Xia Nuo and Fang You together untied the ropes binding Brother Dong, and just then, Hong Ge came over, cawing at Brother Dong a few times.
It seemed Brother Dong's drunkenness had also faded somewhat; he staggered to his feet, tottering and swaying for a while until suddenly reacting as if he had come to a realization. Sensing the pressure of the ultimate goose exterminator, he quickly ran out of the yard, wobbling along with Hong Ge.
The four members of the Meng Ran gang had been peering into the yard from outside, and seeing that Brother Dong and Hong Ge were unharmed, everyone jumped up happily.
"We can still seek revenge on Brother Dong and Hong Ge in the future!"
In the following days, they lived a fulfilling yet leisurely farm life.
Meanwhile, Emperor Fang You commenced his campaign to dominate Lin Mu Village.
Under the guidance of the Meng Ran gang, Fang You disciplined Zhang Uncle's fierce dog Da Huang and Grandma Li's sharp-beaked, taloned rooster Kun Peng General, unlocking the talents "Da Huang Hunter" and "A-Kun Slayer" one after another.
While taking care of the village's three tyrants, Fang You also unlocked a new hidden talent.
"Congratulations on defeating the three bullies of Lin Mu Village! Reward: 3000 Growth Energy points! Current Growth Energy (32210/50000)"
"Hidden Talent [Friend of Livestock] unlocked: Intelligence +30, Charm +30, Physique +30. You exert a strong deterrent force on animals living in the countryside."
...
This talent isn't bad, but why does it sound like an insult?
Since unlocking [Friend of Livestock], Fang You's prestige in the village had skyrocketed.
The animals in the village were so scared of Fang You that they dared not approach, dogs would take detours when they saw him, and birds would fly around him.
Now no sparrow dared to poop on Fang You's head!
And at the same time, after going through a life-and-death experience, Brother Dong indeed became much more behaved and truthful.
He was no longer the village entrance bully that would peck at anyone on sight, or caw with every breath.
Whether it was Fang You's pressure or Brother Dong had genuinely had an epiphany about goose life, Fang You often noticed Brother Dong gazing up at the sky as if contemplating something.
Worried that his cousin still harbored the intention to secretly catch Brother Dong and stew him for a meal, Xia Nuo had recently been keeping constant company by Brother Dong's side.
And during this time, Brother Dong also became closer to Xia Nuo.
Whether Xia Nuo stroked Brother Dong's wings or hugged his neck, Brother Dong would not get angry; he didn't peck Xia Nuo even once.
It was just as if he knew Xia Nuo was the one who saved his life.
"You You, look! I'm now a grand goose knight!"
Xia Nuo mounted Brother Dong, who obviously struggled but still tried hard to support Xia Nuo's weight.
Their relationship was so close that Fang You almost forgot that it was Xia Nuo who initially wanted to stew Brother Dong.
But Nuo Nuo's feelings for Brother Dong had indeed grown deeper, and after the goose-slaughtering event, Nuo Nuo gradually developed a clearer concept of "death."
She suddenly began to worry about Brother Dong's lifespan.
"Grandma, how long can a goose live at most?"
"Usually, they can live for twenty or thirty years, but generally, no one keeps them that long. Once they stop laying eggs, they are slaughtered."
"Then Brother Dong can become Lin Mu Village's longest living goose. He has to live until he's forty."
Xia Nuo snuggled into her grandmother's embrace, coquettishly asking, "Grandma, can you help me raise Brother Dong until he's 40?"
Grandma thought for a moment, "Sure, if Grandma is still around by then..."
"Where is Grandma going? Are you going on a trip?"
Xia Nuo blinked her eyes, "If you're not at home, you can leave him with Sister Meng Ran, but remember not to give him to my cousin; he'll eat Brother Dong..."
Xia Nuo kept talking her own thoughts, while Grandma stroked her hair, her face wreathed in a gentle smile.
"So, where will you go when the time comes, Grandma?"
Xia Nuo was still curious about this matter.
"Grandma, ah, she's going to see Grandpa."
Grandma looked toward the portrait of Grandpa hanging in the hall.
"The moon is much closer, and it's prettier than the stars. If everyone lived on the moon after they died, we wouldn't have to go so far to find them..."
Fang You thought for a moment, "Maybe it's because... the living conditions on the moon aren't good?"
"Oh... I totally forgot!"
Xia Nuo remembered the house-playing game with Fang You, "We even made a promise to build a Moon base together!"
All of a sudden, as if she had an idea, she clung to Fang You's arm and coquettishly said:
"You You... I have an idea."
Xia Nuo's eyes were bright, "As long as we transform the moon into a place suitable for souls to live, everyone won't need to run to those distant stars and wait so long to meet after dying. They could meet on the moon, what do you think?"
"..."
There were always some whimsical things going on in Nuo Nuo's mind.
But it was very interesting.
"I think it's possible." Fang You nodded.
"However, however, You You, I need to tell you..."
Xia Nuo, tired from talking, lay in Fang You's arms and poked his cheek with her finger, "Before we finish building the Moon base, you can't die behind my back first, got it?"
Who wants to die first secretly, hey...
I am, after all, a man with attachments, meant to be a winner in life, definitely going to enjoy life before passing away.
...
After some thought, Fang You wondered whether he could achieve immortality at the end of this system?
But is immortality really a reward...
Fang You wasn't sure.
In his memory, those characters in novels who achieved immortality seemed to live very lonely, reclusive lives.
It always seemed not to be such a good thing.
After all, no one has ever achieved it in this world, so everyone's ideas are just speculation...
"You You, are you listening to me!"
Xia Nuo, sitting on top of Fang You, pinched his cheeks from side to side, bringing back his wandering thoughts.
Xia Nuo said seriously, "We are good friends born on the same day, same month, same year. You're not allowed to die first. We have to build the Moon base, you hear?"
[Xia Nuo is worried that you will die before her, Emotional Energy +20]
"You little kid... don't keep talking about 'dying'!"
Fang You pinched Xia Nuo's cheeks, kneading them.
"Bad You You, you're also a kid..."
Both of them couldn't help but laugh out loud at the funny faces they made while pinching each other's cheeks.
The laughter drew the anxious figure of their father, who was searching for them:
"What are you two doing there? That's too dangerous! Come down at once!"
[Xia Anyang is wondering if you're secretly taking his daughter for a moonlit rendezvous! Emotional Energy +100]
"You You, remember our promise..."
Xia Nuo hooked Fang You's little finger, her large eyes reflecting the brilliant light of the Milky Way—
"When we grow up, let's go to the moon together!"
"Sure."
Fang You nodded. He felt the child was just excited for the moment and would probably forget soon.
However, if Nuo Nuo really remembered this when she grew up, he'd think of a way then.