The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 131

Chapter 131: Chapter 131 Clean the Pig Pen
“You seem to be doing fine,” Hera remarked, her eyebrows twitching slightly as Xavier’s demeanor reignited her competitive spirit.

Xavier’s smile only widened upon hearing Hera’s ‘compliment’ about his efficiency, further irritating her. She felt Xavier was being smug, which prompted her to briskly trot away to her next destination.

Xavier watched her silently as she walked away, a faint pout lingering on her lips. His eyes crinkled with delight at her reaction. Only after she disappeared from view did he turn around to continue on his own path.

Observing Xavier’s progress, Hera’s determination and competitive spirit flared up. She hastened to the pig pen, where she required the next item. Fortunately, Bry had given her a tour of the village upon her arrival, so she didn’t waste much time locating the specific facilities and such.

Upon reaching the pig pen, Hera wasted no time and approached the first person she spotted at the entrance. “Hello, uncle!” she greeted warmly, her enthusiasm genuine and infectious. The uncle’s face lit up with a smile upon hearing her friendly greeting, immediately drawn to her natural charm.

“Hello there, young lady! What item are you in need of?” The uncle’s inquiry was prompt, accompanied by a warm smile. Despite being clad in boots and a protective suit to shield his clothes from the usual odors of the pig pen he was cleaning, this time since he was at the entrance since early this morning made him relatively clean and free from any lingering scents of swine.

Hera spoke without hesitation. “Uncle, I’ll need a bundle of fresh pigweeds and a small bottle of pig vitamins, please.” As she finished, she blinked, her long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings.

But Hera’s attempt at charm didn’t sway the uncle. “Alright, then I hope you’re prepared to clean the pigpen of their feces,” he said, still smiling, but with a glint in his eyes hinting at mischievousness and a touch of ridicule.

He likely assumed that a city dweller, especially a lady, wouldn’t want to dive into a pig pen and deal with the smelly feces, an activity that could easily disgust anyone not accustomed to such odors, especially females.

However, unlike what he might have expected from other participants, Hera remained unfazed. Her smile didn’t waver, and she showed no signs of fluster or disgust upon hearing what she needed to do to obtain the items from him.

Hera then proposed, “Uncle, would it be possible to skip the task and exchange my fish for the pigweeds and vitamins instead?”

The uncle’s smile widened with a knowing look as if silently remarking in ridicule, ‘I had a feeling she wouldn’t go through with it. I wasn’t really wrong in my judgment. Tough luck.’

“If the task of cleaning feces disgusts you, I’m afraid I can’t assist you with the items,” the uncle said, his voice mellow but laced with sarcasm. “Perhaps you can try your luck elsewhere.” His tone hinted at a disdain for city dwellers. The way the uncle said it was as if there really were other places Hera could go to if she really couldn’t do the task,

Hera sensed his underlying meaning and disapproval, yet she remained undeterred. “Uncle, it’s not that I’m unwilling, but I just don’t think that I have enough time to go over all the tasks before lunch. If possible, it would be ideal for an exchange instead?”

The uncle’s tone turned slightly mocking. “Young lady, I understand the need to maintain an image for the camera, but there’s no need to force yourself.” His words dripped with disdain as he couldn’t stand the pretentiousness often exhibited by city folk. He was all too familiar with how they would feign understanding of his profession’s hardships while secretly looking down on him.

Despite Hera’s amiable expression, the uncle couldn’t shake the feeling that she, like many celebrities, was adept at controlling her emotions and facial expressions, likely honed from her aspirations to act in big-screen productions. This only served to deepen his opinion of them, especially considering the behavior of previous participants who had come to the pig pen to perform similar tasks.

“Uncle, I think you misunderstood me. Cleaning feces or cow dung isn’t a problem for me.” As if remembering something she added. “If you have doubts, you can ask Aunt Sabby to testify for me. Because I helped clean the cattle barn with Aunt Sabby and the others the other day, so I’m certainly not afraid of the smell of pig feces. However, time is of the essence if I want to climb the rankings. I hope you understand.” Hera’s eyes reflected her determination as she spoke.

As if recalling a memory, the uncle’s demeanor shifted, his tone becoming more curious as he asked, “Are you the girl who was assigned to the cattle barn on the first day of the show’s recording?” He seemed to recollect something, perhaps Aunt Sabby’s praise for a certain girl who showed kindness and humility while fearlessly tackling the task of cleaning cow dung. Similar words echoed in the field as they transformed the dung into fertilizer.

He had been privy to his wife’s ongoing chatter about the celebrities temporarily residing in their village for the week, catching wind of the latest gossip and happenings. With his wife being friends with Aunt Sabby, it seemed that whatever one knew would inevitably be shared with the other villagers.

Initially skeptical, he dismissed it as possibly as an exaggeration created to hype the viewers or some others.

However, his curiosity got the better of him, and he couldn’t resist asking, “By any chance, do you happen to know the name of the girl who assisted with the fertilizer mixing in the field yesterday?”

“It was me too, Uncle. Why do you ask?” Hera tilted her head, showing her puzzlement at his quick change in demeanor, but she soon realized why. So, she tried to push further. “Uncle, how about this: I’ll sign an agreement to help you clean the pig pen another day in exchange for the items I needed if you don’t want my fish.” Hera pouted as she said these words. She really didn’t want to lose to Xavier this time. She also did not know how big the pig pen was, so she would surely take a long time completing the task. Xavier might even complete his long list before she’s done.

The uncle sank into contemplation, his finger resting on his chin while the other arm was snugly tucked beneath. Eventually, he waved a dismissive hand in front of Hera and spoke, his voice measured. “No need for agreements. If your words hold true, I’ll wait until you’re placed to work in the pig pen to verify. For now, I’ll accept your fish and prepare it for my lunch.”

“You made a great choice uncle!!! The fish I caught are the biggest I saw in the river! I can assure you that the fish will taste good because it was freshly caught!” Hera’s smile then transformed into a businesswoman’s smile who’s sweet-talking the buyer.

The uncle found Hera intriguing after noticing the few fishes she’s been holding since earlier, he only paid closer attention now that they were done with the discussion, he only now noticed that the fishes had distinct holes in their body that might have been because of a spear or same kind. He was pleasantly surprised to discover her skill in fishing, particularly spearfishing, evident from the big catch she presented. This revelation sparked a shift in his perception of her. While it may not have entirely altered his perspective on city folks, his opinion of Hera had undeniably improved.