Chapter 21
Lin Xi accepted Xiang Qianlan’s task.
The car stopped at the entrance of Lotus Village, named for the abundance of lotus roots grown there. The village had over thirty ponds of varying sizes, making the entire settlement seem as if it were built on a floating island.
Summer was the most beautiful season in Lotus Village. In Lin Xi’s memories, even the summer breeze carried the fresh fragrance of lotus blossoms.
During her years away from home, her dreams were often filled with endless lotus flowers and leaves stretching as far as the eye could see.
To enter the village, one had to cross a wooden covered bridge. Below it flowed a small river, now in its dry season, the water barely reaching knee-height. The gentle babbling of the stream filled the air.
It was already past five in the evening, the sun had set, and a group of elderly villagers sat on the bridge, chatting while keeping an eye on their grandchildren.
From a distance, someone with sharp eyes spotted Lin Xi and called out her name.
A petite figure rose from the wooden planks of the bridge. "Xiao Xi is back? Xiao Xi is back! Everyone, look—my Xiao Xi is home!" Her voice was loud and full of joy.
Lin Xi heard her immediately and waved, setting down her luggage. "Grandma!"
Chi Xiangping responded warmly and, along with her elderly friends, hurried over to greet Lin Xi.
A year apart had done nothing to dim Lin Xi’s radiance—if anything, she looked even better than she had sounded over the phone. Chi Xiangping held her granddaughter’s face, studying her with satisfaction.
Lin Xi exchanged brief pleasantries with the aunties on the bridge before Chi Xiangping cut in. "Alright, alright, my Xiao Xi just got back and hasn’t even eaten yet. We’re going home for dinner now."
"Of course, of course! Go on, Xiao Xi. Come by Third Aunt’s house tomorrow, alright? There are still persimmons on our tree—you love those, don’t you?"
"Sure, I’ll come first thing in the morning," Lin Xi promised before leaving with Chi Xiangping.
Lotus Village was small, with only about thirty households. The homes were built of stone and wood, and Lin Xi’s family lived at the edge of the village. Pushing open the iron gate, the courtyard came into view.
A modest yard, with a low pigpen against the wall housing two plump pigs. To the left stood the kitchen, and to the right, a path led to the vegetable garden. Even in the fading light, the lush greens were visible.
The main house had a raised veranda, three steps above the courtyard, lined with flower beds. Among them, a cluster of pink roses bloomed brilliantly.
Sitting on a stone bench on the veranda, breathing in the faint scent of roses, Lin Xi felt a deep sense of calm settle over her.
She opened the carrier and let out Cao’er, the kitten, who obediently sat beside her.
Chi Xiangping emerged from the house with a pair of slippers—a ritual that had played out for years. Whenever Lin Xi returned from a trip, her grandmother insisted on handing her the slippers herself.
It was one of Chi Xiangping’s superstitions: that someone returning home must be given their shoes by a family member, or else their spirit might wander.
"Oh, so this is the little cat you told me about? She’s quite pretty," Chi Xiangping said, already doting on Lin Xi’s wishes. She had prepared everything in advance after hearing about the kitten.
"You know, Shen Mingbao at the village entrance said you can order groceries online now and they’ll arrive the next day. So I asked if they had cat food. She helped me get some. Come on, little one—Grandma’s got food for you." Chi Xiangping scooped up Cao’er and carried her to the kitchen, where a small bowl of cat food waited.
Lin Xi changed into her slippers and followed. The dinner was still warm on the table.
Pickled vegetables with fishwort, stir-fried cured pork with lettuce stems, red bean and pickled vegetable soup, and steamed yellow pumpkin—each dish made Lin Xi’s mouth water just by the sight.
"Grandma, have you eaten yet?" Lin Xi asked, though she already knew the answer. She took out two bowls from the cupboard. Her grandmother would never eat before she returned.
"Not yet, not yet. Here we go." Chi Xiangping patted Cao’er’s head. The kitten shook her fur and turned away, focused on her meal.
The sky had darkened completely. Lin Xi turned on the kitchen light, its warm glow filling the small space with coziness.
As they ate, they talked. When Chi Xiangping learned that Lin Xi wouldn’t be leaving again, she fell silent for a moment, studying her granddaughter’s face—so much like her mother’s.
"Xiao Xi… do you want to see your mother? She’s not doing well." Chi Xiangping had been thinking about this for days.
Lin Xi paused. Her mother, Xue Min, had been her father Lin Zhongxun’s middle school sweetheart. They dropped out of high school to marry at eighteen.
Lin Xi was born less than a year later. While Xue Min was pregnant, Lin Zhongxun left for work—and never returned. No letters, no news, not even a trace.
Xue Min waited and searched for two years before remarrying and moving away.
Lin Xi had tried visiting her maternal grandmother’s house, but each time, she was stopped halfway and given a few coins to leave.
As a stubborn child, she kept going back. Until one year, hiding behind the village well, she overheard her mother tell her aunt that the two people she hated most in life were Lin Xi and her father.
Lin Xi thought, "She probably doesn’t want to see me. I won’t go."
Chi Xiangping sighed but didn’t push further, taking a bowl of rice to feed the family’s big black dog instead.
Lin Xi quietly cleared the table. There was still plenty of rice left, and though most of the dishes were finished, much of the meat remained. After a moment’s thought, she opened a private chat with Xiang Qianlan.
She had seen enough period dramas and novels to know that era was one of hardship. Xiang Qianlan was likely struggling to even eat properly, surrounded by difficult people. Buying nutritional supplements now was impossible—the shops in town were a ten-minute walk away, and who knew if they’d even be open at this hour?
Meanwhile, Xiang Qianlan lay in bed, her stomach burning after an extra sweet potato for dinner. Nights like these made her miss the unfinished meal from her life before crossing into this world.
When Xiang Qianlan received the message from Lin Xi, she immediately sat up. Leftover food was the least of her concerns—after days of hunger and unbearable cravings, she felt like she could gnaw on even a passing cow just to taste something.
After getting Xiang Qianlan’s reply, Lin Xi mixed the rice and dishes together. As she prepared to send it over, she remembered the sedative Xu Huanhuan had once given Ye Bingbing and quickly sent Xu Huanhuan a private message.
Xu Huanhuan, who was in the middle of balancing accounts, saw the message and promptly sent over a packet of sedative along with its antidote.
Once Lin Xi had the drugs in hand, she glanced around her room before walking to the corner and pulling out three or four mousetraps.
With living conditions improving over the years, most households had plenty to eat, and the mice had grown plump and bold. Lin Xi’s home alone had no fewer than thirty mousetraps.
Perfect for Xiang Qianlan.
Xiang Qianlan was astonished when the items materialized in her room. The sight of the mousetraps made her grin from ear to ear. And when she learned that the sedative could knock someone out in seconds, her amazement only grew.
She thanked Lin Xi and Xu Huanhuan in the group chat before sitting on the kang, eating the meal Lin Xi had sent with almost reverent appreciation.
Finally full, Xiang Qianlan felt strength surging through her body. She got up and, under the moonlight, placed the mousetraps by the door and beneath the windows.
She hadn’t been idle these past few days—she had sharpened wooden stakes and embedded them upside down near the door, the kang, and the windows.
Anyone forcing their way in would step right onto them. She hadn’t dared sleep deeply, fearing that Widow Liu and her son next door might grow desperate. But tonight, Xiang Qianlan believed she could finally rest easy. She swallowed an antidote pill and lit the sedative incense.
Next door, Qin Aiguo and Widow Liu sat on opposite ends of the kang.
"Aiguo, what are we going to do from now on? Your father died young, and I raised you and your sister all by myself," Widow Liu sniffled. "I thought once you married, I could finally relax. But instead of a dutiful daughter-in-law, you brought home a she-devil. Now, instead of enjoying my old age, I’m getting beaten by her! How are we supposed to live like this?"
In her grief, Widow Liu conveniently forgot all the times she had abused her daughter-in-law, focusing only on her recent suffering.
Qin Aiguo sat silently at the foot of the kang, though his gaze occasionally drifted to Widow Liu’s slightly curving figure. At twenty-four, most men his age in the village already had several children.
He couldn’t deny his frustration, but he refused to blame himself for the child Xiang Qianlan had lost. It was her fault—she couldn’t even hold onto a baby! The thought made him clench his teeth in anger.
A surge of rage rose in his chest. He wanted nothing more than to storm into the next room, drag Xiang Qianlan out of bed, and beat her senseless to vent his bitterness.
But remembering her recent defiance, Qin Aiguo hesitated. As Widow Liu continued weeping, he snapped, "What’s the point of crying to me? If you’re so brave, go teach her a lesson yourself! Or call my sister—let her handle it!"
His words silenced Widow Liu. If she or Qin Ailian could’ve disciplined Xiang Qianlan, she wouldn’t be here goading Qin Aiguo.
Watching him turn over to sleep, Widow Liu wiped her tears bitterly. Bad seed, bad harvest—her son was just as spineless. She blew out the lamp.
The night passed without dreams.
The next morning, Xiang Qianlan woke refreshed. She gathered the wooden stakes and mousetraps, then grabbed a sickle and stepped into the yard.
The courtyard was silent. While smoke curled from other rooftops, her own stove remained cold. She thought of the original owner of this body—rising before dawn in every season to cook, clean, and labor in the fields, only for Qin Aiguo and his mother to sleep in and then nitpick her work.
Her good mood soured. She strode toward the neighboring room, picking up a meter-long stick along the way.
Two howls later, Xiang Qianlan’s day was off to a splendid start.
---
Back on Earth, Lin Xi also woke up. Her first night home had been peaceful, and her grandmother had already prepared breakfast.
After washing up, she checked her messages while heading to the kitchen. Lin Duxi wanted to trade supplies.
Knowing Lin Duxi had joined the military, Lin Xi wasn’t surprised his resources were running low. Unlike their previous haphazard exchanges, this time, Lin Duxi sent a detailed list—rice, flour, oil, seeds, water, and a significant amount of medicine and daily necessities.
While food and water were easy, the medicine posed a problem. With strict regulations, buying in bulk would be difficult.
Lin Xi explained this to Lin Duxi, who didn’t press further, asking only for whatever she could get. After ten years of apocalypse, even expired medicine was scarce.
Pondering the issue, Lin Xi enjoyed her breakfast—rice noodles with leeks, pickled vegetables, and spicy chili oil.
Her grandmother, Chi Xiangping, ate little. Sitting by the fire, she chatted about the village’s younger generation.
"Shen Mingbao opened a small shop at the village entrance—you can buy oil and seasonings there. Little Mingfeng works as a manager at some factory in Guangdong. He came back mid-year in a car worth over 100,000."
"Little Ping married early. I saw her at the market the other day—pregnant again, her third child. She said if it’s another girl, she’ll keep trying."
These were Lin Xi’s childhood playmates. Once she left for school and they for work or marriage, they’d drifted apart.
"And Wang Peng—he’s a salesman at a pharmaceutical factory in the next city. He comes back often, peddling medicine to us old folks."
Most elders in Chi Xiangping’s generation were on constant medication. Wang Peng’s drugs were cheaper, and since they trusted him, the villagers bought from him. At least they were genuine.
Lin Xi felt a stir in her heart and said to Chi Xiangping, "Grandma, wait a moment. Let's go to the hospital for a check-up."
Chi Xiangping's health wasn't good. Since Lin Xi had returned this time, she noticed her grandmother's steps had become increasingly unsteady. Her kidneys were weak, and she had been relying on medication to manage the condition over the years. Every time Lin Xi came back, she would take her to the city hospital for examinations.
Though Chi Xiangping disliked going to the hospital, for the sake of her own health and to prevent Lin Xi from being left alone too soon, she obediently complied each time—going for check-ups and taking her medicine without complaint.
"Alright."
Before breakfast was even finished, the door to Lin Xi's house was pushed open.
"Little Lin Xi, Little Lin Xi!" The voice arrived before the person did. Lin Xi stepped out of the kitchen, still holding her bowl.
"Da Mingbao, have you eaten yet?" Da Mingbao's full name was Shen Mingbao. She and Lin Xi were the same age and had been classmates throughout elementary, middle, and high school.
In college, Lin Xi went north for her studies, while Shen Mingbao stayed local. Their contact dwindled after that—Lin Xi drifted in Beijing, while Shen Mingbao returned to their hometown to take over her parents' small grocery store.
"I've eaten, I've eaten! I was at my boyfriend's place these past few days, but when my mom told me you were back this morning, I rushed straight home." Shen Mingbao was an only child, and her boyfriend lived in the neighboring village.
Lin Xi had met him last year when she visited.
"Any plans to get married?" Shen Mingbao walked straight into Lin Xi's kitchen and sat by the hearth. Frost had settled outside that morning, and the cold was biting. Even the short walk over had left her stiff and chilled.
"Maybe next spring. Are you staying this time, or leaving again?" Before college, Lin Xi and Shen Mingbao had been close, and even now, a few words were enough to bring back their old familiarity.
Shen Mingbao stayed at Lin Xi's place for over half an hour before leaving. Before she went, she made plans with Lin Xi to come over for barbecue that evening.
"Wang Peng just messaged me—he's coming back too."
"Alright, see you tonight." With Lin Xi's confirmation, Shen Mingbao left in high spirits.
Chi Xiangping had already changed into fresh clothes. Lin Xi washed the dishes, put on a new outfit, grabbed her bag, locked the door, and they headed to the village outskirts to catch a bus.
The covered bridge was even more crowded than the day before. By the time they crossed it, Lin Xi's cheeks ached from smiling so much.
Their village wasn’t far from the city—just a forty-minute bus ride, with a direct route right at their doorstep.
The bus was filled with people from nearby villages. Chi Xiangping was well-liked, and as soon as she boarded, she struck up lively conversations. Lin Xi didn’t doze off either.
Ever since taking a drop of genetic repair serum two days ago, she felt her usual motion sickness had improved significantly.
She pulled out her phone to check messages and accidentally opened a short-video app. The first news headline that popped up was about a woman from Jingzhou who had been fatally injured while watching a commotion. Despite a day and night of emergency treatment, she didn’t survive.
After reading the news, Lin Xi scrolled down to see a feature on the woman’s two decades of good deeds—stopping thieves, rescuing drowning children, helping troubled teens. She had been awarded "Model Citizen" three times and "Outstanding Citizen" twice.
Her death had left many in Jingzhou grieving. Lin Xi even saw online tributes to her on Weibo.
She forwarded the video to Xiang Qianlan, who was pleased that her efforts had been recognized.
Lying on the heated brick bed, Xiang Qianlan marveled at how much had changed in just a few days. The contrast was staggering.
By the time they got off at the hospital, went through registration, consultations, and test results, the morning had slipped into afternoon.
The grandmother and granddaughter weren’t in a hurry to return. They ate rice noodles at a shop near the hospital before heading to the adjacent mall.
Lin Xi hadn’t forgotten her promise to Xiang Qianlan. While buying nutritional supplements for Chi Xiangping, she picked up a set for her too. The mall had a pharmacy, so she also grabbed calcium, iron, zinc, and selenium—things she figured Xiang Qianlan must be lacking.
Back home, just as they stepped inside, a message from Xiang Qianlan arrived.
[1960s Boxer Xiang Qianlan: Yesterday, when I sent you the task, I noticed a rewards section. I was too broke to fill it in then, but I’ve found something valuable now.]
As soon as she sent it, a new system notification popped up in the group chat. Lin Xi tapped in.
[System Notification: 1960s Boxer Xiang Qianlan has sent Lin Xi a task—Purchase Nutritional Supplements. Reward: One Blue Army Stamp.]
None of the group members were stamp collectors, but they’d all heard of the famous mid-century stamps, particularly the "Whole Country is Red" series.
The Blue Army Stamp, however, was far less known. Not that it mattered—Lin Xi opened a search engine.
Lin Duxi, as a guy who’d once dreamed of joining the military, had some knowledge about the stamp’s significance.
[Post-Apocalyptic Lin Duxi: @1960s Boxer Xiang Qianlan That stamp’s worth a fortune! @Earth Girl Lin Xi Can we see a pic?]
He’d only ever seen images of it online—never in person.
Xiang Qianlan wasn’t the least bit bothered about parting with something so valuable.
[1960s Boxer Xiang Qianlan: It might be worth a lot, but right now, a full meal means more to me than this stamp.]
After sending that, she added:
[Now I finally get how Quan Jiandang—that eldest son of Qin Ailian—became a tycoon in the original timeline. Who’d have thought Qin Aiguo had such a treasure tucked away?]
[What a piece of work! Cheating on his wife, getting beaten half-paralyzed, yet still acting like a tyrant in bed. Watching the original host work four or five jobs to support the whole family, wearing herself to the bone, while he sat on this stamp the whole time. Not once did he think to sell it to ease the burden.]
[If he didn’t know its value, fine. But he knew damn well! Despicable.]
Xiang Qianlan’s temper flared. She got off the bed and saw Qin Aiguo still breathing.
She kicked him without remorse, then walked away. When Widow Liu shot her a look, Xiang Qianlan glared back.
"What are you staring at? Keep it up, and I’ll dig your eyes out."
Widow Liu, spotting villagers approaching, mustered some courage. "What did my Aiguo do wrong for you to hit him like that?"
Xiang Qianlan scoffed. "Funny you ask. What did I ever do wrong for you people to beat me whenever you felt like it? Now that I’m treating you the same way, suddenly it’s unacceptable? How pathetic is that?"
Xiang Qianlan also noticed the villagers but paid them no mind. Let them say whatever they wanted—throughout her life, her guiding principle had always been to walk her own path and let others seethe in helpless rage.
...
Lin Xi turned off her phone, having learned that stamps of this particular category—even slightly damaged ones—could sell for fifty or sixty thousand yuan. Carefully, she retrieved the stamp from her bag.
Chi Xiangping happened to see it and let out a surprised sound. "Xiao Xi, where did you dig this up from?"
That single question from Chi Xiangping instantly startled Lin Xi. She jerked her head up to look at her grandmother. "Grandma, are you saying... our family has one of these stamps too?"
"We do. Your great-aunt was once engaged, you know—to a soldier. I remember one year, he sent her a letter with this exact stamp on it. Later, he sacrificed his life, and his pension was also delivered with a stamp of this same color."
There were several families surnamed Lin in Lotus Village, but they were all distant relatives. Lin Xi’s grandfather had only one younger sister. She had passed away when Lin Xi was in elementary school—unmarried, with no children of her own.
Now, Lin Xi was all her grandparents had left.
The excitement Lin Xi had felt over the "Blue Army Stamp" faded into quiet reflection. "Let’s keep it for my great-aunt," she said softly.
Her great-aunt... in the end, her entire life had been defined by that one name. After he died, she held on for a while, but in the end, she couldn’t endure it either.
Lin Xi sighed. She put away the items she had bought for Xiang Qianlan, then took advantage of Chi Xiangping’s trip to the vegetable patch to send the supplies over to Xiang Qianlan.
Along with the supplies, she included a single drop of water laced with genetic repair serum.
Xiang Qianlan wasn’t home when the package arrived. That night, she slipped out through the window and made her way to the back mountain, burying the supplies in a hidden cave. Until she was strong enough, no one could know about these things.
