Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!-Chapter 31: Surveillance

"Why would anything happen to me? I’m just going to town to buy some daily necessities."

Jumping down from the cart, Cheng Dali already handed Xiaoxiao her basket.

"Thank you, Uncle Dali."

"No need to be polite, Xiao." He said as he helped others move their belongings.

At this moment, a seven or eight-year-old boy refused to get off the cart. His mother was coaxing him while looking somewhat resentfully at Xiaoxiao, as if to say, see what you’ve done...

Xiaoxiao was quite depressed. She had just mentioned on the road how she went to the temple fair and how lively and fun it was. As soon as the mischievous child heard there was fun to be had, he insisted Xiaoxiao tell him more.

And so, she boasted a bit too much, and the mischievous child became enamored with the idea, causing his mother to insist on going to the temple fair.

The ox-cart headed towards the village; no one paid attention to the unreasonable demands of a child. The mischievous child, unsatisfied, shouted and refused to get off the cart.

"Be good, Xiaohao. Next time, Mom will take you there, okay? Let’s go home first, and I’ll make you something delicious," the Su Family woman patiently coaxed her son.

"I don’t want to, I don’t want to. I just want to go to the temple fair. I want the tiger sugar figure Sister Xiao mentioned." Cheng Yinhuo was totally unmoved by his mother’s words.

Looks like a spoiled brat.

Xiaoxiao found herself in this situation... never mind, let’s try to calm him down. In a way, it was somewhat related to her.

She walked up to the mischievous child, "Xiaohao, you want to go to the temple fair?"

Cheng Yinhuo nodded vigorously.

"But buying those things costs a lot of money. Do you have any?"

Cheng Yinhuo immediately said, "My mom has money."

After thinking for a moment, he corrected himself, "My grandma has the most money."

"That’s right. Your mom doesn’t have much; what good stuff can she buy for you? You should go home and ask your grandma." Xiaoxiao said seriously.

The mischievous child Cheng Yinhuo thought about it and agreed. If he went without money and couldn’t buy anything, it would be a wasted trip.

Understanding this, he jumped off the cart and ran home with his short legs...

The Su woman looked bewildered at her son’s back, and then hurriedly thanked Xiaoxiao, picked up their things, and chased after her son.

The others exchanged looks as if watching a good show; this little tyrant was sure to cause a big fuss.

Erya snapped back to reality, "Sister, what happened here?"

"Nothing, we’ll talk when we get home."

"Oh."

"Sister, let me carry that for you."

"It’s okay, it’s not heavy." She said, taking some candy from her bag and handing it to Erya.

Looking at the malt candy in her hand, "This is too much. Let’s save some for Brother Jia." She said as she split it in half and returned some to Xiaoxiao.

"Take it; Brother Jia has some too. Everyone has some; we don’t lack food now, no need to be so frugal."

The family was thriftier than thrifty. She wondered how she could correct them.

Back home, even Auntie was helped out of the house by Xiaolan. As soon as she saw Xiaoxiao, she said, "It’s good to be back, a girl should take more people out next time for assistance."

"Got it, Auntie," Xiaoxiao replied obediently.

Then everyone sat in the courtyard, listening to Xiaoxiao’s stories of the day, all filled with envy. The girls’ eyes sparkled as it was clear they also wanted to visit the temple fair but had never been, making them all the more curious.

Only Qi Fei frowned. Was the temple fair that good? How come he never noticed it before? Maybe because he hadn’t gone in years, and there were new changes.

Xiaoxiao glanced sheepishly at Qi Fei.

Damn! How could she forget about him? He was well-informed on town matters. Even if he hadn’t been, he’d have heard about it.

Never mind, what had just happened with the mischievous child served as a reminder; her current story probably didn’t have many holes.

At that moment, Cheng Yong returned. Looking at his daughter whose eyes smiled like crescent moons, he felt any anger fade away as she sweetly called out, "Daddy."

He figured his daughter was growing up, forming ideas and plans. Perhaps he had been too strict, as she seemed to be constrained!

Never mind, as long as his daughter was alright, anything was fine. Though he thought this in his heart, he still said, "Next time, don’t go out alone; Daddy will go with you to buy things."

"Okay, Dad."

Xiaoxiao pulled her father to sit in the courtyard and started pulling items out of the basket.

"Dad, this is for you," she said, handing a new pair of shoes to Mr. Cheng.

Then she gave her aunt two bolts of cloth and a big box of sewing supplies, "This one’s for Auntie to make clothes, the lighter one is for making clothes for Dalan and Xiaolan. I know you three are skilled; I’ve prepared sewing supplies for you." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"And this one’s for me. I’m not good at sewing, so I’ll trouble my two sisters to help." Xiaoxiao said as she pulled out paper and brushes for Brother Jia from the basket, placing buns and pastries on the stone table for everyone.

The rice, meat, and seasonings were for Erya to move to the kitchen.

Everyone was puzzled at how the small basket could hold so much.

Xiaoxiao chuckled, saying there was nothing left.

Mr. Cheng was very touched, his daughter thinking of him. He gently said, "Xiaoxiao, you must’ve spent a lot on all these things. We just started doing better, try to be more frugal."

"Dad, money is meant to be spent! Once it’s gone, we earn more," Xiaoxiao said, feeling exasperated.

"It’s not that I don’t want you to spend, it’s just... your dad isn’t very capable and won’t be able to give you much for a dowry. If you have money saved, the dowry will be more substantial, making life easier at your husband’s place."

Auntie also agreed, "Yes, save it for the dowry. We’re grateful enough for being fed and clothed, how could we take so much from you?"

How was her dad going off on this tangent? She didn’t want to marry an ancient man; their values didn’t align, making cohabitation difficult.

"Dad, I’m still young, no rush." Then she turned to Cheng Chudong, "Auntie, we’re one family, such words are unnecessary."

"You both can relax. With my smart mind, our days will only get better."

Such needless worry all day.

"Alright, alright, everyone, try this pastry. Many people were buying it, so it must be good," she said, shoving a piece into Mr. Cheng’s mouth before he could speak again.

Xiaoxiao deftly changed the topic, letting it go.

Next, it was time to start her plan.

She was a bit excited.

After all, she had minored in acting at university; no problem at all.

That night, just as Xiaoxiao was getting to sleep, the system woke her, "Host, a man in black, highly skilled in martial arts, is at a tree 50 meters from your house, watching your courtyard."

Xiaoxiao immediately sat up, parted the curtain, and peered out, but saw nothing in the dark.

"Friend or foe?"

"Probably not an enemy. Late at night would be the best time to attack, and he hasn’t made a move, so it’s at least temporarily safe," the system analyzed.

"Still, let’s not be careless." Xiaoxiao wasn’t reassured and quietly retrieved a dagger Yanlan had given her from the wardrobe, placing it under her pillow.

She instructed, "77, keep a close watch on him and notify me of any movement."

"Don’t worry, Host, I will monitor him at all times. But about our plan..." the system worryingly inquired, given the unexpected situation.

Xiaoxiao pondered for a while, "If he’s not an assassin, he might be a spy sent by Yanlan. Before, he had people frequently visit my home, and even after leaving, things are still not settled."