Lin Cuiying's eyes were cold, and her tone was icy as she said, "Is there absolutely no room for negotiation?"
The gray symbol above the system's head blinked, seemingly hesitant: [Host, this...this mechanism was set by higher-ups, I can't change it!]
"It was decided by higher-ups? Who are your superiors?" Lin Cuiying frowned, her tone revealing a hint of dissatisfaction.
The system avatar hurriedly waved its hands, the symbol above its head changing to a panicked expression: 【No, no, no! Host, I can't say! It's classified!】
"Secret?" Lin Cuiying sneered. "Is the fact that lottery chances can't be accumulated also a secret?"
The symbol above the system's little figure's head changed to a sad face: [Host, this...this really isn't a secret, it's just how the mechanism works, there's nothing I can do about it!]
Lin Cuiying felt a surge of resentment when she thought about how eight out of the nine treasure chests contained only "thank you" messages.
"There's always a way, why don't you find a different host?"
The little figure on the screen reappeared, its symbol above its head now displaying a look of utter shock: [Host, what do you mean by this?]
Lin Cuiying's lips curled into a cold smile. "The literal meaning."
The system avatar seemed intimidated by Lin Cuiying's imposing manner, and the symbol above its head changed to a panicked expression: "Host, don't do anything rash! I'm already bound to you, and I can't change it at will."
"Oh? You can't just change it." A sly glint flashed in Lin Cuiying's eyes.
The system avatar stammered and couldn't speak.
Lin Cuiying knew there was definitely room for negotiation. "If you don't want to switch hosts, then find a way to accumulate more lottery chances for me, otherwise..."
"Otherwise what?" The system hesitated for a long time before finally asking the question.
"So the only option is to force a system replacement?"
[Forced replacement?] The symbol above the system's little figure's head turned panicked, and its tone became urgent: [Host, you can't do such a thing!]
Lin Cuiying chuckled in a low voice, "Looks like you're even more afraid of being untied than I am?"
[Host!] The screen suddenly began to shake violently, and the chibi-style figure knelt down on the virtual interface with a thud, the symbols and gibberish exploding into a snowflake.
A few barks came from afar, startling the sparrows on the locust tree branches into fluttering flight.
Lin Cuiying gently tapped the wood-chopping knife at her waist with her fingertips, and the little figure curled up in the light screen actually started to sob.
The "嘤......" symbol suddenly turned into a teardrop shape.
"So what if it's cumulative..." the little figure tugged at the hem of its clothes, sobbing. "But you can only accumulate three times at a time, that's the maximum limit!"
"Nine times." Lin Cuiying snapped a dry branch in her hand, the crisp sound startling the last sparrow into flight.
The symbol instantly transformed into an exclamation mark: 【Host!】 The little figure frantically spun around in place, causing ripples to appear on the virtual screen. 【Do you think this is haggling at a market?】
"Nine times, the second time!" She lifted her foot and crushed the dry branches, the debris making a soft groaning sound on the sole of her shoe.
The symbols exploded like fireworks, and the little figure suddenly bowed ninety degrees, ["That's really no more! If the main system detects an anomaly..."]
It suddenly covered its mouth, and the symbols turned into gibberish.
Lin Cuiying narrowed her eyes, catching the key information: "Main system?"
[Host!] The little figure suddenly rushed to the screen, the symbol changing into a prayer-like gesture, [Nine times in total! Nine times! Please stop asking!]
A semi-transparent progress bar suddenly popped up above its head, and a bright red warning sign flashed wildly.
Lin Cuiying looked at the words "irregular operation" on the progress bar and suddenly chuckled.
She reached out and lightly touched the screen, startling the little figure so much that it fell backward: "Deal."
The symbol instantly turned into a smiley face, and the little man wiped away non-existent sweat with a sigh of relief.
In the distance, wisps of smoke rise from chimneys, and the twilight gilds the locust trees at the village entrance.
Lin Cuiying tucked the machete back into her waistband, turned around, and strode into Luhua Village.
The setting sun cast its last rays upon her, leaving her with a long shadow.
As soon as Lin Cuiying reached the front of her yard, the fence gate creaked open.
Chen poked her head out, her face full of anxiety: "Yingzi, why are you only coming back now? Your father was so worried. Where have you been?"
Lin Cuiying stepped into the courtyard, put down the basket on her shoulder, and said with a smile, "Mother, I'm fine. I just took a walk in the mountains."
Mrs. Chen breathed a sigh of relief: "It's good that you're alright."
Lin Cuiying nodded, and after putting down the wood-chopping knife at her waist, she realized that only Chen was home. "Father and the others aren't home?"
"When you came back, didn't you see your father and Tiandong?"
"No!"
"The two of them had just left home with Daya and Xiaoya."
"Mother, I'll go take a look."
After saying this, Lin Cuiying turned and ran out like the wind.
Madam Chen chuckled from behind, "She's a mother of two girls now, and she's still so impulsive."
Little did she know that Lin Cuiying's impatience stemmed from her anxiety.
Both Lin Changgeng and Lin Tiandong were injured. When Lin Changgeng returned from searching for the black bear in the morning, Lin Cuiying noticed that her father's leg was acting strangely.
Although the water used was top-grade spiritual spring water, it was only used last night, so I still need to rest properly to avoid developing any health problems later.
When Lin Cuiying reached the end of the village, she saw four figures stretched long by the setting sun, with tiny dust particles floating in the golden-red halo.
Lin Changgeng walked at the front, leaning on a smooth wooden stick. Lin Cuiying's gaze fell on Lin Changgeng's slightly lame right leg.
"Father!" She rushed forward and took Lin Changgeng's arm. "Why did you and Tiandong run away?"
After saying this, Lin Cuiying turned her head and glared at Lin Tiandong.
Lin Tiandong shrank back slightly when he was glared at. "Sister, I'm fine."
"You're alright? Don't you know how bad your injuries are?"
Lin Tiandong touched his head and smiled sheepishly, "Sis, I'm really fine. I feel like most of my injuries have healed."
Lin Cuiying said irritably, "It takes a hundred days to recover from a broken bone! Go back and rest properly."
"Yingzi, it was your father who brought them out to look for you," Lin Changgeng said with a smile, trying to smooth things over. "You haven't come back for so long, we were worried that something might have happened to you."
Lin Cuiying felt a warmth in her heart and smiled, "Dad, I'm fine. I just went for a walk in the mountains."
"That's good, let's all go back now."
Lin Changgeng and the others nodded, and the group turned and headed home.
Hearing the noise, Chen quickly came out of the kitchen. "Everyone's back. Come and eat."
Lin Cuiying helped Lin Changgeng sit down and called two maids to go to the kitchen to get bowls.
Daya and Xiaoya each carried a chipped, rough porcelain bowl, half-filled with grayish-green wild vegetable porridge.
Lin Cuiying took the bowls from the two maids and placed them on the table.
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