Chapter 7

Lu Zhiyao was standing with a few people when Bai Shuishui squeezed her way over, just in time to hear Lu Zhiyao say with a smile to the two children, “We’re taking the train tonight. Mommy will take you over there to have a steaming hot bowl of noodles.”

“We’ll go ride the train with full bellies.”

Hearing this made the two children jump for joy, and the three of them headed straight for the noodle stall.

Bai Shuishui was startled when she heard this—if Lu Zhiyao made it to the army unit before her, what would she do?

No, no, no!

She had only just returned from leave two days ago and was supposed to stay for another three days, but now she couldn’t afford to wait any longer.

Panicking, Bai Shuishui rushed into the train station and bought a ticket for the same evening train—they were on the exact same route.

There were still a few hours before departure, but Bai Shuishui couldn’t care less what Lu Zhiyao and the kids were planning to do. She rushed back home in a frenzy.

As soon as she got home, she began packing her luggage. Just as she was almost finished, Bai Dahai and his wife came back from the fields.

They had gone out to work that morning.

Seeing Bai Shuishui, they were about to ask if it was true that Lu Zhiyao was going to the capital—since many villagers working in the fields had mentioned it that morning.

“Dad, Mom,” Bai Shuishui spoke first before they could ask, “Remember the money I gave you when I came back? Give it back to me now!”

“I’ll send you more next month.”

Bai Dahai and his wife were not happy to hear this.

Once money went into their pockets, it became theirs. It was their daughter’s way of showing filial piety. And now she wanted to take it back?

Why should they?

The two were unwilling. Wang Guihua, standing beside them, pursed her lips and said, “Shuishui, your younger brother is about to get married. If we give you that money, what’s he going to do?”

“Just give it to me now. I’ll send you more next month, isn’t that the same?”

“Even when I don’t come back to visit, I send money home every month. Why don’t you believe me?”

“Give me the money now!” Bai Shuishui was panicking. If Lu Zhiyao got to the capital before her, the whole situation would be ruined.

She might even lose her job.

People always sound unpleasant when they’re anxious. Bai Dahai and Wang Guihua were very unhappy hearing her tone.

The two started scolding her.

“How can you talk to us like this? We’re your parents! We spent so much money feeding you, clothing you, and putting you through school. Otherwise, how could you be an army doctor today? Look at the daughters of other families in the village—compare them to you. Why can’t you give a little something back to us?”

“Your brother’s getting married. It’s bad enough you’re not giving money, and now you want to take back what you gave!”

The whole family started arguing loudly. Wang Guihua cursed, “You really have no conscience. Where do you place me and your father?”

“If you don’t give me the money, I’m done for. If I really lose everything, don’t expect life to be good for anyone!” Bai Shuishui shouted.

Bai Dahai and Wang Guihua exchanged glances.

Bai Shuishui rarely spoke to them like this. Since she started working, she had indeed been sending money home every month.

Maybe something urgent really had come up.

Wang Guihua pouted. “Fine, fine, I’ll give it to you now. But next month you have to send us double!”

“Your brother’s getting married, and we need to buy things for the bride’s family. Nothing can be left out!”

Bai Shuishui wasn’t listening to a word of this. She nodded hurriedly. The moment Wang Guihua took out the money, she snatched it with one hand.

She stuffed it into her pocket. “I’m leaving now. I’ll send you money next month.”

With that, she grabbed her luggage and left.

As she walked down the road, a few people saw her. Some aunties even stopped her to ask, “Shuishui, where are you going?”

“You’re leaving again? Didn’t you just get back two days ago?”

“Yes, I’m leaving. There’s something going on with the unit!” she said quickly, then hurried to the train station.

Meanwhile, Lu Zhiyao had already taken the kids to eat noodles.

From the original host’s memories, every time Mu Qingyuan sent money, the original host would bring the children to the county.

This usually happened once every one or two months, and she would take them to eat noodles at a stall near the post office.

The beef noodles there tasted the best, but they were expensive—so she’d only buy one plain bowl and split it between the two kids.

She herself would wait until they got home in the afternoon to eat something light.

But now, Lu Zhiyao ordered a bowl of beef noodles for the kids to share, and got one for herself too—with extra noodles.

She even got some add-ons for the kids.

Because this area was in the prime location of the county, a bowl of beef noodles cost 10 cents, and extra noodles cost another 2 cents.

The kids were covered in oil as they ate. Xiaobao rubbed his stomach. “The meat tastes so good. Thank you, Mom!”

“Thank you, Mom!” Dabao chimed in sweetly.

Lu Zhiyao’s heart softened. The original host had also wanted the children to have a good life.

But her thinking had been too limited, and Mu Qingyuan hadn’t sent much money home!

The original host never doubted Bai Shuishui’s words.

But in hindsight, something didn’t add up.

Why hadn’t Mu Qingyuan come back for three years? Even if that was set aside, he knew he had two children. He should’ve known that kids cost money, right?

From the book, it was clear that at this time, Mu Qingyuan was a battalion commander. And battalion commanders had good salaries.

In this era, missions came with bonuses and subsidies.

He should’ve made at least over 100 yuan per month—which was a lot when most people only earned about 30 yuan.

Being so stingy with his wife and children, even if he liked Bai Shuishui, would ruin his reputation.

So Bai Shuishui’s lies were easy to expose. It’s just that the original host had grown up in the village, never seen the world, and didn’t understand these things. That’s why she was tricked.

Lu Zhiyao let the kids eat their fill, then bought some food for the train ride.

After finishing everything, they went inside the train station to wait.

When Bai Shuishui arrived, she walked around and saw Lu Zhiyao with the two children sitting on a bench.

Her heart started racing, and her mind turned rapidly.

She had to think of a way—fast.

As she circled the area, Bai Shuishui spotted a shady-looking man in a corner, his eyes darting around like he was up to no good.

He wore loose clothes with both hands in his pockets, holding his jacket tightly around him—he looked like a pervert.

His beady eyes were sizing people up, probably looking for someone rich to rob once on the train.

People who took the train were usually traveling far, and often carried all their money with them.

Some weren’t even professional thieves—just saw an opportunity to steal on the road and seized it.

Bai Shuishui thought, If Lu Zhiyao loses her money, she won’t be able to survive in the capital. She might even get off halfway through the journey.

With that thought, she rushed toward the man and deliberately bumped into him.

“Damn it! Why’d you bump into me?!”

“Are your eyes on your ass?!”

The man cursed at her, and Bai Shuishui bowed her head apologetically. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to! A woman over there insulted me just now—thought she was better than me because she had money!”

“She yelled at me, and I got so mad I wasn’t paying attention!”

“Just because she’s rich, she thinks she can trample on others. It’s not fair!”

She grumbled a few more times. When the shady man heard “rich woman,” his eyes lit up.

But he didn’t show it openly. He sneered, “Don’t try to explain to me. Where’s this so-called rich woman?”

“I think you did it on purpose!”

The man moved closer with a menacing look. Bai Shuishui acted scared. “I’m not lying! She bumped into me and cursed me out. Now she’s over there with her kids!”

“If you don’t believe me, I’ll show you!”

Bai Shuishui led the way, still pretending to be nervous. The shady man chuckled to himself—What a fool. She actually took the bait.

Fine, fine!

She’d lead him right to the rich woman, and he’d get himself a bit of “travel money.”

Still playing her part, Bai Shuishui pointed toward Lu Zhiyao. “That’s her!”

“She may look plain, but she’s hiding her wealth. I bumped her luggage earlier, and she yelled at me, saying her stuff was expensive!”