Yan Jinghong
There were five bandits. The leader was tall and burly, with a full beard and a long scar running diagonally from the corner of his left eye down to his chin, cutting across his entire face. This made his already ugly features appear even more menacing.
Such a distinctive appearance made him easy to identify.
Jiang Taohua stood up and walked toward the rear carriages.
She searched through seven or eight carriages before finally spotting her target in the last one—the bandit leader, the man with the scarred face.
To avoid drawing attention, his four underlings were scattered around the carriage. Upon closer observation, they occasionally exchanged glances with one another.
Jiang Taohua glanced at her watch. It was 8 p.m., and in two minutes, they would make their move.
This was the time when people were most relaxed and fatigued, their guard at its lowest.
Jiang Taohua lowered her gaze. The pockets of the scarred man and his companions bulged conspicuously. From the shapes, she deduced they were daggers prepared for the crime.
Her heart raced with excitement as she pretended to casually approach the scarred man and his group.
“Nobody move! This is a robbery!!”
Suddenly, the five of them sprang into action simultaneously, pulling out the daggers hidden in their pockets. The blades gleamed coldly under the light.
They snarled threateningly, “Hand over all your money. If anyone dares to resist, I’ll kill you.”
The five quickly took control of the carriage. The passengers turned pale with fear, trembling uncontrollably.
One of the bandits, particularly hot-tempered, kicked the seats forcefully and shouted at everyone, “Hurry up! Don’t you dare dawdle!”
To save their lives, the passengers shakily reached into their pockets, preparing to hand over their money.
Just then, Jiang Taohua suddenly spoke up, “In broad daylight, under the clear sky, you dare to commit armed robbery? Pah! How shameless!”
Damn.
The bandits were taken aback. There was actually a fearless little woman among them.
Seeing their grim expressions, Jiang Taohua felt a surge of joy and decided to provoke them further.
“I won’t let you villains succeed. Go ahead and kill me if you dare!”
She let out a breath, finally finishing her lines. Though the words sounded rather foolish, she wanted to die and couldn’t care less about that.
Seeing the bandits’ faces contort as if constipated, Jiang Taohua felt reassured. She closed her eyes, stretched her neck, and assumed a fearless posture.
As the bandits approached her with their daggers, the sound of a scuffle suddenly reached Jiang Taohua’s ears.
Sensing something amiss, she opened her eyes to see two tall, handsome young men engaged in a fierce struggle with the five bandits.
Their movements were swift and precise, clearly the work of seasoned martial artists. Their strikes were ruthless, each one aimed to incapacitate.
The five bandits were forced into retreat, quickly losing the upper hand.
Jiang Taohua couldn’t help but gaze in admiration. Who would have thought that in the 1970s, there could be men this good-looking?
Their stunning and eye-catching appearances were nothing short of mesmerizing.
While her mind wandered, the two young men had already securely tied up the five bandits. The train attendants and police officers arrived promptly.
“Hey, are you alright?”
One of the young men lazily tucked his hands into his trouser pockets, his half-smiling expression carrying an air of nonchalance.
“I’m fine. Thank you.”
Jiang Taohua felt annoyed inside. She had almost made it back to the modern world just now, but out of politeness, she had to thank the person.
The two men followed the train attendant, escorting the robber away. The attendant still needed to get more details from them about what exactly had happened.
Suddenly, it dawned on Jiang Taohua—he was Yan Jinghong. If she was the female supporting character in the book, then Yan Jinghong was the male supporting character.
The difference between the two was that the female supporting character met a tragic end, while the male supporting character lived safely and soundly into his eighties.
Truly, the fates of supporting characters vary widely.
…
After two days and nights of bumpy travel, the train finally stopped at Wangcai City Railway Station. Wen Shunu tugged at Jiang Taohua, and the two were swept off the train by the surging crowd.
“Oof!”
Jiang Taohua’s nose tingled as she bumped into the back of the man in front of her.
The man turned around, and their eyes met.
“What a coincidence!”
“It’s you!”
They nodded at each other in greeting before heading toward the station exit.
“Wow, what a handsome man! Taohua, do you know him?” Wen Shunu, carrying bags of all sizes, looked utterly smitten.
Jiang Taohua shook her head. “No, we’ve only met once.”
With great effort, the two finally made their way out of the crowded railway station. Just around the corner to the right was the bus station, making it convenient to catch a ride.
The bus heading to Hualai County was parked against the wall, its door wide open. The driver was nowhere to be seen, and no one knew where he had gone.
Jiang Taohua and Wen Shunu boarded the bus with their luggage. Aside from the two of them, there wasn’t a single person on the bus. They placed their bags on the overhead rack.
They chose to sit in the third-to-last row.
Wen Shunu couldn’t help but complain, “I’m so tired. Traveling is really not easy—my back aches, and my legs hurt. Wuwu, Taohua, I’m so pitiful.”
Like a spoiled child, she rested her head on Jiang Taohua’s shoulder, seeking comfort.
Just then, there was a noise at the bus door. The female protagonist, Jian Mingyue, and the male protagonist, Shen Zhou, walked in one after the other.
The two seemed to have taken an instant dislike to each other. Jian Mingyue chose a seat near the front of the bus, while Shen Zhou chose one at the back.
For a moment, the atmosphere grew awkward.
Suddenly, Jian Mingyue’s inner thoughts drifted over from the front row.
Shen Zhou, you big idiot! Once we’re together in the future, I’ll make you kneel on a washboard every single day. How dare you act all cold and aloof with me!
Shen Zhou—together with her? Was this woman out of her mind?
More and more people boarded the bus, and soon, almost every seat was taken.
“Hey, move it! We want to sit here.”
Jiang Taohua took a closer look and nearly burst out laughing.
Haha, talk about enemies crossing paths—it was the eccentric old lady and her grandson from the train!
Seeing the two of them appear, Jian Mingyue’s face darkened.
This damn old lady just loves picking on me, doesn’t she? She stole my dumplings on the train, and now she wants to steal my seat? No way!
Seeing that Jian Mingyue neither moved nor acknowledged her, the old lady flew into a rage.
She turned her backside toward Jian Mingyue and let out a thunderous fart.
The smell was like spoiled leftovers that had been left out for over ten days. Gagging sounds echoed throughout the bus.
Jian Mingyue turned pale from the stench. She stood up, covering her mouth, and hurried toward the back of the bus.
The old lady lifted her chin proudly, like a victorious rooster.
You little thing, trying to mess with her? Still too green!
With a clear conscience, she pulled her grandson down to sit beside her.
The driver also opened the car door and got into the driver’s seat. The vehicle rumbled to life and began moving slowly forward.
The stench inside the car was too strong, so all the passengers simultaneously opened their windows. The cool breeze from outside blew against their faces, refreshing everyone instantly.
As the car picked up speed, Jiang Taohua glanced at Jian Mingyue and witnessed a scene she would never forget for the rest of her life.
A middle-aged man in his forties was sitting in front of Jian Mingyue.
He spat out of the window, but the wind caught the phlegm and sent it flying backward—landing squarely on Jian Mingyue’s face.