Chapter 15

Brother Long handed the money to Lin Kexin, watching as she carefully counted it before speaking.

“Miss Lin, does your… source still have more grain?”

“You mean this isn’t enough for you to sell?”

Lin Kexin asked in surprise. Ten thousand jin of grain—surely that would take at least a few days to move.

“Not nearly enough.”

Brother Long lowered his head, as if weighing how to phrase his words.

“All I can say is—grain, the more the better. If you can get it, just bring it to me.”

At that, Lin Kexin began to see him in a new light. Clearly, this man wasn’t as simple as he appeared.

Her space could produce ten thousand jin of grain a day, but if she really delivered that much to him daily, would that draw dangerous attention?

“…I’ll give you an answer in three days.”

After some thought, she spoke.

“Alright then. Five days from now, same place. I’ll be waiting. I hope in three days you’ll bring me good news.”

As he said this, Brother Long pulled out a thick stack of big-denomination notes and held them out.

“This hundred yuan is just a token of appreciation from me. Please accept it.”

Lin Kexin smiled and took it without fuss.

“Alright, I’ll remember this favor.”

After exchanging farewells, she climbed onto the ox-cart and headed back.

“Boss, what are you staring at?”

Yan Dao asked curiously when Lin Kexin had gone, noticing Brother Long still standing motionless.

“Little Dao, that girl is no ordinary one.”

Brother Long sighed, watching the direction she had left.

“Mhm, not ordinary at all.”

Yan Dao nodded repeatedly. If she were simple, how could she casually produce so much grain?

“Spread the word. From now on, everyone treats her with respect. If anyone dares offend her, don’t blame me for being harsh.”

“Yes!”

---

On the way back, the ox-cart uncle looked like he wanted to say something but hesitated, making Lin Kexin anxious for him.

“Uncle, do you have something to say?”

Scratching his head awkwardly, he finally decided it was better to speak. After all, the girl had given him a handful of candies that made his two grandsons overjoyed.

“Girl, that man you met today… he’s not someone to trifle with. If it’s not necessary, best not to deal with them.”

He regarded her as a junior of his own family. That tall, lean man—he had seen him before. Word was he was the top figure in the black market, ruthless and feared. Locals didn’t speak well of him.

“Oh, I know.”

Lin Kexin smiled lightly and lied casually:

“He’s a friend of a friend. I was just asked to deliver something for them. He won’t trouble me.”

When she had done the grain exchange earlier, she had asked the uncle to park the ox-cart at a distance, so he hadn’t seen the deal between her and Brother Long.

“That’s good, that’s good then.”

Relieved, the old man chuckled.

“I’m just a nagging old man, don’t take it to heart.”

“How could I? I’m glad you care, Uncle!”

Lin Kexin laughed, pulling out another handful of candies and two sponge cakes, placing them on the cart so he couldn’t refuse later.

“Uncle, three days from now at noon, wait for me at the village entrance. I’ll need to go to town again.”

“Alright, as long as you tell me ahead of time, I won’t delay your business.”

When they reached the village, Lin Kexin tried to pay the fare, but the old man refused no matter what.

“Uncle, if you keep this up, I’ll run to town on my own legs next time and never ride your cart again!”

She stuffed the money into his hand and darted off.

The old man could only smile, shaking his head as he pocketed the money and drove his ox-cart home.

---

Back at the dormitory, the other educated youth were preparing for work. Lin Kexin washed her face and hands, rested briefly, then went with Yun Ying to the brigade office to collect tools.

That afternoon, she was again assigned to cut pig grass. By village custom, new arrivals did pig grass work for three days before joining the others on different tasks.

As she and Yun Ying headed toward the back hills, Lin Kexin noticed the boy she had given candies to that morning—Xiaofeng—trailing behind her.

She gave him a small nod in greeting.

“Kexin, how do you know that kid?”

Yun Ying asked curiously, noticing the exchange.

“Oh, I had to run to town this morning, so I asked him to deliver the pig grass to the brigade office for me.”

“I see.”

Knowing Kexin had been away, Yun Ying didn’t press, but instead began telling Xiaofeng’s story.

“That child’s pitiful. I heard his parents starved to death a few years ago. He’s got an older brother, but the brother joined the army last year…”

“What?”

Lin Kexin was stunned.

“Then how does he feed himself?”

“He cooks for himself, of course.”

Yun Ying sighed.

“So young, and already so pitiful.”

“Why wouldn’t his brother stay home to take care of him? Was joining the army really necessary?”

Lin Kexin couldn’t understand. With only one younger brother left, why insist on leaving?

“You can’t blame the brother. I heard the boy got very sick back then, and his brother had no money for treatment. Just then the army was recruiting, offering six yuan a month in allowance. To pay for his treatment, the brother enlisted.

At the time, he left the boy in the care of their uncle’s family. But the aunt was awful—she not only starved him, but often beat and scolded him.

Later, the brigade leader stepped in and asked if he wanted to stay or move in with another family. But the boy was stubborn—insisted he’d live alone. He was only seven or eight at the time…”

Lin Kexin’s heart ached at the thought.

How could such a young child survive alone?

“But I heard his brother still sends money every month through the brigade leader, who buys him necessities with it.”

Yun Ying glanced back at Xiaofeng with sympathy.

---

When they reached the back hills, Yun Ying followed the others up the mountain, while Lin Kexin went back to the area where she had cut grass that morning.

Xiaofeng followed her at a distance—never too close, never too far. When their eyes met, he would lower his head shyly and say nothing.

“Xiaofeng, come here.”

Lin Kexin beckoned him over and handed him a tomato she had brought for herself.

“Eat, let’s each have one.”

The boy clutched at his shirt hem, too embarrassed to take it.

“Take it!”

She placed it directly in his hand and pulled him to sit under a tree.

“Xiaofeng, from now on you can help big sister cut pig grass. In return, I’ll give you good food, or cook for you. How about that?”

Looking at his frail little figure, she couldn’t help but feel protective.

In her previous life, she too had been like him—like a wild weed on the roadside, with no one to care for her.

“I’ll help big sister cut grass… I don’t need food.”

His voice was small, but Lin Kexin could hear the joy he was trying to hide.

Perhaps what he wanted wasn’t food, but simple human connection.

“Good boy! Don’t worry, from now on, I’ll look out for you.”

Lin Kexin ruffled his hair firmly, leaving no room for refusal.