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

March 5, 1961, Henan Province, Pingyang County Guesthouse.

On the hard bed, Yang Guangming suddenly opened his eyes, his consciousness seemingly surfacing from the deep sea, breaking through a thick, sticky membrane.

He stared at the dusty light bulb on the ceiling for a good ten seconds.

Immediately, a vast and chaotic torrent of memories, like a floodgate opened, rushed into his mind.

In her first life, she was the personal secretary of a 21st-century tycoon, and she was accustomed to extravagance and undercurrents.

In his second life, a young man in Shanghai in 1969, he used the space in his refrigerator and his exceptional skills to protect his family amidst the tides of time, quietly building a business empire and living to the age of 110.

In his third life, he was a genius at Peking University in 1960, graduated early and entered the Chinese Academy of Sciences, won the Fields Medal before the age of forty, and became a centenarian.

The fourth generation, a young man in Beiping in 1948, led his family out of hardship during the chaotic times. He later became a veteran cadre who joined the Party before liberation. He spent his life developing within the system. Although he did not have great ambitions, he relied on his abilities to rise to the position of a high-ranking official and eventually retired peacefully.

The memories of four lifetimes and the vicissitudes of three hundred years have now completely merged with the details of this twenty-one-year life, becoming indistinguishable from one another.

That detached understanding of the world, that composure after experiencing ups and downs, that deep love and responsibility for family, and that slight weariness of the repetitive struggle of life, are all deeply imprinted in the deepest part of the soul.

"The fifth time..."

Yang Guangming slowly sat up, the hard bed beneath him creaking. The chill of a March morning seeped in through the thin walls of the guesthouse.

He looked around.

This was an extremely shabby room, with half of the green paint on the walls peeling off. There was a hard bed, a wooden table with flaking paint, a chair, and a washbasin stand in the corner with a dusty towel draped over it.

A layer of condensation covered the windowpane, blurring the view outside.

The memories were completely integrated, and the circumstances of this life clearly emerged.

Yang Guangming was born in 1940 and is 21 years old this year. He is from Xiangyang Village, Hongqi Commune, Pingyang County, Henan Province.

Graduated from high school.

In rural areas in the early 1960s, graduating from high school was considered highly educated, and one should have been a respected "cultured person."

But at this moment, in the eyes of his fellow villagers, he was a "disliked by both men and dogs" scoundrel and a fool.

the reason is simple.

He was unwilling to spend his whole life toiling in the fields and always dreamed of escaping rural life and becoming a worker in the city. Whenever he had the chance, he would rush to the county town to inquire about job openings. He would avoid farm work whenever possible, even though he earned few work points and was always thinking about unrealistic things.

If that's all there is to it, then he's at best a "good-for-nothing," all talk and no action.

What made him a laughingstock was the scam that happened six months ago.

One of his classmates in high school was named Qin Shengli. They were in different classes, but they had played basketball together, so they knew each other. After graduation, Qin Shengli got a job at the county agricultural machinery station through connections, which, in the eyes of his rural classmates, meant he had already "made it."

Six months ago, Qin Shengli approached him mysteriously and said he had some great news: the Dongfang Pharmaceutical Factory in the county had a few formal apprenticeship positions and would be recruiting internally soon.

"The requirements are high school graduation and passing the political review. Even those with rural household registration have a chance!" Qin Shengli patted his chest, spitting as he spoke. "My uncle is in charge of personnel at the pharmaceutical factory. This position is very valuable, and many people are eyeing it, but my uncle has influence!"

The sunlight warmed my heart and brightened my eyes.

A pharmaceutical factory! A permanent position! This is a coveted "iron rice bowl" for so many people!

"It's just... this matter needs some 'greasing the wheels'." Qin Shengli rubbed his hands, looking troubled. "Just my uncle's side alone will cost this much." He held up two fingers.

"Twenty?" Yang Guangming asked tentatively.

"Two hundred!" Qin Shengli lowered his voice. "Two hundred yuan! This is only because you're my classmate. I wouldn't even consider it if it were less than three hundred!"

Two hundred yuan!
For rural families in Henan Province in 1960, this was an astronomical sum. In Yang Guangming's family, after deducting food rations, they were lucky to have thirty or fifty yuan left in cash at the end of the year.

But he was bewitched. He could almost see himself working in a clean and bright pharmaceutical workshop. He saw his parents' proud smiles and the envious eyes of the villagers.

He went home and told his parents the "good news".

The honest and simple parents, though they felt the money was too much, saw the unprecedented fervor in their son's eyes and listened to his description of the bright future. Gritting their teeth, they decided to support him.

All of the family's savings—eighty-seven yuan and thirty cents—were taken out. We also swallowed our pride and borrowed from almost every relative and neighbor we could ask, pleading and promising to pay it back by the end of the year, and finally managed to scrape together two hundred yuan.

The money was handed over to Qin Shengli. Qin Shengli confidently assured him that the message would arrive within a month at most.

A month passed with no news. Yang Guangming went to the county town to find Qin Shengli, who said, "It's being processed, don't worry, it'll be done soon."

Two months passed, and there was still no news. When asked again, Qin Shengli frowned and said, "There's a little trouble. The competition for the spots is fierce. My uncle's decision alone isn't enough; the other leaders also have to show their support."

This time, he wants one hundred.

The family is already heavily in debt, where would they get the money? But things have already come to this point, and with the "dawn" just ahead, should they give up?
Yang Guangming's parents once again had to bite the bullet and beg from everyone they knew, borrowing money from all sides until they managed to scrape together another hundred yuan.

The money was handed over again.

Then there is no more then.

Qin Shengli started avoiding him. When he went to the agricultural machinery station to look for him, he learned that Qin Shengli was just a temporary worker who had already been laid off.

Qin Shengli was finally found at the entrance of a small restaurant in the county town. He was drinking with some friends and his face was flushed.

Yang Guangming stepped forward to question him, but Qin Shengli turned his face away and glared at him: "Who took your money? Do you have any evidence? Where's the receipt? Where's the written agreement? You think you can extort money from me with just words? Get lost! If you keep bothering me, I'll sue you for defamation!"

Yang Guangming was struck dumb, as if by lightning.

Looking at Qin Shengli's shameless face and listening to the laughter of his cronies, his blood rushed to his head, but then instantly turned cold.

He has no evidence.

Both times the money was given privately, and Qin Shengli said, "How can you leave a written agreement for something like this?" He foolishly believed him.

Three hundred yuan, just like that, gone down the drain.

When the news reached the village, he became a huge joke.

"See? I told you this kid was unreliable, always daydreaming!"

"Studying too much has made you stupid! Three hundred yuan! How much grain can that buy? A whole family could work themselves to the bone for years and still not earn that much!"

"What else could he be but a complete idiot? He got swindled out of everything!"

"The Yang family has been utterly ruined by this spendthrift son. They're drowning in debt. Let's see how he's going to pay it back!"

Sarcasm and criticism.

The parents couldn't hold their heads up in public, the eldest brother and sister-in-law complained, the third brother was furious, and the younger sister cried secretly. The atmosphere at home dropped to freezing point; no one spoke during meals, only heavy sighs and the mother's suppressed sobs could be heard.

This trip to the city was driven by Yang Guangming's burning desire to confront Qin Shengli one last time and demand an explanation. Even if he didn't get his money back, he was determined to sever ties and vent his anger.

He walked more than 20 miles into the city yesterday afternoon and came directly to the guesthouse.

He lived here because one of his best friends from high school, He Jianjun, was assigned to work as a waiter here after graduation.

Thanks to this connection, he could occasionally find a bed for free when he needed to stay overnight in the city.

He Jianjun was on duty yesterday, so I gave him this room, which is the innermost one and is usually empty.

The two talked for a while. He Jianjun's words were filled with regret and extreme anger towards Qin Shengli. He prepared to ask for half a day off to go with him to find Qin Shengli and demand an explanation.

Last night, he lay on the cold bed, tossing and turning, his heart heavy with despair, anger, shame, and confusion, unsure of what the future held. He finally fell into a deep sleep amidst this extreme mental exhaustion.

Then came the "awakening" at this moment. Having merged the memories of four lifetimes, Yang Guangming once again "looked" at his current situation, and his feelings were completely different.

The villagers' ridicule, the family's disappointment, the debts owed, the humiliation of being cheated... all remain, still weigh heavily on the mind.

But now, when it landed on his soul, which had experienced three hundred years of ups and downs, it no longer had that overwhelming, suffocating feeling.

Just like when adults look back at their childhood when they scraped their knees and cried, the pain was real, but they already know that it was just a small scar on the road to growth.

Of course, scars need to be treated, and difficulties need to be resolved.

His first thought was of the one who had secured his livelihood and accompanied him through four lifetimes.

Consciousness sank deep into the mind.

That familiar 900-liter double-door refrigerator, radiating a soft, cool white light, floated there quietly, like the most loyal old friend.

Inside the space, there were still all kinds of supplies that had been carefully prepared and neatly arranged in categories from the previous life.

From survival gear for extreme situations, precious metals, jewelry, medicines, and knowledge carriers, to a dazzling array of food items—rice, flour, cooking oil, meat, eggs, vegetables, fruits, and beverages—the items were packed full and perfectly fitted together.

"Thankfully... my old friends are still here."

An indescribable sense of security, like warm spring water, instantly flowed through his body, dispelling the chill of waking and the gloom in his heart. This was his greatest source of confidence and reliance in any era and under any predicament.

At the same time, he also keenly sensed that with this fourth time he traveled through time, the refrigerator space itself had undergone some new changes.

The most obvious thing is that invisible range of control.

With a slight thought, he tried to perceive his surroundings.

In his previous life, he could collect or place small items directly with his mind without physical contact within a spherical area with a radius of three meters centered on himself, and he could "see" everything within that area, ignoring obstacles.

At this moment, the radius of this area has expanded to four meters!

A four-meter radius means more operating space, greater concealment, and enhanced security.

Whether it's acquiring information, responding to emergencies, or "acquiring" or "placing" items when necessary, there is now more room for maneuver and choice.

As for whether the space's core "daily refresh" function has changed, we'll have to wait until midnight to observe whether the empty spaces where he took items have been filled. But based on experience from previous lives, this basic function should be retained.

My thoughts returned from the spatial realm, and the sense of reality became clear again.

I'm cold, and I'm hungry.

This body ate only two vegetable dumplings mixed with a lot of wild vegetables and almost no grain at home yesterday noon. In the afternoon, it walked more than 20 miles into the city. It had no food coupons and did not eat dinner.

By this time, I was starving, my stomach was so empty it hurt, and my limbs felt weak and powerless.

This prolonged and profound hunger, even after several lifetimes, remains a sharp and agonizing experience.

He hesitated no more.

He quickly put on his patched, old cotton-padded coat, the cotton stuffing matted together, and then slipped on his equally worn-out trousers. The clothes were icy cold, sticking to his skin and raising goosebumps.

He didn't even bother to wash up; the intense hunger in his stomach urged him to eat as soon as possible.

He closed the door, bolted it, and after confirming it was safe, sat back down on the bed.

His consciousness sank into the space, and he quickly selected several items of food from the prepared food compartment in the refrigerated area.

Two fist-sized, plump, white meat buns, still carrying the unique coolness of the space, appeared in his hands.

The bun's dough was soft and fluffy, with a subtle aroma of wheat and meat. He didn't care about anything else; he opened his mouth wide and took a big bite.

The cold bun skin and filling were crushed by my teeth in my mouth. The rich aroma of pork and cabbage filling mixed with oil burst forth instantly. The long-lost, substantial meaty taste and feeling of fullness were like sweet rain nourishing parched land, quickly soothing my restless and twitching stomach.

I barely chewed it before swallowing the bun whole. A satisfying feeling of fullness washed over me, but my hunger instincts were fully awakened, screaming for more.

He took out a bottle of milk, unscrewed the cap, and tilted his head back to gulp down several large mouthfuls. The warm, rich milk slid down his esophagus, further replenishing his energy and hydration.

Next, he ate a steamed bun with the remaining half-bottle of milk, slowly. This time he slowed down, allowing his stomach to adjust.

After eating two meat buns, two steamed buns, and a bottle of milk, the excruciating hunger was finally subsided. Warmth and energy returned to my body, and my icy fingertips gradually warmed up.

He breathed a soft sigh of relief, savoring the satisfaction and peace that the food brought him.

With the inexhaustible food supply in the space, at least the basic survival of himself and his closest family members was guaranteed.

In 1961, when the whole country was tightening its belts and many places were even starving to the point of running out of wild vegetables, this was a precious and luxurious guarantee.

After eating my fill, my mind became clearer.

He began to calmly analyze the current situation and his next course of action.

The primary goal, of course, is to deal with the fact that I was scammed.

Having absorbed the memories and wisdom of four lifetimes, he is no longer the rural youth who was easily deceived by lies and who would only feel angry and bewildered after being cheated.

He has plenty of ways and means to make Qin Shengli return what he's taken, along with interest, and pay the price he deserves.

Secondly, there were the family's difficulties.

A debt of over two hundred yuan was a colossal burden that could crush an ordinary farming family in those days. His parents must have been worried day and night, unable to hold their heads high. He had to resolve this issue as soon as possible so that his family could be relieved of this heavy burden.

The space contains precious Chinese medicinal herbs, gold, jewelry, and various forms of hard currency. Any small amount could be converted into cash to easily pay off debts and even make the family instantly wealthy.

Go to a purchasing point or a traditional Chinese medicine shop in a big city to sell some precious Chinese medicinal materials, such as bezoar. This is legal and legitimate and can be considered as an alternative, but you probably won't need it.

Perhaps... we could start with the "debt" we "recovered" from Qin Shengli? If handled properly, we could not only get back the money we were swindled out of, but also perhaps earn some "interest," which could be used to pay off debts and improve our household expenses.

Finally, there is his personal future.

Staying in the countryside to earn work points? Absolutely not.

Although he doesn't pursue pleasure, he also doesn't want to suffer, and he doesn't plan to stay in the countryside for a long time.

Moving to the city for work is inevitable. But he can no longer wander aimlessly like the original owner of this body. He needs planning, patience, and to wait for or create a suitable opportunity.

All of this is predicated on first cleaning up the current mess and stabilizing the family's basic situation.

My thoughts gradually became clearer.

Yang Guangming stood up and walked to the mottled, peeling wooden washbasin stand in the corner of the room.

On the shelf was an enamel basin with the red double happiness symbol printed on it, and it was about half full of cold water.

The water was icy cold. He scooped up a handful and splashed it on his face. The chill jolted him awake, completely dispelling any lingering sleepiness. He quickly washed his face with the cold water, then used his fingers to roughly comb his slightly disheveled hair.

The mirror reflected a young but haggard face. The eyes were sunken, and the cheeks were thin, signs of long-term malnutrition.

He had striking features: thick eyebrows, large eyes, a straight nose, and a rugged, heroic appearance. The resentment and bitterness that had previously lingered between his brows had been replaced by a calm and serene demeanor. His eyes were clear yet unfathomable, as if they held many untold stories.

He looked in the mirror and slightly adjusted his expression, letting the naivety and stubbornness that belonged to "Yang Guangming, a 21-year-old rural youth" reappear on his face.

Completely concealing his talents doesn't fit the original owner's personality. He's a young man now, so being steady is fine, but there's no need to be overly mature.

Put on your shoes—a pair of cotton shoes with a thousand-layer sole and patched uppers.

He checked his belongings: he only had the fifty cents his mother had secretly slipped to him yesterday, and nothing else of value. (End of Chapter)