Chapter 59: Farm System of the Sixties (25)

"Boom—clatter!"

Xie Yang kicked the person riding the bicycle off.

With no one to steer it, the bicycle crashed straight into the large locust tree at the entrance of the alley.

The young man who had fallen to the ground scrambled up while cursing, walking toward Xie Yang with a fierce glint in his eyes, but before he could get close, he was kicked several meters away by Xie Yang again.

Passerby: "..."

The middle-aged woman who had caught up, panting: "..."

"Thank you, comrade... Oh my! It's you, young lady!" The middle-aged woman had intended to thank Xie Yang, but upon seeing her face, she was both surprised and delighted, "I finally found you!"

Xie Yang: Huh???

"Young lady, have you forgotten? Last month, during a heavy rainstorm, you brought a child who had fainted from a fever to the hospital. At the time, you paid for his fever-reducing medicine out of your own pocket and even handled his hospital admission procedures. Later, when the child woke up, he kept wanting to thank you, but he didn't know where to find you. It wasn't until two days ago that he went to another city with his family. Before leaving, he left a generous gift in our director's office, entrusting our hospital to pass it on to you. I really didn't expect to run into you here..."

This middle-aged woman was named Zhao Qin, the head nurse of the hospital's internal medicine ward who was about to retire. When Xie Yang had sent the youth to the hospital last time and later transferred him to the ward for an IV drip, it was Zhao Qin who had handled it.

She had a deep impression of this kind-hearted young lady, Xie Yang, so she recognized her the moment they met.

After the public security officers took the short young man who stole the money away, Zhao Qin enthusiastically pulled Xie Yang along, saying she would take her to the hospital to collect the thank-you gift.

Xie Yang confirmed with her repeatedly: "Was that child really taken by his family to live in another city?"

"Yes! That child is also a pitiful one. His parents were originally a technician and a cashier at the Gad Steel Factory here. For some reason, they were going through a divorce last month. Of the two children, one went with the dad and one with the mom. The child you saved is the younger brother, who went with his father. Originally, on that rainy day, he was supposed to leave by train with his father, who was being transferred to work in Heng City, but he probably wanted to be with his mother and snuck back off the train. By the time his father discovered it, the train had already departed. It took quite a while to get to the next station and buy a ticket back. Fortunately, you saved him; otherwise, the child's father would likely have blamed himself for a lifetime. Luckily, after the child fell ill, he had a change of heart and was willing to go live in Heng City with his father. His only wish before leaving was to find you and thank you properly. Oh right, the child seems to have left a letter for you too..."

Amidst Head Nurse Zhao's rambling, detailed explanation, Xie Yang was pulled to the hospital and received the letter the youth had left for her.

Opening the envelope, several large-denomination bills fell out; it was the medical expenses being returned to her.

Unfolding the letter paper, the immature yet neat handwriting came into view—

First, it expressed his gratitude toward her;

Second, it briefly explained the reason why he had fainted in the alley that day;

Finally, it left his father's address at his workplace in Heng City and invited her to visit his home if she ever had the chance to go to Heng City.

The signature left his full name: Lin Xi.

After reading the letter, Xie Yang breathed a sigh of relief.

This youth named Lin Xi should be considered to have escaped the fate of the original world, right?

Lin Xi and his father left a generous thank-you gift; there were two cans of Malt Extract alone, along with some food and daily necessities that required ration coupons to purchase.

Xie Yang originally didn't want to accept them, but she couldn't resist the director smilingly stating that the other party had entrusted them to him, and not accepting them would mean his task wasn't completed, so she had to accept everything on the list.

However, when she went to the Post Office to send things to her aunt, she also sent a package to Lin Xi.

In addition to the same braised Pork, lard, spring bamboo shoots, and a few catties of dried vegetables and mushrooms she had recently dried as she sent to her aunt's house, she also spent points in the "Limited Time Purchase" column to redeem a jar of Honey, a string of Chinese sausage, and a strip of cured pork belly, just as a return gift for those expensive food items.

At the same time, she also wrote a reply letter to Lin Xi, explaining the origin of these items in the letter, stating that they were all things she had found in the mountains, including the meat, which was wild boar meat distributed by the Brigade, not bought with money. Sending him to the hospital before was just a small favor, and she told him not to take it to heart.

Finally, she urged him to study hard and make progress every day no matter when or where, as knowledge is the only thing that others cannot take away from you.

After writing it and reading it through once, she sent it out since there were no issues.

After sending the items, she took the opportunity to ask the Post Office staff if there was any mail for her.

As it turned out, there was no letter, but there was a money order. Looking at the address, it was actually sent by her scumbag father. Although it was only 5 yuan, it was quite rare, wasn't it?

Xie Yang raised an eyebrow, but since it had already been sent, she might as well take it.

She collected the money and then wrote a letter to her aunt, asking if she knew why her cheap father had suddenly sent her a money order, and incidentally explained the origin of the braised Pork and lard.

Coming out of the Post Office, Xie Yang didn't see Zhao Wanqing at the ox cart gathering point. When she returned to the Black Market Alley to look, she was indeed still there peddling Bok Choy.

"..."

Xie Yang watched silently for a long while.

Until—

"Ah! Why is it so late!"

Zhao Wanqing sold the last bundle of Bok Choy and only then realized it was 3:30. She patted her forehead in annoyance and stomped her feet in a rush.

"Oh no, oh no! The ox cart must have left! What do I do! What do I do!"

What else could she do?

Walk back.

Zhao Wanqing hurried out of the Commune, half-running.

Xie Yang followed far behind.

When Zhao Wanqing walked fast, she walked fast too.

When Zhao Wanqing was so tired that she stopped to pant, she stopped to look at the scenery, drink some warm water, and eat a White Rabbit Candy.

Fortunately, the rain had stopped at some point; otherwise, it would have gotten dark faster and the mountain road would have been even harder to walk.

Finally, they arrived near the Majiagou Brigade.

A three-way intersection appeared ahead, with three small paths crisscrossing to lead to the Majiagou Brigade, Qianjin Brigade, and Yuewan Brigade respectively.

The first one to pass was the intersection for the Majiagou Brigade, further ahead was the Qianjin Brigade, and finally the Yuewan Brigade.

At this moment, a burst of dog barking faintly drifted from the direction of the Majiagou village.

Zhao Wanqing was anxious and scared, but the more scared and anxious she was, the easier it was for things to go wrong.

When passing the Majiagou intersection, she accidentally slipped and fell off the roadbed.

Below the roadbed was a creek. It was the spring season with abundant rainfall, so the creek was full of water, flowing with a rushing sound.

Zhao Wanqing's cloth shoes and pants were all soaked, and half of her jacket was also drenched by the rushing creek water.

She was extremely annoyed, and when she looked around helplessly, she discovered a person sitting on a large stone pier by the creek—a young woman with messy hair and a terrified expression.

Xie Yang naturally discovered her too. She nimbly jumped off the roadbed and arrived at the large stone pier ahead of Zhao Wanqing.

At the same time, she summoned the Main System: Quick! Help me check, it wouldn't be another unlucky person that Zhao Wanqing is about to take into the Farm Space, right?

Upon hearing that there were points to be earned again, the Main System dutifully began searching for the woman's life history for Xie Yang:

【Fu Rongrong, 17 years old, a member of the Third Production Team of the Qianjin Brigade. Huh... isn't this the woman who will jump into the river to commit suicide on August 10th and be saved by Zhao Wanqing, only to be taken into the Farm Space?】

Xie Yang: "..."

She knew it!

【Host, System has found it! Fu Rongrong came to the Majiagou Brigade today to visit her sick aunt. On her way home, she encountered Zhao Sande, a notorious hoodlum of Majia Gully, who dragged her into a small grove with evil intentions, but she managed to escape. She should be calming herself down right now and will be heading home soon.】

"..."

The System is not human after all and lacks human emotions and desires.

Xie Yang, however, thought further ahead.

Although Fu Rongrong was not violated by the hoodlum, there is no guarantee that someone didn't witness her being dragged into the small grove and nearly raped, and perhaps even spread it around with a big mouth, and spread it in a very ugly way.

That hoodlum might even use this wave of gossip to shamelessly force Fu Rongrong to marry him, which is why the attempted suicide by jumping into the river happened later.

Ultimately, it is because today's matter was not resolved properly.

Xie Yang bent down slightly and reached out a hand toward Fu Rongrong: "Do you want revenge?"

Fu Rongrong: "..."

Zhao Wanqing: "..."