A young boy from the 1970s, separated from his family, fled famine and led his younger brother into

"Crunch... crunch..."

The wooden wheels of the oxcart rolled on the uneven dirt road, making a monotonous but rhythmic sound.

Su Nianci and Xiao Shitou huddled together in the warm haystack, leaving only a small gap for them to see what was happening outside and for ventilation.

The hay smelled of being dried in the sun, mixed with the odor of livestock. Although it was a bit pungent, it kept out the cold wind and brought a long-lost sense of security.

Su Nianci's nerves, which had been tense for several days, finally began to relax a little.

She turned her head and looked at the small stone beside her.

The little guy was clearly exhausted. He had experienced fright and escape along the way, and now he finally had a safe place to stay. He leaned against Su Nianci, his little head nodding, his eyelids drooping, but he refused to fall asleep. His big, dark eyes stared at her without blinking, as if he was afraid that if he closed his eyes, this "sister" he had just found would disappear.

Su Nianci's heart was incredibly soft.

She reached out and gently patted Little Stone's back, mimicking her memory of her mother, and hummed an off-key lullaby.

That was a tune she had learned temporarily during countless sleepless nights in her previous life to soothe agitated children after surgery.

It was out of tune, even a bit off-key, but on this bumpy oxcart, it carried a strange, comforting power.

As Little Stone listened to the unfamiliar melody, his tense little body slowly relaxed. He snuggled closer to Su Nianci, finding a more comfortable position. His long eyelashes fluttered a few times, and finally, unable to resist the drowsiness, he fell into a deep sleep.

Looking at his peaceful sleeping face, Su Nianci's lips involuntarily curled up slightly.

The younger brother I picked up, although he's a burden, seems... to be quite good.

At least, in this cold and cruel alien world, she was no longer alone.

The oxcart swayed back and forth, and the old man driving it would occasionally hum a few lines of an unknown country tune. The whip cracked in the air with a crisp "snap," but never landed on the ox.

Everything seemed so peaceful and serene.

Su Nianci also felt a wave of weariness wash over her.

She was exhausted, both physically and mentally.

She leaned against the haystack, closed her eyes, and prepared to take a short rest to conserve her energy for the various difficulties she might encounter after arriving in the county town.

She was awakened by a sound of voices after an unknown amount of time.

"Old Zhang, going to town to sell hay again?"

"Yes, delivering some supplies to the carriage companies in town." It was the voice of the carriage driver.

"What's in the truck? It's bulging!"

Su Nianci's heart jumped! It was an interrogation!

She immediately held her breath and covered Xiao Shitou's mouth with her hand, afraid that he would make a sound.

Little Stone, who was sleeping, was a little uncomfortable from being covered up by her. He struggled for a moment, but when he opened his eyes and saw Su Nianci's eyes that were full of "don't make a sound," he immediately became obedient and stopped moving.

"Hey, what else could it be? Just some cheap hay." The old man driving the cart sounded very calm. "It was just harvested a few days ago, it hasn't been compacted yet, so it looks a bit fluffy."

"Really? Let me see." The person checking the cart clearly didn't believe it and his footsteps approached the oxcart.

Su Nianci's heart was pounding in her throat!

She could even hear the man walk to the car and pat the haystack with his hand.

"Alright, let's go."

The person conducting the check seemed to find nothing unusual and waved his hand impatiently.

"Alright!"

The driver responded, flicked his whip, and the oxcart started moving again with a creaking sound.

Only after the oxcart had driven quite a distance did Su Nianci dare to release her hand from the small stone and let out a long sigh of relief.

For a brief moment, she really thought she was about to be discovered.

"elder sister……"

In my arms, I heard Little Stone's soft, tearful call.

Su Nianci looked down and saw that the little guy's eyes were red, obviously he had been frightened just now.

"It's alright, don't be afraid," she said softly, trying to comfort her.

Little Stone shook his head. He pointed to his chest and then to the outside, his face full of lingering fear.

Su Nianci instantly understood what he meant.

He was afraid that the dragon-shaped jade pendant would be discovered.

Although the child was mute, he was as clear-headed as a mirror. He knew the importance of the jade pendant and how much trouble it would bring.

"Don't worry, I've hidden it well for you, no one will find it." Su Nianci patted his chest and gave him a reassuring look.

The little stone stared at her for a while, seemingly finally confirming that she was safe.

He was silent for a moment, then raised his head and looked at Su Nianci with his clear, unblemished eyes. His small mouth opened slightly, and a clear, yet somewhat timid, syllable came out of his throat.

"elder sister."

The voice was soft, with a slight hoarseness, like a feather gently scratching at Su Nianci's heart.

This was different from the heart-wrenching scream she had heard in the dilapidated temple earlier.

This time, it was a conscious, proactive call, filled with complete trust and reliance.

Su Nianci froze completely.

Since her rebirth, she has faced beatings, human traffickers, pursuit, hunger, and cold... She schemed, she resisted, she fled; like a lone wolf, she wrapped herself in a hard shell and never showed weakness.

But at this moment, this simple word, "sister," was like a key, instantly unlocking the softest corner of her heart.

An indescribable warmth welled up from the bottom of my heart, dispelling all fatigue and cold.

She no longer lived solely for herself or for revenge.

From that moment on, she had a younger brother who needed her protection.

This realization gave her a heavy responsibility, but also filled her heart with an unprecedented sense of determination and strength.

"Why."

Su Nianci sniffed, suppressing the sudden surge of soreness, and responded heavily.

She reached out and hugged the little stone tightly in her arms.

"My sister is here."

Little Stone nestled in her arms, feeling the frail yet unwavering protection she offered, his small body completely relaxing. He buried his face in Su Nianci's neck and, in an almost inaudible voice, called out again:

"elder sister."

This time, there was no more timidity in her voice, only deep affection.

The oxcart continued on its way, its wheels rolling, carrying two children who depended on each other for survival, and also carrying a new bond and hope.

The road ahead is long and dangerous.

But Su Nianci knew that she was no longer alone.

Her gaze pierced through the gaps in the haystack, looking towards the distant county town, whose outline was already faintly visible.

Her eyes were brighter and more determined than ever before.

For her own sake, and for the sake of the younger brother in her arms, she must, and she certainly can, carve out a bloody path in this cannibalistic world!