Qiao Xin opened the gate to her courtyard, only to see a row of small snow piles squatting at the base of the wall.

She stepped back inside and took another look outside the gate—no one in her family had cleared the snow yesterday!

Hearing the sound of the door opening, Wang Dakui shook off the snow on his head, shivering as he tried to move his frozen hands.

He cursed silently: Damn this weather! It’s freezing me to death!

Looking up, he saw Qiao Xin standing in front of him, staring.

“What are you doing here? Why aren’t you staying at your own house? Why are you all squatting in my yard? If someone freezes to death here, who’s going to take responsibility?”

Wang Dakui rubbed his numb face and forced a smile, cautiously saying, “Madam, we just wanted to bring you some firewood early.”

Qiao Xin glanced at the group of people behind him, all coming back to life like melting snow piles.

Well, except for Li Zhong, every hunter who had shown up at her house yesterday was here.

All this just to trade for a bite to eat.

These men had been standing outside all night, braving the freezing cold.

She couldn’t help but feel sorry for them.

“Come inside. If you pull another surprise attack like this in the middle of the night, don’t bother coming again. If someone gets sick from the cold, the Qiao family will be labeled as heartless. A good deed would turn into a bad one!”

“Got it!” they answered in unison.

Wang Dakui stole a glance at Qiao Xin standing nearby, his body trembling as he balanced the load of firewood.

He didn’t dare make any rash moves, obediently following her instructions.

Only after successfully exchanging the firewood for grain did he finally feel relieved—this winter, they wouldn’t have to starve.

After trading for food, he drank a bowl of wheat soup mixed with zhuyu powder, warming up from the inside out.

He gave Qiao Xin a grateful smile, deciding that from now on, he would treat her like a living Bodhisattva!

If she hadn’t moved here, this winter, yet another group of elderly people in the village might not have made it.

Whether they could even continue living in this place was uncertain.

But now, food was no longer a problem.

His next goal was to save some money, buy a house, and find a wife…

And he wasn’t the only hunter thinking this way!

Without realizing it, Qiao Xin had already established the Qiao family’s reputation and influence in Lao Hu Town.

…

“Host, you don’t lack food, so inviting them to eat won’t cost you anything. Plus, you’ll earn virtue points.”

Qiao Xin’s face darkened. Damn system, spying on my thoughts again!

“I’m not spying, just reminding you. You’ve accumulated a lot of virtue points from your good deeds in Lao Hu Town recently. Do you want to exchange them for some recipes?”

“You’re out of energy again, aren’t you?”

The system stiffened. “Don’t put it that way! Look, you’ve been ranked as the laziest, most passive host of the year. How many benefits do you think I get? Barely enough to keep running!”

“I don’t need anything. You can go die.”

Just one advanced medical formula had forced her to rack her brain to cover it up.

If she introduced another miraculous invention, she’d be treated as a demon.

People in ancient times weren’t fools. They had been tempered by nature in ways modern people couldn’t imagine.

Their wit, willpower, observational skills, and understanding of social dynamics were far superior.

The only thing limiting them was their level of productivity.

The system refused to give up, coaxing her, “This won’t be anything extreme. Lao Hu Town has a material that can help you make candles.”

It really knew how to read her mind, always offering exactly what she needed!

Qiao Xin paused, then finally gave in. It wasn’t that she lacked determination—it was just that the system’s offer was too tempting.

Candles were an absolute luxury.

A single stick, as thick as a finger and as long as a chopstick, cost a whole tael of silver.

The wealthy might as well have been openly robbing people, except they dressed up their robbery as generosity by “gifting” a candle.

If she could make them herself, why waste money?

Seeing her nod, the system immediately completed the exchange as fast as possible, fearing she might change her mind at the last second.

“Sapium sebiferum seeds?” Qiao Xin frowned.

The system had taken all her recently earned virtue points just to give her this answer?

“Isn’t this from the tree that always has those itchy caterpillars?”

“Don’t underestimate it! This tree is a treasure. Its leaves can treat boils, and its seeds can be used to make candles.”

Qiao Xin knew that, of course.

As a child, she had been stung by those caterpillars many times while picking Sapium sebiferum seeds to use as slingshot ammunition.

But she couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d been scammed.

Such a simple formula had cost fifty virtue points—ten times more than unlocking a weather forecast!

She was just about to demand a refund, but the system, now satisfied with its loot, quickly uploaded the production method to her mind and then shut down, claiming “insufficient energy.”

You little… just you wait!

..

Qiao Yunqing lifted the curtain and saw Qiao Xin standing in the courtyard, gritting her teeth and glaring at the sky.

Curious, he looked up as well.

Other than the falling snow, there was nothing unusual.

“Mother, what’s wrong?” he asked, worried.

“I’m fine.” She then raised her voice: “Everyone, gather up!”

Qiao Yunqing stumbled, nearly tripping. He looked at his adoptive mother in shock—what was she up to this time?

Inside, everyone who had been keeping warm indoors immediately rushed out upon hearing her call. Even Old Mo stood by the doorway, leaning on his son for support, while Granny Shi and Shi Yazi were the first to reach Qiao Xin’s side.

“Boss, what do you need?”

“Mother, what’s going on?”

“Grandma…”

Everyone in the Qiao family courtyard, young and old, had gathered around, curious about what was happening.

Qiao Xin glanced at the group. “Kids, each of you grab a basket. We’re heading out to pick something. Granny Shi, Old Mo, and the two eldest daughters-in-law, you stay here and keep the fire going. You three brothers will help carry things back.”

Qiao Yunting couldn’t contain his curiosity. “Mother, what exactly are we doing?”

“Why ask so many questions? You’ll see when it’s done.”

How was she supposed to answer?

She had never made candles before.

She wasn’t even sure it would work.

The system claimed it would, but there was a huge gap between theory and actual success.

If she failed, where would she put her face?

Qiao Xin had absolute authority in this household.

The moment she gave an order, everyone got moving.

The youngest daughter was too small and was forced to stay behind, but all the other grandchildren carried baskets and followed her toward North Mountain.

Just as they passed the village chief’s house, they ran into Li Zhong, who had been looking for her.

“Madam, where are you taking the kids?”

“To North Mountain to pick something.”

“North Mountain?” Li Zhong was momentarily stunned, then panicked. “No, no, no, Madam! You can’t go to North Mountain! There are too many wild boars there! They travel in packs. Even the hunters don’t dare provoke them!”

“Wild boars?” Qiao Xin’s eyes lit up with excitement.

She stopped in her tracks and looked at him, her gaze sparkling.

She had been worrying about the lack of meat. And now—just like that—her problem was solved!