"Da Tou, play nicely with your brothers and get along with the other children in the village, okay?" At the courtyard gate, Zhenniang crouched down, straightening Qin Yi's clothes and gently reminding him.
"I understand, Ah Niang." Qin Yi nodded seriously, looking exceptionally well-behaved.
"It's not like Da Tou is going out for the first time; what's the point of these instructions? Ah Niang is just biased toward him," muttered the second brother, Zhuzi, quietly to his older brother, Shuanzi.
Zhenniang seemed to hear something, raised her head, and gave Zhuzi a stern look, specifically instructing: "Da Tou is your younger brother. Protect him, understand?"
"I understand, Ah Niang." The eldest, Shuanzi, looked toward the east of the village while nodding repeatedly, his mind clearly elsewhere.
Zhenniang frowned but didn't say more. She adjusted Da Tou's clothes again, reminded him once more, and then let him go play.
Under her watchful eyes, the second and first brothers pretended to be careful, holding his hand as they walked. Once they turned the corner out of sight, they immediately shook off his hand and ran toward the eastern fields.
Qin Yi watched their backs, shook his head, and quietly followed behind.
Reaching the edge of the eastern fields, Qin Yi habitually sat atop a small hill, observing the farmland. There was always someone working in the fields. However, his "Farming LV1" skill was already maxed out. Observing further would not increase it—practice was needed.
The fields were the lifeblood of the villagers, not a playground for children. Qin Yi sighed, realizing he'd only get a chance to practice after the harvest.
Then he noticed a lonely child in a corner, building a structure with sticks. This one showed some skill, not just childish play.
Qin Yi walked over quietly and sat beside him, observing without interfering.
The child noticed him and hesitated, softly warning: "You shouldn't be here, or Da Shan will hit you."
Da Shan? The hunter's son, the biggest kid in the village, a local bully. Qin Yi had observed the children long enough to recognize most of them, especially someone as prominent as Da Shan.
"I won't be afraid. Let's talk about your 'house'—it looks well-built. Can you explain it to me?"
The child, Wang Gensheng, immediately forgot Da Shan's threat and excitedly explained his bamboo house construction: clearing grass, leveling the ground, building a platform first, tying bamboo firmly with rope…
Before he finished, a fierce child's voice interrupted: "Who are you? Who allowed you to play with Wang Gensheng?"
Qin Yi ignored him and focused on the game panel. Two system messages appeared:
• "You have learned 'Construction' from Wang Gensheng."
• "Through Wang Gensheng's explanation, 'Construction LV0' skill increased slightly."
It was his first skill learned through instruction rather than observation.
The aggressive child continued to roar, breaking Qin Yi's focus. The child was tall and solid-looking, with several similar-sized followers. Despite their menacing appearance, their height (less than a meter) and childish features made them more comical than threatening.
Wang Gensheng stood up to explain: "Da Shan, he's not here to play with me, please don't hit him."
Qin Yi admired his loyalty. Standing shoulder to shoulder with Wang Gensheng, he coldly said to Da Shan: "I choose who I want to be friends with; it's not up to you."
Despite Qin Yi's self-perception as intimidating, he looked small, chubby, and cute. Da Shan, angered, pushed Qin Yi, sending him sprawling. Laughing, Da Shan declared: "So weak, that's the result of opposing me!"
End of Chapter