I Become a Landlady in the Game World
Chapter 221 - 139: Profound Impression

Chapter 221: Chapter 139: Profound Impression

Barnes Village.

Li Xingteng was also preparing to lead his team away from here, after all, the business had been quickly settled, and they had exchanged their goods for various resources now needed by Hope Village.

What he didn’t expect was to encounter high-temperature weather on the day of departure.

His entire team had brought along several sets of special weather gear, including for high temperatures, so naturally, this was not a problem.

But the problem lay in the fact that it was not just Li Xingteng’s team that was going to Hope Village, but also other residents of Barnes Village.

These residents had been tempted after hearing descriptions of Hope Village from Li Xingteng’s team.

Even though Barnes Village was one level higher than Hope Village, the cost of living in Barnes Village was very high, with residents going out daily to hunt demon beasts for survival, yet many died outside for various reasons.

Now, knowing about a nearby territory with low prices where jobs were available, they were naturally willing to move.

Especially since they knew that possessing technical skills made one more sought after, this was even more stirring to them.

If it had been solely verbal descriptions, it might not have been enough to move the residents of Barnes Village, but they had witnessed firsthand the variety of delicious foods and cheap goods in the hands of Hope Village residents.

A team with such goods couldn’t possibly be attempting to deceive them.

Moreover, since there were many of them planning to move, if it really wasn’t as satisfactory as they hoped, they could always come back together later.

Because of this reasoning, there were quite a few who planned to go to Hope Village.

Li Xingteng knew that Hope Village’s development needed people, which is why he was willing to agree to bring them along.

But with the arrival of the high-temperature weather, this group of people became a problem.

At this moment, this group of people directly blocked the way for Li Xingteng and his team.

"We simply can’t leave in this kind of weather! If we try, we’re bound to run into trouble halfway."

"Why don’t you wait for us for a few days? Wait until the high temperatures pass and then we can leave?"

"Since we’re going to your territory anyway, and since you represent your territory’s officials, you should protect us."

"..."

In the crowd, many people spoke up one after another, clearly considering themselves as Li Xingteng’s "responsibility."

Li Xingteng and his team, hearing these words that seemed like moral blackmail, were infuriated.

Without needing Li Xingteng and his team to say anything, the people spoke back sharply.

"Why should we wait for you? Did you give us any money?"

"It’s true we’re soldiers from the territory, but we are on a mission for the territory. If we are late and delay the mission because of you, can you afford the consequences?"

"Anyway, we’ve said it: If you have the ability to follow us, then follow; if you can’t keep up, then wait for the high temperatures to pass and make your own way there!"

"..."

Li Xingteng and the others were truly exasperated.

They did need more people, but they had no regard for those who spoke those words.

Life in Hope Village was relatively affordable and suitable for living, but relying solely on others was no way to live well.

Everyone in Hope Village was seeking to outdo one another!

They needed self-sufficient people.

On reflection, this bout of high-temperature weather was also a test.

Only those who could leave with them under these circumstances were truly capable of adapting to life in Hope Village.

Those who expected others to take on all responsibilities and provide support would likely continue to be a burden even after reaching Hope Village.

Mulling it over, the team became more resolute in their thinking.

Finally, Li Xingteng, the leader, spoke up, "We must leave today. Those who are willing to come with us, prepare what you’ll need for the journey and come along; those who don’t want to follow, you might as well stay behind! Or, you can wait until the high-temperature weather is over before departing. There are many of you, so it should be relatively safe by then."

After he finished speaking, Li Xingteng didn’t wait for any response; he immediately led his team away.

Watching Li Xingteng leave so decisively, many of the villagers were bewildered.

Most of all because during the past days in Barnes Village, Li Xingteng and his team had been very friendly to them and had even subtly indicated an interest in enticing them over to their territory.

Under these circumstances, they had felt a sense of being needed by the others, which emboldened some of them to cause a fuss.

But the situation still unfolded beyond their expectations.

Would a delay of just two or three days really make such a big difference?

Little did Li Xingteng and his team realize that it was never the matter of a day or two that they cared about; rather, it was their attitude.

Although only a small portion of people were speaking, who knew if the rest were waiting to take advantage of the situation!

While they were contemplating, Li Xingteng’s team had already covered some distance.

Some people hurriedly caught up, taking out all sorts of heat-resistant equipment.

Clearly, they had been prepared; they had just been muddying the waters, seeing if they might gain some advantage.

Now that they hadn’t, they naturally got ready with the requisite gear.

"Brooke, should we really bring the kids and leave this place?" Lola asked her husband with a hint of anxiety.

"Barnes Village is no longer suitable for our family. I’ve offended Tom, and if we don’t leave, it would be easy for him to plot against me. Should I carelessly die out there, you and the children... might not survive long either. Our only choice is to take this chance," Brooke replied without hesitation.

"What if Hope Village isn’t as good as they say?"

"We can detour to Bengala Town. I heard someone in their team mentioning that a team from Hope Village had been there. If there’s been a first time, there will be a second. We’ll have other opportunities," Brooke analyzed calmly.

"I’ll take your word for it."

"Then let’s go." With that, Brooke, carrying a child in one arm, chased after Li Xingteng and his team.

Families like theirs were numerous, and after a moment of indecision, they followed suit.

They were all people or families who could not survive in Barnes Village any longer.

One choice was certain death; the other held a faint chance of opportunity. Naturally, they chose the latter.

But distinct from these individuals and families were some merchant teams within the crowd.

They had come here purely for the potential they saw in the goods from Hope Village.

Lurking in the crowd, they wished to observe the "attitude" of Hope Village.

Now, it seemed, things were much better than they had expected.

"Are we going now or later?" a professional guard beside him asked Locke, the leader of their merchant team.

Hearing this, Locke replied without any hesitation, "Let’s go now! The goods they’ve shown won’t make us suffer losses, and I have a feeling they have even better items in their hands."

And so, the number of people following Li Xingteng increased.

Many, even without heat-resistant equipment, still had methods to survive in special weather conditions.

At the front, Li Xingteng wasn’t entirely indifferent to these following residents; he simply didn’t want to be manipulated.

After all, bringing more people was also a mark of his achievement.

As the territory developed, more and more talented individuals emerged, each striving to climb higher.

The longer they survived in this world, the clearer it became that this was a world completely different from Blue Star, where the strong are revered, and the territory is paramount.

If one wanted to live well, they had to enhance their own strength and climb to higher positions within the territory— the two were mutually reinforcing.

Li Xingteng didn’t know how the other teams were doing with their tasks; he only knew he had to do better than just completing his task normally.

Bringing back so many people was his achievement too; the territory would surely reward him with Contribution points.

Seeing that a considerable number of people were following him, Li Xingteng felt completely at ease.

Then, looking at the distance to Hope Village, he became eager to return as soon as possible.

In this way, Li Xingteng’s team gradually moved away, and those following likewise distanced themselves; some of those unprepared watched helplessly as they left.

"Forget it, let’s wait for the high temperatures to subside! With this weather and no preparations, venturing out is akin to seeking death."

"Hmph, it’s fine if we don’t go to Hope Village."

"They’re not wrong. Why should they delay their journey for you? That’s a task given by the Lord. If they return late and get punished, will you take the blame? What gives you the right to gossip here?"

"If you like Hope Village so much, why don’t you just go with them?"

"Anyway, I’m going to go, once the high-temperature weather is over."

"That’s right, with so many merchant teams heading there, they’ll surely come back. We can just follow them then."

"Those who go ahead can serve as our pioneers."

"..."

At the scene, people argued and took up different stances.

But one thing was consistent.

The territory of Hope Village, along with its "products," had started to catch the eyes of more and more local residents and had left a lasting impression in their hearts.