Crossing the famine to find the white moonlight

Ye Wan scraped together a living in the village through hard labor, but as the days passed, she felt increasingly exhausted, both physically and mentally. Li Ruotao's harassment, her mother's indifference, and Xiaotong's frailty all weighed on her, making her feel as if her life could collapse at any moment. At night, she held Xiaotong in her arms, listening to his faint breathing, a wave of impotent despair rising within her. If she couldn't find food and resources, she wondered how much longer she and Xiaotong could hold out.

At that moment, a mechanical voice suddenly echoed in her mind: "Ding, system activation successful, welcome to the survival system." Ye Wan suddenly opened her eyes, startled, and wondered if she was hallucinating from hunger and fatigue. She subconsciously closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, the mechanical voice still echoed clearly in her mind.

"Survival system?" Ye Wan muttered to herself. She didn't fully understand what it was, but a glimmer of hope kept her focused on the mysterious voice. Then, a translucent virtual interface appeared before her eyes, displaying a few simple options: supplies, skill upgrades, and quest system.

She hesitantly reached out and clicked the "Supplies" option, feeling a tinge of trepidation, fearing it was just an illusion. However, the system interface immediately updated, revealing a list of essential supplies: rice, dry food, water, herb bags, and so on. Ye Wan's heart began to race. She stared in disbelief at the clearly marked supplies, her hands trembling slightly and her eyes welling up.

"Is this... true?" Ye Wan murmured, the mechanical voice echoing in her mind again: "The survival system will help you survive in troubled times. Please follow the instructions to obtain basic supplies. The first time you activate the system, you will be provided with a set of basic supplies for free."

Ye Wan excitedly chose to receive the supplies. Then, unexpectedly, a small bag of rice, a bag of dry food, and a water bottle appeared beside her. She stared at these items, stunned, her heart churning with surprise and excitement. She reached out and gently touched the rice bag. The touch was real and warm, and the sound of the rice grains rolling seemed like a ray of comfort in her desperate situation. After she double-checked the existence of these items, a tear slipped from her eye, a tear filled with long-lost hope and gratitude.

She gently stroked the supplies, her heart filled with gratitude, and secretly said to herself that all this came at the right time, just like a life-saving straw suddenly appeared when she was about to drown.

Ye Wan immediately decided to prepare a meal for Xiaotong. She boiled some water in the small pot provided by the system and cooked some simple rice porridge. Soon, a delicate aroma of rice wafted into the air, a familiar, warm fragrance that stirred her heart. Xiaotong, drawn to the aroma, opened her weak eyes and mumbled, "Mom." Ye Wan gently scooped a small spoonful of porridge, carefully cooled it, and placed it near Xiaotong's mouth.

"Come on, Xiaotong, have a bite." Ye Wan coaxed gently. Seeing Xiaotong struggling to swallow, she felt both joy and heartache. Every mouthful of rice porridge was like a comfort to her heart, as if telling her that no matter how difficult life was, there was always a way for them to survive.

When Xiaotong finally ate her fill and drifted off to sleep, Ye Wan felt a sense of security. She carefully hid the rice bag and rations, determined to manage them properly. She understood that while the supplies provided by the system were valuable, they must be handled with care and not be wasted. After careful consideration, she decided to use them only when they were most needed, continuing to work odd jobs in the village to make ends meet and avoid arousing suspicion.

Over the next few days, Ye Wan continued to experiment with the system. She discovered that it not only provided basic supplies but also offered rewards tailored to specific tasks, such as common herbs, first aid powder, and even simple cloth. She used the system's "Skill Enhancement" option to acquire basic knowledge in herb identification and first aid, ready for future emergencies. These skills, with the system's help, seemed to be instantly etched into her memory. She was surprised to find that she could quickly identify the types of herbs around her and memorize their usage.

With the system's help, Ye Wan began secretly accumulating supplies for herself and Xiao Tong. She would quietly gather herbs marked by the system or find hidden places to store food. During Li Ruotao's difficult days, she remained patient, but her inner peace gradually grew, and she no longer felt as isolated and helpless as she had at the beginning.

Once, Ye Cui Niang suddenly developed a high fever, leaving Li Ruo Tao helpless and no one in the village able to help. Ye Wan was tempted to try out the emergency medicine powder provided by the system, but she knew she couldn't show too much of her abilities directly. So, she quietly brewed some herbal broth and brought it to Ye Cui Niang's bedside, telling her mother it was from the mountains and very effective in alleviating fevers. Ye Cui Niang drank the broth with some skepticism, and indeed, her symptoms eased, and her attitude towards Ye Wan softened slightly.

Despite the small gains, Ye Wan remained confident. She gradually understood that the system could not only provide supplies but also teach her the skills to survive in this chaotic world. She secretly resolved not only to survive with Xiaotong but also to accumulate as much knowledge and abilities as possible to prepare for the storms that lay ahead.

After a few weeks, Ye Wan became increasingly proficient in the system. She used daily chores and odd jobs in the village to disguise her efforts to obtain supplies, gradually amassing a stockpile of dry food and herbs. She discovered that the system's tasks would be updated periodically, sometimes requiring the collection of specific herbs, while others would require completing basic medical tasks. These seemingly simple tasks gradually enabled her to master the skills necessary for survival.

The villagers gradually noticed a change in Ye Wan. No longer frail and helpless as before, she appeared calmer and more resilient. Even when Li Ruotao occasionally taunted her, Ye Wan remained calm, no longer irritated by these challenges. She quietly gathered strength, patiently waiting for the right moment.

She knew that in troubled times, mere forbearance wasn't enough to survive. Only by demonstrating her abilities at the right moment could she truly gain a foothold and protect herself and Xiaotong. She began consciously practicing herbal blends, learning basic treatment and care methods, and gradually building a reputation within the village.

The system's appearance was like a door to a new world, allowing Ye Wan to see a glimmer of hope in a desperate situation. She was deeply grateful for the system's help, and at the same time, she cherished everything she had. She clearly realized that every day in troubled times was a test, and she must become more resilient to find a place for herself and Xiaotong in this world.

In the following days, Ye Wan gradually emerged from her former helplessness, and with the resources and skills provided by the system, she slowly but firmly opened up a way to survive for herself and Xiaotong.