After a full day on the train followed by a ride on a tractor, Lin Yiqiao was finally subdued.
The bumpy mountain road seemed endless, and with every jolt of the tractor, she felt like throwing up the sugary drink she’d had on the train.
Su Min handed her water while patting her back. “Yiyi, hang in there a little longer. We’re almost there.”
Lin Yiqiao took a big gulp and wiped her mouth.
“Pfft, this is nothing. No matter how tough or tiring it gets, I’m determined to support Nanping.”
She fought back the nausea, drinking water continuously. With so many eyes in the troupe watching her, if she showed any sign of weakness, she’d immediately be swapped out for logistics duty.
She hadn’t forgotten why she was here.
The tractor chugged forward like an old ox. It was the team’s treasure, and they wouldn’t have brought it out if not for the many female comrades in the cultural troupe.
Lin Yiqiao leaned against the tractor’s edge, her carefully styled side ponytail from the morning now tousled by the wind. The cool breeze blowing from the valley brushed against her face, bringing some relief.
South Mountain was a small county town built in the mountains, forced into a large-scale relocation due to a landslide.
The tractor stopped in front of the support tents. Lin Yiqiao got off, took out a small mirror, and tidied her hair.
A simple, honest-looking man stepped forward and shook hands with Chu Qing.
“Comrade Chu, hello. I’m Liu Guodong, the brigade leader of Shiqiao Commune. Thank you for coming all this way to perform for us. The folks here have been looking forward to the show.”
“You’re too kind, Brigade Leader Liu. It’s our duty.”
Chu Qing wasn’t much of a talker and struggled to handle the warm, sincere locals.
Lin Yiqiao didn’t want to steal her spotlight either, so she quietly observed from the side.
South Mountain had just completed its relocation, and there was still a lot of construction work to be done. Many locals had been left disabled by the landslide, and rebuilding houses and planning farmland were massive tasks.
From time to time, soldiers from the army passed by, each carrying bricks or lumber.
Just as she was searching for a certain someone’s figure, Su Min grabbed her arm.
“Hurry up, Yiyi! There’s food.”
At the mention of food, Lin Yiqiao forgot everything else and dashed after the rest of the cultural troupe.
Conditions were limited, and the food in South Mountain wasn’t great.
A dry, hard mixed-grain cornbread bun paired with a bowl of watery porridge with barely any rice—Lin Yiqiao frowned as she sipped the porridge.
At least give us some pickles.
Having indulged in lavish feasts back in Beidu, she’d grown picky and forgotten the days when there was no food. The locals had already offered their best.
Lin Yiqiao sighed inwardly, noticing that the other comrades in the troupe were also gritting their teeth as they ate, none of them complaining.
She gently tapped the cornbread bun against the table.
Good grief, it was rock-hard. Afraid of being noticed, Lin Yiqiao guiltily tried to stuff it into her mouth.
But as she looked up, her eyes met a man’s gaze.
He wore a military-green uniform, while everyone else had taken off their jackets and made themselves comfortable.
Only he kept his uniform belt tightly fastened, his sleeves rolled up to reveal his wrists. His skin looked even darker, a sign he’d been working hard.
He was also eating cornbread buns, paired with plain water.
Her heart raced—not for any other reason, but pure fear.
In her panic, Lin Yiqiao took a big bite of the cornbread bun, only to find her jaw stuck when she tried to chew.
Her tooth was wedged!
This darn tooth—Lin Yiqiao was on the verge of tears.
She didn’t dare look at the man, but from the corner of her eye, she could still feel Qi Jun’s gaze lingering on her.
Su Min, who was sitting beside her, noticed something was off. “What’s wrong, Yiyi?”
“Stuck…” Lin Yiqiao whimpered, wishing she could vanish into thin air.
“Don’t panic. Try moving slowly, and don’t pull too hard. Be careful not to accidentally pull out a tooth,” Chu Qing advised patiently from the side.
“Mhm…”
Following her suggestion, Lin Yiqiao moved slowly and finally managed to free the steamed corn bun.
Seeing everyone staring at her, she closed her eyes briefly.
“It’s fine now, I got it out. I was eating too fast. Everyone, please go ahead and eat,” she said with a faint smile.
At that moment, she caught a glimpse of Qi Jun standing up without even glancing her way, already clearing his own bowl and chopsticks.
Oh no.
Lin Yiqiao lightly touched her flushed cheeks with her small hand.
Your thick skin is better than anything.