FTS Chapter 16

Chapter 16: What’s the Difference?

Song Deling was startled by Li Geng’s frantic state. 

"There's... there's no more." 

Seeing Li Geng look as though he were about to faint at those words, Song Deling hurriedly added, "That kind of water is easy to make, we know the method."

While the county leaders and the group of experts were being shaken to their cores by the shock, Song Baozhu was clutching her bowl and eating happily.

Among the items sent by the villagers were many mountain goods but very few pieces of meat. It wasn't that the villagers were stingy, but rather that no household had any spare meat, eggs and white flour were already the best things they could offer.

Wang Guifang put away the eggs, rice, and flour. The less precious mountain goods, such as wood ear mushrooms and bamboo shoots, were brought out to be cooked for everyone to eat together.

At the table, the family’s praise for Song Baozhu was endless. Song Zhizhong, in particular, found endless ways to compliment her, his mouth never stopping for a second.

Song Baozhu loved her family's praise. She had grown up being complimented like this since she was a baby and didn't feel the least bit embarrassed; she even puffed out her chest proudly as they spoke.

"Baozhu, how can you be so smart? You can even come up with so many tricks just by playing around!" Song Zhizhong concluded after exhausting every superlative in his vocabulary.

Song Baozhu wrinkled her nose and said in a milky voice, "I wasn't playing." 

She had worked so hard, studying without rest for so long in the system space.

She looked like a soft, milky little glutinous rice ball with skin like a peeled egg. Even wrinkling her nose was incredibly adorable. Wang Guifang couldn't help but scoop her up to kiss her repeatedly, glaring at Song Zhizhong: "Exactly! Do you even know how to talk? Our Baozhu definitely wasn't playing."

Seeing Song Baozhu nod with such solemn gravity, the whole family burst into laughter. Only Qian Xiaoe’s smile was a bit forced.

After the meal, everyone relaxed, sitting under the large tree by the courtyard gate to enjoy the breeze and rest. Song Baozhu, meanwhile, pestered Song Dezhu to polish some tools for her.

The experimental equipment in the system space was complete and high-tech, but she couldn't bring physical objects from the outside world in to operate them. 

In the future, no matter what experiment she did, she would need to perform the actual operations, without equipment, it would be very difficult. Song Baozhu had no choice but to use this method to slowly prepare.

Song Dezhu didn't know why Song Baozhu wanted him to grind a stone, but since his daughter wanted it, he just did it. 

Not only did he help, but the five Song brothers also joined in to help with the polishing.

"Eldest daughter-in-law, the sun is very strong out here. Go inside and rest." Ever since the day Wang Guifang had lectured her, Qian Xiaoe had felt a bit uneasy in her presence. 

However, Wang Guifang didn't take it to heart much, in her view, as long as a daughter-in-law didn't act like Zheng Ying—looking like she’d suffered a massive grievance over every little thing—or like the other unreasonable shrews in the village, she was doing just fine.

Qian Xiaoe heard this and hurriedly said, "Mom, I’m fine. It’s not hot here under the shade. Look at Baozhu, she’s grown taller again; should I make her another dress? I actually happen to have a piece of fabric." 

Afraid that Wang Guifang had grown completely weary of her, she had been trying every possible way to curry favor with her lately.

Wang Guifang glanced at her. "Keep your things for yourself." Qian Xiaoe had arrived at the house with nothing but a single bundle, Wang Guifang had no idea where that piece of fabric came from and wasn't about to take her things.

Qian Xiaoe’s expression stiffened. She was a sensitive person and felt that Wang Guifang’s words sounded like a sarcastic jab.

In truth, Wang Guifang didn't mean it that way at all, she simply didn't plan on taking anything from her daughter-in-law. Besides, she wasn't a fool—Qian Xiaoe had previously shown a faint dissatisfaction with Baozhu. 

If Wang Guifang used her fabric now, the girl would surely end up resenting Baozhu for it.

It was only because Qian Xiaoe hadn't crossed a line, and because she knew it wasn't easy for a woman to marry into a new family—that Wang Guifang hadn't lost her temper.

The clinking and clanging under the shade continued until the afternoon. By evening, Song Baozhu finally had several vessels.

These things were easy to resolve, if all else failed, she could go find some glass jars. 

However, equipment like microscopes and magnifying glasses would be difficult to obtain, let alone more sophisticated instruments.

Song Baozhu furrowed her little brow in frustration.

Just then, a commotion broke out outside the courtyard gate. Song Dezhu was seen leading a group of people toward them. 

From a distance, Song Deling was already shouting, "Baozhu, Baozhu, look who’s here to see you!"

Song Baozhu was warm toward everyone, even if they were villagers she saw every day, she stood up and charged out like a little cannonball to hug Song Deling’s leg. 

"Cousin, are you here to see me?" She tilted her little face up and smiled, revealing a row of tiny baby teeth, looking both charming and adorable.

There’s a reason why most people in the village adored Song Baozhu so much. 

Her good looks were one thing, but the bigger reason was that this child looked at everyone like they were family, greeting them with a massive smile. 

Being held by that flower-like little face, one couldn't help but feel lightheaded and doting.

"Little friend, are you Baozhu?" 

At this time, Zhou Shiwei, who was standing beside Song Deling, stepped forward. 

He had changed into clean clothes and looked at Song Baozhu with a kind gaze.

This afternoon, they had used the method provided by Song Deling to mobilize other villages, and the pest infestation had basically been resolved. 

Now that the great crisis was averted, he remembered the "little girl" Song Deling had mentioned. 

Even if she had accidentally discovered it while playing, it was a fact that she had dismantled a disaster. 

Regardless, as the County Magistrate, he had to come and express his thanks.

Song Baozhu looked at Zhou Shiwei curiously. He was wearing clean, proper clothes and glasses, having regained his usual composure. 

Song Baozhu liked good-looking people, and this uncle was quite handsome, so her smile grew even more brilliant as she said crisply, "I am Baozhu. Uncle, who are you?"

Zhou Shiwei was not a local of Yun County, his background had given him a broad perspective. Even so, he had never seen a child as beautiful and lovely as Song Baozhu.

"I am the County Magistrate of Yun County. You can just call me Uncle Zhou. I’m here to thank you, little friend. The pesticide you discovered solved the pest problem and made a huge contribution to the organization and the people. On behalf of the people, I thank you!"

Song Baozhu was a very smart child, she had heard Song Deling say these kinds of things before and knew what they meant. An ordinary child would either be bewildered or shy and embarrassed. Song Baozhu, however, lifted her head proudly: "Okay, I understand."

The Learning System had analyzed that if these bugs weren't wiped out, many people besides those in their village would go hungry. Song Baozhu felt she had indeed done something very big. 

The materials for the method the system provided were insufficient, so she had racked her own little brain to find an alternative. Her head had actually ached from thinking about it, so she accepted County Magistrate Zhou’s thanks quite naturally.

County Magistrate Zhou and the group behind him hadn't expected the child to react this way; they assumed she was just too young to understand the gravity of it. 

But the way she held her head high in pride was too cute, making the whole group burst into laughter.

Once Wang Guifang and the others realized the County Magistrate had personally come to their home, they hurriedly welcomed everyone inside. 

There were no delicacies in the house to serve, so Wang Guifang gritted her teeth and mixed their only stash of white sugar into water to serve the guests.

Zhou Shiwei had been in Yun County for a long time, and being a responsible leader, he naturally knew the living standards of the common people. 

He briefly explained the purpose of his visit, "We primarily came to thank little comrade Baozhu, and also to thank you for raising such a lovely and sensible child. This is a small token of gratitude put together by the county, you must accept it."

The secretary stepped forward and handed over 200 yuan to Song Dezhu with both hands.

200 yuan—this was no small sum.

Song Dezhu’s heart trembled. With this much money, the issues of getting his sons married and building houses would be resolved in one go. 

However, knowing this was earned by Baozhu, he feared that taking it might bring her bad luck or trouble; he actually attempted to refuse without the slightest hesitation.

It was only under the persuasion of Zhou Shiwei and Song Deling that he finally accepted it. 

Zhou Shiwei liked Song Baozhu very much, and as he was leaving, he patted her head: "Baozhu, if you have time, you can come to the county to visit Uncle's house."

Song Baozhu’s eyes lit up: "Uncle Zhou, are there books in the county? Is there experimental equipment?"

Zhou Shiwei hadn't expected Song Baozhu to ask this. He smiled and nodded: "Yes, there is a library in the county. If you want to read, you can ask your cousin to take you there." 

As for the experimental equipment, he thought about it—the county was poor and had almost no such facilities, the few slightly expensive pieces of equipment were all at the Bureau of Agriculture, but those items were far too precious. 

No matter how well-behaved and sensible Song Baozhu was, she was still a child after all. Even if he agreed, others wouldn't feel safe letting her touch them, so he said, "When you grow up and learn more knowledge, Uncle will tell you."

Song Baozhu was a bit disappointed, it turned out the county didn't have experimental equipment either. But in an instant, she cheered up again—having books was already very good.

After County Magistrate Zhou had left the Song house and traveled quite a distance, he suddenly remembered: "Wait a second, Baozhu can already read? And how does she know about experimental equipment?" 

Most rural children that age couldn't even count to three, let alone know about experimental facilities. 

He had previously been convinced that the pesticide's appearance was just the result of Song Baozhu stumbling upon it while playing, but now he felt a sense of strangeness in his heart.

However, Song Baozhu was so small; to say she had researched it herself, bypassing so many experts, was nothing short of a fairy tale. County Magistrate Zhou shook his head and laughed, thinking he was overthinking things.

Nonetheless, he still instructed his secretary, "In the future, if Song Baozhu actually goes to the county to read books, remember to keep an eye on her."

As for what to watch for, even he didn't know, there was only a vague notion in his mind, as if he were hoping for some impossible miracle.

The news that Song Lao'er's family had been personally visited and rewarded by the Magistrate because of the pesticide Song Baozhu discovered spread across Xiangfu Village in no time.

Many people were so envious their eyes turned red: "They’ve truly gained a golden doll! I heard Song Dezhu and his wife were rewarded 200 yuan by the county!"

"Song Dezhu and Wang Guifang are just ordinary people, what kind of high-grade incense did they burn to get a daughter like Baozhu!" 

Many expressed their dissatisfaction, where exactly were they inferior to those two?