Peanuts were a rare treat, considered a luxury even in the cities. At this time, farmland was almost entirely dedicated to growing grain, and even that wasn’t enough to meet people’s needs. Non-essential crops, like peanuts, had long been abandoned. In better years, some villages had set aside small plots to grow extras like peanuts, but with droughts and food shortages, even that was no longer possible.

Peanuts, usually reserved for Lunar New Year celebrations, were almost impossible to come by now. Although Luo Cheng had explicitly given the peanuts to his sisters to enjoy, they were too afraid to eat them outright. If their parents found out, they’d surely scold them.

“Big Sis, how about letting me eat just one? The bag’s already open. I promise I’ll only have one.”

“Alright, but just one each. Afterward, we’ll hide the shells so no one knows.”

Luo Xiaoyu agreed. At fifteen, she was responsible and understood the value of food in these hard times, but she was still a child. The temptation to taste the peanuts was too strong to resist.

She carefully picked out two peanuts, one for each of them. Holding the peanuts in their hands, the sisters hesitated, savoring the moment. Finally, Luo Shishi couldn’t resist and popped hers into her mouth, her eyes lighting up instantly.

Peanuts in this era were usually dry-roasted, with their natural flavor considered a luxury. But the ones Luo Cheng had brought were five-spice peanuts with a slight salty tang. The shell alone carried a faint five-spice aroma, enough to delight the senses.

Luo Shishi held it in her mouth, savoring the flavorful exterior. Her saliva glands worked overtime, extracting every bit of flavor.

Luo Xiaoyu, thinking her sister was reluctant to eat it put her own peanut in her mouth—and immediately understood why. The flavor was unlike anything she’d ever tasted, worlds apart from the bland peanuts she remembered.

After a long time, when they could no longer smell any flavor from the surface, the two finally took the initiative to bite it open When they did, an even richer aroma burst forth, and they couldn’t believe that something so delicious could come from just a peanut.

In times of extreme hunger, even plain white buns could taste sweet. Imagine, then, the sensory overload of five-spice peanuts in an era where even coarse grains were scarce.

Afterward, the sisters retreated to the inner room, chatting excitedly. Their main topic, unsurprisingly, was their eldest brother Luo Cheng.

Their father, Luo Wen, is the backbone of the family. Despite his lack of education he worked tirelessly in the fields to support the family. Yet, in consecutive drought years, even the most skilled farmer couldn’t conjure up enough food.

While their father remained their moral pillar, Luo Cheng’s return had shifted the family dynamic. As a well-traveled and educated soldier, Luo Cheng represented hope and new opportunities. His arrival instantly restored a sense of direction and stability to the household.

“Xiaoyu, Shishi! Come out! I’ve got food for you!”

While the sisters were chatting, Luo Bing’s voice rang out from the yard. Luo Bing, the 18-year-old second son, had attended three years of school but wasn’t academically inclined. He could write a bit and worked in the fields during busy seasons. With the poor harvest, however, there wasn’t much work to do.

Luo Bing spent most of his free time roaming the nearby hills, searching for anything edible—roots, bark, whatever he could find. At this point, even seeing a rat was considered a rare stroke of luck, as meat was practically unheard of.

When the sisters stepped outside, they saw Luo Bing holding a bundle of thick roots. They recognized the roots immediately. Though unappetizing, they had a starchy core that could stave off hunger when boiled and chewed slowly. The downside was their bitter aftertaste, which only grew stronger the more you ate.

In normal times, the sisters would’ve eagerly cleaned and prepared the roots for cooking. But with the lingering taste of the delicious peanuts in their mouths, they couldn’t bring themselves to touch the bitter roots just yet.

Besides, Luo Shishi was still thinking about the buns Luo Cheng had in his bag. Even if she couldn’t have a whole one, surely she could get a small piece. Her big brother, after all, wouldn’t refuse her such a small request.

“Bingzi, Big Brother’s back,” Luo Xiaoyu announced.

“Big Brother? Who?” Luo Bing asked, momentarily confused.

“Who else? Our eldest brother! He’s back from the army and is sleeping inside right now. Don’t disturb him!”

Luo Bing was stunned. It had been years since he’d last seen his elder brother, and the news of his return felt almost unreal.

“Big Brother’s back? Really? Has he eaten yet? What are we going to feed him? There’s barely any food at home.”

Luo Bing, like most rural boys, was simple and kind-hearted. His first concern was whether Luo Cheng had eaten. After all, the roots in his hand weren’t exactly suitable for serving to a soldier.

“Big Brother is an educated man and a soldier,” Luo Xiaoyu said proudly. “Do you think he’s like us? He brought food back. Don’t worry about him.”

Turning to Luo Shishi, she added, “Go get a peanut from the room for Bingzi. Let him try what real soldiers get to eat!”

The sisters had already agreed to share one peanut with Luo Bing. Fairness among siblings was important, and despite Luo Bing’s rough exterior, he often looked out for his sisters.

When Luo Bing tasted the peanut, his eyes widened in shock. He couldn’t believe something so small could taste so good. Compared to the bitter roots in his hand, the peanut was a revelation. He decided he wouldn’t touch the roots tonight—he didn’t want to ruin the lingering flavor.

Meanwhile, Luo Cheng continued to rest undisturbed. Even their father, Luo Wen, didn’t dare wake him when he returned from the fields. Upon hearing about Luo Cheng’s arrival, Luo Wen’s face lit up with a rare smile. It had been years since he’d had a reason to feel hope.

Knowing that Luo Cheng had grain coupons and retirement pay gave Luo Wen a sense of relief. For the first time in years, the burden of worrying about food didn’t feel so crushing.

The plan was to visit the town’s grain station the next day. While grain was also available at supply cooperatives, most farmers preferred the grain station—it was familiar territory where they conducted much of their annual trade.

As the Luo family celebrated Luo Cheng’s return, elsewhere, Qin Lan’s family was in turmoil. The half-pack of instant noodles and seasoning packet Luo Cheng had given them had become both a blessing and a headache.

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Those edible roots are based on real-life accounts, though I can’t recall their exact name. Feel free to use your imagination. If they don’t exist, just assume they do!