Daily Life in the Countryside After Being Reborn
Chapter 168 - 7: When Foes Meet

Chapter 168: Chapter 7: When Foes Meet

"Xiao Xian, how long has it been since you last rode in Uncle San Gouzi’s car?" Two years as the village secretary, San Gouzi hasn’t changed much, pretty much the same as before. Not so long ago, he was still complaining to the village chief, saying that before he became a secretary, his waist was only two-foot-seven, but after taking the position, his waist size ballooned to more than three-foot-two. But look at San Gouzi now, his waist could rival the old skinny dogs in the village.

"It’s been two years," Xiao Xian thought to herself that she didn’t need any car when she had Little White Jiao, and riding a car would only mean trouble for her butt. Besides, she didn’t like the smell of gasoline. But this time, coming down the mountain was inevitable, she must take a car. She was supposed to ride with Zhuo Feng to Guiyang, then catch an airplane back to Beijing. Listening to Zhuo Feng’s description, Xiao Xian could recall her first trip to Guiyang, the "big bird" she encountered in the sky was probably an airplane.

San Gouzi’s car was newly purchased, upgrading from the original medium-sized truck to a six-seater Dongfeng cargo truck, all shiny and new, even the leather seats inside still reeked of new leather.

That morning, Sister-in-law Lian hadn’t stopped for a moment, moving all the eggs and rice brought by the villagers into the car.

"Unload them, what are you all doing? Xiao Xian and her aunt are rushing for an airplane, and you can’t bring too much on the plane, or they will charge you. Rice is heavy, eggs are easily cracked, just bring what’s necessary, leave the rest behind." village chief Jin Dafu instructed people to take down the rice and eggs. He thought for a moment, went to the field in the front, dug up two mandarin orange trees with the soil still on them, and brought them to Xiao Xian.

"Xiao Xian, you saved these mandarin trees back in the day. We don’t know how the soil and water will treat you in Beijing, but if you aren’t used to it, just return to the village. We can live a good life even without reading. If you get accustomed there and decide to settle down, plant these mandarin trees at your doorstep, and looking at them will be just like seeing Ge Village." Zhuo Feng, witnessing the villagers’ simple behavior, felt a surge of emotion, so he had Xiao Xian bring along those two mandarin trees, figuring worst case, they’d manage the air freight at the airport.

"Is that everything? Old sir, any more words? It’s not important if you don’t speak now because in a short while, I’ll get a phone line up to the town, and not just the village guest house, every household will have a phone. Just place a call to Beijing and hearing Xiao Xian’s voice will be as good as seeing her," San Gouzi checked his watch, planned to leave at nine sharp. The road conditions now were better than before, and they could reach the town in just over an hour.

Villagers made way for the departure party, unlike the chatter amongst themselves, Zhu Shijun stood at the edge of the crowd, watching the villagers’ enthusiasm and the smile on Xiao Xian’s face, uncertain whether he was more happy or heartbroken.

"Grandpa, Xiao Xian is leaving," Xiao Xian stepped forward, and now that she had grown taller over these two years, it was quite difficult for her to be held by her grandfather as when she was six years old. Four years ago, when she arrived in this world, her grandfather was the first person to open his arms and lift her off the ground. Xiao Xian opened her hands, lowered her neck, and whispered into Zhu Shijun’s embrace, her eyes uncontrollably warming with emotion as she spoke.

Sister-in-law Lian and the other women were dabbing the corners of their eyes with their sleeves, while the men kept their heads down, smoking. Grandpa’s mindset at this moment must be quite similar to when he was giving away his daughter in marriage.

After the grandfather and granddaughter said their reluctant goodbyes, Zhuo Feng stuffed her luggage into the back seat of the car. Grandpa took out a neatly folded handkerchief, "Xiao Xian, the things inside this handkerchief, you can give to your aunt after you arrive in Beijing. If they’re useful, you guys can use them." Xiao Xian nodded, as San Gouzi had already started the car, and Zhuo Feng got into the vehicle.

"Wait," Yezi pushed through the crowd, silently relieved that she had barely made it in time.

"Just you left, I thought with Master Shan Yin living so far away, they couldn’t come. How come you, hopping around like a mountain monkey all day, are also missing," Sister-in-law Lian teased playfully, the people in the mountains were simple, and they would never mock any familial relationships between boys and girls.

Yezi, in a rush, took out a red satin-wrapped rectangular box from her hands and handed it over to Xiao Xian, "Take this with you to Beijing, you mustn’t lose it."

Xiao Xian weighed it, feeling puzzled as to why everyone wanted to give her something just before she left. Unable to guess what was inside and thinking the box was small enough to be lost easily, she went ahead and opened it on a whim.

As soon as the box was opened, inside was a white, caterpillar-like Jade Worm, which looked like it might still be alive. Xiao Xian didn’t like insects or snakes, so she was about to return it to Yezi.