Chapter 1: Car Accident 
 
**Xu Xiaoxiao**, a chemistry teacher at a prestigious high school, 30 years old, had only been married for a short time when her husband, Ling Xiao, the captain of a fire brigade, tragically died during a mission. His body was never recovered.
 
Losing her husband left her in a state of despair for a long time. Eventually, she pulled herself together and threw herself into her work, dedicating herself to teaching and nurturing students. She decided not to pursue relationships anymore.
 
**Xia Qingfeng**, Xu Xiaoxiao’s mother, is a senior medical professor at the Military General Hospital. She divorced early in life and raised her daughter on her own. Due to her busy work schedule and not wanting to make her daughter feel uncomfortable, she never remarried.
 
This year, Xia Qingfeng retired. To celebrate, she insisted on taking her daughter, Xu Xiaoxiao, on a road trip now that Xu’s summer break had begun. Xu Xiaoxiao knew her mother was doing this to help her relax.
 
Ever since her husband passed away, her mother had repeatedly suggested traveling, but Xu always came up with various excuses to decline. It wasn’t that she didn’t like traveling; it was just that it felt incomplete without the person she used to travel with.
 
Thus, during her time off, Xu Xiaoxiao’s favorite thing to do was lie in bed, close her eyes, and imagine that her husband hadn’t died, that he was still by her side, cooking for her in the kitchen, walking with her on the way home from work, or on the scene of a mission… It was through these fantasies that she got through the lonely days.
 
Since then, her workaholic mother had begun eagerly waiting for retirement. And now, the long-awaited moment had arrived. Xia Qingfeng rejected offers from major hospitals, insisting on enjoying her retirement.
 
**A certain tourist city.**  
“Xiaoxiao, let me drive, you’ve been driving for a long time. Don’t tire yourself out.”
 
“Mom, I’m not tired. Just sit back and relax. We’ll buy a few things at the nearby mall and then head to the hotel. One night is enough.”
 
At a red light, Xia Qingfeng opened the door and got out of the car, urging her daughter, “Xiaoxiao, you go sit in the passenger seat. I’ll drive to the mall. Don’t forget, I’ve been driving for thirty years, I have more experience than you.” Seeing her mother insist, Xu Xiaoxiao reluctantly got out of the car and moved to the passenger seat.
 
Just then, the light turned green, and the car headed toward the largest shopping mall nearby.
 
“See? Don’t worry when I drive. After we buy the things, I’ll drive us back to the hotel,” Xia Qingfeng said, feeling smug as she drove.
 
“Sigh…” Xu Xiaoxiao sighed. Her mother was terrible at directions—she even needed a GPS to drive around their neighborhood. The route she knew best was the 10-minute drive from the hospital to their home. Xu really didn’t want her mom to drive outside of that, but her mother still insisted on doing it.
 
At this point, the car was driving toward the underground parking garage of the mall.
 
“True to its reputation as a tourist city, there are so many cars. Even the second underground floor is full,” Xia Qingfeng said, glancing at the electronic display near the corner. “Hurry, the third underground floor is almost full too. I have to speed up or we might not get a parking spot.” As she said that, she stepped harder on the gas pedal.
 
Xu Xiaoxiao suddenly had a bad feeling and quickly shouted, “Mom, slow down! The slope is steep…”
 
“Ah!” In an instant, the car crashed into the bend of a wall—no, it actually climbed over it. Then, the car flipped onto its roof. Before anyone in the car could react, another car that had just come up behind them slammed into it due to the blind spot…
 
Before losing consciousness, Xu Xiaoxiao thought: This might be the most serious car accident ever in a parking lot…
 
“This little widow, how could she think of such a thing?”
 
“Yeah, yeah, she jumped into the river to kill herself and even brought the child with her. That child is only three years old!”
 
“Ugh, she’s moving, she’s moving. Looks like she’s not dead…”
 
Xia Qingfeng slowly opened her eyes, groggily seeing that there were many people around her. As her vision cleared, she realized that they were all wearing coarse cloth clothes, most of which were patched, and many were still wearing their hair in buns. Was she on the set of a historical drama and met some extras? No, wait… she was clearly driving just now! Was it possible that she had opened her eyes the wrong way?
 
Xia Qingfeng tightly closed her eyes and then opened them again…
 
“Xia Shi, you’re awake? Quickly, look at the child. There’s no obstacle that can’t be overcome. The child is so young; it’s really pitiful!”
 
Xia Qingfeng turned her eyes and saw that the person speaking was a woman in her forties. She had a round face with squinty eyes. Despite her patched clothes, they were very clean, and her hair was neatly arranged.
 
Xia Qingfeng struggled to sit up, noticing the small, wet girl lying beside her. Her heart skipped a beat. This child looked so much like Xiaoxiao when she was young. In a panic, she hurriedly checked the child’s pulse and examined her eyelids. Fortunately, everything seemed fine—just unconscious.
 
Xia Qingfeng had no idea what was happening, but her body felt terribly damp and uncomfortable. She needed to leave and change clothes first.
 
So, she said to the woman who had spoken earlier, “Little sister, I’m really too weak right now. Could you help me take the child home first?”
 
“Little sister? You’re still not recovered, are you? You usually call me Aunt Li,” the woman squinted her eyes and waved her hand in front of Xia Qingfeng’s face.
 
Xia Qingfeng felt embarrassed. What was going on here?! “Uh, well, could you just take me home first? Sorry to trouble you, Li… Aunt Li.”
 
“What’s the big deal? We live next door. I’m heading home anyway, it’s on the way,” said the woman as she picked up the child. Turning to a girl around seven or eight years old, she added, “Daya, help your auntie. She just fell into the water and has no strength.”
 
“Okay!” A little girl with squinty eyes came running over to support Xia Qingfeng. “Auntie, I’ll help you walk.” With that, Xia Qingfeng groggily followed along. Once the villagers saw there was nothing more to be done, they all scattered.
 
Xia Qingfeng and Aunt Li arrived at a shabby courtyard. The door was unlocked, so Aunt Li pushed it open and walked in. There were only two dilapidated mudbrick houses in the yard.
 
Aunt Li placed the child on the kang (a traditional heated bed), saying, “Don’t overthink it. Life still has to go on. If you have any trouble, come find me. If that doesn’t work, talk to the village head. Hurry up and change clothes for the child. I’ll leave first.” With that, she took Daya and left.
 
After they left, Xia Qingfeng started to look around the place. The walls were covered with a grayish coat of plaster. By the window was a kang, which was where she was sitting, and beside it was an old chest. That was all there was. There was also a small kitchen, which Xia Qingfeng had glanced at when she first came in. There was a stove, a pot, and a broken cupboard. It was simple, but still tidy. For someone like her with a bit of a cleanliness obsession, it was bearable.
 
At this moment, her head still felt dizzy. Looking at the child on the kang, with those familiar brows and eyes, her heart tightened. Sigh… No matter what situation she was in right now, the child beside her was truly pitiful. She had to find some clothes to change into quickly—if she caught a cold, it would be a big problem.
 
Xia Qingfeng quickly rummaged through the chest for clothes. After everything was in order, she felt her vision darkening, too exhausted. She lay back on the kang with her head tilted back and passed out.
 
She had a long, strange dream, full of bizarre images…
 
When she opened her eyes again, she finally understood—she had traveled through time.
 
Although she was an old lady who was passionate about medicine, the young nurses at the hospital would often chat about topics like “time travel,” “rebirth,” “space,” and “golden fingers.” She had also casually read a couple of novels of that genre, or rather, listened to them. So, she had some understanding of it.
 
“What’s the big deal? We live next door. I’m heading home anyway, it’s on the way,” said the woman as she picked up the child. Turning to a girl around seven or eight years old, she added, “Daya, help your auntie. She just fell into the water and has no strength.”
 
“Okay!” A little girl with squinty eyes came running over to support Xia Qingfeng. “Auntie, I’ll help you walk.” With that, Xia Qingfeng groggily followed along. Once the villagers saw there was nothing more to be done, they all scattered.
 
Xia Qingfeng and Aunt Li arrived at a shabby courtyard. The door was unlocked, so Aunt Li pushed it open and walked in. There were only two dilapidated mudbrick houses in the yard.
 
Aunt Li placed the child on the kang (a traditional heated bed), saying, “Don’t overthink it. Life still has to go on. If you have any trouble, come find me. If that doesn’t work, talk to the village head. Hurry up and change clothes for the child. I’ll leave first.” With that, she took Daya and left.
 
After they left, Xia Qingfeng started to look around the place. The walls were covered with a grayish coat of plaster. By the window was a kang, which was where she was sitting, and beside it was an old chest. That was all there was. There was also a small kitchen, which Xia Qingfeng had glanced at when she first came in. There was a stove, a pot, and a broken cupboard. It was simple, but still tidy. For someone like her with a bit of a cleanliness obsession, it was bearable.
 
At this moment, her head still felt dizzy. Looking at the child on the kang, with those familiar brows and eyes, her heart tightened. Sigh… No matter what situation she was in right now, the child beside her was truly pitiful. She had to find some clothes to change into quickly—if she caught a cold, it would be a big problem.
 
Xia Qingfeng quickly rummaged through the chest for clothes. After everything was in order, she felt her vision darkening, too exhausted. She lay back on the kang with her head tilted back and passed out.
 
She had a long, strange dream, full of bizarre images…
 
When she opened her eyes again, she finally understood—she had traveled through time.
 
Although she was an old lady who was passionate about medicine, the young nurses at the hospital would often chat about topics like “time travel,” “rebirth,” “space,” and “golden fingers.” She had also casually read a couple of novels of that genre, or rather, listened to them. So, she had some understanding of it.