The little one's purse connects the two worlds, turning a desolate village into a paradise.

(Thanks to Xiaxia C's boss for the amazing certification (ෆ ͒•∘̬• ͒)◞)

In no time at all, the meat skewers were finished, and the bamboo skewers were licked clean. Everyone held their cups and sipped the sweet water.

Ya Ya wiped her little mouth and pointed to the pile of things next to her.

We were worried about the food getting cold, so we quickly divided it up. Now we have plenty of time to talk slowly.

Fang Tiesheng also took out his self-made notebook and spread it out.

"These are thermos flasks. They're fifteen yuan each. The shopkeeper told me to bring four back to use first." Ya Ya pointed with her little hand, and everyone's eyes followed to the four brightly colored thermos flasks with handles.

"The inner pot is very fragile; it can't be bumped or dropped, or it will break. If you put hot water in it, the water will stay hot all night long, which helps keep it warm."

Fang Tiesheng had a ton of charcoal sticks in his hand.

It's only been a short time since the ground thawed, so it's still cold. It's only slightly warmer when the sun is out during the day. People usually drink ice-cold water. Those who find boiling water troublesome simply drink less water. If you're thirsty at night and take a sip of cold water, the chill will rush from the soles of your feet straight to the top of your head, and the little warmth you have in your bed will dissipate instantly.

The villagers stared wide-eyed, wondering if there was some kind of mechanism inside that could keep the water warm all night!

The village chief carefully picked one up, opened the cap, and found a cork inside. He pulled it out with a "pop," revealing a shimmering silver interior.

I'll boil some water and put it in there later to try.

"These three are thermos cups given to me by the store manager. They can keep things warm just like hot water bottles."

Grandma Liu picked up the small cup with a strap. There was a little yellow duck on the cup and on the body of the cup. There was also a bright yellow hanging rope on both sides. It looked very delicate.

"There's a switch here."

Ya Ya reached out and gently pressed the small button on the top of the cup. The lid popped open with a "click," revealing the straw inside. "Now I can drink by sipping."

Little Bean watched from the side, filled with envy.

"This is perfect for making baby formula!" Grandma Liu said, holding the small thermos. "That uncle is so kind. This thermos can be hung on his body. It's perfect for the baby."

"That's what the shop manager said too." Ya Ya curled up her lips, climbed onto the table and picked up two other thermos cups. These two didn't have many patterns; they were simple solid-color frosted designs, one off-white and one light pink.

"Give this to your mother-in-law, so she can have some hot water."

Ya Ya handed the off-white thermos to Grandma Liu.

Grandma Liu took the cup. It was a little heavy in her hand. She didn't know what material the cup was made of. It was smooth and had a grainy texture. It looked unusual.

A slight warmth welled up in her heart and eyes as she held the cup, her eyes reddening as she smiled.

The remaining pink one was as delicate as a peach petal.

Ya Ya held the cup and scanned the area.

Everyone's eyes were shining as they watched, wondering who would get the baby girl.

The little boy's gaze fell upon Ji Chuntao, and he said, "This is for Aunt Chuntao. The color is like a peach blossom, which is perfect for you."

Ji Chuntao was suddenly startled, her eyes lit up, but the next second she hurriedly waved her hands and shrank back:

"No, no, Nannan, you can't give it to someone else... I haven't done anything, just cooked and tended the fire every day, I haven't earned a single thing. You can give it to the village chief or Aunt Guixiang..."

Ya Ya frowned, slid off the chair, and shoved the cup into Aunt Chun Tao's hand.

When I touched my aunt's hand, it was cold and rough. Upon closer inspection, I noticed some redness and swelling, and several fingers had small cuts. I couldn't tell if they were from chopping vegetables, tending the fire, or from being frozen.

Ya Ya frowned even more.

"Aunt Chuntao did do something, that's for sure."

She held Ji Chuntao's hand and said, "My aunt comes over before dawn every day to cook hot and fragrant meals for us. After we eat, she still washes the pots and pans, cleans up, and runs around without ever taking a break."

"Only when everyone is well-fed will they have the energy to go to the fields, the mountains, and do other things. It's not just going out that counts as doing something. Preparing meals for so many people at home so that everyone can go out with peace of mind is also a very important task."

Ji Chuntao gripped the cup tightly, her nose tingled, and her eyes instantly reddened.

Having lived for so many years, she had long been accustomed to a set of principles: women should revolve around the stove, doing laundry, cooking, and taking care of the elderly and children; these were all taken for granted and not considered proper work, let alone meritorious service.

Men work in the fields to provide physical labor, while women take care of housework as if it were their natural duty. Even she herself felt that this was just her job and she didn't deserve to be paid or receive anything.

While eating that skewer of fiery beef, she kept thinking about its unique aroma. She wondered if she could ask Ya Ya to bring some back next time to experiment with cooking.

But she felt that she hadn't earned a single penny, and that she was already incredibly fortunate to have such nice clothes and a waterproof, dirt-resistant robe to wear, so she was too embarrassed to ask for more.

Just now, I was even thinking that after cooking dinner for the three children tonight, I would go back and weave a few pairs of straw sandals in the dark, sell them for money, and then shamelessly ask my daughter about it.

She never imagined that the work she did around the stove every day would be seen by others.

She never imagined that she, who stayed by the stove, was just like the men who carried hoes to the fields and the aunties who wove baskets and picked wild vegetables, all relying on their own hands and feet to make the village gradually improve.

The grandmothers listened to Ya Ya's words and nodded thoughtfully.

"Chuntao, what Nannan said makes sense. This is what you deserve, so take it." Fang Tiesheng put down the charcoal sticks.

"Yes, Auntie's cooking is delicious, and she makes different dishes every day."

"Auntie, you've worked so hard!" Xiaodouzi and Xiaoshuanzi chimed in. They had spent the most time with Aunt Chuntao.

"Take it, Chun Tao. Nannan said it's yours, so don't keep pushing it back and forth," the village chief said with a smile.

"Thank you, Nannan..." Ji Chuntao sniffed and carefully tucked the pink cup into her bosom.

"You're welcome!" Seeing that she accepted it, Ya Ya smiled and climbed back onto her chair.

"These solar-powered clip-on lights, we asked the shopkeeper to buy them for us last time. We'll each hang one in our village, so the village can be as bright at night as the shopkeeper's place, and we won't have trouble seeing anything when we walk!"

Everyone recognizes this lamp; there are three of them in the yard now. It's a really good thing, very practical.

These amazing sunlight-collecting lights are now found in almost every household!

The village chief simply grabbed one and put it in his pocket. He knew all too well how convenient this thing was; Nannan had bought it for everyone to use, so he wasn't going to be polite.

With the village chief taking the lead, everyone started to act casually and quickly distributed one to each person, their pockets bulging with satisfaction!