Time Travel: Volume 1! Starting from a Small Mountain Village

Lin Tiezhu dashed home, a smug and mischievous smile on his face. His muddy trousers and wet hair seemed to proclaim his "feat" to his grandmother. Zhou Xiufen shook her head helplessly, looking at her lively and energetic grandson with a mixture of love and worry.

She knew that Tiezhu had once again sneaked off to the river to catch fish. Despite repeated admonitions, the child's nature was inescapable. During this time, Tiezhu had been beaten by his grandfather quite a bit for going to the river to catch fish, but after all, he was his own grandson, flesh and blood, and how could her husband bear to really hit him hard? Even so, she still felt a pang of heartache watching him.

“Tiezhu, stop rushing into the river all the time. If your grandfather comes back and sees you like this, he’ll definitely scold you again,” Zhou Xiufen advised earnestly.

"Not today, Grandma!" Lin Tiezhu chuckled and said mysteriously, "I'm helping Sister Long catch fish!"

After saying that, he hurriedly changed his clothes and ran out of the house like a gust of wind. Zhou Xiufen watched her grandson's departing figure, feeling both helpless and warm. She sighed and began to wash her grandson's dirty clothes, silently praying that her husband would be lenient today.

Meanwhile, Long Lifan bid farewell to the captain and returned to her residence, where she began to busy herself. Just like last time, she carefully cleaned each of the small fish. Jiang Nian'an, Lin Yue, and others arrived upon hearing the news and joined in cleaning the fish.

They knew this wasn't just about helping out; it was about preparing for the delicious dried fish that was coming soon. The taste they had enjoyed last time still lingered in their minds. With that in mind, everyone worked with extra energy, and amidst laughter and chatter, their friendship deepened.

This time, the quantity of dried fish was noticeably less than last time. Long Lifan considered that she wouldn't be as generous as before, giving them away everywhere. She carefully divided the dried fish into three portions, each carrying a different meaning. One portion was for Lin Tiezhu, since he had worked hard to catch these fish today; it was a small reward for him. She also genuinely hoped that Tiezhu would change for the better in the future.

She left the other portion for Qi Shishen's family; she was still grateful for the pheasant and rabbit he had given her last time. As for the last portion, it was for the few of them; although it wasn't much, it was enough for them to taste that unforgettable delicacy again and satisfy their cravings.

Just as Long Lifan finished frying the dried fish and the whole house was filled with its aroma, Lin Tiezhu's little head suddenly peeked in from outside the courtyard gate, his eyes fixed on the golden and tempting dried fish, his face full of anticipation and excitement.

"come on in!"

Long Lifan glanced at the little head at the gate and quickly waved. She handed him the portion of dried fish along with a porcelain bowl and said, "Take these home and eat them. You can bring the porcelain bowl over when you have time."

Thinking that Tiezhu was still a child, and worried that he might only be enthusiastic for a short time, she gently patted his shoulder, as if to imprint this trust and encouragement deep into his heart. "Remember what you said this afternoon. Study hard from now on and become a successful person. A real man keeps his word."

Tie Zhu's eyes were firm and bright. He nodded vigorously, a confident smile playing on his lips. As a seasoned foodie, he had absolutely no resistance to delicious food. "Don't worry, Sister Long, I can tell the difference between having it at one meal and having it every day. I know now that only by studying hard can I enjoy that kind of taste every day in the future. I will definitely study hard in the future and become a successful person."

The two exchanged a few more words, and Long Lifan could sense Tie Zhu's determination to change, which pleased her greatly. Unlike when they arrived, Lin Tie Zhu walked back cautiously, carrying the steaming porcelain bowl with gentle and careful movements, as if afraid that the dried fish in the bowl might be lost due to his carelessness.

Once Tie Zhu's figure had completely disappeared from sight, Long Lifan turned around and went back into the house. She packed another portion of dried fish that she had prepared beforehand into a lunchbox, which was specially reserved for the Qi family. Then she set off on her way to the Qi family.

Before long, Long Lifan arrived at the Qi family's gate. The gate was ajar, and voices could be heard coming from inside. She knocked lightly on the door; the sound was soft enough to attract the attention of those inside. Upon hearing the knock, Qi Fangfang rushed out like a cheerful little bird. When she saw Long Lifan standing outside, a bright smile bloomed on her face. "Sister Long, what brings you here!" Her voice was filled with surprise and joy.

Sitting at the dinner table, Qi Shishen's gaze involuntarily fell on Long Lifan the moment his sister opened the door. He quickly put down his chopsticks, followed her out, and greeted her warmly. "Long Zhiqing!" His eyes held both surprise and a hint of barely perceptible shyness.

Long Lifan smiled and held up the lunchbox in her hand, explaining, "Here, didn't you say you liked my dried fish and wanted some more? I just happened to have the chance today, so I brought it over." Her words were playful, making her seem friendly and natural.

Upon hearing this, Qi Fangfang looked puzzled. She did like the dried fish that Sister Long had given her last time, but she couldn't remember ever expressing her desire to eat more. Just as she was about to ask, Qi Shishen quickly chimed in, afraid that his sister's words would make the atmosphere awkward.

"Fangfang, hurry up and thank Long Zhiqing."

As he spoke, he gestured to his sister with his eyes, secretly relieved that he had acted quickly enough. He had used his sister as an excuse to deliver things to Long Zhiqing last time; if his sister found out, how could he face Long Zhiqing in the future?

Although Qi Fangfang had her doubts, she obediently took the lunchbox, but muttered softly, "When did I say I wanted to eat more?" Her voice was soft, but it was remarkably clear in the quiet air. Fortunately, Long Lifan didn't hear her, but Qi Shishen heard it clearly. He immediately felt embarrassed and didn't know how to respond. To ease the sudden awkwardness, he quickly changed the subject: "Fangfang, find a bowl and put the dried fish out, then take out Long Zhiqing's lunchbox."

Upon hearing this, Qi Fangfang immediately went into the kitchen and started working inside. Long Lifan and Qi Shishen stood blankly at the door, waiting, and the atmosphere became somewhat silent for a moment.

"Long Zhiqing, why don't you come in and sit down?" After a while, Qi Shishen suggested to break the awkward silence.

"No need, they're waiting for me to come back for dinner."

Long Lifan waved her hand, declining Qi Shishen's suggestion. She hadn't even eaten the fried fish she'd just had! Hu Li and the others were still waiting inside!

As they were talking, Qi Fangfang came out with the lunchbox and washed it clean!