Chapter 124: Quick Transmigration: Film and Television Multiverse Chapter 4: Departure for Guizhou

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Lin Hao

Lin Kun sat there, head bowed, silent.

Seeing this, Lin Hao continued: "Brother, you know Cai Xiaoguang's father is an official. When the time comes, I'll get Cai Xiaoguang to mention it to his father, so that Zhou Rong and I can both be transferred back to the City, and I'll even have a job."

Lin Kun raised his head, looked at Lin Hao, and asked doubtfully: "Really? Can Cai Xiaoguang pull that off?"

Lin Hao nodded vigorously: "Really, Brother. Can I lie to you? Just trust me this once."

Lin Kun immediately said: "Then I'll go find Cai Xiaoguang right now and have him find you a job."

Lin Hao grabbed him on the spot: "Brother, don't be stupid. Cai Xiaoguang couldn't even find Zhou Rong a job, so what good would you going do? You may be classmates, but there are so many classmates in the whole class—why would they help you? Just listen to me, Brother. Before the end of the year, Cai Xiaoguang will get you an easier job. Work hard, save up some money. I might even need your support in Guizhou later. Also, even though you're not in school anymore, you should still read more books. It can't hurt. No matter what job you do, having knowledge is never a bad thing."

Lin Kun was an honest, simple man from childhood, not good with words, unlike Lin Hao who was so eloquent.

After Lin Hao's few words of persuasion, the firm opposition in his heart gradually wavered.

Besides, Lin Hao patted his chest and promised he would definitely return within three years, so Lin Kun reluctantly agreed.

Still, he now bore a grudge against Cai Xiaoguang, thinking that if Cai Xiaoguang hadn't meddled, his younger brother might not have been so determined to go to the countryside.

A few days later, the Zhou Family side was bustling as the whole family came to the train station, first to see off the eldest, Zhou Bingyi.

Zhou Bingyi stood on the platform, smiling, trying hard to look relaxed.

Looking at his family, he said: "Dad, Mom, Zhou Rong, Bingkun, don't worry. I'll work hard in the Construction Corps. When I come back, I'll bring everyone lots of good things."

But as soon as he turned his head, tears fell uncontrollably, and he clutched tightly the money his mother had secretly slipped into his hand—money filled with her reluctance and longing.

Seeing Zhou Bingyi cry, his mother couldn't help but cry too, choking out: "Bingjun, take good care of yourself out there. Don't push yourself too hard. Remember to write home often."

Zhou Bingyi wiped his tears and nodded: "Mom, I know. You and Dad take care of your health too."

Thirty minutes later, it was time to see off Zhou Zhigang.

Zhou Zhigang and his wife gazed at each other through tears, a thousand words stuck in their throats, yet at this moment of parting, neither could say what they wanted to say.

Zhou Rong was clever. She had Zhou Bingkun hold her up, and through the train window, she kissed Zhou Zhigang's face hard, twice in a row, laughing: "Dad, this one's for me, this one's for Mom. Take good care of yourself out there."

Zhou Zhigang was so reluctant to leave his family, but he had no choice. For work, to answer the call, he had to leave home and venture out.

After seeing off Zhou Bingyi and Zhou Zhigang, the three Zhou family members went back home. Zhou Mother and Zhou Bingkun went together, thinking about whether they could arrange for Zhou Bingkun to be sent somewhere closer to home in the countryside, so someone could look after him.

Zhou Rong, taking advantage of the empty house, quickly packed her things, leaving only a letter in the room. The letter urged Zhou Bingkun to take good care of his mother. Then she called Cai Xiaoguang to take her to the train station.

Lin Hao also went to the station with his brother that day, pretending to bump into Cai Xiaoguang and Zhou Rong by chance.

As they were about to board, Cai Xiaoguang slipped some money and tickets to Lin Hao. He thought giving them to Zhou Rong was a complete waste, but as for Lin Hao, even if wasted, at least it wasn't wasted on a love rival, right?

Then Lin Hao and Zhou Rong boarded the train to Guizhou together, embarking on an unknown journey, not knowing what awaited them in Guizhou.

The train clattered along, the carriage filled with the sorrow of parting and anxiety about the unknown journey.

Zhou Rong sat in her seat, her eyes occasionally showing a hint of longing for distant places, but mostly mixed with some confusion.

She turned to look at Lin Hao, sitting not far away, and her curiosity could no longer be contained.

Zhou Rong tilted her head slightly, looking at Lin Hao and asked: "Lin Hao, I'm really curious—why did you choose to go so far to Guizhou for the countryside? This place isn't like around here. The mountains are high and the roads are long, and the conditions must be very harsh."

Lin Hao's heart went "thump." He couldn't reveal the real reason, or Zhou Rong would definitely blow up.

So he quickly thought on his feet and casually made something up, putting on a helpless and bitter expression: "Sigh, Sister Zhou Rong, you know my situation with my brother. We're both orphans with no parents, no one to rely on in this world. No money, no connections at home. At times like this, we can only be arranged to go where no one else wants to go. Unlike those with some family influence, who can pick and choose and take all the good places. We nobodies can only leave it to fate. And so we got sent all the way to Guizhou."

Hearing this, Zhou Rong felt a surge of sympathy. She thought Lin Hao was too pitiful—no parents, and now even his destination in the countryside wasn't his own choice, having to go to remote, harsh Guizhou. Her eyes were full of pity. She quickly stood up, walked to her luggage, and rummaged through it.

Soon, Zhou Rong came over with plenty of food. She put the food on the small table in front of Lin Hao and said enthusiastically: "Lin Hao, come, eat something. It's a long journey. Don't go hungry. Don't be too sad either. Guizhou is far and harsh, but who knows, maybe you'll gain something different once you get there."

Lin Hao looked at the pile of food on the table and wasn't polite. He thought: I went to Guizhou for you anyway. Eating some of your food isn't excessive. So he pretended to be grateful: "Oh, Sister Zhou Rong, thank you. You're really kind. I was worried about what to eat on the way. Now it's all settled."

Zhou Rong smiled and waved her hand: "What are you thanking me for? We're all going to the countryside together. In Guizhou, we might need to look after each other. Don't be polite now."

Cai Xiaoguang, as agreed with Zhou Rong earlier, went to the Zhou Family home on the third day to tell Zhou Rong's mother the reason.

Cai Xiaoguang stood in the Zhou Family living room, his face full of guilt, and said to Zhou Rong's mother: "Auntie, Feng Huacheng, whom Zhou Rong likes, is in Guizhou. She's set on going to Guizhou to find him. I... I actually have always liked Zhou Rong, but Zhou Rong only likes Feng Huacheng. All these years, I've been acting as Zhou Rong's boyfriend on the surface just to fend off suitors, not wanting her to be disturbed. In my eyes, Zhou Rong is great—she can disregard everything for love and go to the mountains of Guizhou. But I also know this matter has made you sad and worried. Auntie, I'm really sorry."

Hearing this, Zhou Rong's mother couldn't stop her tears, choking out: "Xiaoguang, this child of yours—why is she so stubborn? She's gone so far away. How can I be at ease?"

Cai Xiaoguang quickly comforted her: "Auntie, don't worry too much. Lin Hao from next door went with Zhou Rong. They can look after each other on the way. They'll write home often."