Transmigrated as Cannon Fodder — I Rise to Female Lead Through Hard Work-Chapter 77: Going to the Provincial Capital

The spring rain is as tender as fat, and the days that followed it rained almost every day. But work couldn’t stop, wearing a raincoat to work, the stuffy heat made Yi Roujing experience hardship like never before.

On April 20th, the sky finally cleared. On this day, Hu Ailing bid farewell to Yi Roujing just when Yi Roujing was bringing wheat bakes to see her.

"I’m leaving." There was a sense of liberation and yearning for the future in Hu Ailing’s eyes.

"Where to?" Yi Roujing asked with concern.

"I’ll only tell you." During these days, Yi Roujing visited Hu Ailing every day. Her quick recovery was partly due to the wild foods and fine grains Yi Roujing occasionally brought her. Hu Ailing was grateful to Yi Roujing.

"You and Kaiying have been great benefactors to me." Hu Ailing said with a smile, "Because of Kaiying, my family now feels embarrassed to come for money."

"Kaiying understands my troubles, knows I don’t want to go back to my family, and introduced me to a job. I’ll be a nanny in the county town for a wealthy family. They provide meals and accommodation, and I can earn money. I want to go."

"Is it in Huaixi County?" Yi Roujing asked. Hu Ailing nodded.

"I don’t know which family yet, but Kaiying knows someone who can help introduce me. There’s more hope of finding a job, just doing chores and cooking, helping take care of the elderly and children. It’s work rural folks can do, and I can do it well."

"Even if I were to remarry, I’ve decided to find someone myself. Don’t worry about me anymore." Hu Ailing seemed very relaxed now.

"I heard Wang Qiushuang will marry in June. That girl is very cunning, and she’ll live next door to you. Be cautious around her." Hu Ailing advised mindfully.

Yi Roujing was quite surprised, "Wang Qiushuang will marry Ding JianShe, will she agree?"

"Her mother and my former mother-in-law have already agreed. If Wang Qiushuang listens to her mother, this marriage will certainly happen." Hu Ailing spoke calmly, "Moreover, Wang Qiushuang visited once, saying she came to see me, but she only stayed in my room for a few minutes."

"Her talk was mostly about asking about you and Ding Ancheng. I don’t know what she’s thinking. She kept saying how good her relationship with you was, then apologized to me while sobbing, which annoyed me."

"She’s coming, so the marriage will likely happen. Hupozi has chosen several dates already. Anyway, I’m leaving tomorrow, so let them do whatever they want."

"Visit me again tomorrow or the day after. After I finish the formalities tomorrow, I won’t be coming back. If you help make it seem like I’m still around, my family won’t come to ask you where I’ve gone."

Yi Roujing smiled upon hearing this, "Okay."

"But you just finished your postnatal confinement a week ago. Are you sure you’re well enough to move?" Yi Roujing asked while checking Hu Ailing’s pulse. Her energy was still weak, but she was stronger than she had been in recent days. Perhaps her mindset had changed, making her seem particularly lively and energetic.

"If I don’t leave now, I won’t be able to." Hu Ailing understood clearly, "I have money now, my family is watching closely. Once they take my money, they’ll want me to marry and collect another dowry, and then I’ll be stuck."

"Now with money in hand, I can rent a room in the county town. Once I find a family to work for, I can be in control." Hu Ailing’s eyes lit up with determination.

"Once I earn money and gain strength, I won’t be dictated by family anymore."

Yi Roujing felt gratified, "I should also head to the county town in the second half of the year. You can look for me at County First Middle School then. If you need help, just ask, and I’ll do my best to assist you."

"Thank you." Hu Ailing’s nose tingled with emotion. Years of familial and romantic connections seemed insignificant compared to the genuine care of a neighbor. She felt both a failure and incredibly fortunate to have met someone like Yi Roujing.

Yi Roujing prepared some money and tickets, but Hu Ailing refused the money, taking only a few food coupons, expressing her gratitude profusely.

The next day, Yi Roujing came to find Hu Ailing again, but without stepping inside. Hupozi, in rare good spirits, chatted with her casually but didn’t mention Hu Ailing’s whereabouts. Yi Roujing expressed just the right amount of confusion but was soon dismissed by Hupozi.

On April 22nd, Yi Roujing visited next door again. Hupozi, now in even better spirits, candidly revealed that Ding JianShe and Hu Ailing had already divorced, and she was no longer connected to their family. She warned against asking about her.

The matter couldn’t be kept secret, especially after Huang Kaiying came over, the news spread quickly in the commune.

The following day, Hu Ailing’s family came calling, but since Hu Ailing hadn’t returned home, their interest was piqued by the fifty yuan she carried. The family showed excessive concern for their divorced daughter.

It ended in a sour note, since Hupozi and Ding JianShe genuinely didn’t know where Hu Ailing had gone, and shamelessly blamed Yi Roujing, suspecting she was behind it, given her frequent visits.

But Yi Roujing’s visits were well-known in the commune, so suspicion quickly shifted elsewhere.

Hu Ailing’s mother lamented loudly, claiming her daughter might no longer wish to live, not knowing where she’s buried now. Cursing Hupozi for her evilness, ultimately wanting compensation.

However, with the divorce certificate, there was no way to pin the issue on them, so Hu Ailing’s family had to leave disappointed.

On the last day of April, Huang Kaiying visited Yi Roujing with a smile, sharing updates on Hu Ailing’s situation. She had found a job as a nanny at the home of the county magistrate, whose wife chose her from a group of people, feeling at such a family, as long as she’s diligent, life would be comfortable.

Yi Roujing was extremely surprised, yet more so relieved.

That day, Ding Ancheng returned from the county town, bringing four train tickets to the provincial capital, purchased using an introduction letter under County First Middle School’s name for sleeper train tickets. That evening, the family happily packed their luggage, with Ding Ancheng present, Li Hongying simply instructed a few things.

On May 1st, International Workers’ Day, a rare seven-day holiday, many would visit relatives and friends, so Huaixi County train station was especially crowded. When Yi Roujing and her group of four arrived, the station was filled with people carrying luggage inside and outside.

"Don’t separate. Our train leaves at twelve-fifteen, in ten minutes we can check-in and board." Ding Ancheng kept holding onto Yi Roujing as he spoke, naturally addressing Ding Anguo and Ding Anmin.

"It’s my first time on a train." Ding Anmin was excited, "I heard there is food to eat on the train."

"You want to eat? It’s bound to be expensive." Ding Anguo dashed his hopes.

Not just Ding Anmin, Yi Roujing also felt a bit of anticipation. She had never been on a green train before; she had traveled by high-speed train and plane, but never a green train, sitting opposite, a group of people chatting and playing cards for entertainment, it seemed rather appealing.