RYEY -Chapter 279 Everyone’s Leaving (Part 2)

“You know, so what? What does that have to do with you?”

“Did you eat gunpowder today or something? Why are you like this?”

“Nothing… I just felt bad thinking that once Dr. Ye leaves, there will be no doctor here.”

“You’re silly. Cheng Qiao isn’t a doctor—she’s Dr. Ye’s apprentice, personally trained by him.”

“Oh right, I almost forgot.”

Cheng Qiao’s expression darkened a little. She could only serve as a doctor for a limited time—at most half a year. It seemed that in the future, Xiangyang Village would need to find someone who truly understands medicine for its clinic.

Li Huan thought about the same issue. Unfortunately, doctors aren’t as easy to find as cabbages; it would take time to scout one out.

Watching the bluish smoke from the cart disappear into the twilight, Cheng Qiao’s fair cheeks revealed deep dimples, which, in the glow of the setting sun, seemed to radiate a strange vortex of charm.

Over the following week, Zhu Qingde also received his appointment letter, surprisingly recommended by Ye Jun. Zhu Qingde’s ancestors came from a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners; if it weren’t for Yuan Mengzhi, he would never have been sent here.

Early in the morning, Yuan Mengzhi put on a qipao she had treasured for years. Although streaks of white ran through her black hair, it did nothing to diminish her beauty. Seeing his wife so boldly glamorous, Zhu Qingde felt hopeless.

“We don’t even know whether the road ahead will be good or bad, and you’re flaunting yourself like this! Aren’t you afraid of getting us sent to the remote northwest?”

Fear flashed in Yuan Mengzhi’s eyes. After a moment of hesitation, reluctantly, she changed out of the qipao and into homespun clothes and pants, letting her hair down to return to the appearance of a common farmer.

When Xiao Aiqin saw Yuan Mengzhi dressed so elegantly earlier, a hint of admiration appeared in her eyes. All the hardship over the years hadn’t made Yuan Mengzhi give up her longing for beauty. For that alone, she admired her.

“Mengzhi, I made these egg pancakes for you. Take them on the road. And here’s some money—always good to have some saved for travel, even if you come from a poor home.”

Because Zhao Guoliang had been quietly hunting with Li Huan and Cheng Qiao had always been secretly supporting them, they were not short of food or money.

Zhu Qingde’s eyes moistened. His wife often criticized Xiao Aiqin for being rustic or unrefined, yet he understood that she was just modest, keeping her talents low-key.

As it was now, making a dozen egg pancakes would require a considerable amount of grain and eggs, not to mention the five large notes—something they couldn’t earn in a year through hard work alone.

Yuan Mengzhi was stunned. She looked at Xiao Aiqin in disbelief. How could anyone be so generous, giving away food and money when everyone was about to part ways, uncertain if they’d meet again?

“Why are you doing this?”

Unable to comprehend it, Yuan Mengzhi decided to ask directly.

“We’ve lived under the same roof all these years. There are certain affections between people. My husband and I sincerely wish you both a brilliant future ahead.”

“Thank you, Comrade Xiao Aiqin. You’re a good person. I apologize for my earlier rudeness.”

Yuan Mengzhi bowed politely to Zhao Guoliang and Xiao Aiqin, her apology sincere and heartfelt. Seeing her humility, Zhu Qingde’s expression softened considerably.

The two of them lifted their large suitcases and left the cowshed. Uncle Niu sat on the cart, glancing sideways at them. Zhu Qingde immediately understood Uncle Niu’s intention and hurriedly bowed in thanks.

Yuan Mengzhi took ten yuan from her pocket and handed it to Uncle Niu. “Uncle Niu, I used to default on payments out of foolishness, but now I’m making it right. Thank you for all the help and care over the years.”

Uncle Niu raised an eyebrow. Even a capitalist miss understood human affairs; years of hardship hadn’t been wasted.

The ox cart slowly moved forward.

At the village entrance, Li Huan stood under a tree holding an envelope and a package. Seeing Zhu Qingde approach, he handed them over.

The envelope contained their earnings for the year converted into money and vouchers, along with recommendation and appointment letters. The package contained personal belongings kept by Chen Weidang when they first arrived, untouched.

“Thank you, Village Chief. And thank you, Comrade Chen Weidang. Meeting you has been the greatest blessing of our lives.”

Li Huan nodded. Indeed, in another place, they might not have even received back such a small package.

They climbed onto the ox cart, though Uncle Niu didn’t let the ox leave immediately. Instead, he lit a cigarette and smoked with Li Huan. Zhu Qingde’s heart tightened—could something be wrong?

Soon, sisters Xiao Ping and Xiao Qin arrived, dragging a large suitcase and carrying baskets on their backs, hurrying along.

Seeing Uncle Niu still there, they breathed a sigh of relief. They had been ready to leave for some time, but having grown attached to the youth workers, their departure had been delayed.

“You’re leaving too?”

Yuan Mengzhi looked at their youthful faces and asked. Xiao Ping, more lively, nodded happily upon receiving her recommendation letter from Li Huan.

Their parents had also received the news, rushing ahead to secure jobs in the city for the sisters. Once their work was confirmed, they were hurriedly called back home.

“Your parents are wonderful.”

Yuan Mengzhi felt a pang of envy. She had thought her own parents were good, but at the crucial moment, they abandoned her and fled with the family fortune to Gangcheng. It was deeply disappointing.

The ox cart finally started moving. Li Huan waved goodbye. This farewell would probably be for life—except for Zhu Qingde, who was to be taken by Uncle Ye.

Jiang Guangrong and a few others stood at the youth workers’ point, watching the two young girls’ figures slowly fade away. Their hearts were heavy; with everyone leaving, where would they go?

Qian Longkun smiled, taking a few books from his bag. He explained that the college entrance exam was being reinstated, so they needed to start revising. If they passed, the acceptance letter could be their ticket out of Xiangyang Village.

Han Chunmei and Zhang Yuefang were startled. To keep the secret, they had been studying quietly at school and never mentioned the exam at the youth worker base. How did Qian Longkun know?

“How do you know?”

Jiang Guangrong didn’t take the books from Qian Longkun, but asked in confusion. The college entrance exam was something from years ago; he was close to forgetting.

“My parents wrote to me. They heard that the exam might be reinstated, so they sent these books for us to review.”

“Qian Longkun, if that’s true, you are a lifelong good brother to me, Jiang Guangrong.”

To share such a huge benefit openly showed his broad-mindedness. Han Chunmei and Zhang Yuefang blushed but had no choice—they couldn’t betray Cheng Qiao.