Reward distribution in progress:
[Fishing Experience +100]
[Copper Knife]
[Fishing Drink Trading Privilege] (Please follow the yellow arrow)
Although Han Qiwu was already exhausted, the rewards gave him the motivation to carry two large buckets of fish towards the yellow arrow.
After following the yellow arrow for two minutes, Han Qiwu found himself near a small coastal creek close to the Fishing Drink.
Upon reaching the spot, a trading interface automatically appeared in front of Han Qiwu.
[Iron Telescopic Fishing Rod] Price: 5000 Gold Coin
[Creamy Fish Soup] Price: 1000 Gold Coin
[Standard Fishing Bait] Price: 50 Gold Coin
[Microgravity Float] Price: 1000 Gold Coin
More items being added...
After browsing through everything, only one thought filled Han Qiwu's mind.
So expensive!
Although they were all good stuff—for instance, bait could extend fishing game time, microgravity floats made control easier, creamy fish soup temporarily boosted fishing level, and the rod came with a string of useful attributes...
But still, the cheap items weren't appealing, and the expensive ones were simply out of reach!
Thankfully, Han Qiwu discovered another function of the trading point: selling fish.
Han Qiwu had a total of 23 fish caught today, including 16 sea fish and 7 freshwater fish.
Six of the sea fish had been turned into dried fish and eaten.
The peach grouper among the river fish was eaten as well.
Which left 16 fish still in the buckets.
After some thought, Han Qiwu decided to keep the eel and two small yellow croakers as energy reserves, selling the remaining 13 fish.
The selling process was simple—just dump the fish into the creek, and that's it.
[Through trading, you have earned 1320 Gold Coin.]
All thanks to the squirrel grouper buff that brought him Level 2 Fishing Skills!
A four-digit income right there!
Fishing brings me joy!
Han Qiwu took a closer look at the selling prices. Sardines and Atlantic herrings were relatively cheap, priced at 40 Gold Coin and 60 Gold Coin each, while largemouth bass were worth triple at 120 Gold Coin. Additionally, Silver Star quality could add a bit of extra money.
"Since the recovery values for stamina are about the same, in the future, I'll keep the low-priced sardines for stamina replenishment and sell the expensive fish," Han Qiwu thought, noting another benefit of the trading point—selling via the house's storage box meant waiting until the next day to receive payment, whereas the trading point was instantaneous.
With trading complete, Han Qiwu packed up his things. Riding his bike along the beach for a leisurely round, he picked up a clam and headed home.
By the time he was home, it was already half past nine at night.
Han Qiwu stepped into the yard, first changing his clothes and tossing Brother Jing's clothes into the washing machine.
Exiting the house, he casually threw the clam into the selling box and sat tiredly atop it, staring at the ten windbreak grass stalks that had already sprouted green leaves.
"Seven days to mature—what on earth is the principle behind this?" Feeling curious, Han Qiwu suddenly got the urge to investigate. Without a hoe, he simply reached out and began digging into the soil.
Willing to sacrifice this windbreak grass, Han Qiwu was determined to study it himself.
Three minutes later
With a resolute expression, Han Qiwu began wielding his hoe against the ground beneath him.
He had already tried—it turned out the soil where the windbreak grass grew was as hard as marble. Using non-system tools barely left a scratch on it.
Looks like system tools are the only option!
[Your windbreak grass seedling has died.]
Han Qiwu had somewhat anticipated this outcome, but he didn't have time to feel upset. Quickly bending down, he began digging through the soil, hoping to find the sprouted seed.
No matter how hard he searched, though, Han Qiwu couldn't find even a trace—not the seed, nor the seedling.
Alright then.
Live and learn.
Han Qiwu guessed this might be a system restriction, so he put the matter aside for now. After taking a short break, he used his remaining stamina to clear the yard of trees and scattered rocks.
Once his stamina was nearly depleted, Han Qiwu cleaned up and sat in the yard, looking out towards the barren land.
Such good soil, wasted like this—what a pity.
Wait, hold on!
"Since I can recover stamina by eating fish, that means I can water more times and keep cultivating land!" Han Qiwu felt giddy with excitement as he recalled the skill boost from the fishing upgrade. His skill at filleting fish was now as good as a master with decades of experience.
What kind of perks would upgraded farming skills bring?
Can't wait to find out!
Still, as Han Qiwu stared at his full health bar and empty stamina bar, he fell into a bit of a dilemma.
"If combat experience from daily settlements is factored in, health points must apply to battle scenarios. Which raises the question—why would a farming game even involve combat? Where would I go to fight? Against what?"
Han Qiwu pondered this, imagining scenarios like fighting field mice, locusts, or maybe ladybugs.
"Achoo!"
His contemplation was interrupted as Han Qiwu sniffled, sensing something off.
"Nasal congestion... Looks like I caught a cold." Han Qiwu sighed; February seawater was still freezing, and that daytime fall into the water had been quite the ordeal.
"Oh well—cross that bridge when I come to it. For now, tomorrow I'll water the crops, visit the seed shop, and then stop by the village clinic for some medicine. A cold shouldn't delay work." Han Qiwu began planning his schedule for the next day.
Besides, the misunderstanding with the nurse must be cleared up!
What nonsense about infertility—completely ridiculous.
After tidying up, Han Qiwu prepared to lie down and rest. As his head hit the pillow, darkness swept over him.
"Was that transition necessary? What are you, a cure-for-insomnia system?"
A few minutes later
The familiar jingling sound of Gold Coin drops heralded the reappearance of the daily settlement screen.
February 2
Income: ...80 Gold Coin (clam)
Farming Experience: +0
Foraging Experience: +10
Fishing Experience: +635
Combat Experience: +0
Mining Experience: +0
Relationship changes:
Tang Jing: ❤
Tang Qingying: ❤❤
Once the settlement screen faded, Han Qiwu's vision went dark, and he drifted into a deep sleep.
February 3
"Cock-a-doodle-doo!"
The rooster's crow signaled the start of a new day.
Han Qiwu was reviewing the system log, reflecting on his experiences.
"It seems gifting items is indeed the way to improve relationship levels—especially items the recipient wants. As for Mr. Tang's two hearts, it's likely because we already knew each other beforehand." Han Qiwu felt quite satisfied with the outcome.
[It seems there's something new in your mailbox.]
Seeing the system notification, Han Qiwu looked baffled. "Wait, I have a mailbox here?"
Stepping outside, he found a worn wooden mailbox standing forlornly beside the selling box.
"So the system conjures up whatever you need, huh?" Han Qiwu quipped, walking over to open the mailbox.
[Tang Jing's relationship reward]
[Great! Now you're friends with him! Here's a small token from Tang Jing.]
[You've received the following items]
[Basic Fishing Bait ×30]
[Tang Qingying's relationship reward]
[Amazing! You now share a bond beyond being teacher and student!]
[You've obtained a special item]
[Mystery Magnifying Glass]
[Note: The magnifying glass can reveal text on mysterious notes.]