"Mama, Mama! Big Head can walk now!"
"What? Big Head can walk? Where? Where?"
Hearing Shuanzi's words, Zhenniang quickly put down the broom, ran inside, and saw Qin Yi standing, trembling as he walked while holding onto the wall. She nodded excitedly:
"Good, good! From now on, you can take Big Head out to play."
Qin Yi realized that being able to leave his mother was such a big milestone.
"Alright, Big Head, let's go play together!"
Shuanzi took Qin Yi's right hand, Zhuzi grabbed his left, and together they walked out of the yard.
Outside, Qin Yi still felt amazed. Leaving parents alone was surprisingly simple.
But then he reasoned: in a traditional village composed of relatives, no strangers would harm them. Older children often took care of younger ones; it was normal.
Convinced, Qin Yi focused on walking.
At first, he wobbled, but gradually, his steps steadied. By the time they reached the sparse patch of land east of the village where his brothers often played, Qin Yi walked steadily.
There, two children around his age, just learning to walk, were playing. His brothers placed him with them, reminding him not to run off, then ran to play with other kids.
Qin Yi watched for a while. Their games were simple—tag-like chasing, playing in mud, picking stones, tossing grass balls.
After observing patiently, Qin Yi realized none of this helped him gain skills.
Disappointed, he refused to watch the mud games the next day. Looking around, he noticed a small bare soil slope nearby.
He stood up and slowly climbed it—a high-difficulty task for a new walker. Halfway up, he lost balance, sat down, and then crawled to the top.
From the summit, the view was excellent. Eastward lay the village fields, westward the houses, southward a clear stream, and northward a forest.
He focused on the eastern fields. Some fields glistened with water; others did not. The reflective fields were likely paddy fields; the dull ones dry fields.
He observed farmers at work—bending over, pulling weeds manually, a labor-intensive task. Qin Yi recalled the poem "Mín Nóng":
"Hoeing under the midday sun, tears fall onto the soil. Who knows, the food on the plate, every grain is hard-earned."
The farmers' toil impressed him deeply.
When his brothers called him home for dinner, Qin Yi finally recorded the Planting skill.
Arriving home early, Qin Yi found his mother had prepared dinner. Eager to record the Cooking skill, he ran to help:
"Mama, Mama! I'll help you light the fire!"
"Be careful not to burn yourself."
"Mama, Mama! I'll help wash the vegetables!"
"Be careful not to get your clothes wet."
"Mama, Mama! I…"
Zhenniang sighed, picking him up:
"Mama knows you're helpful, but you're too small. Wait until you grow up a little, then you can help, alright?"
Qin Yi nodded reluctantly: "Alright."
"Okay, wash your hands and go play with your brothers."
Though leaving the kitchen, Qin Yi stayed nearby, watching his mother work. When she finished, he successfully recorded the Cooking skill.
Impressed, Zhenniang steamed him an egg for dinner. Qin Yi was delighted—it tasted delicious.
The next day, Qin Yi didn't go play with his brothers. Instead, he followed his mother everywhere.
"Cluck, cluck, cluck…"
"Mama, Mama! I'll help feed the chickens!"
Zhenniang considered refusing, but realized it was a good chance for him. She cautioned:
"Just scatter the grain, don't play with the rooster or hens. Their beaks and claws are sharp; they could hurt you."
"I understand, Mama. I won't play with them."
"Good boy, Big Head."
Through feeding the chickens himself, Qin Yi upgraded Farming LV1 → LV2.
Later, he wanted to help wash clothes, but Zhenniang firmly refused:
"The water is dangerous, the stones slippery. What if you fall or get wet and sick? Promise me we won't go to the river today."
"Okay, I won't go."
"Good boy. Go play with your brothers."
Regarding weaving, Zhenniang protected the loom fiercely; Qin Yi knew not to touch it.
Half a month later, he saw her sewing clothes. Excited, he climbed onto the bed, sat beside her, and watched closely.
Zhenniang teased:
"Big Head, are you a boy interested in sewing?"
Qin Yi innocently replied:
"Mama, just a few movements of your hands and the fabric becomes our clothes. It's amazing."
Zhenniang smiled and continued sewing.
When she left briefly, Qin Yi secretly sewed two stitches himself. As expected, Handicraft LV1 → LV2 was upgraded.
(End of Chapter)