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

"Kid, wake up, we've arrived in the county town!"

The old man's aged yet kind voice, like sunlight piercing through a haystack, roused Su Nianci from her light sleep. She opened her eyes abruptly, and the little stone in her arms stirred, rubbing its sleepy eyes and softly calling out, "Sister?"

"Yes, we've arrived." Su Nianci responded, patted his back, and then cautiously peered out through the gaps in the haystack.

With just one glance, her heart, which was from the 21st century, was struck hard by the scene before her.

This is what the county town was like in the 1970s.

There were no skyscrapers, no bustling traffic, and no flashing neon lights. What came into view was a cluster of buildings in shades of gray and earthy yellow. Low brick houses stretched along the street, with huge, eye-catching red slogans painted in white lime on the walls—"Learn from Dazhai in agriculture, learn from Daqing in industry," "Grasp revolution, promote production," and "Serve the people!"

The streets were uneven dirt roads. A Liberation brand truck sputtered past, billowing black smoke and kicking up a cloud of dust, causing pedestrians to scramble to avoid it. Most people rode "Forever" or "Flying Pigeon" brand bicycles, their bells ringing incessantly. The pedestrians were remarkably uniformly dressed; almost everyone wore blue, gray, or green Dacron or coarse cloth. The most striking figures were the young people in green military uniforms and caps, heads held high, a truly remarkable sight.

The air was filled with the faint smell of sulfur from burning coal briquettes, the aroma of coarse food wafting from state-run restaurants, and the smell of sweat from the crowd, all blending together to create a complex yet vibrant atmosphere unique to this era.

All of this unfolded before Su Nianci's eyes like a faded old movie. She knew she could never go back. This was the place where she and her brother would have to struggle to survive in the future.

"Thank you, sir!" Su Nianci, carrying Xiao Shitou, nimbly climbed down from the oxcart. After a night's rest and the effects of the herbs, the wound on her leg had stopped bleeding, though it still ached slightly when she walked.

The old cart driver looked at the two dusty-faced but bright-eyed children, a hint of pity flickering in his cloudy eyes. "You...are you really going to visit relatives up north? You're unfamiliar with this place, what will you do?"

"Yes, we have our relatives' address." Su Nianci patted the pocket where she kept the letter, a convincing smile on her face. "Sir, let's get off here. We can't trouble you any further."

"Sigh, alright then." The old man sighed, rummaged in his pocket for a while, and pulled out two somewhat hardened multigrain buns, stuffing them into Su Nianci's hands. "Take these, eat them on the road. These days, life isn't easy for anyone."

Su Nianci felt a warmth in her heart. This was the second time since she came into this world that she had felt genuine kindness from a stranger. The first time was the cornbread that Li Xiufen gave her to save her life, and the second time was this old man.

"Thank you, sir!" She didn't refuse, because she knew that what she and her brother needed most right now was food. She bowed deeply.

Little Stone followed suit, bowing and whispering, "Thank you... Grandpa."

The old man driving the cart was touched by the way the driver called him "Grandpa," and a big smile spread across his dark face. He waved and drove the oxcart away with a creaking sound.

Watching the oxcart disappear around the street corner, Su Nianci finally looked away. She handed one steamed bun to Xiao Shitou, picked up another for herself, and took a big bite.

Now, they face the most real and serious problem—money.

To go north, you have to take the train. To take the train, you need to buy a ticket. And to buy a ticket, you need not only money, but also a letter of introduction.

She didn't have a letter of introduction, so she had to find another way. But money was hard currency, and she couldn't afford to lose a single penny.

She didn't have a single penny on her.

Su Nianci pulled Xiao Shitou to a secluded corner and began to take stock of her "assets".

Half a steamed bun is food.

The letters and photos hidden close to her body represent hope.

The dragon-shaped jade pendant on Xiao Shitou's chest is his biggest secret and trump card, and he must never show it to anyone easily.

Besides that, there was only... that small packet of herbs she had picked from the mountain, which she hadn't finished using in the dilapidated temple, a mixture of dandelion, violet, and agrimony.

This is the only thing she can exchange for money right now!

But where can I buy it? How much does it cost?

Should she go directly to a pharmacy? A five-year-old child trying to sell a bag of herbs of dubious origin—it's no wonder she'd be mistaken for a thief or a con artist and kicked out.

Go to the black market? She didn't even know where the black market was in the county town, and it would be too risky to ask around rashly.

Su Nianci's brows furrowed tightly. Even a hero can be brought down by a mere penny; she, a brilliant surgeon, was struggling to make ends meet with the most basic living expenses.

As she pondered, she led Little Stone aimlessly down the street, cautiously observing her surroundings. She needed to find a way in.

As she walked, a commotion and argument came from the alleyway not far away, catching her attention.

"Give me my money back! I demand a refund! You're selling fake medicine! My dad's leg is even more swollen after taking your medicine!" an angry male voice roared.

"Nonsense! Our 'Huichuntang' is a century-old brand, and our prescriptions are all passed down from our ancestors. How could they be fake medicine? It must be that your father ate random things and overpowered the medicine!" another shrill voice retorted.

Huichuntang? A pharmacy?

Su Nianci's eyes lit up instantly!

She took Xiao Shitou's hand and quietly squeezed into the crowd of onlookers. There, she saw a tall man grabbing the collar of a pharmacy clerk wearing a rustic jacket and sporting a goatee. On the ground in front of them were several packets of Chinese medicine that smelled strongly of herbs.

"My dad took your medicine! Look, this is the proof!" The man pointed at the medicine packet on the ground, his face red with anger.

Su Nianci's gaze fell on the scattered medicinal herbs. After just one glance, her pupils contracted sharply.

Among those packets of medicine, one of the main ingredients was Smilax glabra, used to promote diuresis, detoxify, and treat joint pain. However, mixed in with that pile of Smilax glabra were several pieces of a "counterfeit" that looked extremely similar but had completely opposite medicinal properties—Dioscorea hypoglauca!

Smilax glabra is neutral in nature, while Dioscorea hypoglauca is drying. When the two are used together, they will not only fail to eliminate dampness for patients with damp-heat constitution, but will also aggravate the condition, causing the joints to become more red, swollen, hot and painful!

This time at Huichuntang, either the pharmacy clerk is incompetent, or... they deliberately use inferior medicine to cheat unsuspecting patients!

A bold plan instantly took shape in Su Nianci's mind.

She looked at the furious man, then at the pharmacy clerk who stubbornly refused to admit anything.

The money is here, isn't it?

She tugged at Little Stone's hand and whispered, "Little Stone, watch your sister's expression later. We... need to make some money!"