The little one's purse connects the two worlds, turning a desolate village into a paradise.

Ya Ya nestled in Grandma Liu's arms, patting her back with her little hands: "Grandma, don't cry, you won't feel pain anymore after you've eaten your fill."

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she said with a hint of regret, "Grandma, there are also big, shiny pig's trotters in that place, they smell so good! Ya Ya almost found them, just one step away!"

As he spoke, he unconsciously licked the corner of his lips.

What a pity about that big, oily, fragrant pig's trotter with so much meat on it!

Grandma Liu was in a daze. What kind of place was that? How could Ya Ya have found so much food for no reason? What price would the child have to pay for bringing food back?

"Grandma, the purse is still there, Mom will definitely take me again! Next time, Ya Ya will pick lots and lots of food, not only for Grandma, but also for blind Grandpa Wang in the east of the village, Uncle Zhao who worked hard to help everyone go up the mountain to find food, Aunt Lin who sewed clothes for Ya Ya, and Grandpa Village Chief, Xiao Douzi, Xiao Shuanzi..."

She counted on her fingers, "So many people! Next time I'll have to ask my mother-in-law for a small cloth bag!"

Grandma Liu tightened her grip on the child, looking down at the pure light in the child's eyes. Her heart was filled with warmth and sorrow. She raised her hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes: "My little girl is kind-hearted, but that place is unfamiliar. What if there is danger..."

"Don't be afraid, Grandma!" Ya Ya immediately interrupted her, looking up at her. "The purse will bring Ya Ya back! Mother will also bless Ya Ya from heaven! Ya Ya runs fast and knows how to hide, so she'll definitely be able to pick up lots of food, ensuring everyone is full and has energy!"

Grandma Liu looked at the remaining half of the braised egg. The aroma of the egg was mixed with a strong salty taste. It was the salt that the villagers desperately needed, a life-saving food.

The village had been without salt for nearly two months, and its grain reserves were almost gone. Hunter Zhao carried his bow and arrows into the mountains, but his legs gave way and he collapsed on the slope halfway there. When he was carried back, his lips were pale and he could barely speak.

He went back into the mountains as soon as he felt a little better; he was the only able-bodied able-bodied man in the village.

The wild animals in the mountains had vanished without a trace, and with no contact with the outside world, no food, and no salt, the twenty-one people in Lotus Village were like they were about to be taken away by the King of Hell at any moment, each of them looking like they were waiting to die.

Who knows, the whole village might really disappear someday.

Ya Ya's words struck her heart, soft yet heavy enough to make her breathless.

The little child held a soft cake and said, "Grandma, let's give the rest to Grandpa Village Chief. He's the best at sharing. Let him share some with the other grandpas and grandmas so they'll have energy."

Grandma Liu thought of the old people lying at the village entrance waiting to die, and the stone mill in the village that hadn't rung for a long time.

Ya Ya clung to the door frame and whispered, "Grandma, when everyone has the strength, we can till the soil and plant vegetables. Uncle Zhao can go into the mountains to find food again, and we won't have to wait to die. Ya Ya wants everyone to be together."

These words were like a needle, pricking Grandma Liu's heart and making her feel sore.

She longed for it too, but the secret of that purse was Ya Ya's lifeline.

The dozen or so elderly, weak, women and children left in the village all gave Ya Ya a bite to eat. It can be said that Ya Ya is the common child of Lotus Village, and everyone treats her with genuine kindness.

But who dares to gamble on the hearts of people starving to the extreme?

If everyone knew that Ya Ya could find food, and even salt, who could guarantee that no one would force the child to go to that unfamiliar place again and again?

She wanted to tell the truth and hide the food, only wanting to secretly fill her stomach with Ya Ya, but Ya Ya's soft, sweet voice came back to her: "Grandma, Ya Ya doesn't want to see anyone leave."

Grandma Liu pulled Ya Ya over and made her sit on her lap. She pursed her lips and explained the reasoning word by word: "Darling, it's not that Grandma is stingy, it's just that the place where this food comes from is too special. Only you can go there. Grandma has touched the purse, but it's of no use to her. This is an opportunity that belongs only to you."

That place is unfamiliar. Grandma doesn't know if there are wild animals or bad people there. Every time you go, the danger increases.

"If the villagers find out, and they're starving, won't they force you to go again and again? Won't someone steal your purse? Nannan, Grandma's worried something might happen to you."

Ya Ya paused for a moment, then clutched Grandma Liu's clothes with her little hand: "Grandma, Ya Ya trusts everyone. Grandpa Village Chief loves Ya Ya the most, Grandpa Wang tells Ya Ya stories, Aunt Lin sews clothes for Ya Ya, and Uncle Zhao protects Ya Ya. They are all good people."

She puffed out her little chest and spoke earnestly: "Ya Ya grew up eating the village's food. The villagers raised Ya Ya. Now that everyone is hungry, Ya Ya can find food and feed everyone, just like everyone raised Ya Ya before. Ya Ya is the village's little girl."

The child's words were simple and unadorned, and his eyes held unadulterated trust.

Grandma Liu was filled with a knot of conflicting emotions.

She concealed it to protect Ya Ya, but watching the entire village gradually head towards their doom, her conscience was troubled.

She said she saved the village, but she didn't even dare to think about the risks that Ya Ya would face.

After remaining silent for the time it takes to burn an incense stick, she finally sighed, raised her hand and ruffled Ya Ya's hair, the struggle in her eyes slowly dissipating.

She got up, carefully gathered the food Ya Ya had brought back into a cloth, tied it into a small bundle, and took Ya Ya's little hand: "Come on, little girl, Grandma will take you to find Grandpa Village Chief. But remember, when you tell Grandpa Village Chief, just say you found some food, don't mention your purse, and don't mention that place, understand?"

Ya Ya's eyes lit up, and she nodded emphatically. Her little hand steadily held Grandma Liu's hand, while her other hand protected the bag of food.

Grandma Liu's palms were sweating, and she silently recited in her heart:

I hope people's hearts remain as they were at first sight, and I hope this time, we can win the gamble.

……

The village chief still sat beside the stone mill, his body hunched over, mechanically tapping the millstone with his pipe.

Seeing Granny Liu leading Ya Ya over, she raised the corners of her mouth and said, "Granny Liu, are you feeling better? Ya Ya was just saying something about you..."

Ya Ya flashed a big smile at Grandpa Village Chief: "Grandpa Village Chief, Grandma looks much better! We brought you some things!"

Grandma Liu looked at the happy Ya Ya, sighed deeply, and put the small bundle on the millstone.

The moment the lid was removed, the savory aroma of braised food, the sweet fragrance of pastries, and the rich flavor of rice and noodles wafted out. The village chief sniffed hard, his eyes fixed intently on the food.

"Ya Ya picked them up," Grandma Liu said, trying to keep her voice steady as she suppressed her anxiety. "I don't know who left them in that field, but the child has sharp eyes and picked some up. We couldn't finish them all, so we thought we'd share them with everyone to tide us over."