already dark. If it weren't summertime, she

n papers, and managed to secure a room. As soon as she lock

as as bright

ables and grains. It wasn't that Samantha lacked common sense-her time vault d

sandwich, and lazily strolled toward the orchard, plucking a ripe app

, the apple bur

she took a bite. Then, her thoughts dr

living the good life in the 21st century. With her stubborn pers

teful father and stepmot

tle troublemaker pestering

te a few purchases from the local department store: two heavy quilts, one weighing thirteen pounds and the other seventeen, al

ies. If she needed something, she'd

ker, and a military-style water canteen. The original owner had already acquired these, and

behind by the original owner. They were still in

ndy and biscuits-to keep out in the o

stacked up a massive pile

thing out. With such a large package, no one would

$900 from selling off some old items, and the $1,650 she had collected from her stepfather's hidd

d to rush into risky deals on the underground market. S

rom her stepfather. Some were nearing their due dates, s

checked the time and finally

ime strolling through town, famil

self at the local dine

ard near the counter. Samantha ordered a ser

this town, but the first time she saw them, she ha

man

r meal, a familia

Billy, Tristan, and

expressions, th

m a challenging glance, watching as Let

on the other hand,

ected Samantha

and plopping down across from her. Tr

er there," Samantha pointed

ether," Billy declared,

ring at Samantha from across the room, b

ht," he said. "Leticia put on quite

an eyebrow. "And why a

se confidence wavered under her gaze. Sa

aid matter-of-factly. "That L

the troublemaker here?"

atter. If I like you, I l

ha: ".

g. Billy, however, immediately zipped his lips in

ut laugh. These two were

Samantha finished an entire plate of lamb chops

d his untouched meal tow

mooth-like a gentle breeze

nked. "No ne

in disbelief. "Samantha, h

ed. "You'll fi

the post office and the general store. The general store, however, turned into a small

ly got out, she was a

oxcart station-carrying an enormous package th

legs were visible. Her shadow looked

n near the o

, who had followe

ied the oversized package to the

f she hadn't just moved something that shou

nce was

he driver, Roy, said hesitantly. "I

have other pas

ated on the cart, craned thei

's in there?" o

olks probably gave you everything

uriosity, hands itching t

her just felt guilty about me, so they used to send me some

esting statement-one

ther and stepmot

be a juicy st

, a step behind, was ne

ly gives you twenty dollars every month! How have we wrong

ha had quite a bit of money. Anyone paying attention could easily pi

t she only smirked. "Isn't that just compensati

wealth, she definitely ha

his era. Besides, the original owner of this body had been a known fighter, quick to

sations! When did we ever atta

wie only got together later on. Their marriage was mainly for your benefit. After all, Bowie was a single man-it wouldn't have been easy for him t

child twenty dollars monthly? It wasn

onlookers began to look

y unfazed, watching Leticia's l

to return the favor

he way Samantha was staring at her made her heart race with panic. But she gritted

angry at my mother. All these years, our family has put y

nda

oking at Samantha with judgmental eyes. A father givi

you should

reactions. She lowered her gaze, her delicate express

e started again,

uddenly sneered, her sharp

hold a grudge aga

But in the next second, doubt crept in. This wa

ing wa

h, the next words out of Samantha

r? Well, you two aren't just leech

t every syllable was a dagger

ng as pale as ghosts before twistin

ing!" Luca

! How could you be so crue

t believe me, why don't you write home a

calm, yet her words carr

kers were

n extramarital affair? S

eryone's eyes darted between Leticia and Lucas,

r them, took two careful steps back, no

turned to an old man sitting

e? If not, how about giving me a lift?

ly sat up straight, tapped his smoking

ting! Hop on

lars? Wh

hich town are

Hill

e, I'll take you there." The old man gri

y picking up her enormous bundle and tossi

tanders

and slightly unsettled b

tion. He raised a hand and called out, "Miss Revolutionary Gr

ding a small parcel in the other. He glanced at

good deal." Samantha lif

cart, and the old man drove off,

Leticia and Lucas, their

don's gaze, felt both

ere, turned to his sister and whined, "Sis, I need

nearly

nd, she coul

telegram

owed was

fair caused an uproar. In a time when personal cond

out even affected the Carters. Furious that they had lost contr

s a problem

ll struggling to believe that someone so p

having a lively conver

f someone bullies you, you bully them right b

"Don't you think

There's an old saying-an unkind f

t that saying about

, old man. If a father is unkind, the

laxed. "Ever since my mom passed, I've been like a

to hold in his lau

gotten about the bumpy ride-until she stepped off

mbarr

, she steadied herself, plaste

't embarrassed, no

ed trying to supp

o the old man, politely declined Tristan's of

the camp, gasps ech

at?! Carrying so

ire brigade was buz

ntha Green, was un

urned, word had spread everywhere-Leticia and Lucas were il

ith anger but unable to voice their frustration. They didn't have the

mmed a folk tune as sh

assignments. Although these matters had mostly been settled the night before

eat separately from those two. No need to cau

cas nearly cho

eaded, "Samantha, we... we're not

taken advantage of? Or was she trying to suggest th

ied with a meaningful glance. "A

're misunderst

ful tone, or I'll make sure your head ends u

having already been put in his place before, was afraid Samantha might act

"Samantha, this isn't your house. No one's going to spoil you here. If you want t

rrowed her

his tone, he actually thinks I ca

andon's eyes that clearly read: No matter w

utterly

se ridiculous thoughts out of your head. And who's acting spoiled? My

ghter of a wealthy industrialist. By a

. "Samantha, watch your mouth. What's wrong with my family? I didn't realize

"???" Oh

. Then decided that there was ab

stepped toward him, Brandon s

ef-" Leticia sta

nt flying like a kite with a snappe

le

frozen, stari

ched his face, looking at

said, rolling her ankle as if warming up for more. "Next

ho still hadn't recovered from the s

Timothy b

g, decisive, and had no problem throwing punches. If they all ate toget

ve his approval, a

iolence-her bright eyes and perfect teeth made

They just silently a

ooked at Timothy. "Billy and I w

y were from the city and came from well-off families. They'd had pl

appetites. We wouldn't want to burden

oing in this direction,

ted to split off as well, but after realizing they had no food of their own yet, th

food ration from the team leader-twenty pounds of grain per

of cornmeal and ten p

t she didn't refuse. Coarse grai

f we're all cooking separa

r for the communal kitchen. Water wasn't an

ing on anyone else. Yesterday, when Curtis helped set up her room, she'd sp

Alright, then eve

a seemed unaffected. She returned

just yet, so she made a makeshift cot by

in storage-Boiled eggs and boiled broccoli, plus two m

assed witho

e groggily but quickly pulled herself together, fixing her hai

ong the newcomers, only Kyle was awake. He was brushing his

a ignor

bbed a meat bun for breakfast, filled h

d in confusion as a gust

ally necessary?"

how this worked. If she was late, someone would mess with her-st

side character destined to get screwed over. But eithe

stay one s

yone else, she was

argaret, the team leader's wife, said in sur

while to adjust, but Samantha

e's thoughts drifted to

haps Samantha had been used to hardship fo

weat from her forehead, suddenly feeling t

ple

sn't so bad. She grinned, flashing a dazzling sm

f the older

ant

town were surpr

e cast her way, she quickly lowered h

ding there, looking so quiet and well

s the team leader launched into a passi

r, it was time to

er harvest. While things weren't as hectic, weeding t

nding out tools had two thick black braids. Withou

rge, gave her a long, hard loo

a dangerousl

she was definite

owing no hint of anger. "Comrade

Francesca said with a smirk. "If not, yo

g the sickle and walking away u

she sudden

voice was clear and crisp, carrying across th

smug expre

, staring at Sa

captain immediately became serious. In tim

t'

esca abruptly cut her off, grabbing a different one from the pi

t to work. The captain and the others have a

sickle, a small smir

be going now." She waved goodbye with a

ehind her back, but so what? If Francesca h

ca's personality. They didn't push for details, but the team leader

frowned as he turned to his daughte

rkers had begun call

hould join

, we ne

our side. It only makes sense

it her, knowing that she was

y amused. Whoever got stuck with

arned ten labor points, with some even pushing for twelve. Women typically

ention of working h

r in either of her lives, and

in a group with Jennifer, a

Jennifer," the woman sai

smooth it looked like

said obediently, showing no

o field. Since you're new, just fol

from the aunts," Sam

tude immediately softened the

ve impression d

technique, but the moment she fi

on't you pick up the pace?" Jennifer fro

regret being assig

exhausting," Samantha sighed. "Look, J

owing the reddening areas where

omen exchan

s were so

hard. I'll earn my keep!" Samantha w

s convincing... but some

y had no c

her own pace, always sticki

realized what

cking off-s

one could react, Samantha took off like

rolled

dersto

she was just smart ab

to say. In the end, sh

ers needed to earn at least five labor points a day.

ome extra help, but her pla

d back to the youth commune

k yet, she quickly pulled

nto the steamer, making enough

, one for boiling-and a large cabbage, whi

e to buy from the supply

-pigs, sheep, chickens, ducks, and fish-but

ducks, and fis

pounds of meat coupons, w

r-fried eggs with green onions and ca

es into the dining hall, the oth

ed the moment they caug

eyes l

ant

rich young l

e scooped a big bowl into a clay dish. Just as she was about to ste

fragrant stir-fried vegetables under Leticia's nose befor

ace flushed

high and mighty," Naomi m

ly tugged on her sleeve. "Keep y

andon clear across the yard with a single b

for a nap. The day's labor had been exhausting, and her hands stung. She retrieved a tube of Snowflake cream from h

elf awake, patting her face be

efore we have to go back

up to see Tris

know," she said, splashing water on her face. "I cooked earl

ere to go for t

mountains

dn't be good if you wander

or a moment before no

animals was an entirely different m

st," she sa

an's eyes. "Let's go." He grabbed a

side the dorm, waiting for Tristan. He fr

ad arrived. Taking a small path to avoid the main trail, they

e cowshed?"

er folks live there. Best not to

smirked.

t her but didn't

. "This is far enough. Last year, som

about to as

h

. She turned her head in su

d her gaze, his

y sprawled on th

eyes twinkling.

"Looks like you'

id cheerfully, sco

nd I will bring some Vegetables other t

s but found it refreshing. There was no point in

ough firewood. Tristan took over carrying

y. Was he always this considerate

ple washing their faces at th

ther firewood and didn't eve

ce you're so eager, tomorrow'

s face

time to return to work. Samantha and Tristan i

he supply shed, likely left behind by a previous wor

, you're still not

oung man, around eighteen or nineteen, his face flus

me," she said nonchalantly, stretchi

is face turned even redder as he

tha b

was he hit

teasing tone. In the collective, a man helpin

work, so why are you hanging aro

's voice cut t

ammered,

cause I'm a little behind doesn't m

n her hips, appea

kwardly before scurrying of

ell me you brought the girl here just so yo

are you spouting? My son's already intere

girl is pretty, sure, but she's got such a tin

th twitched be

was checking ou

brain is full of crap! My son likes her, end

ly, exasperated by the ch

ennifer, she turned b

nse! I saw James flirting with Samantha

, dramatic, and ruthless. Samantha sighed, watching

all this

over, his face like thunder. "Another argument, and

ut them

ing, decided to take it

he "accidentally" bumped her

was spe

e fighting over a man. Now th

really un