Ning Xuan's inner self was screaming—it's here, it's here, it's coming with that delightful electronic sound~
Yes, yes, bind immediately. Hesitating for even a second would be disrespectful to the Golden Finger.
[Binding successful. Please read the Trading System manual independently, Host.]
After the binding succeeded, Ning Xuan sensed an indescribably mysterious presence in her mind—invisible yet undeniably connected.
However, she remembered she was still at the state-run restaurant. Worried that staring blankly for too long would seem odd, she took her steamed bun and left the restaurant. Finding a corner to squat in, she began munching on the bun while opening the system's virtual panel to read the instructions.
[Ten Thousand Realms Trading System User Manual:
First, it connects multiple dimensional worlds, allowing transactions with Hosts from those dimensions who also possess the system. Trades proceed once both parties agree.
Second, upon initial binding, the system starts at Level 1, capable of linking to one dimension. It can be upgraded after meeting certain transaction quotas. Specific upgrade details can be viewed in the System Level section. Upgrades gradually unlock more functions, accessible after each level increase.
Third, daily transaction limits are restricted by system level. Check the System Level section for specifics.
Fourth, no handling fees are charged for transactions, but Points are deducted. Initial binding grants 10 Points. Point acquisition rules can be viewed in the Points section on the system homepage.
Fifth, traded items are temporarily stored in the system's warehouse for free up to 48 hours. Retrieval or storage is allowed anytime within this period. Extended storage incurs Point fees as custody charges.]
As Ning Xuan read through, the words "check" and "view" stood out most in her mind. Still, she now had a general understanding of the system.
Closing the manual, she navigated to the system homepage.
At the top gleamed six golden characters: [Ten Thousand Realms Trading System].
Below, in smaller black font, were her details and system information:
[Host: Ning XuanCurrent Dimension: Dragon Country Parallel World, 1970sSystem Level: 1 (0/10), Daily Transactions: 1Linked Dimensions: 1Points: 10]
The homepage was quite straightforward. Clicking on Points provided detailed explanations: Points were earned by scanning items from her dimension and uploading them to the trading system, with values assessed by the system.
Higher levels would unlock other Point acquisition methods, but as a Level 1 user, she lacked permission to view them.
It was a pity the system warehouse was only temporary. Though custody fees applied, she mentally rounded it up to having a personal space.
But with a trading system now in hand, she might eventually trade for a permanent space. Since items could be stored temporarily, she decided to check the linked dimension.
Clicking on the "1" under Linked Dimensions, a prompt appeared: Initial connection requires matching. Matching is random. Proceed immediately?
Ning Xuan selected "Yes." The page swirled like a vortex, stopping within ten seconds.
[Matching successful. Connected to ancient dimension: Great Jin Dynasty, Mingde Year 350. Send trade request?]
Ning Xuan regretted that it wasn't a modern world, but ancient times seemed acceptable too.
Suddenly, a red "1" appeared on the trading page. Ning Xuan clicked on it:
["I need food. Do you have any food there?"]
Ning Xuan's heart sank. It was actually about trading food—she had been hoping to trade for food herself. What was going on with the other party?
Thinking this, she asked the same question.
In the Great Jin Dynasty, Wang Er Ya looked at her young daughter who had fainted from hunger in her arms, and her elder daughter lying across her lap with barely any breath left. Despair washed over her.
Originally, she had been fleeing the famine with her family. But as their stored grain dwindled, the way her husband's father, mother, and brothers looked at her daughters grew increasingly unsettling.
A few nights ago, she pretended to be asleep and overheard them discussing selling her two daughters for food. That her in-laws agreed didn't surprise her—they had always resented her for bearing only two "money-losing daughters."
But her own husband's consent shocked her. Though she knew he felt humiliated for not having a son to continue the family line after all these years, she never imagined he could be so inhuman as to harm his own flesh and blood.
In these times of widespread starvation, being sold as a maid would be fortunate—even brothels offered slim chances of survival. But many had lost their humanity; they were cannibals.
This was why Wang Er Ya was particularly horrified. She nearly erupted in rage, wanting to stab every one of them on the spot.
Yet she knew a woman's strength couldn't match theirs, so she suppressed her fury and continued listening to their plans.
She desperately wanted to flee with her daughters, but understood that a woman alone with two children would quickly be torn apart by other desperate, dehumanized refugees if separated from the group.
So despite her loathing for these beasts, Wang Er Ya gritted her teeth and continued fleeing with them—even when they only gave her and her daughters thumb-sized portions of flatbread daily, even when they constantly ordered her around. For her daughters, she endured.
But after deciding to sell her girls, the family stopped giving them any rations altogether, trying to break her will.
Fearing she might faint from hunger and leave her daughters unprotected, she stole some dry provisions when the old hag was deep asleep and escaped with her children that night.
Since death seemed inevitable either way, she might as well gamble on survival with her daughters.
When the beasts discovered the mother and children missing the next day, they never considered they'd run away—no one believed Wang Er Ya had such courage. They assumed rivals had struck first, snatching them during the night watch's drowsy moments.
The Li family cursed their misfortune, regretting not selling the "worthless girls" earlier. Now they had nothing to show for it, having wasted days of rations.
Wang Er Ya proved fortunate: she escaped under cover of darkness without encountering villains, and at dawn blended into another group of refugees.
Disguised in male clothing and coated in grime from days without washing, she and her daughters went unnoticed among the crowd. This group still possessed some stored grain and hadn't yet completely lost their humanity, so they tacitly allowed Wang Er Ya to follow—though they ignored her entirely.
After walking for another day, Wang Er Ya was so hungry she could barely carry her child anymore. Her eldest daughter had long been unable to walk and was being carried on her back, while her younger daughter had even lost the strength to cry.
In her moment of despair, a strange system bound itself to her, claiming it could exchange items with others. All she needed to do was think of what she wanted in her mind—no need to speak aloud, so no one else would hear.
Following the system's guidance, she finally managed to initiate an exchange. Her first instinct was to ask, "Is there any food? I need food."