“Really? That’s incredible!” Qiao Xihe’s face lit up with joy.
The system added, right on cue: “This constitution has no effect on pursuit targets or system lottery draws.”
Qiao Xihe: “…”
Well, fine, it was still pretty good.
At least their life shouldn’t have to be so hard from here on out, and who knows, maybe she could lead the four little ones to fortune and success too!
“I remember there were two special pills as well, what are those?”
“Special pills include: Strengthen the Body Pill, Beauty and Radiance Pill, Great Strength Pill, X-Ray Vision Pill, Love-Me-or-Die Pill, Hug-Me-If-You-Love-Me Pill, and Free Pass to Hit You Pill. Host may choose two.”
Qiao Xihe: “?”
The first few pills sounded pretty reasonable, and their names made their effects clear enough.
But what on earth were the last three?
The system explained matter-of-factly: “Love-Me-or-Die Pill: after the host administers it to someone, if that person does not love the host, they will drop dead instantly.”
“Isn’t that a little psychotic!” Qiao Xihe said, alarmed. “No, not that one, no.”
“Hug-Me-If-You-Love-Me Pill: after the host administers it to someone, if that person falls in love with the host, they will cling to the host and never let go.”
“…What kind of nonsense pill is that?”
“Free Pass to Hit You Pill: after the host takes this, no matter who they hit, they will face no punishment whatsoever.”
“Well, that one’s at least a bit more sensible,” Qiao Xihe muttered.
Still, she was more interested in the earlier ones.
“Let me think… I’ll take the Great Strength Pill and the Strengthen the Body Pill.”
Beauty and radiance didn’t seem necessary for now, and as for the X-Ray Vision Pill, Qiao Xihe had no interest in peeping at other people’s bodies.
Thinking it over, the Great Strength Pill and the Strengthen the Body Pill seemed like the most practical choices right now.
“Congratulations, host, you have obtained one Great Strength Pill and one Strengthen the Body Pill. Host also has two koi fragments remaining, which can be exchanged for two lottery draws. Exchange them now?”
“Exchange them.” She had the Koi Constitution now anyway, so the remaining koi fragments weren’t much use.
“Host has four lottery draws remaining. Use them now?”
“Draw now.”
“Four draws complete. Congratulations, host, you have obtained one Invincible Soft Armor and one Invisibility Cloak. Note: the Invisibility Cloak can only be used three times.”
Qiao Xihe rubbed her hands together, waiting for the system to continue, but the system had gone silent.
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
“What happened to the four draws you promised!”
“The other two draws resulted in: ‘try again.'”
Qiao Xihe: “…”
So there was such a thing as “try again” after all.
Well, thinking about it, that made sense, it was a lottery, after all, no way it’d give something every single time.
She already had plenty of good things in hand now.
She planned to take the Great Strength Pill herself, with enough strength, things would be much easier for her going forward, and she’d be better able to protect the little ones.
As for the Strengthen the Body Pill, she planned to give it to Shen Wanjin.
Because she remembered the book had written that the other three members of the protagonist group all grew up strong and healthy, especially Shen Wanyin, who could throw around a grown man without any trouble.
Only Shen Wanjin’s health always seemed to be poor.
The Third Prince had kept trying to find ways to help her, but nothing ever really worked.
It wasn’t fatal, but it caused little Jin’er a lot of suffering.
Once little Jin’er took the Strengthen the Body Pill, she should get a lot better.
Qiao Xihe took the Great Strength Pill out of the system and swallowed it, it tasted pretty good, a bit like a chocolate chip.
“Second pursuit task officially begun. Target: Shen Wanjin. No time limit. Reward to be kept secret for now.”
“Little Jin’er is next?” Qiao Xihe mused. “She’s such a foodie, maybe going at it from the food angle will make things easier.”
…
The next morning, Qiao Xihe made wild vegetable pancakes again.
To be honest, after several meals in a row centered around wild vegetables, she was starting to get a little sick of them.
But to the four little ones, who used to never get enough to eat, this was heavenly food, so they all ate happily.
Tang Yifang watched with displeasure, a stomach full of resentment, but remembering how Qiao Xihe had acted before, she could only force herself to hold it in.
Eat, go ahead and eat, once all the money and food in the house ran out, that wouldn’t be her problem!
By now, Shen Wanyin had fully transformed into Qiao Xihe’s little fan. After finishing her meal, she wiped her mouth and, without fail, praised Qiao Xihe: “Sister’s cooking is really good.”
“If you like it, eat more.” Qiao Xihe rubbed her head. “But don’t stuff yourself too full.”
“Mm!” Shen Wanyin nodded obediently, and remembered to share her thoughts with Shen Wanjin too. “Third sister, don’t you think so? Isn’t it really good?”
Shen Wanjin’s mouth was stuffed full at that moment. Hearing this, she cautiously glanced at Qiao Xihe, then nodded.
Even though their stepsister had been so cruel to them before, always refusing to feed them, she had to admit the food she made lately really was delicious.
If only their stepsister hadn’t been so awful before, she’d probably really like her.
“Little Jin’er, eat slowly,” Qiao Xihe said with a smile.
Shen Wanjin was so startled she nearly choked.
She still remembered how fierce Qiao Xihe used to be with her.
She wasn’t as easy to win over as Shen Wanyin, after all, she was already five, not a four-year-old anymore, hmph.
After breakfast, Qiao Xihe was just about to head out for another walk when the village head suddenly arrived with a group of people.
He’d also brought a man in his forties, whose clothing suggested he wasn’t an ordinary person, followed by several burly men.
Tang Yifang had never seen a scene like this before. She nearly fainted on the spot, and said to the village head, trembling, “Village Head, what’s going on? We haven’t broken any laws!”
Could it be because of how she’d abused the children before? But no matter how you looked at it, that was just a family matter, wasn’t it?
“Shen family, don’t misunderstand,” the village head said with a smile. “We’re mainly here today to reward your daughter.”
Reward her daughter? Qiao Xihe?
Tang Yifang looked utterly confused, she hadn’t left the house, so she still had no idea Qiao Xihe had taken down two traffickers yesterday.
“That’s right! Oh, and this is His Excellency the local magistrate.”
“What? The magistrate?”
Around here, the magistrate oversaw all the villages in the surrounding area.
So to people who’d lived in the village their whole lives, the magistrate was practically a great official.
Tang Yifang dropped to her knees on the spot, and the little ones behind Qiao Xihe knelt down in a row too.
Qiao Xihe: “…”
Should she be kneeling too?
Before she could figure it out, the magistrate said kindly, “Everyone, please get up. I’ve come today to reward Miss Qiao, not to put on airs. Is this Miss Qiao?”
He looked at Qiao Xihe, a flicker of admiration crossing his eyes.
He didn’t expect to find such a lovely young lady in this small mountain village.
“Your Excellency,” Qiao Xihe said politely. “Please, come inside and sit.”
“Very well.” The magistrate nodded and followed Qiao Xihe inside.
The village head followed in as well, along with a burly man carrying a wrapped package.
“Miss Qiao, I hear you’re the one who caught those two traffickers, that’s a tremendous achievement,” the magistrate said with a smile. “They were cunning, and fast on their feet, I had men searching for them for many days without success. And they’ve since confessed the whereabouts of several accomplices, which is how I was able to round up the whole group!”
“Miss Qiao, you are a true hero!”