Chapter 133: Quick Transmigration: Film & Television Multiverse Chapter 13 — Cai Xiaoguang Arrives

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Protagonist:

Lin Hao

The moment Cai Xiaoguang saw Lin Hao, a look of relief washed over his weary face.

His voice carried a hint of hoarseness as he said, "Lin Hao, I've finally found you. Quick, take me somewhere I can wash up. I'm filthy all over; I can't go see Zhou Rong like this."

Lin Hao, however, frowned slightly. After sizing Cai Xiaoguang up, the corner of his mouth curled into a sly smile. "Brother Xiaoguang, I think going to see Zhou Rong looking exactly like this is the most fitting thing you could do. Think about it — you've suffered so much on the road just to see her, exhausted and covered in mud. Isn't that the perfect way to let her see your sincerity? If you clean yourself up all nice and neat now, that feeling would be gone."

Hearing this, Cai Xiaoguang froze for a moment, then pondered Lin Hao's words and felt they made some sense. He nodded. "Hmm, what you say seems right. Then... I'll listen to you."

So Lin Hao led Cai Xiaoguang into the village. Before long, they reached the area near where Zhou Rong lived.

Lin Hao called out toward the house, "Sister Zhou Rong, come out and see who's here."

Zhou Rong was spacing out inside. Hearing Lin Hao's shout, she walked out unhurriedly.

The moment she saw Cai Xiaoguang — his face weary, body caked in mud, hair somewhat disheveled — a flash of surprise lit up her originally dull eyes, followed immediately by a visibly moved expression.

Looking at Zhou Rong like that, Cai Xiaoguang's heart ached. He called out softly, "Zhou Rong..."

Zhou Rong snapped back to her senses and hurried forward. "Cai Xiaoguang, how... how did you end up like this? Quick, come inside, come inside and talk."

As she spoke, Zhou Rong ushered Cai Xiaoguang into the house, then nimbly fetched a basin of hot water and set it before him. "Xiaoguang, you freshen up first."

Lin Hao watched from the side, secretly amused, feeling his idea had really hit the mark.

Afterward, he tactfully turned and walked to the next-door house to call Zhang Xueqin away.

After walking out of the courtyard, Lin Hao stopped under the big tree at the doorway and began scheming.

Tomorrow is Lunar December First. If we go home together with Zhou Rong and Cai Xiaoguang now, it's a bit too early. After all, in no era is there a month-long holiday for the New Year.

Sure enough, about an hour later, Zhou Rong and Cai Xiaoguang walked out of the house with anxious urgency, looking around for Lin Hao.

The moment they spotted Lin Hao, Zhou Rong hurried over. "Lin Hao, we're planning to go home today. Do you want to come back with us?"

Lin Hao laughed inwardly, thinking: "Just as I expected."

But aloud he asked, "Can you get leave approved? Will the village agree to let you go?"

Hearing the words "request leave," both Zhou Rong and Cai Xiaoguang froze instantly.

Zhou Rong's face turned pale. She grabbed Lin Hao's arm, her expression frantic. "Lin Hao, my mother is sick, seriously sick. I have to rush back to see her. You're close with the Party Secretary — please put in a good word, help me get leave. Please, I beg you."

Cai Xiaoguang chimed in from the side. "Yeah, Lin Hao. Zhou Rong's mother is ill; she misses Zhou Rong so much her eyes are nearly ruined from crying. She's just hoping Zhou Rong can come back."

Hearing that Zhou Rong's mother was ill, Lin Hao was also startled. A scene from the original plot instantly flashed into his mind — there seemed to be exactly such a segment.

He thought briefly, looking at Zhou Rong's anxious, worried appearance, then at Cai Xiaoguang's eager, hopeful eyes. In the end, he nodded. "Alright, since it's like this, I'll go try to help you get leave. But I can't guarantee it'll work."

Lin Hao knew clearly that to smoothly secure leave for Zhou Rong and Cai Xiaoguang, words alone wouldn't cut it — some "concrete action" was needed.

So he turned to Cai Xiaoguang and said, "Brother Xiaoguang, do you have money? Give me some. And the wine and cigarettes you brought — hand those over too."

Cai Xiaoguang immediately understood Lin Hao's meaning. He hurriedly fished out fifty yuan from his backpack, took out the several bottles of wine and packs of cigarettes he'd prepared, and handed them to Lin Hao.

Cai Xiaoguang had also brought some cured meat and malted milk essence and such, but Lin Hao didn't take those — he left them for Zhou Rong to eat.

Lin Hao nimbly wrapped these things carefully in a cloth bag, tied the mouth tight, then carried this bundle of "treasures" toward the Village Party Secretary's house.

Arriving at the Village Party Secretary's house, Lin Hao first politely knocked. Hearing the Secretary's voice from inside — "Who is it? Come in." —

Lin Hao pushed the door open and entered.

The Village Party Secretary was sitting at the table inside, notebook in hand, recording something. Seeing it was Lin Hao, he set down the notebook and said with a smile, "Yo, Lin Hao. What brings you here today? Got something going on?"

Lin Hao stepped forward, pulled over a stool, sat down, and earnestly explained Zhou Rong's mother's illness in detail, finally asking if leave could be granted for them.

Hearing this, the Village Party Secretary's brow furrowed instantly. He shook his head repeatedly. "That won't do, Lin Hao. Year-end is right around the corner; the team is at its busiest. Everyone has work to do. If he leaves, who's going to do the team's work? As Party Secretary, I have to consider the collective's interests. So this leave — I can't approve it."

Seeing the Secretary refuse, Lin Hao didn't panic. He smiled faintly, unhurriedly lifted the cloth bag from beside his feet onto the table, opened it, and took out the wine and cigarettes one by one, setting them on the table. "Secretary, I know you're in a tight spot. But the situation is special, isn't it? And I have an idea — hear me out."

The Village Party Secretary eyed the items on the table, his eyes brightening slightly, but he still feigned severity. "Lin Hao, what are you doing? Bringing these things won't work. I have to follow the rules. But go on, tell me your idea."

Lin Hao continued, "Secretary, it's like this. During the time Zhou Rong is gone, although she won't be working, she can subsidize the village fifty cents a day. Think about it — that's equivalent to the village saving one person's work points and earning an extra fifty cents a day. Inside and out, that's practically worth two laborers. What do you think?"

Hearing this, the Village Party Secretary began calculating on his fingers. He felt Lin Hao's words actually made some sense, and his expression gradually softened.

Seeing the Secretary wavering, Lin Hao struck while the iron was hot. "Secretary, there's another thing. I want to go back with them too. Is that okay? I have some matters to handle back home; I'll come right back after the New Year."

Hearing Lin Hao also wanted to leave, the Village Party Secretary shook his head like a rattle drum. "No way, Lin Hao. It's year-end, the weather's freezing, and sick people are clearly increasing. If you leave, what happens if someone in the village gets a headache or fever?"

Lin Hao smiled unhurriedly. "Secretary, don't worry about that. I have a proposal. When I return after the New Year, I can take one of your kids as an apprentice and teach him all my medical skills. How about that?"

The Village Party Secretary's eyes widened. "Oh? Really? You're willing to teach my kid medicine?"

Lin Hao nodded. "Of course, Secretary. My word is my bond. I've also prepared several dozen packets of medicine, each labeled for specific ailments. I'll leave them here with you. If anyone in the village catches a common illness, they just take the medicine. If the medicine doesn't work, they can only go to the Commune. See? That should put your mind at ease, right?"

The Village Party Secretary listened to Lin Hao's proposal and felt it was indeed a good method.

He nodded and finally said, "Alright, Lin Hao. I'll agree to let you all go back. But you must remember — come back early after the New Year."

Lin Hao hurriedly said, "Yes, rest assured, Secretary. I'll definitely come back early."

With that, Lin Hao happily left the Village Party Secretary's house and went back to tell Zhou Rong and Cai Xiaoguang the good news.