“Yun Zhiqing, you’re way too bold—this was so dangerous!” the team leader frowned at her, clearly disapproving of what she had just done.
“Oh, Team Leader, thanks to Yun Zhiqing’s idea, you really shouldn’t blame her,” someone chimed in.
No one paid attention to what exactly Yunting had done to lure the wild boar toward her, but Yan Zheng seemed thoughtful…
“Yun Zhiqing, thank you. We wouldn’t have known what to do tonight without you!”
Yunting gave an awkward smile. “The wild boar was dealt with because everyone helped. I can’t take credit. Let’s quickly get it down the mountain—if we attract any more big animals, we’ll be in trouble.”
Hearing this, everyone’s hearts tightened.
The image of the earlier confrontation with the boar flashed through their minds, and they scrambled to help lift it and carry it down.
Yang Qingqing came over to support Yunting, but she waved her off. “I’m fine. No need to hold me. Watch this…”
She tried spinning in place, but tripped slightly and fell flat on her face. Yang Qingqing didn’t have time to catch her.
Heavens… she had survived the boar, only to socially die in front of everyone…
“Pfft… hahaha…” Yang Qingqing couldn’t help but laugh.
Yunting got up, giving them a pitiful look with her little eyes.
“Uh… sorry, I really couldn’t help it…”
Feeling defeated, she followed the others down the mountain. Li Zhaodi was carried on a makeshift wooden stretcher made from vines by several male Zhiqing; her injury looked serious.
Yunting thought to herself: the story had veered off in a bizarre direction… In the few memories she had of the original plot, Li Zhaodi didn’t have this scene. Well, it made sense—Yin Jiao had run off because of her—but she didn’t feel responsible, so she didn’t feel guilty.
After a lot of effort, they finally got the western wild boar to the drying yard. It was late at night, and everyone should have been resting, but the weather was hot, and if they didn’t process the meat, it would spoil. Besides, it was meat—so even if it meant working overnight, everyone was happy to help.
Li Zhaodi’s injury required a barefoot village doctor to examine her. He said he couldn’t handle it and she needed to go to the hospital. Late at night, there was no choice—the team leader arranged for a tractor driver to take her, and Li Hongxia and Yin Jiao went along.
Li Hongxia, the female Zhiqing leader, had to go. Yin Jiao didn’t want to, but the team leader reminded her that the injury was because of her own actions—how could she sleep knowing she wasn’t there? Reluctantly, she went. She now felt that Li Zhaodi always looked at her with a dark, menacing gaze, which frightened her.
The village had a headman too, but he was older, so he wasn’t sent to the mountain at night; he was in charge of distributing the pork instead.
By the time the boar was processed and the meat distributed, it was nearly ten at night. After a full day of work, going up the mountain after work, searching at night, and fighting a wild boar… it was exhausting.
Yunting carried a basin of water back to her room and closed the door to enter her space. She now mostly bathed in her space, only keeping a small area in her room for appearances.
She ate a little, washed up, and went straight to bed.
She didn’t even have time to deal with her stored food—she hadn’t been this tired in a long time.
At the hospital, Li Zhaodi’s injury was treated, but the doctor said her leg was badly injured, and she might walk with a limp in the future.
Medical fees cost over seventy yuan, all paid by Yin Jiao, and the team leader said nothing.
“Yin Zhiqing, stay here with Li Zhiqing during her hospital stay. Tomorrow we’ll send you replacement clothes, but we need to leave now.”
“Team Leader, I want to go back too,” Yin Jiao hurriedly said.
“You want to go back? Who will stay? Don’t you understand why Li Zhiqing was injured? How can you even say that?” Li Hongxia didn’t indulge her.
“You… what does it matter to you if I go back?”
“Fine, Li Zhiqing, rest well. We’re leaving now.” The team leader said to Li Zhaodi lying on the hospital bed.
Li Zhaodi’s expression had always been neutral. She looked at the team leader and forced a small smile. “Team Leader, thank you… for your hard work.” Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.
The team leader waved, turned, and left. Li Hongxia followed.
“Team Leader…” Yin Jiao anxiously called, then turned to meet Li Zhaodi’s gaze, her heart skipping a beat.
“Zha… Zhaodi,” she swallowed nervously.
“Yin Jiao… did you act intentionally?” Li Zhaodi’s voice was soft and calm, not angry or hysterical—only sorrowful.
“Zhaodi, I’m sorry. I was too scared at the time… I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“I’ve been by your side since childhood, taking the blame for you, doing chores for you. I accepted that. My fate wasn’t good, I was a servant, but we grew up together, right?”
“Did you ever treat me as someone who grew up with you?”
“I guess… not?” Li Zhaodi said, speaking to herself, not caring whether Yin Jiao answered. She had once treated Yin Jiao as a friend, even if it was one-sided. She cherished their childhood bond, but tonight, it was shattered. Her heart broke. She had never imagined Yin Jiao would push her to block a wild boar…
“Zhaodi, I paid the medical fees. I’ll cover your meals too. Please don’t be angry.”
Li Zhaodi looked at her deeply, then closed her eyes without saying another word.
She would be a cripple from now on—so what? No one really cared anyway…
The next morning, before work, the team leader gave everyone a lesson—the first point being a warning to all Zhiqing.
“From now on, whether villagers or Zhiqing, you’re not allowed to go deep into the mountains. Consequences are your own responsibility!”
“Understood…”
“Alright, get to work!”
“Hey, did you see last night? That female Zhiqing… covered in blood… scary to look at.”
“Really? I didn’t see. I wonder how she’s doing now.”
“Meihua, did the team leader say anything last night about Li Zhiqing’s injury?”
Aunt Meihua knew but didn’t say. “Not yet. She’s in the hospital. You’ll know when she returns.”
The questioning woman pouted, annoyed that she wouldn’t say more.
Aunt Meihua turned to Yunting and quietly whispered, “Xiao Yun Zhiqing, I’ll tell you—Li Zhiqing will probably walk with a limp. The team leader said the doctor said so. Oh… what a pity, such a good girl.”
Yunting froze. Walk with a limp?
The butterfly effect had struck too hard—the original storyline had completely collapsed…