Chapter 47: Entering the Cold Winter Season

As for the option of not joining Earth Village, Yun Qimu hadn’t even considered it for a second.

Although she wasn’t exactly satisfied with the main brain that had forced her into this binding, she had to admit that the Earth Village it brought was incredibly attractive to people in this interstellar era.

Not to mention on this harsh exile star—even out in the wider galaxy, very few could resist the lure of its benefits.

Wu Xingyu’s face was expressionless as he said coolly, “I want cash.”

Yun Qimu raised an eyebrow at him. “Oh? Sure. Just bring out a bag to hold it.”

“Mm.”

Wu Xingyu paused for a moment, then, as if unintentionally showing off, revealed his freshly cleaned hands. Eight of his ten fingers were adorned with dazzling gemstone rings—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, and silver—each one extravagant and eye-catching, sparkling so brightly they could blind someone.

Yun Qimu stared, dumbfounded.

She clutched her chest in silence. This was daylight robbery by flaunting wealth! It stabbed her poor heart!

But it only made her more determined to fleece this rich sheep for all he was worth.

Wu Xingyu’s lips curled up slightly, his brilliant silver eyes shining with a hint of smugness.

After another round of trading mutated beast corpses, night gradually fell on the exile star. Due to the magnetic core storm, the sky grew even thicker and grayer, and every breath brought in a mouthful of dust.

Though the people of Earth Village were reluctant to leave, with the threat of another magnetic storm looming, they could only return to the village, heads drooping in regret.

Anyone who didn’t know better would think they hadn’t gained anything at all!

Just after completing a round of system tasks, Haru was sitting under the danmu tree, munching on fruit and resting, when he saw little Zhuzhu returning with the crowd, her lips pouting and her chubby cheeks full of unhappiness. Worried, he hurried over, flustered and trying to comfort her, “Don’t be sad, Zhuzhu. It’s okay if you didn’t get any corpses or earn any spirit coins. Uncle can earn them! I’ll buy you an even prettier little wooden house.”

As he spoke, he carefully took out a single spirit coin from his pocket, his big rough hand presenting it to Zhuzhu like a treasure, grinning foolishly. “The system said I performed well today and rewarded me with this for my hard work. It’s for you.”

Zhuzhu tilted her little head, her big watery eyes looking at Haru in confusion. “But Uncle Haru, I did earn spirit coins! I got five hundred and thirty-eight!”

She waved her chubby arms excitedly, and as if afraid he wouldn’t believe her, she pulled out a cloth pouch from her storage space, stuffed full of spirit coins—so big it was almost the size of her head.

She opened the pouch, revealing the coins inside, each one glowing with a purple light and sparkling brilliantly.

Haru: ……

He looked at her bulging bag, then at the single, pitiful coin in his own hand.

His rough face instantly turned beet red, and he was left stammering, unable to say another word.

Little Zhuzhu, tiny as she was, patted his elephant-like leg with her small hand, her voice sweet and comforting. “Don’t feel bad, Uncle Haru. I earned those coins with my skills! Even Big Brother Pidan and Doggie can’t compare to me!”

She puffed out her chest with pride.

“Wow, Zhuzhu, you’re amazing!” Doudou, another lively little one, clapped her hands excitedly. “What about Brother Al? How many coins did you earn?”

“Not that many, just a little over nine hundred. Nowhere near as good as General Xiaoyu,” Al scratched his head, lips pressed together in shyness.

Yun Xiaoyu, the cool little guy, blushed slightly under the admiring gazes of his friends. His eyes darted to the side. “It’s… it’s not that impressive. I only earned a little over a thousand.”

“That’s still awesome! You could buy so many little wooden houses!”

The kids chirped and laughed, and their joy spread to the adults nearby, who couldn’t help but smile too.

All the earlier disappointment vanished, and everyone began sharing stories of their day’s harvest—some boasting, some envious, some just plain happy. The place was buzzing with excitement!

But for Wu Xingyu and his two companions, who were all sporting bumps on their heads and wincing in pain, things weren’t so cheerful—especially with Pei Yu beside them, pointing and slapping his leg as he laughed, his cackling sounding just like a flock of ducks.

Wu Xingyu’s icy silver eyes fixed on Pei Yu, making his laughter grow quieter and quieter, until he finally pouted and fell silent. Only then did Wu Xingyu look away, turning his gaze to his little uncle, who had already walked into the courtyard, silently questioning him with his eyes: What happened?

Mo Xie’s cold, handsome face stiffened for a moment. He coughed awkwardly and explained, “To keep Pei Yu from sneaking in and stealing pumpkins, I set entry permissions on the little wooden house.”

Pei Yu, who had been laughing just a moment ago, immediately pouted in protest and shouted at Mo Xie, “Cousin, how could you! We’re best buddies, aren’t we supposed to share good stuff? Besides, I bring you danmu fruit every day!”

At the mention of this, Mo Xie’s face turned green. He gritted his teeth. “That’s really not necessary.”

He’d never liked sweet things, and danmu fruit was so sickeningly sweet it made him nauseous. The last one he’d eaten was only because he didn’t want to waste it, and he’d barely managed to choke it down. There was no way he’d eat another. Yet Pei Yu insisted on trading danmu fruit for his pumpkins. Hmph, as if he’d ever agree to that.

Pei Yu, completely oblivious to his cousin’s glare, was still pouting and about to argue when Yun Qimu, walking over from next door, interrupted.

“Why aren’t you all going in to wash up? You’re covered in mud—how can you stand it?”

Yun Qimu walked over with a big basket, her eyes falling on Wu Xingyu, who was still filthy and caked in dried mud. She couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.

Judging by those fair, slender hands—without a single callus—this guy was definitely used to a pampered life. Yet he’d managed to spend the whole day out there, picking up corpses in the mud.

She’d seen it in his eyes—this was someone even more ruthless than her when it came to making money!

Pei Yu eagerly nodded in agreement. “Exactly! Cousin, hurry up and let us in to wash. If this keeps up, my smooth, silky skin will dry out and get all rough!”

“You’re not a woman, what do you need smooth, silky skin for?” Mo Xie shot him a glare, but still unlocked the permissions and let everyone in.

Pei Yu cheered up instantly, and as he walked, he sidled up to Yun Qimu, peeking into her basket. His eyes lit up. “Village Chief, you’re here to trade for cousin’s pumpkins again? Great! So much meat, too!”

He stared hungrily, smacking his lips, already planning to stick around and mooch a meal off his cousin."