After waiting for more than ten minutes, no one from the village came to pick them up. It seemed these people were not welcoming the arrival of the educated youths.
Before, in novels, the village head would be waiting for them in advance. After days of travel, several people were feeling unwell, their backs aching from standing. Only Jun Jiuli seemed unfazed.
Just then, a disheveled man with shabby clothes and a limp, whose age was indistinguishable, walked towards them. He leaned on a broken wooden stick and held a broken bowl.
He approached Jin Moyu with a clear purpose, "Little girl, please be kind. I haven't eaten for three days."
Shui Wa: "Damn, this beggar brother has a discerning eye. He picked the saintly one from the crowd so easily."
Jun Jiuli: "Is this the legendary protagonist's halo? It doesn't seem very useful."
Jin Moyu also felt the man was very pitiful and truly wanted to help him. However, her own pockets were cleaner than her face. Thus, she looked up at Jun Jiuli pitifully.
Shui Wa: "Well, her saintly sickness has flared up again."
"This sickness only targets outsiders, tsk tsk tsk, what a shame."
Jun Jiuli turned her head away, ignoring her. Then, she spoke with a sorrowful tone.
"Xiao Li, he is so pitiful. Let's help him."
Jun Jiuli nodded in agreement, "Yes, he is very pitiful. Sister, you help him. Your little sister is not used to this kind of thing."
"But I... you know."
"I don't know. Three consecutive head shakes, jpg."
Jin Moyu, with a look of resignation, said, "Xiao Li, give him some money. Consider it a loan from me, and I'll pay you back later."
Jun Jiuli sized her up from head to toe, "Sister, how will you pay me back? Why don't you ask Comrade Zhu from earlier? I saw you two chatting quite congenially."
"Don't talk nonsense. You are my own sister. Just help me."
"No help."
"Hey, why are you so cold-blooded and heartless? We are born of the same mother, can't you learn from your sister?" Zhu Baizhou couldn't help but interject.
Shui Wa: "Who is this mentally challenged person? Why isn't he in the original host's memory?"
Jun Jiuli: "A minor character, don't mind him."
"If you're not cold-blooded and heartless, then you give the money."
"If you give, then I'll give." Saying this, she dropped two mao into the beggar's bowl. Seeing how easily they were fooled, the man was clearly not satisfied.
He pushed his bowl forward.
"What is it, Great Benefactor Zhu? They say it's not enough? You are so kind, why only give this little? If you don't have the skill, don't take on the job."
"Xiao Li, how can you speak like that? Quickly apologize to Comrade Zhu."
Seeing no one paid attention to her, she continued, "Comrade Zhu, my sister is still young and doesn't understand things. I apologize to you on her behalf. Consider this money a loan from me, and I will pay you back later."
"No, no, I want to give it to this old grandfather myself." She said with a proud demeanor, holding her head high, as if announcing to the world what a great good deed she had done.
"Yes, yes, I will definitely pay you back."
Seeing the two dawdling, and only giving two mao, the beggar brother was getting impatient. Can they still give or not?
He shifted his gaze to Jun Jiuli. This little girl should be the wealthy one. He pushed the bowl towards Jun Jiuli.
Jun Jiuli gave him a fierce glare that stunned the beggar brother. The stick in his left hand fell. He immediately grabbed the money in his bowl and ran.
This action made everyone dumbfounded. So, his leg wasn't lame after all. Everyone remained silent, trying to forget the awkwardness.
Until a girl couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Comrade Jin, did you discover something was wrong with that person long ago?"
"If you knew he was a骗子 (liar) before, why didn't you say anything?" Zhu Baizhou said angrily. He had lost two mao!
"How would I know you guys were so stupid to be fooled? I said I wouldn't help him earlier."
"You, you, you are unreasonable."
"Yes, I am unreasonable, and you are incredibly foolish."
At this moment, someone holding a list came over, "Qin Jingxuan, Zhu Baizhou, Jin Moyu, Jin Moli, Qian Lingling."
Those whose names were called answered, "Present."
"You five are going to Lijia Village. Follow this person, he is your village head." He said, pointing to Li Xinzhu beside him.
"Okay."
The few people followed the village head outside and saw an ox cart. Just as they were excited about not having to walk, Old Man Li, who was driving the cart, doused them with cold water.
"Children, put all your luggage on the ox cart." You just follow the village head.
"Ah! Why can't we ride the ox cart?" Zhu Baizhou asked.
"You little brat, you think too highly of yourself. This ox is very valuable and can't withstand such rough treatment."
"Alright, why are you talking so much to him, Second Uncle? Hurry up and put your things down, we need to go back."
"Oh, okay." The few people dared not say more, and they all put their luggage on the cart, following the ox cart and walking slowly.
Walking back to Lijia Village from the county town is about 25 kilometers. A group of tired educated youths might take eight or nine hours to get there.
It had rained a few days ago, and the road was very slippery, making it even more difficult to walk. However, after only walking for a few minutes, Jin Moyu tripped twice.
Now, Jun Jiuli and Qian Lingling were supporting her, one on each side. The village head looked down on this behavior, rolling his eyes several times.
It was summer, and everyone was wearing light canvas shoes. The quality of these shoes was not very good, and the soles were very thin. Walking on the stony road was very uncomfortable, and their soles felt a stinging pain. Even the two male educated youths were finding it difficult to endure.
Jin Moyu had not rested well for three days on the train and had fallen twice. She was almost at her limit after walking for a few hours. She closed her eyes and fainted.
Jun Jiuli noticed her eyelids move almost imperceptibly. Tsk, what great acting! It seemed she was going all out just to get some rest.
The village head felt he couldn't just stand by and watch. Before he could speak, Zhu Baizhou beat him to it.
"Comrade Moyu, Comrade Moyu, what's wrong with you?" He anxiously checked her breathing. Hmm... she was still alive. He breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, he said with a condescending tone, "Comrade Moyu is a girl, and it's inconvenient for us few men. Why don't you two female comrades take turns carrying her?"
Everyone was exhausted now. Qian Lingling was not good at expressing herself, but her puffy little face already conveyed her extreme displeasure.
Jun Jiuli responded, "Yes, you are right. Since it's inconvenient for the male comrades, then take down the luggage that weighs about the same as my sister's. Kind Comrade Zhu can carry the luggage, and let my sister lie on the ox cart. Wouldn't that solve the problem?"
"This how..."
"Does Comrade Zhu also think what I said makes a lot of sense? Village head, what do you think? This way, it can satisfy Comrade Zhu's desire to do good deeds, and it won't tire the ox either."
Shui Wa: A series where humans are inferior to oxen.
The village head was already annoyed that Zhu Baizhou had interrupted him. Without a second thought, he agreed to Jun Jiuli's request.
Zhu Baizhou had no choice but to resign himself to carrying the luggage. He didn't know how long he would be staying in this village, and he dared not offend the village head.