The sun gradually set in the west, and Xu Fan, relying solely on his own strength, managed to completely turn over the half-acre of barren land belonging to his family.
This amount of work, in the past, would have been enough for him and his father, Xu Chang, to toil for three days.
"Dad, let's go home," Xu Fan turned and said to the numb Xu Chang.
Xu Chang opened his mouth, and it was a while before he found his voice again: "...Okay, let's go home."
He looked at his son's tall back, then at the neatly tilled field, his eyes full of shock.
On the way home, Xu Fan accidentally discovered a few clumps of edible lamb's quarters in the grass beside the field path.
He gathered them casually, tied them with a grass rope, and carried them in his hand.
The father and son walked silently, one after the other.
The setting sun stretched their shadows long.
"Fan'er," Xu Chang finally couldn't help but speak, "You... what happened today?"
Xu Fan had already thought of an explanation: "Dad, maybe I was too hungry a few days ago, and it suddenly forced out my potential."
"I feel like I suddenly had an epiphany and learned how to conserve energy and work efficiently."
This explanation was far-fetched, but in this world of cultivation, even more mysterious things could happen.
Xu Chang was silent.
He was an honest, simple farmer with limited knowledge and couldn't figure out the reason behind it.
He knew that his son had changed, becoming someone he felt unfamiliar with, yet also someone who gave him new hope.
"From now on... don't push yourself so hard," he said gruffly, quickening his pace.
Xu Fan looked at his father's back, knowing that he had accepted this fact.
Pushing open the creaking, dilapidated wooden door, a mixed scent of mold and herbal medicine wafted towards them.
The room was dimly lit, and a similarly thin woman sat on a small stool, using the light filtering through the door crack to mend a patched-up garment.
Hearing the movement, she looked up, it was Xu Fan's mother, Yan Aini.
"My dear, Fan'er, you're back." Seeing the two, a gentle smile appeared on her face, but the worry in her eyes remained.
Xu Fan's heart stirred, and he walked over, picked up a worn-out piece of clothing, and, mimicking his mother, threaded the needle.
"Fan'er, what are you doing? Go rest," Yan Aini said with concern.
"Mom, I'm just trying," Xu Fan clumsily sewed a few stitches.
You assisted your mother in sewing clothes, unlocking a new skill: Sewing (Beginner 0/100).
Sewing proficiency +1.
A flash of inspiration struck him, and he said to his mother: "Mom, look, if the stitches here cross like this, won't it be stronger?"
He demonstrated a simple reinforcing stitch, a vague inspiration he had gained from his mind.
Yan Aini was stunned, she took the clothes and examined them carefully, then her eyes lit up: "Hey, you're right, this method is really good! Fan'er, how did you think of it?"
"Just... random thoughts," Xu Fan smiled.
Yan Aini didn't ask any more questions, only assuming her son had a breakthrough. She excitedly studied the new stitching method, muttering, "If this method works well, the winter clothes I make for you all will be warmer."
A suppressed cough came from the inner room; it was Xu Fan's grandparents.
In the courtyard, five small, thin figures immediately gathered around. The eldest younger brother, Xu Chengbo, was only fifteen, and the youngest, Xu Wenwen, was only six.
They were all gaunt and sallow, wearing ill-fitting, tattered clothes, their eyes fixed on Xu Fan and Xu Chang.
They were waiting to eat.
Seeing this scene, Xu Fan's heart was wrenched once more.
"Mom, I gathered some wild vegetables," Xu Fan handed over the lamb's quarters he was holding.
Yan Aini took them, a glimmer of light flashed in her eyes, but then it dimmed again: "Only vegetables... there's not even rice in the pot."
The family had run out of food three days ago.
"Mom, there's a way," Xu Fan looked at his mother and younger siblings. "Tomorrow, our family will have food to eat. I promise."
Yan Aini looked at her son's determined eyes, and in a trance, she seemed to see the hope of cooking smoke rising from their home again.
The next day, before dawn, Xu Fan quietly got up.
He didn't go to the fields; farming was a long-term plan and couldn't solve the immediate crisis.
He had something else to do.
Hunting.
Living by the mountain, the village was backed by the endless Qingyang Mountain.
There were wild animals in the mountain, which everyone in the village knew.
But few dared to venture into the mountain.
The mountain was home to many ferocious beasts and venomous insects; an inexperienced hunter entering it would likely become prey.
But Xu Fan had his confidence.
As a modern person, though he had never hunted, he had watched plenty of wilderness survival knowledge.
Things like snare traps, spring traps, he had a whole theoretical repertoire.
Before, it was all theoretical, but now, with the proficiency panel, theory could quickly be converted into practice!
He tiptoed into the courtyard, rummaged through the woodshed for a chopping knife, and found some rattan strips left over from his father's basket weaving.
You attempted to make a trap, unlocking a new skill: Trap Making.
Skill: Trap Making (Beginner 0/100).
It really worked!
Xu Fan's heart filled with joy.
He found a branch of suitable thickness and began to whittle it with the chopping knife.
His movements were clumsy, and he accidentally cut his finger with the blade.
"Hiss..." He gasped, and blood immediately gushed out.
Trap Making proficiency +1.
This small injury was nothing compared to his family's hunger.
He put his finger in his mouth and sucked on it, then continued working.
Whittling stakes, polishing trigger mechanisms, twisting rattan... With each step completed, even a small action, his proficiency would steadily increase.
Trap Making proficiency +1.
Trap Making proficiency +1.
...As his proficiency increased, the knowledge of Trap Making in his mind seemed to come alive.
His once clumsy movements gradually became fluid.
How to whittle stakes most efficiently, how to tie the strongest knots, he knew it all by heart.
When the first ray of sunlight pierced through the mist and spread across the land, Xu Fan had already made three simple snare traps and two spring traps.
Skill: Trap Making (Beginner 87/100).
He carefully put away the traps, slung the chopping knife over his back, and silently left the house.
At this time, most of the village was still asleep, with only a few households having cooking smoke rising, those being the few who still had leftover food.
Xu Fan did not stop and walked straight towards Qingyang Mountain behind the village.
He stopped at the foot of the mountain.
He did not venture deep rashly, but instead searched for suitable locations along the edge of the mountain.
He knew that large wild beasts usually wouldn't appear here, but rabbits, pheasants, and mountain rats were frequent visitors.
He squatted down, carefully observing the traces on the ground.
You attempted to track prey, unlocking a new skill: Tracking (Beginner 0/100).
Tracking proficiency +1.
Footprints, droppings, gnawing marks... these details, meaningless to ordinary people, became clear with the boost of proficiency.
Xu Fan's attention was focused; he could feel faint lingering scents in the air, the aura left by animals.
He discovered a trampled path with clear rabbit footprints.
This was the spot!
He immediately set up a trap on the spot.
He first dug a shallow pit, then buried the snare trap within it, covering it with branches and fallen leaves.
He also hung a few tender wild vegetables he had picked yesterday nearby as bait.
Trap Making proficiency +1.
Tracking proficiency +1.
Every time he completed an action, his proficiency would increase simultaneously.
After setting up the trap, he did not leave but continued to explore the edge of the forest.
Behind an inconspicuous bush, he discovered a peculiar plant.
It had only three leaves, but the veins were a faint silver, and at the top, a vermillion fruit had formed, half of which had already been gnawed away by some animal, the remaining flesh emitting a faint, elusive fragrance.
As soon as he approached and carefully examined the plant before him, the panel reacted.
You studied identifying herbs, unlocking a new skill: Herb Identification (Beginner 0/100).
Herb Identification proficiency +1.
Name: ???
Effect: Contains a trace amount of Spiritual Qi. Mortals who consume it can strengthen their bodies and prolong their lives.
Xu Fan's heart was greatly shaken!
Spiritual Qi!
In this world, there really were immortal items!
He carefully dug out the remaining half of the fruit and the entire plant, wrapped them in cloth, and hid them close to his body.
Just then, the sound of a trap being triggered came from not far away.