Appearance: 87 (Perfect bone structure, skin like ice and jade, eyes like autumn pools)

Spiritual Power: 58

Intelligence Value: 61

Physique: 40

Charm: 30

Energy Points: 26

Beauty Value: 7 (Unavailable in current world)

All stats are out of 100. The System reserves the right of final interpretation.

After carefully reviewing her status screen, Tan You’s lips curved slightly. "Just as I thought. My spiritual power went up by 2 points, and my charm went up by 3. That’s unexpected."

The Beauty System huffed and puffed. "Host, it’s time for the lottery."

Tan You wasn’t in a hurry. "Last time, you said it would cost 10 Energy Points to lock the Intelligence Value stat. Go ahead and deduct it."

Surprised by Tan You’s generosity, the Beauty System stammered, "R-Really? You’ll just let this system deduct it?"

Tan You raised an eyebrow slightly. ’Just how happy is it? It’s even using cutesy repetition.’

"Yes, go ahead and deduct it." Tan You didn’t mind humoring the little system. After all, the little thing was actually quite cute once you got used to it. Having a little creature chirping in your ear all day did a lot to lift one’s spirits.

Upon getting the green light, the Beauty System jumped for joy. "Okay! Host, you’re the best!"

The next second, a large lottery wheel unfolded before Tan You. Just as she had hoped, the Intelligence Value stat turned gold and locked onto the wheel, and she smiled in satisfaction. But when she saw that the Beauty System had deducted 11 Energy Points, her eyes narrowed slightly.

The Beauty System said, "It costs 1 Energy Point to refresh the prize pool. This system can’t create something from nothing."

Tan You retorted, "You’ve certainly mastered the essence of gacha games."

Looking at her status screen again, her Energy Point balance had plummeted from 26 to 15. A moment ago, she felt rich enough for three ten-pulls, but now, Tan You felt truly poor.

But the Beauty System wouldn’t let her be. "Host, lottery, lottery! You can do a ten-pull!"

Tan You lay back down on the stiff wooden bed. "We’ll talk about it tomorrow."

The little thing was trying every trick in the book to squeeze Energy Points out of her, and Tan You wasn’t about to spoil it. So after tossing out that sentence, she went to sleep, leaving the Beauty System to spin in circles on its own.

Tan You hadn’t paid any attention to her submissions since sending them in. Tan Deming, on the other hand, made a trip to town almost every other day. Anyway, the old man had a small electric tricycle, which was very convenient.

Tan You didn’t try to persuade Tan Deming to stay home. If he wanted to go, then he could go. Getting out and about would put the old man in a better mood.

Until this morning, when Tan You noticed Tan Deming hadn’t returned by his usual time, she was a little surprised. ’He didn’t run into someone on the road and get delayed, did he?’

Tan You didn’t dwell on it. After putting away her math competition books, she went to the garden to pick vegetables for lunch. Her grandma was a foodie who loved spicy dishes, so the most common plant in the garden was the chili pepper, followed by eggplants, cucumbers, tomatoes, and so on.

After picking a few chili peppers, Tan You mulled over what to make with them. After all, her grandma was the only one in the family who ate spicy food; everyone else preferred milder flavors.

Hearing the sound of Tan Deming’s little vehicle returning, Tan You emerged from the west side of the garden carrying a few eggplants and tomatoes. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Seeing Tan Deming looking overjoyed, grinning so wide that his dry gums showed, Tan You had a slight inkling. "Did you get a reply?"

"Yes, three letters came." Tan Deming pulled three envelopes from under the back seat. They were in express mail packaging. "I saw the magazine company names on them, but I didn’t open them. I waited to come back and look at them with you."

Tan You smiled. She set the vegetables down by the well before hurrying over. ’It’s almost funny,’ she thought. ’How much money haven’t I seen in the mission worlds? Yet here I am, losing my composure over a small manuscript fee.’

"I thought you would have opened them on the spot." To calm herself down, Tan You randomly started a new topic.

Tan Deming tried to put on a stern face. "This is your property. I can look at it with you, but I shouldn’t open it myself. What’s yours is yours. Other people shouldn’t touch it."

"Quick, open them and see."

Tan You laughed. "You have such a strong sense of boundaries. How come my dad didn’t learn a single thing from you? He can’t wait to dig up every last bit of other people’s privacy. The moment he gets home, he’s rummaging through all the drawers and cabinets."

"He takes after your grandma. Always been shortsighted. Your grandma likes to go through people’s things, too," Tan Deming said. "Hurry up. I’m getting impatient."

Tan You said no more and proceeded to tear open the three mailers. When she saw that each one contained a magazine, she smiled. They had even sent her copies of the magazines; her submissions must have been accepted.

Sure enough, upon opening one of the magazines, Tan You found the manuscript fee tucked inside. They had even thoughtfully placed it on the very page where her article was published. Seeing her own words transformed into print, Tan You’s feelings were, frankly, a bit complicated. But it was undeniable that she was delighted.

"How much is it?" Tan Deming squinted, which made Tan You laugh. She casually stuffed the cash into Tan Deming’s hands. "Can you count it for me?"

Tan Deming actually helped Tan You count the money. "Fifty, one-fifty, two-fifty, three hundred, four hundred, five hundred... Writing makes this much money? It’s five hundred already?"

Tan You couldn’t help but laugh. ’This is nothing,’ she thought. ’A really good writer can make a whole month’s salary from a single manuscript. I’m a complete novice just getting the most basic fee.’

"It’s not that much." Tan You didn’t elaborate, simply pulling a fifty-yuan bill from Tan Deming’s hand. "I’ll take fifty for emergencies. You help me hide the rest, and don’t tell Grandma."

"If she finds out, my parents will find out, and then the whole village will know. I don’t want to become famous like that."

Tan Deming replied, "I know. Am I some kind of blabbermouth? I’ll definitely keep the money hidden away safely for you. No one will be able to touch it."

Tan You trusted Tan Deming on this. Her grandma might rummage through drawers and cabinets, but she was also afraid of Tan Deming. She wouldn’t dare touch his things. And no matter how much her dad wanted to snoop, he wouldn’t dare touch Tan Deming’s belongings either.

That’s why Tan You was exceptionally relieved to leave the money with Tan Deming.

"You have to keep it safe for me. The money to build you a big villa will come from this fund." Tan You was deliberately selling him a dream. They were close, and the granddaughter and grandfather could say anything to each other.

As expected, Tan Deming’s face bloomed into a wide smile. "Great! I’ll be waiting for our Youzi’s big villa. I’ll help you save up."

Tan You smiled. She loved how Tan Deming always played along. How could five hundred yuan possibly build a big villa? Maybe if you added a few more zeros, but Tan Deming would never dream of spoiling her fun.

"I guessed it was probably the manuscript fees, so on the way back, I bought a piece of meat to celebrate." After his excitement about the money, Tan Deming cheerfully took a strip of marbled pork belly out of the tricycle’s basket.

Tan You’s eyes crinkled in a smile. "Great! I was just wondering what to cook today. I’ll make stuffed green peppers for Grandma, and I’ll braise the rest."