Divorced woman with child travels through time

Chen Wenfang and her group followed the mountain path behind Aunt Liu's house into the mountains. They made steady progress; being farmers, the path wasn't difficult and was quite wide, indicating they were experienced hikers. Chen Wenfang then realized they were crossing the mountain behind her own house; she was surprised by how large it was. She asked,

"Aunt Liu, how often do you usually go to the market?"

Aunt Liu smiled and said, "I go every time. Just over the foot of Dayao Mountain, there's an official road. Walk two miles ahead and you'll reach the market in Lijia Town. This is the planting season, so there are many people buying seeds."

"I heard these peanuts were brought over by foreigners. They taste delicious and are easy to grow. We only bought seeds last year and planted them. I'm sure even more people will buy seeds this year. I also heard that there are sweet potatoes in Wangjia Town next door, so we plan to plant some this year too," Aunt Liu told Chen Wenfang.

Chen Wenfang thought to herself, "If everyone plants these, there won't be many people going hungry. It's a pity I'm all alone and powerless; I can't plant too many by myself. I'll just sell herbs then."

"Is this sweet potato delicious?" Chen Wenfang asked, following up on Aunt Liu's question.

"I heard it's very filling, but eating too much can cause heartburn. I'm not sure. We'll send you some to try when we grow them," Aunt Liu explained generously.

"Aunt Liu, you're such a kind person, you must be a Bodhisattva descended to earth," Chen Wenfang flattered.

Aunt Liu laughed heartily, "You can't just say things like that."

After walking for about half an hour, we emerged from the mountains and found ourselves on an official road. The road was wide and well-maintained, though a little dusty. Willows lined both sides, their green leaves quite pleasing to the eye. There were many pedestrians around. We walked another two miles along the road, crossed a bridge, and arrived at Lijia Town. The market was right at the town entrance, bustling with vendors and shoppers on both sides. Uncle Liu Hai parked his car, found a stall, laid out a straw mat, poured out peanuts, and unwrapped other seeds.

Chen Wenfang sat next to them, carrying only a small amount of belongings; she simply opened her cloth bundle and placed it on the ground.

Aunt Liu asked, "Sister Chen, what are you selling?"

Chen Wenfang explained with a smile, "This is a herbal medicine for clearing heat and detoxifying. A doctor from my hometown taught me about it. Aunt Liu, could you watch the baby for me while I go buy some paper?"

Aunt Liu repeatedly said yes, telling her to go ahead without worry.

Chen Wenfang looked at the stalls next to hers and found one selling loose goods. She asked about the price of oil paper; a large sheet cost two coins, and ordinary straw paper cost one coin per sheet. Chen Wenfang bought three sheets of straw paper and returned to the stall. She folded them in half, then tore them in half again, folded them in half again, and tore them in half again, making four small sheets in total. She then put two pinches of dandelion and selfheal into each sheet and wrapped them into four small packets. She wrapped 12 packets and then stopped, waiting to see if any passersby had fallen for the trick and to sell the herbs.

The market was bustling with vendors selling various goods: pancakes, mountain produce, sugar figurines, fruit, vegetables, and even livestock. The crowds were immense, from elderly women carrying baskets to couples with children, grandfathers with granddaughters, to a wealthy young master with his servant, acting arrogantly. Just then, the young master slapped his servant with a loud "smack," drawing everyone's attention. Chen Wenfang, though far away, saw the young master's face turn red with anger. He pointed at the servant, and before he could speak, he erupted in a deafening cough, coughing up tears and snot, as if his lungs were about to burst out—a truly pitiful sight. The boy, about ten years old, had delicate skin and was somewhat thin. His arrogance was quickly shattered by the cough, making him appear weak and vulnerable.