The first light of dawn filtered through the cracked window, brushing the walls with faint gold. Wei Lian opened her eyes, feeling surprisingly refreshed despite the long previous day.
Today, she would go to town with Shen Yi.
Today, she would start building her future.
She sat up quietly, careful not to wake her daughters.
After washing her face with warm water, she brushed her teeth using a twig and a bit of ash, scrubbing until her mouth felt clean. Then she tied her hair neatly and stepped into the kitchen.
Breakfast first.
Her girls needed full stomachs to stay happy while she was away.
She cut some chicken finely, mixed it with vegetables grown by Qingmei, and made thin pancakes—crispy on the edges, soft inside, smelling lightly of chili and salt thanks to Xiaotang.
Beside it, she prepared a simple chicken-vegetable soup for lunch and set it aside, covered carefully.
Only then did she go to wake her girls.
"Xinyu, Mei-Mei, Tang-Tang… wake up, sweethearts."
Three grown teenage bodies slowly sat up rubbing their eyes… but their sleepy expressions were still those of three-year-olds.
"Ma…maaa…" Qingmei yawned dramatically.
Xiaotang instantly climbed into her lap.
"Mama, hug first."
Wei Lian kissed all three foreheads before leading them to the yard.
"Here—use this."
She handed each daughter a clean brushing stick from the tree branch she prepared.
The girls obediently chewed and brushed, copying her movements.
Then, one by one, she bathed them again—quick showers since the morning was warm—and dressed them in the cleanest clothes.
After feeding them the fresh chicken-veggie pancakes, she sat in front of them.
"Mama is going to the market with Auntie Shen Yi. I will buy books and toys for you," she said gently.
All three brightened instantly.
"Toys!"
"Book with picture!"
"Me want story!"
Wei Lian laughed softly.
"Yes, yes. But listen carefully—don't go outside. Don't open the door. Don't talk to anyone. Just play inside, alright?"
They nodded seriously.
She hugged each of them tight, kissed their cheeks, and heard small giggles fill the room.
Just then—
Knock. Knock.
Shen Yi had arrived.
Wei Lian took two silver taels, tied them in cloth, placed her daughters inside with toys, and stepped outside.
"Be good, Mama will be back soon."
Three little hands waved from inside.
---
✨ Walking to Town
The road was dusty, the morning air warm.
As they walked, Shen Yi glanced at her.
"Lian… life must be hard. Three sisters-in-law with simple minds, no good job, no income… You should really find something to rely on."
Wei Lian nodded calmly.
"I've been thinking of selling vegetables. If I buy some seeds today, maybe I can grow a few things."
Shen Yi sighed.
"It's a good idea… but seeds and vegetables are expensive. After five months of war, everyone is planting grains, not vegetables. Everything green is rare."
"I have some savings," Wei Lian said softly.
Shen Yi smiled in relief.
"Good. At least you can start something."
The two women walked nearly two kilometers before reaching the bustling town.
---
✨ The Town Market
Noise filled the air.
People bartered loudly.
Shops were open.
Smells of meat and smoke drifted everywhere.
Non-veg was piled high—cheap because people relied on hunting more than farming.
"Ten copper coins per kilo," Shen Yi said, pointing.
"Cheaper than vegetable leaves."
Wei Lian nodded but headed straight for the bookshop.
She needed to educate her girls.
Their bodies were grown, but their minds were still children.
If they ever needed to survive alone… they had to read, write, think, learn.
The bookshop was dusty but full of scrolls and simple books.
To her surprise—
the characters were the same ancient Chinese script she had learned in the future.
She grabbed:
• A character learning book
• Cheap writing paper
• Six charcoal pencils
• A picture storybook
The shopkeeper counted.
"Fifty copper coins."
She paid immediately.
Next, she bought:
Three small toys — wooden animals and a spinning top.
After packing them, she walked around the herb stalls.
And suddenly—
she froze.
A familiar herb.
A cleansing plant used in ancient skincare.
The same one used in the luxury brand she worked for in the future—
the secret ingredient in soap, facewash, scalp wash, shampoo.
Her pulse quickened.
Soap.
Cleanser.
Skincare.
People in this era would love it.
It would sell.
It could give her a real income.
She approached the vendor.
"How much?"
The woman shrugged.
"No one buys herbs right now. People only buy meat. If you want… take fifty bags. Two hundred copper coins."
Wei Lian's heartbeat quickened.
She bought all fifty.
She could make enough soap for an entire village.
Then she went to the seed stall.
The vendor lifted one packet of corn seed.
"Five hundred copper coins."
The price was outrageous.
But she bought it anyway.
Not to plant.
To show her daughters what corn seeds look like so they could produce them later without suspicion.
Her money balance now:
1 tael + 250 copper coins left
She continued to the fabric shop and purchased:
• 10 kg cotton for bedding
• 2 yards of cloth
• A box of needles and thread (free gift)
• Torn cloth pieces for 10 copper coins
Then she bought:
• 5 kg rice
• 5 kg flour
• A few pieces of pork
• A small chicken
• A handful of dried seafood
All for 20 copper coins.
After calculating, she had 520 copper coins left — enough to survive two months.
She packed everything into her basket, tied it securely, and waited outside the clothing store where Shen Yi said she would return.
The market was noisy, full of people—
but Wei Lian stood still, calm, hopeful.
Today was the first day she felt she could truly survive this world.
Books.
Seeds.
Herbs for soap.
Food.
Cloth.
Cotton.
A future.
When Shen Yi returned with her clothes, Wei Lian smiled softly.
"Let's go home."
And the chapter ended with a quiet determination—
Tomorrow, her new life would begin.