During a multi-year famine, Julian and his wife decide against divorce and agree to raise their two children. The system requires both of them to activate it, so they search the mountains for food but find everything picked. Julian finds a tree whose bark the system marks worth ten gold per cattie. They strip the bark to sell, but villagers spot them and spread a rumor that they're eating it. Neighbors warn bark is bitter, causes throat pain and can be fatal if consumed, leaving the family holding sellable but dangerous bark and the children's survival unresolved.