Liu Jiaming was awakened by a severe headache.
He opened his eyes with difficulty, but the dazzling sunlight made him close them again immediately. His throat was as dry as if it had been burned by fire, and the bones in his body seemed to have been hastily put back together after falling apart. This was not the bedroom ceiling he was familiar with - a rough thatched roof came into view, and a few rays of sunlight leaked through the gaps, casting mottled light spots on the dirt floor.
"The village chief is awake! The village chief is awake!" A childish voice boomed in his ears, followed by a burst of chaotic footsteps.
Village head? Liu Jiaming frowned in confusion and tried to hold himself up, but found that his arms were wrapped in thick linen and faintly bleeding. He wore burlap clothes, a faded blue cloth belt around his waist, and straw shoes on his feet.
"Village Chief Liu, you are finally awake!" A wrinkled old man came closer, his cloudy eyes full of worry, "If you don't wake up, what will happen to our Loess Village?"
