"Lil sis," I heard voices, but wait, how come I can only hear one? Did I die?
"Euno," I exclaimed, feeling trapped by those delicate arms. "HUH? I can hear three distinct voices, they are wailing, to be precise. I don't know what's happening around me." I tried to open my eyes slowly.
"Eldest Brother, look!" a young lad's tiny voice came from beside me, and then I noticed he was the one shaking my body.
"She's awake! Elder sister is awake!" followed by the wee voice of a child.
"OUCH!" A sharp pain assaulted my head, and fragments of memories came rushing in. I took deep breaths to steady myself. After a while, I slowly opened my eyes and looked around, feeling confused. There I saw three pairs of eyes eagerly staring at me.
"Ugh," I whimpered. "Sis, it's okay, it's okay," the oldest one, wearing a faded blue loose-fitting robe, said as he held my shoulder, trying to support my body. Ah! This must be my oldest brother.
"Euno, don't sit, don't sit," the one holding my hand kept shaking his head. "You can lie down first, okay? Don't force yourself." I looked at him and realized that he was supposed to be my 'twin.' I continued staring at them, unsure of what to do. After a few deep breaths, I finally smiled at them and said, "I'm okay."
"Are you really okay, elder sister? Please don't scare me like that again," the youngest of them said as he slowly made his way to hug me. In his eyes, I saw a great amount of fear and grief. It seemed to tell me that he couldn't bear another blow if he witnessed another scene like this. I lifted my hand and touched his face, such a sweet child who brought warmth yet unknowingly carried pain in his heart because he was just a child and yet he had already suffered. "Shh, it's okay, it's okay," I said, trying to wipe away his tears. This was obviously a five-year-old child, yet so mature that he tried to stop his tears from falling because he feared it would hurt me to see him like this.
"I'm sorry, Cree. This will not happen again, I promise," I said while rubbing his back, as he hiccuped, trying to stop his tears. "Cree, stop crying and let your elder sister rest, okay?" said Allardy, while attempting to lift Cree. The latter nodded and allowed himself to be carried by our eldest brother. I warmly smiled at them as they left the room.
"Here, water. Drink some first," Seeley handed me a wooden cup made of bamboo. I took a sip and exhaled a few breaths. "Are you okay now?" he asked with concern, refilling the clay jar with another cup of water. "Bal," I sweetly called him, and he was taken aback. He staggered a few steps and dropped the cup, then hurriedly ran towards me.
"You really scared me, Bal," I could see tears forming in his eyes. Being twins, he was much closer to me, and as the only girl among them, he was at his wit's end when he saw me lying on the ground like a lifeless body. I smiled comfortingly at him. He only let go when he heard footsteps approaching us.
"Mis—Bellona, are you okay?" When I turned my head, I saw a middle-aged man hastily walking towards us with his crutch.
"I assure you, Uncle Jiang, I am perfectly fine. There is no need to worry," I replied, trying to alleviate his concerns. I looked at them and innocently blinked my eyes, hoping to convey a sense of reassurance.
"I believe I should rest for a while, as I'm feeling a bit sleepy," I added, gradually closing my eyes. I could sense someone tucking me in with a quilt, and soon enough, the sound of footsteps receded as they moved away from me. I needed time to gather my thoughts and sort through my mind. I was uncertain of how I ended up here, but since I found myself in this situation, I resolved to embrace it and live my life, following the path it presented.
I woke up to find Cree by my side, his grip on my hand tight. Helplessly, I sighed, imagining how he must have felt when he saw me lying motionless, lifeless. Yet, his tight grip also warmed my heart, a testament to his fear of losing me. I decided to wait patiently for him to wake up on his own, scanning my surroundings as I did so. The room was simple and plain, with a mud bed and a clay pot of water nearby. I quietly searched for the quilt, intending to tuck Cree into bed. However, my emotions wavered as I came across a ragged piece of coarse cloth with numerous patches, clearly showing signs of long-term use. Closing the door quietly behind me, I headed out for a walk, where I encountered Uncle Jiang. "I will go out for a walk, Uncle Jiang," I informed him. He nodded, arranging the stacked wood beside the kitchen made of stones. "Be careful, Bellona. I'll have your older brother call you when I finish cooking," he cautioned. As I walked, I observed my surroundings. It truly fel
We shared a silent meal, and once we finished eating, Seeley and I immediately began cleaning the table. "Uncle Jiang, how is our household fund at the moment?" I inquired, taking a sip of tea. I surveyed our new home. It had been a day since we settled here, and we were fortunate to have acquired this land and courtyard for a mere 30 silver coins. According to the Village Chief's account, the previous owners of this house were an elderly couple who recently passed away. Their child now lived comfortably in the county city and wanted to sell the house, leaving behind all the household tools. "We only have 1 silver coin and 2 strings of copper coins," Uncle Jiang informed us. We had nearly depleted all our resources during the month we spent on the run. Moreover, we hadn't been able to secure any money during our escape. "Hmm," I pondered. I needed to find ways to earn money, or we might not survive the upcoming winter. "Big Brother Allardy, let's go to the mountains," I suggested.
We strolled past a few households, and thankfully, our living area had only a small number of residents. This meant we didn't have to endure the curious stares of a crowded place. “ Little Sister, it's so quiet here. It's incredibly peaceful,” he remarked as we made our way up the mountain. The previous owner of the house was a hunter, so he had left behind quite a collection of tools. Eldest Brother carried a bow and arrow with him. Suddenly, I stopped in my tracks and picked up some dried branches. I played with them for a moment and then came to a halt. “ Big Brother, stop,” I said. “ Eh? Why?” he asked, observing the thick pile of dried leaves. “ This is a trap. See these dried leaves?” I poked at them, causing a few leaves to fall and reveal a tiny hole. “ It's a hunter's pitfall, so we need to be careful of our surroundings.” He nodded in understanding and continued walking, now sidestepping the trap. “ We could also set up a trap... OLDER BROTHER! OVER HERE!” I imme
“They’re here! They're here!” We were just a few steps away from the front yard when I spotted Cree running towards me. Uncle Jiang and Seeley quickly emSecond brotherd and helped us carry our loads. “ You've made quite a harvest in the mountains, huh?” Uncle Jiang remarked as he took the two trophies from my hands. “Wah! It’s meat! it's meat!” Cree exclaimed with excitement. “ You greedy rascal, always thinking about meat,” Elder Brother teased, playfully tapping Cree's forehead. This earned him a pout from Cree. Once inside, Seeley fetched chairs for both of us and personally handed me a cup of water. “ Thank you, Bal,” I smiled at him, reassuring him that I was fine. He simply nodded and gently lifted my legs, giving them a soothing massage. “ Uncle Jiang, I need you to make some bamboo traps later so that we can go back and set them up. Oh, and I plan to make some adjustments to them,” I explained. I had noticed some traditional and primitive traps in the mountains, but t
I woke up in the middle of the night and began cultivating my internal energy, drawing upon the memories stored in this body. According to the knowledge of the previous owner, cultivators are highly esteemed in this era. A single cultivator can defeat ten or more martial artists based on the strength accumulated through their internal energy. In my previous life, the organization I was part of researched similar techniques, but they yielded no results. Perhaps the pollution in the modern world prevented them from absorbing the earth spirit energy. My mother, who clearly had a significant background, taught me how to cultivate. My father was also involved, but the previous Bellona was sworn to secrecy about it. I continued my cultivation until I heard a noise in the nearby room, prompting me to get up and change into a different robe. “ Good morning.” Elder Brother greeted me as he proceeded to wash up. Seeley, still half-asleep, followed suit but stopped when he saw me and asked why
As soon as Cree returned, we gathered around to eat. He couldn't contain his excitement and began talking with a mouthful of food. “ Wow! Elder sister, I never knew something like this existed!” he exclaimed, chewing happily. “ Who would have thought that a simple green leaf could turn into Green Tofu? It's amazing! Does this mean I can have Green Tofu every day? That would be awesome!” We all chuckled at his enthusiasm. “ You greedy little rascal, all you care about is eating,” Eldest Brother teased, playfully tapping his forehead, which earned another round of laughter. “ Well, it's made from a jelly plant, so regular leaves won't have the same effect,” I said, pouring cold water on his thoughts while placing another piece of green tofu on his plate. “ Really? Is it rare then?” he asked, looking down and muttering to himself. “ I better eat more, just in case. This might be the last time I get to have it. I need to savor the moment!” His words didn't go unnoticed by us, ma
After cultivating for at least three hours, I decided it was time to prepare lunch. I planned to make braised rabbit meat with cassava starch, but first, I needed to pound the cassava to extract its juice. Although I possessed internal energy that could turn the cassava into fine powder, just like modern starch, I chose to keep this ability a secret. While I trusted my family, I wanted to reserve this skill as a trump card for crucial times. As I heard them training outside, I looked at the plate filled with cassava in my hand, pondering for a moment before heading outside with it. “ Older brother, Bal, I need you both here,” I called out. I placed all the cassava in a white katcha I found in the kitchen and placed it on a stone slab. “ What do you need?” they asked in succession. “ Eh? What is this?” They looked at the cassava with confusion. Instead of answering, I pulled them apart and positioned them on opposite ends of the stone slab. I instructed Cree to fetch some fiber ro
We ended up eating a little later than usual. All my brothers devoured their food hungrily. I could tell they appreciated the effort we put into making the dish. “ This meal is the result of our hard work and dedication. I'm savoring every last bite,” they thought, making their enjoyment quite evident once I served the plate. I couldn't help but laugh and let them have their fun. We finished every last bit of the steamed taro and braised meat. I had already taken care of all the vegetable plants in the backyard, ensuring they were thriving. Older brother and Second brother continued to prepare the small plot for planting seeds later. Uncle Jiang and Cree had just returned from the bamboo grove when I heard Elder Brother Zhong's voice calling from outside. We all washed our hands and greeted him. “ Bellona-Sister, you're quite lucky this time! Our trophies were purchased directly by a restaurant. Your pheasant fetched 30 liang, and the two big rabbits were sold for 40 liang,” he sa
CHAPTER 1“Little sister” I heard voices, but wait, how come I can only hear one? I did die, didn’t I?“Euno,” I exclaimed, feeling trapped by those delicate arms.“Huh? I can hear three distinct voices, they are wailing, to be precise. I don't know what's happening around me.” I tried to open my eyes slowly.“Eldest Brother, look!” a young lad's tiny voice came from beside me, and then I noticed he was the one shaking my body.“She’s awake! Elder sister is awake!” followed by the wee voice of a child.“Ouch!” A sharp pain assaulted my head, and fragments of memories came rushing in. I took deep breaths to steady myself. After a while, I slowly opened my eyes and looked around, feeling confused. There I saw three pairs of eyes eagerly staring at me.“Ugh,” I whimpered.“Sister, it's okay, it's okay,” the oldest one, wearing a faded blue loose-fitting robe, said as he held my shoulder, trying to support my body. Ah! This must be my oldest brother.“Euno, don't sit, don't sit,” the
Since we manage to sell everything, we encounter several curious villagers on their way home for lunch. They cast furtive glances in our direction, clearly intrigued by our presence. I smiled and nodded in response to the friendly greetings thrown our way.Amidst the crowd, I caught sight of the girl who had pushed Cree earlier. She shot me a venomous glare, clearly holding a grudge from our previous encounter. I couldn't help but stifle a chuckle, finding her reaction somewhat amusing.Unfazed by her disdain, I continued on my way. A middle aged lady approaches me, her expression filled with curiosity and a hint of smugness.“Oh you’re the children who recently move in Old Wang’s house right? I hear that you went to the docks to sell food, so how was it?Before I could utter a word, she preemptively spoke, trying to offer some consolation."Dear, don't worry if your venture doesn't turn out as successful as you hoped," she said, her tone laced with a thinly veiled gloat. "Running a b
Cree's eyes sparkled with excitement as he eagerly asked, "Elder sister, how much money did we make? Did we sell a lot?"I couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm. "Yes, Cree, we had an amazing day! We sold 60 packets of braised meat, which means we earned 180 liang. And guess what? The fufu was a hit too, and we sold out, bringing in an additional 30 liang!"Cree's face lit up with joy. "That's fantastic! So, how much profit did we make?"I chuckled, appreciating his business-minded curiosity. "Well, Cree, after subtracting the cost of the supplies, which amounted to 72 coins, we have double the profit! We made a total of 138 liang!"His eyes widened in awe. "Wow, Elder sister, that's a lot of money! We can buy so many things with that!"I nodded, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "Indeed, Cree. This is just the beginning. With our hard work and dedication, we can continue to grow our business and earn even more in the future."Cree's excitement was contagious, and we both exchang
We had finished all the preparations and the enticing aroma of the braised meat filled the air. I surveyed the kitchen with a sense of accomplishment, pleased to see the neatly wrapped portions of braised meat ready for sale. Counting them, I realized we had managed to wrap at least 85 portions, each nestled inside a fragrant lotus leaf.As I glanced at the pot of boiling cassava, I decided that since fufu was relatively unknown in this era, we would prepare a more modest quantity. I portioned out only 30 servings, knowing that it would be an intriguing addition to our offerings.Just as I finished packing the fufu into small containers, ready to be sold, Cree, big brother Allardy, and Uncle Jiang approached me. They wore determined expressions on their faces, clearly ready for the next step.Cree crossed his arms and exclaimed, "Eldest sister, I think the three of us can handle the market just fine. We don't need to bring everyone along."Big brother Allardy nodded in agreement. "Don
Uncle Jiang looked at me with a thoughtful expression as we enjoyed our meal. "Bellona, this food is absolutely delicious. Have you ever considered turning this into a business?" he asked, his eyes filled with anticipation. I pondered his words for a moment, savoring the flavors on my tongue. The thought of sharing these flavors with others and potentially earning some income intrigued me. "You know, Uncle Jiang, I think we could make a business out of it," I replied, a glimmer of excitement in my voice. "If we can secure a steady supply of pig's offal, we could sell it at the dock. People are always looking for unique and affordable food options." Uncle Jiang's face lit up with enthusiasm. "That's a brilliant idea, Bellona! We can tap into a market that others might overlook. We just need to find a reliable source for the pig's offal." I nodded in agreement. "Exactly. That's why I thought we should pay a visit to the Wang household, the butcher family. I've heard that they import m
The ox cart was filled to the brim with all the things we had purchased. After buying new cotton quilts and clothes, I could only save 50 silver coins. Each of us now had two new pairs of outer clothes and one inner garment. I also bought five coarse cotton quilts. It was the largest purchase I had made since arriving in this world. With winter approaching, I needed to prepare at least four months' worth of food and supplies. Since the ox cart was already overloaded, we had to continue the journey on foot. My feet were incredibly sore, and I felt like collapsing to the ground and never getting up. But every time I had such thoughts, I looked at my “ shopping bags” and gritted my teeth, pushing through the pain. By the time we reached home, it was late in the afternoon. We had a simple meal before organizing all the goods while I headed to bed. My small body didn't have much energy left, so I could only grab a clean towel and a basin of water to wipe myself and Cree. He was already d
I asked Older brother to borrow some salt and pepper from Uncle He because I planned to smoke the leftover meat to preserve it. I also asked him to gives one thigh and a portion of the belly meat to them as payment. Seeley went to the mountain entrance to gather some wormwood and anahaw leaf. Uncle He went to Uncle Fred's house to deliver the meat, and I asked him to given him two thighs since he helped us carry the whole tiger all the way home. Cree and I started the fire and slowly roasted the meat. Soon, the pleasant smell of the roasted meat filled the air, making everyone's mouths water. They all returned with smiles on their faces, their eyes fixed on the barbecue meat. I noticed the sound of Little Cree's stomach growling and couldn't help but chuckle. Currently, I was cooking one thigh and the tiger's rib. We gathered around the small fire and talked freely. “ Elder sister, why don't you sing?” Little Cree, who was originally singing a folk song, asked while I played with
I asked Older brother to borrow some salt and pepper from Uncle He because I planned to smoke the leftover meat to preserve it. I also asked him to gives one thigh and a portion of the belly meat to them as payment. Seeley went to the mountain entrance to gather some wormwood and anahaw leaf. Uncle He went to Uncle Fred's house to deliver the meat, and I asked him to given him two thighs since he helped us carry the whole tiger all the way home. Cree and I started the fire and slowly roasted the meat. Soon, the pleasant smell of the roasted meat filled the air, making everyone's mouths water. They all returned with smiles on their faces, their eyes fixed on the barbecue meat. I noticed the sound of Little Cree's stomach growling and couldn't help but chuckle. Currently, I was cooking one thigh and the tiger's rib. We gathered around the small fire and talked freely. “ Elder sister, why don't you sing?” Little Cree, who was originally singing a folk song, asked while I played with
“My beautiful Elder sister, what are you doing?” Little Cree looked at me with curiosity. I scooped the slightly softened lard from the tiger's meat and mixed it with some wood ash. Then, I asked my twin to pound the soapwort flower to extract its juice, while everyone watched me work. “This is called soap. It can be used for bathing or washing,” I explained, dividing the mixture into two portions. I asked Cree to grind some mint leaves to add to one portion, along with lemon zest and juice. “ But most importantly, it will make us rich!” I exclaimed. I had originally planned to add lavender to the other portion, but unfortunately, I couldn't find any. “ I don't know what to add to the other one to give it a sweet smell for the ladies to use,” I pondered aloud. “ Hmm. Did you see any sweet-smelling flowers anywhere in this village? I really need them,” I asked. “ I only saw wildflowers in the nearby forest. I didn't even come across a normal sunflower, so I don't think they ha