Chapter 181: The Heaviest Things in This Room Are Us Two
[Host, this robot can be set according to your wishes. It is a household service robot, capable of handling all domestic chores. It will serve you diligently, just like the butlers in the big families of the modern society you used to live in,] System explained.
Ning Xiyue listened and became even more satisfied with the robot in front of her. She clapped her hands and said:
“That’s perfect! This is exactly the kind of robot I need — someone who can keep my space beautiful and tidy without me lifting a finger.”
She picked up the robot’s manual. It was a solar-powered robot. If the battery ran out, she only needed to remove its solar panel and leave it under the sun for a minute, and it could run for fifty years.
Truly an energy-saving marvel.
But Ning Xiyue realized she wouldn’t even need this powerful charging feature — the solar battery still had a hundred years of energy stored.
She didn’t expect to live longer than this robot butler anyway.
The robot’s power switch was in the center of its forehead. After reading the manual, Ning Xiyue placed the battery on the back of its head, set up the work program, and pressed the switch.
The cold pile of metal suddenly seemed to come alive, transforming into something with life.
“Greetings, Master. I am your household butler 001. Please give your orders.”
Even though the program was already set, Ning Xiyue still gave a brief command:
“You’ll manage everything here from now on. The most important task is the piglets in the pen. Feed them on time, clean their pen on schedule, and just follow the routine.”
“You may rest assured, Master.”
“Go to work.”
Ning Xiyue waved it off and said no more. It was her first time using such a high-tech smart robot, and she didn’t know how well it would perform. Only after using it would she find out.
At this moment, System appeared, like a proud vendor: [Host, all our system’s robots are five-star rated. They can perfectly serve you and become your best butler.]
“I trust you.”
Ning Xiyue looked at the robot already feeding the pigs and felt a pleasant mood.
A butler who never slacks off was ideal.
From now on, she was no longer bound by pigs.
Thanks to the robot, Ning Xiyue could remove tasks like tending to the space and caring for piglets from her daily schedule and replace them with knitting scarves and sweaters.
In her study, she finished knitting scarves for the whole family:
- A blue scarf for her father
- Mother-daughter military-green scarves for her and Yunmu
- A black scarf for her eldest brother
- A gray scarf for her second brother (already given)
Then she spent ten points to buy the clothing sizes for everyone in her family from System and started knitting sweaters. Each sweater matched the color of the corresponding scarf.
She started all five sweaters with her knitting needles, rotating between them until she was exhausted, only then leaving the study and stepping out of the space.
She still needed to clean the kitchen and soak her feet on the warm kang before returning to complete today’s learning tasks.
When she carried the foot-soaking bucket back, Chen Ye Chu was already soaking her feet, but she wasn’t idle — she bent over the table, writing something.
“Xiyue, perfect timing! Come look at the notes I wrote on what we need and the steps for making ham. We’ll follow this tomorrow. This notebook is for you,” Chen Ye Chu said, happily holding up the notebook.
It turned out she had written the ham recipe. Ning Xiyue was touched — Chen Ye Chu had taken her suggestion seriously, not half-heartedly.
Ning Xiyue put the foot bath down, walked over, and took the notebook. The notes were detailed, with some precautions marked in red ink.
She hugged Chen Ye Chu tightly, expressing heartfelt gratitude:
“Ye Chu, you’re amazing! You even worked overtime to write me ham-making notes, using different ink colors to mark things. So thoughtful. Thank you!”
Chen Ye Chu blushed, smiling shyly: “No need to thank me. You’ve helped me a lot too. Since I said I’d teach you, I’ll make sure you learn and make the best-tasting ham. The notes are yours. After breakfast tomorrow, we’ll start.”
“Okay.”
Ning Xiyue put the notebook away and sat down to soak her feet.
…
The next day, Chen Ye Chu brought her pork hind leg, coarse salt, and a bit of her secret seasoning into Ning Xiyue’s kitchen to teach her ham-making.
With both having meat, the process was straightforward: Chen Ye Chu did a step, and Ning Xiyue followed.
They started by plucking hair and removing blood clots to trim the leg.
Chen Ye Chu explained carefully and slowly, checking Ning Xiyue’s handling at each step. Precision was key.
The secret to Chen Ye Chu’s delicious ham lay in her special seasoning powder, which she generously shared. Mixing it with coarse salt, she taught Ning Xiyue the most important step: massaging and curing the meat.
“Our method differs from others who salt in batches over weeks. It’s simpler. We can finish in a day, and by tonight the ham can hang to dry. It’s labor-intensive though — you must massage repeatedly, ensuring the salt penetrates the meat.”
After a morning of massaging, Ning Xiyue shook her aching arms, agreeing — it was indeed hard work.
The good news: using her Tai Chi technique, she could massage the salt into the meat faster and, in her opinion, make tastier ham.
After lunch, they resumed work. Chen Ye Chu looked for something heavy to press the meat.
“This room’s heaviest things are us two. Watch me,” Ning Xiyue said.
She grabbed a brick from a cloth bag on the wall, washed it, and placed it on the pork leg in the wooden tub. She stood on it, pressing down.
She raised an eyebrow at Chen Ye Chu: “See? Heaviest in the room.”
“Impressive, your brain works fast,” Chen Ye Chu said, rushing to imitate her. She moved the tub to the door edge and stood on the brick, jumping slightly with excitement while pressing.
System gently warned: [Host, be careful. Don’t jump like her. Our bricks aren’t the same. If you jump, the meat will be ruined.]
“I won’t jump, just shift my feet.”
Ning Xiyue knew her strength. Her “power buff” was set perfectly for the meat’s tolerance — one wrong move and the ham would be destroyed.
The brick’s pressure effectively expelled the residual blood. While Chen Ye Chu continued pressing her meat, Ning Xiyue worked independently on the final step: massaging salt into the leg repeatedly.
Seeing her quick and precise movements, Chen Ye Chu said: “Xiyue, I think your ham will taste even better.”
Ning Xiyue accepted the compliment: “Haha, let’s hope it surpasses yours.”
System, perched on Ning Xiyue’s head, watched her toil for a delicious ham and wondered: [Host, you’re working so hard for just one bite. How much effort will you put in total?]
Ning Xiyue continued massaging: “You don’t understand. Food is fundamental. In any era, people work tirelessly for a meal, just as you need energy.”
System finally understood. It, too, was willing to spend time to gain pure energy.
Ignoring System, Ning Xiyue asked Chen Ye Chu: “Ye Chu, check if my meat is ready to hang and dry.”
Chen Ye Chu washed the salt off her hands, pressed the pork, tasted a bit with her finger, and nodded: “Yes. Just rub a bit of the secret seasoning on the outside, and it’s ready.”
“Got it.”
Just then, Liu Yao’s voice called from outside:
“Xiyue! The team leader said there’s a call for you. Go pick it up at the brigade!”
