Colorful years

"Sigh, how strange, I've actually come to such a completely unfamiliar world, and unbelievably turned into a baby." Zhang Cong thought to himself in surprise.

Twelve-year-old Zhang Cong woke up to find himself lying in the arms of a middle-aged woman he didn't know, and moreover, he had become a newborn baby. This sudden turn of events left him so astonished that his jaw almost dropped.

He tried his best to speak and ask what was going on. However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't utter the syllables he wanted to express.

At this moment, he is just an infant, so how could he speak? If he could speak, wouldn't he become a god or a monster, which would surely frighten everyone here?

In fact, apart from retaining a trace of the mental clarity of a twelve-year-old boy, his other physical characteristics were no different from those of a newborn baby.

This is the reality he has to face!

Could it be that I've traveled through time? Yes, that's right, I've traveled through time!

This is a fact he must accept!

Looking at this completely unfamiliar world, Zhang Cong was filled with doubt and unease. He tried to recall his previous experiences, but the memories in his mind were as blurry as a fog.

He tried to break free from the middle-aged woman's embrace, but his weak body simply couldn't do so.

He could only sigh helplessly, thinking, "Since I've already come to this world, I can only accept reality. I hope I can adapt to life here as soon as possible."

So Zhang Cong began to carefully observe his surroundings, trying to understand the world around him.

He saw some people dressed in ancient clothing, their faces beaming with joy. He guessed that he might have traveled back in time to an ancient society. Now, he could only accept his fate.

In that intelligent society, this day is September 22, 2061, but in this world, it is September 22, 1961—a full century apart.

He tried hard to recall, and finally vaguely remembered what happened last night.

In the dead of night, he lay peacefully on his spacious and comfortable smart bed, his dreams as delicate as silk threads, sweet and profound.

An incredible dream journey quietly begins, leading him through time and space, and without warning, he arrives in an ancient village from a hundred years ago.

There, the mountains rise and fall in a continuous range, and the red leaves, like flames, dye the entire hillside red, resembling a meticulously crafted landscape painting. In the center of the flat plain surrounded by mountains, beside a golden osmanthus tree that takes four people to encircle and spreads out like a giant umbrella, stands a simple and unadorned farmhouse with a wooden tile structure. Its tranquility exudes a charm that comes with the passage of time, making it appear exceptionally peaceful and serene.

Outside, there is a rock tower paved with bluestone slabs, closely connected to the production team's grain drying tower.

This is a place where families cool off on summer nights and where children play.

The room was brightly lit, and the faces of young and old alike were beaming with the joy of a festival.

Around 2 a.m., at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM), in his dream, he entered a woman's belly like a gentle breeze, and then transformed into a baby and was born into this world and this family.

He prayed silently in his heart, hoping that he could adapt to this new identity as soon as possible and uncover the truth behind the layers of mystery.

Time flies, and the third day has already passed in the blink of an eye.

For Zhang Cong, this day was of extraordinary significance—he was celebrating his first naming ceremony. According to ancient rural customs, naming on the third day after birth is an indispensable tradition.

The father, Zhang Zhong, a demobilized soldier and production team leader, joyfully gave his son the same name as the future Zhang Cong—Zhang Cong.

This name carries his parents' hopes and blessings for his future, wishing him to be intelligent and quick-witted, and to soar in a wider sky with knowledge as his wings.

In this warm and hopeful moment, Zhang Cong felt the warmth and love of his family.

Although he was still puzzled by his adventure, he decided to cherish everything he had and wholeheartedly experience every aspect of this new world.

By eavesdropping on his family's conversations, he gradually learned about his family and the basic situation of this small mountain village.

Diaolan Village, a tranquil village that once belonged to Baiheping Commune in Dayong County; the resilience and responsibility of Father Zhang Zhong; the diligence and love of Mother Shi Daya; and those brothers and sisters with different personalities, yet equally lovable...

Zhang Cong is the eighth member of this family. In addition to his parents, there is his elderly grandfather, his sensible older brother, and his three lovely older sisters.

Grandpa Zhang had a kind face and a gentle heart. Although he was over sixty, he was healthy and strong, and he was responsible for household chores such as raising cattle and carrying water every day.

The eldest brother, Zhang Ming, is eleven years old this year and is in the fourth grade at Baihe Primary School. He has excellent grades and has always been the pride of the family.

The eldest sister, Zhang Feng, is nine years old this year, but unfortunately she was born deaf and mute and cannot communicate like a normal person. She just chatters away all day long, and no one knows what she is trying to express.

The second sister, Zhang Fang, is seven years old this year and is very pretty. However, due to stunted growth, she is short, only about 1.2 meters tall.

The third sister, Zhang Yu, is only four years old. She may have some brain problems, which causes her to stutter and speak in a somewhat disordered manner.

Judging from the current situation, while the family's circumstances aren't terrible, they're not great either. Supporting such a large family must be a heavy burden for my parents!

All of this gave him an unprecedented sense of belonging and responsibility.

However, just as the Zhang family was immersed in joy and peace, the arrival of an uninvited guest shattered this rare tranquility...