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

Cao Xiulian grew angrier and angrier, and felt increasingly suffocated.

She felt remorseful for not caring enough about Ya Ya. She had only ever focused on whether Ya Ya was well-fed and warmly dressed, and had never paid attention to the child's growth.

In her heart, education was the most reliable way out for girls from mountain villages. Without education, they might be trapped in that small plot of land for their entire lives, endlessly working around the stove and doing farm work.

Only by learning more characters, reading more books, broadening one's horizons, and seeing the vast world beyond the mountains can Ya Ya take control of her life and not let others dictate her destiny.

She clenched her fists, holding back a bellyful of words, trying to figure out how to properly instruct Ya Ya, when she saw Ya Ya come to her senses and pat her tense hand.

"Auntie, it's not that the villagers won't let me go to school. Please don't be angry, the villagers are very kind to me." Ya Ya spoke quickly, afraid that her aunt had misunderstood everyone, and also afraid that her aunt would get upset and harm her health.

"I learn to read and recite with Grandpa Fang every day. Grandpa Fang also tells me a lot of interesting stories. Sister He Miao and Uncle Shopkeeper gave me a lot of books. I even know about pandas! I am the best at reading and math in the village. Even Xiao Douzi has learned more than me!"

"But there's no school in our village..."

Ya Ya wanted to continue, saying that in their Jiang Kingdom, there were no girls' schools or women holding official positions, and girls could not take the imperial examinations. It was different from here, not because the villagers forbade it.

But remembering Grandpa Fang's instructions and her own background, Ya Ya abruptly stopped talking.

Cao Xiulian was stunned when she heard this. Looking at Ya Ya's somewhat anxious expression, she suddenly realized that it wasn't that girls weren't allowed to go to school, but that all the children couldn't go to school because the village was too remote and Ya Ya's expression was incomplete.

She smiled awkwardly, realizing that the misunderstanding had caused her unnecessary anger.

However, what needs to be said still needs to be said.

Cao Xiulian looked earnestly into Ya Ya's eyes: "Ya Ya, you must remember what your aunt said. Only when knowledge is in your own mind can you control your own destiny. You must study. Talk to everyone in the village, and make sure they send their children to school no matter how far it is."

Ya Ya nodded obediently and said, "I've remembered, Auntie. I'll tell Grandma and Grandpa Village Chief!"

Cao Xiulian finally felt somewhat relieved and got up to move the blackboard aside to open the shop, when she heard a voice from the doorway: "Oh my, you bought such a big blackboard! Good morning, little boss!"

Wang Guifen came in through the door, carrying a plastic bag.

"Good morning, Sister Wang!"

"Good morning, Grandma Wang!" Ya Ya greeted Wang Guifen happily. "Did you eat the watercress I saved for you yesterday? Was it good?"

"I've eaten, I've eaten! It's delicious! It's so kind of you to remember me and save these wild vegetables for me. Grandma will remember this kindness." Wang Guifen's eyes narrowed into slits as she smiled, immediately shoving the bag in her hand into Ya Ya's arms. "Grandma specially brought you some food today. This is something rare, we don't have it in Northeast China. Take it back and let everyone in the family try it!"

Ya Ya hugged the plastic bag and moved her hand.

The things inside are round and hard.

She placed the bag on the table and opened it, revealing several round lumps covered in yellowish mud and sand.

There are three in total. Two of them are about the same size as Ya Ya's head, and the other one is smaller, about the same size as Xiao Shuanzi's head.

It looks a bit like... a mushroom?

Ya Ya curiously picked one up. The surface of the sand was very slippery. Before she knew it, it fell back onto the table, making a loud banging sound.

What is this? Mushrooms should be soft, but this looks like a giant mushroom, yet it's rock hard.

Cao Xiulian also leaned over and touched it with her hand, asking, "What's this?"

"Hey, you've never seen this before, have you? This is a new variety of mushroom discovered in 2015, called the Chinese Delicious Mushroom. It's only found in the Northwest region, with Xinjiang producing the most. My husband's comrade-in-arms dug it up and specially sent it to him."

Wang Guifen tilted her chin up and said with a proud expression.

Upon hearing this unique name, both Cao Xiulian and Ya Ya's expressions froze.

Is there such a name?

Delicious Chinese mushrooms...

That's way too blunt.

Ya Ya scratched her little head, wondering if this mushroom was being a bit too shameless. How could it call itself a delicious mushroom?

Is it really that delicious?

Cao Xiulian touched the mushroom a couple more times. "If you dare to give it such a straightforward name, it must taste really good. It must cost a lot of money, right? Sister Wang, you're too extravagant. I'll transfer the money to you."

Upon hearing this, Wang Guifen's face darkened, and she feigned displeasure, saying, "Tsk! Little sister, you're making things awkward by mentioning money to me. Am I not your good friend? Isn't it normal for good friends to share food and drinks? There's no reason for you to keep accounts, right, boss? Unless you don't consider me a good friend anymore?"

Ya Ya quickly waved her hand, "No, no, Grandma Wang is our good friend, then... then I'll accept it, thank you Grandma Wang!"

As she spoke, she picked out the smaller mushroom and placed it in front of Cao Xiulian: "Auntie, please try this. I'll take the rest back to the village and share them."

"Oh, then I won't be polite. Thank you, Ya Ya, and thank you, Sister Wang!" Cao Xiulian happily accepted the gift.

Here, everyone's one of us; there's no pretense.

"Sister Wang, come in and have a seat. You said last time you wanted some steamed buns and mantou, so I made some today. Try them!" Cao Xiulian put the mushrooms away and turned to go to the stove.

One of the two fryers was missing, replaced by a large three-tiered steamer, from which a rich aroma of noodles wafted continuously.

"Sourdough steamed buns?"

"Yes, Sister Wang, you have a really good nose!"

……

Ya Ya didn't bring many wild vegetables today, and by the time Wang Guifen finished breakfast, most of the wild vegetables had already been sold out.

Cao Xiulian's steamed buns and mantou also sell well. They are large, made with high-quality ingredients, and all handmade. The large buns are even glistening with oil.

After Ya Ya put away all the empty baskets she could reach on the shelf, she took out a roll of green measuring tape from her pocket and leaned close to Cao Xiulian: "Auntie, I almost forgot, I bought a lot of pretty fabric yesterday and wanted to ask Aunt Chun Tao to make a dress for you, but Aunt Chun Tao said that if she doesn't have the measurements, the dress won't fit properly, so I have to take your measurements."

Cao Xiulian blushed. Oh dear, she hadn't worn a skirt in years. She worked from dawn till dusk setting up her fried cake stall, and it wasn't convenient to wear a skirt while riding her electric scooter. The skirts Zhao Yu bought for her were all stored away at the bottom of her trunk.

"Auntie, no need. I'm always busy around the stove, my skirt would be ruined. Besides, look at my figure..." Cao Xiulian waved her hands shyly, looking at her round waist.

"Auntie will definitely look good in it. I chose a really pretty fabric, and Auntie has such a lucky figure. Grandma says you're beautiful!" Ya Ya's little face was full of seriousness.

"Really...?" Cao Xiulian felt warm inside, took the measuring tape from Ya Ya's hand, stood up straight, and carefully measured the dimensions.

"Ya Ya, give me your phone, I'll save it in your notes, you can take it back and show it to your aunt." Cao Xiulian reached out to Ya Ya.

memorandum?

What is that?