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

Da Niu was woken up by the cold.

The mountain dew was heavy, and my tattered clothes had become noticeably heavier without me even realizing it, my whole body exuding a damp, humid aura.

The pit was only half a person deep and drafty, with no bedding or anything to keep warm. The person in the corner was slightly better off, with a piece of cloth of indeterminate color around his waist.

Da Niu looked at the person sleeping soundly with some envy. Remembering how unbearably cold it was last night, he shamelessly sidled up to the person next to him and asked, "Brother, it's too cold at night, let's huddle together for warmth."

Not only did the person not agree, but they also moved from one corner to another. Every time the person moved closer, the other person would move again.

With no other options, Da Niu could only curl up alone in the pit and make do with sleeping.

The sky above was still dark, and everything around was pitch black. My stomach was growling loudly with hunger.

Since returning to the village, I've been eating on time, and I haven't been this hungry in a long time.

Da Niu subconsciously touched the bag at his waist, his hand was sticky.

Only then did he belatedly realize why that person disliked and avoided him so much.

His body and face were covered in horse manure; anyone who saw him would avoid him. If he weren't confined to the ditch, Da Niu estimated he would have already held his nose and run two miles away.

He scratched his head, a little embarrassed, realizing he'd offended them.

After carefully gathering up the scattered horse manure and re-concealing his camouflage satchel, Da Niu finally managed to stand up from the pit. The black-clad guards outside immediately became alert, drawing half a short knife in a flash: "Stay put!"

Da Niu quickly bowed and smiled apologetically, "Brother, please don't be angry. I'm starving. Could you do me a favor? It rained in the mountains a few days ago, and lots of wild mushrooms are growing in the forest. Would you let me pick some to fill my stomach? And maybe add some soup for the other brothers?"

The person huddled in the corner twitched their finger slightly. Another fool courting death.

The black-clad guard sheathed his knife, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "You wait."

Da Niu couldn't see clearly outside, but he heard very light footsteps leaving and returning, followed by the guard's voice: "Let's go, I'll go with you, let's pick more."

Da Niu, familiar with the area, plunged into the forest, wiping his hands with leaf juice and carrying a basket.

He had spotted quite a few pits on his way here, so now was the perfect time to pick them.

He specifically picked out the tender mushrooms that hadn't yet opened their caps and filled a whole basket.

"Big brother, I'm all better now. This is Leiwozi, it smells amazing."

The guard didn't say anything, but took the bamboo basket, kicked the ox back into the pit, and scraped the sole of his shoe with leaves.

The man at the bottom of the pit managed to take a couple of breaths of fresh air, but his nose was immediately filled with the stench again. He could only silently move away. This kid probably won't live much longer. Trying to use poisonous mushrooms? Didn't he realize that these people who come to the mountains to camp wouldn't know about wild mushrooms?

"Fifth brother, come and see these mushrooms." The guard carrying the bamboo basket entered the camp and called someone over.

"What's wrong, Second Brother? Another self-righteous country bumpkin?"

"Um."

"These lowly people are really delusional. Do they think they're the only ones who know this, the only ones who can tell the difference between poison and non-poison?" The fifth brother shook his head, took the bamboo basket, and started picking and cleaning the items inside.

The guard who brought the mushrooms didn't say anything, but simply took the knife from his waist and slowly sharpened it on a stone.

After washing all the mushrooms clean, the guard, known as Lao Wu, was astonished to find that not only were they non-poisonous, but each one was also the finest, tenderest fresh mushroom. He was stunned.

Is this person just plain stupid, or too cowardly to put up any resistance? Or is he harboring some other scheme?

He flipped through it again carefully and shook his head at the black-clad guard behind him.

A dozen or so mushrooms, boiled until they turned white and still steaming, were thrown into the pit and rolled all over the ground.

"Eat."

Da Niu lay on the ground in the dim light, not caring that things were dirty, and stuffed them into his mouth. As long as there was food, he could survive and have strength.

When he picked the eighth mushroom, Da Niu paused. This wasn't the mushroom he had picked; it was poisonous.

He jumped to his feet, holding up the mushrooms in his hand: "Brother in black, these mushrooms are poisonous! I didn't pick this kind when I was harvesting them. Don't let them in and harm everyone! Let everyone take a look!"

The black-clad guard and the fifth brother standing to the side exchanged a glance and lowered their guard.

The poisonous mushrooms were cooked separately by Lao Wu.

The fifth brother gave a forced smile: "Oh, thanks for reminding me."

Da Niu patted his chest and said, "No need to thank me. This is all the skill that mountain farmers have. You are all respectable people, so we can't let you eat anything bad. By the way, brothers, if you go back to the city in the future, could you give me a ride and help me out or something?"

The two people opposite did not respond, but turned and walked away with their bowls in their hands.

Da Niu grinned as he watched the guard walk away. Once he was sure no one was around, he plopped back down and rubbed his face, which was stiff from smiling.

Just as I was about to continue picking mushrooms to eat, I suddenly felt a probing gaze fall upon me.

He turned his head and looked over, just in time to meet the gaze of the person at the bottom of the pit who hadn't had time to look away.

"Do you want to eat?"

The man shook his head and turned his back.

Da Niu didn't mind and continued chewing the mushrooms.

"Master Xiong, here's your food." The fifth brother quietly brought over a large bowl of hot mushroom soup, squatted down, and handed it to the person in the corner.

Da Niu took two deep breaths, and it seemed to still taste meat?

No, we're all in the same boat, why are we being treated differently?

The man didn't move, and Da Niu happily reached out and took the bowl: "Brother, let me hold it for you, so your hands don't get tired."

The fifth brother handed the bowl to the eldest ox: "Don't steal any food, or you'll lose your head."

"Okay, I know, I know."

"Master Xiong, think of your family." The fifth brother stood up, looked down at the two people at the bottom of the pit, left these words, and walked away quietly.

Da Niu's pupils contracted, but he quickly regained his憨厚 (honest and simple) appearance.

"Brother Xiong, there's still meat in here, have some. If you don't eat it, I will. My parents raised me with great difficulty, they'd cry their eyes out if they knew I was starving outside."

Parents and family...

The man moved, revealing a stubble-covered face, and slowly took the bowl from Da Niu's hand.

As dawn broke over the mountains and forests outside, the guards began to patrol back and forth. Old Wu sat on a tree trunk some distance away, peering at the movements at the bottom of the pit.

This country bumpkin doesn't seem like a spy with bad intentions at all.

……

The early morning is the liveliest time of day in Lotus Village.

The village chief carried a bamboo basket and went from house to house, collecting all the solar clip-on lights that had been distributed earlier.

The villagers stood at their own gates watching, wondering why the lanterns were being taken down so easily, but no one asked any questions. They just quietly put the lanterns into the village chief's bamboo basket, still puzzled.

In Grandma Liu's courtyard, Ya Ya sat at a large round table, on which was piled a high mountain of clothes.

Stacks of navy blue work clothes were neatly arranged.

As Ji Chuntao stepped into the courtyard, clutching a small bag, she spotted the pile of new clothes: "Oh, has Nannan bought us new clothes again?"

Ya Ya patted the plastic bag containing the clothes with her little hands: "Yes! I bought a lot this time! I bought everything from the clearance sale stall!"