Boots and Salt

"George, I've finished your winter clothes. Come try them on and see if they fit?"

After dinner, Mixi suddenly smiled and handed a rough Wolf Skin robe to Li Wei. This was the second time she had spoken to Li Wei directly in the past twenty-odd days.

Li Wei was unfazed and didn't stand on ceremony. He quickly slipped on the Wolf Skin robe and moved around. How to put it, the texture was definitely poor, that was a hardware limitation, nothing could be done about it.

But in terms of fit, there was nothing to complain about, which showed Mixi's high level of tailoring skill.

"Not bad!"

Li Wei praised. With this robe, this winter would surely be much easier.

"Mother, Sister, little brother, you all get one, come try them on." Mixi smiled brightly and distributed the Wolf Skin robes. She had actually completed the monthly Main Quest.

However, it was obvious that Li Wei's robe used the most material, while Lyon's used the least. Well, he was a newcomer, so he could be put through a bit more hardship. And it was estimated that there wasn't enough Wolf Skin.

Of course, Mixi's own robe was definitely the best.

"Mother, Sister, I originally planned to sew a pair of boots for everyone else, but we're out of Wolf Skin, so there's nothing I can do. That's why I was thinking, after we're done with current matters, could George hunt some more beasts? If not Wolf Skin, then rabbit or fox fur would work too. I promise, as long as the materials are sufficient, I can sew a pair of boots for each of you."

Hearing this, Li Wei couldn't help but look up at Mixi in surprise.

She was actually trying to pre-book next month's monthly Main Quest this way?

Although it didn't seem to be against the rules, it required a prerequisite: the entire family had to agree.

As long as the entire family agreed, even the Head of the Family couldn't change it.

But this was clearly provoking next month's Head of the Family.

Because if things were decided in advance, then the matter wouldn't count towards the Head of the Family's merit. There were precedents for this.

"I agree."

Phila immediately stated her position. Anyway, she wouldn't be the Head of the Family next month, so she was naturally happy to see it happen.

Moreover, in the cold winter, having a pair of warm boots was indeed a wonderful thing.

"I agree too." Lyon quickly chimed in.

Penny pulled the bellows, her back to everyone, silent. No one knew what she was thinking.

Phila and Mixi's gazes fell on Li Wei. This matter was extremely beneficial to both of them.

The hunted prey's fur and skin would go to Mixi, improving her tailoring skills and experience. The bones, meat, and internal organs could be given to Phila for cooking and preparation, also bringing great experience and benefits.

Although theoretically Li Wei could also gain hunting experience, in reality, the thing he wanted to do most next month was to till the land, cultivate the wasteland, and prepare for the expansion of the enclosure.

After all, his first profession was Farmer. And with the food reserves from these two months, especially next month when Phila would continue to gather and store food, the family's winter food supply was already sufficient. Hunting was no longer the most urgent matter.

But then again, a pair of warm beast-skin boots, Li Wei really found it hard to refuse.

Should he make Penny suffer a little more?

Just as he was about to make a decision, Penny finally spoke, "Next month, after everything is settled, I plan to go down the mountain. I'll go to Karh Castle to trade for some goods, especially Salt. You all should prepare yourselves."

What?

Li Wei immediately perked up his ears. What was Penny doing?

Karh Castle?

Establishing a channel for trade with the outside world?

This was certainly possible. The family was currently most lacking in Salt. For the past two months, Phila had reduced the salt supply, and Li Wei's mouth felt so bland he could almost spit.

Salt was very important, so important that Phila, after a moment's hesitation, immediately changed her words.

"That's right, we need Salt, so let's take things one step at a time."

"But Penny, is Karh Castle really okay? The plague there is too severe."

"Mother, we have to try. And so much time has passed, perhaps something has changed."

Penny and Phila's conversation clearly touched upon the family's plot from a previous period. Li Wei and the others couldn't interject.

Mixi also fell silent. Only Lyon persisted, "But these two things don't conflict, do they? The hunted prey can also be sold and exchanged at the market."

"Lyon, get some rest early."

Phila said with an unreadable expression, then got up and went back to her room. Mixi didn't say anything further. As a veteran player, she had only been probing just now; it was fine if it didn't work out.

Of course, there was no need to explain anything to Lyon.

Li Wei felt the same way, but he thought Lyon would understand soon enough.

Salt, in this era, under such a backdrop, was very precious. At least, it wasn't particularly easy to obtain. Exchanging it for ordinary hunted game, heh, did they think this was their modern home, where everyone was used to refined rice and flour and wanted to try some wild game for a change?

Therefore, the only resource their family could use to exchange for Salt was likely the Ironware forged by Penny.

Ironware could be exchanged for Salt, and also for food. This was logically sound.

This was the real reason Phila immediately changed her tune and Mixi backed down.

So, sewing boots and exchanging for Salt were not conflicting matters. But this was Mixi attempting to challenge the Head of the Family's authority. With Penny having a high chance of being re-elected as Head of the Family, any valuable suggestion she made at this time would be wrong.

Because everything had to be under the wise leadership of the Head of the Family...

This point was very important.

In the early morning, as Li Wei awoke from his deep slumber, the sounds of hammers striking reached his ears. Had Penny's batch of molten iron finally been smelted?

He stepped outside and was slightly surprised. The one wielding the large hammer was none other than Mixi. She stood firm, her waist twisting as she swung the hammer in a wide arc. Her stance was both cool and textbook-perfect. With each swing, the hammer landed with a heavy thud.

What's more, she could swing the hammer smoothly and continuously.

Good heavens, Mixi must have at least 12 Strength and around 150 Stamina. She was slightly superior to Li Wei in these aspects.

But none of that was important. What mattered was that this woman had come to curry favor with Penny. Though, it wasn't exactly a rare occurrence. Even Lyon was on the sidelines, assisting and looking for opportunities to help.

"Children, breakfast is ready. Let's eat first," Phila called out with a beaming smile. Her acting was becoming more refined by the day. From any angle, they looked like a loving family.

Li Wei scoffed inwardly. Is this their only option, resorting to this charade?

"Mother, let's take turns eating. Forging iron is important. George, what are you standing around for? You eat first, then come relieve us," Mixi shouted to Li Wei, as if she had transformed back into his fiancée.

"I have other things to attend to today. Your help is enough," Li Wei refused outright. His deal with Penny was between the two of them. What was this bitch shouting about?

Besides, he didn't want to compete for Head of the Family right now. He was truly content with nothing. As long as he could expand his wheat fields to about three mu, with his Professional Farmer bonus and the assistance of a Professional Hunter, he would definitely have a place in this family.

Neither Phila nor Penny, whoever became Head of the Family, would dare to move against him easily.

As long as he continued to accumulate strength and slowly build up his family contributions, he would one day become Head of the Family again.

Mixi's smile remained unchanged. A veteran player's acting was always worth appreciating.

Penny showed no particular reaction, accustomed to it. However, her ambition must be great.