Chapter 16: Subtle Changes
Deep in the night when all was quiet, after walking through several streets and turning a corner, Ji You returned home. She closed the house’s metallic roof and turned on the transparent light layer—this way, she could enjoy the stars in the night sky without going out.
This kind of high-tech, which could change a solid roof to an open one with just the press of a switch, was originally thought by Ji You to be very expensive. However, due to technological advancements, it was quite affordable. Virtually every household in the Alliance had such a device installed, marking it as one of the most basic equipment.
Ji You grabbed a soft mat and laid it directly in the living room. As she lay down and faced the starlight, she entered the Star Network. Her first step was to visit her online store and check the sales of the newly listed necklaces.
However—
The traffic increased by 100+, but not a single necklace had sold.
Ji You was very disappointed.
She mockingly thought to herself that such perfect ’artworks’ she crafted by hand were not appreciated by anyone, truly a waste of talents.
Thinking about the balance in her account, Ji You had no time to be dejected, heartbroken, or upset... She dove back into her personal homeland, picked up an axe, and busied herself chopping wood. For some reason, she did not find it as strenuous as the previous night. It felt easier and her efficiency had greatly improved. Previously, she could only make ten chops in a minute, but now she could make at least fifteen, and even up to twenty.
An hour passed, and the system broadcasted.
Ding-dong—
System: [You have worked for 1 hour, successfully collected 100 energy points, exceeding the basic quota by 50 energy points. You have earned 3 credit points this time. The hourly wage of 3 credit points has been automatically transferred to your account. Would you like to continue working?]
Ji You: "Continue."
Tonight’s work efficiency had increased so much. Previously, when her hourly earnings were highest, they were around 2.2-2.4, never exceeding 2.5, but tonight it had already reached 3 credit points per hour.
Ji You was more than just amazed; she felt absolutely no fatigue; neither spiritual power nor physical strength showed any signs of tiredness. It was indeed peculiar.
Immersed in her tasks, Ji You chopped wood while pondering what could be the rationale behind this.
One hour passed.
Two hours passed.
Three hours passed.
...
Ding-dong—
System: [You have continuously worked for 6 hours. For the sake of your health, the system advises you to stop working now. Would you like to stop immediately?]
"Stop."
Ji You wiped the sweat off her forehead.
After laboring tirelessly for 6 hours, she hardly felt strained during the first hour. Only in the second hour did she begin to feel a bit tired. The third hour was tiring. The fourth hour was tiresome, yet bearable.
The fifth hour, she endured.
The sixth hour, drenched in sweat, she could no longer continue.
Throwing aside the axe and checking her credit points, this work session had an hourly wage fluctuating between 3.1 and 2.4, soaring to a high of 3.1 credit points, which astonished and delighted Ji You.
She quickly glanced at her account and then logged off.
Lying collapsed on the floor mat, Ji You massaged her throbbing, swollen head. Although her body was extremely weary, her heart felt assured. As long as her physical condition remained at this level, she could survive by doing such laborious work.
This brought Ji You some relief.
The night deepened, and Ji You unknowingly fell asleep.
The next day.
She suddenly got up from the mat, checked the time, and found it was only seven in the morning, she thought to herself: Good, good, it’s not too late.
Dressed neatly, she quickly brushed her teeth and washed her face before gulping down half a nutrient solution. Ji You then contacted Xie Chuanqiong, asked for Uncle Xie Yi’s ward number, and headed out the door.
After planning to visit Uncle Xie Yi, she intended to go home to study the notes she had borrowed from Sister Liya.
For over half a year since her arrival, her days consisted of scavenging, doing menial labor, and consuming nutrient solutions... these three activities endlessly repeated, over and over... But Ji You refused to continue this decline, she was determined to revive her spirits, continue studying, even though her physical strength and mental powers were naturally much weaker than others, she absolutely could not abandon herself. Through her own diligent and hard work, she resolved to change her current plight.
Taking a Floating Car and arriving at the hospital took only ten minutes.
Xie Yi lay on the hospital bed, wearing a respirator, having just undergone an amputation surgery, he was forced into a deep sleep, but his complexion looked not too bad, and Ji You was relieved.
After visiting Uncle Xie Yi, Ji You left the hospital and returned home.
Since she decided to study, Ji You’s attitude was very serious. She purposely set up her desk, turned Sister Liya’s study notes into a web version, and read them word by word. Where she found parts she didn’t understand, she immediately looked them up.
In such quiet study, she spent half a day until she felt slightly fatigued and then stopped.
Looking at the time, more than half a day had already passed.
Gulu...
Gulu...
Gulu...
Her stomach embarrassingly growled, Ji You slightly helpless, put the books away, turned around, and pulled out a nutrient solution that looked somewhat more appealing, upon opening the package, she immediately smelled an indescribable odor.
Ji You covered her nose.
This taste~
Unchanging for thousands of years.
Can’t these food manufacturers improve the flavor a bit?
Ji You complained inwardly, pinching her nose and holding her breath as she swallowed the entire nutrient solution stick. After she finished, she immediately gulped down a large glass of water, and it was a good while before the haunting taste subsided.
Ji You frowned, thinking to herself that she couldn’t go on like this anymore, even if she had to break the bank, she had to gather enough money for a meal of natural food!
Immediately, Ji You turned on the Light Computer, found a store selling natural foods, and sorted the prices from low to high. The search results appeared quickly:
Cucumber: Weight 105 grams, Origin: Lianbei Mountain, Selling Price 105 credit points, Shelf life only 3 days 15 hours 23 minutes, Remaining Quantity: 0.
Carrot: Weight 80 grams, Origin: Aisi Plain, Selling Price 90 credit points, Shelf life only 2 days 19 hours 12 minutes, Remaining Quantity: 0.
Qing Fish: Weight 130 grams, Origin: Xiliang Star Seafood Breeding Base, Selling Price 308 credit points, Shelf life only 4 days 09 hours 39 minutes, Remaining Quantity: 0.
...
One by one, the ’0’s, taunted Ji You silently with their mockery.
Ji You stared, scrolling down one line after another, her heart initially excited, passionate, and fiery, was suddenly thoroughly doused with cold.
Thoroughly chilled.
Haha...
Even food nearing its expiration is still so outrageously expensive, not to mention they have the heartlessness to sell it all out, meaning, even if you want to purchase some discounted items to satisfy a craving, there’s no chance.
Her mouth curled into a bitter smile:
The poor really don’t even have the privilege to make impulse purchases.