Old Dad Yun grabbed an orange, stuffed it into his mouth, and took a bite.
He suddenly frowned.
“The inside is very sweet, and it even has a hint of wine-like fragrance, but the skin on the outside is too bitter.”
“Dad, you need to peel oranges.
That’s not how you eat them.” Yun Zhen’s mouth twitched, trying to hold back a laugh.
She had seen how people in that other world ate oranges.
They all peeled off the outer rind and only ate the yellow fruit inside.
She peeled the orange, releasing an intoxicating fruity aroma.
She broke off three segments, feeding them to her parents and daughter, before eating one herself.
It wasn’t sour at all—crisp, sweet, and incredibly juicy.
Tasting an orange for the first time amazed her just as much as the apples and grapes had earlier.
“So this is how you eat it.” Yun Old Lady ate her segment.
“Sweet!
Very juicy, and so fragrant.”
“In the dead of winter, I bet even the County Magistrates aren’t as lucky as us to eat such delicacies.” Old Dad Yun often felt anguished over his inability to participate in the imperial examinations.
With a crippled leg and a disfigured face, his status as a child scholar was practically useless.
Unable to find even a decent job, he had resorted to loading and unloading cargo at the docks.
His greatest regret was being unable to provide a good life for his wife and daughter.
Now that his daughter had encountered such great fortune, his heart found immense comfort.
He was now living a good life that even the County Magistrates would envy, and things would only get better from here.
As he ate, he shed tears of emotion.
“The snowstorm is severe right now.
Though I don’t have to worry about food and drink, it pains me that I can’t repay the kindness the villagers showed us back then.
“I lost my parents at twelve and was raised on the kindness of the entire village.
With the help of the village elders, I was able to study, earn my child scholar title, marry your mother, and start a family.
Back then, I swore that if I ever passed the provincial exams, I would never forget the village’s immense grace and would definitely give back to the community.
Who could have known that I would break my leg and disfigure my face while hunting in the mountains?
That put an end to my hopes for the imperial exams in this lifetime.
“When I couldn’t support my family, it was the village elders who lent a helping hand again, giving us food and drink, and helping with our chores.
“Now that our family’s basic needs are met, the rest of the village is suffering through hunger and cold in this snowstorm.”
Hearing about the villagers’ kindness deeply resonated with Yun Zhen.
With her parents disabled and weak, she wouldn’t have grown up without the villagers’ generous relief.
When she grew up and married into the Chen family, who were outsiders to the village, it was the villagers who had her back.
Before Chen Tong became a Scholar, he didn’t even dare say a harsh word to her.
When her mother-in-law was cruel, the village aunts and uncles would stand up for her while continuing to support her frail parents.
She remembered their kindness!
“You’re right.
If it weren’t for Uncle Village Chief and the others, how could our family have survived until now?”
Yun Old Lady nodded.
“I was sold to human traffickers by my heartless parents.
It was Third Uncle who bought me back to marry your dad.
Your dad has a good heart; even though we were dirt poor, he never made me do a day of hard labor.
Even though I only gave birth to you, a single daughter, no one ever gossiped behind my back.
The villagers have helped our family both openly and secretly.
We truly shouldn’t forget our roots.”
Having eaten her fill for the past two days, Yun Zhen had long harbored thoughts of helping the villagers; she just hadn’t known how to bring it up.
“Dad, cook a pot of rice porridge and take some fruit to Uncle Village Chief.
Tell him every single detail about my miraculous encounter, and let him know that our family wants to help everyone survive the snowstorm.
Have him gather all the villagers in one place.
When the time comes, we’ll feed the whole village from a communal pot.” The villagers had helped their family so much, and their kindness was as heavy as a mountain.
This was something they ought to do, and Yun Zhen didn’t plan on keeping it a secret anymore.
Since she couldn’t find a suitable excuse, she wouldn’t look for one.
Except for her former in-laws who had already left and were outsiders, everyone else was a native of Taoyuan Village.
The people of Taoyuan were honest and simple.
The fact that they could help the Yun Family when they were at their lowest point proved their kindheartedness.
No one would treat her like a monster.
Even if someone harbored ill intentions, she believed Uncle Village Chief and the village elders would absolutely stand by her side.
After all, having enough to eat was everyone’s greatest wish.
Besides, she was the only one who could go to that other world.
Anyone with malicious thoughts would have to weigh the consequences—without her, the entire village would starve to death.
She had read books that said one should help the world when successful.
Since she had the ability, it was only natural to repay the benefactors to whom she owed an immense debt of gratitude.
“But this could be bad for you.
It’s better to be safe than sorry.
If someone covets your ability, they might resort to evil deeds regardless of whether they can actually succeed.” Old Dad Yun hadn’t spoken of helping the villagers earlier precisely because he worried about this.
It wasn’t that he wanted to think the worst of the simple-minded villagers, but what if?
Yun Old Lady spoke up.
“Our Zhen Niang is chosen by an immortal.
How could she be harmed by others so easily?”
SWISH!
Yun Zhen and Old Dad Yun’s eyes lit up brightly.
The father and daughter exchanged a glance, their minds made up.
“That’s right!
Our Zhen Niang has caught the eye of an immortal.
She’s a Goddess!” Old Dad Yun nodded emphatically.
“HAHAHA!” He suddenly threw his head back and laughed aloud.
Yun Zhen smiled faintly.
She knew her dad was thinking the exact same thing she was.
“Old man, stop laughing.
It’s creepy in the middle of the night!” Yun Old Lady hugged herself tightly.
“Old woman, you are simply too brilliant!” Old Dad Yun looked at his wife in approval.
Yun Old Lady’s face flushed.
“Weren’t we talking about how to explain Zhen Niang’s situation to the villagers?
Why are you suddenly praising me?” She felt joyous inside, sighing emotionally that she had married the right man in this life.
Old Dad Yun suddenly turned serious.
“We can tell the villagers that Zhen Niang was taken in as a disciple by an immortal and became a Goddess, sent specifically to deliver us from suffering!”
“That’s a great idea!” Yun Zhen nodded.
Compared to saying she could travel to another world, the concept of a manifesting immortal was obviously much easier for the villagers to accept.
It would also inspire reverence, deterring anyone with malicious intent.
A Goddess?
She was going to masquerade as a Goddess.
Yun Zhen sighed in amazement.
All these changes had only begun yesterday.
If she hadn’t tripped and accidentally cut her palm while looking for her dad yesterday, how would she have ever gotten the chance to visit that wondrous world?
Old Dad Yun began laying out his plan.
“Tomorrow, I’ll cook a pot of thick rice porridge and take some precious grapes and oranges to the Village Chief.
I’ll tell him about Zhen Niang receiving an immortal’s blessing and becoming a Goddess, and have him spread the news.
Once the villagers know she’s a Goddess, they won’t easily harbor thoughts of hurting her; instead, they’ll feel a sense of awe and respect.”
“Let’s do that.”
Having resolved the worries in his heart, Old Dad Yun laughed heartily.
Yun Old Lady was also happy that their family could finally repay the villagers’ great kindness.
Gratitude and returning favors was a human virtue.
“Mommy, sleepy!” Xiaobao yawned.
Having eaten and drunk her fill, she smacked her lips in satisfaction.
Old Dad Yun said, “Let Xiaobao sleep in our room.
There’s a fire going, so it won’t be too cold.
“Didn’t you say you’ve found a place to stay over there?
The room has heating and is as comfortable as summer, so you should go back there to sleep.”
“Yes, Zhen Niang, you must take good care of yourself.
From now on, you’re the entire village’s hope for survival.” Yun Old Lady patted her daughter’s hand.
Yun Zhen’s room was as cold as an ice cavern.
Her parents’ room had warmth from the fire, making it much less unbearable.
Thinking of the warm, heated room, Yun Zhen felt a pang of sorrow.
She got to sleep in a warm room while her parents and daughter had to sleep in this freezing house.
It was a pity.
She had tried, but that world only allowed her to cross over alone.
She had tried again later, but there was still no way to bring her parents and daughter with her.
“Alright, Dad, Mom, get some rest.
I’ll come back tomorrow night.”
Once her dad told the villagers about her miraculous encounter, she would have even more mouths to feed.
She truly needed to take good care of herself.