AYLS -Chapter 145

Gu Huayuan left home the day before Lunar New Year’s Eve. Before he left, Lin Qiao packed him some boiled eggs. After all, it was cold, so they could last a while. She still felt a bit reluctant, though.

Then she reminded him to take good care of himself.

Hearing her so earnestly fuss over him, Gu Huayuan couldn’t help but laugh. Really, who was the one who should be worried here?

“You’re spending the New Year alone this year, so just celebrate at Old Xu’s place. Don’t be shy.”

“Who’s shy? My relationship with Zhenzhen doesn’t need formalities,” Lin Qiao replied.

Gu Huayuan nodded. “Your bond is indeed special. Then you need to agree to one more thing for me.”

Lin Qiao eyed him warily. “Why the sudden request? Don’t think you can use my soft heart to get some unfair deal.”

Gu Huayuan smiled. “It’s not anything special. I just hope you’ll stay home and wait for me, don’t go wandering around. When I come back, I want to see you.”

Lin Qiao was speechless. “What kind of request is that? Where would I go if I’m not here? I’m busy every day; who’s wandering around? You take care of yourself first.”

“Then you agree?” Gu Huayuan asked with a smile.

“Agree, agree. Really, you’re so strange,” she said.

Gu Huayuan chuckled, “I just don’t want the little fairy to suddenly fly back to heaven.”

Lin Qiao paused, then felt her face heat up. She cleared her throat, “I won’t, I won’t go back to heaven.”

“Good. Then I’ll take your word for it,” he said, leaning down to kiss her before picking up his bags and leaving.

Once Gu Huayuan left, Sister-in-law Sheng came to find Lin Qiao, inviting her to spend New Year’s Eve at her place.

“Sister-in-law, no need. Zhenzhen and I have already planned to celebrate at her home.”

“Oh… I already told the kids. They were really looking forward to it.” Sister-in-law Sheng looked disappointed, then sighed. “Actually, I’ve always wanted to treat you to a meal. You’ve really done well with our kids.”

Lin Qiao waved her hand embarrassedly. “It’s not because of me. The kids are just good on their own.”

Sister-in-law Sheng said, “Don’t be modest, I know exactly how it is. You don’t know how difficult it was for me and Old Sheng before. Back then, we didn’t consider everything carefully, which made it tough for the kids. Now it’s better; they get along well and work hard every day.”

Lin Qiao replied, “Sister-in-law, I really didn’t do anything. The kids just have good character and figured things out themselves. Honestly, I think you’re the best. You adopted them and let them grow up well. I really admire you.”

Sister-in-law Sheng listened and smiled, a bit wistfully. “The kids haven’t had it easy. When their parents were alive, life wasn’t bad. We just helped a bit. But our abilities are limited, we can’t do more. Some kids back in the old home have no one to care for them. I just hope there won’t be any more wars in the future.”

Though Lin Qiao wasn’t good with history, she knew there would probably still be wars later—but in this game world, she had no idea if there would be battles.

After all, this was a game adapted from a novel.

She asked Fat Cat, who was pretending to be dead.

After Sister-in-law Sheng left, Lin Qiao couldn’t stop thinking about it.

When Su Weizhen came to see her, Lin Qiao was still lost in thought.

Su Weizhen waved in front of her. “What are you thinking about?”

Seeing her, Lin Qiao remembered—Zhenzhen is the protagonist of this novel, and she’s also from the future.

She must know if there would be wars.

Excited, she asked, “Zhenzhen, do you think there will be wars in the future?”

Su Weizhen paused, then replied, “Who knows…”

Hearing that answer, Lin Qiao felt sure wars would happen. Otherwise, Zhenzhen would have reassured her instead of giving such an ambiguous answer.

She worried, “What if there’s a war?”

“Don’t worry, your Gu will be fine,” Su Weizhen reassured her.

Lin Qiao said, “My Gu Huayuan will definitely be fine; I’m worried about everyone else.”

Even Fat Cat said it—her Gu Huayuan was the big boss. Nothing could happen to him; otherwise, the whole world would collapse.

Now Su Weizhen felt a pang of frustration. She knew the ending better than anyone.

“Whether there is a war or not, we can’t change it. So, don’t dwell on it.”

Lin Qiao stood up. “Zhenzhen, I know I can’t change the big picture, but I feel like we can still do something. Remember how we talked about opening the biggest breeding farm? Let’s make that dream come true right here.”

“Ah, why bring that up now?”

“I was thinking, as long as our farm is big enough, we can feed more people. If there’s a war in the future and people lose their lives… at least we could help the families of the fallen. Children without families, injured veterans—we can give them a place to work, a chance to study. The bigger our chicken farm, the more people we can help. Maybe one day it could support thousands, tens of thousands.”

Fat Cat exclaimed anxiously, “You’re crazy! How long would it take to achieve that goal?”

Lin Qiao ignored it, just like before when she played dead and ignored everyone, but now she had sprung into action.

Su Weizhen looked at her. “Your ambitions are huge.”

“Yes, and that’s exactly why we have to work hard,” Lin Qiao said, brimming with determination. She wanted to help more children and the homeless.

As for going back… that could wait. There wasn’t an opportunity anyway.

Lin Qiao didn’t even notice that her longing to return had been gradually shrinking.

She felt the world needed her.

She shared the thought with Fat Cat. Fat Cat said, “You’re overthinking it. The Earth will keep turning even without you.”

Lin Qiao said, “But it might not turn so happily.”

“…”

……

On New Year’s Eve, Lin Qiao spent the evening at Su Weizhen’s house.

Without Gu Huayuan, the holiday felt a little lonely, but Lin Qiao now had a grander dream, so she set him aside.

She spent the next few days busy studying and working.

She pondered how to expand the farm in the new year, making it bigger and bigger.

By the fifth day of the new year, the eggs she had been hoping for finally arrived.

And they were delivered by an old acquaintance.

Lin Qiao never expected that it would be Li Ermei coming with the comrades from the Construction Corps.

After several months, Li Ermei had changed a lot—her hair cut short, tucked behind her ears, hopping down from the car with an energetic stride.

Seeing Lin Qiao, she ran over excitedly. “Xiao Qiao, Xiao Qiao! I came to see you!”

Then she hugged Lin Qiao tightly.

Su Weizhen said, “So many people here, be careful.”

Li Ermei rolled her eyes. “What’s wrong? Are you jealous that I didn’t hug you?”

Su Weizhen: “…want to puke.”

Lin Qiao laughed. “Come on, you just met. Be happy.” She looked at Li Ermei. “Why are you the one delivering the eggs?”

“Of course It’s me! After you left, I was promoted. Now I’m the breeding director at our chicken farm. I’m in charge of hatching chicks. When I heard you needed eggs, I volunteered immediately.”

Lin Qiao asked, “What about Piedan? You’re not looking after him?”

“No need. That kid just roams the farm; everyone keeps an eye on him. He’ll be brought back in the evening.”

Lin Qiao thought this “mom” was pretty laid-back.

Li Ermei didn’t see it as a big deal. Her approach to raising kids, like many others of her time, was rough—she never intended to raise them meticulously under her watch.

As long as they had food and grew up healthy, that was enough.

After catching up, they went together to the logistics office for the handover.

Li Ermei had brought a thousand eggs this time.

All of them were carefully selected breeding eggs.

Director Hao was thrilled and asked about the progress of their farm.

Li Ermei proudly said, “Our farm is now the breeding training base for the entire Construction Corps. Other units come here to learn techniques and swap chicks. Now every unit in the Corps has chickens.”

Director Hao listened, impressed.

Lin Qiao said, “Our farm will definitely grow even bigger than yours.”

Director Hao nodded in satisfaction.

Li Ermei nodded too. “We know, Xiao Qiao. We all recognize your abilities. Everyone still remembers you fondly.”

Director Hao smiled. “Alright, the paperwork’s done. Since it’s rare for you to meet, go ahead and have a gathering first.”

Li Ermei immediately thanked him happily. “Leader, you’re really a great leader—so thoughtful!”

Lin Qiao pulled her outside.

They had lunch at Lin Qiao’s house. Su Weizhen cooked while Lin Qiao helped, and Li Ermei toured the house, clearly envious of how well it was built.

“If only my Old Chen could be transferred here too, the three of us could keep each other company.”

Lin Qiao asked, “Then what about the farm back there?”

Li Ermei sighed. “True, they need me there. I can’t leave.”

Su Weizhen rolled her eyes again. “She’s just saying that on purpose.”

“Hey, Su Weizhen, now that you see this is your territory, you’re starting to bully the honest ones?”

Su Weizhen: “….”

Lin Qiao, feeling a headache, tugged at Li Ermei. “Do you still want to eat? What if Zhenzhen puts extra salt in the dishes—how will you handle it?”

“…” Li Ermei finally cooled down. “I’m not going to argue with you. I’m a magnanimous person.”

Su Weizhen didn’t bother with her either and continued cooking.

While picking vegetables, Lin Qiao asked Ermei about the situation at the Construction Corps.

After being away for a few months, she still couldn’t help but think about it.

Once the topic came up, Li Ermei got excited.

Everything she said was positive.

For example, the chicken farm had expanded, and by the end of the year, it even received praise from the Corps headquarters.

Other regiments had also sent people to visit and learn. Now, raising chickens had become quite the trend.

Moreover, the high-yield soybeans and wheat had begun to be planted on a large scale. By the end of the year, some people even came from the capital to take seeds for research purposes. Everything was looking prosperous.

Hearing that people were taking seeds for research made Su Weizhen and Lin Qiao a little nervous.

Unaware of their feelings, Li Ermei went on to talk about Li Yan. Her belly was big now, and though she looked fragile, she turned out to be quite resilient. Even with her large belly, she could still work.

She was now mainly in charge of logistics but occasionally gave lessons to everyone.

“Oh, and she asked me to deliver this letter to Xiao Qiao and Comrade Gu Huayuan.” Li Ermei pulled an envelope from her crossbody bag.

Lin Qiao took it and, seeing their names on the envelope, decided not to open it—planning to read it together when Gu Huayuan returned.

Curious, Li Ermei asked, “How are things over here with you?”

Lin Qiao and Su Weizhen exchanged smiles. “We’re doing really well here.”

Lin Qiao talked about the local farming situation, the children who had lost their families in the war, and shared her grand ideals.

Li Ermei listened, fascinated, realizing how meaningless her previous efforts had been.

Compared to Xiao Qiao, she had merely picked up what was already available.

Xiao Qiao and Su Weizhen, however, had arrived in a new place, started a new venture, and nurtured even greater ambitions.

“Xiao Qiao, when there’s a chance, I’ll transfer over too and work with you all.”

Lin Qiao was surprised. “Aren’t you doing fine over there?”

“When they don’t need me there anymore, you’ll always need people here, right? Isn’t it better if I come and help you with something big? I’m a mother now too—I want to do something for the children.”

Even Su Weizhen was impressed by her.

She smiled at her.

Lin Qiao felt touched. “Ermei, it makes me really happy that you think this way. We’re comrades with the same ideals. Then let’s wish for an early success in achieving our dreams.”

She reached out her hand, and Su Weizhen and Li Ermei smiled as they placed their hands on top.