Chapter 49

Zhenzhen keenly observed the changes in society, but perhaps because Beicha was too remote, the only noticeable difference was that the time spent singing revolutionary songs and reciting quotations at school had increased. Other than that, there weren’t many changes.

As spring arrived and flowers bloomed, Li Muwu removed the newspapers that had been pasted over the windows. After being shut for four or five months, the windows were finally opened again, allowing sunlight to stream into the house, which had remained dim throughout the winter. Taking advantage of the sunny weather, Wang Sufen washed all the bedding in the house, dried it thoroughly, and then sewed it back together.

Doubao was only a few months old and still breastfeeding, so Wang Sufen didn’t let Guihua touch cold water. She only allowed her to do light chores, and if anything needed washing, she had to heat a pot of water first. She was afraid that if Guihua caught a cold and got sick, both mother and child would suffer. The whole family spent more than half a month cleaning, making both the front and back rooms bright and tidy, and planting various fresh vegetables in the yard.

Ever since Zhenzhen used her ability to help grow crops, the Li family’s rice and flour containers were always full. Since Zhenzhen loved fresh vegetables, Grandma Li stopped planting corn in the front and back yards, opting instead for a variety of fruits and vegetables. As long as they had seeds—even just a root—they could take root and grow in the Li family’s garden. Because of this, Grandma Li and Li Muwu frequently brought new plants home.

After Mingbei returned to school, he was busy with his studies from morning till night and had no time to forage for wild vegetables in the mountains. Wang Sufen was overwhelmed with household chores and couldn’t tend to the family’s pig. So Zhenzhen simply let edible greens grow around the pigsty, allowing them to be picked as needed for pig feed. By the time one patch was harvested, another would have grown.

Guihua, living in the back room and unable to help with other chores while taking care of the baby, took over the task of cooking pig feed. She mixed sweet potato leaves and flour with some wild greens from around the pigsty, chopped them up, cooked them, and poured them into the trough. When one patch was picked clean, another would grow, making Guihua marvel at how fertile the land was—everything grew so well.

Under Grandma Li’s lifelong teachings, Li Muwu had become someone who could endure hard work and valued cleanliness. Every few days, he cleaned out the pigsty, and despite the family raising pigs for several years, their pigsty remained spotless and odor-free.

When the first batch of cabbage in the Li family’s field sprouted, the cherry trees they had planted three years ago also finally bore fruit. The saplings had been brought back from Bingcheng by Mingdong.

During school, Mingdong had to work at the school farm every few months, doing everything from sowing and fertilizing to harvesting wheat and pulling radishes. Near the farm, there were a few villages, and one household had a seven or eight-year-old cherry tree. Every May and June, the tree would be covered in red cherries, looking irresistibly delicious. Seeing that the family also had a few smaller cherry saplings, Mingdong secretly traded ration tickets for two of them during a school break and brought them home by train.

Mingdong planted the saplings in the empty space east of the house. Grandma Li, worried that Zhenzhen might use her ability to instantly turn them into towering trees, repeatedly reminded her—day and night—that the cherry trees could only bear fruit naturally after three years. Zhenzhen, of course, wasn’t a child. She only used her powers freely in the mountains where no one was around. At home, with neighbors living nearby, she didn’t want to cause a stir and become the subject of gossip.

Finally, after three years of waiting, as soon as the cherry blossoms bloomed this year, Zhenzhen watched them eagerly every day. Grandma Li, worried again, told her to be patient until the proper season. So, Zhenzhen only used her ability to sense the tree’s growth, watering and pruning it carefully, waiting for the big, red cherries to ripen.

Now, seeing the first naturally ripened cherry, she was finally at ease and boldly accelerated the ripening of a few more. When Grandma Li saw the tree full of bright red cherries, she checked the date and finally let out a sigh of relief. She immediately raised her voice and called out, “Zhenzhen, come pick the cherries!”

Zhenzhen found a vegetable-washing basin in the kitchen, stood on a stool, and casually picked the ripest cherries. Grandma Li, watching from below, saw that some cherries were still small and green, but as soon as Zhenzhen touched them, they turned bright red and plump. Their vivid color was incredibly enticing.

Grandma Li quickly glanced back to check if Guihua was inside and, seeing that she hadn’t come out, finally relaxed. She tugged at Zhenzhen’s sleeve and whispered, “Be careful, don’t let your sister-in-law see.”

Zhenzhen turned her head, nodded, and replied softly, “I know.”

After picking only half a basin of cherries, Zhenzhen started to feel bored. She scanned the area with her ability and saw that Guihua was inside, busy altering some of Meat Bun’s old clothes, showing no signs of coming out soon. With a mischievous grin, she raised the basin slightly, and suddenly, a “cherry rain” fell from the tree. One by one, large, red cherries dropped into her basin, filling it up in the blink of an eye.

Grandma Li quickly took the heavy basin from Zhenzhen, nearly straining her back from the weight. Clicking her tongue in surprise, she looked at Zhenzhen and said, “How are you so strong? This basin of cherries must weigh at least ten pounds.”

Zhenzhen nimbly jumped off the stool, smiled, and took the basin back from Grandma Li. “I don’t know why I’m this strong. It seems like my strength grows a bit every year, but it’s not that crazy. I still can’t lift that big stone we use to press the sauerkraut in the yard.”

Grandma Li glanced at the huge rock drying in the yard and couldn’t help but laugh. “That rock must weigh at least several dozen pounds. Even your father struggles to move it—he has to lift it together with your third uncle. If you could lift that rock, your father would probably be scared out of his wits.”

Zhenzhen scooped out a small bowl of cherries and said without looking up, “My dad won’t be scared to death; he’s used to it by now.” Grandma Li thought about it and agreed—after all, he had already witnessed crops sprouting from seeds in an instant without dropping dead from shock, so moving a rock was hardly surprising.

Since the cherries were homegrown and hadn’t been sprayed with pesticides, Zhenzhen simply scooped some water from the vat, rinsed them twice, and they were ready to eat. She picked the biggest one and popped it into Grandma Li’s mouth. Grandma Li took a bite, and her mouth was instantly filled with the sweet juice. Spitting out the pit, she nodded repeatedly, “These cherries taste great—so sweet and juicy.”

Zhenzhen chuckled, “It’s because my brother brought back good saplings.”

She delivered a bowl of freshly washed cherries to Wang Sufen and another to Sister Guihua in the backyard. Meanwhile, Meat Bun was sitting on the heated brick bed, playing with fabric scraps. When he saw Zhenzhen carrying a bowl full of bright red cherries, he immediately crawled over, staring at the glistening fruit while drooling. “Auntie, I want some too.”

Zhenzhen picked him up, sat him by the edge of the bed, and helped him put on his shoes. “Come eat them outside in the yard with me. I picked a whole bowl.”

This was the first time Meat Bun had ever seen cherries. Zhenzhen sat him on a small stool and gave him a warning: “These cherries have pits inside, so you must spit them out when you eat them. If you swallow them, a tree will grow in your stomach.” As she spoke, she playfully wiggled her fingers and tickled his belly.

Meat Bun clutched his stomach, laughing uncontrollably. Once he had laughed enough, Zhenzhen handed him a cherry. “You have to sit properly on the stool while eating. If you run around with a cherry in your mouth, I won’t give you any more.”

Meat Bun nodded vigorously and eagerly put the cherry into his mouth. As soon as he bit down, a look of pure bliss spread across his face. After eating a few, he seemed unsatisfied with eating them one by one, so he grabbed a handful from the bowl and stuffed them all into his mouth. His cheeks puffed up, and as he chewed, cherry juice dribbled down the sides of his mouth.

Sitting beside him, Zhenzhen savored the taste of the cherries. The ones she ate in the modern era were mostly dark purple cherries—larger but with thicker skin and a mix of sweetness and tartness that could cause acid reflux if eaten in excess. In contrast, the cherry tree at the Li family’s home was a local variety, with thin skin, small fruit, and an abundance of juice. One bite and sweet juice filled the mouth.

Grandma Li, Zhenzhen, and Meat Bun sat in the yard, basking in the sunlight while munching on cherries. Even Braised Chicken joined in, sticking its head out to watch. Zhenzhen waved a cherry in front of it. “Want to try one?”

The chicken’s beady eyes darted around as it fawned over Zhenzhen, circling her twice. “Let me have a taste!”

“You sure have a growing appetite,” Zhenzhen laughed, tossing it a cherry. Braised Chicken pecked at it curiously, and Zhenzhen watched in amusement. “Can you even taste anything?”

The chicken looked up at her, then pecked a few more times. But with its large beak, the tiny cherry was quickly squashed into mush. Frustrated, it let out two squawks and swallowed the entire cherry, pit and all.

Seeing this, Zhenzhen burst into laughter. Chicken flapped its wings in annoyance and glared at her. “I just can’t spit out the pit, that’s all. What’s so funny? Besides, we chickens eat pebbles too—what’s a cherry pit compared to that? Instead of laughing at me, you should check on your tree. I see a bunch of birds pecking at your cherries.”

Zhenzhen didn’t even lift an eyelid. “Let them eat. A few cherries won’t make a difference, as long as they don’t ruin the whole batch.”

Birds had a habit of pecking at multiple cherries, leaving behind blackened, spoiled fruit. But Zhenzhen didn’t mind losing a few; the tree would bear more soon enough. However, she wouldn’t tolerate wastefulness—not even from birds.

Sensing Zhenzhen’s intent, the lead bird chirped at the flock, instructing them to follow suit. They obediently picked cherries and flew off to eat them elsewhere, returning for more only after finishing. Braised Chicken watched in envy and scoffed, “So much effort just for some fruit. No wonder they’re so tiny.”

Zhenzhen chuckled. “If they were as fat as you, they wouldn’t need to fly anymore—just go straight into the pot.”

Braised Chicken was no longer afraid of being turned into stew. It proudly flapped its wings. “Grandma said I won’t be stewed—I’m a rooster, and my meat’s too tough.”

“At least you’re self-aware.” Zhenzhen laughed, continuing to snack on cherries while bantering with the chicken. Before she knew it, the entire bowl of cherries was empty. She suddenly realized her stomach was full.

She let out a burp and took the enamel mug Grandma Li handed her, lounging on the small stool in the yard as she sipped warm water. She couldn’t help but sigh, “Life is so good. I don’t even know why people bother making a fuss.”

Although Grandma Li was in her sixties, her hearing was sharp, and she immediately asked, “Who’s making a fuss?”

Zhenzhen paused, then quickly covered it up by pointing in a random direction. “That Zhang Defu’s family, of course. They’re always arguing—who knows why.”

Grandma Li scoffed, “That whole family is no good. Always scheming to take advantage of others, but during the famine, they nearly starved rather than work for food. They just sit around waiting for handouts. In the old days, people like them were nothing but scoundrels.”

Just then, Guihua came outside to stretch after finishing her sewing and overheard their conversation. She chimed in, “You’re right. That family is shameless. I really don’t get Zhang Defu—whenever we slaughter a pig, he pretends not to hear, but once the meat is cooked, he has the nerve to show up uninvited for a meal. And remember when we brought home that deer? He smelled the roasted meat and knocked on our door, demanding a deer leg. He’s got no shame at all.”

Zhenzhen laughed, “The funny part is, he never actually gets anything. Grandma always scolds him and sends him away. How does he keep coming back like nothing happened?”

“That whole family has no sense of shame,” Guihua said. “Have you noticed? No one on our street wants anything to do with them. His eldest son is the same age as Dongzi, but he still can’t find a wife. Any family with a daughter takes one look at them and refuses to marry in. I heard they’re thinking of marrying into some remote mountain village.”

As Grandma Li and Guihua continued their gossip, Zhenzhen, feeling idle, decided to check on Ming Dong. After letting Grandma Li know, she left the house and headed up the mountain. Finding a towering tree, she moved swiftly, perching herself on a sturdy branch. Using the foliage for cover, she carefully concealed herself before sending her consciousness to Anbei.

Ming Dong didn’t find it difficult to adjust to Anbei. It was close to home, and the food, customs, and daily life were no different from Beicha. His four and a half years of university had also made him accustomed to campus life. Now, during the farming season, Ming Dong took his students to the farm to work the fields. Part of it was for the school’s self-sufficiency, and the other part was to integrate book knowledge with practical experience. Agriculture was not something that could be learned just from reading; practical application was essential.

Ming Dong, wearing a straw hat, crouched in the field, enthusiastically grabbing a handful of soil while explaining its composition to his students. The students surrounding him had studied for more than a decade to get into university and still held a deep respect for teachers and education. Seeing Ming Dong, who was only a few years older than them, explain the textbook knowledge so thoroughly, they all admired him greatly.

As noon approached, Ming Dong tossed the soil from his hands to the ground and prepared to head to the cafeteria for lunch. At that moment, each cafeteria window had two large trays of food—one filled with potato and bean stew and the other with braised eggplant in sauce. Beside them stood a large bucket of coarse grain porridge and a basket of cornbread.

After returning to his dormitory to wash his hands and change out of his dirt-covered clothes, Ming Dong carried two meal tins to the cafeteria. He got a large spoonful of each dish, seven or eight pieces of cornbread stacked on top, and another tin filled with porridge.

Taking a big bite of cornbread, he followed with a mouthful of vegetables, chewing as he curiously glanced around. A tall, thin man who looked a few years older than Ming Dong sat down across from him with his own meal tin and immediately asked, “What are you looking around for instead of eating properly?”

“Nothing.” Ming Dong quickly refocused. “Just checking if all my students have arrived.”

Zhenzhen watched Ming Dong interact with his colleagues and was relieved that he wasn’t too naïve or talkative. Being cautious during these times was always a good idea. Little did she know that when the Cultural Revolution escalated, many people were reported by their own colleagues, friends, and family. Seeing that everything in Anbei seemed peaceful for now, she felt reassured.

Ming Bei had worked hard for a year and finally made it to the high school entrance exam. When the last subject was finished, he slung his schoolbag over his shoulder and ran home at full speed.

Wang Sufen was cooking in the kitchen when Ming Bei came in, grinning ear to ear. Before she could ask anything, he dumped an entire pile of textbooks into the stove. Wang Sufen reacted quickly, snatching two books out while the rest were swallowed by the flames. Furious, she grabbed a broom and started chasing Ming Bei, ready to beat him.

Grandma Li heard the commotion and came out from the east room. Seeing Wang Sufen chasing Ming Bei from inside the house to outside, she asked, “What’s going on? Just got home and already getting a beating? Did he not do well on the exam?” Without waiting for an answer, Grandma Li spoke up for Ming Bei, “If he’s really not cut out for studying, then just let it be. Didn’t Musen say yesterday that the hydrolysis plant will start hiring in August? He can just take the test with Ming Nan and get a job there.”

“No, Mom.” Wang Sufen, hands on her hips, panted in anger. “This ungrateful brat came home and burned all his textbooks! Those books were bought with money! He could’ve saved them for Zhenzhen to use later.”

Ming Bei peeked out from behind the cherry tree. “Oh, come on. My sister is only in second grade. By the time she’s in third year of middle school, those books will be so yellowed you won’t even be able to read them.”

Grandma Li nodded in agreement. “Ming Bei has a point. Dongzi’s mom, don’t be so mad. With the way he treats his books, Zhenzhen probably wouldn’t even want to touch them. Even if you keep them, no one will use them.”

“They could at least be used to prop up a table or chair, or I could use them to start a fire! I don’t know what he was thinking.” After Grandma Li’s words, Wang Sufen wasn’t as angry anymore. She pointed the broom at Ming Bei and warned, “I’ll let you off this time. Just wait for next time!”

“There won’t be a next time.” Ming Bei grinned cheekily. “I’ve been flipping through those books over and over again for the past year. Just looking at them makes me want to puke. I just wanted to burn them all and feel a little relief.”

Thinking about how hard Ming Bei had studied this past year—getting up early, staying up late, and even losing weight—Wang Sufen’s heart softened a little. Her tone eased. “Alright, alright. Looks like you’re not cut out for studying anyway. Burned them, so be it. Now go check if your sister is out of school yet. I’ll fry some eggs for lunch.”

Finally, Ming Bei emerged from behind the tree and set off with Red Zhong and Tianhu to pick up Zhenzhen. Tianhu had been following Red Zhong for half a year now and had gradually accepted the name. Though it was a little slow to react, it still knew when it was being called. Seeing Tianhu’s improvement, Li Musen decided to leave it with Li Muwu’s family. Since he was usually at work and his kids were in school, there was no one to take care of Tianhu anyway. Keeping it with Red Zhong gave it some company.

That day was also Zhenzhen’s exam day. As usual, she handed in her test paper within ten minutes and went off to play. Ming Bei arrived at her school, leaned against the classroom window, and saw that her seat was empty. Understanding the situation, he instructed Red Zhong, “Go up the mountain and see where my sister is.”

At that moment, Zhenzhen was on the mountain, circling a tree. The Cultural Revolution had begun, and many calligraphy paintings, antiques, and treasures were being destroyed during this time. Zhenzhen had now reached a point where she could teleport across provinces, and after testing consecutive teleportations, she found they didn’t strain her body or mind much. She decided to take advantage of this period to collect and bury valuable items in the mountains. Later, when the country reopened, she could either donate them to the state or keep them for her descendants—either way, it would be an immense fortune.

However, she couldn’t just bury things directly in the ground. They needed to be placed in boxes. She could use her powers to fell trees and split them into evenly sized wooden planks, but the problem was that even a thick tree wouldn’t produce very large boards. She had no idea how to piece the planks together into a box.

She had spent the entire morning experimenting with making wooden boxes but still hadn’t figured it out. Just as she was about to try again, two birds flew over and landed on her shoulders, chirping excitedly, “Red Zhong is looking for you at the foot of the mountain.”

These two birds were the only ones out of seventy or eighty she had seen at Old Li’s house that could communicate with her, so she had kept them around as her little scouts.

Brushing the sawdust off her clothes, Zhenzhen teleported to a spot neither too close nor too far from Ming Bei. Immediately, Red Zhong caught her scent, barked happily, and ran toward her.

Ming Bei followed behind, noticing the dirt on Zhenzhen’s face. He couldn’t help but tease, “What, did you skip school to dig rabbit holes in the mountains?”

“No, I was digging for treasure,” Zhenzhen answered half-jokingly before turning to ask, “Are you done with your exams? How did you do?”

“I did everything I could. Studied hard for a year, so whatever happens, happens. I’m not going to stress over it anymore.” Ming Bei scratched his head, looking a bit worried. “If I don’t get into high school, do you think I can still get into the hydrolysis plant with just a middle school diploma?”

Zhenzhen vaguely nodded. “Probably. But I heard Sister Wanqiu’s family wants her to finish high school before getting a job.”

Hearing Wanqiu’s name, Ming Bei’s face showed both distress and a bit of happiness, leaving Zhenzhen speechless. Having been single for twenty-four years in her past life before being transported here, she had never experienced romance. But she definitely understood this kind of clumsy crush.