I'm a Druid at a farmhouse.

Chapter 9 Weak Consciousness

Weasel?

Song You repeated these three words in his mind, and the image of a mustelid automatically appeared in his mind.

"Auntie, when did this happen?" he asked.

"It happened a few years ago," the aunt looked around and lowered her voice, "Old Li's family at the west end of the village raised more than twenty chickens, which were left at the foot of your mountain. In less than half a month, they all disappeared without a trace, not even a single feather was seen."

"After that, no one dared to graze their chickens there anymore. Everyone said that a weasel spirit lived in that forest and would steal chickens to eat."

After listening, Song You nodded thoughtfully, "Thank you, Auntie, I understand now."

He didn't consider this feudal superstition; the "Huang Daxian" that people in the countryside talk about is mostly just a weasel.

But we really need to be careful about this. These thirty-five chicks are all part of our future revenue and Druid progress bar, and we can't afford to lose a single one.

After saying goodbye to the woman, Song You pushed his tricycle straight to the pork stall.

"Hey, Song family kid, going to the market today?" The butcher, a burly man, greeted Song You warmly.

"Uncle Wang, give me two pork bones and ten pounds of pork belly."

"Alright!" Uncle Wang swiftly chopped the bone with his knife and cut off a piece of pork belly with alternating layers of fat and lean meat. "You kid, you came back without saying a word. Your dad's situation... sigh, let's not talk about that. If you ever need any help in the future, just ask me."

"Thank you, Uncle Wang." Song You took the meat, paid for it, and bought some fresh peppers and greens from the vegetable stall next to him, as well as a few slaughtered chickens and some other ingredients.

Come back fully loaded.

The tricycle hummed back to the courtyard. Song You first put the meat and vegetables into the kitchen, and then carefully carried the cardboard box containing the chicks down.

The chirping added a touch of life to the quiet courtyard.

He found some old planks left over from when his father built the house and a tattered fishing net, and in the corner of the yard, right next to the vegetable garden, he built a makeshift chicken coop with a clanging sound.

The place isn't big, but it's enough for these little guys to move around in for the time being.

He put the box into the chicken coop and opened one of the openings.

One by one, fluffy little heads peeked out from inside, curiously and timidly looking around at this new place.

Following Tian Gensheng's example, Song You reached in and gently lifted the chicks out one by one.

He could feel the fragile trembling and warmth of these tiny lives in his palm.

He closed his eyes, and a gentle thought slowly emanated through the whispers of nature.

"Don't be afraid, it's safe here. There's food and water, and no danger."

This idea does not involve complicated language; it is simply a pure emotion representing safety, protection, and goodwill.

The chicks, who were initially restless in their new environment, gradually calmed down. They stopped running around in a panic, and some of the bolder ones even started pecking at the millet that Song You had scattered on the ground with their little beaks.

A line of text appeared in his mind.

[Druid Log: You have extended goodwill to a new race, and they have felt your protection. Beastmaster Druid beginner progress +1%, current progress: 28%.]

[Druid's Diary: The chicks' sense of community is too weak to establish deep bonds; they require long-term guidance and nurturing.]

"It only went up by 1%." Song You opened his eyes, not disappointed.

One must eat one bite at a time, walk one step at a time, and the Druid's spiritual practice cannot be rushed.

He stood up, dusted off his hands, and looked at the chicks chasing and pecking at food in the sunlight. He thought to himself that once they were a little bigger, he would take them to the back mountain to roam freely.

As for the possible presence of the weasel...

Song You's gaze fell upon the lush forest behind the courtyard.

I need to find some time to go up and scout it out.

He was just about to go back inside to start simmering pork bone soup when he heard the sound of a car engine shutting off outside the gate of the courtyard.

Immediately afterwards, a hesitant knocking sounded on the door.

"Knock knock knock".

have a guest?

Song You walked over and opened the courtyard gate.

A regular white Volkswagen sedan was parked in front of the door, and a family of three was standing next to it.

A man in his thirties, wearing glasses, looked quite refined. Beside him was his wife, holding a little boy of about four or five years old.

The man was holding up his phone, comparing it to the crooked wooden sign of the farmhouse. When he saw Song You come out, his eyes lit up.

"Hello, is this 'Come and Enjoy a Farmhouse Trip'?"

"Yes, I am the boss, Song You," Song You replied with a smile.

"Oh, it really is you!" The man seemed a little excited. He handed the phone to his wife and quickly stepped forward. "Boss, we came here after watching Deng Shen's live stream! Last night, my wife and kids were so craving the whole fish feast you made, so we drove all the way from Xiangcheng this morning!"

His wife, standing behind him, smiled and nodded, "Yes, boss, this place is really nice; even the air smells wonderful."

The little boy in her arms craned his neck curiously, peering into the yard, and immediately spotted the group of chirping chicks in the corner.

"Mommy, chicks!"

Song You was secretly pleased; the effect of Deng Shen's work was immediate.

"Welcome, welcome, please come in." He ushered the family of three into the courtyard.

As soon as the man entered the courtyard, he took a deep breath, a look of rapture on his face: "This air is amazing! A hundred times better than the artificial park downstairs in our neighborhood!"

Song You poured them some cool tea and led them to sit down at the stone table under the grapevines.

"What do you want to do? Fishing or picking vegetables?"

"Fishing, I absolutely have to go fishing!" The man rubbed his hands together, his face full of anticipation. "I'm a seasoned angler, and after seeing Master Deng catch that big grass carp, I was so itchy to fish that I couldn't sleep all night!"

"Okay." Song You pointed to the price list. "Two options: 660 yuan for the whole day, or 21 yuan per jin."

The man discussed it with his wife.

"Boss, let's take the one that's priced by weight. We just want to experience it and have some fun fishing." The man made his choice, which is very much in line with the spending mentality of an average family tourist.

"No problem." Song You took out a few spare fishing rods and a small bag of bait from the house. "Come with me."

He led his family of three along the ridges of the fields toward the reservoir.

The little boy was very excited the whole way, chasing butterflies and pointing at the vegetables in the field, asking all sorts of questions.

Upon reaching the reservoir, the man gazed at the shimmering water and exclaimed in admiration once more.

"This water is so clear! Boss, is your reservoir fed by mountain spring water?"

"More or less." Song You replied casually, finding them a flat, safe spot some distance from the water. "Here it is. Keep a close eye on the children."

"Don't worry, boss."

Song You helped the man set up his fishing rod and taught him how to bait it, watching him cast his first line with great enthusiasm.

After settling his first group of guests, Song You felt that his agritainment business was finally on the right track.

He didn't linger by the reservoir and turned back to his courtyard.

The arrival of the guest eased his anxiety about the loan, but he did not forget the potential threat.

After a few more guests arrived, things calmed down, and Song You decided to go to the back mountain to take a look.

He went into the kitchen, picked up a short-handled wood-chopping knife from the corner, weighed it in his hand, and found it to be a good weight.

Then, he looked up at the deep, secluded back mountain.

"So it's Wong Tai Sin, huh? I'd like to see who this deity is."

Song You tucked the machete into his waistband, strode off, and headed toward the mountain path that was almost completely overgrown with weeds.