The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 269 - 258 Toolbox

Chapter 269: Chapter 258 Toolbox

Manbao curiously held the dark brown "tree root" in her hand and seeing the pure white flesh inside, couldn’t help but stretch out her finger to poke it.

By now, Keke had already combed through its vast database and found several similar, extinct plant species, though there was still some uncertainty. However, Keke could definitively tell Manbao, "This is a fungal plant."

"Is it edible?"

Keke, not too certain, said, "It should be?"

Manbao then put down the piece she was holding and went to break off the rest. Since it was edible, she thought she might as well take it home; the insides were so white, it might be delicious mixed with Chinese yam.

The plants were growing around a tree stump, hidden under newly sprouted leaves that weren’t very noticeable. Manbao had been sitting with her back to them and hadn’t paid any attention before.

Even if she had seen them, she wouldn’t have suspected they were fungal, for they really resembled clumps of tree roots.

Now that Manbao had discovered them, she pushed aside what covered them and saw plenty growing around half a tree stump.

Without any reservations, Manbao stripped them all off and hugged them into a bamboo basket. There were so many that she couldn’t carry them all at once and had to make three trips back and forth.

Keke was silent, still earnestly analyzing the specimen.

In the past two years, Keke had cataloged quite a few extinct species from Manbao, normally able to immediately scan their names and basic uses.

But this was the first time it couldn’t search out a specific name like it was doing now.

It felt that this was a good thing for both itself and Manbao.

The points given by the Encyclopedia weren’t solely based on the plant’s uses and importance—their scarcity was also an important factor to consider.

For a plant like this, one whose name even the Encyclopedia couldn’t scan, the points awarded were bound to be significant. If they could also figure out its corresponding growth environment, the reward points would be even more generous.

If Keke could think of this, so could Manbao who had grown accustomed to it, which is why she was extremely excited.

So excited that she immediately picked several large leaves, carefully swept some soil from around the tree stump, stealthily set it aside for Keke, and then looking at the solid stump, Manbao was at a loss.

Keke said, "Host, there’s a promotion in the Encyclopedia. Why not buy a set of collection tools?"

"Eh, didn’t you say that those tools can’t be taken out because they would easily reveal my identity?"

Nonsense. If you were going to use the tools to fight with Bai Shanbao, of course it had to say that. Otherwise, if a real fight led to someone getting hurt, things would be exposed even if they weren’t meant to be.

Keke said, "I can provide a cover for you, altering the appearance of these tools to match current styles."

What it really meant was that you’re getting older, and you wouldn’t end up drawing these tools in the heat of a fight to use as weapons.

Of course, Keke would never say that out loud.

Manbao didn’t realize Keke’s true thoughts for the moment and glanced at the points needed for the set of tools Keke was showing.

It was really cheap, only nine points. Didn’t it used to require ninety?

Manbao scratched her head and, still a bit unsure, asked Keke.

Keke said, "Correct, it’s currently ninety percent off."

Opportunities like this were rare.

Manbao immediately said, "Buy it!"

In no time at all, Keke deducted the points, and soon a box appeared in the space.

Feeling a bit apprehensive, Manbao looked left and right, seeing Daya and others not far away, half-hidden by some trees and not having a clear view of this side.

She turned her back to everyone and took out the toolbox, which contained various small items evidently intended for collection purposes.

There was a small shovel, two pairs of scissors of different models, two knives of different models, and a stack of neatly arranged collection boxes designed specifically for plants. Flipping further, Manbao found tools for collecting animals as well—she recognized some items like nets—but there were many things she didn’t know how to use. However, now wasn’t the time for questions. Manbao organized the items and took a small knife out of the box before putting it away.

Manbao took some things from the tree stump and tossed them to Keke.

Keke: "...Actually, you should have placed them in the collection boxes, but never mind. This is your first use and you’re not proficient yet. I’ll teach you the correct collection procedures tonight."

When the host was younger, even snapping a tree branch required help from Zhou Silang and others, and someone was always around whenever she went out.

It had only been a few months since the Zhou Family stopped their daily escorts, but they still kept a tight control on where Manbao went, following her closely anywhere except when she visited the Bai Family.

The younger escorts were Daya, Datou, and Erya along with their cousins; the older ones were the brothers Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang.

Under such circumstances, Keke assigned Manbao mainly plant cataloging tasks, the smaller ones she could hold in her hand for a short while before throwing them into the space; the larger ones required someone like Zhou Wulang to help pull or snap them.

Collecting the plants’ growth environment was much more difficult. For instance, when collecting mycelium, if they saw Manbao ignoring mushrooms, playing around to dig up the soil they grew in, they would crowd around and watch for a long time, making it difficult to discreetly record more complex life requirements.

Therefore, Keke never encouraged Manbao to buy a toolbox.

But it seemed that as Manbao got older, or as she got smarter, providing valuable suggestions and adding more value to the family, her status in the family grew higher. Naturally, the heads of the Zhou Family relaxed their control over her.

At least now, when she ran to the fields or riverbank, Datou and Daya wouldn’t shadow her every step.

The most evident change was this trip into the mountains. Normally, whenever Manbao went into the mountains, her family wouldn’t let her out of their sight for more than five steps.

But now, as long as she could be seen by her family within their field of vision from time to time, it was acceptable.

Keke, being a system, excelled in collecting various data for analysis and naturally was the first to notice this slight change.

So, to collect the life elements of animals and plants to earn more extra points, host, are you in?

Of course, Manbao was in. After purchasing those two electric batons last time, her points were almost depleted; she had just over eight hundred left.

Manbao, content, also threw the knife into the space and started looking around, waving her little hands. She wanted to see if there were more of those things nearby.

Since they preferred growing at the base of trees, clinging to tree stumps, all she needed to do was search around the base.

But after searching around the base of several nearby trees without finding anything, she couldn’t help but glance towards the cut tree stumps.

She remembered Keke mentioning that every plant has certain growth conditions. So, what were the growth conditions for this kind of fungus?

Manbao squatted back down by the tree stump and stared at it, lost in thought.

Daya thought her little aunt had been squatting there too long and couldn’t help but run up to ask, "Little aunt, what are you looking at?"

With a serious face, Manbao said, "Looking at the tree!"

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