1959

It was the peak of the farming season, and every household was working with all their might. At times like this, the presence of able-bodied men in the family became all the more important.

During the double harvest season, work was exhausting and relentless. Most days, meals were brought directly to the fields by family members. Usually, they didn’t get to eat this well—though there was no meat, at least they could eat their fill. Strength was everything when it came to farm work, and how could anyone work on an empty stomach?

So, no matter how poor a family was, they would rather go hungry themselves just to make sure the labourers had enough to eat.

As mealtime approached, wisps of smoke curled from the chimneys in Yuxi Village. Normally, it was Ma Cuilan or the two daughters of the house who would bring food to the fields but today was different—Third Brother’s wife had just given birth, so a few family members had returned home for the meal.

There was no meat to be found on the table. If anyone wanted to eat meat, they had to work harder, earn more work points, and wait for the pig slaughter at the end of the year to get a larger share. Right now, the system is that each person receives six portions, and each worker receives four. Their family was large, and if they put in enough effort, they could get a decent portion of meat.

Even without meat, the family ate heartily, heads down, focused on their bowls. Meanwhile, Lin Shu had been taken to her mother by Old Madam Lin.

Li Xiuying was savouring the sweet egg soup her sister-in-law had prepared for her. Soon, she would also have a bowl of egg noodle soup.

Hearing her mother-in-law name the baby “Shu Bao,” Li Xiuying felt a warm satisfaction in her heart.

She cradled the sleeping Shu Bao in her arms, just as Zhang Caifeng entered with the egg noodle soup. Setting the baby down, she quickly said, “Sister-in-law, thank you for the trouble.”

Zhang Caifeng was a simple and good-natured person. She chuckled. “What trouble? Just sit and eat.”

Li Xiuying was more reserved by nature, but she got along well with this particular sister-in-law. Hearing her words, she smiled warmly and didn’t stand on ceremony.

As she picked up the bowl, Zhang Caifeng hesitated, standing there with her mouth slightly open as if she wanted to say something but didn’t know how.

Li Xiuying found it odd. “Sister-in-law, if there’s something on your mind, just say it.”

Zhang Caifeng’s face turned red, and she quickly waved her hands. “No, no, it’s nothing. You eat first—I’ll head out.”

Li Xiuying watched as her sister-in-law left in a hurry, puzzled. She wasn’t one to overthink things, so she simply let it go.

Back at the dining table, most of the food was already gone, but fortunately, her husband had saved her a portion. Zhang Caifeng ate quickly—after a whole morning of hard work on an empty stomach, she was starving. With her hunger satisfied, all those lingering thoughts from earlier drifted away.

After finishing his meal, Second Brother spoke up. “Mom, I ran into the village head today. He said there’s going to be a meeting tonight.”

Ma Cuilan put down her bowl with a huff. “A meeting, huh? I bet he’s just going to talk about grain collection again.”

Third Brother sighed, “If only we could eat government-provided rations… Then Mom could eat whatever she wanted.”

Eldest Brother shot him a look. “You’re dreaming.”

Ma Cuilan raised her voice. “I won’t live to see that day, but maybe my grandchildren will bring me some fortune.”

Hearing this, the three sons felt a pang of guilt. They were all fathers themselves now, yet they still hadn’t provided a life of comfort for their mother. How useless they were.

Third Brother’s eyes reddened first. He stood up abruptly. “Mom, we’re sorry for making you suffer all these years.”

Eldest and Second Brother also felt ashamed. They knew better than anyone how much hardship their mother had endured raising them alone.

Seeing the heavy atmosphere, Zhang Caifeng and Li Xiaohong lost their appetites as well. No matter what they thought deep down, they couldn’t help but feel sombre on the surface.

“Mom, even if we can’t provide you with government rations, we have a good family atmosphere. We’re all filial to you.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The children chimed in too. Liu Jin, Hei Dan, Lu Dan, and Ya Dan all said in unison, “We are filial to Grandma.”

Da Ya and Er Ya also put down their bowls and looked between their mother and father before declaring, “We are filial to Grandma too.”

Ma Cuilan was pleased beyond measure. People often asked her how she had raised such obedient children—well, this was how.

Unlike some foolish old women in the village who sacrificed everything for their sons only to be resented in return, she made sure to remind her sons of her hardships often.

And it worked. Every time, they were moved to tears.

Satisfied, Old Madam Lin finished her meal, feeling lighter than ever.

The Lin family had originally lived in an old house, but as each son got married and the number of children grew, they had saved up to expand. Under Ma Cuilan’s decision, the house had been enlarged.

Now, aside from the kitchen, the Lin family had four rooms. Old Madam Lin lived in the eastern room, while Third Brother’s family lived in the western room.

In the western room, a curtain divided the space—this was where the two sons slept.

Lu Dan and Ya Dan huddled near the bed, staring curiously at their fair-skinned little sister.

Ya Dan swallowed. “Brother, she looks as white as fine flour.” He had only eaten dumplings made from fine flour once, during the New Year, and they had been delicious. Now, looking at his sister, who was as fair as that flour, he decided—he liked her.

Lu Dan glanced at his silly younger brother. “She’s our sister. From now on, you have to give her your share of fine flour.”

Ya Dan was horrified. “Huh? Then what will I eat?”

Lu Dan thought for a moment. “You can drink flour soup.”

Ya Dan was reluctant, but looking at his delicate little sister—who was undoubtedly the prettiest baby in the whole village—he felt a sense of responsibility as an older brother.

Pouting, he begrudgingly agreed, “…Fine, as long as I still get some soup.”

Li Xiuying, watching the two boys, couldn’t help but laugh. She pulled them into her arms and smiled. “We’ll all eat dumplings, and we’ll save the soup for your father.”

The mother and sons shared a warm, joyful moment together.

Duck Egg was curious. “Mom, why is little sis always sleeping? I’ve never seen her awake.”

Donkey Egg was a bit worried, too. What if their little sister turned out to be a lazy girl and couldn’t get married in the future?

Frowning, Donkey Egg said, “Mom, our sister is way too lazy.”

He was a hardworking boy himself and didn’t want his sister to grow up lazy.

Li Xiuying was also puzzled. She had raised two kids before, but this daughter of hers seemed exceptionally fond of sleeping. In the countryside, lazy girls were unheard of—women were expected to pull their weight just like men.

As Lin Shu slowly woke from her dreams, the first thing she heard was her brothers calling her lazy.

Well, okay, maybe she was a little lazy. But still! If they weren’t her own brothers, she’d definitely teach them a lesson. She glanced at her tiny arms and legs, then at her brothers.

Hmm. Maybe she should leave the disciplining to her mom for now. She needed to grow a little first.

And so, Lin Shu returned to her daily routine of zoning out.

The days passed by, and Lin Shu had grown quite a bit since birth. Ma Cuilan adored her precious granddaughter and made sure she ate well. Although her eldest and second daughters-in-law felt a little resentful, they didn’t dare protest. After all, they weren’t the ones in charge.

This only strengthened their resolve to one day split from the family. But that wasn’t something that could be rushed. For now, despite occasional tensions, the family still got along well enough, so they kept their thoughts to themselves.

As for Li Xiuying, she didn’t concern herself with household affairs. She did feel a little guilty toward her sisters-in-law, but her husband had made it clear: if she didn’t eat well, how would their daughter get enough nutrition? They couldn’t bear to let their little girl suffer. Li Xiuying wholeheartedly agreed.

By now, Lin Shu had gained a reputation as the laziest little girl in the family. Her daily schedule was simple—sleep until almost noon, wake up to be fed by her mother, and stay alert just long enough to daydream while listening to her parents, grandmother, and brothers chat.

That was how she learned she was currently in a rural village in S Province, South China, in the year 1954.

1954! Lin Shu yawned. She never expected to be born in China at such a time.

She was the youngest in the family, and Ma Cuilan spoiled her rotten. Her parents cherished her as their only daughter, and they weren’t the type to favour sons over daughters. Besides, she was adorable—her fair skin made her look like a little city girl. No one had the heart to let her suffer. Even her older brothers and sisters doted on her.

And so, surrounded by love and indulgence, Lin Shu settled comfortably into her role as a pampered little baby. Eating and sleeping became her daily mission, and before she knew it, she had fully embraced the life of a carefree, idle child, almost forgetting her past self.

The family occasionally thought about encouraging her to be more active, but each time, they reassured themselves, She’s still young! Let her be.

And just like that, Lin Shu remained a happy little slacker until she turned five.

By then, everyone in Yuxi Village knew that the Lin family had an exceptionally cute little girl—her skin was so fair it practically glowed, making her look like she belonged in the city.

Rumours started spreading.

“She must be drinking foreign baby formula. How else could she be so pale?”

The villagers firmly believed that foreign baby formula had miraculous properties—whitening skin, curing diseases, and making kids grow stronger. Even though they had never actually seen or tasted it, that didn’t stop them from imagining its wonders.

Before long, the story took on a life of its own.

“That Lin family girl is so fair because she was raised on imported baby formula.”

Some of the darker-skinned girls in the village took this rumour to heart. Quietly, they made trips to the Gu family, hoping to confirm the story. But after much snooping, they found nothing—because there was nothing to find.

The only foreign formula Lin Shu had ever tasted came from a single tin of powdered milk, gifted by the Gu family’s young man when Ma Cuilan was sick. And honestly, it hadn’t done much.

By the time Lin Shu turned five, it was the spring of 1959.

The Lin family’s life carried on in its usual, lively way. The sisters-in-law had their small conflicts, but overall, they got along well enough.

Though Lin Shu’s official birthday was in August, she was already considered a year older since the new year had passed.

Her life? A perfect little salted fish existence. She was content and carefree every day.

Of course, not everything was perfect.

Lin Shu was originally from the year 2045, a time of advanced technology. The poverty and backwardness of her current life were things she had only ever read about in history books.

Take the family’s stone mill, for example. At first, she thought it was just a big rock. But one day, she saw her father, Lin Jianhua, sweating and straining as he pushed the heavy grindstone—just like an old donkey.

Lin Shu’s mouth fell open in shock.

This is way too outdated! Not a single bit of modern technology!

With her tiny face all serious, she furrowed her little brows and stared into the yard.

Just then, Hei Dan walked in and caught sight of her. His eyes lit up. “Little sister is frowning again!”

Hei Dan was fascinated by his younger sister. She was the most interesting little girl he had ever seen.

Hearing this, Ma Cuilan stepped out of the kitchen. Seeing Lin Shu sitting on her little stool, gazing solemnly at the yard, she chuckled. “What’s my little Shu Bao thinking about? Tell Grandma.”

Her little granddaughter was just too adorable. Sure, she was lazy, but she was still young!

The small wooden stool was Lin Shu’s personal seat, handcrafted by her father, Lin Lao San.

Such a tiny person, with such a serious face and furrowed brows—it was simply too cute.

The first time Donkey Egg saw his little sister making that serious face, he had called the whole family over to see.

And from that day on, spotting Lin Shu “deep in thought” became a family tradition. If anyone caught her looking serious, they would immediately announce it to the household so everyone could come and admire the sight.

Lin Shu, who considered herself a mature adult inside, decided to let these childish grown-ups have their fun.

She wouldn’t stoop to their level.

(End of Chapter)