Nobita's Time Heist

And now, someone actually wants to erase this precious progress and plunge humanity back into the dark ages.

This is absolutely unforgivable!

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

“I’ll go find the village chief. You all rest here for a while. My sister should be out working by now. Check the stove; there should still be some porridge cooking in the pot. If you’re really hungry, just help yourself to a bowl.”

Huang Amao put down his basket, waved to Daxiong and the others, and then got up and left the courtyard. His steps were quite light, like a gust of wind, and he blended into the village and disappeared.

Looking around, the phrase "barely furnished" is perhaps an understatement. The house is primarily a wooden structure, not unlike most houses in the village.

Aside from the stove, bed, and tables and chairs, there was almost nothing that could be called furniture. Nobita and his friends had nowhere to sit, so they dusted off their pants, grabbed a few bundles of straw from the corner, and spread them on the ground to use as cushions.

"They actually brought a bunch of strangers home like that," Shizuka remarked. "People in ancient times were so simple and honest."

“That being said, there’s really nothing to steal…” Asur shrugged and dug away the clod of dirt that had hardened on her calf. “This village doesn’t look very wealthy either.”

"What should we do next? In this tiny village on the edge of the world, it's impossible for us to find any clues, right?"

“Not entirely.” Shizuka looked thoughtful, holding up a finger. “At least we now know that there’s an official out of office named Wang Mang, a rare and wonderful person. Perhaps he will be the one to usher in the next dynasty?”

"In this kind of world, can good people really become officials?" Asur looked small, but her words were surprisingly mature. She also expressed doubt about the "good person" Huang Amao mentioned. "Human desires are very difficult to restrain, especially when one of his decisions can easily change the fate of millions of people. It is almost impossible to control the expansion of desires."

"In the end, a purely good person can never make it to the end in a power struggle."

"..."

Da Xiong stared at the mottled mold spots on the wooden wall, his brows furrowed, lost in thought, not uttering a word, as if he had turned into a stone statue.

After a long while, he suddenly spoke, saying something that seemed rather strange.

"Is it really the eighth year of the Common Era now?"

“Yes,” Shizuka said, puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

“This is an era without cell phones, internet, computers, or even Twitter search trends. And this is a secluded mountain village, rarely visited by people, with inconvenient transportation, and basically completely isolated from the outside world.” Da Xiong emphasized these preconditions, which he considered quite terrifying. “Under these circumstances, even a young herb gatherer knows that in the capital, there is a great man named Wang Mang.”

The birdsong in the deep forest fell silent at that moment, and the temperature inside the wooden house dropped accordingly.

Like the details in ghost stories that you can't delve into. If you don't think about them, it might not be a big deal, but once you're gripped by fear and start to picture that scene in your mind... it becomes truly terrifying the more you think about it.

Once upon a time, Nobita got a perfect score on a test, and he was eager to show off, but the busy world had little patience for him.

Nobody cared how many points he scored. Except for Doraemon, no one else even had time to glance at his test paper. Later, Doraemon used a gadget called the "Propaganda Machine" to launch a massive, bombardment-style propaganda campaign. Newspapers, advertisements, news, radio programs—almost every channel was flooded with traffic, finally making the whole country aware of the matter.

Even props from the 22nd century are like this.

However, in this era, the fastest way to spread information was still through letters. Most people couldn't afford paper, so they had to pass on information orally to transmit even the most fragmented pieces. Therefore, any superfluous or complicated content was removed. Under these circumstances, even a herb-gathering boy in a remote mountain area could know that there was a great man named Wang Mang in the capital, and only he could save the crumbling Han Dynasty.

The true value of the word "good person" sent a chill down Da Xiong's spine upon reflection.

Chapter 163: Holding Back

No one knows exactly how Huang Amao described it, but when an old man with white hair and beard, and eyes that seemed to be covered by a layer of pterygium, slowly made his way to the door with a cane, Da Xiong and the others were stunned. Firstly, the sanitation in ancient times was poor, and the average lifespan was generally low, so an old man of such advanced age was indeed rare; secondly, the wrinkled face was so striking that if someone were walking in the middle of nowhere and suddenly saw that face, they might easily be startled and jump up.

"This is our Tongxin Village Chief, who just celebrated his 60th birthday this year," Huang Amao said proudly as he helped the old man up. "He is the village doctor and also my mentor."

"What kind of doctor... He only knows a few herbal remedies. He's just a kid who doesn't know any better. He's only half-baked and keeps talking nonsense outside. You're all laughing at him."

"No, no." Seeing that the man was quite old and had come to visit in person, Da Xiong quickly said with a smile, "Our companion bumped into a tree and got injured, and it was he who helped heal him."

"It's no big deal." The village chief forced a smile at Da Xiong and the others, but it was swallowed up by the dense wrinkles on his face. Only his eyes seemed to crinkle slightly. "Judging from the material of these clothes, you young men... must be from Chang'an, right?"

His voice had a heavy local accent, which the translator, Konjac Chip, expressed in the form of a foreign dialect. Although it was still Japanese to Nobita and the others, it was still a bit difficult to understand; they had to mentally process it to grasp its meaning.

The village chief's misunderstanding was not entirely unreasonable.

Things that seem ordinary to modern people are actually the culmination of a wealth of experience accumulated by their predecessors. Take their clothes, for example; you don't even need to touch them to tell that the material is something that ordinary people couldn't afford.

"Well, we do have this plan, but we don't know which way to go."

"?!" Upon hearing Da Xiong's words, Huang Amao's eyes lit up immediately, and he looked at them eagerly, like a little dog smelling the aroma of meat bones.

"Is that so... Alas..." The village chief sighed and said in a deep voice, "There is something I don't know whether I should say or not. Seeing you all so young, about to go to that place of trouble, I really can't bear it. If you are willing, please listen to my advice."

When elders put on this earnest and persuasive act, most people won't refuse. Even if you have no interest in what they're saying, you'll stand there and listen out of politeness, and Da Xiong is no exception.

“I observe the clouds above Chang’an; the air is chilling and menacing. I seem to hear the sudden clash of weapons, and there is an image of dragons and snakes fighting, with a giant snake biting off a dragon’s neck and a rainbow of blood flowing down. Coupled with these strange phenomena, I fear there will be a calamity of war. This is certainly not an auspicious place. Whether you seek fame or fortune, you should not rush into the city at this time. If you go rashly, you may be beset by disaster, which you will not be able to avoid.”

……

Can't understand.

Although there was a translation for the konjac chips, theoretically all that was heard was Japanese. Even though he recognized every single word, the total amount left Nobita completely confused.

“Simply put, it’s something like… ‘feng shui’?” Shizuka whispered in his ear, her warm breath brushing against his earlobe, making Nobita’s face flush slightly. “It seems to be a kind of divination from ancient China. He’s saying that if we go to Chang’an now, something bad will happen.”

"You can tell so much from the shape of clouds?" Asur was quite interested and stepped forward. "Hey, grandpa, could you teach me how to tell?"

As mentioned earlier, her facial features resembled those of a mixed Eurasian descent, with a high nose bridge, fair skin, and deep emerald eyes like a clear lake—quite different from the locals. The village chief, probably seeing someone with this appearance for the first time, was visibly surprised for a few seconds. Perhaps thanks to his translation of the konjac slices, he didn't suspect anything when the girl spoke fluent local dialect.

The old man just smiled and shook his head.

“Young lady, this is nothing special. You’ll see when you’re old, riddled with illness…” As he said this, he seemed to weaken further, and his hand holding the cane began to tremble. Huang Amao also kindly leaned over to support the old woman.

"Let's wait, let's wait a little longer. In at least a month, or at most two months, Chang'an... will be in turmoil. Going in now would easily get you implicated. It would be better to stay in Tongxin Village for a while and wait for the situation to stabilize before making any plans. Most of the villagers are simple and kind, so even if you are outsiders, you won't encounter any inconvenience."

"Of course, all of the above is just the ramblings of an old man who is about to go blind. If you insist on going to the capital, we will not stop you. But once you enter the city, you must be careful. Don't say or listen to anything you shouldn't say or ask about."

For older people, talking is very taxing on their energy. After saying so much all at once, the old man's skinny legs were shaking uncontrollably, but he still insisted on standing there, slightly raising his neck, waiting for Da Xiong's reply.

Huang Amao supported him, but his attention was completely elsewhere, focused instead on Da Xiong and his group. It was as if his next answer would determine the fate of his entire life.

……

"We do have important matters to attend to in Chang'an, and we shouldn't have wasted so much time on the road."

Huang Amao became visibly excited, clenching his left fist so tightly that his nails dug deep into his flesh.

The village chief's expression remained completely unchanged, and he continued to stare intently at him.

"but……"

“Since you’ve already said that, there’s no harm in waiting a little longer.” He nodded readily. “In that case, we’ll have to stay here and bother you for a while longer.”

This time, not only was Huang Amao disappointed, but the two girls were also taken aback by the answer.

"Nobita?"

"Are you serious?" Asur grabbed his sleeve, pulled him close, and lowered his voice, "The enemy may have already launched their operation, and Chang'an City is definitely the center of everything! Are you planning to huddle in this small village and hand over all the advantageous tactical positions to the Foundation?"

When you know for sure that the enemy will take action, remaining inactive requires even more strategic composure.

"That's true, but... we know absolutely nothing about the current situation in Chang'an. This is another country, another period of history, completely different from the Warring States period Japan we were familiar with. How can we judge what things 'should' have happened and what things have gone against the course of history?"

"As you said, if history is to be changed, it will definitely be done in Chang'an. In other words, the people from the Apairang Foundation are definitely in Chang'an now, but they don't know our location."

Da Xiong lowered his voice as well, and said very seriously, "We are still in the shadows. If we rush into Chang'an without sufficient intelligence, we will easily become the target of concentrated fire. It would be better to stay in the village for the time being, monitor Chang'an remotely through other means, and then take the initiative to strike once we have a clear understanding of the situation, so as to end the rule of the new dynasty with one blow!"

Chapter 164: Life as Delicate as a String

"Brother, who are these people...?"

"Oh, the village chief said that for some reason, they will be staying at our house for a few days." Huang Amao looked a little lost, and although he tried his best to hide it, his smile was still a bit forced. "Aru, go and heat up the stove. We'll cook more tonight."

Standing at the door was a girl with a slender build, carrying a bundle of firewood on her back. She looked even smaller than Asur, the large bundle of firewood creating a stark contrast with her petite frame. It was hard to imagine that such a small girl could go out to do various chores before dawn, spinning like a top until sunset.

The little girl's face was ashen; because her cheeks were thin and her eye sockets were sunken, her eyes appeared particularly large, and there were dried snot streaks under her nose. Despite it being the dead of winter, her clothes were so thin, and her face wasn't even red from the cold wind, but a waxy, pale white. From a distance, it was impossible to tell if she was a girl or a boy.

This is the best depiction of people's lives in this era.

Seeing her appearance, and recalling how she used to throw a tantrum at her mother when she didn't want to practice piano as a child, Shizuka lowered her head in shame.

"But, brother, the rice for this month is already..."

"The village chief instructed us; they are honored guests." Huang Amao waved his hand, bringing up the village chief to settle the matter in this small family. "I'll find a way to get money to buy rice; you just need to keep cooking."

"Oh." Aru responded blankly, then turned and walked towards the kitchen. It seemed that the task of cooking had fallen to her.

……

Sitting face to face, to keep the atmosphere from getting awkward, Shizuka deliberately turned to the side, revealing a reassuring and friendly smile, and asked in a listener's tone, "Ama, where are your parents? When are they coming back?"

"..." Such a mundane question left Huang Amao silent for a long time. He knew perfectly well that the other person was just looking for a suitable topic to start with, but the hurdle in their heart was not so easy to overcome.

"They're all dead."

His tone was nonchalant, as if he were talking about people and things completely unrelated to him. No one knew how many times he had secretly rehearsed this composure, until every pause and tone of voice was polished to perfection.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the room froze, with only the crackling of the stove fire audible. Because there was hardly any furniture to begin with, the large wooden house felt even more deathly silent.

Nobita and Shizuka were both stunned. Rationally speaking, they naturally knew that sooner or later they would have to part with their parents, but neither of them had ever really considered what that scene would be like.

For the two who grew up under the loving care of their parents, this was something that would happen a very, very long time from now. But this boy, who looked even younger than them, had already lost his parents before his childhood was even over. The kind of environment these unfortunate siblings grew up in… it's unimaginable!

Of course, this was actually quite common in ancient times.

Human lifespan has gradually increased to over 60 or 70 years old thanks to breakthroughs in modern medicine. Most age-related diseases prevalent in modern people were actually rare in ancient times because people generally didn't live that long. Their ability to cope with risks was extremely poor, and coupled with the widespread chaos and disorder in the lower classes, even a minor bump or bruise, if not treated properly, could escalate and lead to death.

If that kind old man hadn't met Doraemon, and if Arthur hadn't met Nobita, tuberculosis would have taken their lives too.

Asur, on the other hand, remained calm, seemingly unsurprised by the answer, and simply asked, "So, you and your sister are now..."

“The village chief helped the two of us. He taught me how to identify useful herbs and suggested some ways to sell them for a little money. Although it wasn’t much, it was enough to buy some food and clothes. This house was left to us by my parents. Our family’s land in the village has always been managed by the villagers. Most of the people in this village are good people.”

Huang Amao looked somewhat flustered, leaning slightly forward, clearly showing a desire to confide. However, he remained hesitant, as if considering whether their relationship allowed him to ask the question.

Sensing his hesitation, Da Xiong smiled slightly and took the initiative to ask, "Do you want to go to Chang'an with us?"

"Huh?" He probably thought he had disguised himself quite well, but he didn't expect to be exposed so quickly, and he became even more embarrassed. However, for him right now, if he didn't speak up, he might never have the chance to go to the capital in his lifetime. After hesitating for a long time, he clenched his fists and nodded forcefully.

"The last time I went to Chang'an to pick up goods, I never came back. It's been eight years. The villagers told me that they might have encountered bandits on the road, or they might have been eaten by wolves. They told me to consider them dead and not to have any hope. Ha... Come to think of it, I haven't had much time to grieve."

He exuded a maturity and sadness far beyond his years, nodding slightly towards the distant horizon where the mountains meet the forest. "I dug two holes on the mountain and buried their clothes in them."

Nobita and Shizuka were both stunned.

Living in the 21st century, it's hard for modern people to imagine such a thing. Although birth, aging, illness, and death are still unavoidable, most of the stories we hear are of someone unfortunately passing away from illness. They closed their eyes on a large hospital bed, surrounded by relatives and friends, amidst their cries.

However, in ancient times before civilization had spread, death was not such a ritualistic event, and cases like Huang Amao's parents were commonplace. They simply vanished without a trace, dying mysteriously, with a very high probability that their bodies would never be found.

In truth, he was well aware that the probability of finding them in Chang'an was extremely low, but without trying, the knot in his heart would remain untied.

Everyone around him told him that forgetting them would be better for his future, and that's what they did. His parents grew up in the village, but after they disappeared for a month, no one in the village ever mentioned them again, as if they had never existed in the first place. Huang Amao and Huang Aru, the brother and sister, seemed to have sprung up from a crack in a rock.

Even her own sister seemed to have silently accepted this fact. She began to take on the household chores day and night, and as long as she was busy enough, she could forget everything else.

The increasingly numb world surrounded him, almost suffocating him.

He wanted to do this while he still had a little bit of youthful spirit left, so that no matter how fate turned in the future, he wouldn't regret it too much.

That being said, even if a poor boy who makes a living by collecting herbs saves up for his whole life, can he possibly save enough for the journey to Chang'an?

We can only rely on outsiders... We can only do our best to wait for the right opportunity and seize every tiny chance!

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Sure," Nobita replied unexpectedly readily. "We'll call you when we set off."

Chapter 165: A Classic Nighttime Encounter with a Side Story!

For dinner this time, Nobita unusually refrained from using props like the "Gourmet Tablecloth" or the "Plant Feast Instant Liquid," skipping the essential food element of every adventure. For some reason, he always felt that letting them eat overly sophisticated cuisine would somehow distort their worldview.

After much deliberation, what was finally presented on the wooden table were just some ordinary canned fast food. These are usually stored at home as "emergency food" because they have a long shelf life and don't spoil easily.

Earthquakes are quite frequent in Japan. If a house collapses and is trapped under rubble, finding these canned foods could last for a considerable time. However, under normal circumstances, these are considered dried goods that nobody would touch.

However, even something as simple as this was enough to amaze the unfortunate brother and sister.

"Wow! So delicious! This smells amazing!! What kind of meat is this made of? Do you guys get to eat this every day?!"

Huang Amao put a slice of beef from the can into his mouth. The taste, produced by modern industrial processes, was still too stimulating for him, an ancient person who could only taste minced meat during the New Year. The boy had completely forgotten everything, just digging into the chipped bowl with his chopsticks. Da Xiong watched from the side, worried that he might burn his esophagus eating too fast.

The sound of chopsticks shoveling in the bowl was very clear. The bowl was mostly hot water, and there were hardly any grains of rice visible.

Looking at the nearly empty wooden bowl, Jingxiang frowned, her expression filled with pity. Huang Aru, meanwhile, barely had time to speak, simply shoveling thin porridge into her mouth along with the canned food. What modern people consider heavy on oil and salt, they saw as a rare delicacy.

The brother and sister were delighted to have such delicious food, but they didn't know how to repay the host. After all, even if they were allowed to take everything they wanted, there wasn't much of a decent thing to take from the house. They could only offer the only blanket in the house, but Da Xiong politely and firmly declined, saying that they were only staying there temporarily and that a place to lie down was enough for them, so they didn't need such things.

Unless one was from a wealthy family, people in ancient times generally didn't have much of a nightlife. Even if it was only 7:30, once it got dark, it was almost time to rest. As for things like candles, they were something only the upper class could afford. Once it got dark, the room was completely dark, and one had no choice but to sleep.

……

"Are we really taking him with us?" Asur adjusted his position in his sleeping bag and asked softly. "Sometimes, it might be better to keep him hopeful."

"Asur-chan, what do you mean by that?" Shizuka rarely showed a hint of anger, and said reproachfully, "This has always been his wish, and it's not too difficult for us, so of course we should help him!"

“It’s not a matter of difficulty.” Asur sighed inwardly. In the darkness, rustling sounds came from her sleeping bag as she asked, “The problem is, do you really believe his parents are still alive?”