Lord of the Myriad Worlds

Chapter 40: Boots and Salt

"George, I've made winter clothes for you. Come try them on and see if they fit well?"

After dinner, Mixi suddenly approached with a cheerful smile, handing Li Wei a rough wolfskin robe. This was only the second time in the past twenty-plus days that she had actively initiated conversation with him.

Li Wei wasn't surprised by this and didn't stand on ceremony, quickly slipping on the wolfskin robe and moving around in it. To be honest, the texture was definitely poor—this was a hardware limitation that couldn't be changed.

But regarding the fit, there was nothing to criticize, clearly demonstrating Mixi's high level of tailoring skill.

"Not bad!"

Li Wei praised her. With this robe, this winter would definitely be much more bearable.

"Mom, sister, little brother—you all have one too. Come try them on." Mixi smiled brightly as she distributed the wolfskin robes. She had actually already completed the monthly main task.

However, it was quite obvious that Li Wei's robe used the most material, while Leon's used the least. Well, he was the newcomer—he could endure a bit more hardship, and presumably there wasn't enough wolfskin to go around.

Of course, Mixi's own robe was definitely the best quality.

"Mom, sister, I originally planned to make everyone a pair of boots too, but we've run out of wolfskin and there's nothing I can do. So I was thinking—after we finish our current tasks, could we have George go hunt some more wild animals? Even if we don't get wolfskin, rabbit or fox pelts would work too. I promise that as long as we have sufficient materials, I can make everyone a pair of boots."Hearing this, Li Wei couldn't help but look up and give Mixi a surprised glance.

Was she actually trying to pre-book next month's monthly main task through this method?

Although this didn't seem to violate any rules, it required one precondition—the entire family had to agree.

As long as everyone in the family agreed, even the Family Head couldn't change it.

But obviously, this was challenging next month's Family Head.

Because if things were decided in advance, then this matter wouldn't count as the Family Head's achievement—there was precedent for this.

"I agree."

Fila immediately stated her position. Since she wouldn't become Family Head next month anyway, she was naturally happy to see this happen.

Moreover, having a pair of warm boots during the cold winter was indeed a wonderful thing.

"I agree too." Leon also hurriedly expressed his support.

Penny operated the bellows with her back to everyone, remaining silent. It was impossible to tell what she was thinking.

Both Fila and Mixi focused their gazes on Li Wei. This matter would bring great benefits to both of them.

The hunted animals' pelts would go to Mixi, boosting her tailoring skills and experience, while the bones, meat, and organs could go to Fila for cooking preparation, similarly giving her experience benefits.

Although theoretically Li Wei could also gain hunting experience, what he actually wanted to do most next month was till the land, cultivate wasteland, and prepare for expanding the Perimeter Wall.

After all, his primary profession was Farmer, and after two months of food reserves—especially with Fila continuing to gather and store food next month—the family's winter food supply was already plentiful. Hunting was no longer the top priority task.

However, on the other hand, a pair of warm animal skin boots was something Li Wei found very hard to refuse.

Should he just let Penny suffer a bit more?

Just as he was about to make a decision, Penny finally spoke up. "Next month, after everything is settled, I plan to go out to the mountains—to Kahe Castle to trade for some goods, especially salt. You should all prepare accordingly."

What?

Li Wei immediately perked up his ears. What was Penny doing?

Kahe Castle?

Establishing trade channels with the outside world?

This was certainly possible. What the family currently lacked most was salt. Over these two months, Fila had reduced salt supplies, and Li Wei's mouth had practically grown bland from lack of flavor.

Salt was important—so important that even Fila hesitated for a moment before immediately changing her stance.

"That's right, we need salt. So we should really consider everything carefully."

"But Penny, is Kahe Castle really feasible? The plague there is too severe."

"Mom, we have to try eventually. And so much time has passed—maybe something has changed."

Penny and Fila's conversation clearly touched upon this family's storyline from the previous period, something neither Li Wei nor the others could contribute to.

Mixi also fell silent, leaving only Leon still insisting, "But these two things don't conflict, right? The hunted game can also be taken to the market for sale or exchange."

"Leon, you should rest early."

Fila said with an unreadable expression, then stood up and returned to her room. Mixi didn't say anything more either. As a veteran player, she had just been testing the waters—failure didn't matter.

Of course, there was no need to explain anything to Leon.

Li Wei felt the same way, though he thought Leon would figure it out soon enough.

Salt, in this era and under these circumstances, was extremely precious—at the very least, not particularly easy to obtain. Thinking they could exchange ordinary game for it? Hah, as if this was the modern homeland where people accustomed to refined rice and flour wanted to occasionally eat game meat for variety?

Therefore, the only resource their family could realistically use to trade for salt was probably the ironware forged by Penny.

Ironware could be exchanged for salt, and of course for grains too—this followed logical reasoning.

This was the real reason why Fila immediately changed her stance and why Mixi also backed down.

So while making boots and trading for salt didn't inherently conflict, this matter represented Mixi attempting to challenge the Family Head's authority. With Penny having a high probability of continuing as Family Head, any valuable suggestion Mixi made at this time would be inappropriate.

Because everything must proceed under the wise leadership of the Family Head...

This point was crucial.

Early in the morning, when Li Wei woke from deep sleep, what he heard was the sound of large and small hammers striking. So had Penny successfully smelted that batch of Molten Iron?

Going outside to look, he felt somewhat surprised to see that the one swinging the large hammer was actually Mixi. She stood firmly, generating power from her waist as she swung the hammer in full circles—her posture was both impressive and technically correct, each strike landing with substantial force.

Moreover, she could swing the hammer smoothly and continuously.

Wow, Mixi must have at least 12 points of Strength and around 150 points of Stamina—slightly surpassing even Li Wei.

But none of this was important. What mattered was that this woman had actually come to curry favor with Penny—though this wasn't particularly surprising since even Leon was assisting on the side, looking for opportunities to help.

"Children, breakfast is ready. Let's eat first."

Fila called out with a beaming smile, her acting skills becoming increasingly refined. From any angle, this looked like a loving, harmonious family.

Li Wei sneered inwardly. Were they resorting to this approach because they had no other options?

"Mom, let's take turns eating instead. The iron forging is urgent. George, why are you still standing there? You eat first, then come replace us." Mixi called out to Li Wei, as if she had suddenly transformed back into his fiancée.

"I have other matters to attend to today. With your help, sister should be sufficient." Li Wei directly refused. His benefit exchange with Penny was between the two of them—what right did this bitch have to order him around?

Besides, he currently had no desire to compete for the Family Head position either. He could truly be considered free from desires at this point. As long as he expanded the Wheat Field to about three acres, then with his Professional Farmer bonuses and Professional Hunter support, he would definitely secure his place in this family regardless.

No matter whether Fila or Penny became Family Head, neither would dare to easily move against him.

As long as he continued accumulating strength steadily and slowly building up family contributions, he would eventually become Family Head again someday.

Mixi's face still wore a smile, unchanged—the acting skills of a veteran player were always worth appreciating.

Penny showed no particular reaction, being accustomed to such situations, but her ambitions were likely quite substantial.