Miss_Little_Secret

The Forager’s Legacy

When modern-day doctor Yiling wakes up in 1960s rural China, she finds herself inhabiting the body of a malnourished mother abandoned by her husband. Struggling to care for her two neglected children, Yiling must navigate a world filled with hardship, poverty, and outdated traditions.

Armed with her knowledge of medicine and an unyielding spirit, Yiling ventures into the mountains as a forager, gathering rare herbs to heal the sick, hunting to feed her children, and selling what she finds to carve out a life for her family. As she nurtures her two frail children, they grow into extraordinary individuals—her son becomes a formidable business leader, while her daughter follows in Yiling’s footsteps to become a gifted healer.

Through Yiling’s perseverance and ingenuity, she leaves behind a legacy far greater than survival—she shapes a future filled with hope, success, and transformation for her children and their world.

The Forager’s Legacy is a poignant tale of motherhood, resilience, and the enduring power of love and sacrifice.

THE FORAGER'S LEGACY.

The village chief, Elder Qiu, was a gruff but practical man in his late sixties. His house, like the rest of the village, was humble—a simple courtyard filled with baskets of rice, an old rocking chair, and the smell of tea brewing over an open fire.

Elder Qiu squinted as Yiling approached. "Jian Yiling," he called, his tone neutral but inquisitive. "What brings you here? Haven't seen you much since… well." He didn't finish, but Yiling understood the implication. Her past, her husband, her struggles—all wrapped in one unfinished sentence.

"I'm here because I want to buy a piece of land," she said boldly, wasting no time. "I've been gathering herbs and hunting in the mountains. I'm ready to take the next step and start farming for my family."

Elder Qiu's bushy brows rose, and he let out a short chuckle. "Farming, eh? It's back-breaking work, not something most single women would consider. What makes you think you're up for it?"

Yiling straightened her back. "I've climbed cliffs, fought off wild animals, and brought two children back from the brink of starvation, Elder Qiu. A little dirt won't kill me."

Her tone was steady, but not arrogant, and the chief's smile deepened.

"Well said, lass," he replied, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "But land isn't easy to come by. Most of the good plots near the village are taken. What kind of money are we talking about?"

She opened her basket, revealing the carefully wrapped ginseng and rare herbs she'd brought. The scent filled the air, and Elder Qiu's eyes lit up.

"A hundred-year-old ginseng," Yiling said confidently. "And enough rare herbs to supply an apothecary for weeks. I think we can make a fair trade."

The chief examined the ginseng closely, his fingers careful yet eager. "Impressive," he murmured. "This is a treasure. Very well. I'll see to it you get a plot, but it won't be near the village. There's a patch of fallow land by the river. Fertile, but it'll take work to clear."

"Work is fine," Yiling said immediately.

Chapter 16: Meeting the Village Chief.