With three superpowers at his fingertips, he could dominate the 1970s.

By the time both families had finished tidying up, the sun was already setting in the west.

Jiang Zhiyu glanced around the room—everything that needed to be packed away had been packed, and everything that needed to be taken was in her spatial storage. As for the remaining items that couldn't be moved, she had already made arrangements for them.

"Let's go."

The five men, carrying Beijing-style pastries and two bottles of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor), headed towards the brigade leader's house.

-

Aunt Wang was feeding the chickens in the yard when she looked up and saw five people coming in, carrying things in their hands. Her smile froze.

Her heart skipped a beat—they had come to say goodbye.

"Ouch..." Aunt Wang put the chicken feed bowl on the ground, wiped her hands with her apron, and came forward. She opened her mouth, but couldn't say a complete sentence for a long time.

Jinbao ran out of the house, and as soon as he saw Jiang Zhiyu, tears streamed down his face.

"Sister Zhiyu!"

The little one rushed over, hugged Jiang Zhiyu's leg, looked up, tears streaming down his face, snot running down his nose, and sobbed, "Why are you leaving...?"

Jiang Zhiyu's heart softened a little.

She crouched down, took out several bags of candy from her pocket, and stuffed them all into Jinbao's hands.

"Go and share with your friends and younger siblings."

Jinbao, clutching the candy, was reluctant to leave, looking at her with teary eyes.

Jiang Zhiyu flicked his nose: "Go quickly."

Children's emotions come and go quickly. Clutching the candy in his hand, he wiped his nose, turned around and ran away quickly. After running a couple of steps, he looked back once more before disappearing outside the gate in a flash.

-

The family sat under the walnut tree in the village head's yard.

Aunt Wang brought over a basket of washed wild fruits and five bowls of sugar water, placing them in front of them.

"Little Jiang, it's so hard for me to see you go... I'm really going to miss you." Aunt Wang sat down, her eyes a little red. "You're such a good child, you always do things right, you never try to fool anyone. Our little mountain village can't keep a golden phoenix like you."

She wiped her eyes and smiled again: "People in the countryside aren't good at sweet talk, but your auntie just thinks you'll definitely amount to something!"

Jiang Zhiyu picked up the bowl, took a sip of the sugar water, and didn't say anything. She just looked at Aunt Wang and nodded gently.

The captain also came in from outside the door at this moment. When he entered the yard and saw five people, he paused and his cheerful expression became somewhat restrained.

He knew it; what was meant to happen would happen eventually.

He moved a small stool, sat down on the side, and didn't rush to speak.

"Captain, Auntie, these are some snacks we brought back from the capital, and two bottles of wine. Please keep them."

The captain glanced at it, didn't refuse, and nodded.

"Young Jiang, now that you're leaving, what will happen to that courtyard?" he asked. "You paid two years' rent, and you've only lived there for a little over six months. The remaining amount—will be refunded to you."

"No need to return it." Jiang Zhiyu shook her head. "Let Zhang Chong keep it. She's always wanted to live in my little courtyard. As for who she invites to stay, don't worry about that."

She paused for a moment, then said, "For anything inside that can't be moved, the brigade leader and auntie can see if they need anything and help move it. The rest can be left to Zhang Chong."

The brigade leader and Aunt Wang exchanged a glance, feeling very grateful.

The brigade leader knew exactly how good the furniture in Xiao Jiang's room was—the tables, chairs, benches, cabinets, and bed frames were all made of good wood and crafted with excellent workmanship, even better than the commune secretary's. But this girl didn't mention it at all, and just gave it away like that.

"Alright, then I won't stand on ceremony with you." The brigade leader rubbed his hands together. "I've got my eye on that set of furniture in your main room. That stuff looks really classy. I'll move it to the brigade headquarters. The rest I'll leave to Zhang Chong's daughter."

Jiang Zhiyu nodded indifferently.

Those items couldn't be taken with her when she left; they were all listed in the village's inventory. She could only give them to the brigade leader and Zhang Chong. She didn't care; she had plenty of those things in her spatial storage.

The captain then asked, "When are you leaving?"

"The train leaves tomorrow morning," Jiang Zhiyu said. "My godparents are heading north back to Beijing, while my parents and I are going to Shanghai."

The captain remained silent for a moment, then picked up his pipe and took two puffs. Through the swirling smoke, no expression could be seen on his dark face.

Jiang Zhiyu glanced at him and suddenly spoke:

"Captain, our country will only get better and better in the future."

The captain looked up at her.

"Let the children read more books." Jiang Zhiyu's tone was calm, but each word was spoken slowly and clearly. "Jinbao is a smart child; his studies must not be neglected. Our country needs talent—we must raise our children well so that they can come to Beijing or Shanghai in the future and see the outside world."

She gazed at the rustling leaves of the walnut tree, her eyes distant:

"Our country will surely undergo earth-shaking changes."

The captain was immediately excited.

His hand gripping the pipe trembled slightly—he knew all too well the weight of the person who spoke those words. He had witnessed every single thing Xiao Jiang, the educated youth, had done: delivering tractors, and even having connections with leaders in Beijing.

He believed what she said.

He really needs to make sure his kids' studies get under control!

"Young Jiang, don't worry!" The brigade leader stood up, his voice booming, "I, Chen Daqian, guarantee with my life that none of my sons will be left behind! Even if we have to sell everything we own, we'll send them to school!"

Aunt Wang nodded vigorously beside her, tears welling up in her eyes again.

-

After saying goodbye to the brigade leader's family, the five of them walked out of the courtyard.

The sun was setting, bathing the entire Kaoshantun village in a warm, orange-red hue.

No one was in a hurry to leave.

Having spent about half a year here, they were all a little reluctant to leave. Their pace slowed, and they looked left and right.

Jiang Boxun walked to the big elm tree at the entrance of the village and stood there for a while.

Jiang Zhiyu walked at the very back, watching the backs of the four people ahead of her as they walked and stopped, and looking at the small mountain village enveloped in the setting sun.

She stopped and looked back one last time.

Kaoshantun.

This was the first place she settled down after she traveled through time.

This small mountain valley wasn't large, and there weren't many people, but the people here were warm-hearted, and the warmth of life was genuine. Here, she saw something that didn't exist in the apocalypse—what it meant to be alive.

"Let's go!" Jiang Boxun called out from the front.

Jiang Zhiyu withdrew her gaze, turned around, and followed.

They'll leave first thing tomorrow morning.

But she will remember the smoke from the chimneys and the laughter of Kaoshantun for a very long time.