Several small villages scattered around Nancheng County. One of them is Qixi village, located in the south, which is an hour or two walking distance from the county town. The villagers solely rely on farming and now that it was still snowing, the village was rather desolated.
In the Chen ancestral house, Aria found herself helplessly kneeling to admit her wrongs.
"You reckless girl! That's my family pig!" The village chief, who is also the Chen Family patriarch, berated with indignation.
"The pig is gone. He's mine already. Nothing can be traded back and even if there is, I refuse."
Aria mindlessly said while receiving the available data from her new partner, System Y97.
"You!... No, that's not it. Xiao Xi Xi, what are you thinking, adding another mouth to feed!"
Grandpa Chen looked at his cousin's granddaughter who wasn't so bright.
A pig was also another mouth to feed… Aria actively chooses to shut up.
Her identity on this Plane World was called Chen Xi Xi, a village girl who's nothing much, but a small gear on this plane. There wasn't even a plot point related to her. A mob in its truest meaning.
Her vessel's situation was rather free. She has no one in her family except for her. A tragic setup like this sold like hot pancakes to most hosts. No need to act or pretend, neither to care nor consider collateral while executing missions.
If not especially included in their tasks--- family, friends, and lovers--- these bonds are nothing but endless side quests without merits. Some extreme hosts would go out of their way to get rid of these shackles.
Being an orphan in the Plane Worlds made it easier to focus on their priority.
Well, actually, Chen Xi Xi's an orphan that wasn't exactly an orphan.
People who live in the villages mostly have the same surnames. Everyone is somehow an in-law and is loosely connected. Although Chen Xi Xi doesn't have parents, she has many elders that are staring at her.
"Grandpa, calm down. It's ok. We have brought what we already need for winter. It's not necessary to sell the pig. Xiao Xi Xi is living alone, wouldn't she be bullied? A companion is just right to have." Chen Xiao Wen had to pacify his grandfather. This little cousin of his already promised to compensate him.
"What bullied?! Is there no one in the family? Am I dead? Where do they put our Chen family face if they dare bully her?!"
"You're right grandpa. Xiao Xi Xi, quickly admit your wrongs."
Grandpa Chen berated more to his heart's content. Whenever Aria tries to insert a word in, she'll be called an unfilial girl till her ears ring.
Lily… Lily wasn't this fierce. QAQ
The system made her presence known by laughing out loud. [Tsk. Tsk. So embarrassing, ah! Little kid, immediately say sorry to grandpa!]
Aria shut her down to a little black room.
Grandpa Chen suddenly remembered his cousin. He sighed, thinking how his cousin was unable to spread his branches despite being so capable. Not only did he had one son, but this son also only had one child.
Both father and son worked hard in town. Everyone believed their future was boundless but sadly, both lived a short life. The son was worried about his daughter being alone in town and hurriedly returned after learning his days were counted.
In the end, Grandpa Chen said, "There's nothing that can be done. Your father has left a lot of land for you as your dowry. Rather than let someone take it away, it's better to keep it in the family. It's good to buy a son-in-law to marry in."
Aria, "..?"
This girl… Grandpa Chen sighed once again. Although the girl was introverted and only came back for a few months, it's still a little child entrusted to him.
"This way, in the future, your child will still be surnamed Chen."
He also hopes that she'll be well.
Aria, "..."
What child…??
This old man, after letting the dogs jump and the chicken flies, softened his expression. As if forgetting how much he tossed her, he looked at her resembling a mother being told it was time to marry off her daughter.
This reluctance, this heartbreak, ai.
Aria has been a system for as much as she remembers but still underestimated the complexity of human interactions. Only now did she feel applauding her colleagues' hard work with all her sincerity. Grandpa Chen could compete with Lily in terms of talking nonsense.
*****
Jin Liang breathed a puff of cold air. He stood in the yard observing his surroundings. Houses in the village all had earthen walls, some wood here and there, and bamboo with thatch for the roof. As for the house in front, it can be said to be decent.
The girl urged him to wait inside before she was taken away. Jin Liang wanted to sneak right at that moment but he remembered how she took out his death contract and waved it. "Look. You are mine."
"You know," the little girl whispered, her eyes clear. "Those in the slave business have an abundance of connections. Unless you retreat deep in the mountains, they'll find you. If they couldn't manage to find rebellious slaves, they wouldn't stay long in the business, don't you think so. I only need to put in a complaint or spread a word. They wouldn't want others to think all their goods are disobedient, right?"
He cannot believe that a little girl can threaten so accurately. What's more, he cannot believe that he's worth only a pig!
In reality, in this time and place, the harsh cold of winter easily makes one desperate and lives end up being worthless.
For slave traffickers, this season is best to renew the goods. Many families resulted in selling their children to pass these few months of desolation. As long as one knows how to take advantage, a dozen lives can be brought for a few pieces of broken silvers. Of course, they also have to get rid of the weak and inferior goods or they'll die before getting sold.
As a slave, Jin Liang has changed hands more than two times.
He was young and should have fetched a handsome price but he was too rebellious. At first, some thought taming a ferocious fellow was a novelty. Later, they got tired of disciplining, saying it cannot be educated and then toss it back to be sold. The slave traffickers were also afraid that there would be accidents because of his unruliness. They wanted to get rid of him and in the end, agreed to trade him for a pig.
A pig can be sold around 8-10 silvers. Compared to Jin Liang who was repeatedly resold causing his value to deteriorate, a pig was indeed more valuable.
"Why aren't you inside?"
Coming face to face with the little girl, Jin Liang jumped like a firecracker, ready to blow up.
"Come inside---"
Her slender hand grabbed Jin Liang and as a result, was successfully swatted away like a dirty fly.
The two emotionally idiots pause in shock.
Aria was bewildered, wondering the hows and whys. As for Jin Liang, he reacted instinctively just then.
"Well," Aria caressed her reddened skin. "You should go inside. It's cold out here."
Her little cabbage probably doesn't like being touched.
Taking advantage of the confusion, the System poked at the paper window. [You're a stranger. He doesn't like you and that's it.]
[..?] Aria wasn't convinced. [I don't look threatening. I also imprinted him before. He should feel comfortable around me.]
[Tsk. Tsk. The naivety of young systems, ai! Oh no, I mean a new Host. Let me tell you, a human is shaped by their environment. Learning of their past will help you understand them!]
[...] I know where this is going.
[Dear host, how about it? Your cutie system will extract his old data. Since you're a novice, I'll give you a novice discount. Plus if you buy a novice package, there are freebies!]
[Shut up you black-hearted profiteer.]
Fvk, this System can already see the future. Loazi will end up babysitting this host, a Daemon with stunted growth!
Jin Liang feared the little girl's unknown temper. Although uncomfortable feelings crept up his skin, he chose to listen for now but he retained his vigilance.
Anyway, he could effortlessly pin her down and tie her up, a little girl that couldn't kill a chicken!
Without an idea of how her precious little cabbage was imagining ways to manhandle her, Aria renewed her efforts to make acquaintances.
Amiable. She must be amiable. Also straight forward! Only without misunderstandings can the road be shortened.
"From now on, I'll take care of you and raise you. Wherever your home is, I'll be with you. I swear not to let you be wrong or hurt." Aria sported the most earnest expression she can manage. "You… you can treat me as a mother."
Jin Liang, "???"
Where am I? What am I? What is this little girl saying?! Such nonsense?
Jin Liang burst like a popper fish. This little girl had enmity with him, else she wouldn't be this rude, shameless, and irritating!
In an instant, Jin Liang decisively labeled her a retarded.
System Y97, whose real name was Yue, decided to shut herself in the system space. Secretly searching, 'guides on how to turn online your host lost IQ.'
No. It should be EQ.
The synchronization was set at max, System Y97 made sure of that. Still, her confidence took a hit.
For the dust to settle down, Chen Xiao Wen was called to step onto the front. With his eyes twitching, Chen Xiao Wen deeply felt that a pig was easier to raise.
Rolling the dirty brat in a coarse cloth, Chen Xiao Wen considered his job done. "Dry yourself in there. I'm not heating any water for you to bathe."
"Also, don't make trouble. I already passed the word to the villagers that the new kid is our Chen family's person. If you try to run away…"
…The whole village will besiege you…
Jin Liang hurriedly bowed his head. These people who grew up in villages, he has long learned how hostile they are towards outsiders. Once their interests were touched, it was easy to instigate them to form a collective mind.
Imagining being chased by a horde, Jin Liang expressed that his courage wasn't small but his intelligence simply refused.
He recalled his new owner. A girl smaller than him, looking young with a thin wrist, light and small steps, probably… probably wasn't able to beat him.
Jin Liang inched to the very corner of the bed, staring at Aria until he dozed off. In a way, he slept full of thoughts of her.
At this moment, Aria completely accepted her character's data, transforming it to incorporate into her spiritual consciousness. The assimilation with her vessel then reach a better completion.
In this way, she also received the many branches of Chen Xi Xi's probabilities. These probabilities are the many intricate commands that will shape the character's path and future.
For Aria, the most important aspect of these probabilities was that it helps her find the closest available vessel to XianXian that will cross paths with him.
Chen Xi Xi's probability of fate with XianXian was indeed the closest. In the memory data given, Chen Xi Xi collided with the escaping Jin Liang, treated him as a dirty rude boy, pointed out his escaping route, and helped the two uncles drag back the rebellious slave in record time.
"..."
What an ill-fated meeting. No wonder she was hit silly the second she blinked awake! Really so close! Literally! They almost exchange faces!
Aria knocked on her System. [Is this allowed? Isn't this fraud? Are you making me fight a little kid?]
The System ignored this cheap host. You kidnapped Loazi yet you want VIP treatment?! Actually have the face to directly question the main system!
[Bzzzzzttttt!] The System made a sharp ringing. [I'm done scanning]
[...] Aria was rendered speechless. [Are you broken?]
The system issued an 'eyesroll.jpg'. Then without waiting for Aria to gather herself, she issue continues notification.
[Unacquired Plane World No. 2334]
[Status: toddler]
[Evolution process: 80%]
[Energy level: Low energy count]
[Oh.] Aria, who doesn't express much temper, was easily diverted by her system. [Are there any fluctuations of High-Density Energies? Where is the main circuit.]
[...]
[...]
This system suddenly realized that she does not have the same language program as her host.