The first rooster crow shattered the delicate peace of pre-dawn. Liu Fei bolted upright, her heart hammering, convinced some great catastrophe was upon her. The sound was less a crow and more a hellish wail that echoed across the fields, piercing through the thin walls of her decrepit farmhouse.
"Host!" the system chirped with alarming cheerfulness. "Your energy levels are critically low. Rising with the sun is essential for maximizing farm productivity."
"I'll show you productivity," Liu Fei muttered, her voice hoarse from a night of fitful sleep. Her back ached, her neck was stiff, and her straw mattress felt like a bed of nails disguised as bedding. Original Liu Fei, she decided, must have been made of sturdier stuff to endure this every night.
The demonic rooster, glowing faintly in the pale light, strutted outside her window, its plumage shimmering with an ethereal sheen. It crowed again, an unholy noise that rattled her very soul.
"What in the Six Realms is that thing?" Liu Fei groaned, shoving her blanket aside.
"Spirit beast detected," the system replied. "Classification: Infernal Rooster. Primary function: Alarm clock and farm guardian. Efficiency: 98%. Annoyance factor: Immeasurable."
Liu Fei shuffled to the window, glaring at the rooster with bleary eyes. "What kind of farmer thought keeping a screaming demon bird was a good idea?"
Stumbling into the kitchen, Liu Fei's mood darkened further as she surveyed the pitiful state of her food supplies. The remnants of last night's porridge sat cold in the clay pot, its surface congealed into an unappetizing lump. A shriveled turnip and an almost empty jar of salt rounded out her meager stores.
"Host," the system began, "breakfast is essential to maintain optimal farming efficiency. Current food stores detected: insufficient."
"No kidding," Liu Fei muttered, poking the turnip as if willing it to transform into a feast. "And what am I supposed to do with this?"
"Suggested meal: Turnip stew," the system offered. "Preparation time: 30 minutes. Nutritional value: Minimal."
Liu Fei slumped against the counter. "Great. I'll starve slowly."
Before she could sink deeper into despair, a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Widow Lin's cheerful voice rang out, carrying a tone that suggested she'd already been awake for hours.
"Liu Fei! Are you up? I brought you something!"
Liu Fei opened the door to find Lin holding a basket filled with fresh eggs and a loaf of bread. Lin's sharp eyes scanned Liu Fei's disheveled appearance, and her smile turned teasingto teaseh night?" Lin asked, stepping inside uninvited. "You look like you've been wrestling with a wild boar."
"Close enough," Liu Fei muttered, rubbing the back of her neck. "I'm not used to… sleeping arrangements like these."
Lin's brow furrowed. "Not used to straw mattresses? Don't tell me you've gotten soft. You've been sleeping on them your whole life."
"Right, of course," Liu Fei said quickly, forcing a laugh. "Just a bad night, I suppose."
Lin didn't seem convinced, but she let it slide, setting the basket on the counter. "I figured you'd need a little help getting started. Eggs and bread aren't much, but they'll tide you over."
"You're a lifesaver," Liu Fei said, genuinely touched. "I'd hug you, but I'm afraid I'd collapse."
Lin laughed, a hearty sound that filled the small kitchen. "First time running a farm on your own, eh? You've got your work cut out for you."
As Liu Fei prepared breakfast, under Lin's watchful eye, she couldn't help but ask, "Lin-jie, how does one… make money around here?"
Lin raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the question. "You're asking me how to make money? What, did you hit your head last night?"
"Just… humor me," Liu Fei said, stirring the eggs in the clay pot.
"Well, spirit coins are the standard currency," Lin began, leaning against the counter. "Farmers like us usually earn them by selling spirit herbs, beasts, or crafted goods."
"Crafted goods?" Liu Fei repeated, her interest piqued.
"Things like potions, talismans, or enchanted tools," Lin explained. "But that's advanced work. For now, you'd best focus on your crops. A good harvest can fetch a decent price at the market."
The system chimed in. "Host, initial income can be generated by cultivating low-grade spirit herbs. Estimated time to first harvest: three weeks."
"Three weeks?" Liu Fei frowned. "What am I supposed to do until then?"
"Supplemental income can be earned through foraging or completing system-assigned side missions," the system replied. "Would you like to view the available missions?"
"Might as well," Liu Fei muttered.
A translucent screen appeared before her, listing various tasks:
Clear the Southern Field: Reward: 10 Spirit Points.
Tame a Spirit Chicken: Reward: 5 Spirit Points.
Forage for Wild Herbs: Reward: 8 Spirit Points.
"Clearing a field sounds straightforward enough," Liu Fei said, selecting the first task.
Lin looked over her shoulder, her brow furrowing as she stared at the empty air where Liu Fei's screen floated. "What are you muttering about now?"
"Nothing! Just… planning," Liu Fei said hastily, waving her hand dismissively. "You know, figuring out how to clear the fields."
Lin gave her a skeptical look but didn't press further. "Straightforward doesn't mean easy, dear. You'll be pulling weeds until your hands blister."
"Better than starving," Liu Fei muttered, finishing her eggs. "Might as well get started."
By the time the sun climbed higher, Liu Fei stood at the edge of the overgrown southern field, hoe in hand. The weeds seemed to mock her, their gnarled roots twisted like the fingers of some malevolent spirit. She took a deep breath, raising the hoe.
"Progress begins with the first step," the system intoned. "Or, in this case, the first swing."
Liu Fei rolled her eyes but brought the hoe down with as much force as she could muster. The weeds resisted, their roots clinging stubbornly to the soil. Sweat beaded on her brow as she worked, her muscles protesting with every swing.
From the farmhouse, Widow Lin watched with a mix of amusement and admiration. "She's got spirit, I'll give her that," Lin muttered to herself.
The infernal rooster crowed again, as if cheering Liu Fei on. She glared at it, muttering under her breath. "Keep it up, bird. I might turn you into dinner."