Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!-Chapter 23: Impervious to Persuasion

The next day, everyone was busy with their own affairs, and Cheng Xiaoxiao could finally go out alone. She was going to Cheng Beiniu’s house to find Mr. Yan and get the money. She had too many things to stockpile, and just selling herbs was a drop in the bucket.

Walking to the end of the village, the breeze blew through patches of rice fields, the stalks swaying left and right as if dancing with the wind, absorbing sunlight and dew freely. Upon closer inspection, the fields were cracked, and the growth was far inferior to the current hybrid rice, sparse, with shorter grains. Despite this, it was still the grain everyone relied on for survival.

But now the rice ears were still green, not yet full, far from ripe! At most, they needed to be harvested in half a month, or else they would all come to nothing. If harvested early, there would be at least a 30% loss, and it’s impossible the village would agree to that; this was much more difficult than persuading the family to collect herbs.

As she walked, she communicated with the system, "77, how can I get the villagers to harvest the grain early?"

"This..." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"How about telling them there’s going to be continuous heavy rain and they should harvest and store the grain?"

Cheng Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes, "Do you want me to be burned as a monster?"

"No way! I think the villagers are quite friendly!" The system was a bit puzzled. Aren’t they nice to talk to? They always listen to the host’s suggestions.

Cheng Xiaoxiao was somewhat speechless, "It’s not as simple as you think. They listen to me because what I do and say is beneficial to them, and they consider me one of their own. If I were an outsider, they might all band together against me."

"It’s not that serious!" The system was somewhat incredulous.

"Why not? Now that nothing’s happened, once something happens, you’ll see those who don’t get along with the original owner or their family jump out to criticize."

"Humans are like this; once it concerns their own interests, selfishness is their nature, and I’m no exception. Seeing as we’re from the same village, I help a bit where I can. But if my own life is threatened, I certainly won’t care about others."

The system understood a bit; the host acts according to her ability, not blindly altruistic. But hasn’t she forgotten how she herself died? Really saying one thing and thinking another.

Before long, they arrived at Cheng Beiniu’s courtyard. Inside, a young man was chopping wood with an axe. He was probably Cheng Beiniu’s son. What was his name again...

The man in the courtyard saw Cheng Xiaoxiao, put down his work, and walked over with a silly smile to open the door, "Daya, come in and have a seat. Looking for my dad? He just got called away by your cousin."

With a decent countenance, tall and robust, truly befitting a hunter, this must be... Cheng Dashan, yes, that’s the name.

"Brother Dashan, busy?" she greeted politely, glancing inside the house, hoping that person hadn’t left.

"I’m here to see Mr. Yan."

"Oh! Mr. Yan is in the west wing. Let me call him for you."

Before Cheng Dashan could call for him, the door to the west wing opened, revealing a young man in luxurious clothes, standing straight, "Miss Cheng, my master invites you in."

Oh! This man found his group, meaning... there’s money. Can she demand more then?

Inside, Mr. Yan was as aloof and noble as ever, elegantly sipping tea, not even looking up as Cheng Xiaoxiao entered.

So indifferent, but it’s okay, a Golden Leg, after all!

"Has Mr. Yan recovered well?" Cheng Xiaoxiao smiled warmly, showing concern.

Finding her fake smile a bit of an eyesore, Han Er gave a signal, and immediately presented a silver note of one hundred taels with both hands.

Looking at the silver note before her, Cheng Xiaoxiao was somewhat moved. This person really knew the drill; she hadn’t even asked for the IOU yet, but now she wanted to use this person to buy other things.

"So Mr. Yan’s life is only worth one hundred taels!" Cheng Xiaoxiao had to thicken her skin now.

Yanlan was a bit surprised but signaled Han Er to present another hundred taels.

Cheng Xiaoxiao still didn’t take it.

Even Han Er was a bit displeased now. Two hundred taels could set up a house and farmland for common folk, ensuring a lifetime without food worries. Was this girl being a bit too greedy, his previous good impression of her dissipating completely.

Long fingers caressed the rim of the cup as a cold voice spoke, "Didn’t you say give you a mere eighty taels?"

"A mind too big, aren’t you afraid of losing both people and fortune?"

Cheng Xiaoxiao originally pondering how to enlist his help appeared fair and reasonable, but was swiftly labeled as greedy, asking with a lion’s mouth.

And a bit... with the intention to silence her. Big shot, you really overimagined, didn’t you?

"Hehe! Mr. Yan, that’s not it; I just need a little help from you," she said as she put away one silver note and pushed the other back to Yanlan.

"As agreed before, I’ll take this hundred taels, and for the other hundred, may I ask Mr. Yan to help buy some items?" This person is aloof; he shouldn’t press for further details, should he?

"Tell me about it." He toned down the chill, curious about what this girl was up to.

"Ahem, let me be direct then. Could I ask Mr. Yan to help purchase some iron tools, commonly used in the village, like axes, sickles, hoes, saws, or maybe knives and kitchen knives, just farming tools?"

If it’s just a rainstorm, all this might not be needed, but if disaster strikes continuously, buying some things early for the family to defend themselves wouldn’t be bad. Of course, the System Mall also has cold weapons, but she can’t afford them!

"As you know, iron tools are under strict regulation now, with quotas for each household. We common folks definitely can’t manage that."

"Could you possibly help buy thirty to fifty pieces?" Cheng Xiaoxiao looked pleadingly.

By the side, Han Er was slightly stunned. What was this girl planning? Buying so many weapons, though they were farm iron tools, their large quantity still possessed considerable lethal power.

"Quite an appetite." Yanlan was surprised, thinking she’d ask for something more outrageous... Turns out he overthought.

Cheng Xiaoxiao’s mind raced, "It’s like this, you see, now that I’m rich, with a hundred taels I can buy dozens of acres of land, won’t I need to hire people to farm it? Can’t do without farming tools then.

Besides, I could also lease a mountain, needing to cut trees or something..."

Faced with Yanlan’s unwavering gaze, she faltered. Look at those eyes, clearly saying, "Go on, keep spinning your tale..."

Knew this person wasn’t easily fooled, "Hehe! Didn’t I hear recently that bandits came down the mountain to loot again? I’m just being prepared and getting some defensive tools for the family, nothing more."

"Hehe!"

After a while, Yanlan still didn’t speak. What was that! She’d said so much, only to be dismissed with two words, "Hehe," anyone modern would know what "Hehe" implied.

This person was impervious, really infuriating her, acting all high and mighty, if that’s the case, she won’t bother with him... She said as she reached for the other silver note. Fine, she’d just find more people, buy in batches, and offer some benefits.