She led San Ya to a slightly hidden spot along the stream where the water wouldn’t be affected, and there they bathed. The sun was setting, and the mountains were already cooling, so she only let San Ya wash quickly, worried the child might catch a chill.
As for herself, she washed thoroughly from head to toe.
Before bathing, she scrubbed her clothes in the stream and spread them over a rock to dry in the wind.
San Ya, after finishing her own wash, went off to pluck hibiscus leaves for washing Yu Qiu’s hair.
While the girl was gone, Yu Qiu quietly used her ability to ease the soreness in her muscles.
Bathing felt as though it washed away the exhaustion of the past few days.
Wrapped in the glow of sunset, wearing half-dried coarse linen, she walked beside the skinny San Ya, who was animatedly telling her, “Uncle Zhou is making us a bed. In a few days, we’ll be able to sleep on it!” Her gaunt little face was alight with hope for the future.
“We have more stools at home now, and Mother laughs more often.”
“Mother says you’re a blessing star, Sister-in-law. Since you came, she feels much better.”
Yu Qiu listened with a smile as San Ya chattered on, and she too began to imagine the days ahead.
She wasn’t really a good person, but she wasn’t a bad one either.
Just a little detached.
In her previous life’s apocalypse, everyone was cold and guarded. She had always been protected by her family and friends, until one by one they passed away, and she lost the will to live.
This world was also an apocalypse, but entirely different.
Here, there were no zombies, no ability users.
Only ordinary, defenseless people, and those in the cities who held power and resources.
If she could just keep living quietly in this remote place, she would gladly do so.
That was all she sought.
Back at the house, the place was bustling.
Xiaohua was there helping Madam Li cook. Daniu was chopping wood. Guzi and Meng Ping were helping Uncle Zhou assemble a mortise-and-tenon bedframe.
Er He was heating water in a clay pot on the side.
Everyone was busy with their own tasks in the evening glow.
San Ya, seeing the nearly finished bed, shouted excitedly, “The bed’s done? Great, we’ll get to sleep on it tonight!”
“Not so fast. It’s just a small bedframe. It still needs to air out until the wood dries properly before you can sleep on it.” Uncle Zhou raised his head with a smile. His rough linen shirt was soaked through with sweat, clinging to his thin, dark frame. His smile carved deep lines across his face, etched there by the years.
Such selfless help—something she had rarely felt in the last-world apocalypse.
When the bed was complete, Uncle Zhou glanced at the sky and told Madam Li, “It won’t rain in the next couple days. Leave the bed outside to air out; it’ll dry faster.”
Madam Li smiled and thanked him.
Looking at the slowly growing furniture in the home, Yu Qiu felt her heart grow full too.
In front of the thatched house now stood a new drying rack, along with bamboo-woven trays and baskets.
Inside, her freshly gathered herbs lay drying.
After dinner, Uncle Zhou took the older children back with him under the cover of dusk.
That night, they had only porridge and two simple stir-fried wild vegetables.
No oil, no meat.
But thick, white rice porridge itself was already an excellent dinner.
When it was time to sleep, Madam Li brought her a set of clothes.
“Change into these for now. Tomorrow, wash yours with soap pods.”
It was Madam Li’s own clothing. Yu Qiu smiled, accepted it, and went into the still-unused room to change.
The outfit was a bit large. She rolled up the sleeves and pant legs, tied the waistband tight, and it fit well enough. The faint scent of soap pods on the cloth brought a sense of peace.
When she came out, Madam Li looked her over, frowning. “Too thin—you’re even skinnier than San Ya.” Her voice softened. “You don’t need to push yourself so hard. Life can be lived slowly. There’s no need to rush in a few days and shoulder everything alone. Those trays and baskets were woven today by Er He and San Ya, and the drying rack was made by me, Xiaohua, and A Ping.”
Yu Qiu was about to say she wasn’t tired.
But Madam Li didn’t give her the chance, continuing, “Er He and San Ya are growing up. If you need something done, let them help. Don’t carry it all yourself. My body isn’t strong—I’ve burdened you children—but at least I can cook.” She paused, taking Yu Qiu’s thin, calloused hand, feeling the roughness left by years of labor. Her heart ached. “What I mean is, we’re one family. You’re only a few years older than Er He and San Ya. You’re still a child too. Don’t work yourself to the bone.”
Listening, Yu Qiu felt her nose sting and her eyes burn. Tears threatened to spill, hot against her eyelids.
“Mother, I’m not tired. Our family’s days will definitely get better.” She forced back her tears, smiling to reassure Madam Li, though her sweet voice still trembled.
Under the cover of night, she quickly wiped away the tears that escaped, and soon her expression was calm again.
The day’s exhaustion caught up to them. Er He, after washing at the back of the house, fell asleep the moment he lay down. San Ya tried to stay awake, waiting for her mother and sister-in-law, but at the first sound of them returning, she couldn’t hold on any longer and drifted into sleep.
Yu Qiu lay on the mat, but her mind remained restless.
They couldn’t afford not to worry. The family had no food, no money, and no strong laborers. If they couldn’t pay their taxes, they would be forced into corvée labor.
Of the four of them, who could endure such service and come back alive?
She knew Madam Li felt guilty—but even more, she simply loved them.
The next morning, before dawn, Yu Qiu was already awake.
After a night’s rest, her strength had returned. She even felt more energetic than yesterday.
When she noticed Er He awake too, she beckoned him outside.
He followed quietly, a little excited, wondering what task his sister-in-law would assign him.
“Yesterday, Mother said you wove those baskets and trays. Very impressive,” Yu Qiu said, smiling as her almond-shaped eyes curved with genuine praise.
Er He scratched his head, embarrassed. “Everyone knows how. I just thought you might need them, so I asked Brother Daniu to help me cut some bamboo and made them. The drying rack, though, I don’t know how yet—Mother and the others made that.”
Hearing his words, both humble and eager to show off, Yu Qiu didn’t call him out. “It’s impressive. I can’t weave at all. Make some more today, with San Ya’s help. Our family really needs them.”
Er He, groggy from waking early, suddenly brightened. His eyes lit up, and his lips curved into a wide smile. He nodded hard.
Yu Qiu ruffled his hair and added, “After washing up, bring your basket. I’ll take you to spear fish.”
Today she also planned to gather herbs from the mountains, process them, and bring them to town to sell.
She would also transplant some red fruit, wild mint, and the wild ginger she had found before, planting them in the garden at the front of the house.
She would plant some by the pond too—the smell of wild mint could ward off beasts, and perhaps even the mutated ones.
She would take time to plant more spiny amaranth, and bring back more seeds and herbs.
Step by step, everything was falling into place. When she looked up, the sun was already slipping down behind the western mountains.