There was also her favorite extra-large double-door refrigerator, stocked with all the foods Shen Yu loved: Wagyu beef, steaks, abalone, salmon, large shrimp, ice cream, popsicles… the list went on.
The bathroom was fully separated into wet and dry areas, with a smart massage bathtub, a shower head with instant hot water, a high-end integrated sink, and a smart toilet. Everything was neatly divided, dry, and clean.
Shen Yu looked at the luxurious bathtub and told herself to be patient.
She would find a chance in the next couple of days to come in and take a proper bath.
She then went to the study. As usual, she picked up books from the shelves, flipping through them, but still couldn’t open any of them. Frustrated, she put the books back.
The entire wall was lined with books of all kinds, yet none could be accessed.
Shen Yu remembered that in her past life, she had casually gone to the study and noticed a faint green glow coming from one of the books. Curious, she took it down — it was a “Complete Compendium of Traditional Chinese Medicine.” The moment she opened it, the words seemed to come alive, forming a golden stream of light that shot into her forehead. Startled, she shut her eyes, and her body immediately began to heat up…
When she opened her eyes again, all the knowledge of Chinese medicine was already engraved in her mind, as if she had been studying it since childhood.
She had effectively become a hidden master of medicine.
Shen Yu had no idea what conditions were needed to open the other books or to enter the second floor — this mysterious space still held many secrets. She didn’t know when she would be able to unlock them completely.
With these questions lingering in her mind, Shen Yu exited the space, no longer delaying her descent down the mountain.
At the foot of the hill, she saw a wild rabbit and two mountain chickens she had taken out.
It was better that they were far from the village — if the villagers saw these animals, they would undoubtedly envy her. Everyone was barely getting enough to eat, let alone meat, and even a rabbit caught for food would usually be sold in town to get cash.
The men who usually worked at home had already left. Lin Shuyuan and little Shen Hao were standing at the gate, gazing up the hill, worried because Shen Yu had been gone so long. Seeing her return, Lin Shuyuan hurriedly called out to Shen Yong to stop him from going up after her.
Little Shen Hao sprinted ahead to meet his sister. When he saw the rabbit and mountain chickens, he was overjoyed: “Sister, sister! You’re amazing! You got a rabbit and wild chickens! Tonight, we’ll have meat to eat!”
Shen Yu ruffled Shen Hao’s hair hard: “Then let’s get cooking right away.”
Lin Shuyuan had considered taking the rabbit and chickens to town to exchange for money, but seeing the hopeful little faces of her children, she smiled and agreed: “Alright, we’ll follow our daughter’s wishes. We’ll cook the meat tonight.”
Shen Yong happily took the rabbit and chickens to the riverside to prepare them.
While they weren’t paying attention, Shen Yu pulled some vegetables out of her space, claiming she had dug them on the mountain. Lin Shuyuan didn’t suspect a thing and immediately started cooking.
Shen Yu looked over their simply renovated home.
The main beams of the roof had been reinforced, new thatch laid on top, and the exterior walls patched with yellow clay mixed with straw. Windows and doors could now close properly. Most importantly, they had a hearth and a clay kang (heated bed).
Seeing the kang, Shen Yu felt reassured. With it, her family would survive the winter.
Soon, the smell of cooking meat wafted through the yard. Little Shen Hao squatted by the pot, sniffing eagerly. The aroma made him so excited that tears welled up at the corners of his mouth.
At last, Lin Shuyuan lifted the lid of the stew, sprinkled in some wild green onions, and a rich fragrance filled the air. Everyone eagerly dug in. They hadn’t eaten meat in years, and the rich millet porridge, thick and without rice husks, made the meal even more delicious.
After the meal, everyone sat contentedly, rubbing their full bellies. They had long forgotten what it felt like to be truly satisfied.
The sky was still faintly bright. Shen Yong was about to get up and find some work, but Shen Yu quickly said, “Father, mother, little brother, let’s go inside. I have something to tell you.”
The family obediently went inside and found seats. Shen Yu pretended to lower her head to collect her thoughts, though she had already planned her words while on the mountain. Her family treated her so well that she decided to reveal a bit of her secret first, saving herself the trouble of finding excuses later.
“Actually,” she began, “while I was unconscious for that day and night, my soul went to a mysterious place. There, there was no day or night. Later, I met a mysterious old man who told me that we had a master-disciple bond across lifetimes, and he would pass all his skills to me. I was overjoyed and formally became his disciple.
I learned many things from my master: literacy, martial arts, medicine, and more. Years passed in what felt like moments. Finally, my master said I had mastered the skills and could return. Then I woke up — in reality, only a day and a night had passed.”
Shen Yu continued her story, weaving a tale: “When we parted, my master told me that whenever I faced difficulties, I must call on him, and he would come to this world to help me. So, if you see strange things happening at home or things appearing out of nowhere, don’t panic. It’s just my master helping us.”
Her family was so shocked that they just stared at her, mouths open, speechless, overwhelmed. Shen Yu felt a small thrill of satisfaction.
She waved her hand: “Father, mother, I’m telling the truth. Trust me, and I promise our family will live better and better. From now on, I will take charge of our household. Do you all agree?”
Shen Yong stepped forward first, nervously grasping his daughter’s hand: “Daughter, are you still unwell? Don’t worry about the household. Father is here. Rest a couple more days and get better.”
Lin Shuyuan also touched Shen Yu’s forehead, her face full of worry: “She doesn’t even have a fever… why is she speaking nonsense?”
Little Shen Hao, however, gazed at his sister with bright, hopeful eyes: “Sister, is it true? Is your master really a celestial being? Can I see the Immortal Grandfather?”
Ruffling Shen Hao’s head, Shen Yu saw no surprise in her parents’ reactions. If they had believed her, they would have been astonished too. She said: “Since you don’t believe, don’t be scared. I’ll have my master show a small trick right now.”
She cleared a space and called into the air: “Master, give us a bag of rice.”
Everyone watched as a large bag of polished rice suddenly appeared on the ground.
Lin Shuyuan clutched her chest in shock. Shen Yong rushed forward to grab some rice, inspecting it closely. Each grain was translucent, fragrant, and flawless — truly a product of the celestial realm. Shen Yong had never seen rice this good in his life, and his hands trembled.