Travel through famine years and awaken a post-apocalyptic survival system.

"You...you've gone too far..." Zhang Xiulan's voice choked with sobs. "Qingsong was injured by Qingshan, and now you're trying to take his life away..."

"A way out?" Old Zhao sneered. "Back then, Dad was biased and gave you the last bit of food. My wife almost starved to death."

"That was a natural disaster!" Zhang Xiulan retorted. "Father divided the grain equally among several families..."

"Enough with the nonsense!" Boss Zhao didn't bother with pretense anymore. "Qingshan's starting work tomorrow. If you dare cause trouble, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Zhao Qingsong could no longer hold back.

He stood up unsteadily and pushed open the door: "Stop!" Everyone was stunned and turned to look at the thin boy.

A flicker of panic crossed Zhao Qingshan's eyes, but it quickly turned into contempt: "Oh, I didn't kill you?"

Zhao Qingsong, leaning against the doorframe, felt a wave of dizziness, but he forced himself to stand firm: "That spot... was given to me by my grandfather..."

"It's mine now!" Zhao Qingshan sneered. "Grandma's fingerprints, and Section Chief Wang from the steel mill personally promised me. Who do you think you are? A bookworm, you think you're fit to be a worker?"

Zhao Qingsong then noticed that his body was indeed thin, with his arms so thin that you could see the bones, while Zhao Qingshan was much stronger, clearly indicating that the eldest son's family had much better living conditions.

"Qingsong, go inside..." Zhang Xiulan blocked his way, her voice trembling, "Your injuries haven't healed yet..."

"Mother, I'm alright." Zhao Qingsong took a deep breath and looked at Zhao Laoda, "Uncle, you know what Grandpa said before he passed away. This spot is our second branch's only chance for survival."

Old Zhao narrowed his eyes, seemingly surprised that his usually timid nephew dared to speak like that: "Kid, you've gotten bold, haven't you? You didn't hold back, did you?"

"I'm just stating the facts," Zhao Qingsong said, trying to remain calm. "The steel mill requires an entrance exam. Qingshan didn't even finish elementary school. Do you think he can pass?"

These words seemed to hit a nerve, and Zhao Qingshan's expression changed instantly: "Bullshit! Section Chief Wang said that as long as there are openings, the exam is just a formality!"

"That only proves how important this spot is." Zhao Qingsong stared intently at her uncle. "Are you really going to ruin our second branch's livelihood for the sake of a moment's anger? You know better than I what kind of times we're in now."

The courtyard fell silent for a moment.

Boss Zhao's expression shifted between anger and uncertainty, finally scoffing, "Enough nonsense! Qingshan will report for duty tomorrow. If you've got the guts, go cause trouble at the steel mill!"

After saying that, he turned and left. Zhao Qingshan gave Zhao Qingsong a smug, lewd gesture and followed him away.

Zhang Xiulan collapsed to the ground, silently weeping.

Zhao Qingsong wanted to help her up, but felt a sudden dizziness and had to lean against the wall.

"Qingsong..." Zhang Xiulan looked up, her eyes filled with despair, "Your mother is useless... I couldn't protect your future..."

Looking at this woman who was both strange and familiar, Zhao Qingsong suddenly felt a strong urge to protect her. Regardless of whether she was really "Zhao Qingsong," she was now the hope of this family.

"Mother, don't worry," he whispered, "I will take back what is rightfully mine."

Back in the house, Zhao Qingsong lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) and sorted out his thoughts.

Zhang Xiulan looked at him, sighed, and turned to leave.

"Qingsong, have some porridge."

A moment later, my mother brought over a chipped, rough porcelain bowl filled with a thin, watery porridge of wild vegetables that was so runny you could see your reflection in it.

Zhao Qingsong took the bowl and looked at the few unknown wild vegetables floating in it, his throat tightening.

Is this the "porridge" from 1961? No wonder this body is so thin.

"Mother, you drink too." He pushed the bowl back.

"I'm not hungry, you eat." Zhang Xiulan stubbornly pushed the food away, "Your injury hasn't healed yet, you need to eat more."

Zhao Qingsong felt a lump in his throat. Even in this time of famine, the mother still wanted to save the last bite of food for her child.

He lowered his head and took a sip; the taste was bitter and hard to swallow, but he forced himself to finish it all.

My body needs to recover.

"How is Dad?" He looked at the man coughing incessantly at the other end of the kang (a heated brick bed).

"It's an old problem..." Zhang Xiulan sighed, "I damaged my lungs last year while building the reservoir, and it hasn't healed since..."

Zhao Qingsong suddenly understood the family's desperate situation: the father was seriously ill, the mother was frail, and the son had been deprived of his only way out.

Without him, this "time traveler," the family would likely have faced an even more tragic end.

He sighed inwardly.

He needs to process this properly.

suddenly!

Zhao Qingsong froze as he lay down.

[Ding, host detected in a post-apocalyptic world. Post-apocalyptic survival system activated.]

[To ensure your survival, please find and bind a shelter as soon as possible. Shelters cannot be lost or traded.]

Please cherish and protect your shelter, as it is your greatest guarantee of survival in the apocalypse.

"end?!"

Zhao Qingsong's pupils contracted sharply, and he exclaimed in surprise.

Suddenly, he was startled.

Could it be that I haven't traveled back to the past, but rather to the apocalypse?

[Ding! Congratulations, host, for activating the Post-Apocalyptic Survival System. A newbie gift pack is now available. Please check your system inventory.]

Zhao Qingsong blinked.

Staring at the screen in front of me, my mind was a little slow to process what was happening.

Grass!

This era may be tough, but... it's not the end of the world, is it?

Did you bind it to the wrong system?

Unfortunately, no one answered him!

He carefully examined his attribute panel.

[Host: Zhao Qingsong]

[Strength: 4/7, Rating: As weak as a chicken.]

Agility: 4/8, Evaluation: Even a dog can run faster than you.

[Intelligence: 8/8, Assessment: Only slightly better than cerebellar atrophy.]

In addition to the attribute descriptions, there is also a skill and an inventory.

Skill gaps.

He swallowed hard and looked at his mother: "Mom, I'm fine. You can go out now. Let me get some sleep."

The mother didn't think much of it.

"Fine, you can get some sleep. As for work... forget about it! That brat Aoyama really knows how to kill you."

His face was filled with sadness.

Zhao Qingsong nodded, "Okay, I understand. We'll talk about it later!"

He cares more about the system now than his job.

"good!"

The mother agreed and turned to leave the room.

Zhao Qingsong breathed a sigh of relief after seeing the person leave.

I peeked out and saw that the door was open, but they probably wouldn't come in.

I quickly opened the backpack, and inside was a golden square box with a bow tied on it, which was quite trendy.

Zhao Qingsong looked completely bewildered.

I looked out the window.

Grass!

normal!

Never mind, let's just open it first.

Excitedly, I made my preparations and clicked on the gift package.

"Open!"

"Splash!"

A warehouse with 100 compartments, containing several glowing items.

[Ding! Congratulations on receiving: 3 loaves of bread]

[Ding! Congratulations on receiving: 3 bottles of mineral water]

[Ding! Obtained: Wood*50]

[Ding, you have obtained: 1 Crude Iron Pickaxe]

[Ding! Congratulations on obtaining: Level 1 Shelter Blueprint *1. Defense: 100. Untradeable, cannot be dropped, can be disassembled. After disassembly, only the blueprint can be recycled, not the materials. Please recycle with care.]

Construction materials: 50 wood.