It Is Said That I Have Been Crushed By Dimensionality Reduction (Quick Travel) - Chapter 6

Lin Cuiniang forced herself to stay calm. She smiled, hiding the tremble in her heart, and asked gently, “Brother Yuan, how did you catch all these fish? And… this ice… where did it come from?”

She wasn’t asking out of curiosity alone.

She needed to be sure—that the fish was safe, that the ice wasn’t harmful, and most of all, that none of this would hurt her son.

She and Zhao Ping’an had grown up in the village, and the farthest they’d ever traveled was to the town market. To them, the most majestic place they’d ever seen was the town’s only restaurant, where servers in fine clothes stood stiff at the door. They’d never even dared step inside.

As for demons, immortals, and strange things in the mountains—those were the stuff of stories passed around by villagers after dark.

But this? Their son conjuring ice with a glance and pulling fish from thin air?

That was no bedtime tale.

Sensing their confusion, Bai Yuan tilted his head slightly. He didn’t like seeing them anxious. So, as if to offer reassurance, he blinked—and suddenly, the block of ice in the corner glided across the ground, stopping right at their feet.

No one had touched it.

Not a sound had been made.

He squatted down, pointed with a small pale finger, and in an instant, the ice began to melt—not gradually, but all at once, revealing several fish frozen in perfect condition.

Then, he waved his hand again. The water reformed, froze, and rewrapped the fish in a perfectly square block of ice.

Throughout it all, Bai Yuan’s expression was calm and focused. White hair, glowing white skin, snow-pale eyes—it was like watching a tiny winter god at work.

It was… breathtaking.

Lin Cuiniang and Zhao Ping’an stood frozen. At first, they were stunned. Then frightened. But when Bai Yuan looked up, waiting expectantly for praise like any child would, something inside them softened.

He wasn’t trying to scare them.

He just wanted to help.

Cuiniang shook off her fear first. She clapped, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Brother Yuan, you’re amazing! Now we don’t have to worry about anything spoiling in this heat. Isn’t that right, dear?”

Zhao Ping’an was still dazed, but her subtle pinch jolted him back to his senses.

“Y-Yes,” he stammered, then managed a smile. “Our Brother Yuan is so smart. Even your parents can’t catch fish like that.”

And he meant it.

The river near the mountain was deep and dangerous. Even grown men rarely caught fish there. You needed to be a strong swimmer or incredibly lucky.

But their son had caught all this—without even getting wet.

It was then that the reality of yesterday’s conversation struck them.

Their son had told them he wasn’t human.

Now… they believed him.

They finally understood why the villagers were so afraid of things they didn’t understand. Because standing in front of them was something truly beyond what ordinary folk could imagine.

Still, Cuiniang quickly composed herself and smiled again. “But listen,” she said gently. “Mother is very stingy. I don’t want anyone stealing my Brother Yuan away. So from now on, let’s not catch fish or make ice where people can see it, alright?”

She couldn’t bear to scare him—or hurt him with the truth. So she told this white lie to keep him safe.

Bai Yuan noticed her heartbeat speeding up, her nervousness bleeding through her smile. He thought for a moment, then nodded obediently. “Okay.”

Cuiniang let out a small breath of relief and beamed. “Brother Yuan has worked so hard today. Can we cook some fish to eat?”

“I want to help,” Bai Yuan said. “Can I watch and learn?”

“Of course,” she replied, not even hesitating.

Bai Yuan reached out again, tapped the block of ice, and two fish popped out cleanly, their scales intact. The rest remained sealed in crystal clarity.

The couple was floored once more.

Was there anything this child couldn’t do?

“Why is Brother Yuan so amazing?” Cuiniang laughed in delight.

Bai Yuan looked almost embarrassed, glancing aside as he mumbled, “I helped catch the fish…”

Before, they would’ve never allowed their child to help with chores. In the Zhao family, even if they were exhausted, they’d shielded him from work.

But now…

Seeing his quiet joy—his eagerness to contribute—they couldn’t bear to deny him.

He gently placed the fish on the kitchen counter, and Zhao Ping’an stepped in to clean and gut them with practiced hands. Then, with a nod to Cuiniang, he left to start reinforcing the fences.

The house was barely holding together. A few sharpened bamboo stakes around the yard might keep wild animals out.

As he worked, Zhao Ping’an’s thoughts turned darker.

Cuiniang’s soft voice floated from the kitchen.

Their son—once too scared to even speak at home—was now happily chatting and asking questions. All because they’d finally broken free of the Zhao family’s cruelty.

Bitterness twisted in his chest.

He and Cuiniang had worked so hard—suffered so much—just to give Brother Yuan a chance. And yet, their own family had nearly crushed that chance completely.

If only he were stronger.

He wanted to punish those who hurt his son. He wanted justice. But if he acted recklessly… if people found out about Brother Yuan…

The consequences would be unthinkable.

As those thoughts churned, Bai Yuan—inside the house—suddenly looked toward the yard.

Cuiniang noticed his gaze. “What is it, Brother Yuan?”

He shook his head. “Nothing.”

And returned to watching the stove.

The fish hadn’t been seasoned. Just frozen. But the smell already made his stomach stir.

“I want to try frying it in a pan,” he said.

Cuiniang blinked. “If it’s not tasty, don’t cry about it, alright?”

Bai Yuan nodded solemnly.

She smiled again, heart aching. He’s still so small… Why is he trying so hard to act like a grown-up?

At least now, they could give him a better life.

Following the recipe given by the strange little voice in his mind—the system—Bai Yuan directed her step-by-step. There was pickled cabbage in the jar. First, they fried the fish lightly. Then they added water and let it simmer.

As it cooked, the smell filled the house—rich, tangy, and mouthwatering.

Even Zhao Ping’an dropped his rope and wandered back in, sniffing the air.

“Why does it smell this good?”

He peeked into the pot.

White fish bobbed in milky broth, accented with golden slivers of sauerkraut. The fragrance alone could make a person cry.

He was stunned.

They were farmers. Their meals were about survival, not flavor. Most days, even a tiny sliver of lard was a luxury.

But this…

This was better than anything he’d ever imagined.

He turned to Cuiniang. “How did you come up with this?”

“It wasn’t me,” she said, dazed. “It was Brother Yuan’s idea.”

She had assumed he just wanted to try something—anything—and was ready to praise him no matter how it turned out.

But the taste… the smell…

She and Zhao Ping’an exchanged a glance. Then looked at the small child sitting on the wooden stool nearby, legs dangling, eyes wide in anticipation.

Their son wasn’t a disaster star.

He was brilliant.

And maybe, just maybe, he was meant for something more.

“Wash your hands,” Cuiniang said. “Time to eat!”

The broth bubbled thickly, the tang of sauerkraut making their mouths water. They had no rice, but the village chief had given them some sweet potatoes—enough to count as a meal.

The three of them sat at a tiny table, their eyes locked on the steaming bowl.

Zhao Ping’an carefully removed bones from a tender slice of fish and placed it in Bai Yuan’s bowl. “Try it.”

Bai Yuan still couldn’t use chopsticks, so he used a small spoon. He took one bite—then his eyes lit up.

“Delicious.”

The energy in the food could be absorbed, converted, transformed. But for the first time, he didn’t want to. He simply ate like a real human child.

The couple hesitated for a moment, then tried it too.

The fish was tender, practically melting in their mouths. The sourness of the cabbage made it even richer, even more satisfying.

They’d never eaten anything this good in their lives.

Zhao Ping’an chewed slowly, cherishing every bite. His throat felt tight.

Cuiniang wiped her eyes and smiled through tears. “Things are going to get better from now on.”

Zhao Ping’an nodded. “I’ll work harder. I’ll earn money. One day, I’ll bring home pork for Brother Yuan—make sure he gets stronger.”

At the word “pork,” Bai Yuan perked up.

What was pork?

The system quickly conjured images in his mind—wild boars, domestic pigs, cuts of fatty meat, juicy pork dishes.

His eyes gleamed.

He clenched his little fists and made a silent vow.

He was going to the mountains.

He was going to catch a pig—

The biggest, fattest pig he could find—and bring it home to eat.