Chapter 14: Mind-Reading Technique – Enemies Often Cross Paths

“Are you a system?”

Jiang Zhimiao tentatively asked.

[Yes! I’m called the “Good Baby Nurturing System.” You can simply call me “Baby!”]

Jiang Zhimiao: …

[Because you’ve transmigrated into an infant’s body, you’ve activated me. But if you hadn’t made any breakthroughs, I wouldn’t have awakened. Fortunately, you unlocked the speech skill at the last moment. Otherwise, if I missed the activation deadline, I would have automatically entered dormancy mode and never woken up again!]

Jiang Zhimiao: “Um… can I discuss something with you first?”

[Please go ahead!]

“Well…” Jiang Zhimiao forced an awkward smile. “Could you change how you refer to yourself? I… find it a bit cringey.”

[Hmph! Then how would you like me to refer to myself?]

“You can… just call yourself ‘the system.'”

[How would that reflect my uniqueness and dazzling brilliance!]

Jiang Zhimiao perked up: “Since you’re so amazing, you must come with many functions!”

[I’ve been asleep for too long. I… the system has forgotten what functions I have…]

Jiang Zhimiao (silent): That system, are you sure you’re not here to hold me back?

[I remember now! The skill unlocked along with your ability to speak is called [Mind-Reading Technique]. But to maintain the original world’s balance, the system currently only possesses the Elementary Mind-Reading Technique, and you only have the Elementary Mind-Reading Technique as well. Hope this can be helpful to you!]

Mind-Reading Technique?

Such an awesome skill?

Jiang Zhimiao’s spirits lifted again.

“Elementary Mind-Reading Technique? How elementary is it?”

[You could say it’s quite elementary… It only helps you understand this world better. After all, the system’s original intention is just to help you learn some skills better, not to eavesdrop on others’ inner thoughts.]

Better than nothing, having something is better than having nothing… Jiang Zhimiao thought delightedly. Never expected scenarios from movies and TV shows to happen to me!

Then he must test it out properly!

Jiang Zhimiao stared at the chaotic crowd, concentrating his mental energy, wanting to steal their inner thoughts!

But there was still only noisy clamoring – he couldn’t hear anything!

Jiang Zhimiao frowned, raised his fingers, struck a spell-casting pose, and focused his mental energy!

But the surroundings didn’t seem to change at all…

“Are you sure… this is the Mind-Reading Technique?”

[Um… I told you it’s just the Elementary Mind-Reading Technique.]

Isn’t this elementary level a bit too elementary…

Seeing how unreliable this system was, Jiang Zhimiao rolled his eyes and stopped paying attention to it.

The tea beverage business was even better than Lin Guilan had imagined. Even before noon, all the ingredients Lin Guilan had brought were sold out. The ice in the Ice Chest hadn’t melted yet, and Lin Guilan felt somewhat sorry about these unused ice blocks. But seeing how good today’s business had been – far exceeding her expectations – she understood that one should know when to be content.

Lin Guilan packed her belongings and bid farewell to Aunt Zhao. Hefting her now heavy money pouch, she thought since it was still early, she might as well take Miao Ge’er to the town for a stroll. The fact that Miao Ge’er could call her “Mother” so clearly the first time he spoke proved he was a clever child. Just for being so bright and sensible, she ought to buy him some nourishing treats.

Hmm… Her husband studies so diligently every day, he deserves some nourishment too.

After all, money wasn’t a concern for her now.

Lin Guilan drove the ox cart from the front, while Jiang Zhimiao sat in the cart, gazing at his mother’s gentle back. He could almost feel her joy today.

“What should I buy for Miao Ge’er later? I should get some eggs. Miao Ge’er is at the age where he’s growing, and my husband needs to use his brain too—eggs are absolutely essential. But three coins per egg is too expensive. Maybe I should buy a hen instead… Hmm… I could buy some chicks—they’d be even cheaper… Since we’re living in a place that used to be a pigsty, there’s plenty of space to raise them…”

Jiang Zhimiao blinked, belatedly realizing that his mother hadn’t actually spoken aloud. So… was he… able to hear her thoughts?

With only the two of them on the country path, he stared at her back and could hear her inner voice. Could it be that this Mind-Reading Technique he possessed only worked on his mother?

If it worked on his mother, it must work on his father too!

Jiang Zhimiao’s eyes lit up. He had long wondered what his father pondered all day. If he could sneak a peek into his father’s thoughts, that would be absolutely fantastic!

He couldn’t wait to get home.

But his mother’s thoughts only flickered briefly through his mind before fading into silence. The system had already informed Jiang Zhimiao that he only possessed the Elementary Mind-Reading Technique, which was bound to have limited functionality.

Still, Jiang Zhimiao was quite content. Even being able to glimpse a little of his mother’s thoughts was good enough. Since she doted on him so much, he would be her considerate little comforter!

When Lin Guilan reached the town, she headed straight for the poultry market, just as she had planned. She carefully selected two hens, bought a batch of chicks, and picked up some loose eggs.

Hens were naturally expensive, and while the chicks were cheaper, the total came to two hundred coins after everything was tallied. Lin Guilan felt a pang of regret after buying all these items, thinking she should stop for now and buy more later when she had earned more money.

As Lin Guilan was about to drive the ox cart away, another customer arrived to buy chickens. Though the voice was female, it was rough and hoarse, carrying a hint of fierceness.

“Give me two plump, meaty roosters—for eating today! Pick the best ones! I’m tired of pork, so I’m changing things up today. Oh, isn’t this Sister Guilan?”

Lin Guilan turned her head from the ox cart, and Jiang Zhimiao curiously followed her gaze. At the sight, he instantly felt as if the two figures before him were crowding his entire field of vision.

These two individuals were unusually large—not in terms of height, as both the man and woman were only of average stature, but they were… completely broad in build.

This pair of man and woman were both dressed in silk summer garments, which was quite rare in Xichun Town. Most farmers wore only coarse linen clothing, and occasionally one or two better-off individuals wearing cotton fabric were considered fortunate. Yet these two before them wore brightly colored silk garments that barely contained their layers of flesh—especially the man, whose belly protruded so prominently it resembled that of a woman nearing childbirth.

The man’s face was also bloated with fat, making his features nearly indistinguishable. Jiang Zhimiao could only observe that he had small eyes, a flat nose bridge, and carried a fierce expression. The woman fared slightly better; though not particularly outstanding in appearance, standing beside the man with his face full of coarse flesh made her seem comparatively pleasant.

Lin Guilan frowned slightly, as if pondering for a moment, before hesitantly asking, “Sister You Zhen?”

“What, has it been less than two years since we last met that you no longer recognize me?” You Zhen laughed, her tone carrying a strange edge. “Little sister truly has the short memory of the privileged. After all, we grew up together. Husband, look—Sister Guilan remains as delicate and graceful as she was in her maiden days. Ah, but why does she appear even thinner? Could it be that life in the Jiang Family hasn’t been treating her well?”

What an unfortunate encounter… Lin Guilan stared at the two people before her—none other than Butcher Liu, whose marriage proposal she had rejected, and his newly wedded wife, You Shi.

Author’s Note:

The system isn’t very important and only plays a minor supporting role.