The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure

She came to mediate, but how did her presence cause a couple, who were about to reconcile, to start quarreling again?

"Big Brother, Sister-in-law..." Ming Zhu opened her mouth, considering how to phrase her words to strive for a boost in friendliness, but before she could speak, Old Granny Zhang, from the upper room, heard the commotion and came over.

"What's all this racket? Are you bullying Zhuzhu?"

At this, everyone in the main house became anxious.

Fearing that Ming Zhu had stirred up a hornet's nest.

Lady Lin truly didn't dare to bring up the topic of dividing the family property in front of Old Granny Zhang, if it had to be brought up, it would have to be Wang Yongfu who mentioned it.

If she dared to utter a single word about it, she would no longer be able to hold her head up in Qilidun.

Old Wang Family could divorce her without needing half a reason.

She was sweating with nervousness.

The three children of the main house were also on edge...

Ming Zhu...!

A faint sadness!

Is gaining just two points of friendliness this difficult?

Should she strive for it again?

At that moment, suddenly a notification sound echoed in her mind.

"Ding!"

"Task progress (2/3) completed, host, keep up the good work!"

...

"Ding!"

"Task progress (3/3) completed, congratulations to the host for perfectly completing the newbie task, earning 3 points and a Newbie Gift Pack!"

...

Huh?

Ming Zhu's eyes brightened, how had she completed it without realizing?

What happened?

Who had succumbed to her personal charm?

Alright, task completed, work's done.

She decisively turned her head to reply to Old Granny Zhang, "Mother, it's nothing, I was just asking Big Brother and Sister-in-law for a cup of tea, I'll go back to my room to rest."

With a cheerful expression, she left.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

They watched Ming Zhu leave as if bidding farewell to the god of plague.

...

***

Ming Zhu lay in bed, thinking.

The interface of the System in her mind had changed.

Clothing: Level 0

Food: Level 0

Housing: Level 0

Transport: Level 0

Available Points: 3 (Points can be freely allocated to the options above.)

Ming Zhu felt that among these four options, food was the most important.

In such a poor place, where people would make a huge fuss over a bun, food was fundamentally the most important thing, with food there was everything.

Therefore, Ming Zhu didn't hesitate to allocate all 3 points to food.

The interface now looked like this.

Clothing: Level 0

Food: Level 0 3 points

Housing: Level 0

Transport: Level 0

Available Points: 0

...

Ming Zhu called Xiao Tiantian over, "How many points are needed to reach Level 1?"

"You need 10 points to advance to Level 1, host, keep it up, it will be quick! Each level up will bring a special reward!"

Ming Zhu simply responded with an "Oh."

"What the heck is the Newbie Gift Pack?"

Xiao Tiantian: "What does the host need most right now?"

Ming Zhu lifted her eyes, huh? This is so user-friendly?

She thought about it, her round body like a pig's was really an eyesore, her double chin on her neck wobbled as she walked...

"Rapid weight loss pills? Instantly become a slim beauty?"

Xiao Tiantian: As a level 0 system, there are no rapid-effect products. Search has found a double fat-burning agent, do you want to claim it?

Listening to its name, Ming Zhu pretty much understood what it was.

Forget it, claim it!

With one thought.

A water drop-shaped object appeared in the palm of her hand.

There was also a line of elusive text explaining it.

Double Fat-Burning Agent: Accelerates fat burning during exercise, effective for three months after taking it.

Indeed, it was exactly what Ming Zhu had understood it to be.

Alright, the first personal plan, lose weight!

This will probably be a long-term process. Three months, then let's tentatively say three months, rushing won't make it any faster.

Just at this moment, the system issued another task.

"As the saying goes, a harmonious home leads to prosperity, disharmony brings continuous misfortune! Task release: Host should quickly establish friendly relations with most family members, reaching a positive value!! Currently (3/12)... After completion, receive 12 points."

Ming Zhu...!!

Can I get a break here?

Just now, 3 was already quite difficult; now it suddenly shot up to 12?

Ming Zhu felt dejected for a moment,

but soon thought of a plan.

It was to start with food. For the sake of food, the main house wanted to split, the third house was starving to the bone...

If the whole family's diet could be improved, 'eating from someone's hand softens the word,' can't they earn their goodwill?

Ming Zhu decided that she needed to familiarize herself with the environment and find a good way to make money, to improve the meals for the entire family.

***

Qilidun had no custom of eating dinner, so they went to bed early at night.

The next day, they also got up early.

The original owner usually stayed in bed at home until it was time to eat, but Ming Zhu had a different routine. She was a top student in her past life; she always got up early for morning study, when her memory was at its best.

Now, without the need to study in the morning, Ming Zhu got up early to wash her face, brush her teeth, and go for a run.

Brushing her teeth was just scrubbing her teeth with a willow twig dipped in saltwater, the only option available. Even Lady Jiang and others couldn't even get a bit of salt...

Luckily, Ming Zhu was adaptable and easy-going.

She could tolerate it.

After washing up, she went outside to the large paddy fields to run, and the whole family watched in curiosity.

Old Granny Zhang opened the chicken coop and, while feeding the chickens, curiously asked, "Zhuzhu, what's gotten into you? Have you gone mad? Why are you running around?"

Out of breath, Ming Zhu couldn't reply.

The children, who were watching the commotion around Ming Zhu, eagerly helped to answer.

Xiao Jinpan responded with clear enunciation, "Granny, our aunt said she's exercising to lose weight."

Old Granny Zhang didn't understand, "What does losing weight mean?"

Xiao Jinpan replied again, "Aunt said it means to lose all the fat from the body, to become slender and beautiful."

"Right, aunt said being fat isn't good for health, it makes it hard to walk and you get out of breath easily. Look at this double chin, Song Chongjin was disgusted by it and wanted to cancel our marriage."

"Aunt also said that being fat isn't attractive, and no one likes a fat person."

The kids burst into laughter.

Startled, Old Granny Zhang forgot to feed the chickens and hurriedly came over to stop Ming Zhu.

"Oh my, Zhuzhu! Don't you do anything foolish, what's this weight loss about? Your chubbiness looks good, it's opulent. When you walk out, who wouldn't envy our Old Wang Family's good living? You're the face of our family; it would be such a waste if you got skinny! How many people envy the fat that we worked so hard to put on you..."

Crows flew over Ming Zhu's head.

Walk out, and how many people envied!

The fat accumulated with such difficulty!!

These aesthetic standards aren't on the same level!

"Mom, being fat isn't good, it makes it difficult to walk, and I'm out of breath. Look at this double chin; Song Chongjin wanted to call off our engagement just because of it," Ming Zhu reasoned.

Old Granny Zhang glared, "If he disdains, that's his lack of taste. Look at our village, who's prettier than you? Who doesn't take a second glance when you walk by, what's wrong with being fat? Being fat is glorious. Let those maids try, they couldn't get fat if they tried, skinny as kindling, none as lovely as you. Don't do something foolish, wasting all the food our family spent to fatten you up."

This was a losing argument.