Chapter 91 : Heading to the Provincial Capital

Liang Qingqing looked at the man in front of her with a face full of shock. He was tall, his imposing figure trapping her in his embrace, exuding an unspoken sense of intimidation. The part she had been fantasizing about was now pressing directly against her thigh, and through the thin fabric of her clothes, she could clearly feel how frighteningly large it was.

She swallowed nervously, her whole body trembling with fear, feeling as timid as she had been bold moments before.

Worried that Fan Yanxing might change his mind, she forced a smile and quickly nodded seriously, “You’re right, let’s forget about it. Pretend I never said anything.”

“Really giving up?” Fan Yanxing pinched the soft flesh of her buttocks, raised one eyebrow, and deliberately stretched out his words, “Actually, I think trying it out first wouldn’t be such a bad idea.”

“I said forget it, forget it.” Liang Qingqing covered his mouth and raised her head in a bluffing manner. “I think it’s better to save it for the wedding night, much better.”

She repeated “much better” twice, not quite sure what she was emphasizing. Seeing her eyes redden with shyness, Fan Yanxing worried that saying another word might make her embarrassed and angry, which would make it hard to soothe her afterward. So, he kept quiet, though he couldn’t hide the smile in his eyes.

This little coward had such a tiny bit of courage.

He shook his head with a smile, took a step back, picked her up off the table, and then extended a hand to help her adjust her clothes. Gently, he advised, “I’ll go out first. You can come out later.”

Liang Qingqing nodded obediently, as that was exactly her plan.

The whole incident left her so flustered that for several days afterward, she instinctively tightened her legs whenever she saw Fan Yanxing. Fortunately, such discreet actions went unnoticed, or she would have been extremely embarrassed.

Time flew by, and the day came for her to report to the provincial city. After breakfast together that morning, Ma Xiuzhi repeatedly reminded Liang Junqiang to take good care of Liang Qingqing on the road before she felt at ease to go to work with the others.

They also wanted to send Liang Qingqing to the provincial city, but it was clearly unrealistic for the whole family to go. After some thought, they decided to send Liang Junqiang, who was the strongest in the family. He could carry things and ensure their safety, which was ideal.

Originally, this task was Fan Yanxing’s, but he had been unable to make time these days. The neighboring commune was producing red bricks, and a new batch had just come out the day before. He needed to buy them quickly, or else he would have to wait for the next batch.

Furthermore, he would need to borrow a tractor from the village to transport them back, which would take at least four or five days to arrange properly.

He had insisted on going to see her off, but Liang Qingqing had refused. She felt it was more practical to finish the house repairs sooner.

The morning air was a bit chilly. Liang Qingqing wore a thin coat and followed Liang Junqiang as he walked ahead. Having learned from her previous trip to the county for training, she had packed much lighter this time, bringing only the essentials.

With four large bundles, Liang Junqiang carried one in each hand with ease.

At this time, everyone else had already gone to work, so they encountered very few people along the way. Liang Qingqing enjoyed the quiet and relaxed atmosphere. As soon as she got on the bus, she found the most comfortable seat, while Liang Junqiang, like a large mountain next to her, appeared extremely excited and chatted with her.

“Little sister, what do you think the provincial city is like? I’ve never been there.”

“I’ve never been there either.”

“I heard the buildings there are taller than those in our county, and the roads are wider.” Liang Junqiang’s face showed a look of longing as he shared what he had learned.

As he spoke, he glanced at Liang Qingqing with admiration. Thanks to his little sister, a simple rural man like him had the chance to see the provincial city. Many people in the village had never even been to the county seat!

The two chatted casually, and the bus finally rolled into the county seat. They wasted no time and headed straight to the bus station, where they showed the village’s introduction letter at the ticket window, then took their tickets to find their bus and claim their seats.

They were lucky to get two adjacent seats. Liang Qingqing sat by the window, and Liang Junqiang sat next to her.

The journey from the county seat to the provincial city took over four hours. At first, Liang Qingqing still had the energy to chat with Liang Junqiang, but eventually, her eyelids started to droop, and she soon fell asleep, leaning against the window.

When she woke up again, she noticed that the buildings in the provincial city were much taller than those in the county seat, with some reaching six or seven stories. The roads were wide and clean, and bicycles, which were rarely seen in the county, were everywhere here.

Liang Qingqing also saw a few small cars zooming proudly past the side of the bus. This scene caught the attention of the passengers on the bus, and Liang Junqiang beside her seemed eager to stick his head out to get a better look.

Liang Qingqing looked at Liang Junqiang in surprise, not expecting his reaction to be so intense.

Her gaze was so strong that Liang Junqiang felt a bit embarrassed under her scrutiny. He awkwardly rubbed his nose and explained, “When I was young, I went to the country seat with my mother to sell eggs and saw a car once, so…”

Upon hearing this, Liang Qingqing was momentarily stunned. Then she smiled and lowered her voice, saying, “I’ve hardly seen one myself, but I just know how to act like I’m not impressed.”

At Liang Qingqing’s words, Liang Junqiang’s expression changed immediately. His embarrassment vanished, replaced by a beaming smile. He leaned closer and whispered, “I thought I was the only one who was making a fuss.”

“Don’t worry, no one’s going to laugh at you. Everyone is curious,” Liang Qingqing replied with a smile.

What she said was true. In those times, small cars were a rare sight. Most were official vehicles, and only eligible officials could have one. Ordinary people rarely got to ride in or even see them, depending on luck.

But in the future, nearly every household would own a small car as a mode of transportation. If not, one could simply take a taxi.

Additionally, there were greener and more convenient options like subways, high-speed trains, and airplanes…

Having witnessed the diverse range of transportation in the future, Liang Qingqing was no longer easily impressed by the rarity of a small car.

After getting off the bus at the station, the two inquired about the exact address of the Provincial Broadcasting Bureau from the staff. After changing buses twice, they finally arrived at the entrance of the Provincial Broadcasting Bureau.

Compared to the County Broadcasting Bureau, the Provincial Broadcasting Bureau was much more impressive. The iron gates were tightly closed, with uniformed security guards stationed nearby. Through the gates, they could see several newly constructed six-story buildings arranged neatly, complemented by well-maintained greenery. It looked very grand.

Liang Junqiang didn’t know where to look or where to go. He could only stand there, staring blankly at the huge sign of the Broadcasting Bureau overhead. The shock he felt was beyond words, and he silently entertained the thought of wanting to work in such a place.

Moreover, Liang Junqiang admired his little sister even more. She would be the one who truly stayed here, securing a solid job for herself!

“Second Brother, we’re leaving.”

“Oh, oh, okay.”

Compared to Liang Junqiang, Liang Qingqing appeared much more composed. She took out the relevant documents from her bag and handed them to the security guard at the entrance. Perhaps Tian Fengchun had already given instructions, so after checking that the information was correct, the guard led them to the dormitory.

“Deputy Director Tian has instructed that you should first get your luggage settled and then go to her office to find her,” the security guard, who was about the same age as Liang Xueyong, said with a friendly smile, his eyes squinting.

“Okay, thank you,” Liang Qingqing responded politely with a nod.

Seeing her courteous demeanor and not looking down on him just because he was a security guard, Old Ding’s smile became more genuine. He pointed to a tall building not far away, “Her office is on the fifth floor, all the way inside. Be sure not to go to the wrong place.”

Liang Qingqing noted this down and nudged Liang Junqiang’s arm. Remembering what she had taught him earlier, Liang Junqiang quickly retrieved a small packet of dried meat from his bag and cheerfully handed it to Old Ding. “It’s some homemade stuff. Please give it a try.”

“How can I accept this?” Old Ding’s nose twitched as he caught the scent of the meat, his eyes glinting with interest.

“It’s just a small token of appreciation. Since we’ll be colleagues from now on, I hope you can take good care of my sister,” Liang Junqiang said, his manner slightly awkward as he spoke these formalities. Luckily, his dark complexion made it hard to notice any discomfort.

Upon hearing the word “colleagues,” Old Ding’s mouth couldn’t help but curve into a slight smile. He replied, “Alright, I’ve been here for five or six years. If you need anything, just ask me.”

Seeing that everything was settled, Liang Qingqing and Liang Junqiang exchanged relieved glances.

Being new here, making more friends could only be beneficial. Although the security guard might seem insignificant, he was stationed at the gate every day and responsible for patrolling the area, so he was a good source for information about both major and minor matters.

Of course, Liang Qingqing wasn’t looking to find out any extraordinary information, she just wanted to ensure that she wouldn’t be completely alone if she needed help.

“Your dormitory is on the third floor. There’s only one key, and if you lose it, you’ll have to pay for a replacement. For any other issues, just ask your roommates,” the dorm manager said, glancing up and down at Liang Junqiang. Noticing his tall and handsome appearance, she looked at Liang Qingqing as well. Seeing their strong resemblance and recalling that they referred to each other as siblings, she felt a bit more at ease but still offered a final reminder.

“This is a female dormitory, so males shouldn’t stay long. If someone notices and reports a member of the opposite sex staying overnight, it’s against the bureau’s rules and could result in expulsion. After you’ve settled in, just come back here to get a signature.”

Liang Qingqing nodded, and Liang Junqiang handed the dorm manager a small packet of dried meat before heading upstairs with their luggage. Once he opened the door to their dorm, he found that the living conditions were even better than those at the County Broadcasting Bureau. The rooms were larger, each housing only four people, and most importantly, there was a separate shower, so she wouldn’t have to use a bedsheet for privacy while showering anymore.

No wonder everyone wanted to climb up the ladder, the visible improvements were a real motivator!

The layout of the room had beds and desks, with one bed near the door left empty.

The siblings worked together efficiently, wiping down the bed frames, desks, and cabinets. After quickly making the beds and tidying up, Liang Qingqing planned to take the documents to find Tian Fengchun, while Liang Junqiang prepared to leave.

“Why not stay in the city for the night and head back tomorrow? It’s so tiring like this.”

The introduction letter was prepared, and Ma Xiuzhi had given enough money. Everything had been arranged at home, so it was surprising that Liang Junqiang had changed his mind at the last minute.

“I’m not tired at all after seeing so much today,” Liang Junqiang said with a silly grin, rubbing the back of his head. “Besides, if I save this money, I can buy a couple more pounds of meat. I wouldn’t sleep well in a guesthouse anyway. It’s better to head back quickly. I can catch the last bus to the village and be ready to start work tomorrow.”

“Second Brother…”

Before Liang Qingqing could finish her sentence, Liang Junqiang took off running as if afraid she would force him to stay in a guesthouse. He didn’t slow down until he was out of her reach, then he stopped and waved at her, his grin almost reaching his ears.

“Qingqing, when you’re on vacation, come back. Brother and our parents will miss you.”

“I’ll miss you all too.”

Seeing this, Liang Qingqing couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time. Since Liang Junqiang had made up his mind, what could she do? She couldn’t exactly drag him to a guesthouse. After watching him disappear through the gate, she headed towards Tian Fengchun’s office.