Suddenly, a strong light flashed before her eyes, and the scene changed. She saw the familiar mountain range.
This… this… she was back?
Overjoyed, Ruan Jinxiang hurriedly felt her arms, legs, and face.
Nothing was missing!
She had truly returned.
Wait, why was her wrist empty? Where was the bronze bracelet she had picked up?
Ruan Jinxiang frantically searched nearby but couldn’t find it. Could it have fallen in that place she had just been?
Ruan Jinxiang secretly felt regretful.
Huh?
Her basket, and the food that lady had bought for her—what were they called, shaomai—had actually been brought back with her.
Another wave of astonishment washed over her.
Earlier, when she heard the word “government,” she had been so frightened that she ran away, completely failing to notice that the bag containing the shaomai was made of transparent cloth!
The bag was tied shut, but the aroma of flour and oil wafted out from inside.
The flour was so white and fine.
With such a fragrance, there must be meat inside, right?
Ruan Jinxiang’s eyes turned slightly blue with hunger. She swallowed hard and tucked the shaomai into her bosom to keep them warm.
She would give them to Ya Ya and Tiedan later. The two little ones had never eaten such delicious food before—they would surely be overjoyed.
That place was truly full of wonders.
Back in familiar surroundings, Ruan Jinxiang’s fear vanished, and she began to ponder.
How had she returned?
Ah, right!
She remembered shouting in her heart: I want to go back!
But how had she ended up in that strange place in the first place?
Thinking of the large piece of cloth that lady had discarded, just thrown on the road, she felt both heartache and an itch of desire.
Today, she clearly felt colder than yesterday. She and Ya Ya had spread straw on the kang, but even burrowing into the straw pile didn’t keep them warm.
If only she could bring that cloth back too.
Since she could return, why not go back once more?
Would falling over take her there?
Summoning her courage, Ruan Jinxiang tried it.
“Thump!”
“Ouch~” She didn’t go anywhere.
She had fallen several times today—her bottom was surely bruised black and blue.
As she stood up, Ruan Jinxiang pondered.
What if… she shouted in her heart: I want to go there!
A strong light flashed, the scene before her changed, and she was back again.
Still behind that small iron house.
Excitement flushed her pale face with color.
She was now absolutely certain—she had encountered a miracle!
She could freely come and go to this strange, prosperous, and heavenly place.
Ruan Jinxiang’s heart raced wildly.
Afraid of running into that lady who might still be looking for her, she hugged the wall and stealthily made her way back to where the lady had discarded the bundle.
Still thinking about the lost bronze bracelet, she searched along the way but couldn’t find it.
Sigh~ It was truly lost. She felt a pang of regret.
Seeing the large bundle of discarded items still there, she immediately forgot her regret. She hurriedly picked it up and shouted in her heart: I want to go back!
Sure enough, she was back on the mountain.
Finding a flat spot, Ruan Jinxiang quickly opened the large cloth bundle.
Seeing its contents, her eyes instantly widened in astonishment.
Inside were several large pieces of cloth, neatly folded and of varying sizes and materials.
One piece was fine cotton, while the others were neither coarse linen nor cotton.
Nor were they the silk worn by the village chief.
She didn’t know what material they were, but they felt incredibly soft.
The patterns were unlike anything she had ever seen.
The long, rectangular piece of cloth, nearly eight or nine feet long, was thick and plush.
Flipping through further, Ruan Jinxiang’s hands trembled with joy.
There were actually two quilts inside!
But that wasn’t the most surprising part.
The torn seam of the quilt revealed—it was actually cotton!
This was actually a cotton quilt!
During these three years of war, forget about quilts—even their winter coats were stuffed with reed catkins instead of cotton.
Their family could no longer afford cotton.
Winter coats filled with reed catkins were bulky and provided little warmth.
Even before the war, she had only ever owned one winter coat padded with cotton.
Last year, during the military unrest, when the family truly had nothing left to eat, she pawned that coat for three hundred copper coins.
Only then did the family barely survive that winter.
Two such thick quilts, if taken to the pawnshop, would probably be worth three taels of silver.
No wonder the people in that strange place wore such light clothing—they could actually afford cotton garments!
Ruan Jinxiang couldn’t resist wrapping one of the quilts around herself.
The soft, thick, and warm sensation made her feel incredibly comfortable.
She hurriedly folded the two quilts neatly and wrapped them in a large cloth.
Continuing to examine the contents, Ruan Jinxiang was already overwhelmed with pleasant surprises.
A small iron pot, slightly rusted at the bottom. And this must be the lid? It wasn’t made of wood but iron!
A kitchen knife, completely intact.
Two iron basins, with a few small dents.
Everything was made of iron!
In their village, iron was expensive. Saving up for an iron pot could take a year or two of earnings.
Some households even used clay pots for cooking.
There were also three porcelain bowls—fine porcelain at that, with exquisite patterns! Only one had a small chip.
Even the village chief’s family used coarse porcelain bowls.
This square wooden board was perfect for chopping vegetables.
There were also some oddly shaped items whose purpose she couldn’t discern.
After rummaging through everything, Ruan Jinxiang’s palms were sweaty.
What kind of wealthy household could afford to discard such fine things?
On second thought, compared to the lady’s bright and beautiful clothes, these items did seem old and worn.
Ruan Jinxiang quickly wrapped everything up again.
Hoisting the large bundle onto her shoulder, she made her way down the mountain.
With so many valuable items, she feared arousing suspicion from the villagers.
Deliberately avoiding people, she adopted the same cautious expression and posture as little Tiedan had that morning.
Sneaking all the way back to the thatched hut.
Outside the shed, she heard voices—it was her mother-in-law.
Ruan Jinxiang’s heart lifted.
Had her husband already calmed down so quickly?
Had her mother-in-law come to tell her she could take Ya Ya back home?
She quickened her pace but suddenly stopped, hesitating for a moment before hiding the large bundle in a nearby thicket.
Her sister-in-law was currently in the process of arranging a marriage, and these two thick quilts could serve as part of her dowry. If her mother-in-law asked for them, she couldn’t refuse.
But if her husband hadn’t called for her and Ya Ya to return, staying here with her daughter would be unbearably cold.
Pushing aside her thoughts, Ruan Jinxiang entered the thatched hut. “Mother, you’re here.”
Mother Pei’s hair, half-gray and half-black, was neatly tied into a bun at the back of her head.
She wore a black skirt and a blue jacket with a diagonal front, newly made from cloth her son, Pei Daquan, had brought back after his return.
Her round face, flat nose, and slightly fleshy cheeks gave her a kind and gentle expression.
Glancing at Ruan Jinxiang’s empty basket, she understood.
This year, after the bandit soldiers were driven away, the government hadn’t seized all the autumn harvest.
But the taxes were still twenty percent heavier than before the war.
Every household in the village had little grain left.
During autumn, people scoured the mountains for wild produce to survive the winter.
There was nothing left for her daughter-in-law to forage.
“Jinxiang, I’ve brought some food for you and Ya Ya. You two should eat something.”
Ruan Jinxiang quickly replied, “Thank you, Mother.”
She felt genuinely grateful.
During the three years her husband was away, she had relied on her in-laws, sister-in-law, and brother-in-law for support.
Her mother-in-law always said she was a filial and good daughter-in-law, treating her like her own daughter.
Thinking about how she had hidden the items, Ruan Jinxiang felt a pang of guilt.
She considered going back to retrieve them, but… she held back.
Mother Pei sighed. “That stubborn boy Daquan has always been like this since he was little.
This time, he’s gone too far.”
“Jinxiang, dear, I’m trying to persuade him. Once his anger subsides, I’ll have him come personally to bring you back.”
Ruan Jinxiang’s joy instantly vanished.
She murmured in response, “I understand, Mother…”
Patting Ruan Jinxiang’s hand, Mother Pei pulled Tiedan over. “Come home with Grandma. Don’t let your father know you came to see your mother, or he’ll surely get angry.”
Little Tiedan was reluctant to leave his mother, but thinking about bringing her food again tomorrow, he obediently agreed.
As they walked out, he vigorously winked at Ruan Jinxiang.
Just like Ya Ya, his round, grape-like black eyes squinted into tiny slits.
Ruan Jinxiang’s earlier disappointment melted away with her son’s warmth, and she subtly shook her head at Tiedan.
The household’s food supply was limited. Even if they weren’t caught today, they might be discovered tomorrow.
If her husband found out, Tiedan might be beaten. It was better not to bring her any more food.
After the grandmother and grandson left, Ruan Jinxiang took the bowl of food and placed it alongside the half-piece of steamed bun left from the morning.
It was a bowl of coarse rice porridge, so thin you could see your reflection in it.
Staring at the half-piece of steamed bun and then at this bowl of coarse rice soup, Ruan Jinxiang fell into a daze.