The sky collapsed, and in the blink of an eye, I found myself transported to Nanluoguxiang.

That night, Li Kaixin, lying in bed, slipped into the secret realm and began sorting out supplies.

After deducting what was sold yesterday, the following amount of prey meat remains:

Two roe deer weighed over 90 jin each, three adult sika deer weighed over 260 jin each, one yellow sheep weighed over 50 jin each, four wild donkeys weighed over 600 jin each, and two brown bears weighed over 1,000 jin each.

The animals kept include:

The two moose haven't changed much, the rabbits have grown to over seventy, and the seven sheep are all adults. There are over three hundred chickens and ducks each. Of the fourteen pigs, the domestic pig is pregnant, but it's unclear whether the offspring is from a wild boar or another domestic pig. The three wild donkey calves have also grown to the size of the wild donkeys we hunted before.

Li Kaixin felt that the four wild donkeys he had hunted earlier were probably also juveniles, but they looked big.

As for the fish and shrimp in the stream of the secret realm, since the fish could only grow to the size of a palm, Li Kaixin only kept the crucian carp and cleared out the rest.

Aside from the crayfish I occasionally catch in Northeast China, which number over a hundred, I haven't paid much attention to the other river shrimp.

Aside from tending to the two old ginseng plants, Li Kaixin didn't take care of the other medicinal herbs he planted.

After leaving the secret realm, a night passed, and dawn broke quickly.

The next morning, Li Mingde, the father, reluctantly returned the watch to Li Kaixin.

However, he requisitioned the bicycle and took his wife to work.

Li Kaixin glanced at his watch; it was just past eight o'clock. He then picked up a cloth bag and went out.

Today, however, Li Kaixin was followed by two little tails: her younger brother Li Kai and her younger sister Li Xiaoxiao.

Li Kaixin figured there weren't any shady deals going on that morning, so there was no harm in bringing them along.

Before long, Li Kaixin arrived at the subdistrict office and led her younger siblings to the door of Director Wang's office with practiced ease.

I raised my hand and knocked on the door a few times.

"Please come in!" Director Wang's voice came from inside.

Li Kaixin pushed open the door and entered. Director Wang looked up and was somewhat surprised to see him.

"Oh, you seem happy! It's been almost a week since we last met, hasn't it? Did you go on a long trip?"

"Yes, Aunt Wang, I went to Inner Mongolia." Li Kaixin said, handing over the cloth bag in her hand.

Director Wang quickly waved his hand: "Kaixin, what are you doing? Why did you bring something again?"

"Aunt Wang, this is beef jerky from Inner Mongolia. I specially brought some for you and Uncle Xie. I've already given Uncle Xie and the others, so please don't refuse this little something from me!" Li Kaixin said with a smile.

Director Wang accepted the offer with a smile after hearing what Li Kaixin said.

Then she noticed the two little ones behind Li Kaixin and asked with a smile, "Kaixin, who are those two...?"

"Aunt Wang, this is my younger brother, Li Kai."

Li Kaixin then pointed to the side: "This is my younger sister, Li Xiaoxiao."

Younger brother Li Kai and younger sister Li Xiaoxiao immediately stepped forward and greeted her sweetly, "Hello, Aunt Wang!"

Director Wang was amused by the two children:

"Here, Auntie will give you some candy."

As she spoke, she took out two White Rabbit milk candies from the drawer.

"Thank you, Aunt Wang!" the younger siblings said in unison, accepting the gift with both hands.

Director Wang patted the two of them on the head, then turned his gaze back to Li Kaixin:

"Kaixin, is there anything else?"

"Aunt Wang, you're so insightful! I really do have something to ask you today," Li Kaixin immediately flattered.

Director Wang laughed and scolded, "Stop being silly, hurry up and tell me, I still have work to do."

Li Kaixin didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "Aunt Wang, do you know any skilled decorators? My workplace just allocated me an apartment, and I'd like to tidy it up."

This is also the main reason why I came to the subdistrict office today.

Director Wang thought for a moment and wrote down Li Kaixin's name and address.

After saying goodbye to Director Wang, Li Kaixin took her younger siblings to the address provided.

We stopped at a small, independent courtyard house.

After knocking, a middle-aged woman opened the door. Seeing that it was three unfamiliar young men, she asked warily, "Who are you...?"

Li Kaixin smiled when she saw the door open.

"Excuse me, does Mr. He Daping live here? I was introduced by Director Wang from the neighborhood office. I'd like to hire him to renovate my house."

Upon hearing that Director Wang had introduced them, the middle-aged woman relaxed and immediately put on a smile: "You were introduced by Director Wang? Please, please come in!"

He then warmly welcomed Li Kaixin and the other two into the courtyard.

After arranging for Li Kaixin and the other two to sit on the stone bench, she turned and walked into the house.

A short while later, a middle-aged man with stubble came out.

Li Kaixin quickly stood up and extended her hand: "Hello, are you Master He?"

Master He also reached out and shook hands with Li Kaixin.

Seeing that Li Kaixin was so young, he asked somewhat uncertainly, "Young man, are you the one who wants to renovate the house?"

"It's me, Master He!" Li Kaixin nodded.

Mr. He figured that since it was recommended by Director Wang, it couldn't be wrong, so he asked with a smile, "How big is the house?"

Li Kaixin hadn't taken the exact measurements yet, so she could only say, "Two rooms, but I haven't measured the specific dimensions."

"Then take me to see it, so I can give you a price quote."

"Alright, I'll take you there now."

After Li Kaixin finished speaking, he called his younger siblings, and the group headed towards No. 94 Courtyard.

About fifteen minutes later.

Li Kaixin led Master He and his younger siblings to courtyard number 94.

The older women in courtyard number 94 had seen Li Kaixin at the alley entrance before and knew that he had been allocated an apartment here, so they did not stop him.

As soon as Master He entered, he looked around.

After a short while, they finished looking through the two rooms and walked up to Li Kaixin:

"Young man, would you like your house to be fully furnished or simply decorated?"

Seeing that Li Kaixin didn't quite understand, he explained again:

"Basic renovation just involves painting the walls white and patching them up. A fully furnished renovation, in addition to painting the walls, will replace the beams, doors, and windows."

"Then let's go with the deluxe edition," Li Kaixin decided without much thought.

Master He nodded and continued, "Does it include meals? If not, the pay will be higher."

"We don't include meals, but you can add them if you wish," Li Kaixin replied.

Master He then took out his notebook and started calculating, finally announcing a number: two hundred and seventy yuan.

Li Kaixin listened and didn't haggle, immediately counting out 135 yuan as a deposit and handing it over.

Seeing that Li Kaixin was so agreeable, and noticing that the two rooms were empty, Master He asked another question:

"Young man, do you need any furniture made? I can do that too."

Li Kaixin thought she could go to the trust store first, but didn't agree immediately. She only said she would think about it for two days and then get back to her.

A hint of regret flashed across Master He's face, but considering that the high-end renovation was a big job, he didn't say anything more.

Li Kaixin then asked, "Master He, when can you start work?"

"Tomorrow will do. I'll go prepare the materials and call people today," Master He said after thinking for a moment.

Li Kaixin nodded: "Okay! Master He, please come tomorrow!"

Afterwards, Mr. He carefully put the deposit into his pocket, turned around and strode away from the yard.