Chapter 3

The next day, as Lina had planned, she led Liu Nan to the police station early in the morning.

In the United States, a country that values human rights, adopting an orphan is a very complicated process. First, the economic and living conditions of the adoptive family must be reviewed. The adoptive family must have a certain level of economic capability, and the living conditions require that the adoptive family be a married couple with a harmonious relationship, otherwise it could have a psychological impact on the adopted orphan.

The above two basic points, the Johnsons met. Although it was unknown what the Johnsons did for a living, based on where they lived, which was in an upper-middle-class community in the United States, their economic conditions were certainly not bad. Additionally, they were a loving couple, which also met the other condition.

Adopting an orphan also requires the adoptive family to undergo training, which Lina did not intend to fulfill. She could not bear to be apart from Liu Nan for a moment. If training was required, it would take time, and these steps could actually be skipped through connections.

Furthermore, there would be inspections and supervision after the adoption, but Lina was not worried about this. How could she possibly be bad to Liu Nan? She would certainly treat Liu Nan as her own child.

"Hi, Joe, it's been a while. How's Susan? How's her flower arranging coming along?"

Upon arriving at the police station, Lina easily entered Joe's office. Joe was the chief here.

"Oh, dear Lina, it's been a while. You can greet Susan when you see her. I can't speak for her. She's now obsessed with the art of flower arranging, and it's almost making me allergic to pollen."

Joe was a robust white man, his muscles bulging under his suit.

"I thought she had given up long ago, but I didn't expect her to still be persistent. She's more patient than I am. By the way, this is the child, John told you about him, right?"

Lina pointed to Liu Nan, who was standing beside her.

"Oh, what a cute child. Congratulations to you both. Lina, your long-held wish has finally come true. John has already called me. Your conditions are all in order, and the procedures are very simple. Julie, bring in the forms we prepared this morning."

Joe knew about the Johnsons' situation and that they had long wanted a child. Seeing how adorable Liu Nan was, he was also happy for the Johnsons.

With Joe's help, Lina completed all the procedures at the police station very quickly. In less than an hour, she had finished all the formalities and left the police station with Liu Nan to go shopping for other things.

By noon, Lina had returned home with Liu Nan, who was wearing new clothes, carrying large and small bags. Although Lina had not been able to communicate with Liu Nan all morning, the satisfaction in her heart was indescribable. Many times, she had seen other mothers shopping with their children, and she could only look on enviously. Now, it was different. She was also shopping with her child, even though they could not yet communicate. Lina was confident that with the basic books she had, she could quickly learn how to communicate with Liu Nan. At the bookstore, Lina had bought several books to learn Chinese, so she could quickly learn the language and be a normal mother.

Liu Nan also sighed in relief when he returned to the villa. Shopping with women was terrifying. Lina had bought more than twenty sets of clothes for him, and had them delivered directly to the house. There were clothes for all seasons, and in Liu Nan's opinion, they were quite fashionable. He hadn't expected Lina to have such good taste. Additionally, Lina had taken several books on learning Chinese quickly, showing how eager she was to communicate with him. Liu Nan, who had originally just wanted to complete the task, felt a ripple in his heart.

Right, he hadn't claimed his task reward yet, and he also needed to explore the plane exchange system to understand what it was for.

"Welcome, host, to the plane exchange system. You have an unclaimed task reward. Would you like to claim it now?"

Just as Liu Nan was wondering how to communicate with the plane exchange system, the voice in his head spoke again.

"Claim it. Also, what exactly is this plane exchange system, and what is it for?"

Since they were communicating, Liu Nan decided to claim the task reward first. It was better to have it in hand, and he felt more secure.

"Host, the plane exchange system is designed to help you enhance your strength. You can exchange for anything you can think of with exchange points. There is nothing you cannot obtain, only what you cannot think of."

Is it really that powerful? Liu Nan was a bit skeptical. It sounded too exaggerated, like he could get anything he wanted.

"Then give me a Ginseng Fruit to try."

"Ginseng Fruit, a divine fruit from the先天灵根 (primordial spirit root) owned by Zhenyuan Daxian, also known as the Grass Return Pill. It blooms every three thousand years, bears fruit every three thousand years, and ripens every three thousand years, taking ten thousand years to mature. In ten thousand years, it only produces thirty fruits. The fruits look like three-year-old children, with complete limbs and facial features. If you have the chance to smell the fruit, you can live for three hundred and sixty years; if you eat one, you can live for forty-seven thousand years. Required exchange points: 99,999,999. Host's exchange points are insufficient, unable to exchange."

Hmm, it really exists, but what does that string of 9s mean?

"What are exchange points used for?"

"Exchange points are the basic currency of the plane exchange system. All items in the system require exchange points to obtain. You currently have 500 exchange points."

Now Liu Nan understood. The items in the plane exchange system were like goods, and exchange points were like money. To get something, he needed to use exchange points, but what could he do with only 500 points?

"Where do exchange points come from?"

"Host can earn exchange points by completing tasks issued by the system or by selling items to the plane exchange system."

Oh, so it can both take and give. Liu Nan picked up a cushion nearby and chose to exchange it.

"Low-grade item, cushion, no attributes, can be exchanged for 0.01 exchange points. Do you want to exchange it?"

No, don't exchange it. Only 0.01 points? If he sold it in a store, it would probably be worth several dollars. Better to be practical.

"System, what can I exchange with 500 exchange points?"

"Host's request is unclear. The system cannot provide an answer. Please specify your target."

Hmm? It didn't show anything, saying the request was unclear. Does it really need a specific name to show anything? This system is not very smart.

"The plane exchange system is currently in its initial stage. If you need to use vague commands, please upgrade the system."

Liu Nan was surprised that the plane exchange system could read his mind and respond to his thoughts.

"How do I upgrade the system?"

"Please develop it yourself."

Liu Nan spat out a mouthful of blood. What a joke, that's like saying nothing. Well, he would endure it and try a precise search.

"Nine Transformations?"

"Nine Transformations, a divine martial art created by the Three Pure Ones, can cultivate an indestructible body and eternal life. Required exchange points: 999,999,999. Host's exchange points are insufficient."

"Peach of Immortality?"

"Peach of Immortality, also known as the Primordial Water Peach Tree, has 3,600 peach trees. The first 1,200 trees produce small fruits that ripen every three thousand years, and eating them grants immortality. Required exchange points: 55,555,555. The next 1,200 trees produce fruits that ripen every six thousand years, and eating them grants eternal youth. Required exchange points: 77,777,777. The last 1,200 trees produce fruits that ripen every nine thousand years, and eating them grants eternal life. Required exchange points: 88,888,888."

It's even divided into different grades. Impressive.

"Ruyi Jingu Bang?"

"Ruyi Jingu Bang, …"

...

Liu Nan, alone in the living room, was having a great time with the plane exchange system. He asked questions, and the system answered. After about half an hour, Lina had finished making lunch and pulled Liu Nan to eat.

However, Liu Nan was a bit listless. Who could blame him? He had asked about a bunch of things, none of which he could afford. The 500 exchange points he had earned from the task were practically useless.

"Liu Nan."

Liu Nan, who was still in a daze, was startled. It was Lina calling him. Although not very accurate, he could understand her.

Seeing Liu Nan look up at her, Lina was almost overjoyed. She had practiced saying Liu Nan's name for a long time while cooking. Now that Liu Nan understood, it was a big step forward in their communication.

"Food... number... red...?"

Liu Nan didn't laugh. He could see Lina's seriousness and the effort she had put in, just like his prematurely gray-haired mother from his previous life, full of maternal love.

"Delicious."

Liu Nan took a big bite of the bread and smiled at Lina.

"Great, great, my baby, you finally spoke."

Tears welled up in Lina's eyes. She kept muttering in English, which Liu Nan couldn't understand, and hugged him tightly. All morning, Liu Nan hadn't spoken, which had made Lina worry that he might have been psychologically traumatized from his time alone in the wilderness. She hoped her child could grow up happy.

"Dear, what's wrong? Did I miss something?"

John had also returned home. As soon as he entered, he saw Lina hugging Liu Nan and saying "great" repeatedly.

"Dear, Liu Nan spoke. He understood the Chinese I said and answered me."

Seeing her husband return, Lina quickly told him what had happened.

"Really? Dear, you're amazing. You learned Chinese so quickly. I need to step it up, right, Liu Nan?"

John also clearly said Liu Nan's name, showing that he had practiced a lot behind the scenes.

Hearing his name again, Liu Nan looked at John with his "innocent" big eyes. There was no choice, as his body was still that of a child, and his eyes were so clear.

"Today... fruit... good...?"

John also spoke the Chinese he had practiced for a long time, albeit haltingly.

"Good."

Although not very standard, Liu Nan could understand and quickly responded. Finally, they could communicate. It had been difficult for him to hear only English all day, which he couldn't understand or speak, making him quite uncomfortable.