Li Xiangli playfully pinched Le'er's little nose. "Why are you crying? Didn't I come back just fine? Not only that, but I've brought lots of goodies for you!"
Le'er's eyes lit up. "What goodies?"
"There's so much good stuff! But only if Le'er stops crying will I show you."
Le'er quickly sniffled and swallowed back her tears, eagerly saying, "I want it! I want it!"
Li Xiangli smiled. "Don't worry, it's all yours. Nobody will take it from you."
While they were chatting, Aunt Chen came out to greet them. "Xiangli, you're finally back! These two kids were so worried they nearly drove me crazy. I told them to wait inside, but they just wouldn't listen!"
"Aunt Chen, thank you so much for your help today. I'll take the kids home now," Li Xiangli replied.
But Aunt Chen quickly stopped her. "You've already come all this way—why go back? I've made dinner, and I've been waiting for you to return so we can eat together. Come on, come in!"
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Li Xiangli hesitated but couldn't refuse Aunt Chen's warm invitation. She nodded. "Alright then."
Aunt Chen called Dazhu to join them as well.
Dinner at a farmer's house was simple: a few bowls of thin porridge, a large plate of stir-fried cabbage, and a dish of cornbread.
For a rural household, though, this was already considered a decent dinner, especially for the evening.
Le'er and Xiaozhu were already famished and ate happily. Aunt Chen ladled a bowl of porridge for Li Xiangli and smiled. "It's not much, just something to fill our stomachs. Don't go hungry now."
"Nonsense, Aunt Chen! This meal is already far better than what we usually eat. I wouldn't call this 'just making do' at all," Li Xiangli said sweetly.
Aunt Chen chuckled and joined them at the table.
The Chen family was small, just Dazhu, his wife Tong Fanglan, and the elderly Aunt Chen. Dazhu's wife was quiet and demure, smiling gently at everyone but rarely speaking—a typical "good wife" in ancient times. Unfortunately, she had no children.
"By the way, Xiangli," Aunt Chen asked, "did you make any money in town today?"
Before Li Xiangli could respond, Dazhu quickly answered, "How could she not? Look at all the great stuff she brought back! She must've made at least a few hundred coins selling those herbs. Xiangli is amazing—she knows all about medicinal plants!"
Aunt Chen was surprised. "Really?"
Li Xiangli replied modestly, "Just a lucky guess."
Aunt Chen sighed in admiration. "I was worried you and the kids wouldn't make it through, but now it seems you'll be just fine. Selling herbs to make a living isn't bad at all! Nobody else in our village knows how to identify them."
Li Xiangli smiled but didn't elaborate. She didn't plan to rely solely on selling herbs, it was too limiting and not nearly ambitious enough for her long-term goals. However, she kept those thoughts to herself—there was no need to explain her grand plans to Aunt Chen, who wouldn't understand them anyway.
After dinner, it was time to say goodbye. Li Xiangli pulled out a pound of fatty meat she had prepared earlier and handed it to Aunt Chen. "Auntie, you've helped us so much today, and you've always looked out for my family. Please take this as a small token of my gratitude."
Aunt Chen's face immediately turned serious. "What are you doing, girl? This fatty meat must've cost a fortune! Take it back for the kids to eat!"
Li Xiangli laughed. "Don't worry, Auntie. I've got plenty. I bought twenty pounds of meat today, along with lots of other things. We'll have more than enough."
Aunt Chen was taken aback. Buying twenty pounds of meat at once was unheard of in their village, where families might only eat meat a few times a year. She frowned. "Don't waste your money like that, child. You need to save for the future—you're still raising kids."
"These kids are at a critical stage of growth, Auntie. I can't let them suffer, and I've already figured out a way to make money. Please don't worry," Li Xiangli assured her, pressing the meat into Aunt Chen's hands. "If you don't accept this, I'll feel like you're treating me as an outsider."
Aunt Chen laughed helplessly. "Alright, alright. You've got quite the tongue, girl!"
Li Xiangli turned to her kids. "Say goodbye to Grandma Chen!"
The two children obediently called out, "Goodbye, Grandma Chen!"
With that, Li Xiangli took her children and headed home. Watching them leave, Aunt Chen looked at the meat in her hands and smiled, shaking her head. "That girl is like a whole new person since she woke up. It's a good change—at least her days will be better now."
When Li Xiangli and her children finally reached home, night had fully fallen. Luckily, she had bought a few candles in town earlier and immediately lit one.
Le'er and Xiaozhu eagerly watched as Li Xiangli unpacked the goods from her basket, their eyes wide with amazement. They could hardly believe what they were seeing.
"Mom, is all of this really ours?" Le'er asked in disbelief.
"Of course! It's all for my two little sweethearts," Li Xiangli said, pinching their cheeks with a smile.
She then pulled out two pieces of cotton cloth. "Look! I even bought fabric to make you new clothes. Do you like it?"
Le'er hugged the fabric and rubbed it against his face, grinning ear to ear. "I love it! Finally, I'll have new clothes!"
Although Xiaozhu was more reserved, the excitement in his bright eyes was unmistakable.
Li Xiangli patted their heads. "From now on, we'll live a good life. Mother promises, and I always keep my promises."
Xiaozhu nodded firmly. "I've always believed in you, Mother!"
"Me too!" Le'er chimed in.
Li Xiangli's heart melted at their words. In her past life, she had never felt such a sense of accomplishment, no matter how much she bought. But seeing her children's happy smiles made her feel like the richest person in the world.
Later that night, after bathing the children and tucking them into bed, Li Xiangli lay down beside them. Though the kids quickly fell asleep, she found herself unable to calm down. This new beginning was surreal, yet it felt so right. Having these two little treasures made everything worthwhile.
With a soft smile, she murmured, "Chen Xi, you're really getting the hang of this, aren't you?"
No sooner had the words left her mouth than her surroundings suddenly transformed. The darkness of the night was pierced by a dazzling light, so bright it stung her eyes. Shielding her face with her hands, she squinted to take in her surroundings—and froze in shock.
Her shabby little hut was gone. In its place was a breathtaking paradise.
Disclaimer:
I am not the original author of this work. This is a translated version of the original text, shared for reading and reference purposes only. All rights to the original content belong to the original author. I do not claim ownership of the original work or its characters. This translation is intended solely for informational and entertainment purposes.