The hunger felt like an invisible hand, gripping Zhang Fan's stomach tightly and squeezing ever tighter.
Wave after wave of weakness washed over him like a tide, rapidly draining his stamina. Every step felt like dragging leaden legs.
He had no doubt now that the system's warning wasn't an exaggeration. If he couldn't find food soon, he might become the first player in the game's history to starve to death in the Novice Village.
"If word got out, it would be a disgrace in the gaming community, definitely making the annual top 10 silly news."
He tried to talk to the villagers passing by, hoping to find some work in exchange for a bite to eat.
However, the villagers' attitudes were completely different from when he first arrived during the day.
"Young man, we don't need extra hands in our village. Try elsewhere."
"Outsider? Looking at your build, you don't seem like you're cut out for work."
Their eyes were filled with distance and wariness, shaking their heads in refusal.
The cold responses were like buckets of ice water, extinguishing the hope that had ignited in his heart.
Only then did Zhang Fan belatedly glance at his attributes.
[Charisma: 3]
"So being handsome really can fill your stomach, huh? Too bad heaven turned a blind eye."
Zhang Fan chuckled bitterly. His pitifully low charisma made his "Outsider" status glaringly obvious.
In this frighteningly real world, trust was clearly a rare commodity that had to be earned, not a starting value granted by the system.
Just as he was nearly in despair, ready to find a corner to lie down and slow the decline of his satiety, a wave of heat mixed with the aroma of grains forcefully invaded his nostrils.
This scent instantly reignited his will to survive.
Following the aroma, he stumbled to a simple stall.
On the stall was a large steamer, white steam continuously escaping from its gaps, carrying an enticing warmth.
The sign was written in simple characters—Steamed Bun Shop.
An old woman with a face full of wrinkles and white hair was dozing behind the stall.
Zhang Fan's gaze was fixed on the price list beside her, written in the simplest words:
White Flour Steamed Bun, two Wen each.
Coarse Grain Wotou, one Wen each.
One Wen.
(PawRead T/N: 1 Wen = 1 Copper Coin)
That number was an insurmountable chasm for him.
Clinging to a last shred of hope, he approached the old woman and asked in the most sincere tone, almost pleading, "Grandma, I'm... I'm really hungry. Could I do some work for you in exchange for a wotou... just one?"
The old woman lifted her drooping eyelids, her cloudy eyes showing no sympathy, only the shrewdness of a businesswoman.
She looked Zhang Fan up and down, impatiently waving him away.
"Go, go, don't block my business if you have no money."
Driven away mercilessly, Zhang Fan sat dejectedly on a nearby stone step, watching the bustling street, the burning sensation in his stomach making his vision blur.
The hunger felt too real. In the real world, going a day without food didn't make him feel this hungry, but in the game, after only half a day, he was experiencing the sensation of near starvation.
[Player Alert: Satiety has dropped to 40%, please eat soon!]
Another system prompt, but Zhang Fan was too weak from hunger to care.
Just then, he saw the player he had met earlier at the blacksmith's shop.
The young man, with a stern expression, took a sharpened short knife from the burly blacksmith, tossing a few copper coins casually.
Then, he walked straight to the steamed bun shop, buying a steaming white flour bun.
He ate it in large bites as he headed toward the village entrance, his figure quickly disappearing into the dusk.
He didn't even glance back at Zhang Fan.
Zhang Fan understood.
In this world, there was no sympathy, no charity; the only rule was equivalent exchange.
To survive, he needed to first obtain the basic currency of this world—copper coins.
He needed a job, a job that could earn him one Wen.
This time, Zhang Fan finally began to use his advantages and didn't dare underestimate the NPCs.
He put away all unrealistic fantasies and spoke in the most humble yet sincere tone, "Big brother, could you tell me... where in the village I might find work? I really need a job."
The guard looked him over, seemingly accustomed to seeing destitute outsiders like him, a nonchalant expression on his face.
"Old Wang Daniu at the back of the mountain needs someone to chop wood. He only has one arm, so it's inconvenient for him. You could try there," the guard nodded toward the back of the village, "Remember, don't cause trouble in the village."
"Thank you! Thank you, big brother!" Zhang Fan thanked him profusely.
Feeling like he had grasped the last straw of hope, Zhang Fan dragged his weakened body toward the back of the mountain.
He soon found the one-armed old man, Wang Daniu, mentioned by the guard.
The old man was struggling to lift an axe with one hand, chopping at a thick log, each swing a laborious effort.
Zhang Fan immediately stepped forward, respectfully offering to help.
Wang Daniu looked at him for a long while, a complex emotion flashing in his cloudy eyes, finally turning into a sigh.
He pointed to a pile of logs resembling a small mountain and a rusty, seemingly ready-to-fall-apart chopping knife, saying:
"Alright. Chop all these into firewood, and I'll pay you 3 Wen."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Fan immediately stepped forward and picked up the chopping knife.
As soon as he grasped it, a prompt appeared before his eyes.
[You have obtained a Temporary Item: Rusty Chopping Knife]
[Do you wish to accept the Temporary Quest: Woodcutting? Completing the quest will earn you copper coin rewards and may unlock the Life Skill: Woodcutting (Beginner)]
"I accept!"
Zhang Fan didn't hesitate to agree in his mind.
He selected a log that wasn't too thick, mimicking Wang Daniu's movements, and swung the chopping knife with all his might.
"Clang!"
A loud noise echoed, leaving only a shallow white mark on the wood.
The tremendous recoil traveled back through the handle, numbing his arms and stinging his palms.
Hunger, fatigue, and the uncertainty of the unknown surged like a flood, overwhelming him.
He lifted his head, and it was as if he saw Wang Yun's face laughing maniacally in a pool of blood, the curse "you will all die" echoing in his ears.
No!
He couldn't die here!
Zhang Fan couldn't die like a stray dog, starving in this damned Novice Village!
"As long as I'm not dead, there's always a way to live. Wood, taste my axe!"
A fierce determination rose from within, dispersing all negative emotions in an instant.
Zhang Fan gritted his teeth, his eyes burning with defiance.
For that one Wen wotou.
To survive.
To uncover all the truths behind this Death Jianghu.
He had to split this log!
Zhang Fan once again raised the heavy and worn chopping knife, his arm muscles trembling slightly from exertion.
...