How to establish himself in a new environment? Li Xing's experience before transmigrating told him that housing and work were the foundation.
So, for a transmigrator, having a home of his own meant truly beginning to put down roots in this world.
"Lucy! A-are you sure? Th-this is the housing the town assigned me?"
Li Xing pointed at the building in front of him and turned to Lucy, his face full of shock.
Even Lucy, who gave the impression of being cheerful and lively, wore a complicated expression.
She looked at the house Li Xing was pointing at. Half its roof had collapsed, letting the midday sun shine straight inside. The front door had long since vanished without a trace. From outside, they could see cobwebs crisscrossing the interior. It was clearly no longer fit for people to live in.
Lucy could only give an awkward, bitter smile and explain to Li Xing.
"There's nothing we can do. This house has been abandoned for years. Honestly, none of the people in town ever thought someone would be so out of their mind as to settle in such a remote place."
Li Xing: ...
Lucy watched Li Xing's expression change from anticipation to confusion, then disappointment, and finally complete bewilderment.
She tried to comfort him. "Look, it's not as if you have to live here right now. You can find a job first, then hire everyone to help you! Don't you think?"
Lucy comforted him with an awkward smile while offering her suggestion. Her words prompted Li Xing to think it over.
"You're right. But is there a job here that's suitable for me?"
Lucy stared blankly at Li Xing. The look she gave him, as though he were an idiot, made him realize what was wrong with what he had just said.
"Sorry, I misspoke!" Li Xing hurriedly explained.
On reflection, others saw him as a strong, able-bodied man who could even defeat a pack of wolves. For a man considered outstanding by the standards of this world to ask such a pretentious question of a lady he had only met that morning was rather inappropriate.
Besides, he was a transmigrator with levels.
Lucy indicated that she did not particularly mind his explanation and apology.
Then she said to him, "This place is a little way from the center of Hunter Town, though it isn't too far. In a bit, I'll take you around to get to know the town and say hello to everyone. That way you won't have any misunderstandings with anyone."
With that, before Li Xing could emerge from his bewilderment, she pulled him along toward the town.
They came to a house.
Lucy knocked on the door with Li Xing beside her, and before long, the door opened.
"Good morning, Lucy. Did you need something from me?"
The burly man before them grinned foolishly at Lucy. But when he saw the unfamiliar Li Xing beside her, his smile vanished instantly, and he looked Li Xing over warily.
Lucy did not respond to him. Instead, she turned to Li Xing and introduced him.
"This is Alex, a hunter in Hunter Town. If you're looking for a hunting partner, you could consider him!"
After Li Xing nodded to show he understood, Lucy began introducing the town's unfamiliar visitor to the owner of the house.
"Alex! This is Li Xing, a new member of our town. Uncle Turner gave us specific instructions about this newcomer, so don't cause trouble for him, or Uncle Turner will give you a good beating."
The strong, dark-skinned man named Alex smiled and answered Lucy.
"(*^__^*) Hehe... Don't worry, Lucy! How could I not understand Uncle Turner's instructions? Rest assured! Message received."
"By the way! Is Yilaikesi home? If he is, tell him too."
Lucy peered curiously behind the door.
"He's not here. He went hunting in the mountains and woods! He left this morning, but don't worry, I'll tell him about it."
Seeing Alex's expression, as if he had everything under control, Lucy believed him. She turned to Li Xing and said,
"Come on! To the next house!"
Alex smiled as he saw Lucy off, but once she and Li Xing had walked away, his expression instantly turned contemptuous.
"Tch! So what if he's handsome? Just a pretty boy, ptui!"
The front door slammed shut with a bang.
After going inside and briefly getting himself ready, Alex opened the door and came back out. He turned, casually locked the door, and headed toward the smithy.
He intended to ask Uncle Turner about the origins of this "pretty boy" in town!
And so, like an object that could walk, Li Xing was taken by Lucy to every house and introduced to the villagers.
"The child playing with his dog at the door is called Weiershi. He often comes over to my house to play, too. Everyone in this family is easy to get along with."
Before Li Xing could reply, Lucy led him into the yard.
"Weiershi, is your father home?"
Hearing them, Weiershi turned around with the puppy in his arms and saw Lucy.
"Sister Lucy, what brings you here? My dad isn't home. Did you need him for something? Actually, Sister Lucy, I can help him take care of some things too."
Hearing Weiershi's words, Lucy hurriedly interrupted and made the introduction.
"No, it's nothing. I just wanted to introduce you to a new friend." She pointed at Li Xing. "This big brother is called Li Xing. He's a new member of our town, so be sure to say hello when you see him from now on."
Weiershi tilted his head and saw Li Xing's handsome face. "Sister Lucy! Why are this big brother's eyes black? His hair is black too, and it's so short. How strange!"
Li Xing: ...
"Lucy, you're here!"
At another house, a young woman opened the door. When she saw Li Xing, she leaned close to Lucy's ear and asked softly,
"Lucy, who's this man? He's so handsome. Don't tell me you're getting married soon and brought your sweetheart over to let me know!"
Lucy: ...
Li Xing, whose physical senses were keen: ...
"Oh, Lucy! It's you! How come you have time to visit my lumberyard? Has your family run out of firewood again? Don't worry, I don't have much else here, but take all the firewood you want."
Lucy: ...
The lumberyard owner looked at Li Xing. "Oh! Who's the young man behind you? He's so handsome, he's got a good eighty percent of my charm when I was young! Hahaha."
Li Xing: ...
The workers: ...
"Lucy! Who's that young man behind you? He's so good-looking. You'd better treasure him, unlike the one in my house..."
"Lucy! Introduce me to that handsome guy behind you, would you? Haven't you always wanted my family's bread? This time I won't give you crumbs. How about a whole basket of bread as an introduction fee..."
"Lucy, you really must be careful. Don't let his looks blind you. What if he's a pretty boy who lives off a woman? Wouldn't your life be even harder? So, why not consider me..."
Lucy: ...
Li Xing: ...
After several rounds of introductions, both Li Xing and Lucy were exhausted in body and mind.
Lucy discovered that introducing a newcomer to the townspeople was not only a lot of talking, but also risked exposing her embarrassing past. Not to mention the many troublesome matters that inevitably came up, from soothing people's feelings to explaining all kinds of situations.
Li Xing, resting beside her, also discovered that although his handsome appearance could win him favor with women, it could easily make enemies among men his own age.
Thinking of the librarian from before he transmigrated, Li Xing unconsciously compared himself to him.
He found that he, who was "slightly inferior," was not yet handsome enough to appeal to both men and women. (Ptui!)
All in all, Li Xing had not come away empty-handed this time.
He had confirmed one fact: having Lucy, who was at his side, introduce him from house to house had been the right decision!
Li Xing also discovered that Lucy was very popular in town and that the townspeople paid close attention to her current circumstances. From analyzing their conversations, he learned that Lucy was not yet married and that she often asked people for things.
Looking at the slender figure ahead of him, Li Xing suddenly grew curious. Just as he was about to ask something,
Lucy suddenly turned around and pointed at a house.
"This is the last one."