He calmed his mind and closed his eyes.
Li Che then saw once again the scene he had glimpsed briefly before.
A vast land with a large tree rising from the ground, its branches lush and leaves fluttering, carrying a fruit that glowed with flowing, colorful lights.
As if he had stared for too long, the colorful fruit dropped with a "plunk" and gently landed in Li Che's hand.
"Dao Fruit..."
Li Che murmured, looking at the fruit in his palm.
...
[Your daughter is born safe, and you have acquired a Dao Fruit "Immortal Artisan"]
[Immortal Artisan (Dao Fruit): Immortal Artisan of myriad forms, divine touch, unparalleled skills]
...
The words flickered and surfaced.
Li Che's gaze fixed, and his heart suddenly stirred.
In the nineteen years since coming to this world, he had never acquired a Golden Finger, but now, with the birth of his daughter, the Golden Finger had appeared in such a form.
Was it fortune by the daughter?!
Li Che began to feel overjoyed, the name Dao Fruit sounded so prestigious, it surely could be his capital to secure a livelihood in this world.
Just as he was delighted, the prompt in front of him changed again.
...
[Name: Li Che]
[Bonds: Li Nuanxi (Daughter)]
[Dao Fruit: Immortal Artisan (Un-evolved, lv1, 0%)]
[Hint: For each safe year of growth of the bond object, the Dao Tree can produce a Dao Fruit]
...
His breath became slightly hurried, Li Che stared at the prompt in shock, his emotions violently fluctuating.
Each year his daughter grew up safely, the Dao Tree could produce a Dao Fruit...
In Li Che's simple understanding, the function of the Dao Fruit was equivalent to imparting him a skill, a capability.
Currently, Li Che worked in a wood carving shop in the Outer City of Flying Thunder City, moving finished wood carvings, a job of labor but paid by the piece, quite fair to everyone involved.
However, after a hard day's work, exhausted, he could earn about thirty or forty Dajing Cast Copper Coins, enough to make ends meet, but dreaming of wealth and luxury in this world was a fool's errand.
But from now on, if he could ensure his daughter grew up safely, one Dao Fruit a year, everything might be different!
"Xi Xi is my daughter, I should protect her and ensure her safe growth, that is my duty as a father..."
Li Che smiled happily, the change in fortune brought by his daughter's birth, the hope for the future, how could he not be joyful.
As the Dao Fruit in his palm slowly dissolved, Li Che did not notice any changes in himself.
He analyzed the [Immortal Artisan] Dao Fruit but had no clue.
"Gurgle gurgle..."
The carp soup boiled and bubbled in the pot, interrupting Li Che's thoughts.
He hastened to scoop up a bowl of fragrant, steaming, creamy carp and tofu soup, took a deep breath, the corner of his lips curled into a smile, and he carefully walked towards the earth house with the hot soup.
His wife, Zhang Ya, had finished feeding Xi Xi and was contentedly sipping the carp soup Li Che had cooked.
Xi Xi was being held by Li Che, who gently patted her tender back under Grandma Lei's guidance, a thing called burping.
After bustling around in the earth house for a while, Grandma Lei gave Li Che some child-rearing tips and was about to say goodbye and leave.
Li Che handed Xi Xi to Zhang Ya and followed her out.
"Grandma Lei, thank you so much, you've been a great help," Li Che gave ten coins to Grandma Lei.
Grandma Lei waved her hand, sighed, "Che, I've watched you grow up from a child. You MOVE those heavy woods and sculptures for Xu's Wood Carving Shop, earning hard-earned money isn't easy, keep this money, take good care of your family."
"Things have been tough in the Outer City recently... not many children being born, and yet many are dying young, take good care of Xi Xi, and pay attention to safety."
The words of Grandma Lei made Li Che's face turn solemn.
"Grandma..."
Grandma Lei wrapped her head with a cloth, carrying a bamboo basket, bracing against the snowstorm, and advised, "Remember, don't take the child to roam the streets carelessly, and stay far away from those who worship the child god... those who live off the offerings..."
"The world is harsh, children die young, you parents... must be extremely cautious."
Li Che exhaled a breath of white air in the cold winter snowstorm, nodding seriously.
His heart sank slightly, indeed, there had been many reports of child deaths recently.
Li Che hadn't taken it seriously before, but now that he was a father, he naturally had to be more careful.
"Understood, Grandma Lei."
Li Che responded gravely.
Grandma Lei didn't say more, sighed, tightened her coat, and disappeared into the snowy night, gradually vanishing in the snow-laden alleys in front of the earth houses.
Li Che watched Grandma Lei's figure vanish, then turned back into the earth house, quickly stuffed the door crack tight to prevent the heat from escaping.
Li Che rubbed his hands together, added some charcoal to the stove, and then went to the kitchen to bring back the leftover fish soup.
After the couple had their fill, Li Che climbed onto the bed.
Gently patting his daughter, who was sound asleep after her milk, Li Che squinted his eyes, his lips betraying a smile he couldn't suppress.
Speaking softly with his wife, Zhang Ya, who might have been exhausted from giving birth, soon fell into a deep sleep.
Yet Li Che, with wide-awake eyes, murmured energetically.
"The charcoal is all gone again, I'll go buy some more from the charcoal seller tomorrow. Xi Xi was just born, we can't let her get cold."
"My wife needs to properly go through her confinement—or she might suffer from postpartum complications... "
"Mm, I'll also bring more statues from the wood carving shop tomorrow. Recently, the demand for statues in the Inner City has suddenly increased. There is plenty of work and a good amount of money to be made."
"I will definitely work hard to save money to buy a big mansion where we can stay warm even in the dead of winter."
"My wife, don't worry, our days will definitely get better..."
On the bed, Li Che gently held his wife and daughter, and slowly closed his eyes.
The silent rhythm of breath was the only sound.
...
...
The next day dawned.
Li Che got up early, watched his wife, Zhang Ya, who was in confinement eat the breakfast he had prepared, and after patting Xi Xi to burp following her milk, he put on his bamboo hat and left the earthen house.
The ground was white and the wind was chilly, with snowflakes as big as hands.
The cold was biting, as sharp as a knife.
The snow showed no signs of stopping, piling up thickly on the ground of the Outer City of Fei Lei City.
After walking several miles, with the dim morning light and amidst the snowstorm, he arrived at his place of work, Xu's Wood Carving Shop.
Though called a shop, it was actually a huge mansion, extremely spacious inside, with many piles of wood for carving.
Li Che and several other hired hands were mainly responsible for carrying wood to the carvers at the wood carving shop or transporting finished wood carvings.
The wood carvings varied in weight but the price was uniform; transporting a wood carving earned five Dajing cast copper coins, while carrying wood earned less, just one copper coin each time.
Mainly because transporting wood carvings involved risks. Any scratch or bump, and you could have your pay docked completely.
Shaking off the snow from his body, Li Che took off his bamboo hat and placed it at his workstation, entering the wood carving shop.
The shop was heated by a charcoal furnace, the temperature moderate, with the rich scent of wood lingering in the air.
"Little Li, go fetch me a piece of 'Curved Willow'—a bigger one—and also, help me move the 'Six-Eyed Bodhisattva statue' carved three days ago into the inner room. Someone from the Inner City is coming to pick it up in a few days; it wouldn't be good if it soaks in melted snow."
As soon as he entered the shop, an old man in a cotton-padded jacket, with white hair and a ruddy complexion, called out to Li Che while holding a shiny wine gourd filled with aged yellow wine.
"Sure, Master Chen." Li Che flashed a brilliant smile and hurriedly responded.
As a familiar helper in the shop and given his carefulness and agility, he had never had an accident while transporting wood carvings, earning him a good reputation.
Thus, several wood carving masters, once they got to know him better, would specify him for the jobs.
Master Chen was one of Li Che's regulars.
After responding to Master Chen, Li Che turned and entered the spacious courtyard.
The snow was pouring down, covering the many logs scattered across the yard. It took some effort to locate the area where the "Curved Willow" was stored.
Finding a bigger piece, Li Che dragged it out.
Tying it with hemp rope and securing it well, he tested the weight, then patted the wood and turned toward the corner of the courtyard where the finished wood carvings were kept.
Because Master Chen had mentioned the "Six-Eyed Bodhisattva," Li Che knew exactly where it was located.
Finding the wood carving covered with snow, similar in size to a grown man, and also carved from "Flowering Curved Willow,"
Li Che reached out his hand to brush the snow off the carving.
Suddenly, a strange feeling arose in his heart—the "Six-Eyed Bodhisattva" statue seemed to come alive as its six eyes stared at him, blinking occasionally.
Suddenly, vague images flooded his mind.
It was Master Chen, carving with each stroke, the image of the "Six-Eyed Bodhisattva." Li Che felt as if he was on the scene, merging with Master Chen.
Gradually, the carving techniques and skills of the Six-Eyed Bodhisattva seemed to merge into Li Che's own... instincts!
"Huh?"
The images before his eyes dispersed, and the Six-Eyed Bodhisattva no longer blinked. Li Che's breathing became rapid.
His heart stirred. Just by touching the wood carving, it seemed he had learned Master Chen's carving techniques...
This must surely be related to the Dao Fruit "Immortal Artisan" he had received the day before because of his daughter Xi Xi's birth!
"Unparalleled Immortal Artisan, the hand of genius, unsurpassed skills..."
"The effect of Dao Fruit Immortal Artisan... might just give me a chance to become a true master wood carver!"
Li Che's eyes mildly brightened, and ambitions began to stir in his heart.
If he could become a wood carver at Xu's Wood Carving Shop, that would be much more promising than being a helper transporting wood and carvings!
To let his family live a good life in these chaotic times would no longer be an extravagant wish!