She remembered her own childhood, back when Zhang Rui had given her ten yuan as a reward. She had felt so proud holding that sum for the first time, immediately begging Zhang Rui to take her shopping in the county so she could treat Xiao He and her masters. However, by the time they arrived, only one yuan remained—she’d dropped the rest somewhere along the way.

Zhang Rui was baffled, retracing their steps back home before returning to the store, looking defeated as he finally asked her to buy what she wanted.

After that incident, they both agreed it was best if she didn’t carry cash. Zhang Rui took on the task of shopping for her each time, sparing them both the worry.

Now, as Xiao He offered her his stash, she panicked, pushing it back. “No, no—count it yourself, then tell me the total.”

Xiao He nodded, swiftly counting the change with his quick fingers. His hands moved so fast they left a faint afterimage.

Tian Jiao watched, wide-eyed.

Soon after, Xiao He grabbed a notepad, jotted something down, and handed it over: 127.56 yuan.

She blinked in awe. He was still just a child, only recently allowed by Li Mu to take on small tasks, and he’d already saved up this much. Self-employment was still looked down upon, but people were slowly warming up to it as the necessity of earning a living outweighed any stigma.

Due to his age, Xiao He’s odd jobs went unnoticed, and his friendly nature helped him build trust. Though he rarely went out, he sometimes accompanied Zhang Rui, who was busy building his small business, hoping to save enough to buy a storefront.

Proudly, Tian Jiao patted him on the shoulder. “Well done! At this rate, you might be able to buy a house by year’s end.”

Xiao He nodded, and his innocent gaze made her want to pinch his cheeks. In the past, she might have done so without a second thought, but now… there was something holding her back, an awareness she couldn’t quite place.

Song Zhen cleared his throat, breaking the silence, and said in a firm voice, “Jiaojiao, come over. Today we’re focusing on landscape painting.”

Snapping back to attention, Tian Jiao quickly turned away from Xiao He and joined Song Zhen.

The class stretched on, but since it was a painting lesson, Tian Jiao felt no impatience. She listened intently as Song Zhen explained each detail, jotting down notes or sketching whenever something sparked an idea.

Despite the dampness of the cave, years of work had made it cozy. Wooden boards and cotton insulation kept the place relatively warm, though winters were still chilly.

But the cold couldn’t dampen her passion for art, especially when she thought back to her previous life. Coming from a modest background, learning to paint had taken serious sacrifices, balancing studies with her passion while scraping together enough money for lessons. She nearly missed the chance altogether.

Now that she could study for free, she was genuinely grateful to her mentor.

As night began to fall and the class drew to a close, Li Mu arrived.

But he wasn’t alone. Behind him stood a tall young man, around twenty years old. Even from a distance, his height was striking—he towered over Li Mu by a good two heads.

_

There was a dim light in the cave, just bright enough to show the young man’s face, which looked a lot like Li Mu.

Li Mu’s face beamed with joy. For six years, since Tian Jiao and Xiao He were little kids, they hadn’t had much to talk about. Tian Jiao noticed that it wasn’t the best time back then, so he held back from asking, feeling it might touch on something painful.

Now, for the first time, they were meeting someone related to both of the elders.

Li Mu smiled and said, “This is my eldest grandson, Li Cheng. Cheng means honesty. Jiaojiao, Xiao He, come over here.”

Li Cheng smiled politely. “Hello. This is a small gift for you,” he said, holding out two boxes. “I got these in Kyoto. Hope you’ll like them.”

Tian Jiao looked at Song Zhen, who nodded, so she accepted it. Xiao He looked at her, and when he saw her take it, he did the same, holding it without moving.

Tian Jiao grinned. “Thanks, Brother Li Cheng. Neither of us has a watch.”

Li Cheng shyly waved his hand, then bowed politely to Song Zhen, presenting him with a gift and thanking him for taking care of his grandfather all these years.

Seeing this made Song Zhen a little sad, as his own son and grandson had cut ties with him long ago.

He laughed, greeted Tian Jiao, then turned away, his eyes slightly red with a hint of sadness.

Suddenly, a gentle little figure wrapped itself around him, hugging him and patting his back as if to offer comfort. A soft voice said, “Grandpa, do you think my watch looks nice?”

Tian Jiao, after taking a photo, raised her hand to show off the watch like a prized possession. She looked up at him, stepped back a little, and shyly left out the respectful “Song” from Grandpa Song’s name.

Song Zhen blinked, a single tear falling. His heart, though a bit sour, felt warm again. He smiled. “It looks great. This hand is so soft, it’d be perfect in a stew!”

Tian Jiao pouted. “Grandpa, are you thinking about chicken again?”

Before, Tian Jiao often made tasty meals for the two of them. If she wanted something like chicken, it would always appear. They just needed to cook it. Song Zhen was a skilled cook, so these meals always turned out delicious.

Song Zhen rubbed his belly, smacked his lips, and nodded. “I won’t lie; I do miss it.”

Tian Jiao hummed and looked at Xiao He. “Let’s go out for a bit.”

Xiao He stood up quietly. In class, he always sat silently next to Tian Jiao, and now, he did the same.

Outside, Tian Jiao noticed Xiao He’s box still unopened, so she helped him open it and put the watch on him. “It looks really nice.”

The watch was delicate but not too fancy. It was clear they didn’t know about them before and just wanted to bring something good. For Grandpa Song and Grandpa Li, sending letters from here was difficult, and even if they could, the letters would be inspected. So, they simply avoided sending anything.

Tian Jiao looked at her own watch. With her slender wrist, it seemed a bit big, but it would suit her father.

She shook her wrist a little and put it back in her pocket.

Then she noticed Xiao He was watching her. Tian Jiao smiled. “This one’s too big; it doesn’t fit me well.”

Xiao He pursed his lips, and in the next moment, he took the watch and put it back in the box.

Tian Jiao chuckled, understanding that children like to imitate others.

…

Lanshan was actually very safe. With Tian Jiao around, no wild animals ever dared to come near.

Not long after leaving the cave, they saw some pheasants and their half-grown chicks roaming around. The pheasants didn’t seem scared and just strolled along slowly.

Xiao He picked up one of the chicks, which struggled a bit.

Tian Jiao pointed to another pheasant beside it. “That one’s a male. Take him instead.”

Xiao He nodded in realization and swapped the chick. This time, it didn’t resist.

About ten minutes later, they returned with the pheasant in Tian Jiao’s arms. Conversation in the cave stopped, and Li Cheng asked with surprise, “Is that a pheasant?”

“Yes, you’re in for a treat today,” Li Mu said proudly, like a grandparent showing off to his grandchildren.

Li Cheng smiled too, glad to see his grandfather living safely and comfortably here.

However, Tian Jiao noticed that both grandfathers seemed a little too excited. She wasn’t sure why, but when she was about to leave, she overheard Song Zhen whispering to Li Mu, “Thanks to your grandson for bringing this news. I almost thought I’d never have hope in this lifetime.”

Li Mu sighed, then replied, his voice full of spirit, “Nonsense! You’ve got a little granddaughter already, and you still say you’ve got no hope?”

Without stopping, Tian Jiao walked out, not hearing the rest. Xiao He saw her off.

But she could guess what it was about. Right now, the news was good for them, so it might be a matter of setting things right.

…

That evening, Tian Jiao gave her watch to Zhang Rui, who happily put it on and went out to show it off. Then he went to the barn to thank Li Mu and his grandson.

Everything seemed to be moving in a good direction.

But on the third day after Zhang Dong returned, Ding Yushu, who hadn’t visited him in years, finally came over.

This was the first time in years she had come to Old Zhang’s place, and the whole family was surprised.

The weather in late April wasn’t as hot as it would be in the 21st century. Everyone was wearing long sleeves and pants, and those who got cold easily even wore jackets. In the morning, Zhang Rui took Zhang Yanran out and bought two lovely dresses for Tian Jiao that were just right for the season. Zhang Rui’s dad got one too, and the grandparents did as well. Tian Jiao, however, received an extra one.

“They’re very pretty,” Li Mizhen said as she looked at the two girls, smiling. Then she turned to Zhang Dong, who was sitting in the yard, basking in the sun, and said, “Look at our two daughters! They’re so beautiful.”

Zhang Dong’s pale face looked as calm as always, his leg propped up in a cast on a stool. His eyebrows were bold and clear, showing no sign of sadness despite all he’d been through. “Our family’s feng shui is still strong; it brings good fortune,” he said with a smile.

Li Mizhen chuckled along.

Zhang Dagen was still out working. Zhang Rui stayed home, continuing his carpentry work in the yard. He had saved quite a bit now and was just waiting for new policies to start a bigger project. Unlike his brother, Zhang Rui wasn’t as driven to do farm work.

But Zhang Dagen was different. If he didn’t work, he felt restless, and someone from their family had to earn income outside, or else people might gossip. So Zhang Dagen was determined to keep working.

Meanwhile, Xu Qiu was knitting a sweater, preparing for winter.

Just as everything seemed peaceful, Ding Yushu stormed in, looking angry.

Tian Jiao glanced at her but quickly lost interest. She remembered how Zhang Rui could easily outsmart Ding Yushu in arguments even six years ago. Now, it would be no challenge at all.

Ding Yushu didn’t look as well-off as she once did. When Tian Jiao first joined the Zhang family, Ding Yushu was always neatly dressed, with beautiful, clean clothes that made her stand out in the village. But now her clothes were worn, her hair unkempt, and her hands and face rough. Life didn’t seem to be going easy on her, but she had held out without causing much trouble, which Tian Jiao found admirable. She only wished Ding Yushu would be even tougher and stay away for good.

…

“Mom, brother is back.” Ding Yushu greeted with a forced smile, her gaze shifting to Xu Qiu and Zhang Yanran. “So this is your daughter? She’s very beautiful.”

Li Mizhen rolled her eyes and headed into the kitchen, not wanting to engage.

Zhang Dong greeted her politely, recognizing from her tone that this was Zhang Zhi’s wife. “Yes, Yanran, say hello to your aunt.”

Yanran replied politely, “Aunt.”

Ding Yushu smiled stiffly, then looked at Zhang Dong. “Brother, I have something to discuss. When our family split, we were only given 50 yuan and sent away. They took advantage of us back then. Brother, you should be fair. We should get a share of this house too.”

Zhang Dong’s eyes narrowed as he looked at her.

As a former soldier, especially one with a background in special forces, his gaze could be especially intimidating.

Under his gaze, Ding Yushu felt uneasy and took a step back. She managed a forced laugh. “What are you staring at, Brother?”

In a firm voice, Zhang Dong replied, “Mother raised Zhang Zhi for over 20 years. When will he start giving back?”

Ding Yushu was caught off guard. “Isn’t that just a parent’s duty?” she muttered. Then, in an agitated tone, she said, “Are you going to take advantage of me too? Zhang Zhi always holds things in and just suffers through everything. Look at him—he’s so thin!”

Zhang Dong nodded. “Yes, I see he’s struggling. But there’s no law that says parents have to care for a child past his twenties.”

Ding Yushu prepared to argue, but Zhang Dong cut her off, his voice steady. “I hear you’re educated, so try not to embarrass yourself.”

Ding Yushu’s scalp prickled with regret. Listening to gossip and coming here now seemed like a mistake. Except for Zhang Zhi, no one in this family was easy to deal with.

Seeing her speechless, Zhang Dong calmly added, “This house and everything in it were earned by our elders. They can give it to whomever they wish. And even if they don’t, no law says they have to. I hope you keep that in mind.”

Ding Yushu’s face went pale. Her hands clenched as she struggled to find something to say, but nothing came out.

The community might criticize elders for not sharing property fairly, but someone thick-skinned could still live well despite it. Plus, because Ding Yushu had made such a fuss back when the family divided, the community mostly sided with the Zhang family.

Ding Yushu regretted her visit and felt trapped.

Noticing her silence, Zhang Dong relented, smiling. “Glad we understand each other. Yanran, bring some melon seeds for your aunt. Even if we’re separated now, she’s still a guest, and we don’t have much else to offer.”

“Thank you,” Ding Yushu mumbled, taking the small handful of seeds from Yanran with a strained smile. She wanted to complain about the paltry amount, but she didn’t dare under Zhang Dong’s sharp gaze. She gave a forced laugh and quickly left.

Zhang Dong chuckled, stroking his chin. Some stubble had grown, and he thought it was time to shave.

He suddenly felt a curious gaze on him and turned to see Tian Jiao watching. Gently, he asked, “What’s on your mind?”

Tian Jiao blushed and smiled. “I think you’re very impressive, Uncle.”

As expected, her father’s brother was someone to admire. Even Zhang Zhi, despite his mild manner, was someone with a strong will. He’d refused to divide the family at first, then later stood firm against Ding Yushu, never letting her take advantage.

Back when they split the family, Ding Yushu wouldn’t have given in so easily, and she must have been subdued only by Zhang Zhi’s quiet strength.

Zhang Dong’s smile broadened, clearly pleased by the compliment. “Thank you. You’re very sweet.”

Though Zhang Dong wasn’t especially handsome compared to Zhang Rui or Zhang Zhi, his years of experience lent his gaze a unique charm. His praise was given in a warm tone, making the recipient feel seen and appreciated.

Embarrassed, Tian Jiao turned to Zhang Yanran. “I’ll go change my clothes now.”

She felt flustered by her uncle’s easy going manner. It made her understand why uncles could be so popular. 

“Go ahead.” The little girl in front of him dashed away after saying that.

Zhang Yanran glanced at her father, then back at the girl’s retreating figure, feeling a bit shy.

Dad is still so charming.

Even though he only comes back every six months or sometimes even once a year, Zhang Yanran still adores him. People with good looks—even if they haven’t met in a long time—still feel close when they reunite.

As she was thinking, she heard Zhang Dong say, “Yanran, when your second uncle gets back, tell him to come over to my place.”

Zhang Yanran nodded. “Do you want to give him the things you brought back? Or should I send them over directly?”

Zhang Dong shook his head. “Let’s wait until he comes here.”

Naturally, he’d prepared things for his two younger brothers. When he came back, he guessed Zhang Zhi and Zhang Rui were likely married by now. After all, the youngest brother was already twenty-eight.

He hadn’t fulfilled his responsibilities as an older brother for years. Now that he was back, he naturally wanted to make up for it.

But when he returned and heard that his second brother had divided the family property and kept a share for him, he wanted to understand what was going on.

When Ding Yushu visited today, everything made sense. No wonder a person like that couldn’t live with his mother. It was normal for them to split up. Now, he could send the gifts, but only to Zhang Zhi.

Zhang Zhi was very moved when he saw the gift. And in the village, Xu Qiu—who’d been visiting frequently these days—also learned about it.

She confirmed that Tian Jiao was also a time traveler.

With a smile, she said, “The Zhang family really is going to become rich. With three future people in the house, they’ll probably get rich even faster than in the book.”