Chapter 8: Nanshan Relief Mission

After an entire day on the train followed by a bumpy ride on a tractor, Lin Yiqiao finally quieted down.

The pothole-ridden mountain road stretched endlessly ahead. The tractor jostled and jolted with every bump, and she felt like she was about to throw up all the sweet water she’d drunk on the train.

Su Min handed her a bottle of water and gently patted her back.
“Yiyi, hang in there a little longer. We’re almost there.”

Lin Yiqiao took a big gulp and wiped her mouth.
“Ah, this is nothing. No matter how hard or tiring it is, I have to support Nanping.”

She fought the nausea and kept drinking water. With so many eyes from the troupe watching her, if she showed the slightest weakness, she’d immediately be reassigned to logistics.

And she hadn’t forgotten why she came here in the first place.

The tractor chugged along like an old ox — noisy and determined. It was a prized possession of the team. If it weren’t for the fact that the cultural troupe was full of women, they wouldn’t have even sent it out.

Leaning against the side of the tractor, Lin Yiqiao let the wind from the valley slap gently against her face. Her carefully styled side ponytail from the morning had been messed up by the breeze, but the cool wind made her feel a bit better.

Nanshan was a small county town nestled in the mountains. A landslide had forced a large-scale relocation.

The tractor stopped in front of the support tents. Lin Yiqiao got off, took out a small mirror, and tidied her hair.

A simple, honest-looking man came up and shook hands with Chu Qing.

“Hello, Comrade Chu. I’m Liu Guodong, the team leader from Shiqiao Commune. Thank you all for coming such a long way to perform. The villagers are really looking forward to the show.”

“You’re too kind, Captain Liu. This is our duty,” Chu Qing replied.

Chu Qing wasn’t very good with words and seemed a bit awkward in the face of the villagers’ heartfelt warmth.

Lin Yiqiao didn’t want to steal her thunder, so she quietly observed from the side.

Nanshan had only just completed the relocation. There was still a massive amount of reconstruction work to do. Many villagers had been left disabled from the landslide. Rebuilding homes and re-planning farmland were enormous tasks.

From time to time, soldiers passed by, each carrying bricks or timber in their hands.

She was scanning the crowd, searching for a familiar figure, when Su Min suddenly grabbed her hand.

“Come on, Yiyi! Food’s ready!”

At the mention of food, Lin Yiqiao dropped everything else and ran to catch up with the rest of the troupe.

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The conditions were rough, and the food in Nanshan wasn’t exactly appetizing.

Dry, hard mixed-grain steamed buns paired with a bowl of thin porridge that barely had any rice — Lin Yiqiao sat there with a bitter expression, sipping the porridge.

At least give us a plate of pickled vegetables…

After getting used to rich food in Beidu, her taste buds had definitely gotten picky. She’d forgotten what it was like to have nothing to eat. The villagers had already offered their best.

She sighed inwardly and glanced around. Her fellow troupe members were all gritting their teeth and eating in silence.

She lightly tapped the table with her steamed bun.

Whoa — this thing was rock hard! She nervously tried to shove it into her mouth before anyone noticed.

And just as she lifted her eyes — she locked eyes with him.

He was wearing a military-green uniform. While everyone else had taken off jackets or tried to be comfortable, he had his belt tightly fastened, sleeves rolled up to reveal his wrist. His skin was darker — clearly from working hard out in the field.

He was also eating the same hard steamed bun — with plain water.

Her heart thudded violently. Not out of love — just pure panic.

Flustered, she bit down hard on the bun… and couldn’t chew.

Her jaw was stuck!

Her stupid teeth! Lin Yiqiao felt like crying.

She didn’t dare look at the man again, but out of the corner of her eye, she could tell that Qi Jun was still glancing her way.

Su Min noticed something was wrong.
“Yiyi, what’s going on?”

“Stuck…” Lin Yiqiao whimpered, wanting nothing more than for the ground to swallow her whole.

“Don’t panic. Try moving it slowly, don’t pull too hard or you might yank your tooth out,” Chu Qing said patiently from the side.

“Mhm…”

Following her advice, Lin Yiqiao slowly worked her jaw until she finally managed to dislodge the bun.

Seeing everyone staring at her, she closed her eyes briefly.

“I’m fine, I got it out. Ate too fast. Everyone, please keep eating.” She gave a sheepish smile.

At that moment, she saw Qi Jun calmly get up and tidy his dishes, not even glancing her way.

I’m doomed.

Lin Yiqiao pressed her hot cheeks with her small hands.

Thick skin is your best weapon now, girl.