I really need to find out if that check-in system at the start is an actual plot point or just a copy-paste error from the source. Because if it is real, it changes the entire genre classification. A “system” in a gritty 1970s rural setting would be a massive twist. Maybe it helps her farm better? Or finally gives her the courage to fight back?
I'm curious about the White Tiger's backstory. It's supposed to be a proud divine beast that only listens to Wu Yuan, but it lets Jiang Que ride it after a beating. Is it really that easily intimidated, or is there something special about her? Seems like a potential plot point.
The garlic alicin subplot is both hilarious and realistic. I love that his immediate concern is just "my wound itches and I want to scratch it," and that sparks the first ancient workable antiseptic. It's not a grand scheme to win favor with a king. It's just practical survival. And the way Li Yi has to report it through official channels, turning this humble ointment into a state-level secret report, is thoroughly amusing. The bureaucracy is already grinding its gears for something the protagonist just needed for personal use.
I appreciate the little details: the chipped plastic basin, the bell on the dog's collar, the claw machine with stuck claws, the "Fu Water", the heavy button phone. These make the world feel lived in. Especially the button phone – why does a teenager use that? Probably for security or to avoid tracking. Another mystery.