Refusing to marry a widower, I went on a crazy spree of sending my children to the army.

Sure enough, Zhao Zhaodi said shyly, "Is it...is that okay?"

It felt like a windfall.

Zhao Zhaodi glanced at the neighbor next door and asked loudly, "Sister Erhua, are you sure he would be interested in a country girl like me?"

"Of course they can! Country girls are quick and efficient; all they want after get off work is a hot meal!"

Qiao Manman took a deep breath and kept reminding herself: "Let go of the urge to help others and respect their fate!"

As it grew dark, Qiao Manman finished her task ahead of schedule, had the scorekeeper check it, and then went home for dinner.

In the evening, He Nian steamed some buns and cooked some rice porridge.

Qiao Manman casually tossed a handful of peanuts and a few dates into the earthenware pot. He Nian saw this and gave her a doting glare: "Tune in!"

Qiao Manman clung to He Nian's arm and said coquettishly, "Mom, I'm just greedy. It's not easy to get something delicious, if I don't share it with those little cuties in the hole in the wall, will they get it for free?"

He Nian gently patted the back of her hand: "Go wash up, you're covered in sweat."

Qiao Manman smiled and agreed, then went back to her room to tidy herself up.

When she came out, He Nian had already gone to the team to get her cucumbers and tomatoes, which were then chopped and made into a cold salad.

He added, "Our family planted late, so we're afraid we can only harvest one or two crops before autumn."

Qiao Manman didn't care; if there really was no food left at home, she would just take some from the system space.

Even if her adoptive parents don't know the truth, they probably have their own opinions. Since they didn't ask, it means they intend to help her keep it a secret.

"By the way, Tongtong, are there any talismans in the system that prevent people from detecting my abnormality?"

"No, host, but you can exchange for two Loyalty Pills."

The Loyalty Pill guarantees that the other party will obey your commands 100% and will not do anything to harm the host.

"Even if it was unintentional?" Qiao Manman hesitated. "This sounds like something you'd use to manage subordinates!"

"Yes, host, the greatest function of the Loyalty Pill is to cultivate power."

Because of its incredible capabilities, the system advises the host to use it with caution and not to do anything reckless.

Regarding your concerns, the system can assure you that the Loyalty Pill will not harm your parents; it will only make them trust you more and protect all your secrets.

Qiao Manman snapped her fingers: "Sure, Tongtong, then exchange for six Black Jade Bone-Mending Ointments and two Loyalty Pills for me."

"Okay, host. Deduct 800 points to redeem Black Jade Rejuvenating Ointment and Loyalty Pill for you."

Exchange complete. 140 points remaining. The corresponding resources have been stored in the system space; please retrieve them as needed!

Qiao Manman hummed in agreement, finished her meal in big mouthfuls, and then went out for a stroll under the pretext of being bored.

When I returned, I had six plasters and two pills.

"Father, Mother, this is for conditioning your bodies, one for each of you."

Qiao Runming and He Nian put the pills into their mouths without any suspicion.

The pills melted in the mouth, without the bitter taste one might expect; instead, they had a refreshing herbal aroma.

Whether it was a misperception or not, the two felt clear-headed and refreshed, as if they had taken a super tonic.

"Manman, where did you get these pills? Dad thinks they could kill a cow!"

"Mom too, she's full of energy, and her face feels taut!"

Qiao Manman was a little surprised, thinking, "Are the side effects really that severe?" It made her want to try it herself!

The system explained: "Host, the raw materials for refining the Loyalty Pill are all spiritual herbs, and the spiritual power contained within them can effectively improve cell activity."

Well, in your human terms, it's called rejuvenation!

Of course, it's impossible to go back to being eighteen, but my physical condition is far superior to that of my peers.

Qiao Manman smiled and said, "The effect is so good! It seems that the person who gave me the medicine did not lie to me!"

"Alright, Dad, let's put on the plasters. After we finish these few, you'll be able to do rehabilitation."

Qiao Runming nodded expectantly and personally applied the Black Jade Bone-Mending Plaster to the affected area.

The familiar tingling and itching sensation returned, and he gritted his teeth and persevered.

Hearing the noise, the big yellow dog paced anxiously back and forth in the yard, making "woof woof" sounds, as if it were worried.

He Nian said, "It's a good dog. If Manman wants to keep it, then let her keep it!"

Qiao Runming also tried to distract himself with Dahuang, gritting his teeth as he said, "I heard that many people in the team want to adopt it, but it doesn't want to."

It's fate that Big Yellow chose to settle in our home.

Big Yellow has sharp ears; when it heard someone call its name, it barked once towards the house.

Qiao Manman laughed: "It's quite intelligent!"

Half an hour passed in the midst of chatting and laughter.

Qiao Runming's forehead was covered in cold sweat, but he felt better than ever before. He wanted to get up and walk around a few times.

He Nian stopped him: "You should wait until you're fully recovered before doing anything else, so you don't dislocate your bones."

Qiao Manman finished cleaning up the trash: "It's not that bad. Dad has used so much medicine, he's almost fully recovered."

"If Mother is really worried, Father can wait until he has used all twenty doses of medicine before walking again; that will be fine."

He Nian did the math: "Manman, is your dad only two more doses needed?"

Qiao Manman nodded: "Yes, I can't get the last two posts for now. Let's wait a bit longer. I'll definitely get them for Dad within a month at the latest!"

Looking at Qiao Runming's leg, where the scars were almost invisible, He Nian smiled and said, "No rush, no rush. I'm already very satisfied that your dad's leg has recovered like this!"

Qiao Manman hummed in agreement and went back to the west room to sleep.

I had just sat down on the kang (a heated brick bed) when I remembered that I hadn't fed the little hen.

Qiao Manman slapped her forehead, took out two wheat grains, ground them with a small millstone, mixed them with millet, and put them in a small plastic bowl.

I opened the door and went outside to the chicken coop. I found that it had been renovated to be much more luxurious, and the little hens had been fed some vegetable leaves and the like.

Qiao Manman poured the feed from the plastic bowl into the chicken coop and noticed that Da Huang's eyes were gleaming with a sinister wolf-like light in the night.

It stared intently at the grain on the ground, as if it would rush to snatch it as soon as Qiao Manman left.

Helpless, Qiao Manman took out three whole wheat grains and fed them to it.

Ruffle the dog's head: "You have more than the little hen, don't you dare fight with her!"

Big Yellow munched on the wheat grains, seemingly not listening. But after it finished eating, it went back to its kennel to rest.

They look so well-behaved.

Qiao Manman washed her hands and went back to her room to sleep.

I was thinking of meeting Chen Dashan late at night.

Unable to sleep, I rolled around on the kang (heated brick bed) several times.

After finally making it to midnight, Qiao Manman got up, dressed, and prepared to leave.

Then I heard the sounds of fermenting sauce coming from next door.

Qiao Manman: "......"

This house is so poorly soundproofed.

This made the well-informed little witch feel somewhat embarrassed.

Qiao Manman rubbed her nose and lay back down on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Thinking about how hard it must have been for her parents, living in a place like the Qiao family home, and with her being such a big third wheel, they hadn't had any marital relations for so many years.

She couldn't interrupt.

If we don't use protection, is there a chance of getting pregnant?

If she conceived naturally, wouldn't she have lost two merits for nothing?

But those are my own parents. I can't force them to have children just for the sake of accumulating merit!

Qiao Manman pouted, not bothered at all.

Hehehe, she has a brilliant idea!