In this era, having a job was a dream for many and almost unattainable. Jobs were all within state-owned enterprises. Having a job meant “eating state grain”—guaranteed food provisions. Even during famine years, when rations were reduced, one never worried about starving.

The rations from a workplace, even during a famine, were more than sufficient for one person to eat freely. However, many people with jobs found that their rations weren’t enough because one person’s earnings had to feed and support multiple family members.

For young, single workers, it was an enviable situation—they earned for themselves and didn’t need to share with others. What was even more enviable were urban dual-income households or families where several members worked. These households could eat “commercial grain,” which was of higher quality than rural grain.

Even during famine years, grain still flowed in black markets, but the prices were exorbitantly high. Coarse grains, for instance, were several times more expensive than before the famine.

Having a job didn’t mean one could rescue others, but at least it ensured survival.

Before the world changed, Luo Cheng, as a technical school graduate, never really planned to find a formal job.

As an only child, his family already had a house. Although their conditions were average, they were better off than many others. Luo Cheng wasn’t good at academics, but he had a talent for working with vehicles. At technical school, he specialized in repair work while also learning about excavators and trucks.

After graduation, working as a mechanic didn’t pay much. Most repair shops were mechanized, and while the job could be physically demanding, it wasn’t very lucrative. The downside was that it could be dirty work at times.

But if you drive a truck it involved long hours on the highways. If the truck wasn’t your own, you’d only earn slightly more than a regular worker. Plus, trucking was risky; a single mistake could cost your life.

Excavator work was paid by the day. Construction jobs were mostly privately contracted, and workers were hired as needed. While the pay seemed high, there were no earnings on rest days. Overall, the average income wasn’t particularly high. The hardest part was working outdoors in extreme heat—it was no joke.

So, as graduation approached, Luo Cheng hadn’t decided on a specific career path. His family had food and shelter, and his parents weren’t pressuring him to start earning immediately. Luo Cheng’s plan was to open a car repair shop, perhaps borrowing some money from relatives.

But then everything changed overnight. The world transformed, and Luo Cheng’s plans were interrupted. However, the shift also provided some clarity about his career path.

Luo Cheng’s military service certificate clearly stated that he served as a communication soldier. He could drive and repair vehicles and joined the military after graduating high school, making him an educated recruit.

If not for some special circumstances, Luo Cheng would have continued serving in the military, staying by his superior’s side. As for what those special circumstances were, that was confidential—adding a sense of mystery.

Unfortunately, Luo Cheng himself had no knowledge of these details. His identity and background seemed like gifts from heaven. He’d never served a single day in the military, yet the credentials were real and carried significant weight. With his skills and the support of his superior’s recommendation letter, it was almost guaranteed that the local authorities would assign him a job.

In the afternoon, Luo Cheng took a short nap. In his past life, he was glued to his phone, scrolling through videos until midnight. But now, without a phone and no electric lights in the evening, even chatting with his sisters eventually lulled him to sleep.

Luo Cheng estimated it wasn’t very late, maybe around 8 PM. Unfortunately, without a clock, he couldn’t verify. He wanted to stay awake until midnight to see if he could sign into his system again.

The night was quiet and serene. Moonlight illuminated the outdoors, but the room was pitch black. The single window, placed against an inner wall, was covered with paper that didn’t let light through.

Before he realized it, Luo Cheng fell asleep and had a dream. In his dream, he returned to his old world. Traveling to the 1960s felt like a surreal experience. He told everyone—his grandmother, parents, classmates, and even his two sisters—in the future world, his two sisters were not skinny, their faces were not sallow, and they were very beautiful Wait, he didn’t have sisters in the future world! .

Luo Cheng woke up to faint morning light filtering into the room. Judging by the brightness, it was already much lighter outside.

People often say rural folk rise early, but that’s because they sleep early too. Even the laziest individuals couldn’t sleep in much. If they went to bed at 8 PM, waking up at 8 AM meant sleeping for 12 hours, far more than the usual 8 hours needed.

Luo Cheng didn’t manage to stay awake until midnight to sign in immediately. Upon waking, he hurriedly opened the system to check. There was still only one pack of sunflower seeds in the system—a mere 125 grams. However, a notification appeared: the system was ready for another sign-in.

Excited, Luo Cheng’s lingering sleepiness vanished.

“System, sign in.”

“Congratulations, Host. You have received: a water cup, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, towel, washbasin, and flashlight.”

“What about food, System? Can’t you provide something edible?”

Although Luo Cheng questioned the system, he knew it was futile. The system had no intelligence and couldn’t respond.

The items were basic daily necessities. The water cup, however, had some nostalgic charm—it was an old-fashioned enamel cup from this era.

The toothbrush, toothpaste, and towel were comforting additions. Yesterday, Luo Cheng had borrowed his sisters’ worn-out towel, which, despite being clean, looked more like a rag.

The washbasin was metal. Luo Cheng decided to keep it in the system space for now. His travel bag was small, and pulling out a large washbasin would be hard to explain. He planned to take a stroll outside later, then claim he bought it in town.

Autumn mornings were chilly. Luo Cheng stayed in bed a little longer, listening as movement stirred outside. His father, Luo Wen, had woken up and soon called out for Luo Bing from the woodshed.

Luo Wen needed to report to the brigade and request leave. Today was a big day for the Luo family—they were going to the grain station to buy food. It was a crucial task, and carrying 50-60 pounds of grain wasn’t something one person could handle alone.

Luo Bing was tasked with informing their uncles and aunts, who lived in nearby villages. When the family land was divided, the uncles built homes close to the town, but the aunts lived in neighboring villages, about a half-hour walk away. Luo Bing needed to notify them early so they could come over in time.

Obediently, Luo Bing got up and followed their father, skipping his morning wash. After all, he’d washed the night before—what was the point of washing again?