6:12 PM. March 15, 2002. Mill Street Compound, Main Hall.
He finished the bowl. Put it down. Didn't wait for second helpings. Twenty pairs of eyes tracked him, but only three mattered.
Great-grandfather: _Hungry._ Didn't care.
Grandfather: _Watching._ Eyes sharp under white brows.
Lin Yu: _Suspicious._ Chopsticks paused halfway to her mouth.
"Going to the kitchen," he said. Stood.
Father didn't look up from his bowl. "Homework first."
"After."
He walked out. The Sense followed him. Grandfather's dot was strongest. Like a nail. _Curious_ had sharpened to _Testing._
Kitchen was behind the main hall. One stove, coal-fired. Two woks. Shelves lined with jars. Mother was there, washing greens in a basin.
*[Family Ledger Update: Mother. Mood: Tired. Loyalty: 97/100.]*
She didn't turn. "You ate too fast. Your stomach will hurt."
"Need loquat leaf. And white wine. Great-grandfather's."
That got her to turn. Mother's hands were wet, red from cold water. "You're sick?"
"No. For others."
She wiped her hands on her apron. Didn't ask who. In Mill Street, you didn't ask until someone wanted to tell. She pointed. "Loquat's in the back. Wine's under the stove. Don't take much. Your great-grandfather will count."
He nodded. Went to the back. Small yard. One loquat tree, planted in 1980. Leaves still green despite the frost. He picked three. Crushed one between his fingers. Bitter smell. Same as the recipe in his head.
Back inside. He lifted the stove grate. White wine jug, clay, sealed with red cloth. Great-grandfather's private stock. For medicine only. Or guests.
He poured a small bowl. Less than a cup. Dried ginger was in the jar by the salt. Always.
Mother watched. "How many?"
"Four."
She exhaled. "Second uncle's nephew. The twins in east wing. And Lin Wu?"
He froze. "How—"
"You walked past the workshop twice this afternoon. Stood outside. You never stand outside. And you helped Lin Wu at school." She went back to her greens. "You're not sick. You're fixing."
_Loyalty: 97/100._ She wasn't wrong.
He set the wok on the stove. Added water. Ginger. Loquat leaf. Boiled. Added wine last. Steam came up, sharp and medicinal. The whole kitchen smelled like the infirmary.
Three minutes. The recipe said three.
He poured the mix into four small clay cups. Wrapped them in cloth. Hot. Had to be hot.
*[Compound Map Lv.1: Active]*
First target: Textile Workshop 1. Grandfather's building. 6-year-old with fever. 38.5°C.
He walked out. Lin Yu was in the hall doorway. Watching.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"Workshop."
"With what?"
"Medicine."
She didn't move. "You know medicine?"
"I know this one."
She stepped aside. _Suspicious_ shifted. Still there. But _Trusting_ bled in at the edges. _Loyalty: 89/100 → 90/100._
*[Family Ledger Update: Lin Yu. Loyalty: 90/100. +1 FP earned. Balance: 51 FP.]*
One point. For telling the truth.
He crossed the covered walkway. Frost underfoot. Textile Workshop 1 was lit. Looms clattering. Grandfather stood by loom three, adjusting thread. Didn't look up when he entered.
But the Sense spiked. _Watching_ went to _Evaluating._
Second uncle's niece was on a cot in the corner. Small. Face red. Mother sitting next to her, cloth on her head.
"Aunt," he said. Didn't know her name. Didn't need it. "This. Drink it hot. All of it."
He held out a cup.
The aunt looked at Grandfather. Grandfather looked at him. One second. Two. Then nodded once.
The aunt took the cup. Helped the girl sip. She coughed. Drank. Finished.
*[Family Ledger Update: Lin San-Hundred-Twelve. Health: Fever. 38.5°C → 38.1°C. Mood: Drowsy. Loyalty: 41/100 → 52/100. +11 FP earned. Balance: 62 FP.]*
Eleven points. Six hours, the recipe said. It was already working.
Grandfather still didn't speak. Just went back to the loom. But _Evaluating_ became _Approved._
*[Family Ledger Update: Grandfather. Mood: Approved. Loyalty: 88/100 → 90/100. +2 FP earned. Balance: 64 FP.]*
Two more. Hardware Store 3. East wing.
Hardware Store 3 was dark. Second uncle had gone home. But the door was open. Nephew inside, asleep on a pile of sacks. 8 years old. Sweating.
He left the cup on the crate next to him. Note under it: _Drink hot. —Cousin._
*[Family Ledger Update: Lin Four-Hundred-Eight. Health: 38.3°C → 37.9°C. Mood: Sleeping. Loyalty: 38/100 → 49/100. +11 FP earned. Balance: 75 FP.]*
East wing. Thirty-first uncle's building. Diesel smell. The twins lived above the engines. Both down. 11 years old. One crying. One trying not to.
Thirty-first uncle was there. Wiping the crying one's face. Saw him. Frowned.
"Medicine," he said. Held out two cups.
Thirty-first uncle took them. No words. Just drank his own tea and watched the boys drink.
*[Family Ledger Update: Lin Six-Hundred-One. Health: 37.8°C → 37.5°C. Loyalty: 44/100 → 55/100. +11 FP earned.]*
*[Family Ledger Update: Lin Six-Hundred-Two. Health: 37.9°C → 37.6°C. Loyalty: 44/100 → 55/100. +11 FP earned.]*
*[Family Ledger Update: Thirty-first uncle. Mood: Grateful. Loyalty: 73/100 → 76/100. +3 FP earned. Balance: 100 FP.]*
Back to 100. Full circle.
He walked back. Main hall was quieter. Dinner done. Dishes being washed.
Lin Yu was on the stairs. Waiting.
"Did it work?" she asked.
"Will by morning."
She nodded. "Good. Don't do it again without telling me."
_Loyalty: 90/100 → 92/100. +2 FP earned. Balance: 102 FP._
He went to his room. Third step. Seventh step.
Opened the Ledger. Filter: _Health: Fever._
Four results. All dropping. Lin Wu at 37.4°C. The three kids between 37.5°C and 37.9°C.
Opened Progeny Insight. Lin Wu. Business: S. Physical: A. Ceiling: High. Two weeks rest. Then what?
Opened Compound Map. Hardware Store 7. Fifth uncle. Still there. 8:00 PM. Lights on. Checking accounts. _Mood: Stressed. Loyalty: 59/100._ Cash box: 842 yuan. Inventory low.
He had 102 FP.
*[System Shop]*
*[Ledger Upgrade Lv.2: 200 FP]* - _Adds Skill and Potential fields. Range: 5,000m._
98 short.
He could wait. Daily sign-in tomorrow. Or he could raise Loyalty.
He looked at the map. Fifth uncle. Stressed. Money. Inventory.
He had a map. He had 695 people. He had 84 days.
And he had a stressed fifth uncle who didn't know his nephew just became a better business asset than anyone in the compound.
Tomorrow.
He lay down. The Sense was quiet now. 695 dots, all dim. Sleeping. Except Grandfather. Still awake. Still _Approved._
He closed his eyes.