Chapter 16: Arrival

Li Yaqin felt she could use this windfall to do many things.

For example, improve her life, invest in future industries after the storm subsided, or even change her destiny.

She took a deep breath and closed the spatial lock.

Then, she closed her eyes again and began to think about her next plan.

Should she go to the army to find her second brother and then try to find a job?

No, with her current second-grade education.

Even in the army, she wouldn't find any good jobs. She still needed to find a way to get a diploma first.

Leaving the village, she didn't want to be found by her biased parents and continue to be exploited by them.

Even if they came to their senses and knew she had come to the military region, the matter of Li Yuehua would be over.

A short time difference had allowed her to escape the fate of being forced to have a child out of wedlock.

She didn't want to take the blame for anything else for her sister, Li Yuehua.

Li Yaqin had to live for herself; she just wanted to earn money and have enough to eat and wear in this era.

Night fell, and the train clattered rhythmically on the tracks.

Li Yaqin's heart was filled with hope. From this moment on, her future was in her own hands.

The future was long; she was no longer the scapegoat.

She could live her own life, the good life she wanted.

As for being resented by Li Dayong and Li Yuehua, sigh, her life was at stake.

Preserving herself was paramount; in the face of life and death, her life was more important.

Being hated—that didn't matter!

At dawn, the train abruptly stopped.

The wheels screeched against the rails, announcing the end of the journey.

Li Yaqin opened her eyes, the confusion receding, replaced by clarity.

As a newly graduated botanist in the 20th century, Li Yaqin was on her way home from her internship.

While eating watermelon by the roadside, watching the police raid a prostitution ring, she was struck and killed by a sports car that ran a red light.

Now, all she cared about in this era was enough to eat and wear; nothing else mattered.

The crowded flow of people shoved her off the train, her feet landing on the unfamiliar platform.

The smell of coal smoke mixed with sweat assaulted her nostrils, making her cough.

She pulled her faded old coat tighter around herself; the thin fabric offered little protection from the morning chill, the cold wind penetrating to her very bones.

The green train lay still on the tracks, like a weary, long snake.

Li Yaqin looked at the train, her eyes filled with complex emotions—a farewell to the past, and a sense of uncertainty about the future.

She wondered what kind of person this brother was, what kind of person he was.

Li Yaqin forced herself to look away; she couldn't turn back, and there was no time to turn back. She had to move forward.

She strode towards the exit.

Stepping out of the station, the outside world was completely different from the inside—one bustling, the other deathly silent.

"Comrade, where are you going? Need a ride?"

A middle-aged man approached, asking enthusiastically.

He wore a greasy jacket, his hat askew, revealing a pair of shrewd eyes.

Those around Li Yaqin cast strange glances.

She was a young woman, alone, dressed in shabby clothes; she clearly came from the countryside and lacked worldly experience.

"This young girl, she's probably here to visit relatives. Judging by her attire, her relatives probably aren't very good either."

"Who knows? Maybe she ran away from home. Young people these days have so many schemes."

The whispers of those around her reached Li Yaqin's ears, but she remained expressionless.

How could these people understand that with her cheat-like abilities, she could live a good life as long as she was careful?

But possessing such a treasure required finding a powerful protector to ensure her safety.

In the jade bottle in that space, there were beauty pills, fertility pills, divine artifact pills, and even pills to prevent childlessness—everything imaginable.

These pills could not only change a person's body but also their destiny.

With these, why should she care about others' opinions?

Li Yaqin straightened her back. She didn't need to explain to anyone; her life was in her own hands.

This was a completely unfamiliar city, bustling and full of life.

The streets were crowded with people and traffic.

Workers in gray-blue Zhongshan suits hurried by.

The crisp sound of bicycle bells echoed everywhere.

And then there were the slogans plastered on the walls, red backgrounds and white lettering, strikingly conspicuous.

Li Yaqin's gaze swept over everything, a complex mix of emotions welling up within her.

A mixture of the novelty of being a newcomer and a vague anxiety about the future.

She felt like a lone boat adrift in the torrent of history, unsure of where it would take her.

She clutched the bundle in her hands tightly; it contained all her belongings.

She had to adapt to this era as quickly as possible, find her place, and settle down.

The situation outside was tense; spies were being hunted everywhere, and the atmosphere was tense.

Being alone made her more susceptible to suspicion. She had to be cautious, proceeding step by step.

She secretly planned, waiting for the storm to pass and the spring breeze of reform and opening up to blow.

Perhaps she could use the resources in her spatial storage to start a small business.

For example, she could trade in scarce goods to solve her immediate survival problems, and then slowly consider other things.

However, that's something to consider long in the future.

Li Yaqin shook her head, a barely perceptible bitterness appearing at the corner of her mouth.

It was as if she were mocking herself, or perhaps resignedly accepting her fate.

Her voice was barely audible, like a leaf drifting in the wind.

"Thinking about these things now is ultimately too early; it's all just a mirage."

The most important thing right now is to find her second brother, Li Qiang.

In this unfamiliar era, only by finding someone to rely on can she, like a floating weed, find fertile ground to take root and gain a foothold.

Her chaotic thoughts tangled like a knotted tangle, entangling her.

Suddenly, a cacophony of noise surged in like a tide, interrupting her reverie and pulling her back to reality.

She looked towards the sound, her gaze piercing through the bustling crowd, like searching for a lighthouse in a fog.

Finally, her gaze settled on a corner at the station exit.

There, a young figure stood out, like a solitary pine tree rising above the clamor.

He wore a crisp military uniform, the epaulets gleaming softly in the morning sunlight, a symbol of hope.

He held aloft a simple sign, made of cardboard with worn edges.

On the sign were three words written in rough strokes—"Li Yaqin."

The handwriting, tinged with a touch of naivety and urgency, seemed to pierce through the cardboard, revealing the writer's anxiety and anticipation.

Li Yaqin recognized it immediately; it was the "masterpiece" of her stepsister, her adopted second brother.

A warm current surged through her heart, like a ray of sunshine in winter, dispelling the chill and unease within her.

Li Yaqin walked briskly forward, her steps light, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

Finally, she saw her eldest brother, Li Qiang. The figure, blurry in the original owner's memories, was now clear and real.

Li Qiang was even taller and more robust than she had imagined.

His broad shoulders seemed capable of bearing all storms, giving her a sense of solid security.

He led her to a military green truck, which looked quite old.

The paint was peeling, the truck body was covered with dried mud and dust, and the tire treads were badly worn.

It exuded a simple and weathered aura, like a veteran who had endured many hardships.

Li Yaqin's luggage was minimal, consisting of only a small package, so light it was almost imperceptible.

She carried her package and nimbly climbed into the truck bed, as light as a swallow.

Li Qiang was the deputy regimental commander; he was only using the army truck for freight work and had come to pick her up on the way.

Li Qiang stood below the truck, looking up at her with a warm, honest smile.

That smile, as warm as sunshine, dispelled the gloom in her heart.

He had a neat crew cut, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, exuding the masculine and upright air unique to soldiers.

"Yaqin, you must be tired from your journey!" His voice was loud and clear, like an echo in a valley, filled with concern and enthusiasm.

Li Yaqin looked at him, silently assessing him, as if examining a precious antique.

From his appearance and initial contact,

this eldest brother of the Li family didn't seem as cold as the original owner of her memories; instead, he possessed a simple and reliable quality.

At least for now, his attitude was friendly, showing no rejection or hostility.

“Brother, I’m not tired,” Li Yaqin replied, her voice clear and melodious, like a mountain spring, tinged with gratitude.

After exchanging pleasantries, Li Qiang inquired about the family, his tone slightly probing.

“Yaqin, is everything alright at home? Should we send a telegram or make a phone call to let Mom and Dad know we’re safe?”

It would be a way of showing filial piety.

Li Yaqin hesitated for a moment, then shook her head, as if rejecting a tempting offer.

“Let’s wait until I’m settled. It’s not the right time yet.”

She didn’t want to contact her biased parents so soon, lest it create unnecessary complications and disrupt her original plans.

Arriving at the military dependents’ compound, they went through various procedures—obtaining certificates, registering records, and so on—a tedious but necessary process.

After going through these procedures repeatedly, Li Yaqin felt dizzy and disoriented, yet she had to force herself to stay alert.

Li Yaqin followed Li Qiang into the military dependents’ compound, their faces under the spotlight.

It made her slightly uncomfortable, but she secretly straightened her back.

Finally, they stopped in front of a brick house with a small courtyard.

This was her brother's house.