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

The next day, just as dawn broke, the people of Lotus Village gathered in Granny Liu's courtyard. They were going to sow wheat that day, so they needed to eat early and get to work.

Xiaodouzi and Xiaoshuanzi are still wearing the little glasses that Yaya bought for them.

If it weren't for Grandpa Li's objections, Xiaodouzi would have loved to wear it to sleep.

The two little kids stood tall and proud, heads held high. If their grandparents passing by praised them, their heads would be held even higher, like two spirited little chicks.

"Watch your step," Grandpa Li said, following behind, both helpless and amused.

It's already March, and the wheat planting is a bit late. Although there's no more ice and snow, the weather is still cold. On rainy days, the wind blows and it's chilly, seeping straight into your bones.

A rain shower soaked the fields, making them soft and muddy; every step was heavy and slippery.

If you're not careful, your trouser legs will be soaked.

In previous years, at this time, everyone would wear old cloth shoes or straw sandals to go to the fields. After walking only a few steps, their feet would be covered in mud, and water and mud would seep into their shoes, gurgling out from between their toes. They walked slowly and suffered a lot, for fear of missing the farming season, as the whole year's food depended on this spring sowing.

After everyone had finished washing up, the village chief gently waved his hand. However, the boots he was wearing were really too eye-catching. They were shiny, thick, and had high tops.

Actually, even without him saying it, many people were already secretly watching.

Old Fang and Hunter Zhao had been reluctant to take off their new rain boots since last night, and now they were secretly pacing back and forth in the yard, showing them off openly and secretly.

Those tall boots looked somewhat like the ones worn by the officials, and they were quite imposing.

The three of them tucked their floral cotton trousers into their boots, so that not a speck of mud would stick to them.

You can tell at a glance that it must be something good that Ya Ya brought back!

The village chief suppressed a laugh, afraid that his gaping teeth might be revealed if he wasn't careful.

"Come with me, and keep your voices down."

The group tiptoed down to the cellar at the back.

The cellar entrance was open, and Aunt Lin, who came down to get vegetables, stared blankly at the pile of boots and shoes that looked like a small hill, and the heavy, large, rake-like object made of refined iron that was leaning against the earthen wall.

She clutched her chest, her heart pounding. Good heavens! What kind of treasures are these?! Did Nannan go to the emperor's treasury in some other place to get so many good things?

"The Lin family, you're here too? Perfect, now everyone's here."

As soon as the village chief finished speaking, the people behind him followed him down into the cellar. When they saw the pile of things in front of them, they all held their breath.

His eyes were fixed on the pile of green boots and the unfamiliar iron fork, and he felt completely at a loss for what to do with his hands and feet.

The village chief secretly curled the corners of his mouth. Surprised? That's how we all got here.

"These tall ones are called rain boots. Ya Ya brought them back for the whole village. You can walk in mud and water without them getting wet or muddy."

"The green ones are liberation shoes; they're lightweight, sturdy, and suitable for everyday walking and working!"

The surprise in everyone's eyes was almost overflowing; they rubbed their hands together and grinned.

How could they possibly possess such wonderful things?

"Don't just stand there, come and pick out your own shoes. The smaller ones are easier to spot. Let's put them on Xiaodouzi and Xiaoshuanzi first."

Hearing Grandpa Village Chief call his name, Little Bean moved forward a little. These little black shoes are just as nice as his black glasses. Sister Ya Ya is so kind, she always buys nice things for everyone.

The two little ones put on their boots and ran around on the ground, clattering away.

The adults also tried them on.

Once you slip your foot into the rain boot, it feels snug and solid, making a steady, reassuring sound as you step on the ground. The boot shaft, which reaches just to your calves, is perfect for tucking your trouser legs in.

Once everyone had put on their new shoes, the village chief took a five-pronged pitchfork and shoved it into the ground, creating five neat little holes in the yellow earth.

Xiao Shuanzi looked at the village chief, who was standing with one hand on his hip and the other holding a fork. He was wearing a brown floral jacket and his floral cotton pants were carefully tucked into his black boots. He looked majestic and imposing, like a god descending from a picture book.

With unblinking, black grape-like eyes, she tilted her head back, extended a short finger, pointed at the village chief, and called out in a childish voice:

"Wow—a dog, grandpa dog...so majestic!"

The village chief's smile froze instantly, his face darkening in a flash. "What do you mean, 'Grandpa Dog'? You brat, it's Grandpa Village Chief!"

I don't know where this little brat heard his name from, but he dared to shout it out after only learning half a sentence.

The villagers were taken aback at first, then burst out laughing, unable to hold it in. Afraid of angering the village chief, they quickly covered their mouths and lowered their heads, their shoulders twitching.

Zhao Hu: "Grandpa Dog, it's time to introduce the big guy you're holding."

The villagers next to them trembled even more violently.

The village chief snorted, his face stern as he showed off: "This is called a five-pronged pitchfork, never heard of it before? It's a new farm tool that Ya Ya found for us from outside! It's forged entirely from fine iron!"

"Refined iron! How much silver would that cost?"

"Good heavens! Shoes and farm tools, will we even earn enough to live on?"

"How do you use this? I've never seen it before."

The village chief didn't say anything, letting everyone discuss it.

It's good that everyone thinks that Nannan doesn't have enough money, so they'll be more motivated to find ways to earn money and do chores.

He clapped his hands and demonstrated a dish on the spot.

Holding the handle, inserting and prying, the entire clod of soil loosened and crumbled.

Everyone's eyes lit up, their hearts soaring to the ground, wishing they could immediately carry this behemoth to the field.

"Hurry up and eat! You'll be ready to go to the fields after you've eaten!"

Aunt Lin and Grandma Liu, wearing new rain boots, worked nimbly, and with the stove fire roaring, they soon served hot food.

No one was in the mood for conversation. They were shoveling food into their mouths, eager to get to the fields and use those pitchforks to till the land thoroughly.

Ya Ya is still sleeping peacefully in the house.

Grandma Liu carefully washed and dried the leopard-print blanket she brought back with pink soap. She then placed it inside the cattail quilt, where it was fluffy, soft, and very comfortable to sleep on.

After everyone finished eating, they quietly cleared away the dishes.

Aunt Lin specially kept a bowl of fragrant bone broth warm on the stove.

Grandma Liu, Grandpa Wang, and Grandma Fang stayed in the yard, weaving baskets while looking after Ya Ya.

The rest of the group rushed straight to the wheat field.

The village chief had brought the plow to the field early in the morning.

Passing by the vegetable garden, I noticed that almost all of them had sprouted, tender and delightful.

Xiao Shuanzi and Xiao Douzi were holding hands with their grandfather when they came across a puddle on the road. Xiao Douzi's eyes lit up and he couldn't resist gently stepping into the puddle.

"Splat—"

Water splashed out. The boots were soaked, but not a drop of water seeped in.

He quietly curled his toes; his socks were still dry, not wet at all.

Little Shuanzi also tried stepping on it.

"...Did it!"

The two little babies' eyes suddenly lit up in a startling way.

Now he was having a blast, splashing in every little puddle he saw, laughing to himself.

The adults looked down at the water droplets splashed on their boots, which easily disappeared with a flick of their wrists, without getting their pants dirty. They all sighed inwardly, thinking, "These boots are truly the best things!"

A long line of people walked along the ridge of the field. The village chief, who was leading the way, was carrying a pitchfork. Behind him, a row of people wore floral jackets and cotton trousers, adorned with various small flowers, which brought a different kind of vitality to the desolate land.

Everyone's trouser legs were tightly tucked into shiny black rain boots, making them look neat and energetic.

The sun peeked out from the east, its golden light filtering through the clouds.

The village chief touched the wheat seeds in his hand; they were thin, shriveled, and still smelled of stale grain.

These are all wheat seeds saved from last year. After surviving the winter, we encountered a famine, so the harvest was poor. Those saved for seed were carefully selected. In previous years, the seedlings were sparse and their survival depended entirely on the weather.

But things are different now.

He weighed the heavy five-pronged pitchfork in his hand.

The seeds are old and shriveled, but the tools are new, the strength is abundant, and the heart is warm.