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

Gou Ya paused in her movements. "I only need a little bit. I don't eat much. Xinghua and Da Niu are still weak, so they should drink more to replenish their energy."

Upon hearing this, Granny Li sighed softly, a hint of sadness welling up in her eyes.

Gou Ya's thoughts were perfectly clear to her. She felt that she hadn't done anything and had been eating and living for free, so she thought that food was precious and everyone had to save it. If she ate one more bite, others would have one less bite.

Grandma Li didn't try to persuade her; she figured she'd stop saying that once she got used to it. She simply supported herself on her legs and slowly stood up.

Gou Ya helped Granny Li up, and seeing that the two of them had finished tidying up, she picked up the small bucket that had been placed not far away.

"Let's go wash our hands in the yard and get ready for dinner."

"Um!"

After a few days of recuperation, Gou Ya's body visibly became more agile, her complexion was no longer sallow, her steps were light, and she could carry half a bucket of water without swaying.

There was no trace of the near-death experience she had just endured a few days prior.

Compared to Dr. Chen, who was still somewhat weak, and Xinghua, and Da Niu, whose wounds had not yet fully healed, she recovered the fastest.

This child, like an unattended weed in the mountains, grew wildly with a tenacious spirit, and survived by sheer willpower.

The group walked into Granny Liu's courtyard, but not all the villagers had arrived yet.

Ji Chuntao was standing by the stove, pondering what to cook later.

Now, the hospital has the elderly, children, and wounded and sick, so we have to put some effort into their meals.

"Chuntao, chop these seedlings up and cook them into the porridge later." Granny Li said to Ji Chuntao, carrying two small baskets, before going to the water vat to wash them.

"Are these the radishes and bok choy we planted earlier?" Ji Chuntao glanced at them.

"Yes, your uncle and I went to thin out the seedlings in the vegetable patch, and also some gourd shoots. Let's make a cold salad with these radish shoots, it'll be refreshing."

"Oh my, you've got the same idea as me!" Ji Chuntao clapped her hands.

……

Fang Tiesheng entered the courtyard with dark circles under his eyes.

He didn't sleep well all night, constantly thinking about how to make the most of this precious half hour. He wrote and erased words repeatedly in the small notebook he carried with him, until the paper was thin from wiping.

The list of things to buy is ready, but the biggest uncertainty is that the bus doesn't seem to be waiting in one place, and it's also uncertain how long it will take to get to the building materials market and how long the round trip will be.

If a round trip is about the same as going into the city from here, then his limited time simply cannot withstand the hassle.

Before he could come up with a solution, the birds outside started chirping. He drifted off to sleep, and when he opened his eyes again, it was already broad daylight.

Breakfast was a refreshing vegetable sprout porridge, served with steamed sliced ​​sausage and pickled cowpeas, plus a side of cold radish sprout salad.

After a quick breakfast, Fang Tiesheng took Ya Ya's little hand and patted the small notebook in his pocket.

"Grandpa Fang, are we going over there?" Ya Ya asked expectantly, ready to get in the car!

"Okay." Fang Tiesheng reached into his pocket with his free hand and gripped the notebook tightly.

As soon as you arrive at the night market, the unique hustle and bustle of people hits you, making it even more lively and noisy than the morning market.

Fang Tiesheng's calves were trembling slightly.

Looking at the bright, dazzling neon lights, the food at the street food stalls sizzling with oil, the dense crowds shoulder to shoulder, all sorts of novel and strange foods, and two-wheeled vehicles shuttling by not far away.

He steadied himself, still holding Ya Ya's little hand tightly.

My heart aches and aches.

Even someone who had been to the morning market once and seen the sights of this place before would be intimidated and feel uneasy by such a spectacle. And Nannan, this was her first time here…

Back then, the little girl was thin and small, barefoot, and quietly squatted in the corner.

Fang Tiesheng's gaze slowly fell on the tin bucket next to him, which was emitting a complicated smell. He could clearly see the words "Recyclable Waste" printed on the bucket.

Their little girl huddled next to the trash can, slowly mustering all her courage to pick up scraps discarded by others, thus securing a way for them to survive.

Pity, heartache, and a touch of indescribable lingering fear swirled and weighed heavily on his heart.

A pair of weathered old eyes couldn't help but well up with moist tears.

Ya Ya noticed that he had stopped and gently tugged at his hand. "Grandpa Fang, don't be afraid. Ya Ya comes here often and knows the place well. Ya Ya will take you to get in the car."

Fang Tiesheng took a deep breath, composed himself, and nodded: "Okay, Grandpa isn't afraid. Grandpa will go with Nannan."

The two walked along the street towards the main road where the road surface had been repaired.

Ya Ya pointed to a slightly different colored, smooth mark on the road: "Grandpa Fang, look, this is the pothole that Uncle Red Hat and his crew patched up a couple of days ago. Now it's flat and hard!"

Fang Tiesheng looked in the direction she pointed and saw that it was right by the roadside. He quickened his pace and stepped lightly.

Despite their different colors, they all feel equally hard when stepped on.

This cement is a real treasure.

We absolutely have to get our hands on this treasure this time!

If the dirt roads in Lotus Village could be paved with cement and become as smooth as this, tricycles could run smoothly without bumps, and it would be much easier for Tiger to transport stones and for everyone to transport fertilizer and carry water.

Just then, two bright lights appeared in the distance, and a huge, square, four-wheeled vehicle slowly drove up.

The car body is sturdy and heavy, like a giant beast lurking on the street. The two headlights at the front are like the eyes of a wild beast in the dark, carrying a heavy sense of oppression.

Fang Tiesheng had never seen a vehicle of this design before, and his heart tightened suddenly, instinctively feeling a bit of fear.

But he knew in his heart that he only had half an hour and could not afford to hesitate or delay. He could only suppress his fear and hurriedly pulled Ya Ya to the curb and move her to the side.

There is a bright number "3" in the center of the top of the car.

It was the No. 3 bus they were going to take.

The bus slowly approached the roadside platform, where two people were waiting. Fang Tiesheng picked up Ya Ya and quickly walked over, standing behind the two people, staring at the huge bus with a mixture of restraint and curiosity.

The car came to a smooth stop, and the square iron gate in front of the car, without anyone pulling it, slowly folded open to both sides, making room for people to pass through, like a giant beast slowly opening its mouth.

Ya Ya's eyes widened.

Fang Tiesheng suppressed his surprise and followed the two men into the car, the door behind him slowly closing.

It felt like stepping into the belly of a monster.

Before he could even marvel at how the door had such a clever mechanism that he didn't have to lift a finger, he saw the person in front of him pull out a card and wave it at a small, upright box on his right. The box beeped, and the person walked straight inside.

Fang Tiesheng recalled that at the morning market, people paid in the same way, by beeping their phones.

Is this how you pay for a bus ride?

He subconsciously took out the ID that Duck Fairy had given him earlier and tried to move it closer to the square box, but the box didn't react at all.

The driver waited for Fang Tiesheng to go to his seat.

The two people were an old man and a young child; the old man was holding a tiny, delicate baby in his arms, his body trembling.

If he stands, he might fall as soon as he starts moving.

Seeing the old man repeatedly swiping his ID card, the person gently reminded him, "Sir, you don't need to try anymore. You look to be seventy, right? Seniors over sixty-five ride for free here, and children ride for free too. Just find a seat!"