Rules

A supplement to the previous chapter's setup.

[A Professional Craftsman discovered a small iron ore mine deep in the mountains and forests, twelve miles from the family's home. She has completed preliminary surveys and opened a safe route between the mine and the family camp. She has decided to donate this small iron ore mine to the family. As iron ore is a special three-star mineral resource in this world, she has received one hundred Family Contribution Points!]

[However, she must ensure that she provides no less than 50 units of Iron Ore to the family within the next six months. Unless there are irresistible reasons, the contribution points will be revoked.]

[Friendly reminder: The Iron Ore mined during this process does not affect experience or Main Quest contribution.]

[Friendly reminder: Such resources can only be discovered by corresponding professionals. For example, iron ore, copper ore, stone ore, etc., can only be prospected by blacksmiths, craftsmen, or miners. High-quality wild vegetables and herbs can only be found by mountain dwellers, chefs, herbalists, or hunters. Precious trees can only be found by loggers, carpenters, or some craftsmen. Precious beasts can only be found by hunters or mountain dwellers. High-quality fish can only be caught by fishermen. High-quality seeds from farmland can only be planted by Farmers.]

[Similarly, exquisite food can only be cooked by chefs, fine clothing can only be made by tailors, high-quality game requires skilled butchers to process, and so on.]

[Warning: Non-corresponding professionals can still process corresponding materials, but they must bear a severe drop in quality. If it is a family-owned, valuable material that is forcibly used, equivalent punishment will be imposed.]

Phila remained silent. Next month, she wouldn't be alone; she'd have a young son, Lyon, joining them. She could ask Lyon to go foraging with her or have him go mining with Penny.

This was a delicate matter. One was her own mother, and the other was the family matriarch, her older sister. Both scenarios were plausible in terms of the story.

It wasn't like Li Wei's fiancée, Mixi, who could only work with Li Wei according to the story.

"Mom, autumn is a harvest season. The mountains and forests are practically a treasure trove. You're the best at this. I remember there's a patch of Chestnut Trees to the east…" Penny began to challenge Phila.

"It's too early to forage now. Let's wait until next month,"

Phila interrupted Penny. When it came to foraging, she was the queen; her primary profession was Chef.

"This month, I can gather more Wild Fruit, and if possible, some Honey. Also, I want to go fishing. That's the priority. I can't guarantee anything else, but this winter, Mom won't let you go hungry. That Mushroom Meat Soup can even be served once a day."

Under Penny's relentless pressure, Phila finally stated her position and revealed her trump card.

The Recipe she had previously donated wasn't just a one-time thing. It meant the family had completely mastered the dish, from ingredients to preparation. It was like a mother mastering a dish in the story.

If a mother knew there was a delicious dish, why wouldn't she make it for her children? That wouldn't make sense logically.

Therefore, as a Chef responsible for the family's daily meals, Phila would naturally be required by the rules to eat it at least twenty times a month. This was the minimum requirement to accumulate one Free Attribute Point over six months.

This month, Phila had strictly followed the minimum requirement, making Mushroom Meat Soup twenty times, which equated to two meals every three days.

If she had made even one meal less, the rules wouldn't consider her task complete, and Li Wei and Penny wouldn't even need to supervise.

"Once a day? Mom, won't that be too tiring for you?" Penny asked with a hint of worry, but the satisfaction in her eyes betrayed her.

Mushroom Meat Soup wasn't a simple recipe. It was a one-star dish with attributes that only a two-star Professional Chef could create. She had tried to replicate it before, using the same ingredients, process, and order, but it was useless.

Perhaps she couldn't gather higher-quality one-star mushrooms, just like how only she had the chance to discover that three-star Iron Ore mine.

If Phila was willing to make Mushroom Meat Soup once a day, it would be equivalent to getting one Free Attribute Point in less than five months. Of course, this was assuming that the Head of the Family could demand Phila do so every month. Plus, since it was already donated to the family, they wouldn't have to pay for meals.

It was a great deal.

"It will be a bit tiring, but I can let that child Lyon help me," Phila said with a loving smile. She was negotiating here.

But Penny wasn't easily swayed and immediately sought further confirmation.

"But you said you'd guarantee enough food for five people for the winter…"

"No problem, I guarantee the food for the winter." Phila was willing to make a significant sacrifice to win over the new player, Lyon. She had her own motives, not just maternal love.

At this, Penny nodded with satisfaction. There was no need to specify an exact amount, as Phila had guaranteed to supply food for five people for the winter. Once the Main Quest was issued, there would be corresponding figures.

Under the rules, no one could cheat.

"Then, I'll be responsible for expanding the house. For the five of us, we need at least three, no, four rooms. Also, I'll be in charge of the winter heating fireplace. The rest of the time, I'll be mining Iron Ore and transporting it back. I'll be responsible for supplying all the tools and weapons the family needs."

"So be it."

Penny made the final decision, and at the same time, the Main Quest was issued. This time, it was relatively harmonious, and it basically meant that the three players had moved beyond low-level, chaotic competition.

Or rather, they all had enough influence within the family and their own areas of expertise.

Even if someone else became the Head of the Family, it would be difficult to force changes.

Just like Phila's foraging and cooking, who could replace that? After all, everyone had to eat.

Li Wei's Farmer profession, plus hunting, who could replace that?

And Penny's craftsman and Blacksmith Shop related work, who could replace that?

This was a new stage in the family's orderly development.

However, their competition would continue with new family members.

In the future, factions might emerge within the family. If they couldn't break through, family members without irreplaceable abilities could only depend on veteran players.

Speaking of which, how could he win over his fiancée?

This wasn't something that could be solved by sleeping together.

Penny had previously tried to force herself on him, throwing herself at him, but her fiancé, Sam, hadn't remained infinitely loyal to her. Once he realized the game's rules, he decisively made the choice that he thought was most beneficial to him.

So, let fate decide. This fiancée was definitely not someone he could keep. He wondered why Phila thought she could handle her cheap son, Lyon?

After dinner, Phila and Penny went back to sleep. Li Wei stayed behind as usual. He first used obstacles to block the entrance to the camp gate, then lit a Bonfire, and patrolled the area with his Wooden Spear before re-stringing his Hunting Bow. He took out ten Fletchingless Wooden Arrows and ten Wooden Arrows and began his daily training.

During this time, unless it rained, he practiced archery every night. The training volume wasn't large, but with persistence, the results were remarkable.

He could now shoot proficiently with both hands. Within thirty meters, he could hit a stationary target 100% of the time. For moving targets, like pheasants, he could hit nine out of ten.

The Hunting Bow was just a bit weak; he didn't even dare to draw it fully, afraid of damaging it.

The next morning, Li Wei woke up leisurely to the sound of Phila's joyous weeping. Her youngest son, Lyon, had arrived.

He quickly walked out of the room and saw a somewhat bewildered and lost young man standing outside the camp. He looked very young, like a university student, perhaps not even in his third year.

Phila and Penny were working together to move the obstacle blocking the camp gate. Phila, while moving it, was rapidly but easily asking questions. This was important, to make the new player understand their identity and not be like Sam before, rashly saying things they shouldn't.

Fortunately, Lyon reacted quickly. Although shock was still in his eyes, he immediately stepped forward to help move the obstacle. Then, when Phila tearfully hugged him, he naturally responded.

"My poor child, you must have suffered so much. It's wonderful you found your way here and are alive. Your father died of illness three months ago. Now, only your sister Penny and your brother George are left here. Although it's tough here, it's still a home, at least. Are you hungry? Mother has made meat and vegetable porridge!"

Lyon nodded repeatedly but dared not speak, perhaps afraid of revealing himself.

At this moment, Penny stepped forward and patted Lyon on the shoulder. "Good kid, we were so worried when you got separated! Mother cried for days. I didn't expect you to catch up. That's great."

Li Wei also stepped forward and hugged Lyon after Penny. "Mixi also got separated. Did you meet her on the way?"

Lyon shook his head frantically and stammered, "N-no."

He was speaking Chinese, just like Li Wei, so a flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes.

A fellow countryman. Too bad it's useless.

Once he figures out the game rules and realizes everyone else is a game player, haha!

Li Wei was still quite expectant. He wondered which was more formidable, Lyon or Sam?

After the pleasantries and breakfast, he picked up his Axe and went to chop trees. For the next month, Logging was the main focus of his Main Quest. He had to race against time, because once the wheat ripened, all other work would have to be set aside.

As for his fiancée Mixi, who had yet to arrive, he held no hope and didn't plan to interact with her excessively. This was because Penny's Family Contribution Points were far ahead, Phila was second, and he was only third. Competing for Head of the Family would become increasingly difficult, so he needed to secure his own foundation.

For this logging session, he only chopped small trees, about ten to fifteen centimeters in diameter. His plan was to chop fifty logs first to meet the requirements for expanding the house.

Additionally, they needed to expand the walls, which would require more Logs.

Li Wei mused as he chopped vigorously. He was not the same as before; his Strength was sufficient, his Stamina was sufficient, and his body had adapted. In less than two hours, he easily felled five trees. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he was about to return to the camp for some cool boiled water when he suddenly looked up and saw a woman standing outside the forest.

She had brown hair, a face full of freckles, was slightly plump, and her figure was alright, but overall, she looked a bit ugly