Chapter 5: Getting a Letter of Introduction. Why are you helping me?

Behind her came Zheng Jiaojiao’s hysterical scream. At that moment, Zheng Qingning felt an unprecedented sense of relief.

Soon, she would finally break free from this cage.

No more going hungry or sleepless, no more constantly battling herself every day.

After leaving the family housing compound, Zheng Qingning went to the subdistrict office to get an introduction letter.

However, the staff at the office all knew her situation.

When she pulled out the job offer to request the letter, they couldn’t help but glance at her a few times.

“Qingning, do your parents know?”

Zheng Qingning nodded firmly, her face beaming with a joyful smile.

“Auntie, yes, they know. They fully support me going to Yunzhou’s military base. This way, once I marry Yunzhou, we’ll be eligible for a spacious apartment, and I can bring them over for a visit.”

They were neighbors on the same street. If she didn’t lie a little, word would spread through the compound in no time about her joining the military performing troupe.

Luckily, that man hadn’t taken her job offer letter. Otherwise, getting the introduction letter today wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.

The woman looked at her with a gratified expression. “Among all of us here, you’re still the most filial and hardworking.”

As she wrote the letter, she asked, “Once you’re in the military, who’ll look after the Ye family elders?”

“My parents said my sister is just sitting around bored at home. She can help me take care of them a bit. Once I’m stationed there, I’ll find her a military officer to marry.”

Zheng Qingning sighed helplessly. “Auntie, you know how things are in my house. My sister’s been spoiled. She’s picky and demanding. One little tantrum and my parents give in. There’s really nothing I can do.”

She added sorrowfully, “If I don’t agree, my parents will just give the job to my sister. When that happens…”

Zheng Qingning covered her face and cried, “How can newlyweds live apart like that? I traveled all this way to the base to find a job just so I could be with Yunzhou, to build our life together. Only then could I support my family too. Auntie, don’t you agree?”

The woman handed her the introduction letter and said meaningfully, “Don’t worry, I’ll keep this a secret for you.”

Zheng Qingning took the letter and, hearing that, knew she was in the clear.

“Thank you, Auntie.”

After expressing her gratitude, Zheng Qingning hurried to the train station and bought the earliest ticket to the island base.

“Comrade, there’s one sleeper ticket left for the island. Do you want it?”

Zheng Qingning clenched the strap of her shoulder bag. The sleeper ticket was more than half the price of a regular seat.

She only had fifty yuan. Once she got to the island, she still needed to buy supplies. She was afraid she wouldn’t have enough money.

But she didn’t want to miss this chance to leave, fearing something might go wrong.

“Comrade, if not this train, when’s the next earliest one?”

The clerk flipped through a book. “In six days.”

Zheng Qingning gritted her teeth and handed over ten yuan. “I’ll take the sleeper ticket.”

The clerk took the money, quickly issued a train ticket, and handed her the change. “Comrade, the train leaves the night after tomorrow. Don’t be late.”

Zheng Qingning took the ticket and carefully tucked it into the inner pocket of her shoulder bag. This was her ticket to freedom she had to keep it safe, even if it cost her life.

Leaving the station, she found a guesthouse nearby, used the introduction letter to book a room, and checked in.

As soon as she entered the room, she pulled out pen and paper and wrote five pages. After reviewing them thoroughly to make sure nothing was missing, she folded the pages neatly into an envelope.

What is the supporting girl doing? Is she trying to send the whole Zheng family to a labor camp?

No! I still want to read the group-pampering plot!

The supporting girl is too scary. Those people raised her for eighteen years how could she be so ruthless?

Ahhh, I hope the male lead saves our girl!

The supporting girl should just die! Die!

Am I the only one wondering if she’s awakened? She got an intro letter, bought a train ticket, reported someone, and even acted all sweet with the staff. Did she reincarnate?

Now that you mention it, maybe she really did reincarnate.

No way! If the supporting girl is reborn and goes off-script, what happens to our female lead?!

Zheng Qingning ignored the scrolling comments. She left the guesthouse with the letter and took a bus to the Red Sleeve Office, where she dropped the envelope into the complaint box.

The complaint box was checked daily whether there were letters or not, someone would open it.

Just as she was about to head back, she heard someone call her. Turning around, she saw Nangong Ye walking side by side with Zhao Long.

“Comrade Nangong.”

Nangong Ye looked at the pale-faced girl in front of him, his sharp brows slightly furrowing. His tone was serious. “You haven’t recovered yet why did you leave the hospital?”

Zheng Qingning, completely caught off guard, blinked her beautiful eyes at him. With her pale complexion, she looked like a fragile beauty.

“I’m feeling much better now. Thank you, Comrade Nangong.”

As she spoke, she pulled out the money refunded from her hospital discharge and added a bit more before handing it to him.

“This is for the medical expenses. Thank you for taking me to the hospital.”

Nangong Ye was half amused, half angry at her distant tone.

“Heh. Comrade Zheng, do you not need me to hold onto your job offer letter anymore?”

Zheng Qingning froze. “But this morning, you clearly…”

He had looked so reluctant and left without taking the letter.

She had thought… he didn’t want to help her.

Seeing the change in her expression, Nangong Ye confirmed once again that women were indeed unpredictable.

He held out his hand. “Give it to me.”

Zheng Qingning blinked, confused. “What?”

“The job offer letter.”

Snapping back to reality, she took it out of her bag and handed it over. “Thanks.”

Nangong Ye accepted it and looked up at her. “Did you get the introduction letter?”

“I did.”

Only then did Zheng Qingning realize she had misunderstood him.

Without the job offer letter, she couldn’t have gotten the introduction letter. He must have left it with her on purpose so she could handle that part first.

Now knowing she had wronged him, Zheng Qingning didn’t dare look him in the eye. Her pale face was tinged with red.

“S-sorry.”

Her voice was soft, but still an apology for having misjudged him.

Nangong Ye put the letter away and looked at the girl who was practically staring at the ground. The corner of his lips twitched with helplessness.

He shoved the money she had just returned back into her hand. “Pay me back once you’re earning at the performing troupe.”

“Give me the intro letter. I’ll help you buy your train ticket.”

Zheng Qingning looked at the money in her hand and was about to return it, but when she heard he wanted to buy her ticket, she quickly shook her head. “No need. I’ve already bought it.”

“Alright then, see you at the base.”

Seeing she had everything sorted, and with other matters still pending, Nangong Ye and Zhao Long turned to leave.

Zheng Qingning stood there, dazed, watching them walk away, puzzled.

“Why is he helping me?”