The Sorrowmender

Chapter 13 – System upgrade, simple and unadorned

Upon waking from a dream, the small window was quiet, and spring was in the sound of selling flowers.

As the first ray of morning sunlight slipped through the window's gap into the room, it quietly climbed onto the bedhead.

Xu Qingzhou woke up.

As usual, he went to the window, gently pushed it open, and was greeted by the wind, the sounds of bustling, and the prosperity of the marketplace.

He took a deep breath, feeling refreshed and at ease.

"Spring is wonderful, even the wind is sweet."

Then he washed up and went downstairs.

Though it was early morning, the entire room had already been cleaned spotless by six-year-old Little Wuyou.

"Master, you're awake. I've brewed tea for you, it's on the table."

"Mm, good!"

"Master, shall we start now?"

"Yes."

With Xu Qingzhou's permission, Little Wuyou took small steps, opened the door, and carried a wooden box out.

Outside, two long lines had already formed, stretching to the end of the street corner.

Today, Little Wuyou was dressed in a white scholar's outfit, carrying a small cloth bag, with her long black hair tied into two thick braids.

Her face was rosy, her eyes smiled like flowers, and she placed the wooden box on the wooden platform with some effort.

Sweetly, she said, "Ladies, beauties, big sisters, old madams, the drawing starts today. There are 400 tickets, please line up properly, no cutting in line."

Hearing this, the women began to take their tickets in an orderly manner.

Wuyou: "Old Madam Zhang, you're here a bit early today, please draw your ticket, and good luck to you."

Old Madam Zhang: "Haha, this little girl, such a sweet talker, I like you more and more."

Wuyou: "Hehe, Old Madam, you're teasing me."

Auntie Liu: "Little Wuyou, you opened later than yesterday."

Little Wuyou's big eyes squinted into crescents, patiently explaining, "Master wasn't feeling well last night, so it was a bit late. Sorry to keep you waiting, Auntie."

Auntie Liu: "No, no, just teasing you..."

Xu Qingzhou propped his chin with one hand, smiling as he watched the busy little figure outside, his eyes full of affection.

It's strange, originally in front of the Pavilion of Forgetting Worries, every time there was a drawing, it was as chaotic as aunties buying discounted eggs at the market.

But ever since Wuyou came, everything changed. Everyone lined up patiently and consciously, and the drawing became orderly.

Little Wuyou blended in with everyone, far surpassing Wang Er.

Moreover, the little one was particularly sensible, keeping the house spotless.

Xu Qingzhou was very fond of such a disciple.

And since the day she became his disciple, Little Wuyou's small face always carried a cheerful smile.

No matter how upset you were, seeing those big smiling eyes would surely lift your spirits.

After a long while, the drawing ended, and Little Wuyou ran inside, respectfully saluting Xu Qingzhou.

"Master, the drawing is over, 400 tickets were drawn today, please tell me today's number."

Xu Qingzhou tapped his fingers lightly on the table, the "dong dong!" sound echoed.

Looking at Little Wuyou, he said, "Today, you choose the number."

"Ah!" Little Wuyou exclaimed, quickly waving her hands, "Master, I can't."

Xu Qingzhou slightly frowned, pretending to be solemn, "Master says you can, so you can. Today, the number must be chosen by you."

Little Wuyou was a bit flattered but had to comply.

After thinking for a while, "Can I choose 128?"

"Tell me, why 128?" Xu Qingzhou asked with a hint of amusement.

"Because I met Master on December 8th, that's my lucky number."

She said sweetly without hesitation, her big eyes squinting into crescents, her clear gaze striking the heart.

Xu Qingzhou's face was full of doting, nodding slightly.

"Alright, then 128 it is, go ahead."

"Mm-hmm, okay."

— "Mister says, today's lucky number is 128!"

As a woman entered the room, Xu Qingzhou picked up his pen, made a stroke in the Worry-Free Book, and a blue light appeared.

The woman's worries were fully revealed before him.

[Name: Hao Chunhua.]

[Age: 21.]

[Status: Wife, mother.]

[Introduction: Resident of Frostsky City, married Li Chengwen at sixteen, has a son and a daughter....]

[Request: Cure husband's hidden illness.]

[Solution:.......]

Xu Qingzhou raised an eyebrow, choosing option one to spend 50 Merit Points to exchange for a Disease-Removing Pill and placed it in Hao Chunhua's hand.

He patiently instructed.

"This medicine, take it with three liters of boy's urine, and your husband will recover in no time."

Hao Chunhua quickly thanked him, "Thank you, Mister, thank you."

Then she left several taels of silver and went out.

Outside, the sound of women discussing could be heard.

"How is it, can it be cured?"

"It can, Mister said, take it with three liters of boy's urine, and it will be fine."

"Again with the boy's urine, why does Mister Forgetting Worries always prescribe boy's urine for men's illnesses?"

"I don't know, just do as told, Mister must have his reasons."

"....."

Xu Qingzhou listened to everything, a sly smile appearing on his lips, his eyes full of mischief.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully relieving Hao Chunhua's worries.]

[Ding! Triggered reward, gained 200 Merit Points.]

[Ding! You have relieved worries 100 times, Worry-Free System upgraded to level two, unlocking hidden reward doubling, gained one lottery chance at the Worry-Free General Store.]

To read the uncut version, go to [p𝘢wread.com].

[Ding! You have checked in for ten days, gained 1 Attribute Point.]

"Oh, finally leveled up, not bad."

The Worry-Free System can be upgraded, and each upgrade comes with increased rewards. It's said that reaching level 5 can trigger lottery point exchanges and gain product discount permissions.

Xu Qingzhou wasn't sure about the specifics, but that's what the system spirit said at the time.

He eagerly opened the System Panel, licking his lips slightly as he looked at the level two system.

The level two system didn't have many changes, just an additional reward doubling bonus.

But soon, he furrowed his brows.

"To level up from two to three, you damn well need to relieve worries 300 times, isn't that a bit much?"

He complained, but it was expected, just like in games, higher levels require more experience points.

Nothing surprising.

"The road is long, but if you keep going, you'll get there. Keep going without stopping, the future is promising, take it slow."

"Being invincible is a cool thing, being cool is a lifelong thing, and a lifetime is about longevity, no need to rush."

As before, he added the only Attribute Point to Strength.

"Boom!"

His mind roared, like every time he added a point, a surge of power erupted from his dantian, coursing through his entire body.

"Bang!"

"Buzz buzz!!"

Xu Qingzhou was stunned, feeling the changes in his body, an unprecedented comfort spreading through every pore.

In his dantian, he felt a shackle that had always bound him, and at that moment, he broke it.

"Oh my, did I just break through?"