"I understand. So this month I'm planning to take a team out and see if we can find a food supply. That'll be our main objective for the month."
"Second Aunt, you and Little Yue aren't in the best shape — stay at the camp this month. Guard it, tend the farmland, run daily patrols, and drive off any birds or animals that might damage the crops."
"If sothing urgent cos up, use your judgnt — you can abandon the farmland and fall back to the camp."
Li Wei spoke calmly, his expression composed, but the words landed like a thunderclap. Leon, Thomas, and Zhao Xuanxuan were all visibly stunned — and even Liang Yuzhi and Li Yue's eyes flickered at the last part.
What on earth was he talking about?
Abandoning those two fields would essentially an this pioneering branch was finished. Sure, they could scavenge and hunt when food ran short — that was manageable for a few months — but without crops down the line, what were they supposed to eat?
It was an unreasonable order on its face.
"Little Wei, don't worry. I'll protect that farmland even if it costs my life." Liang Yuzhi's voice was firm.
Even Li Yue felt compelled to speak up. "Brother, relax. Second Aunt and I will take turns patrolling the fields — day and night."
"Ah, Second Aunt, Little Yue — knowing you have to work this hard because of , I feel terrible. But please, when it truly cos down to life and death, don't do anything foolish." Li Wei's eyes grew moist. What wonderful family. If I can't treat them well after this, I really would be heartless.
And then — he didn't arrange for anyone else to stay behind. He was actually leaving the camp and the farmland in the hands of just two won, Liang Yuzhi and Li Yue?
Did that count as an NG?
Of course not. Even if Li Wei took everyone with him and abandoned the camp entirely, it still wouldn't count.
But the risk involved was no different from becoming a full-blown gambling addict.
Li Wei had once looked down on gambling addicts more than anyone. Now he'd beco one himself.
There were reasons for it, naturally.
First: through a month of observation and quiet testing, he was fairly certain that the newly arrived Liang Yuzhi and Li Yue were players at Hathaway's level — genuinely powerful, no matter how weak they appeared on the surface. Leaving those two at the camp ant there was absolutely nothing to worry about, as long as they weren't deliberately throwing the ga.
Absolutely nothing.
What kind of mutated creature could destroy the farmland or seize the camp right under the noses of two powerhouses like that?
Second: building on the first point, Li Wei reasoned that two figures of that caliber wouldn't have co to his pioneering branch just to cause a little trouble and leave. That would be an insult to players of their level.
It was like wanting hand-cut noodles for dinner — you wouldn't ignore a perfectly good kitchen knife and drag out a CNC machine just to slice them. That would be a waste.
So Li Wei was willing to bet that Liang Yuzhi and Li Yue intended to make a significant enough impact on this pioneering branch — and reap a significant enough reward — before they'd be satisfied enough to leave.
In short: they probably didn't care at all about the Ministry of Internal Affairs' ranking. Their goal was aid at the Head of Household himself — to pull Li Wei off his pedestal, grind him into the mud, and turn this territory into their own. That was the only logic that made sense.
In that case, the camp and the farmland — from their perspective — were clearly their own future assets. Why would they destroy them? Why would they abandon them?
Exactly.
Third: building on the first two points, Li Wei wanted to take Leon, Thomas, Zhao Xuanxuan, and the newly arrived Zhang Jinjun — five people total — out on a scavenging run. That was a solid group.
Numbers ant strength.
Not only would scavenging be more effective, but they'd be able to handle danger more easily, and the returns would be greater.
Simply put: while the lingering authority of the Autocrat Buff still held, why not earn more Contribution and build up more of an advantage? Wasn't that worth doing?
It was barely half a sche, but it was sothing.
Li Wei then spent a full 100 Contribution points issuing the monthly main quest assignnts.
There was no helping it — the bigger the ambition, the bigger the cost.
For instance, Liang Yuzhi and Li Yue's monthly main quest rewards were each set at 100 points — aning under normal circumstances, they'd each earn 200 points of base Contribution.
Leon, Thomas, and Zhao Xuanxuan's monthly main quest rewards were each 80 points — aning 160 points each under normal conditions.
But once Li Wei completed his own monthly main quest this month, the base reward was 500 Contribution points. It sounded absurd — but that was simply the reality.
Because that was what being an autocrat ant.
Everyone else worked themselves to the bone and earned only a trickle. Where did all the excess Contribution go?
Straight into Li Wei's hands, naturally.
Next, it was ti to see what this Zhang Jinjun was made of.
"Leon, Thomas — find a way to upgrade the handcarts. We have a tire pump now, don't we? Inflatable tires are a lot better than wooden wheels. We'll need three carts for this run."
Li Wei gave the order. These handcarts, built around salvaged automotive wheel hubs, had an impressive load capacity — carrying five hundred kilograms fully loaded was no strain at all.
Three carts ant fifteen hundred kilograms of carrying capacity. For a scavenging run, that would be enormously useful.
"Don't worry, cousin. Leave the small stuff to us. You've been pushing yourself hard — get so sleep." Leon played the loyal sidekick with practiced ease.
"Brother, can I sew you a tactical backpack?"
Li Wei's fragile little sister suddenly spoke up, her voice soft and tentative. Huh? What are you up to?
A dozen thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. Li Wei imdiately broke into an indulgent smile, reached over, and ruffled Li Yue's hair. "Little sis, you're still not fully recovered — don't push yourself too hard. Tell what you want while I'm out scavenging, and I'll bring it back for you."
"Brother, I just want you to co back safe."
Li Yue's eyes reddened, her expression a mixture of quiet suffering and tender attachnt — with a thread of quiet resolve buried beneath it all.
"Brother, please let sew you a tactical backpack. I've actually been preparing the materials for the past few days. I'm using rat hide — I know it's a bit unpleasant, but the leather is actually quite tough. Once it's properly tanned, the quality is decent. You'll be fighting at a mont's notice out there. Having a proper pack that can carry your weapons and keep them within reach will make a real difference."
A tactical backpack?
Another offer Li Wei couldn't refuse.
"Then — alright. Thank you for the trouble." Li Wei agreed. He had no way to say no.
Back in the Rookie Mission, the second-generation Penny had sewn him a pack that could carry a wooden spear — convenient and practical.
A sha it wasn't One-Star quality and couldn't be taken out of that world.
He'd been quietly bothered by that ever since.
During his last battle against the mutated Rat King, one of the reasons he hadn't brought the Bloodthirsty Spear was exactly this. In combat, every second counted — he couldn't afford to split his attention wondering where each weapon was.
He only had two hands.
So a tactical backpack he could wear on his back was genuinely invaluable.
"Brother, hold still — I need to asure your shoulder width, waist, and height."
Li Yue murmured softly, tracing asurents across his back with her fingers. The scene was oddly warm. If there had been an affection display, the character Li Wei was playing would certainly be gaining points with Li Yue right now.
Not that it mattered much. Li Yue's gesture was probably also a precaution against being swept out the door. Or did she have so other sche in mind?
Today's Li Wei was no naive nobleman's son nad George.
But Li Yue had clearly co prepared. She produced needle and thread and worked with unhurried confidence — a skilled seamstress.
Li Wei had intended to leave and sleep, but watching Li Yue sew was genuinely pleasing to the eye. He thought the feeling wasn't so different from when he himself was whittling wooden spears.
Based on that alone, he was willing to bet that once this tactical backpack was finished, it would co out at One-Star quality — or possibly Two-Star. She definitely had an agenda.
Li Yue sewed through the entire night. Li Wei watched beside her the entire night, and found it well worth his ti.
"Brother, take a look — does the backpack fit?"
Li Yue asked with a hint of happiness in her voice.
When Li Wei took the backpack, the associated information ca to him all at once.
Two-Star?
【Family mber Li Yue has gifted you a Two-Star piece of equipnt — Tactical Backpack. The affection of the character you are playing toward her has increased significantly.】
【Na: Tactical Backpack】
【Quality: Two-Star】
【This is a finely crafted, exceptionally lightweight tactical backpack, sewn from mutated rat hide and reinforced with a small amount of wooden board. It can carry a large volu of supplies while also serving as an excellent weapon carrier. External attachnt points: two quivers of arrows, three throwing spears, one heavy wooden sword, one longbow, and a small sleeping pouch sized for a compact hunting pet.】
【Property: -4 Encumbrance】
—
Impressive. She'd casually produced a Two-Star piece of equipnt. Li Wei looked at Li Yue with a complicated expression, then let her help him put on the backpack and fasten the straps. It was comfortable — even better than his previous one.
When he took it off, loaded it with supplies and various weapons, and put it back on, the sensation of lightness, ease, and freedom of movent was striking.
The added weight barely registered.
-4 Encumbrance was equivalent to a passive 2 Agility for Li Wei.
His Three-Star Engraved Armor was 6 Encumbrance, and his Three-Star War Bow was 4 Encumbrance — combined, that was the equivalent of losing 5 Agility.
Now he was negating 4 points of that.
Excellent. Truly excellent.
"Brother, no matter what happens — you have to co back alive. You're all I have left."
Li Yue threw herself against Li Wei's chest and began to sob, her grief genuine and unguarded. Li Wei felt it hit him sowhere real — his nose stung, his eyes grew wet. It was true: now it was just the two of them, brother and sister, leaning on each other.
And in that mont, Li Wei genuinely didn't dare let his thoughts wander, didn't dare make a face or think sarcastic thoughts — because he could faintly sense it: with Li Yue's raw, unguarded emotion pouring out like this, so invisible force had been stirred. If he perford poorly now, he'd NG for certain.
In the end, Li Wei and Li Yue shared a scene of genuine, tearful embrace — and he didn't slip up once.
Nor did he let Li Yue get the upper hand.
You may have given a Two-Star piece of equipnt, but what is a re possession compared to the bond between a brother and sister? That is the truly priceless thing.
By the ti they finally separated, both of them with red-rimd eyes, Li Wei could feel that invisible force settle back into balance. Ha — the affection between them was even again.
And in that mont, Li Wei even caught a fleeting glimr of sothing in the depths of his fragile little sister's eyes — admiration.
Huh. Admiration? What was that about?
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