.
But he didn’t feel anything.
He woke up completely, sat up and looked around in the lightning light:
Roar Roar Rabbit and Glug-Glug were not awakened by the lightning and thunder, they were sleeping soundly as usual.
Only Little Can was missing.
Was it scared? Did it hide?
But where could it hide?
Chu Jiu lit a candle and searched the room inch by inch, not even missing the bedside table and the shelf.
Nothing.
Just as he was anxious, Chu Jiu heard a soft “meow…”
It came from the window sill!
Chu Jiu hurried to the window sill and pulled out a wet, drenched cat from the window gap.
“Why did you run out, and get soaked like this by the rain!” Holding the soaked Little Can, Chu Jiu couldn’t help but feel a little distressed.
Little Can drooped its head and didn’t make a sound.
Chu Jiu couldn’t bother reasoning with the cat. He quickly lit the stove, held Little Can by the fire, and kept wiping it with a cloth to absorb the warmth.
Little Can finally spoke up: “Meow, meow!”—”I’ll dry in a bit, you don’t need to wipe me!”
Chu Jiu: “No.”
His usually soft and gentle voice carried a rare hint of anger.
Little Can went silent again.
Chu Jiu wiped it from head to tail, until there was no dampness left, then carried it back to bed.
This time, Chu Jiu pressed it directly against his chest.
“Little Can, you’re not allowed to run out alone, understand?” Chu Jiu blew out the candle and spoke slowly, word by word, as the sound of the rain gradually subsided.
Even though there was now a courtyard, a “safe zone,” outside that zone was the monster forest.
Little Can still didn’t make a sound, but just pressed its little paws against Chu Jiu’s chest over and over.
Chu Jiu: …
Tsk, is this little guy trying to act cute to survive? Does it think it can get away with it by rubbing against me?
Tsk!
Little Can rubbed its warm little cat face against Chu Jiu again.
Chu Jiu: …
Ah, forget it.
What could a little cat possibly do wrong? Blame myself for not locking the window.
Chu Jiu squeezed Little Can’s little paw pads, sighed, and closed his eyes to sleep.
*
The rain lasted for most of the night.
In the morning, when Chu Jiu opened the door to look outside, he was surprised to find that the ground in the courtyard was completely dry.
Not only the courtyard, but there was no sign of rain around the hut either.
He ran out of the courtyard, near the road sign, and looked towards the village—
There wasn’t a trace of rain there either!
However, there were two villagers, bending over, diligently collecting dry grass.
If it had really rained last night, the dry grass would have been soaked and unusable.
What exactly happened last night? The sound of rain, the lightning, and the wet Little Can… were they all just my imagination?
Filled with doubt, Chu Jiu ran towards the forest with the three little ones.
Before reaching the forest, Chu Jiu noticed that the soil under his feet had turned into soft mud of varying depths, and raindrops remained on the nearby leaves.
Even the air here carried the unique moistness and freshness after a rain.
Could it be… it only rained in the Forgotten Forest last night? A truly “localized rain”?
Chu Jiu walked to the edge of the forest suspiciously. He glanced at the scene on the ground and couldn’t help but exclaim, “It’s already grown?”
Bamboo shoots, soaked with rainwater, were growing rapidly before his eyes, as if someone had pressed the fast-forward button.
The tips of the shoots broke through the soft soil, first revealing a head, then a little green sprout. The swollen part below the green sprout rose section by section, gradually forming brown “spindles” and “cones.”
The scene was like watching a time-lapse video of “the life of a bamboo.”
After the forest was filled with bamboo shoots of varying heights, Chu Jiu received a notification:
[Due to the rain, bamboo shoots are ready for harvest! Harvest period: 2 hours!]
[If not collected within the time limit, the bamboo shoots will grow into bamboo.]
[Estimated bamboo harvest time: 24 hours]
Chu Jiu was stunned for a few seconds, then murmured, “This rain is truly magical…”
But since he was in another world anyway, this rain was just one of many magical things.
So Chu Jiu didn’t think much about it and excitedly told Glug-Glug, “We’ll have enough bamboo in just one more day! You can do a complete renovation!”
Glug-Glug spun its leaves, flew joyfully among the bamboo shoots, and reached out its tentacle-like little arms to touch and feel them.
And Little Can in Chu Jiu’s pocket was sound asleep, as if it were exhausted, with only its eyelids twitching slightly.
*
The bamboo was harvested as scheduled.
Early in the morning, Glug-Glug woke up and floated in mid-air, wandering around and softly chanting, “Fix the house, fix the house…” After being forced by Chu Jiu to drink some orange juice for breakfast, it eagerly accepted the task of “renovating the pioneer’s hut” and flew off excitedly—
Chu Jiu originally thought that Glug-Glug would immediately fly to the roof of the hut and start working with its tentacles.
Unexpectedly, Glug-Glug flew to his shoulder and whispered, “Um, about the house, do you have any preferences for the interior design?”
As soon as it finished speaking, Chu Jiu saw a system notification:
[The host has triggered the hidden condition of “Passive Skill: Detail Master”]
[Detail Master: When the spirit beast is working according to the host’s instructions, the host can make requests regarding details.]
[Note: This skill is only triggered passively when the spirit beast’s favorability towards the host exceeds a certain standard and the spirit beast is very passionate about its work.]
The next moment, Chu Jiu’s eyes lit up:
A three-dimensional model of the “Pioneer’s Hut” silently appeared before him.
Chu Jiu said “Wow” twice and tried to move the hut in front of him. He found that with his movements, the model could rotate, enlarge, and shrink, and he could clearly see every detail inside the model.
This was too convenient.
According to the system notification, Chu Jiu could decide how many rooms the hut had and what the function of each room was.
After thinking for a moment, Chu Jiu assigned the first floor to [Living Room], [Kitchen], and [Bathroom].
He originally wanted to add a [Study], but considering that there were only two books and a sheepskin diary in his backpack, he decided to use [Workshop] instead of [Study].
The second floor was simple, just one large bedroom.
In this way, Chu Jiu arranged all the rooms.
System notification: [The host’s needs will be merged into the facility blueprints; if the host wants to change the rooms in the future, they will need to pay a certain amount of development points to renovate the house again.]
Glug-Glug, having received the new blueprints, flew directly to the roof, its small leaves spinning.
Its tiny arms extended countless tentacles, which moved like numerous intelligent robotic arms, systematically and rapidly transporting wood, splitting bamboo tubes, disassembling walls…
At first, Chu Jiu could barely discern the movements of these tentacles with his naked eye.
But soon, the tentacles became more and more skilled, and their speed increased.
Chu Jiu couldn’t see them clearly at all.
From a distance, it looked as if a tornado had sprung up next to the Pioneer’s Hut, a tornado that not only tore down walls but also rebuilt them and repaired the stairs.
The renovation required 360 minutes.
In other words, this tentacle-induced tornado would have to last for 6 hours.
Chu Jiu found a place to sit nearby and decided to use this time to make some more furniture for the hut.
Chu Jiu opened the “Manual” given by the old village chief and began selecting suitable furniture.
A long bench for the living room, a large long table for the workshop, a small shelf for the kitchen…
All were quickly crafted using “recipes” and “spiritual power.”
After arranging everything, Chu Jiu began making some items not mentioned in the “Manual”:
A cat climbing frame, a rabbit hutch, and a small nursery.
The cat climbing frame was pieced together from bamboo stalks and wood, about three meters high, with different branches extending from the central trunk, allowing Little Can to happily parkour;
The rabbit hutch was a sphere woven from wood and dry grass, with two long grass-woven ears at the top. The inside was lined with dry grass and cloth, allowing Rawr Rawr Rabbit to snore comfortably;
The nursery was made of green grass, soil, and wood, where Glug-Glug could take root and sleep peacefully all night, surrounded by lush green grass.
Once everything was ready, the system sent a notification:
[House renovation complete! Development level increased to 3.5%]
The development level had increased to 3% after expanding the forest area a few days ago, and today’s hut renovation raised it by another 0.5%.
Not bad, not bad, progress is encouraging!
Chu Jiu quickly ran towards the hut.
*
The originally dilapidated and old hut had been completely transformed after the renovation.
A pointed roof, original wood exterior walls, clean doors and windows, a cute fence… it looked like a forest cabin straight out of a fairy tale picture book.
Stepping inside, he was greeted by a bright living room cum dining room, furnished with the square table and wooden chairs he had made earlier. Chu Jiu brought in the cat climbing frame and placed it by the window.
Next to the living room was Chu Jiu’s workshop, where he could safely experiment with various recipes.
On the other side of the living room was the original kitchen. The stove had been rebuilt, and now had two burners, allowing two dishes to be cooked simultaneously.
Adjacent to the kitchen was the bathroom, which contained a large wooden bathtub. Underneath the bathtub was a newly built simple stove that could be lit directly for heating, eliminating the need to laboriously add and change water. Chu Jiu used to bathe in the courtyard under the moon, but now he could bathe indoors without worrying about wind or rain.
Chu Jiu was very satisfied with the facilities on this floor.
He walked up the newly made bamboo and wood stairs, reaching the second floor of the hut for the first time.
The floor on this level was made of spliced bamboo and wood, very sturdy. However, like all bamboo products, it creaked when stepped on.
If there was any vigorous activity on the second floor—like his clumsy self rolling off the bed—the entire hut would probably hear the floor creaking.
The entire second floor was now a spacious bedroom, with Chu Jiu’s single bed placed by the window.
Chu Jiu placed the rabbit hutch and the small nursery by his bed, and the canned cat bed on the bedside table.
*
That evening.
The well-fed Rawr Rawr Rabbit and Glug-Glug, after being cleaned by Chu Jiu, eagerly jumped into their new nests and settled into the new nursery.
“Rawr rawr rawr!” Rawr Rawr Rabbit rolled comfortably, its fluffy tail wagging back and forth.
“Gulu, gulu…” Glug-Glug’s bean-like eyes narrowed into slits, and its little arms waved happily.
As for Little Can…
It poked its head out from Chu Jiu’s palm, glanced at its companions’ new beds, and its eyelids drooped slightly.
It jumped onto the bedside table, walked with its characteristic cat gait, silently crawled into its old cat bed, and curled up into a little can.
Chu Jiu didn’t say anything and went downstairs to take a bath.
When he came back, both Rawr Rawr Rabbit and Glug-Glug were softly snoring.
Only Little Can had its ice-blue eyes shining brightly in the dark.
But as soon as it saw Chu Jiu enter the room, the little guy immediately closed its eyes and tucked its paws in, pretending to sleep.
Chu Jiu stepped carefully on the creaking floor, sat on the edge of the bed, and picked up Little Can, holding it in his arms.
“I’m afraid you’ll go parkouring in the middle of the night, so you should sleep with me,” Chu Jiu muttered.
Little Can remained silent.
Chu Jiu gently stroked its fluffy head, saying softly, “I made you a new cat climbing frame, you can play on it during the day if you like.”
“As for a cat bed… I thought you always sleep with me anyway, so I didn’t make another one.”
Little Can finally meowed.
Hearing that familiar sound, Chu Jiu smiled, closed his eyes, and began thinking about other things:
Now that there’s so much bamboo, could he make himself a bamboo bow?
Oh, not just for himself, Little Can is so good at shooting, could he make it a miniature bow and arrow set?
Wow, a little cat carrying a bow, that would be so cool.
Could he also get it some cool little boots and a hat with a turned-up brim?
As he thought, Chu Jiu couldn’t resist the drowsiness and exhaustion, and finally fell asleep.
His breathing gradually evened out.
A moment later, Little Can opened its round ice-blue eyes, rubbed against Chu Jiu’s cheek, and looked at the boy’s upturned smile.
How can this human still be grinning like an idiot even when he’s asleep?
Tsk.
A human with absolutely no manners.
Little Can narrowed its eyes slightly, quietly moved to his pillow, and gently pressed its little paw against the boy’s lips.
*
After harvesting the bamboo, radishes were replanted in the field.
One morning, Chu Jiu took a stroll through the field, planning to pull up a few radishes to make kimchi with the cabbage.
Making kimchi isn’t difficult. Peel and wash the radishes, cut them into chunks and shreds, remove the head and stem of the cabbage, soak them in salt water for about two days, then put them in a jar, press them down with stones, and pickle for about half a month.
There’s still plenty of cabbage and radishes at home, but the salt is running out.
He used almost a whole jar of salt when he made soy sauce, and he’s used some more these days for cooking and grilling.
Since Marco was coming to the village today, Chu Jiu planned to exchange for some salt and olive oil.
Chu Jiu couldn’t produce these two things himself yet, so he had to exchange them with the traveling merchant like the other villagers.
When he arrived at the small square, Marco still enthusiastically waved to him, ready to greet him.
But before Marco could speak, he had a violent coughing fit, then could only lean back in his chair, gasping for breath, and took a swig of wine.
When Marco finally caught his breath, Chu Jiu asked again with concern, “Are you sure you don’t need to see a doctor?”
Marco gasped between coughs, leaning weakly against the back of his chair, “I did see one. They just told me to drink some wine and honey water, but it doesn’t really help.”
The middle-aged man rubbed his eyes and couldn’t help complaining, “It’s not that bad otherwise, but I cough at night, I can’t fall asleep, and I wake up coughing. It’s so uncomfortable.”
At this point, the young assistant helping Marco chimed in, “In previous years, at this time of year, sir would usually rest at home for a week or two until his cough subsided before doing business again.”
Chu Jiu looked closely at Marco’s face and noticed that his eyes were indeed bloodshot and his eye circles were dark, as if he hadn’t slept well for a long time.
Sigh, coughing is indeed very uncomfortable and difficult to treat…
The local doctors’ so-called “wine and honey water cough remedy” was just to moisten the throat and make it feel a little better.
Chu Jiu couldn’t help but remember that he had also coughed for a long time for no reason in the autumn of the year before last.
What did the doctor prescribe at the school hospital back then?
It seemed to be something related to bamboo…
That’s right! I remember!
Chu Jiu looked at Marco, who was suffering from a cough, thought for a few seconds, and said, “I can make a throat-soothing drink that’s more effective than honey water. Would you like to try it?”
Hearing Chu Jiu’s suggestion, Marco’s first reaction was skepticism.
Even if Chu Jiu was an ability-user, he wasn’t a healing ability-user, was he? Could he…
No, no, that’s impossible.
Healing ability-users in this world were more precious than white bread, and it was impossible for one to be a pioneer in such a desolate village without a fixed income.
Marco originally wanted to politely decline, but then he thought of the amazing tofu.
That dessert made with lost techniques, that indescribable wonderful taste.
Moreover, after eating hash and barbecue, he always felt uncomfortable in his stomach for a long time. But since he started eating that tofu dessert, he felt refreshed and comfortable.
Could this cough remedy also be made by Chu Jiu using lost techniques?
While he was hesitating, Reg, who had been standing silently in the tent, spoke up, “Chu Jiu, please bring it over. I’m also a little interested.”
Since the esper had said so, Marco decided, “Then I’ll try it!”
*
In Chu Jiu’s memory, the oral liquid the doctor prescribed was called “Fresh Bamboo Sap Oral Liquid.”
He was curious at the time and even looked up online what “fresh bamboo sap” was and what its effects were.
Now, with a large bamboo forest, he could try to make this oral liquid himself.
He went to the bamboo forest to find some light-colored young bamboo stalks, cut them into sections, split them open, and slowly bake them over a fire.
Soon, a clear, transparent liquid seeped out from the ends of the bamboo stalks.
After filtering it with gauze, he got a cup of fragrant “fresh bamboo sap.”
[Obtained “Fresh Bamboo Sap Juice” Recipe X1]
[Fresh Bamboo Sap Juice: Juice that seeps out after bamboo stalks are slowly baked over a fire. In traditional Chinese civilization, it is believed to treat coughs.
The fresh bamboo sap juice baked by the host himself can not only relieve coughs, but may also have other therapeutic effects?]
[Recipe Attribute: Item recipe with special therapeutic effects]
[Note: This item cannot be mass-produced and can only be prepared by the host himself]
Special therapeutic effects?
Chu Jiu curiously dipped a little with a spoon: slightly sweet, slightly bitter. The taste was similar to the oral liquid prescribed by the school hospital.
Chu Jiu didn’t return to the small square immediately, but walked to the living room and wandered around the cat climbing frame he made.
He wondered why Little Can didn’t play much with the cute cat climbing frame and preferred to jump on him, while waiting to see what this “special therapeutic effect” was.
However, half an hour passed, and Chu Jiu felt that everything was normal with his body. He didn’t suddenly become as light as a swallow or suddenly become as strong as a bull.
Looking at the system panel again, all his body values were normal.
Then… it was probably a negligible therapeutic effect.
Chu Jiu poured the fresh bamboo sap into a jar and put it in his backpack.
*
Looking at the light brown liquid that Chu Jiu put on the table, Marco first held it to his nose and sniffed.
It was a light fragrance he had never smelled before, with a hint of sweetness.
Marco, who traveled between various towns and villages, was a person who had “tasted everything.”
Years of foraging had conditioned him to know: this stuff was non-toxic, drinkable, and might even taste good.
So, without a second thought, he tilted his head back and drank it all down.
After finishing, he smacked his lips:
“Is this also made using a lost ancient method?”
“The taste is indeed extraordinary!”
“A bit bitter, a bit sweet, and most importantly, very refreshing. It soothes my throat when I drink it…”
Marco said a whole string of words.
Later, he suddenly realized something, exclaimed “Oh!” in surprise and delight, and cleared his throat, saying, “I’m not coughing anymore?! My throat has been itchy for so long, and now it suddenly feels comfortable?”
Chu Jiu himself didn’t expect the fresh bamboo sap liquid to be so effective so quickly.
In his previous life, it took him two large boxes of fresh bamboo sap to recover from his cough.
Perhaps this was the so-called “special therapeutic effect”? Rapid onset?
But Chu Jiu wasn’t 100% sure.
He could only try to look profound and confident, and smile.
Marco was now even more convinced that the drink Chu Jiu gave him must have been made with some extraordinary method and extraordinary ingredients.
While marveling, Marco gave Chu Jiu all five silver coins from his wallet.
One silver coin was equivalent to 100 copper coins, and 500 copper coins for a medicine made with a lost secret recipe that instantly cured his cough was a bargain!
At this moment, Reg spoke up, “Chu Jiu, do you have any more of this cough medicine? Can I buy a portion?”
Chu Jiu said, “Of course, I happen to have extra.”
Hearing Reg say he was interested, Chu Jiu had prepared an extra portion of fresh bamboo sap.
Reg took the medicine and said, “Thank you.”
Chu Jiu quickly replied, “It’s nothing.”
He was already grateful to the ability-user guard who had come to rescue them upon hearing the troll’s noise and had introduced him to Marco. Giving the other party an extra potion was indeed a small matter.
Moreover, Reg, like Marco, paid 500 copper coins for the medicine.
In addition, because their favorability had increased significantly, the system rewarded him with a total of 600 development points.
He had earned so much just by baking two bamboo stalks.
Chu Jiu exchanged for the salt and oil he needed and also got some extra precious rice, walking back happily.
Chu Jiu, of course, didn’t know that as soon as he left the tent, Marco, who was no longer coughing, said to Reg, “Reg, you need this medicine too? I thought ability-users didn’t get sick.”
People with abilities usually had stronger physiques and rarely had headaches or fevers.
Reg shook his head, “Not for me. It’s for… my elder brother.”
The tall, straightforward esper paused and said slowly, “My elder brother’s ability has reached its limit.”
Marco understood the cryptic sentence immediately.
He said “Ah” and stood up to pat Reg’s shoulder.
*
Chu Jiu would start by making kimchi when he got home. Then, some bamboo rice? For the main course, fish and chicken…
Maybe some stir-fried fish slices? And white cut chicken?
Chu Jiu pondered today’s menu as he walked towards the hut.
As in the previous days, some villagers were picking dry grass in the fields by the roadside.
Today, Aman was also there.
The little boy, along with other children, carried a burlap sack, bending down and picking through the fields.
Seeing Chu Jiu from afar, Aman excitedly straightened up, carrying the sack that was much bigger than him, and ran to Chu Jiu, “Brother Chu Jiu!”
Chu Jiu looked at the big sack behind him and asked if they didn’t have enough firewood at home, which was why they needed so much dry grass.
Aman shook his head, “This is for Grandma Hao. She fell a few days ago and can’t bend down to pick things now. Grandpa told us to pick more dry grass while the weather is still good to replace her mattress and quilt, otherwise, she’ll be uncomfortable in winter.”
Afraid that Chu Jiu wouldn’t understand, Aman explained, “Dry grass needs to be changed frequently, or it gets compacted and isn’t warm at all.”
The boy looked up, his eyes shining brightly, and reminded Chu Jiu:
“Brother Chu Jiu, have you changed the dry grass at your house?”
“You should also prepare more dry grass while it’s not raining. Once it rains, the dry grass will be cold and wet and unusable.”
After speaking, Aman carried his big sack and went to pick dry grass with his friends along the country path.
His serious expression and the way he grinned every time he picked up a piece of dry grass made it seem like he was picking up priceless treasures instead of worthless twigs.
Chu Jiu bit his lip and slowed down.
He remembered “Grandma Hao” a little.
The last time he took the merchant Marco back to Bean Village, many villagers brought gifts of thanks. The wrinkled grandma tremblingly rushed to the road sign and rang the bell for a long time, insisting on giving him a hand-sewn burlap apron.
The apron was dark blue, with a pocket sewn in the front.
Ordinary aprons had pockets sewn in the stomach area, like a “kangaroo pouch.” Chu Jiu was curious why this apron was so unique.
Grandma Hao smiled and said, “Don’t you usually like to put your little pet in your chest pocket? I thought the apron should have a pocket there too, so I sewed it like this.”
Ah, that’s why. She was worried that the kangaroo pouch in front of the stomach wouldn’t be convenient for him to put Little Can.
Chu Jiu was impressed by the old lady’s thoughtfulness.
He didn’t expect that grandma…
Chu Jiu glanced at the system panel, which showed the outside temperature: 22 degrees Celsius.
Neither hot nor cold.
But in just over a month, it would be late autumn.
The system had indicated that the climate here was similar to that of the temperate zone on Earth, with four distinct seasons.
In other words, from late autumn onwards, the temperature would drop all the way until it warmed up again in spring next year.
During these long months, with his sheepskin sleeping bag and the ability to make a simple stove, he would have no problem getting through the winter.
But the elderly in the village, like Grandma Hao, who were immobile, could only huddle in piles of dry grass, enduring day by day.
Chu Jiu walked back to the Pioneer’s Hut in silence.
Following the menu he had planned, he found two cabbages, washed them clean, and started slicing them.
But the “thump thump” of the kitchen knife on the cutting board was much slower than usual.
Little Can, who had been dozing off, raised its little cat face and meowed in confusion, “What’s wrong? Why are you so dazed?”
Chu Jiu took a pottery basin and started mixing salt water, saying as he mixed, “Little Can, do you remember the mountain silhouette we saw from the bamboo branches in the bamboo forest?”
Little Can: “I remember.”
Chu Jiu: “Well… that area is called ‘Sunny Plateau’.”
“After I make some more equipment, I plan to go there as soon as possible.”
The monsters on Sunny Plateau generally have higher attack power and intelligence than those in the Forgotten Forest, and by quite a bit.
So even though Chu Jiu knew there were “peppers” there, he didn’t plan to go there yet.
However, besides the “peppers” that Chu Jiu was longing for, Sunny Plateau had something else very important: cotton.
Real cotton that could be turned into warm cotton wadding and spun into soft cotton cloth.
Little Can: “Oh. Then I’ll go with you when you’re ready.”
Chu Jiu smiled: “Okay, of course I’ll take you with me.”
After smiling, he was a little curious: “Little Can, you don’t even ask what I’m going there for? Or if it’s dangerous?”
Little Can yawned: “Why ask that?”
“Anyway, wherever you go, I’ll… you need me to protect you.”
*
Arsa Star.
He Fang and his team hadn’t received a live broadcast signal for some time.
But that didn’t stop them from decoding day and night.
Finally, today, they obtained a specific coordinate.
With Arsa Star’s current technological capabilities, the next time the live broadcast signal penetrated spacetime into this world, they could “project” matter to this coordinate through the “spacetime rift.”
As for what matter to project…
Suppressing his excitement, He Fang quickly sought instructions from Marshal Lu.
Lu Qingyan looked at the various plans on the screen, his expression calm: “Send a ‘Prober’.”
A “Prober” was an artificial intelligence unit that didn’t carry any attack modules, only used for collecting and transmitting information.
He Fang said “Understood” and waited for Marshal Lu’s further instructions.
For example, what else to project besides the “Prober”?
Two seconds later, seeing that He Fang didn’t intend to leave, Lu Qingyan added, “Send only the ‘Prober’.”
He had a feeling:
If they rashly released any weapon capable of attacking…
It would bring immeasurable consequences.
