Chapter 33: The Little Sponsor Is Absolutely Satisfied

[Host! Are you growing mushrooms here?]

[Hurry up and go steal energy from my little sponsor! Don’t you want to burst coins?]

The System was truly anxious.

After this period of recuperation through stealing energy, it had basically recovered to normal operation.

It had even developed new functions.

Besides bringing good luck through bursting coins, it could now perform precise location tracking of individuals three times a day.

Si Muchen had used this function to help his uncle catch a spy.

He earned merit and received a certificate of commendation.

Today, he had come specifically to share his joy with the little girl, only to witness this displeasing scene.

“Tongtong,” he called softly.

Tongtong turned her head, saw the familiar face, her eyes lit up, and she struggled to slide out of Liu Lan’s arms.

She then dashed toward Si Muchen.

“Brother Muchen!”

Si Muchen’s expression was cool, but his eyes unconsciously softened. “I was afraid someone might cry today, so I reluctantly came to check.”

After saying this, he stuffed something into Tongtong’s hand, his voice stiff. “I traded my merit with my uncle for this. Take it or leave it!”

What a tsundere!

Tongtong made a funny face, then her gaze fell on the object in her hand, and her eyes sparkled!

What a beautiful hair clip! It even had shiny gemstones on it!

It looked expensive!

“What merit did you earn?” she asked curiously, unable to put the hair clip down.

Si Muchen seemed to have been waiting for her to ask. He straightened his little body, cleared his throat lightly, and said nonchalantly, “I helped my uncle catch a spy.”

Tongtong widened her eyes, her pink little mouth falling open in surprise as she looked at him, sincerely praising, “Brother is amazing!”

Then she obediently lowered her head, letting Muchen clip the hair accessory into her hair.

The little girl’s head was fluffy, her hair fine and soft, and it felt nice to touch.

The corners of Si Muchen’s mouth lifted high as he carefully clipped it in place.

He hardly dared to breathe, afraid of tugging her hair.

Once it was secured, Tongtong touched the hair clip and dashed to the mirror to admire herself for a while, overjoyed.

Even the earlier sadness of parting had faded quite a bit.

Si Muchen asked her, “I’m going to the back hill. Do you want to come?”

Tongtong’s eyes lit up, twinkling like little scattered stars.

The back hill was rich in resources.

Brother Muchen being there = being able to find hidden treasures = lots and lots of delicious food and fun things!

She nodded with a smile, then turned to report to Liu Lan: “Aunt Lan… Tongtong is going to the back hill with Brother Muchen to play for a while! I promise to be good! ‘All actions follow orders’!”

Liu Lan knew Si Muchen.

This kid usually kept to himself in the compound, with a solitary personality.

Now he was actually taking the initiative to come find Tongtong, which was a bit surprising. Seeing her own little dumpling’s eager look, she smiled and put a small straw hat on her. “Go ahead, go ahead. Don’t go too far, be careful, and come back early.”

“Got it!” Tongtong replied loudly, grabbed her little cloth bag—which contained the water bottle and a small handkerchief her mother had packed for her—and dashed out.

“Let’s go!”

Seeing her cheerful demeanor, the corners of Si Muchen’s mouth curved almost imperceptibly before he resumed his expressionless look, turning to lead the way.

Chen An’an, however, couldn’t sit still.

Someone was trying to steal his little sister! The three Chen brothers were on high alert!

“Tongtong, let me take you to catch bugs! My mom bought me milk candy, it’s so delicious!” As he spoke, he ran over, wanting to grab Tongtong’s other hand.

The two An brothers also nodded in agreement: “Yes! We can play with Tongtong too!”

Si Muchen’s little face instantly darkened.

His dark eyes seemed to swirl with little whirlpools, and his grip on Tongtong’s hand tightened.

Not being good with words, he said nothing, just stubbornly stared at Tongtong.

His gaze was aggrieved yet stubborn, with a hint of barely noticeable fierceness.

Tongtong looked at her treasure, then at the enthusiastic Chen brothers.

Her little brain worked rapidly.

Seeing her hesitate, Si Muchen’s eyes turned icy.

Finally, Tongtong flashed a sweet smile and said to Chen An’an, “Thank you, Brother An’an! Tongtong will have the milk candy later!”

Then she took Si Muchen’s hand, her voice filled with excitement: “Let’s go!”

With that, she pulled him away and ran off.

Hehe! Candy can be eaten later, but Brother Muchen is a wealth god who can drop gold coins for her!

Every time she follows him, she earns something. Maybe this time, she’ll dig up ginseng or lingzhi again.

She really is a clever little System!

The chilly, low-pressure aura around Si Muchen quickly dissipated.

He glanced at the dejected Chen brothers, a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth, as if he had just won a battle.

Two small figures, one in front and one behind, soon disappeared along the small path leading from the family compound to the back mountain.

The mountain air carried the fresh scent of soil and grass.

Tongtong was like a little bird freed from its cage, looking here, touching there, curious about everything.

Si Muchen, however, didn’t look around much. He would only occasionally stop suddenly, frowning as if trying hard to sense something, then change direction.

[Host… go further left ahead, ten o’clock direction, cross this hillside…]

“Brother Muchen, what are you looking for?” Tongtong asked, tilting her head.

Si Muchen pursed his lips. His treasure-hunting system was sometimes reliable, sometimes not. At the moment, he only vaguely sensed there was something in this area, but couldn’t tell exactly what.

He replied vaguely, “Just follow.”

[Hmph! Host! If you weren’t so lazy about stealing energy, would I be so unreliable?]

Si Muchen couldn’t be bothered to respond.

The System resignedly continued guiding and locating for him.

Stuck with such a host, the System was just unlucky!

Not far ahead, behind a patch of bushes, Si Muchen stopped again.

His gaze fixed on an inconspicuous patch of grass.

[Right here, Host! Definitely something good! My little benefactor will be absolutely pleased!]

Tongtong followed his gaze, her little nose twitching as a faint, unique medicinal fragrance drifted into her nostrils.

Her eyes lit up, and she trotted over, carefully parting the grass—

“Wow!” she exclaimed softly.

Several plants with uniquely purplish-green leaves and small white flowers grew quietly there!

Instantly, her vast medical knowledge database popped up with information—it was purple-backed begonia! And judging by its age, it was at least over a decade old! This was truly valuable!

It cleared heat, cooled the blood, reduced inflammation, and detoxified!

Perfect for transplanting into the space.

“Brother Muchen, you’re amazing!” Tongtong lavished him with admiring looks: “This herb is fantastic!”

Si Muchen’s ears turned slightly red from her praise. He pretended to be calm and hummed in acknowledgment, but inwardly, he felt a little proud.

It seems the system was quite effective today.

【Of course!】

Although Tongtong felt a slight dizziness, she was more excited than anything.

She carefully dug up the several purple-backed sunflowers along with their roots and soil, wrapped them in large leaves, and placed them into her small cloth bag as if they were treasures.

Just as she finished, the nearby bushes suddenly shook violently, and a plump wild chicken fluttered out!

The wild chicken seemed terrified, disoriented, and ended up crashing headfirst into a nearby tree. After swaying a couple of times, it fainted on the spot!

Tongtong: “???”

Si Muchen: “!!!”

【Ding! The opportunistic task has been completed! Rewards are being calculated… Energy +1, Luck Points +5! Host, enjoy the good fortune brought by this System!】

Si Muchen: “…”