In these times, with food shortages everywhere, families lived frugally. Those with children made sure their kids didn’t impose on others by eating at someone else’s house.

Before lunchtime, Little Fatty’s mother called him home loudly from her doorstep.

Hearing his mother’s call, Little Fatty sprang to his feet and dashed out, only to stop halfway and rush back. Blushing, he pulled out two White Rabbit candies from his pocket and placed them on Shen Zhihuan’s stove before running off again at full speed.

“…”
Shen Zhihuan rubbed her forehead in exasperation.

She currently has neither the ability nor the plan to raise a puppy! What truly mattered was finding a way to use the items stored in her “resort” without raising suspicion.

Tomorrow was Saturday—It’s time for those things in the resort to see the light of day.

After all, no one hoards riches while pinching pennies in everyday life.

Once Shen Zhihuan had settled on her plan, she waited for Li Qiuhua and Xiaowei to head out to work after their midday nap. She then got up, tied her messy hair into a small bun, grabbed the sickle hanging by the door, and slung a basket over her back.

She headed to Xihoushan, the mountain closest to the Shen family home.

The original Shen Zhihuan had been weak and rarely ventured out, let alone into the mountains. Without much useful knowledge in her inherited memories, Shen Zhihuan had to rely on her own caution. She carefully marked landmarks and directions as she walked, ensuring she could find her way back later.

Although Panshi Village was remote, it boasted beautiful scenery. Rolling green hills stretched as far as the eye could see. Shen Zhihuan leisurely strolled up the mountain path, enjoying the view.

Her real purpose wasn’t to exhaust herself but to create a plausible excuse for the treasures she would soon bring back.

She avoided the mushrooms and fungi growing at the base of trees, unsure of their safety.

Her life might have been borrowed, but she still cherished it.

Shen Zhihuan used a stick to push aside the undergrowth blocking her path. The rustling startled a grayish figure that bolted out of the grass before she could react—a wild rabbit.

For a moment, she froze, but when the rabbit dashed into the bushes, she snapped into action and gave chase.

The rabbit darted away as if its life depended on it, while Shen Zhihuan pursued it with unexpected determination.

Birds scattered from the treetops, flapping their wings in alarm as the wild chase unfolded below.

For someone who claimed to value her life, Shen Zhihuan was now single-minded in her pursuit. She vowed not to stop until she caught the rabbit.

As the gap between her and the rabbit closed, it seemed the chase might finally end. Suddenly, a wild pheasant burst out of the bushes near a tree, flapping its wings in panic.

With a loud thud, the panicked pheasant crashed into the tree in front of Shen Zhihuan and collapsed.

“…”

She looked around but saw no sign of the rabbit. Instead, she stared down at the lifeless pheasant lying at the tree’s base, utterly speechless.

Sometimes, life had a funny way of working out. She sighed, crouched down to pick up the unfortunate bird, and prepared to take it home for soup.

As she bent over, her peripheral vision caught sight of a patch of vibrant red berries near the tree roots.

“Red berries…?” Shen Zhihuan’s eyes widened.

Her heart raced as she realized what she had stumbled upon. Could she be the legendary chosen one who can win effortlessly?!

Carefully, she drew out the knife she had traded from Qin Bin’s and began gently clearing the soil around the roots. The ginseng plants grew close together, their fine roots intertwined. Afraid of damaging the ginseng and lowering its value, she worked patiently and meticulously.

After much effort, she unearthed two sizeable hundred-year-old ginseng roots. She wrapped them carefully in moss and set them aside.

The remaining ginseng plants were transferred to the fertile soil near the yellow pear trees in her “resort.” Even the ginseng seeds were scattered around the pear tree to ensure future harvests.

Satisfied with her work, Shen Zhihuan finally looked up to see the sun dipping low in the sky. A faint mist enveloped the mountain peaks, giving the scene an ethereal beauty.

She stretched, rubbed her sore neck, and picked up her basket to head back down the mountain.

As Shen Zhihuan reached the foot of the mountain, she casually grabbed an unknown bundle of weeds and tossed them into her basket for show.

On a nearby path, Li Qiuhua and Xiao Weidong were frantically searching for her, tears brimming in their eyes.

Spotting Shen Zhihuan’s familiar figure in the distance, they rushed toward her.

“Why didn’t you tell us where you were going? Do you want to scare your mother to death?” Li Qiuhua scolded, giving her daughter a once-over to ensure she was unharmed. She then pulled Shen Zhihuan close and smacked her lightly on the bottom.

“Are we short on food? Lacking clothes? Why would you risk your health to wander the mountains? Do we need the weeds that badly?” Li Qiuhua’s anger flared as she spoke.

“…”

Shen Zhihuan blinked in surprise.
Was this… a spanking? On her bottom?

It was her first time experiencing such a thing—ever.

The pain was minimal, but the unexpected act left her feeling a mix of emotions. Embarrassment? Not really. If anything, there was a faint trace of… joy.

Was she discovering an unexpected side to herself?

Seeing Shen Zhihuan’s silence, Li Qiuhua’s anger softened into concern. “Did I hurt you? I’m sorry. I was just so worried. Next time, tell me where you’re going so I don’t worry myself sick.”

“Big Sister, you are weak and you need to take good care of yourself. Leave the work to me and Mom,” Xiao Weidong added earnestly.

“Mom, I’m sorry. I should’ve told you,” Shen Zhihuan admitted, nodding obediently in line with her usual demeanor.

“Let’s head home. It’s getting dark, and the night air is chilly,” Li Qiuhua said, taking the basket from Shen Zhihuan and slinging it over her own shoulder.