Chapter 26: Downgraded Cheat Finger

“Nian’er, I’m your mom! You didn’t get stupid from the injury, did you?”

Faced with several pairs of eyes staring wide-eyed at her, Su Nianzhi rubbed her throbbing head.

She swallowed hard and said, “Mom, I want to eat lamb.”

Wang Guifang: ……

After a moment, she laughed through her tears, both exasperated and relieved.

She gave the old man sitting at the bedside a light kick.
“Well? Go clean the lamb. The girl wants to eat.”

Old Su chuckled happily.
“Alright, Dad will take care of it. Nian’er, just rest.”

Su Zhewen looked at his little sister who had finally woken up, and a smile finally broke across his face.

He pulled a piece of candy from his pocket and tucked it beside her pillow.
“Zhizhi, have some candy if you’re not feeling well.”

He still remembered his sister once saying, life was too bitter, medicine was bitter too—eating some candy could make it sweet for a long time.

Su Nianzhi’s eyes stung with emotion.
“Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Second Brother, Maomao… I made you all worry again.”

She vowed never to be so reckless again.

She had known Lu Jiajia was about to be taken away and, in a moment of panic, was afraid she wouldn’t get another chance. That’s why she had taken the risk to sneak out at night and steal the item.

She had clearly overestimated the limits of her current body.

“Don’t say such nonsense. Just rest well.”

Wang Guifang called the two sons to help Old Su with the lamb, then took Maomao outside.

Watching their retreating figures, Su Nianzhi felt a deep warmth in her heart. From now on, they would be a real family.

As she sensed them bustling about in the courtyard, Su Nianzhi finally remembered what she had managed to steal.

She looked at the birthmark on her wrist and gently touched it.

In the next second—

The scene before her changed.

The space transformed into a small courtyard, a spring of clear water, and several patches of black soil.

Immediately, Su Nianzhi felt like beating her chest in regret.

What a huge loss.

That damn artifact spirit had some real abilities—it had simulated an entire shopping interface, but in truth, it had the power to fetch goods from different timelines.

For example, even though it was the 1980s now, it could pull items from the 1990s.

But now, after being killed by Su Nianzhi, the space had reverted to its primitive form.

There was no more little worker fetching things for her.

Was she upset? Of course.

But she didn’t regret it.

Letting that thing squat in her head like a ticking time bomb? No thanks—she’d rather deal with this.

Luckily, the artifact spirit had left behind quite a lot of materials: several boxes of small yellow croaker fish, sacks of rice, flour, and cooking oil, plus a full set of “three spins and one ring” (a bicycle, sewing machine, watch, and radio), and a box of ration coupons along with several boxes of old currency bills.

It seemed the artifact spirit had stockpiled these in advance, likely due to the era they were in.

Now, all of it belonged to her.

She just didn’t know how the artifact spirit had managed to transfer goods across timelines.

Su Nianzhi made a mental note—if he could do it, maybe she could too. She’d study it when she had time.

For now, she was satisfied.

After taking a few sips from the spring water, she felt noticeably better.

Not quite a miraculous rebirth, but definitely a bodily boost.

At the very least, her mental energy had improved significantly.

And the supplies would last her a good while.

The most important part—having this space made everything easier.

No more worrying about hunting more than she could carry back.

And besides, she believed in her own ability—she’d find a way to live well.

The space and its resources weren’t her life support—they were just tools to make things smoother.

If it had really been a full-blown “system” with some hidden controller behind it, she would’ve been terrified.

After all, there’s no such thing as a free lunch.

If someone tracked her down through that system? She’d die of fright.

This setup—just right.

Not too big, not too small.

Add in her psychic abilities, and really—who could rival her?

Outside her room, Maomao sat by the door, listening to his little aunt giggling inside.

“Nai, do you think my little aunt got dumb from being sick? She’s been laughing like a fool.”

Wang Guifang gave him a sharp smack on the head.
“Don’t talk nonsense. Your aunt’s just happy she got her life back.”

Though she said that, she couldn’t help glancing toward the room from time to time.

Su Nianzhi lay in bed for the rest of the day. It wasn’t until dinner that she learned just how close she had come to death.

It turned out she had been saved by a hundred-year-old ginseng.

Qin Xiaoyun, that so-called cannon fodder, actually managed to get his hands on one! Amazing.

Now she owed him big. She’d have to find a chance to head deep into the mountains one day—to repay that favor, somehow.

And then she heard more news—

Lu Jiajia had been arrested, and the village chief had been removed from his position by higher authorities. The new chief was now the former chief’s younger brother.

What a pair—these two families were always at odds. Word was, the former chief’s wife stormed over and cursed at the new chief for an entire day.

It only ended when the new chief’s wife came out and tore into her—in a literal catfight.

Rumor had it their underpants were torn and visible before they got dragged home.

Now the grudge between the two families had deepened even more.

The former chief’s family had officially split up—the eldest son moved into the ancestral house, while the younger son relocated permanently to his in-laws’ place in Qingshan Village.

The former chief’s wife was left crying and cursing, saying they were all ungrateful bastards, now left alone to care for her stroke-stricken husband.

Su Nianzhi smacked her lips.
She had missed so much juicy gossip.

Too exciting.

After a few days of rest and experiencing the full effects of the hundred-year ginseng, Su Nianzhi had fully recovered.

She could even bounce around again.

The villagers, who had been whispering that she was as good as dead, were stunned when they saw her strolling outside.

They nearly thought she was experiencing a last surge before death.

“Hello, Auntie Ma.”

Ma Lamei froze when Su Nianzhi greeted her, chills running down her spine.

This girl wasn’t holding a grudge, was she?

With her hands pressed together like in prayer, she stammered,
“Su girl, Auntie Ma just has a foul mouth. Please don’t hold it against me—have mercy!”

And then she bolted, kicking up a cloud of dust behind her.

Su Nianzhi: ???

The most disappointed of all was Sun Daniu, who sat drooling on the doorstep as she watched Su Nianzhi walk by.

“Yee-yah-yah,” she babbled—clearly not saying anything kind.

Su Nianzhi stopped, looked her up and down with disdain, and said,
“If you’ve got the guts, stand up and insult me properly!”

Sun Daniu: !!! Aaaaahhhhhh!!!!!

Su Nianzhi: I just love seeing you pissed off.

From inside the house, Zhang Wenliang saw Su Nianzhi glowing with vitality. Though still a bit thin, her face was captivating.

He called out tenderly,
“Zhizhi.”

Su Nianzhi quickly waved her hands.
“Don’t call me that—I might puke.”

Zhang Wenliang, who had prepared a whole persona and bucketful of words, swallowed everything back.

“Are you alright? I…”

“I feel great—especially after seeing you miserable.”

Though she said it softly, Zhang Wenliang still heard it.

“Zhizhi… you misunderstood me…”

He reached out, but Su Nianzhi pretended to take a few steps back.

“This time it’s not just 300 yuan, right?”

Zhang Wenliang quickly pulled his hand back in fright.

“Such a weakling!”

Su Nianzhi turned away dramatically, choking back fake sobs.

Cough cough—don’t touch me! You still want to be with me? Zhang Wenliang, I may be weak, but I’m not the kind to eat old grass!

Standing not far away, Qin Xiaoyun and Chen Wei exchanged looks.

“Brother, this Zhang Wenliang is shameless beyond belief.”