Chapter 97: Knowledge Is Wealth
Ning Xiyue’s consciousness was ejected from the simulation room — but instead of returning to her body, it entered directly into her mustard seed space.
During the system upgrade, the system itself could not be used. However, her mustard seed space was a soul-bound treasure independent of the system, so it wasn’t affected.
Standing there, she looked around and saw that everything inside was exactly the same — vibrant, thriving, and operating as usual. Ning Xiyue nodded in satisfaction.
This was still her mustard seed space — the best.
The space was something that belonged to Ning Xiyue’s soul permanently. Wherever her soul went, the space followed. If her soul vanished, the mustard seed space would cease to exist as well, disappearing together with her. Looking at the space hanging deep within her consciousness, Ning Xiyue practically adored it.
She made a decision: from now on, all valuable items would be stored in the space. Everything she received from sign-ins would also go here. The system backpack would simply be used as a high-end refrigerator — keeping things fresh and unspoiled.
Comrade System was just a tool system for her — something to make money when she was broke and bicker with when she was bored.
Ning Xiyue glanced at the little turtle on her shoulder. “System, when will the system upgrade be complete? Can I use my perfect-score rewards now?”
She was genuinely curious about just how “super luxurious” the Super Luxury Wheel of Fortune was — and the blind box prize also intrigued her.
Ding! [The upgrade time is uncertain — as short as fifteen minutes, as long as three days. Please be patient, host.]
Ding! [Because the system upgrade was triggered, your perfect-score rewards have been placed inside one of your prize rooms: the Time Study Room. It’s been built next to your kitchen.]
Hearing this, Ning Xiyue turned around — and sure enough, beside her kitchen stood a white building, about 40 square meters. It looked quite nice.
Perfect. Now she wouldn’t have to sneak “contraband” into the simulation room when she wanted to read or study other things.
But there was an important question she had to ask about the upgrade: “How will the sign-in opportunities during the upgrade days be handled?”
Ding! [They will all be distributed together after the upgrade is complete.]
Ning Xiyue was relieved. She walked toward the kitchen, carrying a basket of pigweed on her back and a basin in her hand, and headed to the study.
As expected, she entered without any resistance — and she was overjoyed. That meant one thing: she had found another loophole.
The flow of time inside this white study was the same as the simulation room — 1:100. But experiments quickly revealed the biggest difference between the two.
Pigweed could enter. Other items could enter. The study didn’t restrict what she could do inside.
That also meant she could enjoy the 100x time acceleration within her mustard seed space — the only hassle was moving everything into the study.
But for a perk like this, moving things was a small price to pay.
Outside the study, time in the mustard seed space flowed normally — 1:1. But once inside, it became 1:100. How awesome was that?
This reward was absolutely incredible. Next time, she planned to aim for a perfect-grade bamboo weaving project.
After testing out one of the rewards — the study — Ning Xiyue turned her attention to the other two.
The Super Luxury Wheel of Fortune was already set up in the center of the study.
She couldn’t wait to see just how “luxurious” it was.
As she approached the wheel, she could already feel its opulence.
The wheel itself was ridiculously extravagant — encrusted all the way around with sparkling diamonds.
“Wow… so shiny.”
Her eyes were completely captivated. She lifted her pigweed-cutting kitchen knife and rushed forward to pry the diamonds off.
“Hey, hey, hey! Host, you can’t pry them off! If you do, the wheel will stop working!” The little turtle flailed its paws anxiously in midair, circling her frantically.
“Fine. I’ll spin it first.”
Ning Xiyue froze for a second, stopped her action, and — though she didn’t put the knife down — stepped two steps to the left and focused seriously on the prize list.
There were five prize sections, each one filled with rewards that would make anyone ecstatic:
1. A radio
2. Cash – 1,000 yuan
3. 5 sign-in chances
4. Cash – 2,000 yuan
5. A large truck
Ning Xiyue was stunned — every single reward was incredibly tempting. She’d be satisfied with any of them.
“It’s a pity I only get one spin…” she said regretfully.
A five-choice gamble — she honestly didn’t know which one to hope for.
“Please, God of Wealth, bless me to land on a prize section. Anything but the dividing line, please. Bless me.” Ning Xiyue closed her eyes, prayed, and placed her hand on the pointer.
She had never felt this nervous before. Whether she won big or not depended entirely on this spin.
“Here we go.”
The pointer began spinning rapidly. Ning Xiyue didn’t blink once.
Even System was nervous for her. It was terrified she’d land on the dividing line again — with her “black hand” luck last time, it had every reason to worry.
The pointer slowed… slowed… and finally stopped — on a prize section.
Cash – 2,000 yuan.
“Ahhh! I finally struck it rich! Hahaha!” Ning Xiyue screamed with joy, grabbed the little turtle, and hopped around excitedly — expressing her overwhelming happiness.
“Congratulations, host.”
The little turtle’s pea-sized green eyes sparkled with genuine delight.
Her luck had really turned around — not only did she avoid the dividing line, she landed on her favorite prize: cash. System was starting to think maybe praying to the God of Wealth actually worked — every time she did, her luck improved.
When her excitement subsided, Ning Xiyue’s gaze fell on the prize box. A thick stack of Great Unity bills appeared before her. Her hands moved faster than her brain — she was already counting. Not too much, not too little — exactly 2,000 yuan. Hugging the money, she squinted with satisfaction.
“No wonder they say knowledge is wealth. Isn’t this proof?”
With this 2,000 yuan added, her total wealth had grown significantly — she now had nearly 3,000 yuan in cash. In an era when the average monthly wage was barely over ten yuan, she was without question a rich woman.
Ning Xiyue placed the money into a special cash box, and seeing the pile grow larger made her heart swell with satisfaction.
“Host, you still have one blind box you haven’t opened,” the little turtle gently reminded her.
Ning Xiyue put the cash box away and looked down at the black box on the ground. “Alright then, while my luck’s still hot, let’s open it.”
Before opening the box, she performed the essential ritual — praying.
After praying, Ning Xiyue slowly unboxed the blind box.
Bang!
The moment it opened, there was a pop, and a blast of white light surged toward her face.
The light was so intense that Ning Xiyue had to shut her eyes. She complained, slightly annoyed:
“Ugh… What is this? My eyes are about to go blind!”
