“The rice from the zifen will be saved to cook porridge for Uncle. That way Uncle can recover faster. The cakes—each person gets half a piece. The rest, I’ll go ask Granny Li and the others to see if we can exchange for some rice.”
This was the only method he had just thought of to help them survive a few more days. At least, it was worth trying.
The three younger ones nodded with no objections.
They all wanted Uncle (their father) to get better, and they also wanted to have food every day without going hungry.
Xiao Mi was already thinking about whether they might get so lucky again in the afternoon—or maybe tomorrow or the day after—even though she knew today already felt like a dream.
At this moment, Ye Qingning was regretting that she had done a good deed without leaving her name.
If people wanted to thank her, they wouldn’t even know who she was.
Tomorrow morning, she decided, she would “accidentally meet them again.”
Right now, however, she had actually discovered Red Party members.
“Captain, what should we do? The Japanese suddenly imposed strict martial law for some unknown reason. Comrade Liu must be getting anxious,” a bearded man said to the person beside him.
“We don’t have a pass. We can’t cross the river, and we can’t enter the concessions.”
When “Captain” spoke, it was clearly a woman’s voice. However, with her short cropped hair, loose traditional jacket, and dirty face, she looked like a man at first glance.
But upon closer inspection, her features were delicate and refined—clearly a woman.
“Damn it. This stupid pass changes every month, and now they even require addresses and photos. Captain, how about I go create some chaos? You slip in during the confusion?”
“No. That would only tighten security further. We still wouldn’t be able to bring the medicine out.”
“Then what do we do? Comrade Liu must have already prepared the medicine. If we delay any longer, his situation will be dangerous.”
“We must get the message in.”
“I’ll help you.”
Suddenly, Ye Qingning spoke up.
The two crouching in the corner were startled so badly they broke into cold sweat.
“You… you—”
“You weren’t asking for help?”
Shouldn’t they be overjoyed and grateful right now? Why did they look like they had seen a ghost?
“Do you even know who we are?”
“B—” Ye Qingning had not even finished before the Captain covered her mouth.
“Captain, should we silence her?”
Ye Qingning’s fists tightened. She had come to help out of kindness, and this scruffy, bearded ugly man actually wanted to kill her?!
The bearded man sized her up again.
“She’s kind of cute… I can’t bring myself to do it.”
Ye Qingning: Hmph. At least you’ve got some sense.
“Where did this little kid even come from?” the bearded man muttered. “I didn’t even hear her approach.”
“Obviously from my mother’s belly,” Ye Qingning replied.
“You—”
He had no comeback.
The Captain took a breath and asked cautiously, “How much did you hear just now?”
“About everything.”
“What do you mean ‘about’?”
“That you’re going into the concessions to find Comrade Liu and get medicine.”
“…So you heard it all.”
“I’m at fault! My vigilance is lacking…” The Captain slapped her forehead, looking frustrated. “Remember this—don’t tell anyone. Not a single word. If you do, your entire family will be in danger.”
“Okay, I won’t say anything. Where is Comrade Liu?”
“……”
“Don’t ask,” the bearded man said sharply, glaring.
Ye Qingning casually slapped his face away and looked at the Captain instead. “Weren’t you asking for help? I can go into the concessions.”
“No, no. Go home immediately,” the bearded man grabbed her soft little hand. “Otherwise I’ll sell you off!”
“Beard, stop scaring the child,” the Captain said. Then she looked at Ye Qingning. “Why should I trust you?”
“I can’t prove it. You decide yourselves.”
She spread her hands—she wasn’t going to waste effort proving anything.
“We just need you to deliver a message.”
“Captain!”
“No matter whether it succeeds or not, we will wait here for your news.”
“It’s too dangerous inside the concessions. You should wait outside the city for me instead,” Ye Qingning said.
After agreeing on time and location, she left.
Although she looked expressionless, she was secretly delighted.
Back then, her grandfather used to boast that he had helped the BL organization. Now she had helped them too.
“Captain, do you think that kid is reliable?”
“I trust my intuition.”
“But I’m worried Comrade Liu might not even listen to her,” the bearded man said. “Your intuition is usually accurate.”
“…That part slipped my mind,” the Captain admitted.
At this moment, Ye Qingning had already arrived.
She hid her presence in an empty area, used spatial ability, and slipped across the river with a gust of wind, entering the concessions.
“Are you Comrade Liu?” she asked.
It was a small shop selling wooden carvings. A long-haired man was carving wood quietly.
“Looking to buy carvings?”
“I’m looking for Comrade Liu.”
“He’s dead,” the long-haired man replied coldly, as if he were talking about a stray cat or dog.
“Dead?! When?! How?!” Ye Qingning couldn’t accept it. She hadn’t even met him yet.
And he was already gone?
Her first mission… failed?
“Dead means dead. Why ask so many questions?” the man said impatiently, still focused on his carving.
Ye Qingning leaned closer stubbornly. “Then where is the body?”
“Took it away for burial.”
“Then who are you? Why are you here?”
“Who am I?” The man sneered. “You think Comrade Liu is who, and I am who? Didn’t the person who sent you explain?”
He immediately guessed who had sent her.
They had actually sent such a small kid. Clearly, they didn’t value his life at all.
Next time he saw them, he would shave off all their hair and beard.
The bearded man would probably cry about it later.
“You’re really talking in circles,” Ye Qingning muttered.
“Little girl, you walked in here not knowing anything and you’re not afraid of dying?”
“Who exactly are you?” she frowned.
“Are you with Comrade Liu? Then I’ll have to take you back and interrogate you properly.”
His expression suddenly turned dark and hostile as he stood up and walked toward her.
For a moment, Ye Qingning felt like a normal person had suddenly turned into a zombie.
So before he even got close, she instinctively struck.
The man froze—then suddenly burst out laughing.
“Damn, I almost messed up big time!”
He crouched down and waved her over.
Ye Qingning, of course, wasn’t afraid and walked right over.
She felt this man—who was actually quite good-looking—was mentally unstable.
“That look in your eyes… what’s that supposed to mean?” he said. “Tell big brother—where did that dagger come from? How do you have those skills? Which school are you from?”
“You ask too many questions,” she replied.
“Hah? Do you know how many pretty girls beg me to talk more, and I don’t even bother?”
“Then I must be exceptionally pretty,” she said calmly.
“Hahaha… interesting little kid. If I weren’t skilled, your dagger would’ve gone straight into my forehead. How are you going to compensate me?”
“You scared yourself. That was self-defense.”
So this mentally unstable guy… was Comrade Liu?
He looked much younger than the bearded man.