After the rain, the sky finally cleared. The downpour had ceased only a day ago, and now the golden sun stretched its rays across the land, bringing warmth and light.
Father Xu and the family resumed their daily work as usual. Though autumn had just begun, the lingering heat still clung to the air—thankfully, not as stifling as before. It wasn’t unbearable for a leisurely walk, but once you started moving, especially in the fields, sweat was inevitable under the blazing sun.
Suddenly, a familiar voice called from outside the door.
“Yingying! Let’s go to the mountain!” Xu Jing’s voice rang brightly, filled with excitement.
It was that time again—right after the rains, when mushrooms flourished on the mountain slopes. Xu Jing rarely came to knock on Xu Ying’s door; she used to avoid her cousin at all costs. But something had changed.
Ever since Xu Ying’s transformation this past month, Xu Jing found herself unwillingly drawn closer. She had once despised this lazy, pampered cousin who seemed useless. But now… now she wasn’t so sure. Maybe she’d been blinded before.
Honestly, being lazy wasn’t even such a crime—who wasn’t a little lazy? The difference was, no one had ever stepped in to help Xu Jing; she had no choice but to work hard. Xu Ying, however, had always been sheltered by doting elders. Who could blame her for that?
Besides, there was another reason she came knocking today: Xu Ying knew how to hunt. Just a few days ago, thanks to her cousin’s skills, their family had feasted on wild game multiple times. Xu Jing hoped to ride that wave of luck again—and maybe, just maybe, they’d return from the mountain with meat.
“Alright! Wait for me, sis!” Xu Ying readily agreed, a spark of excitement lighting her eyes.
The thought of fresh mushrooms had already made her mouth water. Though she was a chef by trade, at heart, she was a food lover. A parade of mushroom dishes danced across her mind, each more tempting than the last.
—If only she knew how to cook them herself.
“Shitou, bring Huzi and let’s head to the mountain.”
At the command, Shitou practically leapt with joy. His eyes gleamed at the thought of another adventure up the mountain. Last time, though they’d caught plenty of wild animals, most of the meat had been shared—some with their great-grandparents, some gifted to relatives. The leftovers at home had vanished after a few hearty meals and a bit sent to Aunt Daya. Now, there wasn’t a scrap left.
Shitou slung a large backpack over his shoulder, handing one to Xu Ying before taking one for himself.
As they passed by the third uncle’s house, Xu Jing couldn’t help but peek inside curiously.
“Call Xu Xue and Xu Bai too,” Xu Ying instructed without hesitation.
Xu Jing’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. Without delay, she rushed to knock on the Xu family’s door.
“Xuexue, Baibai! It’s me, your eldest cousin!” she called cheerfully. Moments later, Bai Bai’s little head peeked out from behind the door, his hair a fluffy mess.
“Auntie, why are you here?”
Shitou spoke up immediately, “Let’s go! We’re digging mushrooms. I’ll take you!”
“My sister went to work with my parents,” Bai Bai replied shyly.
“Get a backpack, Bai Bai,” Xu Ying said gently, “I’ll carry it for you.”
Soon, the small but lively group set out across the fields. Their cheerful chatter and playful laughter drew attention from the villagers as they passed.
Among those watching was Dong Wenzhong, who gazed at Xu Ying as though seeing salvation itself. He couldn’t stand it anymore—he hadn’t eaten well in days, his stomach gnawed by hunger, his body drained from labor.
“Dong Zhiqing, is Xu Ying here to see you?” Chen Yanran teased beside him, her voice lilting with curiosity.
Dong Wenzhong couldn’t hold it in. Desperate for her attention, he clutched his head dramatically and staggered, falling to the ground in feigned pain.
“Dong Zhiqing! Are you alright?!” Chen Yanran cried out, panic lacing her tone.
“Xu Ying ! Dong Zhiqing fainted!”
On cue, every head turned toward Xu Ying. Even Dong Wenzhong’s ears perked up, eager to hear her reaction. Surely she wouldn’t ignore him—after all, she’d chased after him relentlessly for almost two years.
Xu Ying’s gaze remained calm under the weight of their stares.
“If you’re feeling unwell, you’d better go see a doctor,” she said coldly. “What are you calling me for? I’m no doctor.”
With a flick of disgust in her voice, she turned away and left without another glance.
Dong Wenzhong lay on the ground, a chill creeping over him.
Was Xu Ying really serious this time? Or was this another ploy to force him into marrying her?
Either way, the thought of marrying Xu Ying sent a wave of discomfort through him.
Xu Ying and her little troupe climbed the mountain. The soil was still damp beneath their feet, and the air smelled fresh and earthy.
“System,” Xu Ying called in her mind with a playful smirk, “time for you to shine.”
【No problem, host! One point to activate the exploration function—shall we begin?】
“Activate it.” Xu Ying didn’t hesitate. Some investments were simply worth making.
The system couldn’t help but marvel at her decisiveness. 【Heh, you’re willing to spend a point just like that… You must be expecting a big return.】
And she was. With the exploration map open, the nearby terrain unfolded before her like a simulated world. She could see it all—nothing hidden, no treasures overlooked.
Before long, Xu Jing’s basket was half-filled with mushrooms, even ones most villagers didn’t dare touch. But thanks to Xu Ying’s guidance, Xu Jing picked them confidently.
“Yingying, can we eat this one?” Xu Jing asked eagerly, holding up a strange-looking mushroom.
“Yes—but not the ones growing next to it,” Xu Ying warned patiently.
“Aunty, how about this?”
“No.”
“Auntie, can we eat this one?”
“Nope, Huzi. Not that one either.”
One by one, Xu Ying answered each question calmly, never losing patience.
Xu Xue came running over, eyes bright. “Cousin, what about these?”
“Those are good.”
Just then, a flash on the exploration map caught Xu Ying’s eye. Several pheasants appeared, clustered together, pecking the earth unsuspectingly.
Xu Ying raised a finger to her lips. “Shh.”
“What’s wrong?” Xu Jing whispered, curiosity piqued.
Xu Ying pointed silently toward the clearing. There they were—proud pheasants, their heads bobbing confidently as they strutted across the grass.
Xu Jing’s eyes widened. “Pheasants…!” she breathed. Her heart raced with excitement.
She knew it—following Xu Ying today had been the right decision. This cousin of hers really was blessed with luck.
Xu Ying crouched down, gathering stones from the ground. Her eyes gleamed mischievously. “Alright, system, show me what you’ve got. Activate targeting.”
【Roger that!】
Drawing a small blade from her hidden space, Xu Ying hurled it along with the stones in quick succession.
The others watched in stunned silence as her throws struck true—one pheasant after another collapsed, falling limp in the grass.
Shock rippled through the group. Xu Jing, Xu Xue, Shitou, and Huzi stared at her with shining eyes, their admiration overflowing.
In that moment, Xu Ying wasn’t just their cousin. She was a heroine.
Their little fan club had officially been born.