Chapter 31: Instantly Snagging the Growth Pill

A pile of black seeds fell onto the ground, mixing with the freshly dug soil. Fang Mingxi gasped and squatted down, her heart aching as she tried to gather them.

“My seeds…” Finally, they had been mixed in properly, what a relief.

Tong Lingxian quickly squatted to help. Wu Meixia and Fang Bo Song joined in as well, but the seeds were so tiny that some remained visible on the soil, while those that had fallen into the grass were impossible to find.

After a short while, they managed to collect only a small portion.

Tong Lingxian apologized. “I’m so sorry, little girl. Look at what kind of seeds these are… I’ll compensate you.”

“Forget it. It’s my fault for being careless. I should’ve carried a basket,” Fang Mingxi said, holding a small handful of seeds as she stood. “They’re just some vegetable seeds, if they’re wasted, so be it.”

She picked up the other intact pack of kraft paper and handed some candy to Tong Lingxian. “You should keep these, Aunt. Otherwise, I wouldn’t dare ask strangers for water again.”

Tong Lingxian accepted them, guilt written all over her face. “I really feel bad for causing you to waste a whole pack of seeds.”

Fang Mingxi shrugged casually. “It’s fine. I still have half a pack left.” She waved the kraft paper in front of them, then bid them farewell.

The three watched her leave, standing awkwardly with a handful of candy.

They glanced at each other, then at the soil dotted with the few remaining seeds. Instinctively, they split up: some fetched tools, some watered, and some dug.

The patch of soil where the seeds had fallen was carefully tended. After cultivation, the weeds disappeared, replaced by a neatly watered vegetable patch.

The three looked at the small garden and finally smiled with relief.

Great! They would have fresh vegetables from now on.

…

Fang Mingxi regained awareness, and her stomach growled. She rolled out of bed and peeked out the window, seeing her grandparents still busy outside.

The three had turned the spot where the seeds had fallen into a small vegetable garden, even sticking a few branches into the ground as markers.

Fang Mingxi felt relieved. She had delivered the cabbage and wheat, half a pack remained, but she could wait for another opportunity.

However, her face was already remembered by her grandparents. Next time, she’d need a different identity; otherwise, they would notice the same routine every time.

She checked the time, it was already 10 a.m. and opened the system panel. The flash-sale channel updated yesterday now showed items.

Fang Mingxi clicked in quickly and saw a tiny pill had appeared.

[Growth Pill: Can rapidly stimulate physical growth. Exchange Requirement: 10 Large Meat Buns.]

Seeing the words Large Meat Bun, Fang Mingxi’s smile immediately vanished.

Good news: the flash-sale channel allowed exchanges.

Bad news: it required ten large meat buns.

She glanced at the still-warm buns in her backpack, thinking the trading system was being ridiculous. She had bought buns today, and as soon as she did, the flash-sale refreshed, intentionally denying her any treat, it seemed!

After pondering, she reluctantly gave in to the temptation of the Growth Pill. Large meat buns could always be bought again, but the Growth Pill might not appear a second time.

She chose to exchange. The buns disappeared from her backpack, and a thumb-sized pink pill appeared in her hand.

Not knowing how it would affect her body, Fang Mingxi put it back in her backpack, deciding to wait for a more suitable moment to take it.

With the meat buns gone, she was hungry. She got out of bed, wrapped in a sheet, and went outside.

Old Yu, who was working nearby, saw her get up alone and called out into the forest, “Old Fang, Old Tong, Xixi’s awake!”

He put down his work and wrapped the trailing sheet tightly around her. “This little rascal, running out barefoot.”

“Exactly. The little one has learned to walk and runs out of bed every day. Next time, we’ll have to make her sleep in pants,” Tong Lingxian said, running back to take Fang Mingxi from Old Yu’s hands.

Fang Mingxi rubbed her eyes. “Grandmother.” Hungry, she wanted food.

Fang Bo Song followed, washing his hands, rolling down his sleeves, and carrying a small bowl of sweet potato mash into the house.

“Xixi must be hungry. Come eat.”

“Food~”

Fang Mingxi mimicked the words, eagerly bringing a spoonful of mash to her mouth. Slightly sweet, the sweet potato mash was delicious even without seasoning.

After finishing a spoonful, she glanced out the window. The sky was dark and overcast, heavy clouds blotting out the sun, it looked like rain.

Just as she thought that, a sudden clap of thunder boomed outside.

“Bang!”

A torrential downpour began, raindrops the size of beans pounding the straw roof.

“Drip~ drip~ drip~”

Rainwater fell through holes in the roof. Fang Mingxi deftly ran with an earthenware jar to collect it.

Tang Yao busied herself nearby, placing a basin on the ground, then the jar by the bed, while the bedding had already been packed away in a chest.

“Xixi, move the wooden basin in the corner.”

“Okay, older sister.” Fang Mingxi, now able to speak fluently, hurriedly placed the jar at the door, then turned to move the wooden basin.

The basin wobbled as it was pushed, water sloshing inside, two small pigtails peeking out from the surface.

Fang Mingxi repositioned the basin, and rainwater from another part of the roof fell neatly into it.

Looking at the seven or eight basins and jars inside the house, she clapped her hands and wiped the water from her face. “Older sister, are we going up the mountain?”

The New Year was only a few days away, and it had been over six months since Fang Mingxi had arrived here.

Since taking the Growth Pill, her body had been changing dramatically every day. To avoid standing out, she had divided a single pill into ten small doses.

The effect was remarkable: she could run freely, and her language skills developed to that of a two- to three-year-old, at least fluent enough to communicate.

Tong Lingxian and Wu Meixia, who had tried to teach her, had once again been outdone. Their knowledge proved useless; Fang Mingxi learned on her own.

For the past few months, Fang Mingxi had gone up the mountain every day with Tang Yao, and the harvest was never disappointing.

She was nearly famous in the black market of Hongqi Town. Everyone knew a young woman in her twenties who sold mushrooms daily, and the quality was excellent, not at all subpar.

Through selling, she gradually saved supplies and, using various identities, delivered them to Tong Lingxian.

Whether it was the elderly lady who had dropped vegetable seeds off the cliff or the middle-aged woman who insisted on paying when she dropped something, these unexpected gains made the small vegetable garden behind the cattle shed increasingly fruitful. Even without going up the mountain for a few days, the garden could replenish the stock.

Today was the Maple Leaf Brigade’s day for meat and bonus distribution. The adults had already gone to the dam to divide the meat.

The two children had planned to go up the mountain, but rain had started before they could leave, so they spent over half an hour preparing.

Now, as the rain seemed to ease, Tang Yao, after thinking for a moment, hurried back to fetch two straw hats.

She placed one on Fang Mingxi’s head, her gaze firm. “Xixi, mushrooms only grow when it rains. Let’s go.”