Next Day
Chen Meixiang woke up early, washed her face, and went to fetch water from the well.
After heating the water, she went to wake up Su Rui and Chen Hu for their morning run.
Su Rui was already awake—the system had made sure of that. Upon seeing her daughter already sitting up in bed, Meixiang helped her get dressed and bundled her into thick clothes to prevent her from catching a cold.
Then she went to her parents' room to wake up Chen Hu, who was sleeping like a dead pig.
She nudged him lightly at first, but seeing no reaction, she loudly called his name, making him immediately sit up with half-closed eyes.
"Get ready. Did you forget? You will be going for a run with Rui Rui today," Chen Meixiang said.
Upon hearing this, Chen Hu wanted to lie back down but didn't dare. He still feared his aunt, no matter how much he complained behind her back.
After waking up, he went drowsily to the bathroom to wash his face before putting on his thick coat. As he pulled on his shoes, a thought crossed his mind: Today, I will make sure that little packet gets so tired that she will never think of going for a morning run again.
---
After seeing them off at the gate, Chen Meixiang went back inside to help her mother with breakfast. She also had to go to town today, and she didn't want to be late. If possible, she would definitely arrive an hour before the recruitment started.
She filled her bucket with hot water to take a thorough bath before wearing her best clothes—preferably something that didn't have any patches on them.
She chose a blue checkered shirt with black pants. These had been bought by her late husband at the military base before he gave his life for the country. Over the shirt, she put on a thick cotton-padded jacket to ward off the winter chill. It was already two months before the New Year, and the morning air carried a bitter cold that seeped into the bones.
She was around 1.63 meters tall, and the pants accentuated her long legs, making her appear taller than she actually was. The cotton-padded jacket was slightly worn at the cuffs but clean and well-maintained—a small luxury she had saved for occasions like this.
She tied her hair in a simple bun, giving her a neat and clean appearance. She also picked up a white man's handkerchief that her late husband had once used, thinking it would leave a better impression. A small detail, but sometimes small details mattered.
Chen Meixiang was naturally beautiful. Although tanned from the sun, her sharp features set her apart from the other village women. She was not some delicate, wilting flower. She carried herself with an independent air, which was exactly why she had to act pitiful at times—to protect herself and her daughter from unnecessary trouble. In this world, a woman who appeared too strong was often the first to be torn down.
She looked at her reflection in the small mirror, took a deep breath, and nodded.
Today is the day she thought before going out to eat the breakfast.
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After going out of the gate, Chen Hu walked ahead with Su Rui following behind on her small legs.
The system had already anticipated this possibility. He knew this brat would definitely try to take his petty revenge. Although it was a newbie system but after gaining 80% faith value from the host it has unlocked basic system mall but unlike the system she had readed in her previous life her system mall doesn't include grocery and day to day items.
But it is filled with buffs different type of buffs which can bought by spending merit points.
Last night it has asked Su Rui and with the host permission it had bought an endurance buff
Therefore, it instructed Rui Rui to challenge Chen Hu to see who could run more laps.
Upon thinking that he could definitely outrun this little packet, Chen Hu nodded and started running ahead, followed by Su Rui.
The system, seeing that the time was right, gave Su Rui the buff. With the help of this, she would not feel any side effects from running for the next 21 days. The system thought proudly, These buffs are really something. It takes 21 days to form a habit, and after that, everything is easy.
Chen Hu ran with full vigor at the start, his long legs eating up the ground. But after some time, he noticed that Su Rui was still running behind him. Not only that, but her breathing was steady and even, as if she was doing nothing more strenuous than walking. Her little legs moved like a well-oiled machine, neither slowing down nor showing any sign of fatigue.
How can that be? he thought, his pride stinging.
Refusing to be outdone by his little sister, he increased his speed. His feet pounded harder against the frozen dirt path. But after some time, his breath became ragged. His lungs burned. From the continuous running, his abdomen started hurting—a sharp, stabbing pain that made him want to double over.
He glanced back.
Su Rui was still running steadily behind him, her face calm, her small ponytail bouncing with each step. She didn't even look tired.
Chen Hu's eyes widened in disbelief. He forced himself to run half a lap more, pushing through the pain, but his body had reached its limit. His legs gave out, and he collapsed on the ground, taking deep, heaving breaths while clutching his abdomen.
Su Rui, seeing Chen Hu lying on the ground, immediately stopped and came over to help. "Brother, are you okay?" she asked, her voice full of genuine concern.
But Chen Hu turned his face away. How could he, the eldest brother, not even outrun his little sister? The shame burned hotter than the pain in his side. Without saying a word, he pushed himself up and started walking toward home, his back stiff and his head lowered.
Su Rui watched him go, confused. Inside her mind, the system was grinning from ear to ear.
That's one bruised ego, the system thought smugly. Let's see if he dares to slack off tomorrow.
[Ding]
[Name - Chen Hu ]
[Villain potential - 84%]
[Reward - 3 merit points]