Divorced woman with child travels through time

Chen Wenfang put the wrapped multi-flavored peanuts into a cloth bag and organized the things she needed to take to the market tomorrow.

We only have a little over a pound of dandelions and about a pound of selfheal left, and no mulberry leaves. We can sell them, but we need to buy a lot of things. We need meat and soybean oil. It would be best to get a fishing net to check the pond and catch the fish. We also need to buy two baskets to carry things. We should also buy some bowls, but no, the road is too long, and the bowls might break. We'll buy them at Wangjiazhuang next time.

Seeing that it was still early, Chen Wenfang asked her two children to help watch the baby. Taking advantage of the sudden stop in the rain, she went to the back mountain and dragged two small trees that she had cut down before. She found a series of footprints, but she didn't think much of it and dragged the trees home.

Back home, they chopped the sapling into sections and stacked them on the woodpile under the eaves. The two children then said goodbye and went home, and that was how the day ended.

The next morning, under a bright and sunny sky, before Chen Wenfang could even make breakfast, Aunt Liu arrived with her two children and a basket of eggs. Chen Wenfang handed her the money and smiled, "Can you count them?"

Aunt Liu glanced at her sideways and said with a smile, "What's the point of counting? I don't trust you." Then she teased, "Why don't you count the eggs?"

Chen Wenfang laughed and mimicked her, "What's there to count? My Cuihua is a big shot, would she cheat me?"

Aunt Liu laughed heartily, "You little rascal! Let's go, we're off."

Chen Wenfang said, "Let me make breakfast first."

Aunt Liu said, "I've made your portion, you don't need to make any more. Let's set off first, so we can sell the vegetables when the weather is sunny."

Chen Wenfang agreed, packed her things, and took the child with her as they set off for the market.

Joining Uncle Liu Hai, Chen Wenfang held the flatbread Aunt Liu had given her. For the first time, she hesitated to praise it, because she bit into a lump of salt. Now she knew why those two kids often came to her house for meals—salt is expensive, isn't it? What to do? I can't eat this.

She glanced at Chen Xuanyu and noticed that the little rascal was also looking at her. Oh well, son, you'll have to take the blame for me. She let go of Chen Xuanyu's hand, quickly shoved the pancake into his hand, and said, "Xuanzi, why aren't you eating? Liu Niangniang's cooking is so delicious. Give it to me, I'm not hungry, you eat it yourself."

Chen Xuanyu looked at his mother speechlessly, then turned to Aunt Liu and said softly, "Aunt Liu, this pancake is too salty, I can't eat it, I'm sorry."

Aunt Liu's heart melted. She took the pancake and held his face tenderly, saying, "Xuanzi, be good. It's not your fault. It's because I, Aunt Liu, didn't make it well. I'll buy you something delicious at the market later." Then she turned to scold Chen Wenfang, "You, you, I saw it all. You only know how to bully children."

Chen Wenfang smiled and said, "I was just teasing him. Look, I'm doing it right in front of you. Haha."

Aunt Liu, both amused and exasperated, scolded her, "You're not allowed to bully Xuanzai anymore."

The group continued on their way. Shi Tou felt sorry for Xuan Zai and asked him quietly and loudly, "Does your mother often trick you like this?"

Chen Xuanyu was speechless again. Why did you pretend to whisper in someone's ear when the sound was so loud? Everyone could hear you!

He replied earnestly in a normal tone, maintaining a distance, "It's not often. It's an unspoken understanding you wouldn't understand. My mother is a woman, and I'm a man, so of course I have to protect her and help her."

Chen Wenfang praised, "My son is so clever, he knows how to care for his mother at such a young age. Actually, I'm teaching him to be perceptive. There are many bad people in this world, and they all use these kinds of tricks to manipulate others. We need to understand that favors are favors, but if you're the one who suffers, then you can give up the favor, understand, son?"

Chen Xuanyu was already full from all the empty promises, but he was still very happy to be praised, and said earnestly, "I understand, Mother."

Shi Tou seemed to understand but not quite. Seeing Chen Wenfang praising Xuanzai, he said to Aunt Liu, "Mom, I will protect you in the future and make you a lot of money."

Aunt Liu looked at Shi Tou with amusement. Why did his tone of voice sound so much like Xuan Zai's? He must have learned it from him. But that's good, she praised Shi Tou, saying, "Our Shi Tou has grown up and knows how to protect his mother. What a good boy."

Uncle Liu Hai also smiled and praised, "Shitou is indeed good, he's become sensible."

Even the usually taciturn Dazhuang echoed the praise, saying, "My little brother is great."

Shi Tou blushed when praised as a good child in front of everyone, and ran away shyly, saying, "I'll go scout ahead."

Chen Xuanyu urged, "Wait for me, let's go together."

Everyone burst into laughter.

They played and laughed along the way. The Lesser Fullness of Grain had passed, and the greenery along the road was even more lush, the forest denser, the leaves packed tightly together. There was hardly any sunlight in the woods, only slivers of light that barely touched the skin, creating a hazy, dreamlike effect. The wild grass on the path had grown taller, soft and yielding underfoot, making almost no sound as they walked—it was very comfortable. Apart from the children's laughter and the chirping of birds in the forest, the sounds blended perfectly. Chen Wenfang enjoyed the scenery along the way, truly appreciating this kind of life.