21: Chapter 21 [Affinity Field (Weak)]

While catching his breath, he remembered a book on ancient architectural mortise and tenon joints he had flipped through at the Bookstore yesterday.

The way those pieces of wood interlocked had an indescribable ingenuity.

He found paper and a pen, trying to draw the simplest dovetail joint from memory.

The first attempt was crooked, the second had strange proportions, so for the third, he calmed his mind and traced it slowly.

Though not precise when finished, it at least looked like something.

[ Attempting to draw structural diagram, Skill Dimension (Hand-drawing) EXP + 15 ]

[ Unlocked Skill Dimension branch: Hand-drawing (Beginner) ]

Another small skill lit up.

Chen Zhen looked at the interlaced lines on the paper and suddenly felt that it was a bit like the Taiji the old man had taught him this morning.

Both emphasized fit and both involved circular rotation.

Lunch was shredded potatoes and stir-fried eggs with green peppers.

While eating, his mother asked: "Are you going to the Bookstore this afternoon?"

"Yeah, from two to five."

"Be careful on the way."

His mother put a chopstick-full of food into his bowl.

"Your dad just sent a message saying the training is going quite smoothly."

"That's good."

After the meal, Chen Zhen took the initiative to wash the dishes.

Halfway through washing, his phone vibrated. It was a message from his cousin, Zhou Shu:

"Brother, what are you doing?"

Chen Zhen wiped his hands and replied: "Just finished eating. What about you?"

"Doing homework. Math is killing me."

"Which part don't you understand?"

"The type of problems where functions and geometry are mixed together."

Chen Zhen put down his phone and returned to his room.

He took a piece of draft paper and wrote down the detailed steps.

Then he took a picture and sent it to Zhou Shu: "Take a look. Ask me if there's anything you don't understand."

A few minutes later, Zhou Shu replied with a string of exclamation marks: "Thanks, Brother! You really are my own brother!"

[ Helping cousin study, Social Dimension EXP + 4 ]

[ Current Social Dimension: 99 / 100 ]

Just one point away.

Chen Zhen looked at the number, his heart tightening slightly.

He thought for a moment, then sent another message to Zhou Shu: "By the way, how is the online course going?"

"Brother, you are so reliable!!! It's very useful!!!"

[ Received sincere thanks, Social Dimension EXP + 2 ]

[ Social Dimension EXP reached 100 / 100 ]

[ Unlocked requirements met ]

[ Unlock immediately? ]

Chen Zhen took a breath and silently recited: "Yes."

The system panel glowed with a soft, pale golden light, shimmering for a moment before displaying new text:

[ Social Dimension unlocked ]

[ Ability acquired: [ Affinity Field (Weak) ] ]

[ Effect: Passive ability, makes others more likely to develop good feelings and trust toward the host. Initial effect: Affinity + 10% ]

[ Unlock reward acquired: Cultivation + 8 ]

[ Social Dimension limit increased to 200 ]

Affinity Field...

Chen Zhen felt it carefully, but didn't feel any change in his body.

However, he felt more at ease, as if he could speak to people more naturally now.

He looked in the mirror; his face was still the same, but his gaze seemed a bit softer.

Eight points of Cultivation arrived, and the total jumped to 30.76.

He was nearly a third of the way through his Hundred-Day Foundation Building.

At two in the afternoon, Chen Zhen pushed open the door of the Bookstore on time.

Old Wu was fiddling with a pile of old stamps behind the counter. Seeing him, he looked up and tilted his chin: "You're here."

"Yeah."

"Same as usual, organize the books." Old Wu pointed inside.

"But be a little careful today."

He pulled a book out from a stack of old books.

"These are old thread-bound items; the paper is brittle, so be gentle."

Chen Zhen took it.

The book was very thin, the pages were heavily yellowed, and there were small wormholes at the corners.

Opening it, he saw vertical traditional characters, the ink so faded it was almost illegible.

"This is...?"

"An old handwritten copy of the 'Classic of Mountains and Seas'. It's not worth much, but it's got some age to it."

"Keep it as a memento."

Chen Zhen gently set the book aside and began to work.

Today's books were more miscellaneous and also more delicate.

He organized them very slowly, looking at each one, sorting them one by one.

Halfway through, a middle-aged woman wearing glasses and looking cultured walked into the store.

She circled around the bookshelves a few times, then finally squatted in front of the pile of unorganized books to browse.

Chen Zhen was busy on the other side and didn't pay much attention.

After a while, the lady came over with a book: "Boss, how much is this?"

Old Wu looked up: "That pile hasn't been priced yet... Oh, 'Selected Annotations of Tang and Song Poetry', a Republic-era edition. The condition is decent, one hundred and twenty."

The lady hesitated: "Can it be cheaper?"

"One hundred is the lowest."

She was still deliberating.

Chen Zhen looked up and said softly: "This edition has very detailed annotations. For example, for Li Qingzhao's 'Sheng Sheng Man', it includes the background at the time, which makes it easier to understand."

The lady looked at him: "Have you read this book?"

"I flipped through a few pages earlier." Chen Zhen said honestly.

The lady thought for a moment and nodded: "Then I'll take this one."

She paid and left with the book.

Old Wu glanced at Chen Zhen: "You know quite a bit."

"Happened to flip through it." Chen Zhen lowered his head and continued organizing the books.

[ Helping customer make a decision, Social Dimension EXP + 3 ]

[ Affinity Field effect triggered, others' favorability slightly increased ]

So that's how it works.

It doesn't force people to like him; it just makes what he says and does more pleasant to hear when others listen.

At five o'clock, the work was finished.

Old Wu came over to check the progress: "Not bad, half done." He took three ten-yuan bills from the drawer and handed them to Chen Zhen.

"Thank you, Grandpa Wu."

"Continue tomorrow."

Walking out of the Bookstore, Chen Zhen felt a little warm inside.

It wasn't exhaustion.

It was that feeling of slight warmth in his heart after helping someone find what they wanted.

System prompt: [ Completed second part-time job ]

[ Skill Dimension (Organizing) EXP + 45, Current progress: 57 / 100 ]

[ Social Dimension EXP + 8 (including Affinity Field bonus) ]

[ Received labor remuneration of 30 yuan ]

Added to yesterday's, he had fifty-two yuan in his pocket.

Not much, but it could slowly accumulate.

On the way home, he stopped by the vegetable market.

He bought half a catty of pork belly, and picked up a few potatoes and a bunch of green vegetables.

Arrived home at five-thirty.

His mother was busy in the kitchen. Seeing the meat in his hand, she was stunned for a moment: "Why did you buy more?"

"I earned thirty today."

Chen Zhen put down the meat.

"Make something good when Dad finishes training tomorrow."

"Oh, good, good, good, Mom is really so touched."

But she wasn't so touched that she was going to cry; she was beaming with happiness.

Chen Zhen walked into the kitchen.

He squatted on the floor peeling potatoes, while his mother cut meat on the chopping board; the thumping sound was comforting to hear.

Neither of them spoke again; there was only the aroma of food and slight movements in the kitchen.

When the meal was almost ready, his father returned.

His face was weary, but there was a light in his eyes.

He put down his bag, washed his hands, and walked to the kitchen door: "What good food are you making?"

"Braised pork."

"The meat our son bought."

Father looked at Chen Zhen.

Chen Zhen was lowering his head to peel garlic.

"You..." Father opened his mouth, and in the end, only spat out two words, "Thanks."

The voice wasn't loud.

Chen Zhen's hand shook, and the garlic clove rolled onto the floor.

Good heavens, he had thought his dad would say something profound like: My son has grown up.

But it turned out to be just "Thanks."

He picked it up and replied in a low voice: "Eh, it's nothing."

[ Relationship with father improved, Social Dimension EXP + 5 ]

[ Affinity Field effect triggered, family harmony improved ]

Three dishes were placed on the dinner table:

Shiny braised pork, stir-fried shredded potatoes, and a bowl of green vegetable soup.

Father ate two bowls of rice, and mother kept putting meat into his bowl.

Chen Zhen ate silently, listening to his parents chat intermittently.

"How was the training?"

"Not bad. They taught some repair methods for new machines. It's about the same as what I learned before, just more advanced."

"Can you keep up?"

"Yes, it's not hard."

"That's good."

After the meal, his father took the initiative to clear the bowls and wash them.

Mother sat on the sofa, picked up that old account book, and then put it down again.

"Mom." Chen Zhen walked over, "Is the money... really enough?"

"Enough." Mother pulled him to sit down, "The shop is running quite smoothly, and your dad will get his salary next month. The little bit you earned, keep it for yourself, buy some books or something."

"I want to give it to the family."

Mother looked at him for a long time, then finally nodded.

"Alright, Mom will save it for you to use when you go to college."

At night, Chen Zhen returned to his room.

The reading task for today was still unfinished.

He opened the last chapter of 'Decisive Moments in History'.

He read to the moment when Dostoevsky was waiting for death on the execution ground, only to be suddenly pardoned.

The tremor of coming back to life after brushing shoulders with the gates of hell.

Halfway through reading, the system panel gently prompted:

[ Deeply empathized with the historical figure's psychological turning point ]

[ Social Dimension EXP + 4 ]

[ Acquired [ Dao follows Nature ] fragment × 1 ]

The fifth one.

Halfway there.