"Then how is the Energy Value calculated?"
"Dear Host, the Energy Value is gained by rescuing people who contribute to this world, and energy is fed back to you! Like when you saved the child bitten by a snake earlier, you gained 200 points of Energy Value."
"The Energy Value can enhance combat power and make us stronger." The system secretly schemed, wondering when it could reach Level Eight. At Level Eight, it could freely travel between worlds. Just the thought of it felt exhilarating!
This time it was determined to keep an eye on the host and not let the previous incident happen again, the system vowed silently.
Why enhance combat power? Wasn't she supposed to be in a farming story? As long as she diligently farms, does a little business, accumulates wealth, and heads towards a moderately prosperous life. A harmonious family would be perfect!
"Xiao Tongzi, did you make a mistake?" Why does it feel a bit unsettling! Before she could figure it out, she was interrupted.
"Sister, you're awake! I'll make breakfast now." Saying this, he got up and started dressing.
By this time, the sky was already bright. She carefully examined this home: a rundown, leaking shack; straw for rafters; leaks from above and dampness below; barely wind-proof; crude and worn-out furniture; a handful of items scattered about, leaving the place empty; and the dirt path on the ground seemed well-trodden, smooth from frequent steps.
Stepping out of the yard, her younger brother was about to head to school. Seeing his sister come out, he cheerfully said, "Sister, Brother Ran has woken up."
"Hmm, that's good." Although Brother Ran wasn't her cousin, he shared a blood relation with the original host. A living life couldn't just be left to die.
"Brother Jia, are you going to school?"
"Yes! Sister, I'm off now. Take care of yourself." Saying so, he ran out the door.
Turning to look at Erya, "Where's Dad?"
"Dad went to the fields early in the morning. I'll bring him a couple of coarse pancakes later." The little girl carefully placed a bowl of egg custard on the stone table in the yard and urged her to eat quickly.
Lifting the bowl, she looked at Erya, "What about yours?"
"Sister, you can have it. Yuanyuan has pancakes to eat." Saying this, she hurriedly waved her hand and ran to the kitchen for pancakes.
Xiao Cheng felt heartache for the sensible little girl and also for this genuinely poor family. When Erya returned, she stubbornly shared half of the egg custard and split a pancake in half. She bit into it but couldn't chew through—like a teething stick! Swallowing the pancake forcibly left her throat uncomfortable. Is this what they usually eat? It's too unpalatable!
"Has our family always been this poor?" She needed to understand the situation well. Although there were no noticeable patches on the burlap clothes, there were still one or two small ones slightly hidden. The clothes were washed to the point of fading, ill-fitting; the clothes she wore were probably those of the original owner's mother, poorly repurposed, looking absurdly out of place. The quality was too rough; wearing them for several days, she'd surely break down.
She was determined to earn money quickly to improve their meals and buy new fine cotton clothes, or she'd go mad.
She's willing to do tasks now. But in this rural place, how could she help? She couldn't just help others out of the blue—people would think she's a fool. Where's the heartfelt gratitude?
There was time; she'd communicate the details further with Xiao Tongzi.
"Hmm, because we have to support Brother Jia's education! He's the hope of our family." Erya said proudly.
It turned out that in their family and their uncle's family, under the influence of the previous generation, they knew only through education could one achieve success and bring honor to their ancestors.
The eldest cousin wasn't good at studying and dropped out early, but he was at least literate.
The second cousin was already a child student, preparing to sit for the Scholar exam in the second half of the year.
Their annual income, aside from taxes, was all spent on schooling. After all, in ancient times, the expenses of education were significant for farming families, and the cost of pens, paper, ink, and inkstones was also very high.
It's conceivable that under such tough conditions, being able to send children to school to become literate meant enlightened parents.
All morning, Erya was busy sweeping, feeding chickens, and washing clothes, while she could only watch from the side.
She wanted to help but knew nothing, and Erya wouldn't let her.
Having nothing to do, she chatted casually with the little girl, learning about the village while mentally discussing ways to make money with the system.
Suddenly, beep!
[System rescue mission activated] The system suddenly announced in her mind, startling her!
[Detected someone in need of rescue at the host's 7 o'clock direction, 3500 meters away. Host, proceed immediately! Host, proceed immediately!]
A series of mechanical sounds left her dumbfounded.
What? What is this? She hadn't even agreed to take on a task! She was merely considering it in her mind.
"Dear Host, the moment you fell into the water, our mission was activated!"
"But didn't you say it required the host's consent?" She only finished speaking when she could hear Xiao Tongzi muttering in her mind, 'Weren't you unconscious? It activated forcefully, and you didn't refuse, so it's considered consent.'
"What the hell! I was unconscious, how could I refuse?" Xiao Cheng couldn't help but curse.
"Sister, who are you talking to?" Erya looked curiously at the angry sister, looking around confused, not seeing anyone else.
"It's nothing, Sister is going for a walk. You go about your business!" Xiao Cheng suppressed her inner frustration, feeling deeply wronged. What's all this! She's only been here two days, hasn't figured anything out, is physically weak, and still has to do tasks.
"Then Sister, be careful. If you feel uncomfortable, come back and rest." Erya was a little worried.
"Okay!"
She headed towards the back mountain, with Xiao Tongzi still chattering in her mind, saying the rescue mission must be completed. If not done or failed, they'd deduct Energy Value, and if the energy was insufficient, both of them were doomed.
Previously, to save her, it had overly consumed energy, resulting in a 500 energy debt. Yesterday, it supplemented 200, leaving a 300 deficit now. If they couldn't gather enough in a month, they were both finished.
"You lousy Tongzi, you're unethical! What kind of rescue system are you? You're more like a doom system, a scammers' system!" Inside, a thousand horses trampled over Xiao Cheng's frustration as she cursed every possible ancestor of the system.
"Dear Host, I don't have ancestors! It's only you, the host," the system weakly replied.
Xiao Cheng became even more furious. "So I'm the one looking for trouble, digging my own grave?"
"Dear Host, calm down. If you don't hurry, the person you're supposed to rescue will die. Originally severely injured, there's a big tiger getting closer to him. Even if he doesn't bleed to death, he'll end up tiger food."
"Xiao Tongzi, you're suggesting that I, a frail woman, fight a tiger? Are you crazy!" She's no Wu Song, why should she! She thought she'd merely be dragging someone, now dealing with a tiger, relying on the sickle she grabbed on the way out? Wasn't that too naive?
"Dear host..."
"Stop, doesn't the system have a name? Don't let me hear you say 'dear' again," Xiao Cheng seriously warned.