Qiao’s mother knocked on the door from outside. “Wanyue, your father and I just feel sorry for Shanshan. You’re also a piece of flesh from my body—how could I not love you? Don’t overthink it. I’ll compensate you for the job.”
Qiao Wanyue ignored her completely.
Qiao’s mother went on talking to herself, repeating the same old arguments—Shanshan was the younger sister, still young, and Wanyue should be more understanding.
Qiao Wanyue didn’t respond. After talking for a while with no reaction, Qiao’s mother lost interest and left.
Qiao Wanyue walked to the bedside. The bed was in complete disarray, even the space under it showed signs of being crawled into. Even the rat holes on the ground had been rummaged through—there was no need to guess who had done it.
She stepped out of the room. There was no one left in the Qiao household.
Her father, the brigade leader, had gone to work. Her mother, as the brigade leader’s wife and also the women’s director, didn’t need to do heavy labor, but still had to go out and keep up appearances.
In the past, Qiao Wanyue never skipped work. She earned as many work points as the men every day. But today, she didn’t feel like going.
She walked around the yard. Qiao Shanshan’s room was also empty.
After graduating, Qiao Shanshan had stayed home doing nothing, living off the family. She fancied herself educated and aimed to get a formal job in the city, looking down on temporary work. But with so few positions available, there was no place for her.
So she remained at home.
Now, it wasn’t hard to guess where she had gone.
Qiao Wanyue touched the pouch at her waist and walked toward her parents’ room.
The Qiao house had four red-brick rooms. One for her parents, one for Qiao Shanshan, one for her second brother—who worked as a technician in the village and was already married but hadn’t separated from the family—and another reserved for her eldest brother and his wife, who worked in the city.
The remaining space was the main hall, used as a living room.
The layout was a straight line of red-brick rooms. Her parents’ room was next to the main hall, separated by a red cloth curtain. Inside was a wooden door, which Qiao Wanyue pushed open.
The room was bright and spacious, sunlight streaming through the window.
A trace of bitterness flashed across her lips.
Since childhood, she had been squeezed into the living room, and later sent off to a thatched hut.
Her mother said that as a girl, she should give way to her brothers.
Later, Shanshan was younger, so she had to give way again.
She wasn’t even allowed to share a room with Qiao Shanshan.
The room was simply furnished—a large bed, a dressing table, and a wooden cabinet, all neatly arranged. Qiao Wanyue cleaned this room daily and knew exactly where everything was placed.
She walked to the bedside, crouched down, and pried open two loose bricks on the floor. A square box was revealed.
In her previous life, she had discovered this spot while cleaning—it had been an accidental find.
She took out the box, then removed the pouch from her waist and placed it underneath. Qiao’s mother rarely checked this box. The most dangerous place was often the safest—there was no way her mother would find the money here.
Just as she was about to put the box back, her hand brushed against something. The lid suddenly popped open, revealing half of a jade pendant inside.
Qiao Wanyue frowned.
She picked it up. The jade emitted a faint green glow—just for a moment—before dimming again. Though she didn’t understand jade quality, she could tell this was something valuable.
Suddenly, her finger stung.
The sharp edge of the jade had pricked her fingertip, and a drop of bright red blood fell onto the pendant.
Startled, she tried to wipe it off—but suddenly, a green light flashed before her eyes.
In an instant, the scene changed.
Mountains and flowing water appeared. A spring bubbled down from the mountain, forming a clear pool below. The water was crystal clear, with plump fish swimming within.
Along the banks grew fruits and vegetables that thrived in all seasons, each one lush and vibrant.
Qiao Wanyue felt as if she were in a dream.
But after experiencing something as unbelievable as rebirth, nothing seemed too strange anymore.
Excited, she ran forward and dipped her fingers into the spring water. Instantly, her hands—rough like tree bark from years of labor—became noticeably softer.
She immediately understood.
This water had miraculous effects.
Suppressing her excitement, she explored further. This place was like a paradise, unaffected by seasons. The fruits and vegetables grown here adapted perfectly and tasted far sweeter than usual.
There was also a row of wooden houses. Inside them, time was completely still, while outside, time flowed normally—allowing living things to grow, while the wooden houses preserved items.
It worked like a refrigerator—but even better, as it could store hot food as well.
She spent quite a while inside the space, mostly studying the wooden houses. But when she came out, only three minutes had passed in the real world.
She would never return the jade pendant to her mother.
Putting it away, she glanced around the room, her eyes flickering.
Standing beside the wooden cabinet, she placed her hand on it and silently thought—take.
In the next second, the large cabinet disappeared.
Overjoyed, she closed her eyes and thought—enter.
She stood inside the space again, and the cabinet was now placed beside the wooden house.
Qiao Wanyue was thrilled.
She decided to go all out.
She located where her mother kept the money—several neatly stacked bundles of cash—and threw them all into the space. There were also several wooden boxes under the bed, which she took as well.
Even the quilts and bedding were collected into the space using her mind.
After all her efforts, her mother’s room was completely empty—even the floor bricks had been pried up.
Qiao Wanyue then went to Qiao Shanshan’s room, as well as her elder and second brothers’ rooms.
In the same manner, she took all the clothes, quilts, and cotton-padded jackets.
Like a bandit sweeping through a village, nothing remained wherever she passed.
Finally, she entered her own room. She packed away her own bedding and tools.
Even the pots, bowls, and utensils in the kitchen were not spared.
Everything was stored in the space.
In the end, only an empty house remained of the Qiao family.
Qiao Wanyue dusted off her sleeves, a faint smile on her lips, picked up a hoe, and left through the back door.
By the fields—
“Qiao Wanyue, why are you so late?” The person who saw her immediately lashed out.
“I’m telling you, don’t think just because your father is the brigade leader you can slack off. If you keep this up, I’ll tell your mother and have her punish you…” Zhou Wenwen grew more confident as Qiao Wanyue remained silent.
The fields were full of people. At the mention of the brigade leader, everyone—who hated abuse of power—turned their gaze toward Qiao Wanyue.
Their eyes were like lightning, fixed on her.