“Sure, your turn.”
Lin Ranran carefully handed the baby to Ji Junyao.
“Be careful.”
“Okay!”
“The baby’s so adorable!”
“Sister-in-law, your baby will definitely be just as cute.”
Ji Junyao beamed.
Soon everyone lined up, taking turns holding the newborn.
His rosy cheeks and bright little eyes delighted everyone, and laughter filled the entire carriage.
The train gradually slowed before coming to a gentle stop at the station.
Outside, medical personnel had already been waiting with stretchers and an ambulance.
As soon as the train doors opened, they boarded swiftly and efficiently transferred the mother and newborn into the ambulance.
County Magistrate Huang’s eyes were slightly red as he tightly clasped Lin Ranran’s hand once more.
“Sister, when my son is a little older, my wife and I will definitely visit your home.”
“We’ll have him officially acknowledge you as his godmother.”
While chatting with the Ji family earlier, Huang had learned that they were educated youths assigned to Suluo in Bama.
He had already heard that Beijing would be sending educated youths to assist Bama’s development.
Never had he imagined he would meet them personally.
In his heart, he believed Bama’s economy was finally about to flourish.
The people would soon live better lives.
Lin Ranran smiled.
“I’ll be waiting.”
“This is my telephone number.”
“If you run into any trouble after arriving in the village, you must call me.”
“Of course.”
“Brother Huang, then you take good care of Sister-in-law and my godson.”
“Absolutely!”
He nodded vigorously before hurrying after the ambulance.
Watching it disappear into the distance, Lin Ranran couldn’t help smiling.
Now that she had become relatives with the county magistrate, many things in the countryside would surely become much easier.
So… I’ve changed the supporting character’s fate.
Ji Junyao looked at her with eyes full of admiration.
“Sister-in-law!”
“You’re incredible!”
“I never imagined you even knew how to deliver babies!”
Lin Ranran lifted her chin playfully.
“Of course.”
“Your sister-in-law knows lots of things.”
“I’ll teach you little by little in the future.”
The Ji family immediately surrounded her.
The younger brothers praised her nonstop.
“Sister-in-law is amazing!”
“So impressive!”
“You’re practically a miracle worker!”
“All hail Sister-in-law!”
Father Ji stepped forward, his eyes full of approval.
“Well done, Ranran.”
Embarrassed by all the praise, she smiled shyly.
“Stop praising me.”
“If you keep going, my ego will get too big.”
“Tired?”
Ji Junxiao quietly asked as he walked beside her.
“I’m okay.”
“Husband… wasn’t I amazing?”
She smiled brightly.
He nodded with obvious pride.
“You really were.”
Who would have thought that the woman who usually appeared lazy and pampered would display such capability when it truly mattered?
“I’m tired.”
“Help me walk.”
As she spoke, she naturally leaned against him.
Afraid she might fall, Ji Junxiao immediately wrapped an arm securely around her.
Seeing the affectionate scene, the Ji family tactfully looked away.
The carriage lighting was dim.
After all…
They couldn’t “see” anything.
Just then, several railway officials hurried over carrying a silk banner.
Leading them was the passenger service director.
Smiling warmly, he presented the banner with both hands.
“Comrade Lin.”
“This is a token of appreciation from the Railway Department.”
“Thank you for your courageous rescue aboard the train.”
“Thank you.”
Blushing, Lin Ranran quietly stepped out of Ji Junxiao’s embrace before accepting the banner.
Embroidered across it in shining gold letters were the words:
“Saving Lives with Compassion, Showing True Kindness on the Railway.”
The Ji family stood nearby, overflowing with pride.
Their very first day on the journey to the countryside…
And Lin Ranran had already earned such an honor.
Everyone felt it was an excellent omen.
“Sister-in-law is incredible!”
“We should all learn from her!”
Father Ji smiled so broadly his eyes nearly disappeared.
“As expected of my Ji family’s daughter-in-law.”
“She truly has the Ji family’s spirit.”
Madam Ji forgot all about her injured feet.
She hurried over and hugged Lin Ranran tightly.
“Our Ranran is the best!”
Lin Ranran’s cheeks turned crimson from all the compliments.
Yet her heart felt incredibly warm.
She knew…
After this incident…
The Ji family truly trusted her now.
Hidden in the shadows…
Someone quietly observed everything.
The next morning…
That man went to another carriage to make a phone call.
“Please connect me to Commander Pei.”
A moment later…
Pei Yu’an’s furious voice came through the receiver.
“Didn’t she promise she’d make life miserable for the Ji family?”
“How did she end up getting them soft sleeper tickets?”
“She even knows how to deliver babies?”
“She must’ve stepped in dog crap to get this lucky!”
“Is the Railway Bureau blind?”
“They actually awarded her an honor?”
“What the hell is that idiot woman trying to do?”
The man asked quietly,
“Commander Pei…”
“What are your next instructions?”
“Here’s what you’ll do…”
…
Meanwhile…
Ji Junxiao noticed a plainly dressed man in the neighboring carriage.
His military instincts told him the man wasn’t an ordinary passenger.
The man seemed to be secretly watching their family.
Ji Junxiao observed him in return.
But he sensed no hostility.
During the remaining two days of the journey…
The Ji family treasured Lin Ranran more and more.
She had practically become everyone’s favorite.
Whenever she went to the restroom…
Ji Junyao followed right behind her, afraid something might happen.
Lin Ranran felt deeply touched.
She could truly feel the Ji family’s kindness and warmth.
The train finally arrived at Bama Station, Guangxi.
After getting off, everyone transferred to a bus and rode another hour into the county town.
Ji Junxiao noticed that the mysterious man from the train boarded the very same bus.
However…
Once they reached the county…
The man disappeared without a trace.
Ji Junxiao concluded that he had probably been overthinking things.
The production team leader of Suluo Brigade, Yang Zhengyu, arrived to greet them with a single horse.
Looking at the skinny animal, Madam Ji couldn’t help asking,
“Comrade…”
“Are we walking from here?”
“There’s not even an ox cart?”
Captain Yang smiled apologetically.
“Yes.”
“The roads here aren’t very convenient.”
“There’s still another hour of mountain paths before we reach Suluo Brigade.”
“If the pregnant lady gets tired, she can ride the horse for a while.”
“But not the whole way.”
“The horse has to carry quite a lot of supplies too.”
Madam Ji looked worriedly at Lin Ranran.
“My daughter-in-law has never ridden a horse.”
“Will she be alright?”
Captain Yang quickly reassured her.
“Don’t worry.”
“I’ll lead the horse myself.”
“Our horse has a very gentle temperament.”
Father Ji looked around.
“So…”
“Conditions in Suluo Brigade are really this difficult?”
Captain Yang nodded seriously.
“Yes.”
“I never expected the higher authorities to send educated youths all the way from Beijing.”
“Our village’s future depends on all of you.”
Father Ji took a deep breath.
“Then let’s work hard together.”
“We’ll definitely make life better.”
Captain Yang still needed to purchase supplies for the production team, so he asked the Ji family to wait.
Madam Ji looked worriedly at Lin Ranran.
“Ranran.”
“Can you really walk for an entire hour?”
She smiled reassuringly.
“Mom, I’ll be fine.”
“I’m more worried about your feet.”
“They’ve only just started healing.”
Ji Junxiao immediately said,
“We’ll take turns carrying Mom.”
Ji Junyao quickly volunteered.
“I can carry her too!”
Ji Junyong laughed.
“With those skinny little arms?”
“You’ll be lucky if you can carry yourself.”
Ji Junyao puffed out her cheeks.
“Don’t underestimate me!”
“I was the fastest girl in school during long-distance running!”
Madam Ji hurriedly interrupted.
“Enough.”
“I can still walk.”
“You boys should take turns carrying Ranran.”
“If you get tired, let her ride the horse.”
Lin Ranran shook her head.
“Mom.”
“I’m not that delicate.”
“Let’s eat something first and restore our strength.”
“And let’s buy some meat.”
“Once we reach the countryside, it’ll be much harder to eat meat.”
Everyone agreed.
Lin Ranran skillfully wandered through the market in Bama County.
Prices here were noticeably cheaper than in the city.
She had Ji Junxiao accompany her while she carefully selected fresh meat.
She also bought a laying hen…
Several chicks…
And a few ducklings.
Of course…
Her space already contained plenty of these things.
But if she suddenly took them out later…
There’d be no reasonable explanation.
Buying some now would make everything appear natural.
“Ranran.”
“You really think everything through.”
Ji Junxiao couldn’t help praising her.
She smiled.
“I grew up in the countryside.”
“I understand these things.”
“You city people don’t.”
When they returned to the meeting point…
The Ji family stared at the bags in disbelief.
“Son…”
“Since when did you become so good at managing a household?”
Madam Ji exclaimed.
Everyone else was equally stunned.
Back in the city…
Madam Ji had always handled all the household chores.
Who would’ve imagined that Ji Junxiao, who had spent nearly all his time in the military, would know how to shop like this?
Ji Junxiao quickly corrected them.
“Ranran bought everything.”
“I only carried the bags.”
“Sister-in-law?”
Everyone looked toward Lin Ranran in confusion.
The Lin Ranran they remembered…
Only knew how to spend money.
She had never done housework before.
Well…
Except for delivering babies on the train.
Lin Ranran laughed.
“Don’t forget.”
“I was born in the countryside.”
“These things are second nature to me.”
“It’s just that after getting pregnant…”
“I became lazier.”
“And my temper got worse.”
“So that’s why.”
Everyone finally understood.
Captain Yang soon returned with the supplies.
The horse’s back was already piled high with goods.
He struggled to squeeze the Ji family’s purchases on as well.
Everyone stared at the overloaded horse.
The only things that wouldn’t fit were the chicks and ducklings.
Captain Yang finally handed Ji Junyong a shoulder pole.
“You’ll have to carry these yourselves.”
“There’s honestly no more room.”
He looked apologetic.
Madam Ji stared at the horse.
“It can still carry someone?”
Captain Yang smiled.
“Don’t let its skinny appearance fool you.”
“It usually carries three or four hundred pounds without any problem.”
Madam Ji looked sympathetically at the horse.
“Forget it.”
“The poor thing already has enough to carry.”
“You boys should just take turns carrying Ranran.”
“Let’s not burden the horse anymore.”
Captain Yang chuckled.
“Really, it’s alright.”
“Big Brother Ji.”
“Help your wife onto the horse.”
“When the horse gets tired, she can walk.”
Lin Ranran immediately waved her hands.
“I’ve been sitting on the train for days.”
“My backside already hurts.”
“I actually want to stretch my legs.”
“Don’t worry about me.”
Ji Junxiao looked at her gently.
“Then walk for now.”
“When you’re tired…”
“I’ll carry you.”
“Okay.”
She nodded.
Thus…
The group officially began their journey toward Suluo Brigade.
Ji Junxiao and his younger brothers stayed close to Lin Ranran.
Father Ji supported Madam Ji.
Ji Junyong carried the shoulder pole with the chicks and ducklings.
Ji Junyao wasn’t assigned any specific task.
Still…
She secretly resolved to walk all the way on her own.
The mountain road twisted endlessly.
Steep slopes…
Sharp turns…
Rough rocky paths…
After only ten minutes…
Ji Junxiao crouched down in front of Lin Ranran.
“Come on.”
“I’ll carry you.”
She smiled and shook her head.
A little over ten minutes later…
Seeing her breathing slightly harder…
He tried again.
She still refused.
Only when they reached particularly steep climbs or dangerous descents did she obediently allow him to support her.
The two leaned on each other as they walked steadily forward.
After half an hour…
Everyone’s feet began aching.
Many had already developed blisters.
Madam Ji suffered the most.
Her injured feet had only just healed.
Cold sweat covered her forehead from the pain.
Lin Ranran was beginning to struggle too.
The baby inside her seemed increasingly heavy with every step.
She couldn’t help worrying.
If she kept walking like this…
It might affect the baby.
Ji Junyao was equally exhausted.
She had never imagined such a short mountain trail could be even more tiring than running several kilometers at school.
Captain Yang noticed everyone’s fatigue.
“Let’s rest for a while.”
“The horse should eat some grass too.”
The three women sighed with relief and quickly sat down.
While they rested…
Father Ji chatted with Captain Yang.
“Captain Yang.”
“Were there many bandits around Bama before?”
Captain Yang’s expression grew serious.
“There used to be quite a few.”
“A few years ago, one gang hid deep in the mountains.”
“They constantly came down to rob the villagers of grain and valuables.”
“They knew the terrain well.”
“They were extremely difficult to deal with.”
“One time…”
“They targeted supplies our village was transporting to the county.”
“The villagers fought back together.”
“But we still suffered heavy losses.”
“Later…”
“The army joined forces with the local militia.”
“After many dangerous battles through the mountains…”
“They finally wiped the entire gang out.”
“Only then could the villagers finally live in peace.”
Father Ji nodded thoughtfully.
“That couldn’t have been easy.”
“Thanks to both the soldiers and the villagers.”
Captain Yang sighed.
“Exactly.”
“Although the bandits are mostly gone now…”
“This place is still very poor.”
“If we want to develop it…”
“Everyone has to work together.”
After resting for a while…
The group resumed their journey.
But after barely another ten minutes…
The three women could hardly move.
“Honey.”
“Come up.”
“I’ll carry you.”
This time…
Lin Ranran didn’t refuse.
She obediently climbed onto Ji Junxiao’s back.
Leaning close to his ear, she whispered softly,
“Thank you for your hard work, Husband.”
Her warm breath brushed against his ear.
It instantly turned bright red.
He unconsciously swallowed before answering hoarsely,
“It’s no trouble.”
Her smile grew even brighter.
“My husband is the best.”
With everyone watching…
Could they maybe—
Be just a little less affectionate?
…Though somehow…
Watching them made everyone’s hearts feel strangely warm.