Chapter 78: The Butterfly Effect Is Out of Control

Lu Cheng ran quickly over, grabbed the other's thigh in one hand, and affectionately shouted, "Sword Brother."

Liu Zijian had already assumed the stance to jump into the river and was about to launch, when his thigh was suddenly seized, and by inertia he staggered, nearly falling.

"You, who are you?"

"Sword Brother, I'm Ah Cheng."

"What Ah Cheng? I don't know you; let go of me quickly, I still have to rescue Director Tian."

Originally Liu Zijian had followed from the Youth Commune, intending to make an impression before Tian Fuguang, and since the Youth Commune was crowded and the Commune couldn't distribute enough food at once, he thought to first top up his share, then soothe the Educated Youth for Tian Fuguang.

But when he saw Tian Fuguang standing on a stone bridge over a river, with a cow not far away beside him, he instantly changed his mind.

He thought, why not jab a stone into the cow to make it go berserk; if Tian Fuguang fell into the water, he could rescue him and become a lifesaver, which is even better than merely giving him food.

Watching Tian Fuguang flail wildly in the water, Liu Zijian grew frantic; this was the Deputy Director of the Commune Revolutionary Committee, and if he saved him, he would be a lifesaver.

With such a great favor, if Tian Fuguang had a daughter, she might even marry him.

Even if not, he wouldn't have to worry about meals in the future.

Surely they wouldn't let a lifesaver go hungry.

"Director Tian, you must hold on... Hey, let go of me quickly, I'm still waiting to rescue people."

"Sword Brother, don't you recognize me?"

Lu Cheng stalled for time, seeing that big brother still hadn't undone his belt, quickly pulled a pair of scissors from his pocket and tossed them over.

Fortunately, he had prepared in advance.

"Big brother, use the scissors quickly."

Lu Feng was stunned; why was he carrying scissors on his person?

But there was no time to think further; rescuing was urgent, so he picked up the scissors from the ground and cut the rope belt.

At this moment Liu Zijian was so frantic he was about to curse his mother.

"I really don't know you, let go quickly."

"You don't know me, but I know you; you're Liu Zijian, an Educated Youth; my brother is Lu Feng, also an Educated Youth; you two are both Educated Youths, and that's quite a coincidence, all of you are Educated Youth..."

Liu Zijian: "What nonsense, fine, I recognize you now, that's enough, quickly let go of me... Director Tian, you must hold on, I'm coming to rescue you right away."

Liu Zijian shouted while pulling his leg forcefully, but Lu Cheng held him tightly.

"My brother says you come from He Province?"

"Ah, yes!"

"How many people are in your family?"

"Five members."

"How many older sisters, how many younger sisters?"

"Hey, are you checking the household register? Let go quickly, there's no time."

"It's so cold now, put your pants on quickly; if a big girl or a young wife sees you, wouldn't that be embarrassing? Listen, put them on."

"I'm rescuing people, lives are at stake, hey, why am I arguing with you? Let go of me..."

This time even the heavens were on his side; he must not miss the chance.

"Splash." Lu Feng was the first to jump into the river.

Liu Zijian instantly sat on the ground, wanting to cry but with no tears.

Lu Cheng hurriedly said with concern, "Don't cry, Sword Brother; diving to rescue is very dangerous, it could even cost a life. Such risky deeds should be left to others; we must cherish life, safety first."

Liu Zijian sat there, wailing, "You don't know anything, I don't need your concern; it's like a dog catching a mouse, meddling in others' business."

Lao Liu met Lao Liu, and in the end Lu Cheng seized the initiative.

This is like a high-level business war, often using the simplest method: you pour hot water on my money tree, and I'll swap your wealth god with Ultraman.

Looking at big brother Lu Feng, his swimming was decent, and since Director Tian was almost drowned at that point, there was no worry of being pulled into the water; he quickly hauled Tian Fuguang onto the shore.

Qi Baoguo hurriedly called, "Quickly, take Director Tian to the Big Team headquarters; there's a stove there."

Lu Feng stood on the bank wringing the water from his clothes, and Lu Cheng handed over the Cotton-padded Jacket, "Big brother, let's go to the Big Team headquarters; Director Tian has been taken there."

Lu Feng shook his head, "No need to go; as long as the person is rescued, that's enough. I'll hurry home to change my clothes inside. That was really too thrilling just now; it's fine, how did the cow even run over here?"

Lu Feng lifted the Cotton-padded Jacket, about to leave, but Lu Cheng couldn't let him go.

That's how big brother is—sincere and unassuming, truly doing good deeds without seeking credit. Fortunately we live in this simple era; if it were later times, they might even turn around and extort you.

"No, big brother, we still don't know how Director Tian is; whatever the situation, we still need you to help."

Upon hearing that help was needed, indeed big brother's enthusiastic nature resurfaced.

"That works, the Big Team headquarters has a stove; I can conveniently warm my clothes there."

Yushu Gou Big Team headquarters.

Tian Fuguang coughed a few times and slowly woke up, and Qi Baoguo hurried forward, patting his chest, and began wailing with a sobbing voice.

"Director Tian, you finally woke up; you almost scared me to death just now. If you had died, wouldn't our Commune have lost a good leader?"

Even if his parents had died, Qi Baoguo wouldn't have cried this much; it's just a pity that Tian Fuguang, who opposed him, didn't drown directly, and Lu Zhiqing really meddles in others' affairs.

Although Qi Baoguo cried quite sorrowfully, Tian Fuguang remained cold-eyed; if he remembered correctly, it was Qi Baoguo who drove the cow toward him.

At the moment of falling into the water, a comrade originally intended to jump in to rescue him, but seemed also to have been blocked by Qi Baoguo.

The scene was chaotic then; Tian Fuguang, choking on water, was dazed and unsure whether he had seen incorrectly.

"Who just saved me?" Tian Fuguang looked around.

A comrade replied, "It was Lu Zhiqing from our Big Team."

Lu Cheng, leading his big brother over, heard the question and immediately raised his hand, "Director Tian, this way."

"You are Lu Zhiqing?"

Lu Cheng pulled his big brother inside and hurriedly said, "No, Director Tian, Lu Zhiqing is my big brother."

Tian Fuguang waved his hand: "Are you an Educated Youth?"

Lu Feng replied: "Yes, Director Tian, but now I count as half an Educated Youth, half a member."

Tian Fuguang was momentarily confused, Qi Baoguo explained: "Lu Zhiqing has married into our Yushu Gou Big Team."

Tian Fuguang nodded and muttered, "That's a bit of a pity."

If the Educated Youth in the Youth Commune had rescued him, that would be good; it would also allow us to use this opportunity to assign that Educated Youth to work in the Commune, giving a chance for direct dialogue with the Commune and thus indirectly soothing these Educated Youth.

Unfortunately, this Lu Feng only has half an Educated Youth status.

Lu Cheng heard this and thought, "That's not right; the butterfly effect is getting a bit out of control."

"Director Tian, you didn't know earlier, my older brother saw you fall into the water and immediately wanted to jump in to save you."

"But the river is so deep; I'm just this one older brother—what if something happens? I would say, 'Brother, you can't jump. Think of our parents; if you die, they'll have white hair sending a black‑haired person.'"

"Guess what my brother said? 'I'm sorry, little brother. As a Revolutionary Comrade, as a glorious Educated Youth sent to the mountains and countryside, I fear neither hardship nor death. Even if I drown today, I must be rescued; our parents are counting on you.'"

Lu Cheng's words were passionate and stirring, leaving the members stunned.

"Did Lu Zhiqing say that?"

"Who would know? It was chaotic then, but the rescue was genuine."