The sky collapsed, and in the blink of an eye, I found myself transported to Nanluoguxiang.

Not long after leaving Kaoshantun.

On the swaying tractor, Zhao Laosan would occasionally turn his head to look at Li Kaixin, and finally couldn't help but ask.

"Brother, as soon as I got back to the village, I heard people saying that you and Lao Si ran into a pack of wolves on the sunny slope?"

Then his tone became high-pitched.

"My goodness! You took down more than twenty horses! Your skills are incredible!"

Li Kaixin was a little swayed from the jostling, and upon hearing this, he scratched the back of his head sheepishly, speaking in a humble tone.

"Brother Zhao, don't listen to everyone's exaggeration. It's mainly because Brother Zhao is very experienced. I just lent a hand from behind. It's really not that amazing."

Zhao Laosan scoffed, clearly not believing it.

"Do you think I don't know what kind of skills the fourth brother has? If he really had the ability to take on a pack of wolves one-on-one, would he still be lying on the bed with injuries today?"

"Brother, don't be modest. Everyone in our village is saying you're really something!"

Li Kaixin was overwhelmed by the praise and her face flushed, so she quickly changed the subject.

"Brother Zhao, let's not talk about that. I've seen you delivering grain to the grain station all day. How's the harvest here this year?"

These words indeed struck a nerve with Zhao Laosan, who had been feeling down for the past few days. His cheerful smile vanished instantly, replaced by a worried expression, and he let out a heavy sigh.

"Oh dear! Don't even mention it, this year the heavens have been blind. There's been so little rain that the ground is cracked from drought, and the harvest is almost half less than in previous years."

Zhao Laosan tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his voice lowering: "This year, thanks to the savings from previous years, we can still manage. But I'm afraid if next year is the same, then it will be really tough."

He shook his head and didn't say anything more, his face full of worry.

Li Kaixin watched the roadside pass by, recalling the even more severe drought that would follow in the next two years. His heart felt heavy, but he dared not speak out and remained silent, not saying anything more.

The atmosphere inside the vehicle became somewhat tense for a moment, with only the roar of the tractor and the sound of wheels rolling over the road remaining.

By the time the tractor finally stopped in front of the guesthouse, it was already getting dark.

As soon as Li Kaixin jumped off the truck bed, he saw Master Chen wrapped in a cotton-padded coat, stamping his feet and craning his neck to look out at the road under the dim door lamp at the entrance of the guesthouse.

Upon seeing the tractor's lights and Li Kaixin's figure, he immediately rushed over, his face showing obvious anxiety and concern.

"master!"

Li Kaixin quickly greeted them.

Master Chen walked over in a few steps and looked Li Kaixin up and down. Although his clothes were a bit torn, he seemed to be in good spirits and there were no obvious injuries on his body, so he breathed a sigh of relief.

His tone was still reproachful and worried: "You brat! Why are you coming back so late? Do you know how worried I was!"

"Master, this is a long story, and this isn't the place to talk. Let's go to my room to discuss it," Li Kaixin said in a low voice.

Master Chen nodded, asked no more questions, and reached out to help Li Kaixin lift the two packages.

Li Kaixin slung his rifle over his shoulder and picked up several other bags.

Turning to Zhao Laosan in the driver's seat, he sincerely thanked him, "Brother Zhao, thank you so much for today. It's so late, and you still went to the trouble of making this trip. Please be careful on your way back!"

Zhao Laosan waved his hand and said with a simple smile, "Don't mention it! Brother Li, next time you come to our Kaoshantun, be sure to come find me, and we'll have a good drink together."

After saying that, he turned the tractor around, and it sputtered away, disappearing back into the night.

The master and apprentice, carrying large and small bags, returned to Li Kaixin's guest room.

Chen Dabing put the things in the corner and said to Li Kaixin, "You wait here."

He then turned around and went out the door again.

A short while later, Master Chen returned, carrying a pancake wrapped in oil paper that was bigger than a washbasin.

He handed it to Li Kaixin: "Here, eat it while it's hot. Look at you coming back so late, the grain station canteen is already closed."

"This is a Northeast-style flatbread I bought in the county town today. It's substantial and very filling."

Looking at the flatbread that smelled of roasted dough, and then at the chef's face full of concern, Li Kaixin felt a sudden warmth spread through his body.

Li Kaixin accepted the flatbread with both hands, his throat tightening slightly as he said, "Thank you... thank you, Master!"

Remembering the contents of the package, he quickly put down the flatbread, opened one of the bundles, and revealed a wolf pelt inside.

Li Kaixin carefully selected the two with the best fur color and handed them to Master Chen with both hands.

His tone was sincere: "Master, this is for you. It's the pelt from the wolf we hunted on the mountain today."

"The weather is getting colder. This wolf pelt is warm. You can take it back and make a mattress or vest to keep out the cold."

Master Chen stared at the fine wolf pelt for a moment, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes—a mixture of relief and感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a feeling of deep emotion).

He wanted to decline, but looking into Li Kaixin's sincere eyes, he swallowed back the words of refusal that were on the tip of his tongue.

Master Chen reached out and took the two wolf pelts, his voice much gentler than usual: "You're very thoughtful, kid. Okay, I'll take them."

"It just so happens that your teacher's wife is sensitive to the cold, so this will make winter much more bearable."

"When you get back from this trip, come to my house if you have time, and I'll let your teacher's wife meet you."

Then he carefully folded the wolf pelt, his tone turning serious again, "But Kaixin, you can't take such risks next time. You hear me? Nothing is more important than your life."

"Yes, Master! I'll remember! I'll definitely pay attention next time!" Li Kaixin quickly assured him.

When Master Chen saw that Li Kaixin had returned safely, he was completely relieved.

He then told Li Kaixin to get some rest, took the two wolf skins, and went back to his room.

Li Kaixin saw his master to the door, watched his back as he entered the room, then closed the door and went back inside.

Li Kaixin picked up the Northeastern-style flatbread, leaned against the edge of the heated brick bed, and began to eat it in large mouthfuls.

After finishing the flatbread, feeling full, I started packing the large packages that Kaoshantun had given me that day.

Upon opening it, I found it filled with a dazzling array of items.

The monkey head mushrooms of excellent quality, the gastrodia elata of considerable size, and the wild lingzhi mushrooms of deep color, each weighing more than ten kilograms, are all rare mountain delicacies.

In addition, there are various dried hazel mushrooms, daylilies, wild walnuts, pine nuts and other miscellaneous local specialties, which probably add up to nearly two hundred pounds!

These mountain products were sorted and put away, with the most valuable items kept separately.

With a thought, he quietly moved another portion of the Gastrodia elata into the black soil of the secret realm.

Then I looked at the wheat and corn that my third grandfather had brought. With the time flow speed ten times faster in the secret realm, they would be ripe in two more days. The fish in the stream were already as big as my palm...

After observing all the crops in the secret realm, Li Kaixin finally left the secret realm with satisfaction.

As soon as he stepped out of the secret realm, Li Kaixin felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him.

After quickly washing up, I crawled into bed and fell into a deep sleep.