Chapter 11: Why would I ever need something as useless as a Beauty Pill?

The *ding-dong* sound in her ears instantly made Li Shiyue feel relieved. She watched with satisfaction as her father, his expression a mixture of resentment and helplessness, signed the divorce papers.

She saw Qin Tao, standing beside her father, raise an eyebrow with a triumphant smirk playing at the corners of her mouth.

Turning her head, she saw her mother solemnly and carefully tuck away the signed and thumbprinted divorce papers.

She also saw her elder brother, still standing there in a state of bewildered ignorance.

Li Shiyue let out a long breath and said cheerfully to her brother, "Brother, come with me to follow Second Uncle and Grandma back to move our things."

Shitou never knew how to refuse Li Shiyue; he simply nodded, accepting her request.

Since it was still dark, Grandmother Li took charge. Under the witness of Li Youfu, she first distributed the family's silver cash in front of everyone, according to what was written in the divorce papers.

To everyone's surprise, the portion that should have been kept by Grandmother Li was instead handed directly to Li's mother in public.

"Chunniang, take all of this. Although we are divorcing, Wangming and I will continue to live with you. Shitou and Shiyue are my precious grandchildren. Take this money; you never know when you might need it on the road ahead."

Li's mother was a woman who could shoulder responsibility. She said to Grandmother Li, "Mother, do not worry. I will keep it safe."

As Li's mother took the money bag, the matter was officially settled.

Standing opposite Li's mother, Li's father looked utterly dejected, yet his teeth were itching with resentment. Beside him, Qin Tao stared hungrily at the money bag in his hands, but he refused to give it to her, instead tucking it directly into the breast of his tunic.

Qin Tao's eyes darted around rapidly; no one knew what wicked schemes she was brewing in her mind.

Next up was the distribution of grain. There were still villagers from Li Village who had not yet returned home to sleep, watching the commotion. Some enthusiastic men stepped forward to help carry the sacks of grain down from the donkey cart one by one.

Li Youfu watched closely, picking out the specific shares meant for Li's father. It was actually only two and a half sacks of grain: a large portion of coarse rice, a sack of soybeans, and a sack of unhulled millet.

"Alright, the main parts are distributed," Li Youfu said, looking at Li's father. "Wangguang, you can take Qin Tao's family's donkey cart for your own use. This one stays with your mother and the others."

Taking a moment to catch his breath, Li Youfu turned back to Grandmother Li, who was still using a wooden staff as a cane. "Sister-in-law, how about this? Is this acceptable? As for the trivial things like pots, bowls, and pans, just divide them yourselves once daybreak comes."

"Brother Youfu, Shiyang, you have worked hard tonight! Thank you!"

Grandmother Li, who was halfway through bowing, was supported by Li Shiyang. Meanwhile, Li Wangming, Li's mother, and Li Shiyue followed suit by performing a formal, deep bow.

"Sigh," Li Youfu let out a sigh. "Sister-in-law, why are you doing this? Sigh, who knows what lies on the road ahead? May you all stay well."

After watching Li Shiyang follow Li Youfu away, Grandmother Li pulled Li Wangming and Li's mother closer and cupped her hands toward the surrounding villagers who were still watching. "Everyone, my family's business has disturbed your peaceful sleep tonight and delayed you all. This old woman apologizes to you all."

Having said this, Grandmother Li, Li Wangming, and Li's mother bowed once more.

Zhou Lanhua and her husband, Li Wangshui, were also standing nearby. Zhou Lanhua was a straightforward woman and immediately responded, "Hey, Auntie Zhou is such a considerate person! With those words from you, we are happy. We are all from the same village, no need for such formalities."

Grandmother Li (Zhou Hemiao) looked toward Zhou Lanhua with grateful eyes. With Zhou Lanhua's response, the surrounding villagers also chimed in one after another.

"Hah, we're all from the same village, what are you saying? It's fine, it's no big deal."

"Auntie Zhou's words are enough."

"Sigh, it's not easy for anyone. Let's disperse; we can all go back for another nap."

As Li Shiyue watched the villagers beginning to scatter, she saw Grandmother Li take Li's mother's hand and whisper something into her ear.

Then, Li's mother hurriedly shouted to the departing crowd, "It's not just that we've disturbed you tonight, but we've also made you tired by helping us move things. Tomorrow morning, we will boil a pot of sweet water. Every family should come and take a bowl! After all, we've been traveling for so long; let's give the children something sweet."

The villagers who had not yet wandered far naturally responded happily to her words. One had to realize that even when not on a refugee route, something like sweet water was a luxury, let alone while fleeing a disaster. It was truly a precious thing.

Li Shiyue watched as her father led Qin Tao away. Her father even asked some men from the village who usually had influence to help them carry the allocated grain sacks to Qin Tao's place.

Before leaving, Li's father did not even spare a glance for Grandmother Li; he simply went off to sleep at Qin Tao's place.

By the flickering light of the dying fire, Li Shiyue thought she saw a crystalline tear roll down Grandmother Li's cheek.

After finally managing to pack most of their things and leaning against her mother, Li Shiyue finally lay down again. Her heart racing with excitement, she clicked on the red dot in the first row of the task bar within her mental system.

After reciting all the names of the gods and Buddhas she knew, Li Shiyue tapped the lottery button in the void.

After a burst of gurgling music, a ball dropped from the virtual egg-shaker on the screen.

She extended her finger to tap the golden ball once more, and felt three small, round, bean-sized pills appear in her hand.

"Congratulations, Host, you have drawn three Beauty Pills."

Even though her eyes were closed and she couldn't see the white, modern-looking pills the system called "Beauty Pills," Li Shiyue cursed inwardly: *Beauty Pills? What? For beauty? To make me pretty? What on earth? Is this useless thing what I need right now? I am on a refugee route! Making me beautiful—do I not want my life to be long enough? I said earlier that if our mother and daughters encountered trouble on the road, at least we could die together, but I was just talking! How could I bear to lose this hard-won chance at transmigration? A beautiful woman without the ability to protect her beauty on a refugee route amidst natural and man-made disasters—what is that? Isn't that just waiting to be bullied, ravaged, squeezed, and exploited until death comes?*

No matter how much she cursed in her heart, Li Shiyue could only helplessly accept the fact that after all the effort and "sincere" acting she had put into completing the system's novice task, all she got were these three useless Beauty Pills.

Carefully feeling her way in the dark, she tucked the three pills into the small pouch at her waist. Li Shiyue shifted closer to her mother, slowed her breathing, and fell asleep within a few breaths.

As for Li's father and Qin Tao, although they had also lain down—and Li's father was even holding Qin Tao by her slender waist—neither of them could sleep a wink.

Qin Tao was thinking about the money bag resting on Li's father's chest, wondering how they would survive the refugee journey and how she could coax that money into her own hands.

Li's father, on the other hand, was thinking that he must not let this money be spent on Qin Tao's family again; after all, he had only received this small amount.

On this refugee journey, there was no telling how much money would be needed.

Thus, Li's father was thinking: *From now on, how can I squeeze money out of little Tao'er?*