Just a Matter of Practice

"Mixi, I'm really glad you feel that way. You can make one outfit for me first, then take everyone's measurements once Phila, Penny, and Lyon get back. I'm sure they'll all be happy."

As soon as Li Wei finished speaking, several lines of information silently appeared.

[Professional Tailor*** has triggered the monthly family Main Quest—make a set of winter clothes and a pair of Straw Shoes for every family member. She needs at least three family members to agree before she can join the monthly family Main Quest. Otherwise, she can only assist you this month and help you complete your own family Main Quest.]

[You have agreed]

[Professional Craftsman*** has agreed]

[Professional Chef*** has agreed]

[New Player*** is still within the three-day protection period and has not triggered the monthly family Main Quest. They are not eligible to vote and cannot receive messages.]

[Professional Tailor*** has officially started the monthly family Main Quest. Upon completion, she will earn 5 Family Contribution Points.]

[Your monthly family Main Quest is being adjusted. Instead of being completed by two people, it must now be completed by one, increasing its difficulty. Upon completion, you will earn 15 Family Contribution Points.]

[Because Professional Tailor***'s monthly family Main Quest was not arranged and directed by the head of the family, this month's head of the family will not receive any related benefits.]

--

Damn!

So that was the catch.

Li Wei stared in disbelief. Suddenly, he remembered how Penny had ordered him around when he first arrived. Could that have been for the same reason?

Impressive. Veteran players really were something else. Once he cleared this round, he'd be able to show off a little next time they did a quest like this.

Also, triggering a quest partway through like this was basically snatching the reward right out of the head of the family's hands. Penny would probably hate Mixi for it.

While Li Wei's thoughts continued to wander, Mixi gave him a sweet smile and skipped away.

She'd already gotten what she wanted.

--

By dusk, while Li Wei was making more scarecrows for the Wheat Field, Penny was the last to return. She hadn't even come back for lunch.

Who knew when she'd woven such a huge carrying basket and secured it to herself with rope? It held some Iron Ore—not much to look at, but at least a hundred pounds' worth.

Sweat streamed down her like a little river, her hair was plastered together, and her face was covered in dust. The sun had tanned her dark, and with her hunched posture, she looked even smaller and thinner.

She was really pushing herself. Li Wei hurried over to help, lowering the basket to the ground. Truthfully, he wanted to join in the mining too. If nothing else, getting a Miner Card would be great.

Unfortunately, Penny had a complete monopoly on that line of work for now. Unless he finished this month's Main Quest early, claimed the head-of-family position next month, or the head of the family assigned next month's work with a focus on the Blacksmith Shop, he wouldn't get a chance to mine.

"Thanks!"

Penny thanked him, but said nothing more. Phila was just as silent. Even Mixi, the veteran player, had seemed like a different person ever since she got her monthly Main Quest: quiet and withdrawn. She hadn't spoken to Phila or Lyon from start to finish, let alone Penny now.

Of course, everyone was used to it. Casual conversation could easily trigger new story events.

So the new player, Lyon, felt very out of place and seemed stiff and awkward. But he must have sensed something, because his eyes kept turning toward Li Wei, his fellow countryman, hoping to get some useful information from him.

After dinner, the three women—Phila, Penny, and Mixi—unreservedly went back to their room to rest. With all three of them in there, it was a little crowded.

Lyon sat beside the fire, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

Li Wei said nothing either. He simply tossed him a Wooden Spear, then took him on a patrol around the camp before blocking the entrance and exit with obstacles.

"I-I think we need a gate."

Lyon suddenly stammered. That was normal, but what he said was enough to trigger a story event. Well, almost. Right now, building a gate wasn't more important than fishing.

That was different from Mixi wanting to sew winter clothes. That mattered more.

"We'll see if there's a chance later. Right now, we need more food to get through the long winter. Some things have to take priority over others."

Li Wei gave Lyon a meaningful look.

Back by the fire, Li Wei went through his usual routine of whittling wooden arrows. He already had plenty of Feathered Arrows, and even used them for nighttime practice, but he'd kept up the habit of whittling wooden arrows with his knife. It wasn't about the finished product; he was learning to feel the balance and center of gravity as he carved, building up the skills he'd need to make straighter, more uniform shafts in the future.

Yes, it took real skill. The straightness and smoothness of the shaft, its center of gravity—all of it depended on carving it one stroke at a time. Even how much pressure to apply with his hand wasn't something that could be explained in a few words.

It took time.

It took practice.

After unremarkably finishing ten arrow shafts, then unremarkably shooting ten Feathered Arrows, Li Wei turned to Lyon, who looked as if he were deep in thought but was probably just completely lost.

"Aren't you tired? Hurry up and get some rest."

"B-but the room..." Lyon looked a little embarrassed, still carrying the awkwardness of a newcomer and the particular modesty of back home.

"Brother, it's the same for everyone."

Li Wei patted Lyon on the shoulder and dragged him inside. He found a gap and lay down. As if those three bitches would give way even a little when it mattered, just because he was a man and they were women.

What a load of crap. If something was his due, he wasn't about to give it up.

It was warmer when they squeezed together. Autumn had arrived; the days were still hot, but the nights were cold, and the dew was heavy. Only an idiot would stay outside—

Unfortunately, Lyon was that idiot. In the end, he still fled.

Li Wei slept soundly. By the time he woke, daylight was already streaming in, and Phila, Penny, and Mixi had left the house.

Phila had to get up early to cook. It was a fixed part of her monthly Main Quest, though Li Wei didn't know exactly how it was calculated.

Penny had probably set out in the dark with Dried Rations and water. She was working herself to the bone to get a one-star Miner Card as soon as possible.

Mixi was busy making Straw Shoes too.

Lyon, at least, finally had a chance to sleep for a little while in the house.

It would be another perfectly ordinary day, with no surprises or unexpected events—just dull, monotonous, exhausting work.

Still, Li Wei was in good shape, and his mood was fine.

He wasn't planning to compete for head of the family, and he wasn't particularly ambitious. In fact, he rather enjoyed this kind of life.

So he wasn't going to push himself like Penny, sacrificing his health to gain the power he wanted.

If he could, Li Wei thought he'd be happy to spend the rest of his life in this world.

The clear blue sky, the bright, warm sunlight, the verdant valleys and forests—every view seemed to strike a chord in his heart, and he loved it all.