Keep attacking girls and try not to be killed by them

Combat Occupation: None

=====

Sixteen years old is the age when a girl's youth begins to blossom. Jiang Ran saw that her mental activities were very simple at the time. She was thinking things like "This person is so pitiful.", "I have water at home and can help." She didn't have any complicated thoughts, so he immediately included her in the list of candidate targets.

Later, Jiang Ran learned about the village’s personnel situation while having dinner with the village chief Woodall.

艾拉村除去江然一共有54人，其中有4人已经死于这次的『巨型火柱事件』，另外还有2人重伤、5人轻伤。当前村子剩下的50人当中，女性有26人，其中0~14岁的有8人，15~30岁的有2人，31岁以上的有16人。

If it were someone else, they would probably not consider the age groups of 0-14 years old and over 31 years old due to moral, aesthetic and legal factors, but Jiang Ran is different. He only considers the success rate and efficiency.

Jiang Ran's idea is this:

Children aged 0-14 do not understand what love is at all. Asking them to express their love sincerely is really torturing themselves.

All the women over 31 in the village are married. If you want to win them over, you have to help them overcome their moral guilt. At the same time, you have to complete the suicidal challenge of cheating on someone else's husband right under their nose. This will undoubtedly cause trouble for Jiang Ran himself, not to mention winning over those old ladies who are already hard of hearing.

Therefore, in the end, only two people aged between 15 and 30 could be considered. One was Wei'er who had delivered water to Jiang Ran, and the other was a woman named Mary.

Speaking of Mary, Jiang Ran was a household name. He could still vividly remember the inner thoughts he had witnessed from the woodcutter Joseph that morning. If it weren't for Jiang Ran's appearance, Mary would have continued to have fun with Joseph tonight. Mary, her husband, and Joseph—this complicated triangle was something Jiang Ran would definitely not touch unless he had no other choice.

After this round of screening, Wei'er became Jiang Ran's best and only target, and then the scene of "the hero saving the beauty" happened.

"Thank you so much for saving me. If you don't mind, would you like to..."

"You're welcome. I'm glad you're okay. Next time, pay more attention to the edges when you pass a dangerous building."

"Hmm...hmm."

For some reason, Jiang Ran interrupted Wei'er's words, and his tone was a little cold, and then he left Wei'er to help other villagers. Even the stupid loli Pligoke Nissen could see that Wei'er was almost inviting Jiang Ran to her house for dinner!

(Benni: You idiot! Why don’t you let her finish her words? Can’t you use your mind reading ability to see what she’s thinking?)

(Jiang Ran: What are you arguing about… Haven’t you heard of the theory of “intermittent reinforcement”?)

(Benny: Uh, that's like Senmo?)

(Jiang Ran: This is a theory proposed by a psychologist named Skinner on Earth.)

(Benny: Then what?)

(Jiang Ran: I won’t tell you.)

When it comes to driving stupid lolis crazy, Jiang Ran is truly top-notch.

But! How could Prigok Nissen tolerate being played around by Jiang Ran again and again?

In extreme anger, the stupid loli used the power that she could only use once a day: she broke through the limitations of the parallel world and asked the "Good God Camp" to allow her to inquire about the knowledge of the "Intermittent Reinforcement Theory" in the "Earth World" from the "Omniscient Wisdom Library".

Seconds later, the knowledge of the "Theory of Intermittent Reinforcement" had already entered Prigok Nissen's mind. Then, she was shocked! Such a sinister theory actually existed in the world of Earth! And Jiang Ran was even more despicable, actually intending to use such a horrific theory on an innocent sixteen-year-old girl!

(No, wait, why does this intermittent reinforcement theory look familiar...? Jiang Ran... hasn't he been using the same intermittent reinforcement tactic on me all along?!)

2.3 - Theory of Intermittent Reinforcement

伯尔赫斯·弗雷德里克·斯金纳

(Earth calendar, 1904-1990 AD)

Earth World - Psychologist

Founder of neo-behaviorist learning theory

Founder of operant conditioning theory

While in college, Skinner built a box for psychological experiments, which later became known as the "Skinner Box." He often used it to conduct experiments with mice and pigeons. Among Skinner's many experimental discoveries was the theory of intermittent reinforcement, which he stumbled upon while exploring operant conditioning.

Before that incident, Skinner had discovered through experiments that by releasing food every time an animal pressed a switch, after a period of training, the animals would develop a conditioned reflex to "press the switch to get food." However, if they continued to press the switch without receiving food, the conditioned behavior would quickly fade.

Later, during one of his experiments, Skinner had a sudden idea: he decided to break the routine. Instead of delivering a fixed amount of food when the animals pressed the switch, he sometimes gave them more food, sometimes less, and sometimes no food at all. This made the behavior of "pressing the switch and getting food" a random event. To his surprise, Skinner discovered that after training with this "intermittent random reward" method, the mice and pigeons became addicted! They would press the switch like crazy, and only after Skinner completely ignored their behavior and withheld food for a long time would they stop.

Based on the results of this experiment, Skinner proposed the theory of "intermittent reinforcement". This theory may not have made much sense to most people at the time (estimated to be around 1950 AD in the Earth calendar), but looking at it now, this theory is undoubtedly terrifying when people think about it carefully.

When a person has a crush on someone, he/she will constantly pick up the phone just to see if "that person" has replied or sent him/her a message. As long as "that person" gives him/her some "random" responses from time to time, he/she will be happy for a long time, and persevere in waiting for more responses from "that person". When inexperienced people enter the casino, they are always "lucky" at first, winning more and losing less, and gradually being "trained" into addiction. After that, every gambling behavior is like a small animal pressing a switch, hoping to get more food. Even if they start to lose continuously, they will still persist until they lose everything. Card-drawing mobile games always easily give players a large number of ten-draw combos at the beginning, but this is not a bonus, but a way to "train" players to become addicted to card drawing by using "intermittent random rewards". Once addicted, people always hope to get better rewards in the next ten-draw combo, and they can't stop...

Today, Skinner's theory of intermittent reinforcement has long been mastered by capitalists worldwide, infiltrating every aspect of life and work through various cleverly concealed methods. This psychological effect is incredibly powerful, and its influence has been felt by everyone since the beginning of humankind. People are deeply entangled in it, unable to extricate themselves, and unable to resist.

Prigok Nissen found a very practical example in the information she obtained, titled "The Application of 'Intermittent Random Rewards' in a Relationship":

In a relationship, if you always agree when your partner asks you out, over time he or she will naturally take it for granted that you will go out, and will no longer take it seriously, and his or her attitude will become more and more casual; but if you never agree, after being rejected too many times, he or she will feel that there is no hope and will easily give up; only "random" agreement can keep the other person's sense of freshness for a long time, and he or she will ask you out with a tentative attitude every time, and will be happy once the date is successful, and this positive emotion will be brought into the date, making the date more effective.

(Horrible... It's truly terrifying! The world on Earth has actually developed such an evil theory. This is essentially domesticating humans like animals!)

After reading the information in the "Omniscient Wisdom Library," Prigok Nissen was truly astonished. For a moment, she felt as if she had grasped the truth. After understanding the "Theory of Intermittent Reinforcement," Prigok Nissen realized that Jiang Ran sometimes answered her questions, while other times deliberately teased her. Wasn't this a form of random reward? The reason Jiang Ran always played her around was because she had unknowingly become "addicted" to him.

(That was a close call! Luckily I discovered it early! Damn bastard Jiang Ran, he actually wanted to "tame" me?!)

Prigok Nissen felt like she had survived a catastrophe, and she was also very angry at Jiang Ran! ... However, Prigok Nissen was still a little smart. She felt that she couldn't let Jiang Ran find out that she had figured this out.

(Benny: If you don't want to tell me, then don't tell me. It's just "Sikina", so you think you know? Let me tell you, I was just teasing you!)

The silly loli said something in her usual way to show off her strength.

(Jiang Ran: As expected of you, Master Prigog Nissen. Now, how can I apply the "Theory of Intermittent Reinforcement" to make Wei'er like me?)

(Benny: That's easy, isn't it... isn't it just this and that first, then that and that!)

The silly little girl wasn't just pretending; she was really stuck mid-sentence. She really didn't know how to apply the "theory of intermittent reinforcement" to Wei'er.

The silly little girl then realized that knowing the theory and applying it in practice were two different things. She thought carefully: the "hero saving the beauty" situation just now felt very different from the white rat in the Skinner box, so it couldn't be directly applied. And using that "highly practical example" to illustrate the feeling wouldn't be appropriate either. The only option now was for Jiang Ran to ask Wei'er out; he couldn't just feign reserve and wait for Wei'er to ask him out.

(Benny: Humph, such a simple question is an insult to my intelligence!)

(Jiang Ran: Oh, being able to insult something that doesn't exist is also a skill.)

It took Benni a while to understand Jiang Ran's words before she realized that she was being bullied by Jiang Ran again. When she angrily started to call Jiang Ran a "big idiot", Jiang Ran was already in the process of attacking him.

The key to applying the "Theory of Intermittent Reinforcement" is to think clearly about what is the switch and what is the reward. Only when these two "experimental conditions" are set correctly can the "Theory of Intermittent Reinforcement" be effective.

The experienced Jiang Ran had already obtained the minimum necessary information before confirming Wei'er as the target of his attack. Next, he would make Wei'er "addicted" to the boy named "Banning" within three days.

2.4 - Psychology in Love

The history of Ella Village is less than twenty years. Most of the villagers here were wanderers until they met the village chief Woodall and settled down here.

Wei'er is no exception.

When she was eleven years old, Wei'er and her sister Ai'er were unfortunately separated from their parents during the "Great Migration". The two sisters wandered together for more than half a year. Later, when they passed through the Ella Forest, they met Woodall who was hunting, and were invited by Woodall to stay in the Ella Village.

The two sisters, one good at growing fruits and the other good at sewing clothes, helped everyone as soon as they settled in the village and were loved by the villagers. However, a year and a half later, something regrettable happened.

When Wei'er was thirteen, her older sister, Elle, was killed by a wild beast while gathering herbs in the woods. Wei'er was left alone. Village chief Woodall and his wife cared for Wei'er like their own parents, accompanying her through the difficult times.

Now Wei'er has come out of the haze. She not only manages the village orchard, but is also good at sewing like her sister. Whenever she has free time, she will help everyone mend clothes. The villagers like her very much.

"But, for some reason, Dade and Bacon always dislike Wei'er. Sometimes they're even scared away by her as if they've seen a ghost. I really don't know if there's something wrong with their brains."

Grandma Kana spoke as slowly as she walked. Banning, a new boy in the village, sat next to her and listened patiently. Then he stood up and thanked her solemnly.

"Thank you, Grandma Kana."

"Oh, what's there to thank me for... Speaking of which, you fell in love with Wei'er right after you arrived, didn't you? You can't do anything without the approval of an old man like me!"

"What are you talking about, Grandma Kana? I just wanted to ask about Wei'er because she brought me some water."

Benning turned his face away embarrassedly, but this little action did not escape Grandma Kana's eyes, which were usually dim but sharp when it came to gossip.

"Hahaha~ OK~ OK~ OK~ I'm so happy that someone is willing to talk to an old man like me!"

Amidst Grandma Kana's laughter, the shy Banning ran away, and Grandma Kana didn't forget to mutter, "Oh, I forgot to thank him for helping me move the things!"

·

(Benni: You have a pretty good acting skill, no wonder you lie without taking a breath.)

Jiang Ran did not respond to the silly loli's teasing. Wearing different masks has long been his daily life.

Jiang Ran had already learned what Grandma Kana had just said from other villagers. With the help of his mind-reading skills, it was easy for Jiang Ran to get the information. However, the reason he still wanted to talk to Grandma Kana about this was because he wanted to spread the word through Grandma Kana that "Banning seems to be interested in Wei'er."

These old ladies may not be good at anything else, but when it comes to spreading gossip and scandals, they can walk five miles in one breath without any difficulty.

In such a small village, gossip would quickly reach the ears of the person involved—Wei'er. By then, Jiang Ran's second card, the "Love Compensation Effect," would begin to take effect.

In human society, the same words have different effects when spoken by different people. If Jiang Ran tells Wei'er in person that he likes her, it's a straightforward confession, and whether it succeeds or fails is entirely up to Wei'er. But if Wei'er hears from someone else that "Banning likes you," the nature of the matter is completely different.

Regardless of gender, if someone knows they seem to like or have a crush on someone, they'll inevitably start paying attention to them, wanting to find out if they truly like them. Even if they clearly dislike someone, their curiosity doesn't stop them from wanting to find out. Only a very small number of socially anxious people would actually confront someone to confirm things, but Jiang Ran was certain Wei'er wasn't one of them.

Under the current circumstances, as long as Wei'er knows about this, she will start to care about Jiang Ran even if she didn't care about him before. This is the "love compensation effect": people are always more inclined to pay attention to those who like them.

After this, Jiang Ran can achieve the key milestone of the strategy plan: change from active to passive, and begin to use the "intermittent reinforcement theory" to continuously strengthen Wei'er's "stickiness" to himself in her mind.

Jiang Ran's famous saying: In a romantic relationship, the passive party is the one with the advantage.

·

Jiang Ran had already laid out the rumor, so there was no need to interfere. He continued to help out in the village. Beneath his seemingly enthusiastic exterior, his true intention was to find a key event that would elevate his social status.

Jiang Ran is a staunch supporter of the "attraction theory". He strongly agrees with the view that "boyfriends/girlfriends are attracted to you rather than pursued."

It is true that there are many loves in the world that are obtained through persistent pursuit and dedication, but this is a thorny road. It is impossible for an efficiency-oriented person like Jiang Ran to do so, not to mention that the harsh conditions in this parallel world do not allow it.

Jiang Ran believed that as a poor young man who had just arrived in Ella Village, he was in urgent need of the "qualities" that could attract Wei'er.

Generally speaking, traits can be appearance, athletic (combat) ability, material resources, wealth, power and status, etc.

Jiang Ran wasn't sure what the aesthetic standards of this Prison Star world were, and he didn't particularly agree with the school of thought that relied solely on appearance to attract the opposite sex. After ruling out physical abilities, which couldn't be acquired quickly, Jiang Ran's remaining options were to quickly acquire a large amount of material resources, wealth, or power.

After carefully investigating Ella Village, Jiang Ran chose to pursue social status. He believed that this was the best choice in this village with a sparse population and backward knowledge level.

"Oh, this must be a punishment from God. Joseph must have done something bad behind my back, otherwise there's no explanation!"

"Hey, stop talking. The person is dead and you are still nagging."

Passing by a burned-out cabin, Jiang Ran overheard the villagers gathered around and chattering, so he went over to find out what they were talking about. One villager told Jiang Ran about a woodcutter named Joseph. That morning, he'd somehow managed to find a rare set of clothes, and upon returning to the village, he'd been showing them off everywhere. Suddenly, a monster descended from the sky, instantly incinerating him with a terrifyingly large column of fire. It also took down many people and houses. Luckily, the monster flew away after setting the fire, otherwise, the entire village wouldn't have been enough for it to kill.

Jiang Ran then asked about the details of the monster's appearance, but the villagers said that the monster was surrounded by flames and was too far away, so nothing could be seen except a vague black shadow that seemed to be wearing armor.

Joseph's conversation with the monster ended here. The villagers looked at the wooden houses that were burned black by the fire and discussed what to do with them.

"These houses are already like this, it's not surprising that they can collapse at any time. Didn't they almost hit Wei'er just now? If it were you, I would just tear them down!"

"We can tear it down, but how do we deal with all this garbage? There's not much open space left in the village."

After hearing this, Jiang Ran first looked at the villagers' psychological activities, and then he knew that his chance to establish a reputation in Ella Village had come.

2.5 - A New Star in Ella Village

"Or we can all take turns moving the stuff to the wasteland, moving a little bit every day. We should be able to finish it in about a month."

"Hey, that's all it can do."

"It's really a sin to do such a thing in such hot weather..."

Jiang Ran waited patiently until the villagers stopped speaking, then seized the opportunity and stepped forward.

"My dear elders, won't you keep this rare charcoal to burn?"

The new guy's questions drew the villagers' attention to him.

"'Wooden Detective'? What is that?"

"Yeah, what is 'Wood Sigh', Banning?"

The villagers' reaction was just as Jiang Ran had expected. In this backward village, no one knew what charcoal was. So Jiang Ran picked up a piece of burnt "wood" from the rubble and showed it to everyone. He explained that charcoal is the dark brown or black porous solid material left after incomplete combustion or pyrolysis in airtight conditions. It is an excellent fuel.

"Incomplete combustion?"

"Pyrolysis?"

The villagers were confused when they heard this, and someone immediately stood up to question Jiang Ran.

"Hey, hey, hey, you little brat, are you kidding us? What good is that kind of garbage? Stop fooling us!"

"Yeah, yeah! How can you use something that's already been burned as fuel? I've been to town so many times and I've never heard of such a thing!"

Doubtful voices kept coming out, but Jiang Ran did not give any explanation. He looked around and saw that there was no wind, so he picked up a few pieces of good quality charcoal and piled them together.

"Is there any kind-hearted uncle, aunt, brother or sister willing to help me light a fire?"

Jiang Ran looked around and saw that the villagers were a little hesitant. At this time, the village chief Woodall walked out from the crowd.