As she busied herself, darting about like a little hamster, her parents were fast asleep in bed, their snores in a rhythmic duet.
Her parents’ snoring had always been a double blast, their voices rising and falling, never ceasing.
But Gu Qingcheng had been accustomed to their snores since childhood. They didn’t bother her; instead, they were like a soundtrack, making her feel safe.
It felt so comfortable sinking into the covers!
After nearly half a month on the road in the wilderness, she could finally lie on a warm, comfortable bed!
Gu Qingcheng stretched out her four limbs, rolled around three times in the quilt, and then, with satisfaction, spread out her arms and legs, closing her eyes.
Just as she was about to fall asleep, she suddenly remembered she needed to ask the system something important.
“Hey, Golden Finger, I want to ask, what’s this about the system saying I completed the main quest?”
“The main quest is fleeing famine and stockpiling. Weren’t you fleeing famine and stockpiling the whole time?”
The Golden Finger said in a muffled voice.
“Then what’s this about the system saying I completed *a* main quest?”
“When the scenario changes and the location shifts, it means a main quest is completed.”
The Golden Finger replied coolly.
“So, is this main quest fixed, or can it change at any time?”
“It depends on the development of events, determined by the situation, and it’s not set in stone. The system will judge on its own, so the host need not worry excessively.”
The Golden Finger replied.
It had grown accustomed to Gu Qingcheng’s way of addressing it. “Golden Finger” sounded nice; who wouldn’t love adding “Golden” to it? So, it didn’t fuss about the appellation anymore.
“Golden Finger, then what’s the probability of our family surviving here?”
Gu Qingcheng couldn’t help but ask.
“That depends on your ability to stockpile. The more resources you acquire, the greater your chances of survival, naturally.
Alright, two minutes are up. Dear customer, please give us a 5-star review. Mwah, love you!”
The Golden Finger even blew a kiss.
This was the only time it would try to curry favor.
Why did it feel a bit like a split personality?
Earlier, it sounded like a cool, aloof older sister when answering questions, but now its behavior was rather off-putting…
It seemed that a five-star review was very important to it.
Gu Qingcheng felt like the Golden Finger had said something, and yet nothing at all…
Fine, considering it was cooperating, she cheerfully gave it a five-star review.
Letting go of the Golden Finger, Gu Qingcheng finally fell into a comfortable sleep.
This was the first time she had slept in a big bed since arriving here. It was so comfortable and warm that Gu Qingcheng slept until she woke up naturally.
When she opened her eyes and saw herself lying in bed, Gu Qingcheng was still a bit groggy. After a moment of recollection, she remembered she was staying at an inn.
That was great. Her hair wasn’t covered in dew like when she slept outdoors.
She rubbed her eyes and got out of bed. She no longer heard snoring. She saw that her father and mother were already awake but not in the room.
Gu Qingcheng wasn’t in a hurry. She figured they had gone out to buy breakfast.
She slowly washed up, brushed her teeth, and even washed her face with a cleanser, then applied Da Bao moisturizer.
The weather was getting cold. If she didn’t apply some rich moisturizer, her skin would crack.
Today’s temperature was similar to yesterday’s, without a sharp drop. Perhaps it felt colder in the forest, but Gu Qingcheng felt a bit warmer.
Just as Gu Qingcheng finished applying lotion to her face, Hu Lanfang and Gu Zhaobei came in through the door with a creak. Seeing that she was awake, they said:
“Daughter, let’s tidy up and go eat breakfast on the street.”
Although the supermarket had ready-made breakfast, how could it compare to the comfort of hot, freshly made breakfast?
Gu Qingcheng naturally supported this and asked:
“Dad, Mom, where did you go so early this morning?”
“Your dad went to see the horses in the stable. He was absolutely fascinated. I packed up our worn-out clothes and sent them to the laundry to be starched.”
“Mom, why didn’t you just throw them away?”
Gu Qingcheng felt they didn’t need to wear such rags in the city anymore.
One is judged by their appearance before their character; they would be looked down upon.
“Oh, didn’t you say we’d still be traveling south in the future? These clothes are old, but we can’t throw them away. We’ll need them later. We can’t dress too brightly when fleeing famine,”
Hu Lanfang explained.
Gu Qingcheng thought about it. Her mother, after all, came from a neighborhood committee background; her considerations were very thorough.
“Wife, you really know how to manage the household,” Gu Zhaobei praised, adding, “Then what will we wear these past few days?”
“I went out early this morning to a ready-to-wear shop and bought two sets of clothes for each of you, father and daughter, for changing. Later, when things stabilize, you can decide whether to pick them yourselves or have a tailor measure you.”
With money in hand, Hu Lanfang wasn’t afraid wherever she went. It was like carrying a black card, with the boldness to conquer LV and Hermès.
Gu Qingcheng changed into the clothes her mother bought. She looked herself up and down. They were ordinary cotton cloth, not particularly good quality, but not bad either, fitting their desire to remain low-key.
The father and daughter changed into new outerwear, but of course, they still wore their warm down jackets underneath.
Today wasn’t about sleeping outdoors. Gu Qingcheng woke up, and for once, her hair wasn’t damp, and she didn’t feel particularly cold.
Gu Qingcheng then said:
“Dad, I think it’s best if we buy a house here. Don’t worry about the money; I’ve already exchanged 100 taels of silver, which should be enough.”
Gu Zhaobei and his wife found her idea very good and agreed.
Their family had a big secret, so having a private space was essential.
Moreover, coming from modern society, they truly had an obsession with owning their own house.
As Chinese people, no matter where they go, don’t they want to buy a house?
“Let’s not rush into action. Let’s understand the situation in Jinsha City first,” Hu Lanfang suggested.
“Where should we go to find out?” Gu Zhaobei was at a loss for ideas.
“How about I go to the street and chat with those aunties?”
Hu Lanfang brought out her trump card.
“I suggest we go to a teahouse. When we entered the city yesterday, I saw teahouses on the street. Let’s try spending half a day there,”
Gu Qingcheng’s suggestion was based on her experience from reading novels.
In ancient times, teahouses were hubs for information exchange and gathering. They were like民间新闻发布机构 (folk news agencies), and she was sure they could learn a lot.
“Oh, my daughter is so smart!”
Gu Zhaobei couldn’t help but praise her.
With their opinions aligned, the three of them went out.
Wearing their simple cotton jackets without patches, although not made of expensive brocade, the three of them stood tall and upright. They looked like they had eaten well, giving them the energy to hold their heads high with an air of prosperity that only wealthy families possessed!
From their demeanor alone, others could tell that this family wasn’t short of money; they were at least a well-to-do household.
Hu Lanfang was very meticulous. Before they left, she had bought veils. When she and her daughter went out, they each wore one, covering their faces.
Gu Qingcheng felt as if she had stepped into the era of mask popularity. There’s a saying: “Put on a mask, and no one loves you.”