When the Villainess Transmigrates as the Heroine of a Sadistic Novel [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Stepping Out

Passing by a small stream, Ning Yunqing followed the flow of the water to check her reflection. Since arriving here, she hadn’t seen her appearance in this world yet; in her imagination, she figured she should look somewhat like Zhu Cuihua a sallow, thin, and simple country girl. After looking, however, she found it was much better than expected.

She was indeed thin, but her features were twice as good as Zhu Cuihua’s. Not breathtakingly beautiful, but at least clear and graceful. It was only due to years of working under the sun that she had two patches of “plateau red” on her cheeks, giving her a rustic look, but overall she was actually quite fair-skinned.

Ning Yunqing touched her face, thinking there was still hope, then stood up and began her move. Pojiu Village wasn’t large; it was laid out in a “comb” pattern with no more than twenty peasant households. Ning Xiaohua was naturally kind-hearted, and these twenty families excluding Ning Fugui’s all liked her very much, which greatly facilitated Ning Yunqing’s investigation.

Walking from the head of the village to the tail, Ning Yunqing discovered the village suffered from severe aging. Most young people had left for manual labor elsewhere. The remaining females were either middle-aged women or elderly grandmothers. She thought the Main God wouldn’t be so cruel; it was only the third world, and surely they wouldn’t play such a “heavy-taste” game with her.

It seemed the next search point was in the county seat. She prepared to go and check the hotel mentioned in the plot. It just so happened she saw a villager at the entrance going to the county. Relying on Ning Xiaohua’s good reputation and her own sweet-talking, the villager uncle gave her a lift.

“Hua’er, what are you going to the county for? Buying things for school in the city?” The villager uncle asked with a smile as he drove a yellow minivan.

Not wanting to cause trouble, Ning Yunqing replied vaguely, “Mm, going to buy a few things.”

“Fugui and his wife finally came around and are letting you go to school.” The villager uncle was happy for Ning Xiaohua, grinning broadly. “Hua’er, study hard when you get to the city. You’re the first in our village to test into the city’s key high school. Let’s show some backbone and study well; if you get into Tsinghua or Peking University later, let those city folks know that Pojiu Village produces talent too!”

“Mm.” Ning Yunqing smiled with pursed lips, but was thinking to herself: I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you; I’ve attended Tsinghua and Peking University countless times already and have no desire to go back.

The villager uncle remained excited the whole way. Once they reached the county seat, he said warmly, “Hua’er, go do your shopping. Uncle will come back to pick you up in a bit. By the way, are you short on money? If you are, tell Uncle, and I’ll front it for you.”

“No need, thank you, Uncle.” Ning Yunqing felt that this villager uncle was more righteous than Ning Xiaohua’s own parents. She nodded politely and walked off on her own.

Following her memories of the plot, Ning Yunqing found her way to that hotel in the county seat. The hotel wasn’t large, only two stories high, with average decor but a decent flow of customers. It seemed to be a fairly good hotel for a small county. Noticing a recruitment notice at the door, Ning Yunqing pushed the door and walked in.

“Hello, is it just you?” A waitress came to greet her, looking a bit surprised to see a simply dressed young girl, though her attitude remained friendly.

Ning Yunqing acknowledged her and pointed to a small table by the window specifically meant for a flower vase. With a smile, she said, “I’ll just sit over there. Could you please add a chair for me?”

“This… alright.” The waitress was surprised, but since it was crowded, if a young girl wanted to sit there, she’d let her.

Sitting in the corner, Ning Yunqing looked at the menu while thinking about the mere twenty yuan left in her pocket. She randomly ordered a dish of vinegar-glazed potato shreds. While drinking plain water, her eyes scouted the lobby.

There were many servers, ranging in age from fifteen or sixteen to twenty-three or twenty-four all very young. Their faces were mostly plain with no stunning features; among the people coming and going, none had features resembling her Fengxuan. Taking a broad sweep of the diners, the age range was wider; she aimed her gaze at the few younger ones, but again, none looked like Fengxuan.

Statistically speaking, the probability of finding Yin Fengxuan here was very low. Ning Yunqing took a bite of the potatoes; the flavor was different from Yin Fengxuan’s cooking, so it was unlikely her lover was among the chefs either. She boldly guessed that Yin Fengxuan was not in this hotel, and her lover was likely not in the county seat at all.

Where could she be? Ning Yunqing pondered: at the start of the third world, the Main God wouldn’t suddenly spike the difficulty without giving a single clue. If her lover couldn’t be found in the village or the county hotel, then her lover must be in Xincheng.

Fine, then. She would take the train to Xincheng. Having made her decision, Ning Yunqing immediately began thinking of a strategy. Right now, the money on her person was gone after this meal, and she didn’t have the identification needed to buy a train ticket. It was impossible to leave like this; it seemed she had to go back to the village.

Battle the ignorant, extreme peasant couple, eh? Ning Yunqing curled the corners of her mouth, feeling a hint of anticipation.

Pojiu Village.

Ning Fugui waited in the fields for ages without seeing his daughter come to help. He worked all morning in a rage. Returning home, he intended to give that lazy girl a scolding, but unfortunately couldn’t find her in the yard. He asked his wife, “Cuihua, where is our Hua’er?”

Zhu Cuihua got angry just thinking about Ning Xiaohua. Rolling her eyes, she replied, “I kicked her out. That brat is obsessed with going to school; she was picking a fight with me in the yard!”

Ning Fugui didn’t speak. He felt a trace of guilt about Ning Xiaohua not being able to go to school. It was only because they were poor, and since Xiaohua was a girl, the good resources naturally had to be given to the son. Ning Fugui advised his wife, “Hua’er is still young, don’t hold it against her. She hasn’t married yet. If she ends up like old Li’s daughter from the village entrance and runs away on her own, we won’t even get a dowry. What will we do then?”

“Ah.” Zhu Cuihua had a sudden realization. “You’re right. We can’t let her just leave like that. I’ll go looking around these next few days. Hua’er is eighteen; it’s time she was married off.”

Ning Fugui agreed, “Hua’er looks decent; find someone with good conditions.”

“Mm, find someone with more money so we can help out more with Shu’er’s housing costs.” Zhu Cuihua figured this made sense, and most of her anger dissipated.

Ning Fugui didn’t object. He sighed and walked out. “I’ll go look for Hua’er. Don’t fight with her again when she gets back.”

“Go on. For the sake of her not being married off yet, I’ll put up with her.” Zhu Cuihua pouted, acting as if she were the one suffering a great grievance.

Ning Fugui walked to the village entrance. After chatting with some people, he found out his daughter had hitched a ride to the county seat. A bad premonition immediately sprouted in his heart: It’s bad! His daughter is going to be like old Li’s bad daughter and run away!

The money will be lost! He instantly became as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, repeatedly asking, “What should I do? What should I do? Hua’er had a few words with her mother how could she be so narrow-minded as to leave?”

The villagers offered comforting words. Ning Fugui grabbed one, pleading, “Is there another car? Take me to the county seat; I have to find Hua’er and bring her back. She’s so young it would be bad if something happened!”

Fugui really loves his daughter; why won’t he let her go to school? the villager lamented, and was about to look into borrowing a car for him. Just then, the villager uncle’s car drove in. He quickly waved and said to Ning Fugui, “Uncle Liu is back, let him take you.”

Ning Fugui’s eyes were sharp; he saw his daughter sitting in the passenger seat. Fearing she would run, he rushed to the car. As soon as Ning Yunqing opened the door, he grabbed her hand and pulled her out.

Quite a bit of strength. Ning Yunqing was dragged out of the car. Seeing the flash of panicked anger in Ning Fugui’s eyes, she gave a cold, thin smile. Ning Fugui didn’t look at her again, only apologized to Uncle Liu, “Sorry about that, Uncle.

My Hua’er is disobedient and caused you trouble. Thank you for bringing her back. I’ll take her home now.” Without waiting for Ning Yunqing to say goodbye, he dragged his daughter back home. Along the way, he didn’t forget to advise her: “Hua’er, your mother is going through menopause; her temper is bad, so don’t fight with her. If you really left, how worried we would be.”

Worried about my money, more like? Ning Yunqing let it go in one ear and out the other, responding each time with only a faint “Mm.” Ning Fugui thought: I’ve heard kids have a rebellious phase; my daughter is probably hitting hers.

He needed to keep a close eye on her, otherwise, it would be a disaster if she really ran away. Despite these thoughts, he maintained a facade of earnest persuasion, advising: “Don’t argue with your mother when we get home. I’ve talked to her, and she knows she was wrong. She was worried sick when you went out, but she cares about her pride and can’t express it. Be the bigger person as her daughter and don’t make a fuss, alright?”

Ning Yunqing gave another “Mm,” thinking to herself: Don’t worry, I won’t make a fuss. I’m going to have a good “chat” with both of you.

Unfortunately, by the time Ning Yunqing got home, Zhu Cuihua was already asleep on the heated brick bed. This is “worried”? Worried to the point of falling asleep? Ning Yunqing sneered, even less inclined to deal with Ning Fugui’s hypocrisy. She went to her room and began searching for her documents, but after practically turning the room upside down, she couldn’t find her ID card. Even the small change she had saved was gone.

This couple is truly ruthless. Ning Yunqing’s expression darkened. Fine, then don’t ever come begging me in the future.

In the evening, using the excuse of buying liquor for Ning Fugui, Ning Yunqing secretly went to find her school teacher. Time was limited, so she kept it brief, appealing to the teacher’s emotions: “Teacher, my family won’t let me go to school in the city, but I want to go. Can you lend me the travel fare? I will definitely pay you back once I get into university.”

Ning Yunqing spoke pitiably, and the teacher felt deep sympathy. She had already been disappointed that Ning Yunqing couldn’t go to school, and hearing this made her even more moved. “How can Fugui and his wife be like this? Are you planning to run away to the city on your own?”

Ning Yunqing nodded. “I plan to leave tomorrow, get a job in the city, and earn enough for tuition. Once I’m in school, my parents won’t be able to stop me anymore.”

It was a pretext. But the teacher couldn’t tell; she only felt the girl was incredibly pitiful. Stroking her head, she said, “Poor child. Hua’er, I’m not wealthy either, but take this bit of money. Once you’re safe there, give me a call.” Taking six wrinkled “Grandpa Mao” bills (100 yuan notes) from her pocket, the teacher handed them to Ning Yunqing.

Ning Yunqing accepted them with both hands, feeling somewhat touched: Indeed, everyone in this village except the Nings is very good to me. When I make it big, I must come back and repay these kind people.

“Thank you, Teacher. I will pay it back.” Ning Yunqing bowed to the teacher and, carrying the guilt of lying to borrow money, turned and left.

Back home, worried that the couple would discover she had money, Ning Yunqing stayed up late to sew a hidden pocket inside her clothes to hide the cash. The next morning, Zhu Cuihua actually brought her a bowl of porridge, a rare occurrence. “Hua’er, you’re awake. Come, Mom has something to tell you.”

The weasel comes to pay the chicken a New Year’s visit? Ning Yunqing took the porridge, and seeing the small amount of rice in the bowl, thanked her with a smile. Zhu Cuihua sat beside her and said smilingly, “Hua’er, you’re grown up, and grown girls are meant to be married. I’ve found a match for you; do you want to meet him?”

Ning Yunqing took a sip of porridge and didn’t respond.

Zhu Cuihua wasn’t in a hurry and continued, “The lad is quite good. He’s the pig-farming mogul from the neighboring village. He’s very simple—just a bit short and a little fat—you won’t lose out by following him.”

Ning Yunqing didn’t want to continue this topic and walked out with the bowl. “I’m going to wash the dishes.”

Zhu Cuihua got a bit anxious and consulted with Ning Fugui. She immediately started complaining, “Fugui, Hua’er isn’t listening. If only the firstborn had been Shu’er. Hua’er is really the family’s jinx. She made me lose my job, and now she wants to compete with Shu’er for money.”

Ever since Zhu Cuihua lost her job, this had become her catchphrase. Ning Fugui found it a bit annoying and followed with a sigh, “We were just unlucky. You happened to be pregnant right when they were checking the factory employees.”

“Exactly, exactly. Those people are heartless. They told me to abort it right away that was a son! I wouldn’t do it, so they fired me. What do you call that…” Zhu Cuihua was about to start cursing, but Ning Fugui quickly stopped her. “Isn’t it miserable enough? Say less. I’ll go with you to talk to Hua’er. She’s probably still fixated on going to school.”

Before long, the two of them came together.

“Hua’er, a girl isn’t worth much when she gets too old.” Zhu Cuihua’s persuasion was very blunt. Ning Fugui thought it made sense, but still frowned and scolded, “How can you talk like that!” Turning to his daughter with a forced benevolent smile, he said, “Hua’er, if it doesn’t work out, it’s fine; just go and meet him.”

Ning Yunqing sat on the brick bed, listening to their repeated urging without saying a word.

Zhu Cuihua’s face reddened with anger. “What’s the use of schooling? You’re a girl; marriage is your destination!”

Ning Yunqing sneered inwardly: Ignorant and illiterate; one can tell she never went to school.

Ning Fugui stopped Zhu Cuihua and advised his daughter earnestly, “The words are crude but the logic is sound. Hua’er, the newspapers say university graduate employment rates aren’t high anyway. Your mother and I aren’t forcing you to marry out; we’re just worried you won’t have a good life later.”

A classic ‘Good Cop, Bad Cop’ routine quite a performance. Ning Yunqing finally spoke, saying against her heart: “I know you’re worried about me. I have a conscience too; I know you haven’t had it easy and I want to help you earn some money so we can buy a house for Shu’er and get him a wife.”

The couple was stunned by their daughter’s words. They were silent for a long time, unable to respond. After a while, Zhu Cuihua spoke up, “Then go and meet him.”

Ning Yunqing sighed helplessly. “The surrounding villages don’t have much money. How can we afford a house for Shu’er relying on them?”

That also made sense. Zhu Cuihua nodded and asked, “Then what do you want to do?”

“Me?” Ning Yunqing kept them in suspense for a moment before saying, “I went to the county seat with Uncle Liu and met a coworker. She introduced me to a job in the city, and I plan to work with her. The pay is alright—three thousand a month.”

Three thousand wasn’t much, but to a villager like Ning Fugui, whose annual income was only twenty thousand, it was an astronomical figure. Ning Fugui froze for a moment, then went back to discuss it with Zhu Cuihua.

They concluded that the city wasn’t too far from the village, so their daughter couldn’t escape, and she could send home two thousand five hundred every month a guaranteed profit. The matter was settled. Gritting his teeth, he took out the two hundred yuan he had confiscated from his daughter and handed it back to her along with her ID card. “Hua’er, the family is poor. Take this bit of money for the road. If you run out, ask us for more.”

“Mm.” Giving me my own money and acting generous truly unparalleled. Ning Yunqing took the money, gave a few perfunctory responses, and under Ning Fugui’s “care,” hitched a ride with Uncle Liu to the county seat.

When Ning Yunqing got off the car, Ning Fugui was still worried and wanted to accompany her to meet the “coworker.” This fell under a father’s concern for his daughter and was hard to refuse. Ning Yunqing made up an address on the spot: “Dad, my coworker is at a unit in the city; I’ll take a bus directly to find her. You and Uncle Liu go back. I’ll call you to let you know I’m safe when I get there. Here’s the address, keep it safe.”

Ning Fugui took the address and saw it was the name of a restaurant. Thinking his daughter would be a waitress, and given the detailed address, he figured his daughter, who had rarely left the village, couldn’t be faking it. He could find her if he had to. There was still farm work to do at home, so he didn’t linger. After a few more words of care, he let his daughter go on her own.

Ning Yunqing turned to leave, but Uncle Liu got out of the car and ran over. He pulled out two hundred yuan and stuffed it into Ning Yunqing’s hand, saying regretfully, “Sigh, I thought Fugui and his wife had come to their senses; I didn’t expect you were going to work. Keep this money. If you get a chance to go to school, you go.”

“Thank you, Uncle.” Ning Yunqing was moved. She smiled, waved, and turned away.

Taking the bus to the city, she transferred to the train station upon arrival. She spent money on a standing-room ticket to Xincheng and boarded the train, beginning another journey to find her wife.

The distance from Pojiu Village to Xincheng wasn’t short about a thousand kilometers. Not extremely far, but far enough that Ning Fugui and his wife wouldn’t find her. Fourth-tier cities weren’t developed, and there were only slow trains to Xincheng. Ning Yunqing stood leaning against the wall for nearly fourteen hours before reaching Xincheng.

Xincheng was prosperous, which was evident right from the train station three levels underground. Ning Yunqing wound her way out of the station exit. Looking at the unfamiliar city, her heart felt a surge of excitement.

“I’ve finally made it out.” She took a breath of the not-so-fresh city air, a smile appearing on her face. “Fengxuan, wait for me.”

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