In June 1957, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, dappling the lush, dense forest behind Xu Village, located north of Miyun in Sijiu City. Sixteen-year-old Xushu, carrying a homemade bow and arrows, moved through the thick woods with a light, agile gait. His eyes, sharp as a falcon’s, scanned the surroundings with constant vigilance for any sign of prey.
For Xushu, hunting was not merely a way to improve his family's diet with precious meat, but, more importantly, a means of securing additional income. His success as a hunter was not a matter of luck; it stemmed from his own formidable skills and deep familiarity with the environment. Compared to the other villagers, Xushu always appeared effortless and composed while hunting. Whenever the entire village of Xu Village ventured out to hunt, it was always Xushu who brought back the most game. Consequently, he received the largest share of the catch, which allowed his family to maintain a standard of living well above the village average.
Of course, the family’s well-being was not solely due to his hunting prowess. Though the burden of life was not heavy for the two of them, Xushu’s mother, Li Xiurong, was a hardworking and capable woman who kept their household in perfect order. Whether it was farm work or other chores, she was always highly skilled. Furthermore, as someone who possessed memories of a past life, Xushu understood the nuances of social interaction, allowing him to navigate human relationships with the sophistication and smoothness of a much older man.
The villagers of Xu Village usually hunted as a collective, with everyone capable of hunting setting out together. This practice not only ensured the safety of every individual but also allowed them to secure a more abundant harvest through their combined efforts. Among the many hunters, Xushu was undoubtedly the main force. Each time they went into the mountains, he could catch an astonishing amount of game—often nearly half of the entire village’s total haul.
Logically, if Xushu had chosen to keep that half for himself, the other villagers would have had little cause for complaint, as his strength was undeniable and he had indeed caught it himself. Unexpectedly, however, Xushu did not choose to claim the spoils as his own. Instead, he took the initiative to suggest to everyone that all the game should be brought back to the village and distributed reasonably according to each household's actual needs. Although Xushu still received a relatively larger share in the end, it was far less than the half he would have otherwise been entitled to.
What prompted Xushu to make such a decision? Primarily, it was his desire to maintain good relations with his fellow villagers. In this small community, people were often related by blood or marriage; mutual support and harmony were the keys to long-term stability. Xushu understood that only by treating others with sincerity could he win their genuine respect and support. Moreover, after living among them for so long, he knew that everyone in the village was kind-hearted, industrious, and simple. They were not the type to become lazy or slack just because of his selfless contribution. It was this trust in the villagers' character that gave Xushu the conviction to take less.
Furthermore, Li Xiurong was equally adept at dealing with people. Cheerful, warm, and generous, she was excellent at communicating and frequently checked in on the neighboring families, building deep friendships and close ties. Because of this, the family was well-liked and respected throughout Xu Village.
As for Xushu, he was none other than the renowned strategist of the late Eastern Han Dynasty—Xu Shuxu Yuanzhi. Just as his life was reaching its end, something incredible happened: his soul detached from his body! A powerful turbulence of time and space swept him up, leaving him dizzy and disoriented. When he finally regained consciousness, he was shocked to discover that he had become a newborn infant. This sudden turn of events left him feeling both pleasantly surprised and terrified. If this were truly real, did it not mean he had been granted a second chance at life?
Throughout history, most people have feared the arrival of death. Yet, as Xushu struggled to open his eyes and looked around at his completely unfamiliar surroundings, a sense of dread welled up within him. He longed to ask those nearby where he was and what year it was, but as a tender, newborn baby, no matter how hard he tried, the only sounds he could produce were cries and babbling. Facing such a predicament, Xushu had no choice but to slowly accept this harsh reality. Fortunately, with his mother’s meticulous care, he grew up bit by bit as time quietly slipped away.
His mother, filled with joy and high expectations, gave him the resonant name "Xushu." She chose it partly because his father, who had long ago departed for the battlefield, had deeply admired the wise and brave strategist of the Three Kingdoms era. It also carried her heartfelt hope that her son would grow up to be a man of both literary and martial talent.
As time passed, Xushu grew up in this land that was both familiar and strange. Through the veil of time, he began to slowly uncover the mysteries of this world and learned about the father he had never met. His father, Xu Yuan, had married Li Xiurong in 1941, but less than a year later, during those turbulent times, he had resolutely joined the army, shouldering the responsibility of defending the nation. He bid farewell to his home and headed south to the smoke-filled battlefields. Shortly after Xu Yuan left, Li Xiurong discovered she was pregnant.
Fortunately, the couple had always been well-regarded in Xu Village. When Xu Yuan left for the front lines, the simple and kind-hearted villagers reached out to help Li Xiurong, offering her much care and support. It was this warmth from their neighbors that taught Xushu to be grateful from a young age.
Today, Xushu deeply cherished the life he had. He had a mother who doted on him and a group of close friends with whom he had played and grown up. Although the material conditions were somewhat humble compared to his past life, this free and unrestrained existence made him feel incredibly satisfied and happy. Moreover, as time went on, Xushu noticed a startling change: as he grew older year by year, the formidable strength he possessed in his previous life was gradually returning. Because of this, he became the undisputed king among the village children. He was not only brilliant and quick-witted, but also generous and well-liked. More importantly, in terms of martial ability, he stood alone, with no one capable of rivaling him.
By the age of ten, Xushu was invincible in Xu Village. Whether they were innocent children or strong, full-grown men, all were defeated by him. Yet, that same year, the peaceful village welcomed several special visitors. Led personally by the village head, Xu Feng, these soldiers in uniform found Xushu and his mother. With solemn expressions, they held two items with great care: the urn containing the ashes of Xushu’s father, Xu Yuan, and a certificate of honor for a martyr’s family, accompanied by one million in cash (old currency, with a 10,000-to-1 conversion rate to the modern renminbi).
The money was the allowance Xu Yuan had painstakingly saved throughout his life, along with donations from the comrades who had fought and died by his side. Xu Yuan had served in the south for ten long years before heroically sacrificing his life on the brutal, anti-bandit front lines in the southwest. Upon hearing this thunderous news, Li Xiurong felt as if she had been struck by lightning; her world collapsed. Everything went black, and she fainted on the spot.
With the combined help of village head Xu Feng and the soldiers, they successfully brought Li Xiurong to the nearest clinic. After a thorough examination, the doctor assured everyone that she was not in serious danger; her collapse was merely due to an inability to control her physical reaction to the extreme emotional shock.
Surprisingly, ten-year-old Xushu showed extraordinary maturity and composure. He thanked the soldiers sincerely and saw them off himself. Once everything was arranged, he rushed back to the clinic to dedicate himself fully to taking care of Li Xiurong. Under his attentive care and patient comfort, she gradually regained some of her vitality.
When they returned to the village, with the enthusiastic assistance of the village head, they successfully completed the funeral rites for Xu Yuan’s ashes. However, ever since learning of her husband's death, Li Xiurong seemed to have lost her soul, and her appearance withered rapidly. Though she was not yet thirty, she suddenly looked like a woman in her forties. Her once bright and moving eyes became dull, and her face was filled with inescapable sorrow and despair.
This truly worried Xushu. He had just experienced the pain of losing his father, and his own grief had not yet dissipated. Now, facing the possibility of losing his only remaining relative, he was frantic with anxiety. After his father's funeral, Xushu found his mother with a heavy, complicated heart. Mother and son sat and talked for a long, long time, as if pouring out everything that had been weighing on their hearts. As time passed, the Xu family slowly emerged from their grief, and life gradually returned to its familiar rhythm. Watching her sensible and considerate child before her, Li Xiurong felt a renewed sense of longing and hope for the future taking root deep in her heart.