Chapter 54: Reboot

Just as Chu Jiu looked at everyone in bewilderment, Douglas’s face radiated with vitality: "Xiao Jiu!"

Chu Jiu: "Eh?"

Douglas: "Actually, I think the same way."

"The Association is going too far. Just for the sake of their so-called 'face,' they are willing to destroy an entire village and take away so many lives."

"An organization like this—even though I have lost my supernatural powers now, I will absolutely not let this go, nor will I allow them to go on harming other innocent people."

Chu Jiu: "Ah..."

The old village chief also let out a long sigh and said, "I used to think that as long as our little village could ensure everyone was well-fed and warmly clothed, and that our homes kept out the wind and rain, that would be enough."

"But I never imagined that simply wanting to 'live a good life' would also incur such jealousy."

"We... our Doudou Village is poor and full of the elderly and frail, but who says the elderly should just lie down and wait for death, waiting to be abused at will, waiting to be swept away like trash?"

"Not to mention, there are so many children!"

"These children who managed to survive the claws of monsters one and all, they are smart, resilient, and ambitious. By what right should they not live better lives?"

"I want those aloof bastards up there to see that our Doudou Village, an inconspicuous little village, has its own backbone too!"

"One day, just as Chu Jiu said, we will become a Doudou City that they dare not bully!"

After the old village chief finished speaking, the rest of the villagers wore solemn expressions; some had reddened eye rims, while others turned their heads to wipe away tears.

Douglas glanced around at everyone and asked, "In that case, have we chosen the second path?"

He had just heard that the villagers of Doudou Village wanted to turn this small settlement into a town, into a city.

Chu Jiu trotted over to open the door.

After taking stock, Chu Jiu already had a clear plan in mind regarding which facilities to build first.

Isn't iron smelting the exclusive racial skill of dwarf Orcs? The blacksmith clearly has a wonderful forge in the dungeon; why would he give this construction blueprint to him?

Because the shop was truly tiny, Chu Jiu cautiously stepped back a bit to avoid being poked by the overly excited little chestnut sprites.

Painted and scribbled all over the leaves was actually the [Forge Construction Blueprint]!

The "sugarcane" gathered in the Shelter Valley was not marked as "cultivable," which meant it could not be grown anywhere outside its gathering site.

This was made during the last trip to the dungeon in Shelter Valley, traded for nuts, and fired by a pottery artisan among the dwarf Orcs.

*

Chu Jiu squatted down to help untangle its ears, encouraging it, "It's fine, this is called 'trial and error.'"

According to Chu Jiu's understanding, aside from tropical regions, sugarcane can also grow in temperate zones. For example, in the rural areas of southwestern Huaaxia, there are quite a few places that cultivate sugarcane.

Well, let's see what the forge requires...

White-eared little squirrel: "You, friend; Doudou Village, good person."

Douglas was dragged away just like that by Eileen.

The outer layer of this cabinet was made of wood, and the interior was packed with ice cubes and cotton—a [Simple Refrigerator] that Chu Jiu had figured out on his own.

"We could... could play Chinese checkers together?"

Chu Jiu smiled and nodded continuously: "Okay, okay, next time I'll make a few more dishes—"

Chu Jiu selected [Cultivable Area].

Chu Jiu didn't go on, instead staring blankly at Lu Qingyan, meeting those eyes that resembled lakes beneath an iceberg.

Everyone chatted enthusiastically all afternoon.

After figuring out this recipe previously, Chu Jiu couldn't think of any use for an empty room like this, so he had simply shelved it.

"Mr. Blacksmith—"

Such a facility would surely bring in abundant revenue and allow newcomers to stay in Doudou Village with peace of mind.

After arranging the work for the Hoppy Rabbits, Chu Jiu had Gulu-gulu carve out a new path cutting straight across the [Trap Isolation Belt] and connecting to the Forgotten Forest.

For some reason, Chu Jiu had a gut feeling: Lu Qingyan would immensely enjoy eating dried fish.

*

Chu Jiu turned back then and trotted toward the Pioneer's Cabin.

There wasn't much inside the shop right now; right inside the door was a large display cabinet.

Then he became somewhat puzzled, however: "Still... we haven't had any dealings with the dwarf Orcs for a very, very long time..."

Sheldon bounced up with all his might: "Teacher! That's wonderful, you're safe!"

Little Canned leisurely began to eat.

Could it be Lu Qingyan?

*

Fortunately, Lu Qingyan did not show the slightest expression of "why is this person so slow," and merely uttered: "Not yet."

Just like before, [Creative Breeding] automatically triggered Chu Jiu's passive skill [Detail Master]:

If the Hoppy Rabbits could cultivate "sugarcane seedlings capable of normal growth," then sugarcane could be popularized in Doudou Village as well—

...It seemed the system really had crashed.

However, there was not a single soul at the doorway.

Hearing this, looking at these little chestnut sprites who clearly didn't possess much combat prowess yet had braved danger to come see him, Chu Jiu felt his heart soften. He squatted down and said softly, "Don't worry, don't worry, I'm fine—"

In this way, the various seasonings needed by the sprites could be classified and stored in the cabinet without worrying about them spoiling.

Little Canned's tail instinctively flicked upward and swayed twice behind it.

Chu Jiu nodded in agreement.

"We've gotten quite used to living here. Mary loves it here too, and every day she goes to the old village chief to learn how to read and write; it's even more convenient than Emerald Town."

Now, he told the sapling: "Gulu-gulu, let's try remodeling this empty room into a 'Vendor Post'."

The two of them spoke in unison yet again.

Mentioning this, Chu Jiu couldn't quite help himself and reeled off a string of topics related to building facilities and opening workshops.

According to the plan discussed by everyone yesterday, Douglas would be responsible for "recruiting people" in Emerald Town, while the old village chief and the others would arrange for the newcomers to farm, weave, make tofu, and brew soy sauce...

Did that mean he was going to take the dried fish and leave immediately?

Ah, perhaps the blacksmith still had some details to explain.

Developing Doudou Village was certainly important, but the development of the existing wasteland couldn't stop either!

Wasn't it just inviting a friend to eat fries and play chess together?

Chu Jiu said excitedly in one breath: "Thank you, Mr. Blacksmith! I'll go check how to build the forge right now!"

So this person, exactly what mysterious superpower organization did he come from?

As they discussed, Chu Jiu noticed—

Lu Qingyan: ...

Yesterday, he heard Douglas say, "Their whole family will live in Doudou Village permanently." According to the rules previously given by the system, if Doudou Village increased its permanent population, the development level would rise.

*

He quickly explained that the blacksmith from the dwarf Orcs had just been by and left a very important blueprint.

A moment later, Lu Qingyan curled his hand into a loose fist and pressed it against his lips for a light cough:

Strange, what is wrong with me?

Chu Jiu thought to himself.

Beside the cabinet were two rows of bamboo and wooden shelves holding linen cloth and pottery.

Speaking of which, he suddenly reacted and said, "Are you leaving? Today?"

Even though Lu Qingyan acknowledged it with a hum, he didn't seem to have any intention of turning around and leaving; he still stood right where he was.

[Please describe the aspects in which the host hopes the spirit beast will focus on cultivating this plant.]

Chu Jiu stared at those miniature pieces of pottery for a moment, a different idea forming in his mind.

"Honey won't be necessary. As for dried fish... I'll come to you to get the dried fish before I leave."

Clutching the few leaves given to him by the white-eared squirrel, Chu Jiu returned to his studio, brimming with excitement.

That being the case, he was willing to help out a little.

Chu Jiu: "Oh, oh..."

Lu Qingyan: "See you tomorrow."

The walls were made of raw logs, the roof resembled an upside-down flowerpot, and the windows and doors were delightfully round, with a wooden signboard hanging at the entrance: [Chu Jiu's Little Shop].

Then I'll just do what I can, earn more development points, build more facilities, and strive to raise the development level of Doudou Village to the maximum!

*

In fact, Chu Jiu knew very well that if the chestnut sprites traded directly with the dwarf Orcs, he would certainly miss out on making a bit of the price difference.

He then handed the [complete sugarcane dug up from the ground] over to the Hoppy Rabbits, letting them begin [Creative Breeding].

Lu Qingyan: "Tomorrow."

Chu Jiu smiled and said, "Actually, these pieces of pottery weren't made by human craftsmen at all."

Hearing this, Chu Jiu's heart started drumming incessantly again, and he looked at everyone with some trepidation.

[Limited by plant characteristics, lighting conditions, soil state, etc., the success rate of this cultivation is less than 20%.]

"The second path, the most difficult, but also the one with the most hope?"

The white-eared little squirrel slowly explained:

Lu Qingyan: "Mm..."

If the little chestnut sprites still needed pottery, they could simply go straight to the dwarf Orcs and discuss specific shapes and sizes face-to-face.

Chu Jiu bit his lower lip slightly, his mind buzzing a bit for some unknown reason, momentarily at a loss for words until he finally blurted out: "Where... do you live?"

Chu Jiu was so startled that he couldn't speak for a few seconds, utterly failing to fully grasp the white-eared little squirrel's meaning.

Chu Jiu: "?"

Sheldon was thrilled at first: "Ah, this is indeed much more convenient for us!"

Chu Jiu had originally wanted to write "A Shop for Sprites," but then figured the customers might not be exclusively sprites, so he simply put his own name on the signboard.

Having a simple lunch with the spirit beasts, Chu Jiu went back to work.

After making some brief plans, Chu Jiu began to "assign tasks," officially restarting his wasteland reclamation work.

Unexpectedly, the white-eared little squirrel shook its head: "No."

Little Canned blinked its pretty blue eyes and remained silent.

By the time the vendor post was arranged, it was already noon.

Lu Qingyan's lips curved upward slightly: "Today... I'm afraid not."

They had been very worried about whether something had happened to Chu Jiu, so they set off toward the Forgotten Forest that very night.

Even if they couldn't mass-produce that translucent refined sugar block and could only make the simplest "sugarcane maltose" or "handmade brown sugar," it would still be a unique product, a workshop found nowhere else!

*

After waiting for a long time, Chu Jiu saw the prompt:

Chu Jiu stood dumbfounded for a few seconds, feeling as though a pie had truly fallen from the sky.

True to form, Lu Qingyan was still there, standing beneath the silver moonlight, gazing steadily in this direction.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Chu Jiu ran up to him and said as he walked, "Thank you these past few days!"

Upon seeing that row of tiny, delicate jars and bottles, Sheldon's small eyes curved into two crescent slits: "What wonderful pottery! As expected of human craftsmen! The clansmen will definitely love it!"

Earlier, Douglas had mentioned "persuading others to move into Doudou Village as well." Chu Jiu hadn't realized it at the time, but now it finally clicked.