Farming Games are All About Grinding-Chapter 31: Functional Menu - Bravery!

"More ores again? Why does it feel like I'm playing a budget version of Gold Miner?" Han Qiwu looked at the copper ore. Its purplish-red surface was rather pretty.

Pretty things can't fill your stomach!

Except for Mr. Tang.

[Copper Ore]

[A certain amount of copper ore can be smelted into copper ingots]

"Wait a minute, if it's copper ore, can I take it to the blacksmith shop tomorrow to complete the task?" Han Qiwu pulled up the task panel and took a closer look.

[Task: First Forging]

[Task Objective: Collect ore personally for the first time]

[Task Reward: Furnace recipe and finished product, Gongshuzi's favor]

"Mining from that ancient site should count as 'collecting personally,' right?" Han Qiwu felt a little uncertain. Forget it. He would just take it over tomorrow and figure it out then.

At least he got a free piece of copper ore!

Back home, Han Qiwu tossed the fish catch and the three clams he found in the morning into the sales box, then went into the kitchen to heat up some food.

Once everything was ready, Han Qiwu sat in the courtyard, eating while gazing at the farmland out back.

The eight angelica plants were a lush green. The three string bean stalks on the trellis had already climbed over thirty centimeters. Meanwhile, the peanuts and potatoes were starting to sprout, creating an idyllic springtime scene.

Most importantly, tomorrow the angelica plants would be ready for harvest!

Wait a second, why are there only eight?

Han Qiwu thought back carefully to the first day of planting:

At first, he experimentally planted one. Later, he planted nine more. But on the second day, he dug one up out of boredom (curiosity, he told himself).

1 + 9 - 1 = 9!

How was one missing?

Was it stolen?

Han Qiwu flipped back through his logs but found nothing noteworthy. He'd been so busy lately, he hadn't noticed when the missing plant might have disappeared.

"This is so bizarre," Han Qiwu scratched his head. "Next time I submit ancient artifacts, I'll ask Zack if he knows anything about it."

After finishing the tuna head stew, Han Qiwu's stamina recovered to 53. Time to get to work!

There was something oddly satisfying about chopping trees, smashing rocks, and cutting grass.

Watching the warehouse fill with materials and the barren plots gradually grow into cultivatable farmland brought an unparalleled sense of achievement.

"If this is your excuse for breaking up~"

The ringtone interrupted his thoughts. Han Qiwu glanced at the caller ID and sighed, helplessly answering the phone.

"Mom, what's up?"

"What do you mean, 'what's up'? Can't a mom call her son just because?"

"Of course you can, but usually you have a reason when you call."

"Oh, listen to you! Do you have time tomorrow? Aunt Wang's coworker has a kid, really pretty and kind-hearted. I've already booked a room at a—uh, no—a table at a restaurant. Come back and take a look, won't you?" Mrs. Han's voice on the other end brimmed with excitement.

"Mom, I'm busy farming over here. This stuff doesn't tend itself. Skip one day of watering, and it's done for," Han Qiwu flatly refused. He couldn't give in to this; once you agreed to blind dates, they'd never end.

"You can't farm forever. What about our family lineage?" Mrs. Han took a direct jab that left Han Qiwu momentarily speechless.

"Ahem, actually, I already like someone. Just wait for my good news, okay?" Han Qiwu remembered a procrastination trick he had seen online and decided to give it a try.

"Oh, fantastic! Work hard! If you need money, just let me know. What's her name? Where does she work?" Mrs. Han exclaimed in delight, bombarding him with questions.

"Stop, stop, stop! It's not even official yet. Don't rush. I've got this. Anyway, gotta go shower now. Take care, you two!"

[Han Qiwu used the skill: Water Escape. Successfully fled the battlefield.]

Setting the phone down, Han Qiwu continued tidying the courtyard until 9:30, then took a bath and went to bed.

Tired.

Nothing beats the sleep that comes after a hard day's work!

February 6th Daily Log

"Clink-clink-clink (sound of coins falling)"

Earnings... 240 Gold Coins (clams)

Earnings... 120 Gold Coins (largemouth bass)

Earnings... 150 Gold Coins (sunfish)

Earnings... 100 Gold Coins (smallmouth bass)

Planting XP +0

Foraging XP +43

Fishing XP +355

Combat XP +0

Mining XP +8

Character Affection Changes:

Zack: Negative ❤

Current Wealth: 3521

Total Earnings: 5944

The night passed quickly.

Somebody's rooster started crowing again. But Han Qiwu could tell this one was different from the one a few days ago.

The old one was a seasoned rooster. This one was a fresh-faced rookie, unscarred by life's hardships. Its crow was full of hope, as if it honestly believed it was the king of the town's roosters!

Once it saw its owner make chicken stew, stir-fried chicken, and white-cut chicken a few more times, it would understand.

Flipping back through yesterday's log, Han Qiwu sighed. Zack's affection was still in the negatives—even after he'd given Zack a [Fragment of Ancient Porcelain] as a gift!

What a petty guy! Can't take a joke! So stingy!

Complaints aside, the gifts still had to be delivered.

Looking at yesterday's earnings, Han Qiwu felt they weren't ideal. He thought about making a trip to the seaside for fishing. River fish weren't as lucrative, except for largemouth bass.

Pulling out his phone calculator, Han Qiwu added up his fishing XP so far. It totaled 2292. From level 0 to 1, 100 XP was needed. From level 1 to 2, 1000 XP. Who knows how much level 2 to 3 would require?

Whatever! Just grind it out.

Two days went by. Time to wake up and watch TV!

By the grace of Grandpa Shennong!

Turning on the TV, there were no hiccups this time.

[Weather Forecast]

Tomorrow: Heavy Rain, Pitter-Patter!

[Life Hacks]

Birds may come to steal your crops. Their natural enemy? Scarecrows!

[Almanac]

Harvest: Auspicious. Relocation: Inauspicious.

[Shennong Recipe]

This is a delicacy befitting a true warrior! Get ready for battle!

Five minutes later.

[Congratulations, you have learned the functional recipe: Valor]

[Valor (The quality of ingredients determines the quality of the dish)]

[Required Ingredients: Meat-based battle loot]

[Effect upon consumption: Normal Quality: +2 combat power and +2 health recovery speed for three hours]

[Note: Ready for battle? This is a warrior's delight!]

After carefully studying the recipe, Han Qiwu raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"So barbecue has another name, 'Valor'??"

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But thinking it over, it made sense. Early humans survived through countless hunts. For them, eating roasted meat symbolized survival itself.

Barbecue—it's in our DNA.

Han Qiwu wanted to explain this newfound revelation to Mrs. Han. His love for barbecue wasn't greed—it was genetics!

Unfortunately, Mrs. Han wouldn't care. If you touched your phone, you were glued to it all day. Sneezed once? Must be deathly ill. Craved barbecue every day? Hungry ghost reincarnated.

Ah, motherly love—so complex.

Returning his focus to the TV, the fruit-dryer's weather forecast turned out to be accurate—rain was indeed coming tomorrow.

The life hack section also provided valuable info. At least now he wouldn't need to bother asking Zack!

No wonder he hadn't noticed a missing angelica plant—it was snatched by some flying thief!

Mr. Tang was right. Birds really are a menace.