On the road, feeling the heavy copper coins in her pocket, Lin Yuming was thinking about buying some household supplies when she heard the System speak up quietly.
"Host! You've earned money, come exchange for goods quickly!" the System's cheerful voice rang out. "I never expected this plane to be so popular! I estimate that the sales of these delicacies will be unprecedentedly high before long!"
"There are only five hundred copper coins here," Lin Yuming said. "How can the System level up?"
"Of course, the Host needs to sell more goods!"
Without hesitation, Lin Yuming directly exchanged a large amount of sugar, daily necessities, and goods for tomorrow's sales with gold coins, spending another ten gold coins.
"Host! You can't just live off your savings!" the System grew anxious. "To reach level two, you need at least another thousand gold coins…"
Lin Yuming calmly looked at the 830 gold coins in the System. "What privileges come with leveling up?"
The System was momentarily speechless. "Of course there are privileges! The food produced by this System will not only taste better but will also include an additional preservation area. For example, in winter, vegetables and fruits stored in this System's preservation area will definitely stay fresh."
"That's it? I spend a thousand gold coins just to buy a refrigerator?" Lin Yuming curled her lips disdainfully. "Other people's Systems come with all sorts of cheats. What about you?"
"I… I… Host! As long as my level is high enough! You'll have cheats just like others! You have to believe me!" the System's voice carried a hint of grievance.
"Alright, I'll think about leveling up," Lin Yuming said, then ignored the System.
She went to buy new bowls and chopsticks, placing them in her backpack. No matter how well she cooked with the moldy kitchenware at home, Lin Yuming always felt there was a strange smell!
Thinking of the bedding at home and the foul-smelling clothes, Lin Yuming sighed that there were still many things to buy. In comparison, five hundred copper coins seemed insignificant!
In two days, she needed to gather four taels of silver. The pressure was immense!
As if to avoid drawing attention, she went to the meat stall, bought two large pieces of pork belly for forty copper coins, and also purchased some seasonings and vegetables. When she returned to the oxcart where Zhang Liushan was waiting, the villagers had already arrived, leaving only the outermost seat for her.
Lin Yuming didn't mind. She paid fifty copper coins, picked up her backpack, and got on the cart.
Before she could even sit down, the surrounding villagers simultaneously turned to look at her and her backpack.
"Tieniu's wife, where did you get the money to buy things? Did Tieniu give it to you?" a slightly older, plump aunt suddenly looked at Lin Yuming. "You didn't really sell those two children, did you?"
The rumors had spread all over the village these past two days!
If she had really sold her own daughter just for the sake of food, Lin Yu'er deserved divine punishment!
"Aunt Guihua, I didn't sell Xiaoya."
Lin Yuming recognized the person before her as Zhao Guihua from the same village, also the mother of Liu Xi'er, one of the original owner's few friends. However, because Liu Xi'er had married into Binshang Village, twenty li away from Luming Village, they hadn't been in contact for years.
The original owner had a notorious reputation. Zhao Guihua, out of concern for her daughter's friend, had tried to advise Lin Yu'er but was driven out by her! Since then, she had harbored deep resentment toward her.
"Then where did you get the money to buy all this stuff?" Aunt Guihua scolded with a cold face. "I really don't know how Lin Chunsheng could have fathered someone like you—that's your own flesh and blood!"
"Most poor families might sell their daughters to wealthy households to become maidservants, but you actually listened to that Zhang Cui and considered sending her to a brothel! If you're really that desperate for silver, why don't you sell yourself into one!"
Hearing this, none of the bystanders dared to speak up or offer advice. Some even tugged at Zhao Guihua's sleeve, signaling her to stop berating.
If Lin Yu'er made a scene, they wouldn't be able to handle it!
But the woman before them showed no intention of causing trouble. She merely offered a quiet explanation and then fell silent, no matter how much Zhao Guihua continued to rant.
As they got off the cart, Lin Yuming turned back to Zhao Guihua. "Aunt Guihua, if you're worried about Xiaoya, come to my house and see for yourself."
With that, she turned and walked away!
Zhao Guihua immediately started to follow, but Zhang Liushan quickly stopped her.
"Guihua, you can't go."
"That's right! Who knows what evil Lin Yu'er is plotting? She's a wicked woman who could even harm her own child!"
"You're not young anymore—let's not get involved in this kind of trouble!"
The more others tried to dissuade her, the angrier Zhao Guihua became!
"What can a little wench like her do to me? I insist on seeing whether she really sold Xiaoya or not! If she did send her to a brothel, we must drive such a person out of the village!"
With a flick of her sleeve, Zhao Guihua followed after her.
Meanwhile, Lin Yuming carried her basket toward home and spotted Dabao standing at the door from a distance.
When mother and son locked eyes, Dabao turned away with a complicated expression, his cheeks slightly flushed. "Mother, you're back."
"Yes, were you waiting for me, Dabao?" Lin Yuming reached out to pat his head. This time, Dabao didn't dodge but lowered his head somewhat awkwardly.
Seeing the child silent, Lin Yuming took his small hand and led him into the yard.
"Dabao, look what Mother bought today."
As she spoke, Lin Yuming magically produced a small box of toffee from the basket.
"Is this candy?" Dabao was stunned.
This woman was giving him candy again!
"There's more." Lin Yuming smiled and continued rummaging through the basket. The next moment, she held two crystal-clear jelly treats in her hand!
Dabao froze instantly—he had never seen anything like this before.
"That's all for now." Amused by Dabao's astonished expression, Lin Yuming finally took out the pork she had bought at the market. "We'll cook something tonight. What dishes do you like, Dabao?"
Dabao shook his head. He didn't seem to have any particular favorites. When his father hunted, the leftover meat was sometimes just roasted with a bit of salt, but the meat they ate yesterday was especially delicious!
"Then will you eat whatever Mother makes?" Lin Yuming gently began preparing the ingredients.
She set up the pot and was about to start cooking when she noticed Dabao had already dutifully crouched by the stove, helping her light the fire.
"I'm sorry."
Dabao suddenly whispered these words.
Seeing the child like this, Lin Yuming felt a faint ache in her heart.
"Silly child, don't say sorry to your mother. It's me who should apologize to you." Lin Yuming helped Dabao up from the ground, gently brushing the dust off his clothes. "Mother knows it's hard for you to trust me again."
"I've made many mistakes, but I won't keep making them. I promise, from now on, I will love you both properly." Lin Yuming wiped the dust from Dabao's face. "I already have two such lovely children. I shouldn't ask for more."
"…" Dabao looked at Lin Yuming, not fully understanding.
Just then, the door was suddenly kicked open!
"Lin Yu'er! Didn't you say you didn't sell Xiaoya?" Zhao Guihua stood angrily at the doorway. "Where is Xiaoya?"