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The clan elders were even more reassured after hearing Little Jiu say that—knowing she was someone who understood gratitude and paid it back.
And just like that, Sister Xu became Little Jiu’s long-term housekeeper.
After placing the egg in a bowl in the kitchen, Little Jiu stepped outside.
She figured that if she wandered around a bit more, she might trigger some sort of task—maybe even earn another reward!
Just as she left the courtyard, she saw Da Ya, carrying a bamboo basket on her back, preparing to head into the mountains with her younger brother A Dou to forage for wild vegetables.
Little Jiu immediately caught up with them.
But she had barely walked a few steps before Da Ya turned around and asked,
“Village Chief, why are you following us?”
Little Jiu’s face was expressionless.
“I’m not. I’m just… taking a stroll.”
“Oh.”
Hearing that, Da Ya didn’t think much of it. She just reminded the Village Chief to walk slowly and not trip, then held her little brother’s hand and continued ahead.
But after walking for a while, seeing the tiny-legged Village Chief struggling to keep up behind them made it impossible for Da Ya to pretend she didn’t notice.
Da Ya finally turned around, squatted down, and looked seriously at the little Village Chief.
“Village Chief, my brother and I are going up the mountain to look for wild vegetables. You really can’t follow us. The clan elders said no one’s allowed to take you into the mountains.”
After all, the Village Chief had a record.
When she was three, she secretly hid and followed some villagers up the mountain.
Once the clan elders realized she was missing, the entire village searched through the night.
They finally found her at dawn, sleeping soundly behind a big rock.
She had curled up like a little cat, snoring away.
The poor elders had nearly passed out from panic, thinking their precious Village Chief was dead and they were about to join the ancestors in shame.
From that day on, no one dared let her go near the mountain again.
They were terrified she’d crawl off into some hidden corner and fall asleep again—or worse, get carried off by a wolf!
But Little Jiu held her head high and declared righteously,
“Don’t talk nonsense. I’m not following you. I just happen to be going the same way.”
“You’re going the same way… to the mountain?”
Da Ya stared at the little Village Chief, helpless.
Little Jiu’s eyes shifted as she spotted Cuihua, who was currently pecking at her own claw.
She pointed at the chicken and said seriously,
“I’m taking Cuihua out for some fresh air. She’s been feeling down lately.”
Da Ya finally noticed the chicken beside them and asked,
“Who’s this?”
“A wild chicken from the mountain,” Little Jiu said.
“She came into my yard on her own. And she lays eggs.”
Da Ya had seen wild chickens before, but never one that looked this pretty.
Its feathers were vibrant and iridescent, shimmering in the sunlight like a rainbow.
Striking. Gorgeous.
Wait. That’s not the point.
The point is—this wild chicken looks like a rooster!
So why was it laying eggs!?
But with the Village Chief so determined to go up the mountain, Da Ya didn’t have time to argue whether the chicken was male or female.
She figured—rather than letting the Chief sneak up alone, it was better if she went with her.
Da Ya held A Dou’s hand in one and Little Jiu’s hand in the other.
She decided not to pick wild vegetables today.
Instead, they’d just stay at the mountain foot and gather some wild fruits for the Village Chief to snack on.
At the base of the mountain, Da Ya repeatedly reminded them:
“Don’t go deeper in. We’ll just get a few fruits and head back.”
Was Little Jiu going to listen?
Of course not.
Did she look like someone who was out here for fruit?
No.
She wanted meat today. She was going into the mountain to catch some meat!
The moment they reached the base, Little Jiu chased after Cuihua, yelling dramatically:
“Cuihua! Cuihua, where are you going? Come back!”
Da Ya stared, speechless.
Don’t think I didn’t see you chasing her up there on purpose.
Sighing, Da Ya grabbed her little brother and hurried after them.
“Village Chief, slow down! You’re gonna trip!”
“Cuihua! Village Chief! Wait for me!”
A Dou’s soft little voice echoed behind them as his tiny legs worked overtime to keep up.
He thought this was the most fun ever.
“New mission: Rescue the elderly man who fell by accident. Reward: 60 points + a teacher. Location: A large pit 100 meters ahead.”
Little Jiu came to a screeching halt and immediately turned around to head back.
The system, seeing the host walking downhill without a second glance, assumed she hadn’t heard the message. So it repeated the task three times:
“New mission: Rescue the elderly man who fell by accident. Reward: 60 points + a teacher. Location: A large pit 100 meters ahead.”
“New mission: Rescue the elderly man who fell by accident. Reward: 60 points + a teacher. Location: A large pit 100 meters ahead.”
“New mission: Rescue the elderly man who fell by accident. Reward: 60 points + a teacher. Location: A large pit 100 meters ahead.”
A teacher?
No way!
I’m not going to school!!
Terrified, Little Jiu started running like there were dogs chasing her.
The system figured maybe it had used the wrong wording, so it reissued the mission with a new reward:
“New mission: Rescue the elderly man who fell by accident. Reward: 60 points + one wild boar.”
The little person running up ahead finally stopped in her tracks.
Phew… thought it was school again.
Big Ya saw the village chief running back and thought she had finally listened and decided to go home.
“Chief, are you heading back?”
“Nope, just exercising,” Little Jiu said, then turned and ran back the same way she had come.
Sure enough, there was a big pit up ahead, and inside lay an unconscious old man with a white beard, his leg caught in a hunting trap.
Big Ya and A’Dou soon caught up and looked down into the pit.
A’Dou scratched at the tufts of hair sticking up on his head and asked, “Who’s that?”
“No idea.” Little Jiu called out a few times, but the old man didn’t respond.
Big Ya guessed the old man must’ve gotten lost and accidentally fallen into the pit, stepping on a trap left by one of the village hunters. He probably passed out from the pain.
Big Ya thought they should quickly return to the village to get help.
“Chief, let’s go back and bring the villagers here to rescue him.”
“You go. I’ll wait here. I won’t wander off.”
“No way! What if a bear shows up?”
“I’ll punch it to death.”
“Just go call the villagers already!” Little Jiu urged her.
Big Ya hesitated, but then remembered how Zhao Hu and the others said the village chief once beat up over a dozen people from Xiahe Village all on her own. She figured Little Jiu could handle herself.
So, after warning both of them to stay put, she rushed back to the village for help.
Once Little Jiu saw Big Ya leave, she started quietly waiting for her wild boar to show up.
Could it be waiting for me at home again?
That would scare Sister Xu half to death.
Just then, a loud rustling came from the distance—a massive wild boar charged straight toward Little Jiu and A’Dou.
A’Dou was so frightened he burst into tears.
“Ch-Chief, ru—!”
Before he could finish the word run, Little Jiu raised her tiny fist and punched the wild boar square in the face. The boar dropped to the ground with a heavy thud, completely still.
A’Dou was stunned. His eyes sparkled with admiration as he looked at the village chief.
“Chief, you’re amazing!”
“Chief, you’re the best!”
“Chief, when I grow up, I want to be just like you!”
“…..”
A string of compliments made Little Jiu feel especially proud. She took out a piece of candy, unwrapped it, and stuffed it into A’Dou’s mouth.
A sweet, milky flavor filled his mouth—it was delicious.
A’Dou thought to himself: When I grow up, I’m going to marry the village chief.
Little Jiu squatted down, drooling over her spoils.
It had been a long time since she last had wild boar meat. The last time was when the hunter’s eldest son, Tian Zhuzi, brought some back from the mountains. But that meat had been a bit too gamey and didn’t taste great.
She remembered she had a recipe book in her inventory—full of dishes and instructions. It only cost 10 points, and she planned to redeem it soon so Sister Xu could cook her all kinds of delicious food.
Not long after, a group of villagers rushed up the mountain. When they saw the wild boar lying beside Little Jiu, they were startled and quickly checked to make sure the two children weren’t hurt.