Chapter 4 is in a difficult situation

Diao Chan, with a face full of confusion, shook her head and said, "No."

Jia Renlu said: "You should keep this money well and spend it as you see fit. In the future, as soon as my wages are received, I will hand them over to you for you to manage entirely." This was his first personnel appointment upon arriving in the Three Kingdoms—Jia Renlu's personal secretary and financial director—hence his expression was extremely serious

Upon seeing the copper coins on the table, which numbered around several dozen, Jia Renlu was unsure what these coins could actually purchase. However, from Diao Chan's expression, he could discern the financial difficulties and tight budget. He inquired, "Isn't it Princess Cao's wedding? Did none of the officials come to congratulate her or present gifts?" In his impression, a wedding without earning at least ten or eight thousand would be considered a wasted affair, and he assumed it was the same in ancient times.

He dared not toss and turn, fearing he would wake the light beauty sleeping soundly beside him. Instead, he stared blankly at the ceiling, making an effort to think. Just as he was deep in thought, he suddenly heard Diao Chan call out: "Feng Xian, save me!" He quickly turned his head to look, and in the dim light, he could clearly see Diao Chan's face, which was already streaming with tears.

Jia Renlu sighed, "Even if there are activities to pass the time, one cannot spend the entire day doing just that..."

A pang of pain struck his heart as he cautiously lifted a corner of the quilt, quietly got out of bed, found a piece of clothing to put on, and stepped into the small backyard. He looked up at the sparse stars in the sky, feeling a mix of emotions. Contemplating the uncertain future, he couldn't help but resent himself for having neglected his studies in the past, only indulging in games and books, drifting through life as an insignificant passerby. In that previous era, being a passerby was inconsequential; after all, there was work to do, a salary to earn, and life could be lived with ease and comfort. However, now in these chaotic times, survival is paramount, protecting the beloved is essential, and even the slightest misstep could lead to ruin. He possessed neither the courage of Lü Bu to move mountains nor the strategic mind of Zhuge Liang to plan and win from afar. All day long, he pursued some ethereal equipment in games, lost in a virtual world from which he could not extricate himself, truly lacking any practical utility.

Jia Renlu was taken aback and awkwardly said, "Go... I don't know how to play... Do you know how to play Five in a Row?"

That night, Jia Renlu lay on the bed, caressing the delicate and smooth skin of Diao Chan, inhaling her body fragrance that resembled orchids and musk, deep and rich, with a captivating aroma, feeling as if he had entered a fairyland. While indulging in some absurd and sensual fantasies, he suddenly recalled the responsibilities he bore in reality, and those illusions shattered like colorful soap bubbles, disappearing without a trace.

Jia Renlu was contemplating how to deal with the current mess, yet he dared not show any sign of it on his face. He thought of some extremely funny jokes he had seen online, embraced Diao Chan, and with his hoarse voice, he recounted them, causing Diao Chan to giggle incessantly. He felt as if he were in a dream, thinking: "If it weren't for this pile of troubles in front of me, I could just keep telling jokes and stories to her, and she would keep laughing. How wonderful it would be to live a carefree life like that! Hmph! Let's see how I can sort out this mess... Uh... No way around it, I might as well eat first; only after eating will I have the strength to think..."

Upon thinking of this, he inquired: "How much wealth do we currently possess?"

When it comes to money, it reminds me that the common strategy in the Three Kingdoms game is diplomacy. To learn good skills, one must first build rapport with the esteemed figures; if the relationship is not close, they won't even pay you any attention. How can one build such rapport? Surely, one cannot imagine clicking on that character's avatar repeatedly to engage in conversation as in the game. In reality, if you were to constantly follow them around saying, 'Esteemed one, have you eaten yet?' they would surely think you are insane, turning around with a pleasant expression and saying, 'Get lost!' before walking away. Another aspect is socializing; I am not a heavy drinker, famously known for being 'down after three cups.' Moreover, with my modest means, I probably do not have much money; after a couple of banquets, I might end up bankrupt, preparing to sell my children. As the saying goes, 'Before the troops move, the supplies must be ready,' it is better to first ascertain how much ammunition one truly has.

Diao Chan found his words amusing, and in an instant, the clouds dispersed, the red sun reappeared, and she let out a giggle. The expression on her face made Jia Renlu feel entranced, and he thought: "Why didn't this rebirth bring my phone back to life? If I had it, in this moment, I could snap a picture with a click and post it on 'Taobao' with the title 'The Most Beautiful Woman of the Three Kingdoms, Diao Chan's Enchanting Smile.' It would surely sell for an astronomical sum, truly a rapid way to make a fortune"

Diao Chan disappeared again, and after a short while, she brought a plate of Go and placed it on the table, saying: "How about I play a game of Go with you, my lord"

Suddenly, Diao Chan said: "My lord, it is too cold; let us go inside." She stepped forward to help him tidy up his disheveled clothes and draped them over him again.

Diao Chan smiled and said, "Hehe, so you are referring to Lord Xuande, Fengxian... Lu Bu privately likes to call him that as well..." The mere mention of Lu Bu brought forth a wave of sorrow, clouding her face with a deep sense of melancholy, as if a storm was brewing on the horizon. Even if the heavens were to orchestrate such a transition from bright sunshine to overcast skies, it would require half a day of wind to build up momentum. Yet, Diao Chan accomplished this in just one second, leaving Jia Renlu in deep admiration, feeling as if he wanted to prostrate himself in reverence. Even if the heavens were to orchestrate such a transition from bright sunshine to overcast skies, it would require half a day of wind to build up momentum. Yet, Diao Chan accomplished this in just one second, leaving Jia Renlu in deep admiration, feeling as if he wanted to prostrate himself in reverence.

Diao Chan angrily said: "Hmph, how could there be none? But before we even reach Xu Du, you have already lost it all in gambling"

Diao Chan asked in surprise: "What is an entertainment project?"

Jia Renlu felt it necessary to establish her position in the household first, and laughed, "Hehe, from now on, you don't need to be cautious when speaking in front of me. You can call Fengxian as you wish, and refer to Lü Bu as you like. Even if you plan to tear down this room and play with it, as long as you are not afraid of the harsh winds from the northwest, you can do as you please. He had once laughed at King You of Zhou's absurdity, but now he could not help but think that it was merely because he had not encountered such a situation at that time. Even if you plan to tear down this room and play with it, as long as you are not afraid of the harsh winds from the northwest, you can do as you please. He had once laughed at King You of Zhou's absurdity, but now he could not help but think that it was merely because he had not encountered such a situation at that time. If he had the strength now, he would not hesitate to stage a "Beacon Fire to Fool the Lords" just to elicit a smile from Diao Chan. It is said that "A country and a beauty"; as for the country, he feared he had no hope, and if he could no longer charm the beauty, would that not mean his trip to the Three Kingdoms was in vain

Diao Chan's charming face flushed as she stood up to leave. Before long, she returned with a bronze pot and placed it at a distance, then took a few arrows and handed them to him. Jia Renlu did not reach out to take them, saying, "It is not appropriate to wield a knife or shoot arrows in front of a lady; let's skip it and choose something else." He thought to himself, "... throwing arrows, I cannot embarrass myself in front of Diao Chan, allowing her to see my pitiful attempts as the arrows miss their mark. At that point, I would not be throwing arrows but rather heading towards the lake."... throwing arrows, I cannot embarrass myself in front of Diao Chan, allowing her to see my pitiful attempts as the arrows miss their mark. At that point, I would not be throwing arrows but rather heading towards the lake.

Diao Chan hurriedly put away the money and was just about to leave to find a secluded place to hide it. Jia Renlu pointed to the manuscript on the table and said, "By the way, take my masterpiece down to burn it as well." In chaotic times, one must be cautious in all matters, for it is uncertain which clairvoyant might decipher his painstaking work. Just for the fact that he marked an 'X' over the names of the esteemed individuals, he could end up facing dire consequences.

Diao Chan pouted her lips in anger and turned to leave the room. Jia Renlu was left in a state of confusion when Diao Chan, accompanied by a waft of fragrant air, re-entered, tossing a handful of copper coins onto the table, and said: "Here they are; take them all and use them for the illustrations."

The stars in the sky twinkle like countless gems, winking at him incessantly. Perhaps the distance is too great, and his words travel too slowly, not yet reaching the heavens, which is why the surroundings remain silent and still

Jia Renlu said: "I suppose you won't either, so let's just forget it."

After finishing breakfast, Jia Renlu sat idly, feeling bored. He used to spend more than ten hours a day in front of the computer, and now that the computer was gone, he felt as if he were going through withdrawal. His fingers kept tapping restlessly on the table, as if he were striking a keyboard. In his mind, he fantasized about the imposing figure of his character, a Night Elf Druid, equipped with Shadowflame. Lost in thought, saliva dripped from his mouth onto the table, and he pondered, "Sigh, how can I get through the days without World of Warcraft? I need to ask someone." He inquired, "Diao Chan, do we have any entertainment options at home?"

Jia Renlu said nothing, holding Diao Chan's delicate hand, and stepped into the room. In his heart, he kept repeating the famous saying of Zhuge Kongming that has been passed down through the ages: "To devote oneself wholeheartedly until death."

Upon thinking of this, I could not help but look up to the heavens and sigh: "Oh, heavens, what should I do?"

Jia Renlu thought: "Great! Another 'moonlight clan' member. I'm somewhat better off; I usually run out of money only at the end of the month. I didn't expect this guy to be even worse off, running out at the beginning of the month. With this little money, it seems difficult to even afford meals, let alone socialize. Sigh, why did I even study computer science? I can only fiddle with computers and play games. Now, look at this; in an era where there are even no computers, I can't do anything at all..."