Chapter 98: The Control Group for the Farm Family’s Lucky Baby 8

Book Spirit Number One: “I suddenly have this overwhelming sense of powerlessness, like a local guide at a viral tourist spot getting my job snatched away by a squatter.”

What kind of bullshit description was that?

“Fine, then is it the powerlessness of a gummy bear realizing it can never become a hard candy?”

Ren Xin: “…”

Lu Jinghuan seemed possessed by something. Since he was so insistent on having Ren Xin as his guide, they had to settle on a price.

“One hundred taels?”

They didn’t call people “wealthy” for nothing; one hundred taels was merely a day’s spending unit for him.

Ren Xin felt it wasn’t quite enough. “Just for a stroll?”

Lu Jinghuan’s eyes flickered. “Don’t be greedy. It won’t do you any good.”

Ren Xin wasn’t the least bit bothered by the threat. She signaled that she was taking the job.

Zhang Qingmei and the Village Head’s daughter both unhappily insisted on coming along. Ren Xin nodded indifferently, though she made it clear that splitting the silver was out of the question.

The four of them set off toward the mountain with synchronized steps. Ren Xin remained completely unaffected by the tense atmosphere between the other three.

Zhang Qingmei spoke with hidden barbs. “Ren Xin, you were injured the last time you went up the mountain. I remember it was the time I saved Young Master Lu? Are you feeling better?”

“I’m fine. Fine enough to take this job and earn some silver, right? One hundred taels is enough for my family to live on for years. I have to say, you really are ‘blessed’—you can’t even hold onto a fortune when it’s handed to you.”

Zhang Qingmei: “…”

Seeing Zhang Qingmei suffer a setback, the Village Head’s daughter spoke to Ren Xin with an air of charity. “If you ever need anything in the future, just come find me. You’re not a bad person.”

Ren Xin raised an eyebrow. This daughter of the Village Head certainly had a lot of backbone. She acted as if her father, a lowly village head, was the Grand Secretary¹ of the Imperial Court.

Before Ren Xin could respond, Zhang Qingmei sneered. “You don’t actually think a village head is a real official, do you? Don’t make me laugh. ‘Come find you’? What could you possibly do? What could your father do? Steal more credit?”

That was the breaking point for the Village Head’s daughter. She dropped the act entirely and lunged at Zhang Qingmei. A stream of foul language and insults poured out of her mouth.

Ren Xin listened to their output with great interest. She had to take mental notes—that particular insult was actually quite creative…

Lu Jinghuan was stunned. In the environment he grew up in, he had never seen people behave like this. It was utterly improper!

As the fight between Zhang Qingmei and the Village Head’s daughter reached a fever pitch, Ren Xin whispered to Lu Jinghuan, “This is a complimentary bonus. Since you paid a hundred taels, I have to make sure you get your money’s worth! If you have more work in the future, be sure to look me up~”

Lu Jinghuan: “…”

Once the two girls finished their brawl, they finally remembered that their crush was standing right there watching.

Ren Xin gloated inwardly. It was too late to try and smooth things over now.

While the three of them stood in awkward silence, one person kept the itinerary moving. “Next stop, we have arrived at the wild vegetable patch…”

The three followed Ren Xin as if nothing had happened. Zhang Qingmei no longer looked as beautiful as she had at first sight; she looked like a madwoman, covered in dirt and grass roots. Honestly, she looked surprisingly “down to earth” like this.

Book Spirit Number One: “I have to say, my host has such high emotional intelligence~”

“You better not have something to say.”

“Not right now, but that doesn’t mean I won’t later. I’m just gathering some spiritual merit² points in case I run out in the future.”

Quite the forward thinker.

“Of course. Not many people are like you—so morally bankrupt that no amount of merit can fill the hole.”

Ren Xin: “…”

“Young Master Lu, would you like to experience the joy of digging for wild vegetables?”

Zhang Qingmei found her voice again. “How can you ask Young Master Lu to do such a thing? You’ve already taken his silver.”

Ren Xin also felt it was a bit inappropriate. “Then Young Master Lu, would you like to gather some firewood? That’s also very joyful.”

Everyone: “…” So basically, he pays you silver and then has to do your chores!

Exactly! A ginseng spirit was just that shrewd and magnanimous.

Translator’s Notes