Daily Life in the Countryside After Being Reborn-Chapter 238 - 33: An Astonishing Discovery (Part 2)

"Don’t worry too much, whether we get to play or not is another matter. It’d be good enough if we could just hand out water and towels during the game." Xiao Xian was clearer-headed than Zhang Yiyi. The roster for the game was decided by the coach together with Bai Xue, but since Bai Xue had to take a placement test and couldn’t lead the team, Wang Ke would definitely be the main player. Due to tactics and coordination, the coach would try to send the veteran team members who worked best with Wang Ke onto the court, and besides, among the substitutes, they were the least experienced. It was much more likely that they would get a chance to observe the game on the spot than actually play.

"I hope we get a chance to play," Zhang Yiyi muttered to herself.

The game was at 9:30 am, and the friendly match was held at the Shunde Middle School gym. Since it wasn’t part of the formal game schedule, the school did not provide special transportation, and Ni Shahe had informed all the players beforehand to gather at the entrance of Shunde Middle School on their own.

After Zhang Yiyi assured Xiao Xian that she had been to Shunde Middle School and knew the way, they left at 8 o’clock, took the bus, and got off the bus looking like a bona fide Beijinger.

At 9 o’clock sharp, they stood as hoped at the entrance of Shunde Middle School, but they saw no members of the school basketball team.

"It’s already 9 o’clock, why hasn’t the coach and the others come yet?" Zhang Yiyi looked forward expectantly, certain that no one was there.

"Wait, why does the school sign hanging at the gate say Shunde High School?" Xiao Xian pointed to the shiny copper sign, wondering if Zhang Yiyi mistook Shunde Junior High School for Shunde High School?

After asking the gatekeeper, it was confirmed that Xiao Xian’s thought was correct. The actual Shunde Junior High School was more than twenty minutes away by car. They hurriedly rushed to the side of the road, attempting to flag down a taxi to get there. After all, this was their first high school basketball competition—there’s a big difference between not playing and being late.

When it rains, it pours; Xiao Xian had always heard from Feng Xing that the traffic in Beijing was terrible, and today, she witnessed it firsthand. Nine o’clock was peak commuting time; after trying to stop fifteen or so cars, they couldn’t manage to get in one.

Just as they were about to give up hope, a red private car stopped in front of them, and to their surprise, it was Zeng Xuerou.

"You," Xiao Xian glanced at the empty back seat of the car and then at Zeng Xuerou, who was dressed up neatly, her anxious look immediately changed, "Senior Sister Zeng, what a coincidence, this is just on the way for us."

Zeng Xuerou looked at Xiao Xian with a smile and Zhang Yiyi behind her, sweating from trying to hail a cab, as taxis passed by her car without any of the drivers noticing the fifteen-year-old student in the driver’s seat.

"Get in," said Zeng Xuerou with a friendly tone, signaling them to get into the car.

"Xiao Xian, are we really taking her car?" Zhang Yiyi was still hung up on past grievances, and besides, how old was Zeng Xuerou, and was her driving safe?

"Get in, whose car is it to not get in," Xiao Xian didn’t hesitate and got into the passenger seat first.

Seeing Xiao Xian getting into the passenger seat, Zeng Xuerou’s expression changed slightly. The passenger seat in a car is considered both the most dangerous and the most intimate seat. In case of a car accident, the passenger seated there often suffers the most serious injuries.

That freshman who had offended her several times didn’t hesitate to get into the car; did she really trust her driving that much?

Zeng Xuerou, because of her family matters, had taken leave. Knowing that traffic would be bad at this hour, she decided to drive out again. Little did she expect to come across two freshmen scurrying by the roadside right after heading out.

"Another red light; it’s over, it’s already 9:15, we’re definitely late, my first match," Zhang Yiyi leaned against the car window, pitifully looking at the red light that seemed to be frozen in place.

Zeng Xuerou watched the red light at the intersection and said lightly, "Fasten your seat belt."

Xiao Xian got the message and fastened her seat belt. Zhang Yiyi was about to speak but after catching the warning look in the rearview mirror, hurriedly buckled up as well.

At the busy intersection, Zeng Xuerou appeared as if she had transformed into a different person. Her hands which were originally on the steering wheel suddenly released it; her left hand swiftly maneuvered the wheel, and her right hand gripped the gear shift. The car’s gears switched rapidly between the first, second, and third, with the private car’s wheels frantically scraping the ground. Before the other two passengers in the car could react, the red private car pulled out of the waiting crowd of cars and quickly turned into one alleyway, then another, and countless more.

Beijing’s alleys, many and complex, some alleyways could not even be named, and some were dead ends. With only a dozen minutes to go before the start of the game, Zeng Xuerou chose to dive into the small alleyways rather than the main roads, a move that made Zhang Yiyi moan in despair.

Xiao Xian, on the other hand, was secretly cheering inside, not out of misery but in admiration. Even though they were weaving through alleys, the red car did not seem to be restricted by the limited space, and at every corner, Zeng Xuerou could accurately calculate the steering wheel’s angle of rotation.

Her feet continuously switched between the accelerator and the brake, sitting at the driver’s seat as steady as could be, it was all with such ease. What truly surprised Xiao Xian was Zeng Xuerou’s expression at that moment; her teeth clenched, eyes shining with excitement, completely different from the strict and stern Student Council President.

"Hey, careful, there’s a dead end up ahead," Zhang Yiyi, agitated, gripped the back of the front seat, not knowing how many alleyways they had passed when only a wall appeared ahead.

The car body made a drifting-like sharp turn, and the red car’s front swerved, revealing a small path to the right of what seemed like a dead wall.

Across the small path, Shunde Middle School stood amidst the Maple Forest, and on Zhang Yiyi’s watch, the minute hand pointed precisely to 9:25. A taxi would have taken more than twenty minutes for the journey, but Zeng Xuerou made it in just ten minutes. (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation.)

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