While the system was thinking about how to complete the mission, Su Rui stirred and sat up.
The system noticed and became perked up when she called him "Dad," but before it could respond, two small hands grabbed him and squeezed him.
Upon understanding what was happening, he was bewildered. He looked up and found that the sweet daughter he had recognized an hour ago was holding him like a ball, squeezing him at will.
The system shrieked before flying away.
"H-How did you come here?" he asked while trying to find information about this in the system guide. Oh yes, after last night's blunder, it had downloaded the system guide to prevent any mishaps. It seemed there was a rule on page 257 that the host could materialize and touch the system inside its consciousness.
"Daddy, are you really my daddy?" she hiccuped as she spoke. "I miss you so much. You don't know—Grandma and the aunties always fought with Mom and also called me a money-losing thing." She cried while complaining. The system was revolving around her, feeling a headache.
After some thought, he said, "To make this ancestor stop crying, Dad is sorry, Rui Rui. It's Dad's fault. Dad can't protect you."
[Ding]
[Faith value +30]
[Current faith value - 80/100]
"No, it's not Dad's fault. Grandma and Auntie are bad people," Rui Rui said with conviction.
The system's non-existent mouth twitched, but who told Su Rui to be Chen Meixiang's daughter? As her system, he could just accept this for pleasing this ancestor. But he should also try to change her thinking. He couldn't let her go down that path again; otherwise, according to the system guide, if the mission failed, he would have to be punished by a hundred lightning strikes. Don't know what the Transmigration Bureau thought—that they were some old immortals or heavenly dao? thought the system.
While thinking this, the system got an idea and said in a deep tone,
"Baobao, Dad only has limited time. Today, when you were sleeping, an immortal came and said I can only live in this mortal world if my descendants can earn good merit to nourish my soul."
The system had thought of it: merits are inversely proportional to corruption, so the more the merits, the less the corruption.
Rui Rui asked in confusion, "Dad, what's an immortal? And what are descendants and merit?"
The system took a deep breath before explaining. After a thorough explanation, Rui Rui understood. "It means if I do good things, Dad will not leave me and Mommy?"
The system bobbed up and down in response.
Rui Rui pouted and asked, "But how do I earn it? I don't know."
"Just do as Daddy says, and we will be able to farm many, many merit points."
The duo fell asleep—only Su Rui fell asleep, as we know the system doesn't need it.
The next morning, Chen Meixiang woke up early to help her mother, who was aging and couldn't do heavy work. She washed up before going to get water from the well in the neighborhood. Many young wives were already standing in line to fill their buckets. She also stood there.
One of the wives asked, "Hey, Meixiang, I heard your mother tried to arrange a blind date for you."
Meixiang stretched before replying, "Aunty Huo, you know how my mother worries about me. It's all my fault," she said, and with that, her relaxed demeanor vanished immediately. Her eyes filled up as she choked, "I was so distraught after my husband's death. My parents were worried that I would never marry, and they are also growing old, so they want to arrange my marriage before they die."
She sniffled. Some women also got teary after hearing this. "But how can I forget Su Zheng? Therefore, I refused to marry. Although my in-laws don't want me and my daughter, how can I, as a daughter-in-law, not serve them? Therefore I refused to marry, and even if I can't stay at my in-laws, I can go there on festivals and holidays to show my respect." She continued while sniffling and hiccuping.
If the system were here, he might say that this is pure green tea.
Hearing her sobbing, the wives helped her fill her buckets. After talking with them some more, she returned back home. But as soon as she entered the door, her expression changed again, becoming lazy and carefree. After filling the tank, she went to the kitchen. Her mother had already started preparing plain rice congee with coarse grain buns.
She stoked the fire as Madam Chen cooked breakfast.
"Mom, I will be going to town to ask about school's. Rui Rui will be seven in two months. I was thinking of sending her to school. What do you think?" she asked while stroking the fire.
"I think you should wait until the New Year. During this time, you can teach her at home. She is small. You know the condition outside although you father told me the leader has already announced to open the schools and resume the classes but still i think we should wait until next year to see how will the situation unfold ." Madam Chen said while stirring the congee. Although she is now a simple housewife but madam Chen information is certainly not lacking she always talked with her husband and goes to meetings in town with the village chief so he knew some of it .
Chen Meixiang nodded, thinking about it, and then said, "Then we will do as you say, but I will be going to town today to buy things. You should check if there is anything you need. Tell me, and I will buy it on my way back."
Madam Chen nodded and told her to buy some oil and matchsticks.
After breakfast was ready, Meixiang woke Su Rui and dressed her.
Both mother and daughter sat side by side. Old Chen sat at the main seat, while Madam Chen and Chen Hu sat opposite them.
The breakfast was simple. Before Chen Hu could pick up his chopsticks, Madam Chen slapped his hand.
"What did I tell you before, you brat? First, apologize to your sister," Madam Chen glared after asking him.
Chen Hu shivered under her gaze and apologized to Su Rui before picking up his bowl and running away.
Madam Chen sighed. "Rui Rui, please forgive your brother, okay? I have disciplined him now. He will not bully you."
Su Rui nodded while Chen Meixiang remained quiet, silently eating her breakfast.
She knew that saying anything would only cause unnecessary trouble now. Chen Hu was the only descendant left of her elder brother. Although he was a brat, he was not wicked.