Time passed very quickly whenever one stayed busy.
Before Daniel realized it, it was already one o'clock in the afternoon.
If snowflakes had not begun falling from the sky, he would probably have remained in the village fields, still enjoying the satisfaction of gathering supplies.
In just a few hours, besides collecting more than a dozen eggs, he had also gathered some garlic and mushrooms.
As the snow began to fall harder, Daniel checked the time, turned around, and started heading home.
If it doesn't snow tomorrow, I can head into the mountains early to hunt and see if I can catch a few wild rabbits or pheasants to store in my space, Daniel thought to himself.
That way, I can take them out and eat them whenever I want.
It had been a long time since he had eaten wild game.
In recent years, resources had become scarce even in the city, and so much hunting had taken place that wild animals had become hard to find.
Even if someone had money, it was still extremely difficult to come across hunters willing to sell game meat.
These days, even buying ordinary pork required waiting in line the night before.
Otherwise, there was no chance of getting any.
Although Daniel wanted to eat wild meat, he was in no hurry.
He loved refined grains so much that every month he traded away his meat and clothing coupons with others and spent plenty of money buying extra grain.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have enough to eat.
But from now on, everything would be different.
With his personal system now activated, he no longer needed to worry about food or money.
I can't openly eat meat every day, Daniel thought.
I'll have to eat it in secret so no one grows jealous.
I can't cook it in the courtyard either. I should prepare it first out here in the countryside, store it in the space, and then quietly take out a little whenever I want to eat.
Daniel had struggled greatly just for the sake of food.
These days, shortages were everywhere.
When people were starving, they were capable of doing anything.
He had no choice but to remain careful.
Once the system rewards increased further, he would have even more confidence and resources.
Then there would be plenty of time to truly enjoy life.
Even if tomorrow's hunt brought nothing, the future rewards from the system would still more than make up for it.
From now on, he would never lack food again.
He should prepare even more dishes.
After all, the system had already given him so many resources.
He could slaughter a few chickens and ducks, cook them, and place the finished dishes into storage.
He could also prepare pork, beef, and vegetables ahead of time.
Because time stood still inside the space, there was no need to worry about food spoiling no matter how long it stayed there.
What made it even more convenient was that anything taken out looked exactly the same as when it was put in.
As he walked back, Daniel kept imagining all kinds of delicious meals, and his mouth watered.
Just as he came down the mountain path, he suddenly heard a dull thud, followed by someone crying out, "Ouch!"
Did someone fall? Daniel's heart jumped, and he immediately moved toward the sound.
After walking a few steps and turning around a bend, Daniel saw a woman lying sideways in a muddy ditch not far away.
Judging by her figure, she did not seem very old.
She carried a basket on her back, had long braids, wore a scarf around her neck, and was dressed in a thick padded cotton jacket and trousers, making her look slightly bulky.
At this moment she had stopped screaming and simply lay helplessly in the ditch, sobbing softly and gasping for breath.
It was obvious she had fallen hard.
Daniel quickly stepped forward.
Then he realized it was someone familiar.
"Oh! Isn't this Sister Hannah? Are you alright?" Daniel bent down and called out loudly.
The woman was Hannah Carter, Emily's older cousin, who lived in the same large city courtyard as Daniel.
The courtyard they lived in was a large three-section residence, said to have once belonged to an old noble family.
It was quite spacious.
Hannah lived in the middle courtyard, while Daniel lived in the front one.
Although they were from the same city compound, they did not interact much.
Usually, they only greeted each other with a nod and rarely spoke.
Before Hannah got married, Daniel had still been studying.
After her marriage, she hardly dared speak with other men in the courtyard because her mother-in-law kept a close watch on her.
So even though they knew one another, they usually only exchanged smiles and nods.
When Hannah heard Daniel's voice, she realized he had seen her in such an embarrassing state.
She was so ashamed that she wished the ground would swallow her.
But the sharp pain in her ankle left her with no other choice.
Suppressing her embarrassment, her face flushed red, she said,
"Daniel, you came at the perfect time. I twisted my ankle and can't move. Can you help me up?"
"Of course. I'll help you right now."
Daniel nodded, quickly set down the axe and shovel in his hands, and stepped forward to help Hannah up.
The moment she put weight on her foot, she cried out in pain.
"Ah… ah!"
She immediately collapsed back into Daniel's arms.
"What happened?" Daniel asked seriously, though inwardly he already understood.
The two of them were pressed close together now, their faces almost touching.
They could feel each other's warm breath.
Hannah's charming face flushed deeply red as she whispered,
"My ankle is sprained. I can't put any weight on it at all."
"What should we do? Should I go to the commune and find a doctor? Or should I carry you back to Carter Village first?" Daniel asked, tightening his hold around her waist.
His face was full of concern.
Secretly, however, he had to admit that Hannah truly deserved her reputation as the most beautiful woman in the courtyard.
Her body was soft, graceful, and deeply feminine.
At twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, she was in the very peak of womanhood.
On top of that, she carried a natural charm.
Every movement, every smile, radiated a mature and irresistible allure.
Especially her beautiful eyes, now filled with tears, stirred a deep sense of pity.
When Hannah heard Daniel's question, she thought for a moment.
Going to the commune doctor would cost money and take more time.
Returning to Carter Village in such a messy state would be humiliating.
To be honest, since her son's first month celebration, she had only returned to her parents' house once.
Nearly ten years had passed since then.
There was no way her family didn't already have complaints about her staying away so long.
Besides, she had only come back this time because food had grown scarce at home, and she hoped to bring back some sweet potatoes or potatoes.
If she could get some cornmeal or mixed flour, that would be even better.
If her parents and uncles saw her in such a sorry state, they might not only refuse to give her food, but also scold her harshly.
Hannah knew very well how narrow-minded they could be.
Coming back to her senses, she secretly glanced at Daniel, who was still supporting her, and said softly,
"Daniel, could you take me to your house so I can rest for a while?"
"Please don't misunderstand. I'm only on my way to visit my mother this time. If my family sees me looking like this, I'll lose all face."
"Once I reach your house, I can rest a little. After the pain eases and I wash the mud off, I can return to my parents' house looking clean and refreshed."
Seeing her shifting eyes, Daniel immediately understood what she was really thinking.
At her age, coming back to her parents' home with a basket on her back could only mean one thing:
she had come to ask for food.
At present, only her husband Jack Miller had urban household registration.
His monthly grain ration was only around thirty pounds.
How could that possibly be enough for a family of six—three adults and three children?
Still, Daniel didn't expose her thoughts.
Instead, he simply smiled, nodded, and lifted her onto his back.
Then he gathered the supplies he had collected and carried Hannah home, chatting and laughing with her along the way.