The False Heiress In The 1980s

8. A Morning in Town

Lin Yuqi woke up with the first light of dawn streaming through the thin, faded curtains of her small room. Her thoughts were already racing.

Today, she planned to go to the market, not just to buy necessities, but also to discreetly bring out some of the supplies from her mysterious space.

It would give her the chance to help the Xia family without raising any suspicion.

She dressed quickly, pulling on a simple cotton dress and tying her hair into a loose ponytail. As she stepped out of her room, she found Mother Xia already bustling about in the kitchen, preparing breakfast.

"Mom," Lin Yuqi called gently, stepping into the kitchen. "I'm thinking of going to the market today. Could you tell me how to get to the wet market and the stores in town?"

Mother Xia turned around, wiping her hands on her apron. "You're going to town? I can come with you, Yuqi. It's a bit far, and you'll need help carrying the things back," she offered, her tone kind but concerned.

Lin Yuqi shook her head with a smile. "No need, Mom. I'll be fine. I'd like to take a look around by myself and see what's available."

Mother Xia hesitated for a moment, but then nodded. "Well, if you're sure... It's not too far. You can take the public bus—it's the cheapest option. It'll take you straight to town, and you'll find the market right near the stop."

Relieved, Lin Yuqi thanked her and then added, "Before I go, let me make breakfast. You should rest a little." She gently nudged Mother Xia out of the kitchen before she could protest.

Once alone, Lin Yuqi glanced around the small kitchen to make sure no one was watching. She discreetly reached into her space and pulled out a few key ingredients: brown rice, some sweet potatoes, and a dash of her special spring water.

With these, she decided to make a simple brown rice porridge with sweet potatoes, something that would be both filling and refreshing.

She quickly set to work, washing the rice and sweet potatoes before adding them to a large clay pot. She poured in water, along with a small amount of the spring water from her space.

As the porridge began to cook, the earthy aroma of the brown rice and the sweet, nutty scent of the sweet potatoes filled the kitchen.

She stirred it gently, letting the mixture simmer until it thickened into a hearty, creamy consistency.

The steam from the pot carried a rich, pleasant fragrance through the small house.

A few drops of the spring water, she thought, would make the meal even more special. The magical water not only tasted sweet and fresh, but it also had a subtle revitalizing effect.

The Xia family would surely feel more energized after eating it.

Once the porridge was ready, Lin Yuqi ladled it into bowls and called Mother Xia and Xia Tian to the table. The meal was simple, but the aroma promised a delicious start to the day.

After breakfast, Lin Yuqi set off for town, taking Mother Xia's advice and boarding the public bus.

The bus was old, with worn-out seats and a slight rattle in its engine, but it was the cheapest way to travel and blended perfectly with her story.

She didn't want anyone suspecting she had more resources than she let on.

When she arrived in town, the bustling wet market greeted her with its vibrant energy.

Vendors were calling out their goods—fresh vegetables, meats, spices—and townspeople were haggling over prices.

Lin Yuqi walked among the stalls, casually buying a kilo of pork, but secretly planning to add more from her space later. She also bought some basic spices and a few simple vegetables.

As she moved around, she carefully took note of everything she'd need to bring out from her space later.

After leaving the market, she found a quiet alley and, checking to make sure no one was around, she discreetly pulled out two more kilos of pork, along with fresh vegetables, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, two cans of powdered milk, apples, and even some white rice.

Lin Yuqi grinned to herself, satisfied that this food would last the Xia family for at least a week.

As she headed back home, Lin Yuqi decided to take a detour along the riverbank.

The gentle flow of the river and the chirping of birds made it a peaceful walk.

As she glanced down at the water, her eyes lit up—there were river snails scattered along the shallow edges of the river.

Before she could think of gathering them herself, she spotted a familiar figure in the distance—Xia Tian.

He was coming from the fields, his clothes dusty from the day's work. When he saw her, his face brightened, and he hurried over.

"Sis! You've been to the market?" he asked, eyeing the bags she carried. "Let me help you with that."

Lin Yuqi smiled but waved him off. "I can manage, Tian. But I have a favor to ask."

He raised an eyebrow, curious. "What's that?"

She pointed to the snails by the river. "Catch some of those river snails for me. I'll cook them for dinner."

Xia Tian's eyes lit up at the thought of another one of Lin Yuqi's meals. He was still savoring the memory of her delicious cooking from earlier, and the idea of snails, a rare treat, was too tempting to resist.

"Snails? I'm on it!" he said, eagerly rolling up his sleeves. His stomach growled loudly, betraying his excitement. (￣～￣)

Lin Yuqi chuckled. "You're such a glutton, Tian. But I'll cook something special, so make sure you catch enough."

Xia Tian, grinning from ear to ear, got to work. In no time, he had caught two kilos of snails, his enthusiasm obvious. "This should be enough, right?" he asked, proudly showing her the haul.

"More than enough," Lin Yuqi said, smiling. "You did great."

As they made their way back home, Lin Yuqi's thoughts drifted. Life was already starting to feel a little brighter, thanks to her newfound resources and her plan to help the Xia family.

But as they approached the house, something—or rather, someone—caught her attention.

Sitting at the dining table was a man she had never seen before. His broad back, straight posture, and clean-cut appearance made him stand out from the usual villagers.

His clothes were neat, without the patches or wear that the others had.

His presence felt commanding, and from the way he carried himself, Lin Yuqi could immediately tell he wasn't a farmer.

As the man stood up to greet her, Lin Yuqi was struck by his appearance. He was tall—190 cm, towering over her own 165 cm height. 

His hair was cropped short, military-style, and his face, though stern and taciturn, was undeniably handsome. There was an air of authority about him that made it clear he had once been in the military.

Standing beside him was a little girl, about two years old, and a boy, about four. The children were thin but cute, their round eyes watching her curiously.

Lin Yuqi's breath caught in her throat. The man standing before her was Zhang Wei, the man she was supposed to marry.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. Zhang Wei's gaze was unreadable, but there was a seriousness in his expression that made her heart race.

Before she could say a word, Zhang Wei stood up straight, lifting the little girl into his arms.