In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

When Yang Guangming opened his eyes, the sky outside the dormitory window was just beginning to lighten, and a pale blue halo, like diluted ink, silently spread across the horizon.

The summer morning air carried a rare coolness, which quietly seeped into the room through the open window, dispelling the sweltering heat that had accumulated overnight.

He nimbly sat up, his movements less hesitant than usual, and the wooden bed creaked clearly, echoing in the quiet room.

He nimbly rolled out of bed, filled an enamel basin under the bed with water, and washed himself with the cool water. The slightly cool water stimulated his skin, completely dispelling the last bit of sleepiness he had.

After feeling refreshed, the next step is to soothe the rumbling, protesting stomach.

He closed the dormitory door again, making sure the old latch was firmly in place, before leaning against the door panel. With a thought, his consciousness sank into the magical refrigerator space that only he could know and feel.

The space was still crammed full of all kinds of supplies, and the sense of abundance, with everything within sight, made him feel incredibly at ease.

His gaze swept over the dazzling array of neatly categorized food supplies, and he quickly selected his breakfast combination for the day.

He first had a sudden thought, took out a sealed tin can of whole milk powder from his spatial storage, scooped out several large spoonfuls of milk powder with an aluminum spoon, and poured it into a teacup.

Then, he walked to the door, picked up the tin thermos, and poured the boiling water he had just brought into the vat. The white milk powder instantly dissolved in the hot water, turning into a vat of fragrant, steaming milk.

Then, two tempting, savory braised eggs; a pancake rolled with fried dough sticks, though cooled, still revealing its crispy texture; and a small, glossy roasted lamb leg, packaged in a clean brown paper bag, appeared on the table one after another.

Apart from the freshly made milk, which was piping hot, all the other food was cold.

But on this sweltering summer morning, after a night's rest, eating some cold food feels even more refreshing and pleasant.

More importantly, during this period, being able to fill one's stomach and eat well is already a great blessing.

He pulled over a stool and sat down, slowly enjoying what was considered an extremely luxurious breakfast for this era, while once again diverting a wisp of his consciousness to sort out the food supplies in the space.

Food items are the most abundant in the refrigerator and take up the most space overall.

Among them, basic rice and flour constituted the largest "strategic reserves": five jin of ordinary white flour, packaged in unmarked white cloth bags; five jin of ordinary Northeast japonica rice, with short, round grains; and five jin of ordinary Southern indica rice, with long, slender grains.

Rice from the North and South has different shapes. He now lives in the North, so the rice he can bring out in the future will be Northeast Japonica rice.

Rice and wheat flour are the foundation for filling our stomachs.

Other types of grains, such as cornmeal, millet, mung beans, red beans, and soybeans, are consumed in quantities of only one pound each. These are merely garnishes and are not used in large quantities on a daily basis.

Various braised meats and fresh meats are basically sold in portions of one pound or one piece each, and are categorized and properly placed to ensure that the flavors do not mix.

The variety of staple foods is even more extensive, making it a veritable mini staple food shop: buns, dumplings, pies, scallion pancakes, rolled pancakes, crepes, sandwiches, fried dough sticks, steamed buns, twisted rolls, cornbread, red bean buns, red date zongzi, meat zongzi, and more.

Although there are many varieties, which can be dazzling, apart from the categories that he personally likes to eat, there is basically only one serving of each single variety, like a dazzling array of samples, intended for trying new things and for emergencies.

Various traditional pastries, such as mung bean cake, walnut shortbread, sponge cake, and cloud cake, are also numerous in variety, but only one serving is available.

He ate his hearty breakfast with plenty of oil and protein. The long-awaited intake of high-quality oils and proteins made his body feel much lighter, and he felt a warm and comfortable energy throughout his body.

After finishing his meal, he reorganized the canvas travel bag to make sure nothing was left behind.

After packing, he carried his not-too-heavy luggage out of the dormitory building and locked the door with a "click" of the brass key.

There were already a few early-rising students on campus. He mingled with the sparse crowd, left the school gate, and headed straight for the nearby bus stop.

The bus, like a weathered tin can, swayed and rattled, carrying a full load of passengers with all sorts of expressions, along a fixed route toward Kyoto Station.

The train station square is always bustling with people and noisy.

Passengers carrying large and small bags, their luggage tied with hemp rope, wearing patched work clothes, old military uniforms, or traditional Chinese jackets, their faces showing eagerness, anticipation, and anxiety, formed a huge and noisy flow of people, surging towards the ticket gates of the station.

With his pre-purchased train ticket and his youthful, strong, and quick-witted physique, Yang Guangming managed to squeeze through the crowd, pass through the ticket gate, and find the platform relatively smoothly.

The dark green train, like a weary dragon, lies quietly on the tracks, its body covered with the marks of time, weathered by wind, rain, and coal smoke.

He bought a ticket for the originating train, and because he bought the ticket several days in advance, he was lucky enough to have a hard seat by the window.

Nevertheless, getting on the bus was still a chaotic battle, testing both physical strength and skill.

The train carriage doors were crowded with people jostling for space. The sounds of luggage clattering, shouts for companions, and children crying from being squeezed were all mixed together, and an atmosphere of anxiety permeated the air.

Some people couldn't wait and nimbly climbed over the open train window, causing a small commotion and a reprimand from the train conductor.

With his agility and light luggage, Yang Guangming quickly squeezed onto the train and found his seat according to the number on his ticket.

He stuffed the travel bag under the seat, nudged it with his foot to make sure it was secure, then let out a long sigh of relief and wiped the fine sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.

The carriage was filled with a complex and heavy smell, and the air was stuffy and murky.

Yang Guangming sat by the window and pushed the window up as high as he could. A hot breeze carrying a strong smell of coal smoke and dust immediately rushed in, slightly dispelling the stuffiness.

A long whistle came from the direction of the locomotive, the train shook violently, and then slowly started moving.

The crowds seeing people off on the platform, the uniformed staff, and the platform itself all began to move slowly backward, gradually increasing in speed, until they finally disappeared from sight.

The streetscapes, buildings, and factory chimneys of Kyoto have gradually been replaced by open farmland and scattered villages.

Yang Guangming took out a literary magazine from his military green satchel, spread it on his lap, but his gaze often involuntarily drifted away from the printed words and toward the scenery rushing past the window.

Vast expanses of green fields stretch to the horizon like a giant carpet; low mud-brick houses cluster together to form villages, with wisps of smoke rising from their rooftops; indistinct figures can be seen working in the fields, wearing straw hats and bending over; in the distance, the winding dirt roads occasionally reveal the slow-moving shadows of horse-drawn or ox-drawn carts...

Everything before my eyes carried a sense of desolation and bleakness; this was the rural area of ​​northern China in the 1960s.

The train wasn't going fast, only about 30 or 40 kilometers per hour, clattering along the winding tracks at a leisurely pace, like a tired but tireless old man.

The carriage gradually quieted down. After the initial chaos and noise, only the monotonous clattering sound remained, along with the passengers' low conversations, the occasional cough, and the faint cries of a baby.

The sweltering air and the rhythmic shaking made many people drowsy, their heads gradually nodding off.

As noon approached, the sun grew increasingly intense, its rays scorching the skin through the car windows.

A train attendant in a railway uniform, sweat beading on his forehead, pushed a small, creaking dining cart into the carriage and shouted in heavily accented Mandarin, breaking the languid silence.

"Lunch is served! Lunch is served! There's bread, eggs, biscuits, and boxed meals! No food coupons needed, cash only!"

Because it was a short-distance train, there was no dedicated dining car on this train, and the variety of lunches was very limited, making it quite rudimentary.

There are only two types of boxed meals: green bean rice and eggplant rice. Both are vegetarian dishes with no meat or oil, and the rice looks a bit dry and hard.

The bread was the old-fashioned kind, with a dull surface and a somewhat hard, round shape.

The eggs were boiled, and the shells were fairly clean. They were placed in a small bamboo basket.

The biscuits were animal crackers or calcium milk crackers wrapped in cheap oil paper, and they looked quite simple.

However, even such simple, even crude, food was incredibly attractive to passengers on trains during a time when almost all food required ration coupons to purchase.

This is equivalent to opening a small, legal backdoor.

Of course, the prices are also subject to a "high price" policy accordingly. For example, boiled eggs sold on this train cost 15 cents each.

When the dining car arrived, passengers who seemed to be in slightly better financial condition, or parents with children, all took out their money to buy food, especially the relatively affordable and filling boiled eggs and bread, which were quite popular.

The train attendant also made it clear that the sales were limited and would be sold out quickly, which added to the sense of urgency.

Seeing that people around him were starting to gather around to buy lunch, Yang Guangming didn't join in the fun.

He had plenty of eggs, bread, and biscuits in his space, and the quality was far superior. The stir-fried eggplant and green bean rice bowl looked bland and tasteless, and it didn't interest him at all.

Only when everyone around him started eating, and the carriage was filled with the aroma of boiled eggs, dry bread, and the slight smell of bland boxed lunches, did he calmly get up, pick up the enamel mug under his seat, and nod to the uncle next to him who was peeling an egg.

Then, after passing through the somewhat crowded aisle, he filled his teacup with boiling water, carefully carried it back to his seat.

He placed the steaming teacup on the narrow, slightly wobbly table under the car window, then took out a pre-prepared aluminum lunchbox from his bag.

The lunchbox was double-layered, and he gently opened the clasp. On the top layer were two neatly stacked, glistening scallion pancakes. Although they were cold, the crispy layers of the pancakes, after being fried in oil, were still visible, and the bright green scallions scattered among them gave off an enticing savory aroma.

The bottom layer contains two dark brown braised eggs, a square piece of braised tofu soaked in braising liquid, and two pieces of fermented bean curd in a small compartment.

This lunch he brought himself, though he considered it rather simple and just one of the most inconspicuous items in the space, suddenly seemed incredibly abundant and luxurious compared to the food in the hands of the people around him in this carriage.

The scallion pancakes exude the aroma of oil and wheat, along with the rich savory fragrance of braised eggs and dried tofu, which wafts out subtly.

This attracted the attention of the middle-aged man sitting next to him who was still munching on bread. He couldn't help but glance at him a few more times, his Adam's apple bobbing involuntarily, and he subconsciously sped up the chewing of his dry, hard bread.

Yang Guangming seemed oblivious, slowly and methodically eating with hot water.

He ate very seriously and quietly, chewing each bite of food thoroughly.

In this era, people who were in a state of chronic semi-hunger had an almost pious focus on food and would never waste a single grain.

He also subconsciously maintained this habit rooted in his body's memory, even though he knew he wasn't lacking food.

The train continued its roar forward.

The afternoon hours seemed exceptionally long, and the scenery outside the window became monotonous.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, accompanied by a long whistle, the train finally slowly came to a stop next to the rather simple platform in Ying County, which consisted of only low bungalows.

With his luggage in hand, Yang Ming followed the flow of people off the train, his feet stepping once again onto the sun-baked, scorching concrete platform of his hometown.

Yingxian Station is not large, but it has a large passenger flow.

The crowd exiting the station was bustling with people carrying, shouldering, and slinging all sorts of luggage, talking loudly in their rough local accents, forming a noisy yet vibrant torrent that surged toward the exit.

Yang Guangming didn't linger at the station. He simply took a deep breath of the air from his hometown, checked his bearings, picked up his luggage, and started walking towards Yangzhuang, the place he remembered.

Yangzhuang is not too far from the county seat, about seventeen or eighteen li away. If he were to walk empty-handed, with his young and strong gait, it would probably take him one and a half to two hours.

But at this moment, he was carrying luggage, which, although not extremely heavy, was still a burden. Moreover, it was the hottest time of day, with the scorching sun pouring down without any obstruction.

The dirt road was scorching hot, and the leaves of the poplar and locust trees along the roadside drooped listlessly. The cicadas' chirping sounded weak and drawn out, adding to the heat.

He carried his luggage and walked along the familiar dirt road from his memory. Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead and back, and the fabric clung to his skin, making him feel very uncomfortable.

Once outside the county town, on the main road connecting the town and several surrounding villages, Yang Guangming stopped under a large, leafy locust tree by the roadside.

The thick trunk requires two people to hug it, and its canopy casts a large, cool shade.

He needs to reorganize his luggage here and figure out a way to get around; he can't keep relying on his own two feet.

He put down his travel bag and looked around.

There were few pedestrians on the road at this time, only a few blurry figures working in the fields in the distance. The dirt road stretched ahead and disappeared into the sweltering distance, unnoticed by anyone, this weary traveler who had stopped in the shade of a roadside tree.

He quickly took out an empty canvas bag that he had prepared in advance from his travel bag and opened it.

Then, with a slight thought, his consciousness once again sank into the space, and he began to take out the items that he had planned to use to supplement his household income, and put them into the canvas bag one by one.

Right now, the most important thing for the family is to fill their stomachs and get through this difficult period smoothly, so what he brought out were basically the most practical, filling, and energy-boosting foods that could improve their lives.

The package includes: ten catties of wheat flour, ten catties of Northeast japonica rice, four catties of cornmeal, four catties of millet, four catties of dried noodles, four catties of whole milk powder in a sealed iron can, four catties of dried bean curd sticks, and a bag of green-shelled salted duck eggs.

The canvas bag was quickly filled to the brim with the heavy grain, bulging and quite heavy to carry.

He weighed the situation for a moment, then looked at the still scorching sun overhead and the long road ahead, and completely gave up the idea of ​​carrying these things back on his own two legs.

Carrying such a heavy load back for seventeen or eighteen miles is not only extremely exhausting, but also attracts too much attention.

He decided to wait by the roadside and try his luck.

On this main road connecting the county town and various villages, horse-drawn carts, donkey carts, or oxcarts from various villages pass by from time to time.

If he's willing to pay a small price, like a penny or a few pieces of candy, he's sure some fellow villagers rushing to catch a bus will be willing to give him a ride home, taking him and his luggage with them.

In this day and age, it's common for neighbors to help each other out on their way, a simple form of mutual assistance. Not long after, less than ten minutes later, I heard the clattering of hooves from the direction of the county town behind me, interspersed with the creaking of cart axles.

A wooden cart pulled by a gray donkey came from behind, and sitting on it was an old man with a tattered straw hat, dark skin, and a face etched with the lines of time.

He held a thin whip in his hand, but did not use it to strike; he simply rested it leisurely on his lap, letting the experienced donkey walk forward on its own.

As the donkey cart slowly approached, Yang Guangming stood up from the shade of the tree, a gentle smile on his face, and called out in his hometown dialect with a strong Hebei accent, "Grandpa, busy? Want to take a break?"

Upon hearing the sound, the old man gently pulled the reins and shouted "Whoa!" The donkey obediently stopped.

The old man lifted his face, which was hidden by the shadow of his straw hat, and looked him over.

Seeing that he was dressed in a neat short-sleeved shirt and trousers, with two bulging, heavy-looking suitcases beside him, I had some guesses in my mind, and a simple smile appeared on my face.

"No rush, no rush, young man. Have you just returned from out of town? Or are you here to visit relatives?" the old man asked kindly, his accent carrying the local flavor, which sounded particularly warm and friendly.

"Oh, yes, sir. I'm back from studying in Kyoto and on summer vacation," Yang Guangming replied with a smile, then casually asked, "Sir, which village are you from? Judging from the direction you're heading, are you going west?"

"I'm from Mazhuang ahead."

The old man pointed ahead with the tip of his whip, "You have quite a lot of stuff, it's rather heavy. Walking under this blazing sun must be a hardship."

"Come on up, I can give you a ride, it won't take much trouble."

Before Yang Guangming could even voice his request, the old man patted the empty space on the side of the cart beside him, extending an invitation.

This simple and genuine warmth touched Yang Guangming's heart.

"Thank you so much, sir! I was just wondering how to get this back. This is a real lifesaver!" Yang Guangming thanked him sincerely.

As he spoke, he deftly lifted the two heavy bags onto the donkey cart, placed them next to the empty basket, and then, with a push of his hands, climbed onto it and sat down to the side and behind the old man.

After settling in, he took out a handful of hard fruit candies, about seven or eight pieces, and stuffed them into the old man's rough, calloused hands: "Grandpa, it's hot, have some sweets in your mouth, it's a small token of my appreciation."

When the old man saw the colorful candy, he was stunned for a moment, then quickly waved his hand to refuse it.

"Oh dear, no, no! It's just a small thing on the way, how can I take your candy! This is precious, you should keep it for yourself, or take some home for your younger siblings to try!"

In those days, sugar was a scarce commodity rationed, especially these pretty fruit hard candies. Many rural children might not be able to eat even one piece all year round.

"Grandpa, please don't be so polite. It's just a few pieces of candy. I brought them back from Kyoto. It's nothing. Please try some and taste the sweetness of the capital." Yang Guangming was sincere and insisted on giving them to the old man. He put his hands together and wrapped the candy in the old man's palm.

After a few polite refusals, the old man, seeing that the young man was sincere and not insincere, chuckled sheepishly, a slight blush rising on his dark face. He carefully used his large, farm-hardened hands to slip the precious sugar into his shirt pocket.

He even pressed it unconsciously, afraid of dropping it, and said repeatedly, "Young man, you're too kind, too kind... I can't accept this..."

The little donkey cart chugged along the road again, not fast, but much easier than walking.

The trees along the roadside slowly moved backward, and the hot wind blowing on my face became less unbearable due to the movement of the vehicles.

On the way, the two naturally started chatting.

When the old man learned that he was Yang Guangming, the college student from Yangzhuang who had been admitted to the capital university and was famous for miles around, his cloudy eyes lit up, his attitude became more enthusiastic, and he became more talkative, his tone full of undisguised admiration.

"Oh my! So you're the college student from Yangzhuang! I've heard so much about you, you're amazing, truly amazing!"

"In our surrounding area, excluding the old almanacs, you're the only one who has descended to earth as a literary star! You've brought great honor to our poor place!"

The old man clicked his tongue in admiration, his eyes filled with pure envy and respect, as if he were looking at some extraordinary person.

Yang Guangming was a little embarrassed by the praise and replied modestly, "Uncle, you flatter me. I was just lucky and happened to pass the exam. I'm nothing special, just an ordinary student."

He also took the opportunity to ask the old man about the recent situation in the village and at home.

The old man was from a neighboring village and knew the situation in Yangzhuang fairly well. Upon hearing this, he sighed, and the wrinkles on his face seemed to deepen.
"Alas, it's a bad year, God isn't giving us anything, everyone's having a hard time."

The harvest from the land is limited. After paying the grain tax, there's not much left. It's even more difficult for families with few able-bodied members.

I know a little about your family's affairs; going back two generations, our two families are distant relatives.

Your mother and grandmother are both well-known in this area for being hardworking and sensible; they're excellent at managing a household. But in these circumstances… sigh, even a skilled cook can't cook without rice. It's not easy, not easy at all.”

His words were rather tactful, but Yang Guangming knew in his heart that the family's situation was probably more difficult than he had imagined.

The family consisted of only three women: the mother, the grandmother, and the younger sister. They earned limited work points in the production team, and naturally received the least amount of food rations.

The family certainly wasn't short of money, but during this period, even with money, it was difficult to buy food.

The donkey cart swayed and moved slowly, but it was much faster than walking and required very little effort.

After walking for about half an hour, the iconic old locust tree at the entrance of Yangzhuang Village came into view in the distance.

Around three or four in the afternoon, the light softened a bit, but the temperature remained high.

The village was quiet, with most of the villagers still working in the fields under the scorching sun, trying to earn those precious work points.

Only a few children, not yet of school age and with their bottoms bare, were chasing and playing on the dirt road in the village, kicking up fine dust.

The old man was kind-hearted. Instead of stopping at the village entrance, he drove the donkey cart directly to the slightly mottled black wooden door of the old man's house.

The donkey cart came to a stop with a creak.

"We're here, Guangming, is this it? I'm not mistaken, am I?" The old man reined in his horse and asked, pointing to the tightly closed wooden door.

"We're here! We're here! Thank you so much, sir! We're really grateful to you!"

Yang Guangming thanked him repeatedly while nimbly jumping off the donkey cart with two heavy bags. "Grandpa, it's so hot today. Come in, have some water, and rest before you go. I'll pour you a bowl of cool tea!"

"No, no, don't be so polite. I have to get back to the village; I have a lot to do at home."

The old man smiled and waved his hand decisively, "Hurry up and go inside, tidy up, your mother and the others will probably be back from work soon."

After saying that, he turned the cart around, gave a shout, and lightly flicked the air with his whip. The donkey obediently pulled the cart back along the way it had come from.

Yang Guangming stood at the familiar doorway of his home, watching the old man and the donkey cart disappear into the distance until they vanished around the corner of the dirt road. Only then did he turn around and turn his gaze back to the familiar wooden door.

At this moment, several five- or six-year-old children playing nearby noticed him and the suddenly appearing donkey cart, and they curiously gathered around.

These are all children from the neighborhood. He spends most of his time at school and doesn't have much time at home, so he has little contact with the children.

A warm smile appeared on Yang Guangming's face as he grabbed a handful of colorful fruit hard candies and gave three or five to each of the children who gathered around.

"Thank you, Uncle Guangming!"

The children cheered when they received this rare treat.

A pure and happy smile bloomed on their little faces, and the timidity they had felt earlier vanished. They clutched the candy tightly, some immediately unwrapping it and stuffing it into their mouths, while others treasured it and put it in their pockets, ready to show it off to their friends.

After seeing off the overjoyed children, Yang Guangming walked to the door, skillfully bent down, and reached under an inconspicuous bluestone next to the door. Sure enough, he found a key.

This has been a family tradition for many years; they specially left him a key.

Unlock the old-fashioned brass lock with the key, push open the slightly stiff wooden door, and the familiar courtyard instantly comes into view.

The courtyard is very large, about half an acre in size, and the main house is a rare five-room brick and tile house.

This was thanks to his high-ranking official father, who, despite their divorce, continued to provide for the family without interruption.

The family had saved up a lot of money, and a few years ago, they rebuilt these five sturdy brick houses.

This made his house stand out and look impressive in a village where most houses were made of mud bricks.

Because of his father's high-ranking official status, and because most of the villagers were surnamed Yang, the villagers only felt envious, not resentful.

Sunlight swept across the entire courtyard.

In the open space of the yard, almost every nook and cranny was filled with various fruits and vegetables, all neatly arranged.

The lush green cucumber vines climbed vigorously along the bamboo trellis, hanging with cucumbers that were still covered with tender thorns and had flowers with thorns on top;

The tomato vines are covered with green and red fruits of varying sizes, some of which have already begun to turn red;
Rows of bean vines hung long pods from the trellises; dark purple eggplants hid beneath broad leaves; large pumpkin leaves covered the corner of the wall, revealing a few small green pumpkins; and there were also rows of lush green chives and scallions...

A vibrant, lush green scene, brimming with tenacious vitality.

Seeing this vibrant green thriving under the summer sun, Yang Guangming's previously tense heart finally relaxed considerably.

It's currently the height of summer, the peak season for the growth of vegetables and fruits. As long as we have these homegrown fruits and vegetables, even if food is scarce at home, we can at least have something to fill our stomachs and supplement our vitamins, so we won't starve.

The situation doesn't seem to have gotten much worse yet.

He carried two heavy suitcases into the cool, shady main room.

The house was spotless, though the furniture was simple.

There was an eight-immortal table in the center against the wall, with a chair on each side and two wooden cabinets with peeling paint next to it.

Although the curtains in the inner room were patched, they were washed clean, revealing the hostess's diligence and efficiency.

The house was empty at the moment. My mother and grandmother were probably still working in the production team and had not yet finished their work. My younger sister was not yet out of school.

This is a good opportunity to take some more things out of the refrigerator, replenish the family's supplies, give the family a surprise, and truly improve our lives.

After careful consideration, he realized that with the rice and flour he had taken out earlier, he was not short of basic food for the time being, which would at least last for a while.

Next, we need to supplement our diet with things that provide valuable fats and proteins to provide nutrition for family members who have been lacking in oil and water for a long time.

With a thought, he took out four pounds of sausages from his spatial storage. They were bright red in color, with evenly distributed fat, and emitted a faint smoky and sweet wine aroma.

After thinking for a moment, he took another four pounds of cured pork with alternating layers of fat and lean meat.

These durable meat products alone were not enough, so he took out two more cooked dishes to improve his family's meals immediately: braised beef and pork head meat, each wrapped in thick oil paper, weighing four pounds each.

The braised beef has distinct marbling and a rich, savory aroma; the pig's head meat is trembling and glistening with oil, looking incredibly tempting.

Seeing the dozen or so kilograms of real meat that had been added to his canvas bag, he stopped and did not continue.

Although there are many good things in the space, we must consider the rationality and not take out any more or more conspicuous things.

Even if he has the identity of a university student in the capital, which naturally makes him credible and allows him to find various reasons, it is still the limit for him to produce so much fine food and meat at once.

If the quantity is any larger, it will worry the family.

He placed the canvas bag full of meat next to the travel bag full of grain in an inconspicuous corner of the main room, covering it slightly with an old piece of homespun cloth so that it was neither completely hidden nor immediately visible to anyone entering the room.

Only after doing all this did he have time to truly calm down and carefully examine the home he had left for almost a year.

Everything overlapped with what he remembered; everything felt so familiar and dear.

He walked to the huge water vat with a wooden lid in the corner, picked up the gourd ladle hanging on the rim, lifted the lid, scooped out half a ladle of clear well water, and gulped down a few mouthfuls.

The sweet and cool well water instantly quenched my thirst and carried away the dust and heat of the journey.

He put down the water ladle, moved a small stool he had made himself from old wood, and sat in a well-ventilated spot by the entrance to the main room. Gazing at the lush vegetable garden in the yard, which shimmered with a golden-green glow in the setting sun, he quietly waited for his family to return.

Images of my mother's always tired yet resolute eyes, my grandmother's kind and wrinkled face, and my younger sister's small but sensible figure uncontrollably surfaced in my mind...

What surprise and delight will they feel when they see me suddenly return? And what will their expressions be when they see all that grain and meat?
On a summer afternoon, time seems to become viscous and slow.

Time slowly passed as we waited. The sun gradually slanted westward, painting the sky with a touch of orange-red. The heat in the air finally began to subside little by little, and the evening breeze brought a touch of coolness.

From the direction of the village entrance, the sounds of voices, footsteps, and barking dogs seemed to gradually increase, indicating that people were returning from work. (End of Chapter)