Chapter 1: Reclaiming the Land

In an unnamed continent, one day, the sky was clear, without a cloud or a breeze, and the sun shone brightly, casting endless rays of light.

Suddenly, a ring-like object appeared in the sky, seemingly out of nowhere, as if it had just traversed time and space. It hurtled toward the mountain below at an extremely high speed, accompanied by a strange "whistling" sound.

Usually, when something flew from the sky, it would leave a trail of thick smoke, roaring loudly, and the entire world would see it. However, this object only made a brief sound, followed by a long "thud" as it deeply embedded itself into the mountain's rocks, disappearing without a trace.

The time it took was so short that it did not even cause any reaction from the surrounding wildlife, not even the nearby birds had time to take flight.

After a moment, the startled birds circled in the air a few times and then fluttered down, resuming their daily activities, unaware that the continent had just gained a mysterious object.

Many years later, the landscape had changed, and the mountain had sunk, becoming a hill. Many areas had turned into flat land, and gradually, people began to settle there, even living around the hill. What kind of exciting story could this mysterious ring bring?

Zhang Xiaohua was very happy, his face beaming with joy. His eyes were fixed on the barren land before him, as if it were a piece of fragrant pork belly.

Actually, it was more of a hillside than a barren land, as it was located halfway up a hill. The slope was relatively gentle, and only about a quarter of the land could be cultivated. But even this small plot of land was the result of Zhang Xiaohua's father's hard work, negotiating with the clan leader for nearly two months. Zhang Xiaohua knew that while there were many barren mountains in the village, the land suitable for farming was scarce, so everyone was looking for additional land to grow food.

Most of the villagers sought land near the river, but his family, lacking the means to bribe the clan leader, had to look further afield, finding land that others had abandoned. After much searching, they found this plot of land.

Zhang Xiaohua lived in a village called Guo Zhuang. The village covered about four square miles, surrounded by hills on two sides. A large river flowed through the village, with a small bridge connecting the path to the neighboring village. Guo Zhuang had about forty households, half of whom were surnamed Guo, forming a small clan that lived in the center of the village, while the others lived scattered around the outskirts. The villagers were simple and straightforward, but also pragmatic. Most of the village's affairs were handled by the clan leader of the Guo family. Although they lived in the same village, different surnames meant that the clan leader often favored his own clan. The best residential areas and farmland were mostly controlled by the Guo family. However, despite the occasional minor disputes, major conflicts had never occurred in this small village, and the villagers felt they were living a peaceful life like in a utopia.

Zhang Xiaohua's mother, Guo Sufei, was from Guo Zhuang and belonged to a branch of the Guo clan. Her family had once been prosperous, but by the time she was born, there were no male heirs left in the family. Her father, Guo Shan, had a daughter in his old age and raised her until she was of marriageable age, which was also when he and his wife were in their twilight years. To support his in-laws, Zhang Xiaohua's father, Zhang Cai, became a son-in-law in the Guo family.

In rural areas, a family's wealth often depended on the number of laborers. Guo Shan had no sons and had considered adopting a relative's boy before Guo Sufei was born, but various issues prevented this from happening. The family was supported by Guo Shan alone, and their poverty was evident. Zhang Cai, however, was diligent. After joining the Guo family, he was skilled in farming and contributed more to the family's labor force than his father-in-law. A year after their marriage, Guo Sufei gave birth to a son, Zhang Xiaolong, bringing joy to Guo Shan. However, just as the family looked forward to a bright future, Guo Shan fell ill from overwork and could not recover...

Illness was a devastating blow to a poor family. Zhang Cai sold everything of value to treat his father-in-law, but it was not enough to save Guo Shan, who passed away when Zhang Xiaolong was two years old. Before his death, Guo Shan was comforted by the news that his second grandchild was on the way. He named the child Zhang Xiaohu if it was a boy, and Zhang Xiaohua if it was a girl. After Guo Shan's death, Zhang Cai's mother-in-law's health also declined, but the birth of Zhang Xiaohu somewhat alleviated her sorrow, allowing the family to maintain a simple life.

Farmers' lives revolved around working in the fields and eating at home. Land was their lifeline. In the past, the Guo family had few members, and the land was sufficient. As Zhang Xiaolong and Zhang Xiaohu grew up, Zhang Cai became increasingly worried about farming. Initially, he and his wife, Guo Sufei, along with Zhang Xiaolong, went to the clan leader's house to bow and request a small plot of land by the river. Out of respect for Guo Shan, the clan leader granted them a small piece of farmland, alleviating their immediate needs.

Zhang Xiaohua was born when his elder brother was seven years old. By then, the family had two and a half laborers, and their financial situation had slightly improved. Zhang Xiaohua's birth was somewhat miraculous. After a drought lasting more than two months, a heavy rainstorm occurred on the night of his birth. The rain increased the water level in the mountains, and the river outside the village overflowed, creating a frightening scene. During her labor, Guo Sufei saw flowers falling from the sky. Therefore, Zhang Cai had high hopes for Zhang Xiaohua. When naming him, he even consulted a teacher from a neighboring village, considering names like Zhang Zhen, Zhang Yu, and Zhang Xueyou. After much deliberation, he chose the name Zhang Xiaohua, inspired by the rain of flowers and in memory of his late father, despite Zhang Xiaohua being a boy.

By now, Zhang Xiaohua was twelve years old. Rural children mature early, and for several years, he had been helping his father and brothers with farm work. Zhang Cai had considered sending his children to school to learn to read and write, hoping they could achieve success in the future. However, Guo Zhuang was a small village with no literate people, and they could not support a school. The neighboring village's school, run by a larger clan, charged high fees, making it unaffordable for Zhang Xiaolong and Zhang Xiaohu. When the family was poor, Zhang Cai could not afford to send them. Zhang Xiaohua had attended school for a few days, but the teacher said his aptitude was average, and he could only learn to read and write. To achieve higher success, it would be like chasing a mirage. Zhang Cai, considering his financial situation and Zhang Xiaohua's potential, decided to focus on farming. However, his mother, remembering the auspicious signs at Zhang Xiaohua's birth, occasionally asked literate young people in the village to teach him. Although Zhang Xiaohua preferred to help his brothers with farm work, his mother's insistence helped him learn to read and write, making him the literate person in the family.

Today was Zhang Xiaohua's first day working the land independently. His father had told him that this plot of land was his, his means of livelihood. Although it was currently just a barren piece of land, Zhang Xiaohua remembered a scholar's words: "With a goal, you can start; with a start, you are halfway to success. With success, your dreams are not far away." Zhang Xiaohua's dream was to enjoy a piece of pork belly.

It was early November, and winter had begun. The sun cast a pale light and heat, and the mountain wind blew through the trees, creating a mournful sound. Everything seemed cold and desolate.

However, Zhang Xiaohua had no time to notice these things. He held a hoe and worked diligently on the plot of land. According to his plan, he first dug a boundary around the land, then removed the rocks, cleared the small stones, and dealt with the weeds. When he had cleared the perimeter and was about to move the larger rocks, it was already noon. Zhang Xiaohua stopped working, wiped the sweat from his forehead, walked to the edge of the field, and took a water jar his mother had prepared. He drank half of it, stretched, and massaged his back, feeling a sense of relief. He realized that although he had helped his father and brothers before, he had not felt the full weight of the work until now. However, thinking of his grandmother, his mother, and his family's future, he felt it was worth it.

Zhang Xiaohua had learned to read and write from a young scholar, though not very seriously. He often heard them talk about the future, life, and love, which left some impressions. While working, he sometimes thought about his own life, but reality quickly brought him back to the land. Now, these thoughts seemed like daydreams, a brief respite from his work.

As Zhang Xiaohua was lost in thought, his stomach growled, reminding him it was time to eat. In the past, he would go home with his mother for meals, but now that he was working independently, his mother had promised to bring lunch to the field. Checking the time, he expected her to arrive soon.

Sure enough, he heard a voice from below, "Xiaohua, come help your mother." The path up the hill was steep and slippery, and Zhang Cai had fallen once before. Zhang Xiaohua quickly responded, "Mother, wait a moment, I'll come down. Don't come up yourself." When he reached the bottom, he saw his mother carrying a bamboo basket, waiting for him. He took the basket and carefully helped his mother up the hill, then sat her on a rock at the edge of the field. He lifted the cloth covering the basket and found a bowl of pork belly and a few coarse steamed buns. He asked if his mother had eaten, and she replied that she had. Seeing Zhang Xiaohua eat quickly, Guo Sufei felt a bit worried and said, "Eat slowly, don't choke. Drink some water."

"Mother, why did you suddenly make pork belly?" Zhang Xiaohua asked.

"Today is your first day working independently. Your father told me to make pork belly to reward you," his mother said lovingly. "It's hard for you, Xiaohua. You're only twelve, and children your age in neighboring villages are still in school, but you're working in the fields alone."

"Mother, don't worry. My elder brother started working with Father at ten. This is nothing. Besides, this land is mine, and my second brother works with my elder brother. I'm happy to do this," Zhang Xiaohua said, trying to reassure her. "Has Grandmother eaten the pork belly?"

"Grandmother is over eighty and can't eat such rich food. I made her some millet porridge," his mother replied. "You only thought of her now. She was thinking of you all morning."

Zhang Xiaohua scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. He hadn't really thought about it.

Thinking of his grandmother, Guo Sufei looked worried. As the children grew, the family's situation improved, but his grandmother's health declined. Although eighty was a rare age in the village, everyone hoped their elders could stay longer. Recently, his grandmother had lost her sight, and Guo Sufei and Zhang Cai had discussed taking her to a doctor, but she refused, saying it was normal for an old person to lose their sight and didn't want to spend money. The couple had to agree. Now, she still helped with household chores, feeding the chickens and pigs.

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua finish his meal and drink water, Guo Sufei said, "Xiaohua, work less in the afternoon and come home early. Grandmother misses you. I need to bring lunch to your father and brother." Zhang Xiaohua was surprised, "Mother, I ate all the pork belly. What will Father and Brother eat?"

"Don't worry, there are other dishes. Remember to work less and stay warm in the afternoon," Guo Sufei said, patting his head. She looked at her youngest son, who was blushing with concern, as if he were still a little boy.

After helping his mother down the hill, Zhang Xiaohua watched her leave, feeling guilty. "Why did I eat all the pork belly?" he thought.

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End of Chapter 1