Chapter 54: Ke Lai's Decision

Early morning.

After the sandstorm, the sky was a clear blue, as if the wind and sand that had swept the land before had never come.

Ke Lai, having just finished washing up, comfortably inhaled a breath of fresh air.

The sandstorm is indeed dreadful weather in the desert, but the blue sky and white clouds after it are also a rare sight.

Luo De got up earlier than Ke Lai.

This sandstorm was not small in scale; it blew all night before ending.

As soon as the sandstorm stopped, he immediately rushed to the test field to check the situation.

Ke Lai, alone at home, followed Luo De's method, fried two eggs herself; the pot already had ready-made white congee that Luo De had cooked before leaving, needing only to be reheated, and with a flatbread added, a simple breakfast was thus completed.

Ke Lai is not like Luo De.

She doesn't have such a large appetite; this is enough to fill her.

After finishing breakfast.

Ke Lai washed the rice bowl clean and put it back in the cupboard.

Luo De is a person who loves cleanliness.

Not only must every room be kept neat and tidy, but there are also many requirements such as washing hands before meals and washing dishes after meals.

At first.

Ke Lai always forgets these things.

In the laboratory, food and water were placed in fixed basins, there were no utensils, everything was eaten by hand, bathing was a luxury, and generally only before going onto the lab bench would those people forcibly give Ke Lai a bath.

When wandering in the desert, it was even more so.

At that time, even filling one's stomach was a problem, let alone paying attention to personal hygiene.

Ke Lai, who had not formed any personal habit in this regard, certainly did not escape Luo De's scolding.

Initially.

For these troublesome demands, Ke Lai was still quite resistant.

Over time.

She gradually became accustomed to them.

Now, the first thing she does each morning after getting up and putting on her clothes is to wash up, and only then does she go to eat breakfast.

Speaking of this.

There is also another thing that Ke Lai finds especially hard to adapt to.

That is chopsticks.

This is utensil from Liyue.

In Sumeru Cheng, people generally use spoons and forks; for foods like grabbed rice, they eat directly with their hands.

Chopsticks.

In A Ru Cun, aside from Luo De, nobody really uses them.

Ke Lai really dislikes using chopsticks.

Afflicted with the magic scale disease, she simply cannot use those two small wooden sticks properly.

Fortunately.

Luo De also did not force her to use chopsticks, and even specially made a brand-new set of spoon and fork for her; the only requirement was that she must not eat rice by hand again.

Ke Lai can still manage this small requirement.

After tidying up the utensils and scrubbing the pot clean, Ke Lai pushed the door and went out.

Looking at the courtyard full of yellow that starkly contrasts with the azure sky, she muttered discontentedly, "What annoying weather."

Saying that.

She then went to the corner, took out a big broom, and prepared to thoroughly sweep the courtyard covered in yellow sand.

This is one of the contents of her agreement with Luo De.

If one wants to eat their fill, they must put in corresponding labor.

Under normal circumstances.

Luo De is responsible for cooking, teaching her to read, write, and do arithmetic, etc.

Ke Lai is responsible for cleaning the house's hygiene, as well as simple tasks like cutting feed that only require physical strength.

After a period of time like this.

The two actually got along quite harmoniously.

Especially the piece of milk candy after daily study.

Just thinking about that.

Ke Lai's saliva was about to flow out.

Unlike Duo Li, who has eaten all kinds of delicacies.

The milk candy that Luo De makes, for Ke Lai and Dixiya, even if it's a bit rough, is still a tasty snack that one can enjoy quite a lot.

Especially after Duo Li gave a suggestion.

Luo De's recently made milk candy has all kinds of fruit juices added; its taste is who knows how many times better than before.

"Hmph—"

"Give Dixiya that much, but to me it's still just one piece a day!"

Ke Lai swept the courtyard while muttering resentfully to herself.

The day before yesterday, when Dixiya returned to Sumeru Cheng, Ke Lai personally saw Luo De pack her a full bag of milk candy, containing several flavors she had never tried before.

Thinking again that she can only eat one piece of milk candy a day, and must also finish that day's practice problems.

Ke Lai's resentment grew stronger, and her hand movements became much larger as well.

Ke Lai is very strong.

With that sweep full of resentment, the small courtyard instantly seemed to kick up a miniature sandstorm, with yellow sand flying everywhere.

The consequence of doing this.

Namely, the places that had already been swept clean were covered again by dust.

"Huh—"

"Ke Lai, Ke Lai! Calm down, calm down, calm down!!!"

"It's just a few pieces of candy; what difference does it make whether you get to eat them or not!"

"After you finish the work here and pay off your debts, you can eat as much candy as you want then."

Looking at her own 'masterpiece', Ke Lai hurriedly persuaded herself, letting her somewhat agitated emotions calm down again.

The person Luo De had said would come to help seal the strange things inside her body never came, saying they had temporarily not made contact.

Therefore, during this period Ke Lai still relied on her own will and struggled against the bewitching of the Archon's resentments.

Fortunately.

Since Luo De began forcing her to study, she discovered an excellent method to struggle against the Archon's resentments.

That is reading books.

As long as she immerses her mind and spirit in reading and studying, then no matter how much the Archon's resentments clamor, they will no longer affect her emotions as before.

Suddenly.

Ke Lai, who was about to refocus her attention on cleaning work, faintly heard a faint sound coming from what should have been an empty house.

This sound was not loud.

Ke Lai thought she had misheard; she listened carefully, and upon hearing no further sound, she lowered her head again and began sweeping the courtyard.

But before she had swept a few strokes, she again heard a sound coming from the house.

This time the sound was much clearer than before.

It was obviously the sound of someone moving heavy objects.

"Someone!!"

Ke Lai immediately realized something.

The house has been burgled!

Upon realizing this, Ke Lai immediately threw down her broom, moved her feet, and was about to go see what was happening.

But after taking only two steps, she suddenly stopped.

"This, this isn't my home; why would I care so much about losing things?"

This is a fact laid before her eyes.

In Ke Lai's view, she is ultimately an outsider.

Even being able to stay here and eat three full meals a day and sleep soundly are rewards she earns through her daily work.

In short.

This is Luo De's home, not her own.

Moreover, as long as she pays off her debt, she can leave here.

So why should she care so much about whether Luo De's house has been burgled?

"But."

"But."

Gazing at this strange yet familiar house, Ke Lai tightly bit her lip.

In a daze.

The life she had spent here these days flashed before her eyes scene by scene.

The scene of being dragged away by Dixiya for not bathing, the scene of being scolded by Luo De for eating with her hands, the scene of Luo De patiently teaching her while studying, and the scene of herself cheering when receiving that piece of milk candy each day.

"Huh— huh—"

"That hateful Luo De."

"If he finds out I know there's a thief in the house and don't go protect it, he'll definitely kick me out of here! Then, then I won't be able to eat a full meal and will have to return to that wandering life in the desert!"

"Right, he will definitely do that!"

"So, so."

Having thought up an excuse and reason.

Ke Lai no longer agonized, no longer hesitated, grabbed her broom and rushed into the house.

(End of chapter)