After they had eaten their fill, the family of three arrived at the abandoned hunter's cabin.
"My fourth brother and I were running around in the woods when we discovered that Master Wu was not only skilled with an unparalleled archery prowess but also adept at making many mechanical traps. My fourth brother then dragged me along to become his apprentice.
I was older and already married, so I didn't want to spend time practicing martial arts. I chose to learn archery and trap-setting. Later, I heard there was a war outside, and Master Wu said he was going to kill the dog officials of the previous dynasty, so he went down the mountain to the battlefield. My fourth brother also secretly followed him a few days later...
"Third Master Yú stood in front of the abandoned cabin, recounting the story of those years to his wife and daughter. Before the fourth brother left, he had asked if Yú Sānláng wanted to go along. But Yú Sānláng had a wife and child; if something were to happen, how would they live? Furthermore, Yú Sānláng had to admit that compared to his fourth brother, he was more afraid of death.
Yu Hongdou watched her mother gaze at her father with admiration. She felt she had eaten a bit too much of that wild chicken. Out of sight, out of mind, she turned to click on the sign-in icon.
[Sign-in Location: Abandoned cabin of hunter Wǔ Chénggōng. Consume 3 points to sign in?]
[Sign-in Successful: Acquired Archery skill.]
It really was a skill! But why hadn't it turned gray? Yu Hongdou looked at the sign-in icon again and found that unlike the Embroidery skill last time, it hadn't turned gray. Instead, it had turned light yellow, and the location icon and text had also changed accordingly.
[Sign-in Location: Abandoned cabin of hunter Wǔ Chénggōng 1/3 (Cooling down)]
Recalling what her father had just said about Master Wu's impressive skills, unerring archery, and proficiency in setting many types of traps, Yu Hongdou guessed that the 1/3 represented three skills.
"Good heavens, Yu Hongdou exclaimed to herself.
System, you really know what consumes sign-in points.
Although she didn't know if the remaining two skills would also cost 3 points, she thought it was one location and one person, yet it was being split into three times to extort sign-in points. This wasn't a sign-in system; it was an extortionist system!
Regardless, the main goal of today's trip had been achieved. Who knew when she would be back here again? So, Yu Hongdou temporarily put aside the follow-up matters and happily went to dig Orchid Grass with her parents.
The family of three had a delightful time. As Yu Hongdou wanted to see the sign-in locations in other parts of the mountains, she pleaded with Third Master Yú to descend the mountain from the other side of the cliff.
Third Master Yú also wanted to delay as long as possible. When it got dark, everyone would go back to sleep. As for tomorrow, that could wait until tomorrow.
With the freshly picked Violet in her hair, riding on her father's shoulders, Yu Hongdou gazed into the distance and automatically added an impassioned background song to the green mountains and clear waters before her: Anticipating a lucky chance and a surprise, what a marvelous opportunity, turning over the hilltops and layers of white clouds, a green light awaits "there"...
Wildflower patches, locust trees, hawthorn trees, Zhēnzi bushes... Anything that could produce something was glowing green, most of them requiring 1 sign-in point.
Yu Hongdou scanned them superficially, roughly guessing what these locations would yield, so she didn't bother to spend points.
However, when she passed the Village Chief's house, Yu Hongdou took a second glance, still thinking about the Jialan Incense from the Zhixiang Cult. She wondered if the clues her father and the others found in the mountains were related to this Zhixiang Cult.
But little and weak, Yu Hongdou was already exhausted. Seeing the Yu family's gate, her eyelids grew heavy, and she fell into a deep sleep.
In the middle of the night, when even the mountain cicadas were asleep, a small figure suddenly sat up on the small heated brick bed in the north. It was none other than Yu Hongdou, woken by the urge to urinate.
Rubbing her eyes, she groggily climbed out of bed to relieve herself. Back in the room, she picked up the small earthenware pot by her pillow and drank half of it. Then, getting back into bed, she suddenly became wide awake.
Listening carefully, she heard her parents' breathing on the opposite bed; it seemed she hadn't woken them.
Yu Hongdou turned over, hesitating whether to force herself to sleep again or to enter the teaching mode to brush up on her Embroidery skill. Suddenly, she remembered that she had learned a new skill today.
She clicked on the [Archery] skill to enter teaching mode. After the familiar flash of black and white, the scene changed to the outdoors.
Yu Hongdou looked intently at the slightly familiar woods ahead for a few moments, wondering if this scene was a location near the village.
"Miss, you've arrived. I am your Archery master, Wǔ Chénggōng. I am an obscure mountain hunter. I have learned many things, and at most, I can help you raise your Archery skill to level 3," said a weathered man with a beard, wearing a fur robe, who appeared before Yu Hongdou. He spoke directly to the point without any preamble.
Is this Master Wu, the master of my father and fourth uncle? Yu Hongdou looked at the man for a moment, finding him somewhat resembling Qiao Feng, played by Francis Ng in the Hong Kong version of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils.
Unfortunately, this Master Wu had already passed away. She would ask her father later if he knew where Master Wu was buried so she could pay her respects if she had the chance.
Master Wǔ Chénggōng wasted no time and got straight to the point: "Archery, as the name suggests, is the technique of shooting. It includes: Flying Stones, Slingshots, Crossbows, Arrows... Each type of archery corresponds to a different weapon. Let's start with the simplest.
Master Wu's explanation was very detailed, even including the origin of the Flying Stones technique, as well as detailed theoretical explanations of the principles and materials for making tools corresponding to archery.
Given that the Flying Stones technique was too ancient and rarely used in daily life, and Yu Hongdou was too young to draw a bow, it was decided to learn Slingshot shooting first.
Shooting, besides eyesight and arm strength, requires diligent practice. However, it consumes several times more energy than Embroidery. So, after practicing for a while, Yu Hongdou got discouraged.
She came out of the teaching mode and slept until mid-morning. By then, her father had already been summoned to the Village Chief's house to discuss planting medicinal herbs.
After eating their brunch, the idle Yu Hongdou, carrying a piece of Songjiang Cloth specially approved by her mother, sat by the door, preparing to embroider a complete pattern to show her mother her talent. She wondered if she could use her level 2 Embroidery skill to earn some money.
Spring plowing was about to begin. The men were either at the Village Chief's house for meetings and gossip or in the fields tilling the soil. The women stayed home, selecting seeds and preparing fertilizer.
Zhāng Shì, the wife of Yú Dàláng, was sifting out bad seeds in the courtyard. Seeing the little brat causing so much trouble and embarrassing her family, wearing a pair of brand-new hairpins, she couldn't help but feel envious and resentful: "The hair ornaments on Hongdou's head look quite nice. Did your father buy them for you recently?"
Having encountered countless "white lotuses" and "green teas" and deeply understanding the art of "tea ceremony," Yu Hongdou looked up at her sharp-tongued eldest aunt and smiled innocently, nodding: "Yes, do they look good, Eldest Aunt?"
Zhāng Shì stiffened. This wretched child was infuriating. She glanced around. The second branch was hauling manure, and the third branch was picking vegetables in the backyard. The children were also not at home. Malice surged in her heart, and she put down the seeds, intending to snatch the pair of hairpins.
Unexpectedly, someone suddenly rushed in the door, startling Zhāng Shì. Before she could scold them, she was grabbed by the newcomer: "It's bad! Mother~ Madam Liu, Madam Liu she..."
Zhāng Shì then saw clearly that it was her eldest son. Seeing his anxious expression and halting speech, she couldn't help but get agitated and pressed him: "What happened to Madam Liu? Hurry up and tell me!"
Even Yu Hongdou, standing nearby, straightened up and stared at her eldest cousin. Why had she never noticed before that her cousin was such a slow speaker!
Just finish speaking quickly! What happened to Madam Liu? Did she give birth? Was it a difficult labor? She was dying of anxiety!