Chapter 146: Encountering a Trafficker

Chapter 146: Chapter 146: Encountering a Trafficker

Just as she entered the family residential area, she ran into a group of residents heading out to work.

This time, Jiang Qing didn’t try to ingratiate herself, only to be snubbed. She kept her head down and walked straight past.

However, sharp curses from the residents followed her. "SPIT! Shameless! Stealing her own stepsister’s man, then turning around and slinging mud at her!"

"Her stepfather raised her and even paid for her education. But her? She shows no gratitude, just goes around bad-mouthing him. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you. She’s a real ungrateful wretch. We should steer clear of her from now on, lest we get tainted by her bad luck."

"Exactly."

The sun shone brightly overhead, but Jiang Qing felt as if she’d been plunged into an ice cellar. Her blood seemed to freeze, and a cold shiver ran through her.

’I only admitted to spreading rumors, so how does everyone know I stole Jiang Moli’s man?’

’Was it Lu Tingting who spread it, or Jiang Moli?’

Her nails dug deeply into her palms. Never before had she wished so intensely for those two to just disappear from the face of the earth.

She arrived at Feng Meihua’s house.

In the past, Feng Meihua had always greeted her with a smile, but today, her attitude was palpably distant.

"Xiao Qing, you’ve come at a good time. I was just going to tell you—school’s about to start, and there’s a lot to do, so I won’t be doing the work for the supply co-op for the time being."

As she spoke, she glanced at her watch. "Oh, and I’m in a hurry to get to town to pick up the new teacher."

Jiang Qing said quickly, "Sister Feng, I’ll go with you."

"No need. I’ve asked Xiao Lu to come with me. It wouldn’t be appropriate for too many people to go. You go on and tend to your own things, alright?"

Jiang Qing forced a smile. "Alright, then I’ll be heading back."

The moment she walked out of Feng Meihua’s house, Jiang Qing’s expression instantly darkened.

Since coming to the military base, she had worked hard to maintain a relationship with Feng Meihua, even collaborating with her on handcrafted goods.

Feng Meihua always took the lion’s share, leaving her with a pittance for her hard work, but she had endured it all.

’She had thought that with their interests tied together, Feng Meihua would show her some loyalty for old times’ sake.’

’But it turns out she’s just another snob who’ll turn on you in a heartbeat!’

On her way back, she ran into Qiao Wenjing heading out, a medical kit slung over her shoulder.

Qiao Wenjing was a military doctor. Aside from her daily training and trauma care studies, she would periodically hold consultations at the infirmary to help the residents and nearby villagers with minor aches and pains like headaches and fevers.

"Wenjing, I don’t have anything else going on today. Let me come and help you."

Although Jiang Qing knew nothing about medicine, she could help with menial tasks like fetching medicine and dressing wounds.

In the past, whenever Qiao Wenjing was overwhelmed, she would call on Jiang Qing to help.

Today, however, she politely declined Jiang Qing’s offer. "There’s no need. The infirmary is fully staffed today. I’m off now."

With that, she hurried off.

"Wenjing!"

Turning to see Jiang Qing running after her, Qiao Wenjing said with some displeasure, "Is there something else?"

Jiang Qing stared at her, her eyes rimmed with red, the very picture of heartache. "Do you look down on me, too? You don’t want to associate with me anymore, do you?"

Her thoughts exposed, Qiao Wenjing dropped the pretense. "Don’t come looking for me for a while. Everyone knows what you did now. I don’t want to be mistaken for someone like you."

Jiang Qing was about to go mad with anger. ’You look down on me for being a bad person, but are you, Qiao Wenjing, really so noble yourself?’

"Wenjing, do you think you’re completely blameless? I treated you as a friend and told you everything, but what did you do? If you hadn’t spread my words, I wouldn’t be in this position today!"

Qiao Wenjing was incensed by the accusation. "You’re the one who told the lies, and now you’re putting the blame on my head? Fine! Let’s make a clean break, right here and now!"

Hearing Qiao Wenjing declare a clean break, Jiang Qing panicked.

Tears streamed down her face. "I’m sorry, Wenjing, I didn’t mean to blame you. I’m a social outcast now, a rat in the street that everyone scorns. They all look down on me, laugh at me, curse me. I know I deserve it, and I deeply regret what I’ve done. But I just had a moment of madness, a terrible lapse in judgment. Does that mean I don’t deserve to live a decent life?"

Seeing her cry her eyes out, Qiao Wenjing couldn’t help but soften.

"Stop crying now. Just try to lie low for a couple of days. People will forget about it after a while, and they’ll stop talking about you."

Jiang Qing lifted her red, swollen eyes. "Then... are you still willing to be my friend?"

Seeing how pitiful she looked, Qiao Wenjing hesitated for a moment before finally agreeing.

After watching her walk into the distance, all traces of sorrow and vulnerability vanished from Jiang Qing’s face.

’Though she was despised by everyone now, as long as she had Qiao Wenjing in her grasp, she wouldn’t have to worry about making a comeback someday.’

’Qiao Wenjing’s family background couldn’t compare to Lu Tingting’s, but she did have an uncle who was a regimental commander.’

’And if she guessed correctly, Qiao Wenjing’s uncle would soon be promoted to Deputy Brigadier.’

’In her previous life, after she died, her ghost had trailed Jiang Moli and heard Zhang Jia Ming mention Brigadier Song.’

’She had already asked around. In the 77th Brigade where they were stationed, there was no brigadier with the surname Song.’

’There was, however, a commander of the First Regiment with the surname Song, named Song Xueli, who just so happened to be Qiao Wenjing’s uncle.’

...

When they arrived in town, Lu Tingting used the excuse of a stomachache to go to the latrine, arranging to meet Feng Meihua at the spot where the ox-cart waited.

After watching Feng Meihua walk off toward the commune, Lu Tingting turned and ran to a snack stall selling potato cakes.

She hadn’t come to town to pick anyone up, but to buy tasty treats.

The ox-cart was bumpy and hot under the sun, making for an awful ride. She wouldn’t have bothered coming if it wasn’t for a chance to eat something good.

During the days she’d eaten at Feng Meihua’s house, she hadn’t starved, but she hadn’t had a single decent meal either.

The potato cakes were fried to a golden crisp in soybean oil, seasoned with salt, Sichuan peppercorn powder, and scallions. They smelled incredible!

Lu Tingting bought ten in one go, eating as she went to see what else was available.

Cold sticky rice dumplings, rice cakes, wild honey—she bought them all. In no time, her hands were full.

Perhaps noticing her free-spending ways, an old woman in a straw hat called out to her, "Dearie, I’ve got some little fried fish snacks. Would you like some?"

Lu Tingting leaned in for a look. The tiny, pinky-sized fish had been deep-fried to a golden, crispy perfection. Just looking at them made her mouth water.

"How much are they?"

"Try one first. Buy them if you like them."

Looking at the dried fish held out to her, Lu Tingting couldn’t resist taking one.

It was fragrant and crunchy, so crisp that even the bones were edible.

Delicious!

"How much? I’ll take them all."

"These have already been spoken for, but I have more at home. You can come with me to my house to get them. It’s not far. Let’s go."

As she spoke, she gripped Lu Tingting’s wrist.

Lu Tingting didn’t really want to go, but her mind seemed to lose its ability to judge, and she followed the old woman.

"Dearie, you’re not from around here, are you? Look at that little face, so fair and delicate. Just lovely."

Lu Tingting’s head felt terribly groggy, and the old woman’s smiling face blurred into a double image.

For some reason, Jiang Moli’s fierce, scowling face flashed in her mind.

—"Are you a reincarnated hungry ghost or something? Did you never eat anything good in your last life?"

—"Didn’t your teacher ever tell you that when someone is being overly attentive for no reason, they’re either a crook or a scoundrel?"

—"You’ll eat anything, even from a stranger? Aren’t you afraid they’ll drug you and poison you, you little bastard!"

A figure in white walked past, and a sharp, medicinal scent like cooling oil shot into her nostrils.

The scent seemed to inject a sliver of clarity into her muddled brain. Lu Tingting violently shook off the old woman’s grip and lunged toward the white figure with all her might.

Through her blurry vision, she saw a man’s astonished face.

"Help... help me..."