This gave Xia Chen a glimmer of hope. It would be good if there was a guaranteed prize. Back in his previous life, he had become a big shot by relying on paid guaranteed prizes. However, he wasn’t sure if this system supported paying.

Besides, he had already transmigrated and even changed bodies. His bloodline must have changed at the very least. Xia Chen wasn’t asking to leap from having abysmal luck to being the luckiest person, but at least being an ordinary person would be fine.

Xia Chen reluctantly closed the lottery pool. Currently penniless, he had no chance to draw.

Having his desire to draw cards stirred up, he couldn’t help but say, “System, I have to criticize you for this. Look at how stingy Honor of Kings is, but they still give blue tickets to new accounts. Other games give free draws every tutorial, right? You should learn from them and let me draw once first.”

The system’s mechanical voice replied meticulously, [Draw opportunities can only be obtained through the host’s hard work. This system does not support gaining without labor. It is hoped that the host will get rid of this bad mindset as soon as possible.]

Xia Chen: “…”

“I’m not angry, not angry at all.” Choked by his own system again, Xia Chen was already able to self-digest and relieve himself. He opened the task scroll and looked at the tasks while talking to the system, “Do I just keep calling you ‘system’? Or do you have another name?”

[The host can call me by my number.]

“What is your number?” Xia Chen vaguely remembered the system mentioning it once before, starting with Z, but he had forgotten the specifics.

[This system’s number is Z14212058.]

“…So long.” Xia Chen couldn’t help but cover his face. It was even longer than just calling it ‘system’.

[The host has one naming opportunity. Do you want to use it?]

“Oh, can I?” Xia Chen thought for a moment and said, “We’ll be together for a long time in the future. According to the ranking in our family, take my surname Xia and be called Tongban^[1]Tongban: Copper Coin/Cheapskate. Is that okay?”

[Naming successful. Xia Tongban at your service.]

Xia Chen laughed out loud with a “pfft”. The system’s indifferent mechanical voice paired with this name was just too funny.

“Ahem, thank you, classmate Xia Tongban, for your help. I hope we can get along well in the future.” After laughing, Xia Chen tried to be serious for a moment, using this as a way to formally establish relations with his system.

When Xia Chen opened the task scroll just now, he discovered that there was a novice series of tasks. After completing all of them, he could claim a novice gift pack. The first task shown was: [Complete one planting.]

The reward was very low, only ten copper coins. You should know that when he looked at the lottery earlier, there were two prize pools, one for gems and one for gold. The gem required ten gems to draw once, and the gold required one tael of gold to draw once.

According to the system’s standard exchange ratio, 1,000 copper coins could be exchanged for one tael of silver, and ten taels of silver could be exchanged for one tael of gold.

Xia Chen secretly despised the stingy system for a bit. Looking around, he asked, “Tongban, you didn’t give me any seeds? And there are no tools either.”

[The system currently only provides one initial field. Please resolve other items on your own, host.]

So stingy! Xia Chen secretly gritted his teeth, knowing that the system meant what it said. He could only think of a way himself, “Can I bring tools and seeds in from the outside?”

[Yes, when the host brings items into the space, they must enter with their body. When the host leaves, all external items can only be stored in the warehouse. If the warehouse capacity is insufficient, they will be automatically ejected. Please use carefully, host.]

Xia Chen quickly opened his warehouse to take a look upon hearing this. Initially, when he saw that the warehouse was empty, he didn’t look carefully. This time, when he looked again, he discovered that the warehouse displayed a total of thirty squares grid.

“How many things can one square hold?” Xia Chen asked.

[For items produced in the space, there is no upper limit for the same type of seeds or crops. When accommodating other items of the same type, one square of space is one thousand cubic meters. For external items, the same type of seeds or crops can be stacked up to 9,999 in one square. Other items occupy one square each.]

Xia Chen pondered silently. It seemed that the system did not support taking in other items from the outside world. Even a hoe would occupy one storage square, which was quite a loss.

However, in his current situation, he could only think of a way to smuggle from the outside. Fortunately, thirty storage squares were enough for now.

The time in the system space and the outside world was the same. Xia Chen guessed that the growth speed of plants in the space should be accelerated. Otherwise, if he had to wait several months to harvest a crop of rice, who knows when he would be able to complete those tasks.

After spending more than an hour exploring and understanding all the sections on the system space panel, Xia Chen was ready to leave. He was going to collect seeds and tools from the outside world to complete the novice task first.

Before leaving, Xia Chen casually asked, “Tongban, where is my land?”

He had just checked the land list, which showed that he currently owned one plot of zero-level low-grade land. However, when he looked around, as far as the eye could see, the land was a complete piece. It didn’t look like there were any cultivated fields. Did he have to open up a piece himself?

[The piece under your feet.]

“Hm?” Xia Chen moved his feet doubtfully and looked down. It seemed like there was no difference. No, wait, this piece of land… Xia Chen had a bad premonition in his heart.

He simply squatted down, and sure enough, he wasn’t mistaken. There was a slightly lighter-colored piece of land in a very regular square shape. If it were elsewhere, he would have noticed it long ago. It was just that he had been stepping on it the entire time, so Xia Chen didn’t pay attention to it.

As for why he was so blind, it was probably because this piece of land was too small. It looked to be only about ten square centimeters, a truly palm-sized piece of land…

Xia Chen touched the pitiful little land, his fingers trembling. He asked in disbelief, “This is my land?”

[Yes, please work hard at farming, host, and expand your land scale as soon as possible.]

The system rarely added a sentence, perhaps seeing that Xia Chen was hit too hard. [You reap what you sow. As long as the host works hard, the entire system space will be your land.]

“Hehe, I thank you.” Xia Chen gritted his teeth and said each word with emphasis, “Xia Tongban, you’re really my little brother.”

---

After Xia Chen woke up, he laid in bed for another two days. His fever had long subsided, but his mother simply wouldn’t let him get off. She always felt that he had been weakened by this serious illness and wanted him to lie down and recuperate well.

For two days in a row, even his meals were brought to the bedside. If Xia Chen hadn’t firmly refused, his mother and his sister-in-law would have even wanted to feed him.

Xia Chen’s muscles and bones were sore from lying down. He really couldn’t stand it anymore, so he could only use a child’s trick of throwing a tantrum and making a fuss to go out and play. Mother Xia couldn’t refuse him, so she only allowed him to play in the courtyard.

The Xia family’s house was a small two-entry residence with green brick tiled rooms. It wasn’t built with much care, but in a small village like Qinghe Village, where there were thatched huts everywhere, it was already a rare mansion.

The Xia family, starting from Father Xia, were all crude people and didn’t have the sentimentality to appreciate flowers. The few trees planted in the courtyard were all fruit trees. The trees had entered dormancy in this cold weather. Xia Chen sat under the eaves and stared at the bare branches in a daze.

Mother Xia went to take care of family affairs while Qiao Niang took a small sewing basket, placed it on her knees, and watched over Xia Chen while doing needlework.

Unable to get away, Xia Chen couldn’t help but want to sigh. Wherever he went, there was someone following him. How was he going to find seeds and farming tools, and how was he going to find the villain behind Granny Lei?

Just as he was feeling troubled, a small head poked out from outside the courtyard gate. As soon as Xia Chen glanced over, the small head retracted back in a flash. After a while, it poked out again, but it was a different kid.

Xia Chen pursed his lips and smiled, waving at the two kids hiding outside the courtyard gate. Unexpectedly, not only did they not come over, but was scared out again.

Qiao Niang placed the needlework in the basket and put her hands on her waist as she said with a stern face, “Your little uncle is calling you, and you still dare to hide. Come in!”

Two young boys walked in slowly. It was none other than Xia Chen’s two nephews, Dong’er and Nan’er.

Because of Xia Chen’s fall into the river, the two nephews responsible for watching over him were also punished. Big Brother Jinzi personally took action and gave his two sons a fierce beating. Especially the eldest son, Dong’er, was still limping as he walked over. It was clear that the wounds on his buttocks hadn’t healed yet.

“Come apologize to your Little Uncle,” Qiao Niang said, her “stepmother-face” showing none of the gentleness and kindness she had towards Xia Chen.

Xia Chen’s body was small, but his mind was that of an adult. His two nephews were only so old, around elementary school age. In the end, they couldn’t be blamed for his fall into the river.

He knew that it was useless to stop them from apologizing, so he quickly said, “Sister-in-law, can Dong’er and Nan’er play with me?”

The two young boys widened their eyes. They had only heard from their parents that Little Uncle had woken up, but they hadn’t seen him. Now, hearing Xia Chen speak so clearly, they were inevitably surprised.

Qiao Niang’s topic was diverted by Xia Chen. She glared at her two sons, “You accompany Little Uncle to play. Don’t run outside the courtyard. If you dare to bully him, see how I deal with you.”

Having gotten permission, Xia Chen happily jumped up and pulled his two nephews into the courtyard. Qiao Niang called out from behind, telling them not to play with snow.

Now outside of Qiao Niang sight, Nan’er immediately became lively. He circled around Xia Chen and said in amazement, “Uncle Yuanbao, you’re really not foolish anymore.”

Xia Chen really couldn’t stand hearing this name now. It was fine if his parents called him that, but he couldn’t bear it if the younger generation called him that.

“Don’t call me Uncle Yuanbao, call me Little Uncle.” Xia Chen had a serious face. He felt that this name didn’t suit him at all. In the future, when he became the top scholar, having “Xia Yuanbao”^[2]Yuanbao: Ingot written on the red list would be too awkward.

Nan’er looked at him strangely, “Why can’t I call you Uncle Yuanbao? I’ve always called you Uncle Yuanbao.”

Dong’er slapped his brother and said with a fierce face, “If he tells you to call him that, then call him that. Why are you wasting so many words?”

Nan’er lowered his head in grievance, “I know, Uncle Yuanbao.”

Xia Chen: “…” Where did this silly child get the confidence to call him foolish?

After Dong’er scolded his brother, he took out a paper package from his pouch with an awkward expression and stuffed it into Xia Chen’s hand. His not-so-clean little face turned bright red, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left you to go play. In the future, in the future, I’ll take you wherever I go. I’ll abandon Nan’er, but I won’t abandon you!”

Nan’er was stunned for a moment and asked foolishly, “Brother, why do you want to abandon me?”

Xia Chen couldn’t help but laugh, amused by his two nephews. He opened the paper package Dong’er gave him; inside were several different candied fruits.

Candied fruits required both fruit and sugar, which was expensive. The children of rural families might not get to eat them once in several years. Even with the Xia family’s financial means, they couldn’t possibly supply them openly. It seemed to be Dong’er’s saved-up snacks.

Nan’er had already forgotten to question his brother. He was almost drooling while staring at the candied fruits in Xia Chen’s hand.

Xia Chen smiled and pinched a candied fruit, stuffing one into each of their mouths. Nan’er immediately closed his eyes in joy while Dong’er said with the fruit in his mouth, “I won’t eat it. It’s for you, as an apology…”

“I’m the elder. You have to listen to me.” Xia Chen smiled and distributed all the candied fruits in his hand. In his heart, he began to ponder the possibility of planting fruit trees in the space.

There were no off-season vegetables and fruits at this time. Candied fruits were a rare snack. It was a good item whether it was for his own consumption or to find a way to sell for money.

“You’re younger than me,” Dong’er muttered, feeling a bit upset in his heart.

In the past, his parents often told him to take care of Little Uncle. Dong’er wasn’t without resentment in his heart. Little Uncle was a fool. He had to watch over him and couldn’t fully enjoy himself when he took him out to play. If there was anything delicious at home, it was also given to Little Uncle to eat first. Dong’er found it annoying to watch.

But he didn’t dislike Little Uncle that much either. Little Uncle was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. Although he couldn’t speak, he was very obedient and never made a fuss like his brother Nan’er, which made people want to throw him out.

This time, when Little Uncle fell into the water, Dong’er was fiercely beaten by his father. He was originally angry and blamed Xia Chen for not listening and running around, which caused him to be beaten.

As a result, he heard his mother crying to his father, and the doctor came and left without seeing his Little Uncle get better.

Dong’er panicked all of a sudden. He just wanted to go out and play. He didn’t want to cause Little Uncle’s death. When Xia Chen was recuperating, his mother wouldn’t let him go see him. Dong’er hid in his own room and even secretly cried once.

Unexpectedly, Little Uncle not only recovered from his illness, but his mind also became clear. Not only was he not angry at him, but he was also willing to share candied fruits with him to eat. Dong’er felt extremely guilty in his heart.

“In the future, whatever you want to play, I’ll take you.” Dong’er felt indebted to his Little Uncle for his past negligence. He couldn’t come up with anything good to make amends, so he could only promise again.

Xia Chen was about to laugh and agree when he suddenly thought of the seeds and farming tools that hadn’t been settled yet. He had a flash of inspiration. He couldn’t move around freely, so wasn’t this a delivery of errand boys?

🌻🌻🌻

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