Chapter 37

There were more supplies on the shelf now—this was a good thing.

Ding Xiaodie planned to have a good talk with the space. To show her sincerity, she suddenly thought of placing a black truffle—one her mother had given her to keep safe—on the shelf.

“See? I’m being honest.”

To her surprise, a line of text flashed across the TV screen: “What is it, Master?”

Master?

Pfft! I should be calling you ancestor.

Ding Xiaodie gritted her teeth silently but smiled sweetly. “Actually, I just wanted to talk with you. May I ask, were you the one who threw those three rabbits out yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“And what about today’s black truffle?”

“That was me too.” The TV screen flashed again: “Because you helped someone, you deserved those rewards.”

“Well, getting something back is always a good thing, but… don’t you think this delivery method is a bit too scary?”

System: “No. This is the method with the lowest calculated risk.”

“….”

Screw you!

Ding Xiaodie struggled to keep her temper in check. What did this machine know anyway? Things suddenly appearing again and again like this was bound to seem strange to people.

Still, remembering the loss she suffered last time due to her reaction, Ding Xiaodie put on a flattering smile and asked, “So, can I choose what items I want? Like, today we don’t really need black truffles, we’d prefer oil, salt, rice, or flour. Also, if I have extra food, can I store it here in the space?”

The system was silent for a moment: “You can.”

“You can”—meaning it agreed to all those conditions?

Ding Xiaodie quickly placed a few empty water bottles from her bag onto the shelf and said, “I’d like one can of oil and a bag of rice, but just keep them in the space for now—I’ll pick them up tonight.”

As soon as she said that, the screen displayed: “Insufficient items for equal exchange.”

Meaning… those bottles weren’t enough to trade for oil and rice?

Ding Xiaodie asked directly, “Then what can I trade for? Just say it.”

But before she could get an answer, someone suddenly called in her ear: “Xiaodie, wake up, wake up!”

The voice didn’t sound like her mother’s. And besides, her mom knew she was in the space—she wouldn’t interrupt her like that.

Ding Xiaodie was still waiting for the space to respond, but in the real world, someone was persistently calling her and even shaking her shoulder.

With the space wobbling before her eyes, she suddenly felt dizzy and had no choice but to wake up.

When she opened her eyes, she saw the anxious face of her cousin, Ding Xue: “Xiaodie…”

How annoying.

Ding Xiaodie rolled her eyes lazily and asked, “Cousin, why did you wake me up?”

Ding Xue realized she really had fallen asleep, but instead of explaining, she looked timidly over Ding Xiaodie’s shoulder, as if terrified of something.

“What’s wrong?”

Sensing something off, Ding Xiaodie sat up and turned to look behind her.

“…”

On the hillside not far away stood several people—four or five guards in short fighting robes. Among them was a middle-aged man in his fifties, wearing a long robe of teal green, hair tied neatly, a longsword with a ruby-inlaid scabbard hanging at his waist.

His eyes gleamed with sharpness, and he exuded an air of innate authority and arrogance. No wonder Ding Xue looked like she was about to cry—coming from a remote place like Aozigou, she had never encountered someone so imposing.

So… who was this man?

Ding Xiaodie quickly analyzed. His clothing was fine—he had money. Surrounded by guards—he had power.

Thinking about who in Yangliu Town would dress this grandly, aside from the fleeing townspeople and villagers from Aozi Gou, there really weren’t many options left.

Which meant… this man was 90% likely to be the mysterious Master Lu!

Realizing this, Ding Xiaodie smartly turned around and dropped to her knees with a thud: “Greetings, Master Lu!”

Might as well submit first!

Her mother and the others had already gone ahead—there was no time to ask for help. Besides, when under another’s roof, you had to lower your head.

Seeing her cousin suddenly kneel, Ding Xue was stunned for a moment. But she didn’t dare delay either and quickly followed suit. Only then did her brain start catching up—Lu… Master Lu?

Lu Ting furrowed his brows slightly. “How did you know I was Master Lu?”

Ding Xiaodie responded in an adorably innocent tone: “My father said the one who gave us congee and white steamed buns must be the world’s wealthiest and kindest man. I didn’t know what such a man would look like, but the moment I saw you… I just felt you must be him.”

These words softened Lu Ting’s stern expression, and even the guards around him found it hard to believe what they’d just heard.

So young… and already such a smooth talker. This little girl is no ordinary child.

Lu Ting couldn’t help but ask, “Since you think that, would you dare to come back to my estate with this great kind man?”

“Yes, yes! Thank you, Master Lu!”

Ding Xiaodie grinned so wide her eyes squinted—a pie really did fall from the sky!

“Xiaodie, you…” Ding Xue, though not fond of her cousin, was still stunned. Did she really dare follow Master Lu home?

Before she could finish, Ding Xiaodie interrupted cheerfully, “Cousin, when you see my parents, please tell them not to worry. I’m going with Master Lu to his estate, and when I come back, I’ll definitely bring something delicious!”

Ding Xue was speechless: “…”

The guards exchanged looks: “…”

She’s already thinking about bringing gifts back?

Lu Ting’s face broke into a slight smile. He had three sons, all grown and distant now. But this little girl, clever and adorable, was truly amusing.

He ordered his guards, “Pick her up and put her on the horse.”

“Yes, sir.”

Soon, they all rode off with Ding Xiaodie.

Ding Xue stood there in a daze, unable to believe what she just saw—Ding Xiaodie, riding on Master Lu’s horse, had left?

It all felt like a dream. She pinched her hand hard.

“Hiss! That hurts!”

“Ding Xue, where’s Xiaodie?”

Suddenly, Zhang Xiu’s voice rang out from nearby. She had walked ahead with the children but noticed Xiaodie hadn’t caught up. Although she wasn’t worried about her daughter’s survival skills, her stamina couldn’t compare to Ding Xue’s.

Concerned for her safety, Zhang Xiu had turned back—and was startled to see Ding Xue standing there alone, dazed.

“Ding Xue, answer me! Where’s Xiaodie?”

“She… Xiaodie…” Ding Xue’s mind was blank as she turned toward her aunt and then toward her cousins. It took her a while to finally stammer out, “She went back with Master Lu to his estate. She told me to tell you not to worry.”