Chapter 25

In her past life, there was a squad leader in their special forces unit named Li Qin, who was rumored to have kept two pretty young men by her side. Every day, she was pampered to the point of glowing with happiness.

Looking back, Li Yuechan felt like she had suffered a major loss. She hadn’t even found a man for herself! This time around, she definitely wouldn’t wrong herself again.

With these thoughts swirling in her mind, she drifted off to sleep.

---

In the middle of the night, Li Yuechan climbed out of her window and slipped outside. Once she reached an empty spot with no one around, she retrieved a bicycle from her space and pedaled swiftly toward the small forest at Donggang.

There, she threw down a massive wild boar in an open clearing before retreating into her space to hide.

Not long after, Zhang Jinbu arrived, sneaking around cautiously.

When he saw the wild boar, he almost gasped out loud but quickly covered his mouth. Looking around to make sure no one was watching, he then mustered all his strength and hoisted the boar onto the wheelbarrow he had brought with him.

Panting heavily, he began pushing it back.

Li Yuechan raised an eyebrow as she observed from her space. This little guy was quite something—hauling a 200-plus-jin wild boar onto a cart like it was nothing.

She followed Zhang Jinbu from her space, watching him take several twists and turns before finally arriving at the entrance of a courtyard.

Zhang Jinbu knocked on the door. Someone inside opened it, and he immediately pushed his wheelbarrow inside.

Li Yuechan quickly followed, slipping into the courtyard.

Inside, a man sat with his legs spread wide, exuding authority, while five other men were busy stacking sacks of goods in a corner.

Li Yuechan raised an eyebrow. “Oh? A black market base, huh?”

Zhang Jinbu grinned and stepped forward flatteringly, speaking to the man, “Brother Jin, I’ve brought you a wild boar. Take a look.”

The man, addressed as Brother Jin, stood up and lifted the cloth covering the boar. He nodded in satisfaction.

“Not bad. You’ve got some skills, managing to get your hands on such quality goods.”

Zhang Jinbu laughed obsequiously. “Of course! But it’s all thanks to your support, Brother Jin!”

Brother Jin ran his hand over the boar’s body. “Not bad, not bad. It’s still warm.”

“Alright, I won’t waste time with you. For a wild boar like this, I can offer you at most eight mao per jin.”

Zhang Jinbu immediately nodded. “Brother Jin, I know the market rate. Whatever you say, just weigh it up.”

Brother Jin nodded and called out, “A-Liang, Xiao Feng, come weigh this pig.”

Two men came over, tied up the boar’s legs, and lifted it onto a large scale.

“Boss, 280 jin.”

“Alright, that’s 224 yuan. A-Liang, pay him.”

Zhang Jinbu took the money with both hands, thanking them profusely before leaving.

As the door closed, A-Liang turned to Brother Jin. “Boss, isn’t that price too generous for him?”

Jin Biao’s expression darkened as he stared at A-Liang. “Don’t touch Zhang Jinbu. That kid saved my life before. Besides, I’ve noticed he has good luck—he brings fortune to me. Ha! Hahaha!”

---

Zhang Jinbu clutched his “fortune” tightly as he walked home, his heart pounding like a rabbit trapped in a cage. He was terrified that Jin Biao might change his mind and call him back.

Once home, he locked his door, took a sip of water, but his heart was still racing.

Taking out the money from his pocket, he counted it over and over again.

Watching his excitement from her space, Li Yuechan noted that while he was thrilled, she didn’t see greed in his eyes. Feeling reassured, she went home to sleep.

---

The next morning, Zhang Jinbu was already up and out early. He had been so excited that he hadn’t slept all night.

As soon as dawn broke, he rushed to find Li Yuechan.

They had agreed before that Zhang Jinbu wouldn’t enter their compound to avoid drawing attention. Instead, if he needed her, he would stand behind her house and meow twice.

By now, his legs were numb, and his throat was parched from calling out so many times—but Li Yuechan still hadn’t shown up.

Exhausted, he plopped down onto the ground, unwilling to give up. He let out two more desperate meows.

Finally, a faint meow responded from inside.

Excited, Zhang Jinbu crouched by the wall, muttering to himself, “Did this big sister just wake up?”

It wasn’t long before Li Yuechan came out.

“What are you doing? Meowing like a cat so early in the morning? Don’t you see what time it is?”

Zhang Jinbu looked pitiful as he said, “Big sister, I didn’t mean to.”

Li Yuechan took a deep breath and sighed, “Alright, tell me, what’s the matter?”

“Big sister, I sold that wild boar for you last night!”

As he spoke, Zhang Jinbu carefully pulled out a wad of cash from his pocket and handed it to Li Yuechan. “A total of 224 yuan, not a penny less!”

Li Yuechan glanced at Zhang Jinbu with understanding. She hadn’t expected this guy to be so reliable.

The wild boar had originally been a test to see if Zhang Jinbu could be trusted, and it seemed like he could be useful in the future.

“Tonight, same time, at the East Gang small forest. He said he still has something else for you.”

Zhang Jinbu gasped in surprise and screamed, “Big sister, really?” Then he quickly covered his mouth.

“Big sister, this is the money from selling the rabbits,” he said awkwardly. “Because the rabbits were crushed, the price was a little lower.”

Li Yuechan waved her hand dismissively. “It’s fine. Consider the rabbit money as your commission for running errands.”

Zhang Jinbu looked at the money in his hands in disbelief, murmuring, “Big sister, this… this is too much!”

“Just take it.”

“Really… is all of this mine?” He had only earned five yuan in the past six months on the black market, and now, in such a short time, he had made 224 yuan. He pinched his thigh lightly and let out a yelp, startling Li Yuechan.

Li Yuechan’s lips twitched as she turned and walked away, secretly muttering to herself, How silly can this Zhang Jinbu be? Looks like I’ll have to keep an eye on him in the future.

Zhang Jinbu watched her leave, feeling a growing sense of admiration for the girl. His heart was filled with awe.

---

Li Yuechan returned home just in time to bump into her mother, who was coming back from buying groceries.

Su Lizhen raised her eyebrows. “Where have you been so early in the morning?”

“Oh, I just took a stroll around the gate.”

“Well, get ready. We’re going to your grandmother’s house for dinner.”

Li Yuechan’s eyes brightened. She was excited but also curious if her grandmother and grandfather in this life were the same as in her previous life.

Su Lizhen looked at the bicycle in the yard and asked, “Why haven’t you returned it yet?”

“Oh, I will. He said he doesn’t need it right now and told me to keep riding it for now.”

Su Lizhen raised an eyebrow and eyed her precious daughter. “So, are you two official now?”

“Mom, what are you saying? How could I agree so quickly? I’d have to test things for at least three to five years. Otherwise, it would be wrong to make such a decision when you’ve raised me to be so beautiful!”

Su Lizhen flicked Li Yuechan on the forehead. “Three to five years? You want to be an old maid?”

Li Yuechan flicked her long braid and grinned. “What’s wrong with being an old maid? Old maids still have their charm!”

“Stop being silly. If you really think it’s right, confirm it sooner rather than later. Besides, you’re almost old. Why not get a job or get married?”

Li Yuechan furrowed her brows at this. Life was indeed becoming quite boring.

“Mom, isn’t there a better job available?”

“You silly girl, jobs are like cabbages, you think you can just pick and choose? The textile factory was hiring temporary workers, but you didn’t want to go, and now there are no more positions left!”

Li Yuechan pouted. “I don’t want to be a textile worker! How about I join the army instead?”

Su Lizhen reached out and touched her daughter’s forehead. “No fever, so why are you daydreaming? They aren’t recruiting female soldiers anymore.”

Li Yuechan’s expression immediately fell. “Why aren’t they recruiting?”