Chapter 3, Origin

In that year, she was thirty years old, working as a mid-level manager at the largest foreign trade company in the city. She had a generous salary, owned real estate, drove a second-hand Volkswagen, and had around 200,000 yuan in savings in the bank. She had no troublesome relatives, a few not-so-close girlfriends, and had stopped her part-time job. On weekends, she could enjoy some leisure time, going shopping, dining, and watching movies. She could also buy herself some designer clothes and jewelry. Life seemed to be going well, but she felt very lonely because she had no boyfriend, no lover, and no pets. At the end of 2012, she didn't even have a friend to chat with.

Unfortunately, the more she inquired about the news, the colder her heart became. She had entered the body of a little refugee girl, whose parents were said to have some standing, having been educated and respectable people. However, due to a drought in their original home, they became refugees, and tragically, both perished in a flash flood along the way, leaving behind a daughter who was not yet ten years old. Unable to accept this devastating news, the little girl cried for several days, fell into a fever, and lapsed into a coma. When she awoke, she had already changed fundamentally. The people around her did not know where her hometown was, nor did they know who her relatives were; they only knew her surname was Jiang and that her name was Qing Jie'er.

However, not all refugees were as fortunate as they were, nor were all refugees as honest. The greed and exploitation of the county magistrate incited the righteous indignation of some refugees, among whom a few decided to lead a group of fellow villagers to the mountains, taking away two to three thousand people, occupying several nearby mountain ridges, and even robbing the grain carts of the Huai Prince's residence, killing the steward of the Huai Prince's residence. In a fit of anger, the Huai Prince dispatched his personal guards to encircle and suppress them, initially cutting down hundreds of bandits with ease, forcing them to retreat to the mountains in fear. However, the outcome of this battle was quite subtle, for not long after, the Huai Prince was discovered to have engaged in improper conduct, and the emperor issued an edict to strip him of his title, imprisoning his entire family in the capital. Among the charges was the embezzlement of disaster relief funds, which had driven the refugees to revolt. However, the outcome of this battle was quite subtle, for not long after, the Huai Prince was discovered to have engaged in improper conduct, and the emperor issued an edict to strip him of his title, imprisoning his entire family in the capital, with one of the charges being the embezzlement of disaster relief funds, which had driven the refugees to revolt.

Having become law-abiding citizens, this group of people began to seek their own livelihoods. Some became craftsmen, some went to the city to work as laborers, some engaged in small businesses, and others became tenant farmers for wealthy local families. Even the elderly doctor Qian rented a small shop in the county town to open a medical clinic. Meanwhile, Jiang Qingyun, after discovering a shortcut from the county town to the dock, assisted a few close acquaintances among the refugees in opening an inn.

However, this is still insufficient

The first person she found to rely on was the old doctor who treated her. Although this Dr. Qian was also a refugee, elderly, and without a wife or children, he had gained some reputation among the refugees due to his many years of practice and decent medical skills. Jiang Qingyun used the excuse of being orphaned and having no relatives to depend on to offer her assistance, doing various tasks such as gathering herbs, preparing medicine, and caring for patients. The kind-hearted old man was pleased to have a helper and accepted her role as an assistant. With this support, Jiang Qingyun no longer had to worry about going hungry or being bullied.

She traversed through time and found herself in a strange era. Initially, she thought it was the Song or Ming Dynasty, but the unfamiliar era names and royal surnames made her realize that this was a fictional dynasty. During her search for a part-time job that would not interfere with her main occupation and still allow her to earn money, she had spent two years on a literary website, writing a few novels, though without much success. However, in pursuit of knowledge, she had read several masterpieces by renowned authors. She was aware of her situation and remained remarkably calm, quickly taking control of the entire situation. She pretended to have amnesia to blend in, raising no suspicions among those around her, and then cautiously sought information from others.

Indeed, all these properties were buried in the mudflow along with Sister Jiang Qing's parents, leaving not even a horse or a cart. However, there was a silver lock pendant on Sister Qing's person, which had already been used for medical expenses before she regained consciousness

With no money and facing hunger, Jiang Qingyun racked her brains to find a way to earn a living. Fortunately, among the hundred or so vagrants she interacted with regularly, although they had fallen into such dire straits, they were originally honest citizens. Many of them possessed a particular skill, such as Zhang the cook, Master You the carpenter, and Ma Laoer who had worked as a mason, as well as Doctor Qian and others. Even those without outstanding skills had some means of making a living, which gave her a sense of confidence. After all, if she relied solely on herself, she might end up selling herself into slavery or starving to death. However, if she could effectively utilize these people, it was not impossible to achieve a win-win situation.

Qingyun thought, if even close relatives could turn coldly against each other, how much more so could outsiders? She had no blood ties with the group of refugees; even if they had once shared hardships, it did not guarantee they would share prosperity. Living with them for an extended period was not a sustainable plan. However, Liu and Xie were of good character and possessed talent. By recognizing him as a father, she could at least ensure an elevation in her social status. If managed properly in the future, there might be a chance for prosperity. She did not seek a relationship as close as that of a father and daughter, but at the very least, he was a good person who would not sell her out for a bit of wealth. This could at least guarantee an elevation in her social status, and if managed properly in the future, there might be a chance for prosperity. She did not seek a relationship as close as that of a father and daughter, but at the very least, he was a good person who would not sell her out for a bit of wealth.

With the downfall of the powerful, the county magistrate naturally could no longer hold his position, and the entire family was implicated in the crime, already taken to the Dali Temple for trial. As for those displaced people who remained law-abiding, the court would naturally make every effort to appease them. As for those who had turned to banditry, as long as they accepted amnesty, they could be forgiven; however, those who remained defiant could face death. At present, the county deputy has taken people to negotiate amnesty with several larger groups of bandits. If the negotiations fail, further battles will be necessary.

The godfather she recognized was also someone she met during this period. His surname is Liu, and his name is Liu Xie, courtesy name Huaide. He is a clerk in the government office of Qinghe County, in his thirties, honest by nature, with a relatively upright character, though somewhat timid and afraid of trouble. When the previous county magistrate was corrupt, he refused to go along with the wrongdoing, yet he lacked the courage to resist. Among the various clerks in the county office, he is a person who is easily overlooked. Both of his parents have passed away, and he has been widowed for many years. It is said that he has a brother at home, over a hundred miles away from Qinghe, who is guarding the family estate and studying for examinations. Although he is a clerk, he comes from a background of a successful scholar, but due to his family's decline, he is unable to support two sons in their studies for the imperial examinations. In order to provide his brother with a better future, he chose to sacrifice himself, taking over his uncle's position as a clerk, thus severing his own path to the examinations. However, he has languished in this clerk position for over ten years without a single promotion, and his brother has not achieved any scholarly title either.

These refugees are essentially simple and honest. Although they are grateful to Qingyun, they do not wish to hinder her bright future, often advising her to return to her life as a noble lady. Moved by their sentiments, Qingyun also begins to doubt her previous decision. Is it truly right for her to leave behind these lovely and sincere people?

However, she swore that she was merely complaining a little in her heart and absolutely had no other intentions! In fact, at that time, she simply felt the need to find a boyfriend. She did not understand why, on the first day of 2013, when she opened her eyes, what greeted her was not her own neatly and exquisitely tidied little room, but a makeshift hut haphazardly constructed from hay and branches

Thus, after several intentional or unintentional coincidences, Liu Xie recognized Jiang Qingyun as his goddaughter and truly treated her with the same care and affection as his own child. Jiang Qingyun also did her utmost to show filial piety towards him, gradually establishing her footing in the county town. However, she remained very concerned about the refugees who had once taken care of her, visiting them from time to time and offering suggestions on how to improve their lives.

In those years, Jiang Qingyun had endured enough of the relatives' grievances and erupted on the spot, willing to tear apart the facade. Crying, he sought help from his parents' former colleagues, as well as relatives and neighbors from his mother's side. He confronted his grandmother, uncles, aunts, and cousins, but these individuals, constrained by their pride, had little effect. Seeing that his grandmother's side was unwilling to compromise, Jiang Qingyun simply tore a piece of white cloth and wrote a 'blood letter' in red ink, causing a scene at his uncle and cousin's workplace, which left them embarrassed and the subject of gossip. In the end, his cousin, being at a critical moment for promotion, feared that this incident would allow competitors to take advantage of him, and took the initiative to persuade his grandmother to relent. Only then did Jiang Qingyun receive the last fifteen thousand yuan left by his parents.

She is an exceptionally ordinary young woman among the multitude of modern humanity. She once had a happy family, but shortly after entering high school, her parents tragically died in a car accident. She was entrusted to her grandmother for upbringing, and the inheritance and insurance money were also handed over to her grandmother.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Jiang Qingyun once again persuaded Dr. Qian to step forward and organize the strong and capable individuals among the refugees. Utilizing the timber from the nearby mountains, they constructed several simple wooden bridges around Qinghe County and improved a few rural paths, while also repairing houses for several elderly individuals living alone. These tasks were not particularly labor-intensive, yet they greatly won the goodwill of the people of Qinghe County, distinguishing them from the rebellious refugees. Subsequently, Dr. Qian, along with his group, took the little money they had earned over the past few months to make some arrangements at the county office, thereby securing legal residency rights for their group. Although their household registration did not belong to Qinghe, they were already recognized as good citizens by the authorities.

Who is Jiang Qingyun? He is a solitary soul from the twenty-first century

However, the grandmother is biased towards males and has no intention of using her money for her granddaughter. Not only does she try to save on meals and clothing for her, but she also scolds her for eating an extra piece of meat for half a day. She hasn't bought a new piece of clothing in three years and has given half of her money to her eldest grandson to buy a house and the other half to her second grandson to marry. With less than 20,000 yuan remaining, when the granddaughter wants to ask for it when she goes to university, the grandmother says that girls should not go to university, as it is a waste of money. Instead, she suggests going to work in the south or getting married directly. She hasn't bought a new piece of clothing in three years and has given half of her money to her eldest grandson to buy a house and the other half to her second grandson to marry. With less than 20,000 yuan remaining, when the granddaughter wants to ask for it when she goes to university, the grandmother says that girls should not go to university, as it is a waste of money. Instead, she suggests going to work in the south or getting married directly.

She is not someone who is accustomed to wallowing in self-pity during difficult times; as soon as she understands her situation, she immediately begins to think of ways to extricate herself.

Jiang Qingyun values this person for several reasons. Firstly, he has good character and takes great care of the refugees, earning high praise from the people in the county. Secondly, he has a fondness for children and mentioned that his wife died during childbirth; had the baby girl survived, she would have been of a similar age to Qingyun, which makes him feel a deeper affection for Qingyun. Thirdly, although this person is timid and not well-regarded, he possesses genuine talent and skills. He writes beautifully and composes excellent articles. Even though the former county magistrate looked down on him, when important documents needed to be drafted, he had no choice but to call upon him for assistance.

Being a vagrant means that she has no household registration, no fixed residence, no property, and no job. Compared to other vagrants, she does not even have family. A frail little girl, just recovering from a serious illness, how can she survive in such a harsh environment? The first thing that comes to her mind is to find a thicker thigh to hold on to.

As long as it is not illegal, Jiang Qingyun is willing to do anything for money. After graduating, she set up a stall in the bustling city center after work or on weekends, selling everything from clothes and shoes to hair accessories and bags. Later, after hearing her colleagues talk about how quickly money could be made in the stock market, she closed her stall and learned to trade stocks. After a year of trading, sensing that the market was turning unfavorable, she completely withdrew. Although she made a considerable amount of money overall, the risks were high, and the market was gradually declining. Worried that one day she might lose everything, she stopped hoping for overnight wealth and focused all her energy on her main job. She worked tirelessly to secure several large contracts for the company, earning tens of thousands in bonuses. At this time, seeing that housing prices were rising day by day, she gritted her teeth and managed to gather enough for a down payment to buy a small 50-square-meter apartment in the city. To her surprise, the housing prices soared even more than she had anticipated. A few years later, when she sold the apartment, she made a profit of several hundred thousand. She then purchased a 70-square-meter apartment in the suburbs, paying in full.

This group of refugees is quite large; it is said that there are about five to six thousand people just in the Qinghe area, all coming from the northern regions that have suffered from severe drought. This drought has lasted for three years, and it can almost be said that nine out of ten houses are empty. Even families of considerable wealth have found it difficult to escape misfortune. For instance, the little girl in the clothes she is wearing, although it is unclear exactly where her family comes from, according to Dr. Qian, her parents still have some assets, as they were able to afford a horse-drawn carriage during their escape, which was loaded with a considerable amount of luggage, including clothing for all seasons. Additionally, Aunt Ma, who also works at Dr. Qian's, mentioned that Qing Jie'er’s mother was dressed very well, wearing a finely crafted silver phoenix hairpin on her head, with the phoenix's beak holding a string of beads, and a red gemstone the size of a lotus seed serving as a pendant, the material of which is unknown, but it is as red as blood.

This name differs from her original name by only one character, and she did not hesitate much before immediately deciding to use her real name

Jiang Qingyun, who was almost destitute, initially harbored some resentment. However, upon learning about the current situation around him, he ceased to complain. They had found themselves near the Central Plains, and the local authorities had not driven them away. Instead, orders were issued from the top down to divide them into several groups and resettle them in different areas. Qinghe, being relatively close to the north, spacious, and fairly prosperous, accommodated the largest number of people. The capital had also allocated a substantial amount of disaster relief funds and grain, but the quantity that actually reached the refugees was very limited.

With this sum of money, Jiang Qingyun successfully paid her tuition for the first year of university. However, in order to cover her future study and living expenses, she also immersed herself in part-time work outside of class. During her first year, she tutored, sold drinks, and distributed flyers; in her second year, she engaged in sales, reselling snacks and small stationery items in the student dormitories, outsmarting the dormitory management staff. By her third year, due to her good spoken English and quick wit, she leveraged a connection with a senior student to take a part-time translation job at a small foreign trade company. Noticing that the company was performing well, with friendly employees and promising prospects, and that the salary for full-time employees was quite high, she boldly offered to help with various tasks, calling herself a part-time worker. Initially, she was just serving tea, cleaning, and delivering documents, but later she progressed to typing, photocopying, and changing light bulbs. After six months, she had learned to repair computers and fix printers, impressing even the company’s secretary. Upon entering her fourth year, she smoothly transitioned into an intern at the company, and even before receiving her diploma, she had already signed an employment contract.

It is said that Qinghe County was originally a large county on the edge of the Huaiwang fiefdom. The tax and grain revenue collected by the government, in addition to being submitted to the court, also required a portion to be handed over to the Huaiwang Mansion. The burden on the people was already heavy, and two years ago, a new county magistrate arrived. It is said that he had a sister who married the chief steward of the Huaiwang Mansion as a secondary wife, which gave him a strong backing and formidable means. He swept through Qinghe County, leaving it nearly destitute. Since it was not easy to obtain a sum of money and grain for disaster relief, how could he let go of such a juicy piece of meat? As a result, less than one-tenth of the funds were actually used to aid the displaced people. This was still due to the concern of the county vice magistrate, who had served in the area for many years. He feared that excessive plundering would lead to too many displaced people starving to death, which would reflect poorly on his performance and could also lead to accusations of dereliction of duty. After a prolonged dispute with the county magistrate, he finally persuaded him to let some of the funds slip through his fingers. However, with this little amount of money and grain, the thousands of displaced people settled in Qinghe County managed to survive in a state of half-satisfaction, relying on two bowls of thin porridge each day to get through six months.

She first persuaded Dr. Qian, gaining his support, and then, through his influence, organized some familiar, honest, and skilled vagrants into a primitive labor rental company from ancient times, providing services to the residents around Qinghe County. Anyone in need of hiring laborers, cooks, carpenters, repairing houses and walls, setting up stoves, washing clothes, mending, copying books and accounts, or writing letters... as long as they had someone capable, they offered all kinds of services. Initially, their business was quite slow, as the locals were wary of these vagrants, but gradually, a few families began to patronize them, and then their good reputation spread from one to ten, and from ten to a hundred, leading to a flourishing business. After three to five months, their scale had expanded to over 300 people and gained recognition from all the residents of Qinghe County. Jiang Qingyun not only secured a stable livelihood for herself but also fought for a stable life for those around her.