Chapter 6: 06 Serious Brainwashing
Goudan wiped his saliva and lifted his little face to look at Lin Tang.
"Little Auntie, you go ahead and eat. We'll just smell it."
As he spoke, worried that his little auntie would disdain his younger brother for being sloppy, he quickly wiped off the saliva that had dripped onto Choudan's chin.
Upon hearing this, Lin Tang's heart suddenly ached.
In that other world she had seen, which child didn't need coaxing and deceiving by adults to eat their meal obediently?
Not like this era, where even getting enough to eat was difficult.
Lin Tang had always liked sensible children.
Her heart softened, and she touched Goudan's little face, smiling and saying, "We'll eat together."
In the two youngsters' memories, their little auntie was always cold and fierce.
Her sudden gentleness terrified the two children.
Goudan's face was especially shocked.
"...Li-Little Auntie, we won't... we won't eat."
Although he said this, his eyes were glued to the porcelain bowl.
The longing and drooling look in their eyes for the food was heart-wrenchingly sad to see.
Looking at her understanding, skinny, and starving little nephews, Lin Tang's heart felt tender.
She raised her hand and touched the slightly unruly hair of the little guy.
"I'm full, and there are two eggs in this bowl. I can't finish it by myself, so you need to help eat it.
One mouthful each, come on, open your mouth..."
As she spoke, she scooped a full spoonful of the orange-yellow egg custard and brought it to his mouth.
Goudan hesitated and glanced at his mother, then forcefully turned his head away.
"Mother, I just had a bowl of rice porridge. I'm full now. Let Goudan and the others have the egg custard!" Lin Tang looked at her mother with a pleading face and said.
Her mother had always favored her.
Seeing the young girl's tender and adorable act of coaxing, how could she possibly say no?
Plus, she wasn't the kind of elder who was malicious. They were just struggling with poverty!
Li Xiuli put on a stern face and addressed the little tykes, "Look how good your little auntie is to you all, always remembering you when there's something nice to eat.
Look around the village, whose little auntie is so generous.
People should have a thankful heart. Don't forget your little auntie when you have something good to eat in the future.
When you grow up, you should also be good to your little auntie..."
Her family had no place for ingrates.
Li Xiuli babbled on and made the children blush with embarrassment and emotion.
It was as if Lin Tang had done something incredibly significant.
"Little auntie, don't worry. When I grow up, I'll make money to buy you meat," Goudan, as the eldest child of the Lin family, took the lead and declared.
Choudan grew up following Goudan and, only being four years old, he didn't fully understand what the adults were saying.
Yet, he echoed his brother, shouting, "Buy meat for Little Auntie... buy meat."
Lin Tang: "..."
As an adult, what did she need children to buy her meat for?
Was this how her parents had always taught their nephews?
Overwhelmed by shock, Lin Tang's fingers trembled as she held the bowl.
To her father and her mother, however, it appeared as though their daughter was just easily moved.
The old couple imagined the scenario, their hearts swelling with sympathy for their daughter.
They secretly thought: It seems we'll have to teach these little tykes to be more filial to their little auntie in the future.
Lin Tang, who still didn't know she was going to be given special care in the future, handed the spoon to Goudan.
Smiling, she said, "Goudan, you're the big brother, you split it."
Goudan was taken aback and licked his lips, rolling the custard at the corner of his mouth into his mouth.
He looked at Lin Tang in disbelief and pointed to his little nose, asking, "...I—I split it?"
This bowl of egg custard was all theirs?!
And he... is going to do the dividing?
For a moment, Goudan's small body suddenly burst with an unprecedented sense of pride.
His little face flushed with joy.
At home, meals had always been divided by Grandma.
He couldn't believe he had been given such an important task, one not even his dad had done.
Did this mean he was even more capable than his dad?
Excited, Goudan puffed out his little chest proudly.
His gaze toward Lin Tang brightened with happiness.
Lin Tang had no idea that by casually assigning the small task of dividing the Egg Custard to Goudan, the oldest child, just because she wanted to go out and see if she could pick up some more good things, he would be so creatively inspired.
Thinking of her family's meals made Lin Tang feel a bit gloomy inside.
She said to Xiuli, "Mom, let's fry some eggs tonight. The farm work is so strenuous; you all need to eat well to keep your strength up."
"Fry what eggs? We won't fry them." Xiuli shook her head in refusal.
"Isn't every family the same? Keep the eggs for yourself. You have lost so much blood; you need to replenish it properly."
"If your brothers crave something, they can go find something good on their own.
Whatever they pick up, no matter what it is, even if one person eats it all, I won't care.
But I will keep what you find for you to eat slowly over time."
The eldest daughter-in-law was quite generous.
The second daughter-in-law had a narrow mind, always hoarding things in her own room, barely able to hide her greed.
She certainly wouldn't let her daughter be at a disadvantage.
Lin Tang knew her mother couldn't resist her wheedling. Enduring the strangeness and awkwardness in her heart, she tugged on her mother's sleeve with pleading eyes.
"Mom, just fry a few, I've already promised my brothers.
Look how skinny they've become, not to mention how lean Dad and you are. Don't you feel pity? I feel pity."
"They're just wild eggs, after all; we got them for nothing. You can consider that I didn't find anything today, okay?"
"It's been so long since you all tasted eggs. Just indulge this once, okay?"
Xiuli's eyes turned slightly red as she patted her daughter's hand.
"Alright, alright, Mom promises you; we'll fry some eggs tonight."
Which young girl doesn't want to hoard all the tasty things in their own room?
Only her silly daughter, having finally found a few eggs, insisted on sharing them with the family.
How could she not love such a daughter?!
"It's getting late; isn't it time to change your dressing? Come on, let's go to the room and I'll change it for you."
Xiuli turned her face aside to wipe the corner of her eye and led Lin Tang back to her room.
Lin Tang, whose mind was only on treasure hunting, followed her mother, speechless, "...".
Lin Tang's room was on the far right. Although not large, it was well lit, with a jujube tree planted in front of the window.
In front of the window sat a small, rather old desk, and beside the single bed was a wardrobe as old as the desk.
The walls were papered with newspapers, looking neat and tidy.
It didn't resemble a farmhouse bedroom of that era at all.
Xiuli carefully unwrapped the white cloth from her daughter's head.
She examined the wound meticulously; it was no longer bleeding.
With more rest, it should heal fully.
Lin Tang was concerned that if the wound on her head healed too quickly and was discovered, but the system had cleverly performed a trick.
It had healed underneath while still appearing injured on the surface!
An hour's rest at noon.
Following a whistle, the production team members went back to work.
Before leaving, Xiuli reminded Lin Tang,
"Tangtang, your head is still not healed. Just rest at home and don't make mom worry."
Watching her mother's frail figure, Lin Tang felt a bitterness in her heart.
Chapter 7: 07 My younger aunt has no flesh on her body, eating her is like gnawing on bones.
"Mmm-hmm, I know, I'll be careful," she said.
Not going out was out of the question!
She had to seize the opportunity while her good luck boost hadn't worn off, and make a trip to the mountain quickly.
If she waited until her family members finished work in the afternoon, she would lose the chance to go out.
Li Xiuli looked at her daughter's well-behaved and clever appearance, her heart softened.
She thought about asking her sister-in-law, who was married off to the county, if she knew a way to get some brown sugar when she returned.
Tangtang was too thin, she needed to be nourished.
After watching her family leave, Lin Tang took Goudan, who had been ordered by her mother to look after her, up to the mountain.
Goudan was full of reluctance.
Ever since he was young, he heard his grandparents say there were tigers and wolves on the mountain.
Anyone who dared venture into the mountain was sure to get a beating.
But since his little aunt wanted to go, he didn't dare to refuse.
He could only follow behind her like a docile wife.
If there happened to be tigers and wolves looking to eat someone, they could eat him.
His little aunt didn't have much meat on her bones; it would be tough chewing.
Although he didn't have much meat either, he was smaller than his little aunt, his flesh was tender!
It's just... if he really was eaten, he would never see his parents and grandparents again.
With that thought, tears almost fell from Goudan's eyes.
He kept looking back at the path they came from with increasing gravity in his expression.
There was a solemn resignation, as if facing death without fear.
Lin Tang didn't notice, as she looked at the familiar mountain, she felt like a bird released from its cage, utterly delighted.
The Shuangshan Brigade was right next to the mountain, which the villagers called Big Blue Mountain and Small Blue Mountain.
Big Blue Mountain soared a thousand feet high, with perilous peaks and grotesque rocks, and a huge cliff standing upright.
Another mass laid across it, resembling a proud dragon raising its head, with its depths covered in dense jungle, lush and verdant.
The exterior was shrouded in miasma, like a primordial jungle, and few dared to ascend.
On one side of Small Blue Mountain flowed water, with a lone peak rising up, the mountain was covered with lush trees, bamboo shaded the areas, the cliffs were steep, and the river gentle.
In fact, Big Blue Mountain and Small Blue Mountain were one and the same; it was only a difference between the outer ring and the deep forest.
Though Small Blue Mountain had its dangers, they were controllable.
But Big Blue Mountain was different.
Once you entered, it was a matter of life and death.
Hence, the ancestors living at the foot of Twin Blue Mountain had erected a stone plaque on the outskirts of a secluded forest, dividing one mountain into two.
In Lin Tang's eyes, the mountains were covered with verdant trees and overshadowed by an expanse of azure and boundless sky.
The ethereal strands of clouds painted an elegant and tranquil ink-wash landscape.
This was a sight seldom seen in the metropolises of later eras.
Being here opened one's mind and heart.
The fear in Lin Tang's heart, worries that this was all a dream, gradually faded away.
She didn't even notice the shackles that had constrained her loosening in the depths of her eyes.
Reborn, she just wanted to make up for the regret of not being able to accompany her loved ones in her previous life, leading her family through the upcoming hardships, safe and sound.
Lin Tang turned her head and saw the deep resentment on her nephew's face.
"What's wrong, Goudan?"
Why does it look like you're about to cry?
Goudan looked miserably at Lin Tang, feeling that perhaps his wretched life could still be saved.
He nervously told his little aunt: "Little aunt, can we not go deep into the mountain?
My dad said there are wild beasts there and if you go, you can't come back."
Lin Tang looked at her little nephew trying to act like an adult and nodded with a smile.
"Yes, I know, I promise not to go up there."
She never intended to venture deep into the mountains anyway, okay?
Increased strength didn't mean she was invincible!
She just hoped that the good luck boost would be strong enough.
It didn't have to be ginseng or fleeceflower root, a wild chicken would do.
Upon hearing this, Goudan breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes regained their sparkle.
His life was finally secure!
Talking along the way, the aunt and nephew eventually stopped at the foot of Small Blue Mountain.
The mountain was emerald green, and a clear stream flowed into the distance.
The wild vegetables at the foot of the mountain had been almost completely dug up by the villagers.
Apart from the inedible grass, there were only the green trees and wild flowers ready to bloom.
Lin Tang felt a chill in her heart when she saw this scene.
Well!
Forget about pheasants, it would be nice to even have a mouse.
But at this moment, the air was truly wonderful!
"The air is really nice!" Lin Tang felt incredibly comfortable.
The world she had traveled to had no worries about food or drink, and everything was just a phone call away.
She could go wherever she wanted and buy whatever she desired, but the air was polluted.
Three air purifiers couldn't even clear the dust that filled the air.
The sky seemed to be covered in a layer of grey, translucent, and tattered cloth.
Never seeing the blue sky clear and open, or the clouds fluffy and bunched up.
Goudan did not understand what good air was.
He looked at her with sympathetic eyes, thinking that his little aunt was pitiful for never even having been to Small Blue Mountain.
All the things like picking wild fruits, catching fish, digging wild vegetables... Did his little aunt not know about these things?! So pitiful for only knowing to study!
Lin Tang was taken aback by Goudan's pitying gaze, "What's the matter?"
Goudan patted her arm like a little adult, "Little Aunt, don't worry, I'll take you to Big Blue Mountain later."
He didn't dare to go to Big Blue Mountain now, but once he grew up and became more capable, he would be able to go.
Lin Tang: "Huh?"
Take her to Big Blue Mountain? What for?
But still, she was happy that the little guy thought of her and didn't press further, saying, "Okay, I'll wait."
Goudan solemnly gave his oath.
"Little Aunt, if you want to clear your mind, just do it here.
I'm going to gather some firewood. Don't wander off," the young boy said, worried.
Lin Tang patted his forehead, "Don't worry, I won't wander off."
Seeing that she agreed, Goudan finally felt at ease and started collecting firewood nearby.
At this time of year, the wild vegetables in the mountains had all been picked clean.
Lin Tang walked around and came back empty-handed.
"Tongzi, is this what you call a luck buff? Where are the pheasants? The hares? The ginseng? The polygonum? You dare to call it a luck buff without these things?"
The system was taken aback by the question and was also unsure.
The usually clear prompt tone suddenly became hesitant, "Could it be because this place is too close to the foot of the mountain?"
This place was barren, nothing to be found.
Had there been anything, it would have been picked up by now.
Let's not even mention others, even the host's own nephew wouldn't let it go.
Lin Tang was silent for a moment.
That's right!
People now were so starved they were seeing spots.
The wild vegetables would be dug up as soon as they emerged, let alone anything else.
They still needed to go deeper into the mountain!
It's just...
Seeing Goudan collecting firewood not far away, Lin Tang's gaze flickered.
Picking up a stick, she headed up the mountain.
She didn't intend to go far with her nephew there; she just wanted to try her luck again.
The mountain path was not easy to traverse, overgrown with weeds and without any decent trails.
Suddenly, from deep within the underbrush, came rustling 'flapping' noises.
Lin Tang's face lit up with joy, and her breath grew lighter.
Carefully shifting her feet, she moved towards the source of the sound.
Amidst the undergrowth, a plump, colorful pheasant was flapping its wings, startling insects into a panic-stricken scuttle.
It was clearly one that had run out from the deep mountains.
Seeing the pheasant twisted up in a tangle of branches, Lin Tang's eyes curved with a smile.
The luck bonus was still effective!!!
She stepped forward and grabbed the wildly flapping wings of the pheasant.
With the taste of chicken soup in mind, Lin Tang's mouth watered uncontrollably.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
130 Power
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