Chapter 80: Saving a Life

Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Saving a Life

Fu Xiaoxiao stepped forward, cautiously approaching the animal shed. As soon as she got close, the person inside noticed her.

"Who?"

Suppressed coughs revealed a weak voice.

"I’m entrusted to deliver medicine." Fu Xiaoxiao no longer concealed herself and directly entered the animal shed.

Upon stepping into this shed located at the edge of a remote village, a pungent smell hit her — a mixture of animal feces, the musty odor of damp straw, and the stench of decay from the lack of ventilation, nearly causing her to gag.

The roof was barely constructed from old straw, with slivers of light penetrating through the gaps like countless prying eyes. The wind caused the straw to rustle as if it could be whisked away by a strong gust at any moment.

Fu Xiaoxiao saw the man’s "bed", which was merely a thin layer of straw that emitted a strange odor in the corner; mixed within were some cow hairs and bits of dry grass.

On the makeshift "bed", at night, the chilling wind poured through the cracks in the shed, causing him to shiver.

"Mr. Lin?" Fu Xiaoxiao called softly.

"How do you know me?" Lin Jun sharply eyed the stranger appearing in the shed; she could call his name, yet he did not know her.

"Xiao Heng." Fu Xiaoxiao slowly approached him, whispering in his ear.

"How do I trust you?" Lin Jun did not trust her, but hearing his grandson’s name, he looked at her with even greater wariness.

If anyone knew Xiao Heng was his grandson, Xiao Heng might also be implicated.

"He told me how, as a child, he mischievously drew a turtle on your favorite painting." Fu Xiaoxiao whispered.

"...That little rascal sent you? Cough, cough, cough..." Hearing Fu Xiaoxiao mention what only he and Xiao Heng knew, Lin Jun let down his guard. Once relaxed, he could no longer hold back the violent coughing.

"Don’t be hasty, take this first." Fu Xiaoxiao brought out the prepared warm water and pills, feeding them into his mouth.

The warm water felt like nectar, and Lin Jun clutched the kettle, drinking furiously.

Fu Xiaoxiao knew he had been coughing for so long; his throat was terribly sore, and the warm water effectively soothed the pain, so she did not stop him.

Once the warm water was finished, Lin Jun felt as though he had come back to life.

"Thank you, miss." Lin Jun breathed a sigh of relief, gratefully looking at Fu Xiaoxiao.

"Keep these tablets safe, take one morning and night, don’t forget!" Fu Xiaoxiao placed the remaining tablets in his hand, reminding him.

"It’s hard for you, a young lady running around for this old skeleton in the dead of night." Despite being in such a situation, Fu Xiaoxiao was willing to risk delivering medicine, Lin Jun patted Fu Xiaoxiao’s hand. "That kid Xiao Heng was headstrong since young; I’ll leave him in your care."

"Uh, Mr. Lin, you might have misunderstood. Xiao Heng and I are not in the kind of relationship you think; I’m already married." Fu Xiaoxiao hurriedly shook her head, explaining after realizing Lin Jun had misunderstood her relationship with Xiao Yi.

"Not? Then why..." taking such a risk to deliver medicine?

He didn’t speak further, but Lin Jun was confused. He had no relations with her, nor anything to offer her; why would she do this?

"Just consider me upholding justice. I know you have a fiery passion; being sent here was the result of spiteful informants, people like you shouldn’t be treated this way." Fu Xiaoxiao chuckled softly, slowly explaining to Lin Jun that she would help him simply because they shouldn’t be buried away in the wilderness.

They were great minds who had once shined for the nation; dying in such a place was too unfair.

"You..." All these years, Lin Jun had endured grievances, mistreatment, and humiliation, merely surviving to one day see justice.

Yet, it’s false to say he wasn’t resentful about the way he was treated; he also hated how his passion for the nation and people was met with such treatment.

Now, hearing Fu Xiaoxiao say he shouldn’t be treated this way, Lin Jun, who had never cried from being persecuted, suddenly found his eyes welling with tears.

"Do you think we’ll see that day?" Lin Jun choked, asking.

Fu Xiaoxiao sensed the question metaphorically grasping a lifeline of hope; yet as a time traveler, she naturally knew their fate.

"I believe, you will see the light of that day, the country needs you, and won’t let the bad guys succeed." Fu Xiaoxiao’s firm words caused Lin Jun to tremble, his cold heart rediscovering its pulse.

Staring at Fu Xiaoxiao for a long while, he slowly closed his eyes.

"For a country to develop, it requires talent, and talent comes from great sages; the knowledge you possess is what the country needs most. Without your guidance, how can talent emerge? How can the country rise? So I firmly believe the country will deliver justice. What you need now is patience, take care of your health, don’t give up." Fu Xiaoxiao’s words repeatedly struck Lin Jun’s heart, igniting the flesh and blood within him.

Indeed, she’s right— the country needs him; he cannot fall, cannot let the scoundrels succeed; he must survive in order to see light again.

"Thank you." Lin Jun slowly opened his eyes, with keen eyes glowing in the darkness, regaining their momentum.

"You’re welcome." Fu Xiaoxiao smiled gently, knowing that the time for justice would not be far away.

In just two years, everything will become clear.

But Fu Xiaoxiao chose not to speak this aloud.

"I brought you potato and sweet potato seeds; plant them behind the animal shed. They grow fast and underground, so nobody will notice the fruit beneath. Scatter plenty of cow dung over them, and let the leaves blend with the weeds, so they won’t be discovered." Fu Xiaoxiao considered bringing him food, but those people were still rampant; he couldn’t protect the food.

It was better to provide seeds, growing underground, with leaves camouflaged among weeds, most suitable.

"You really go out of your way to think for me." Lin Jun accepted the seeds from Fu Xiaoxiao, tightly clutching them.

"Take care, I’ll visit you again when I can!" Fu Xiaoxiao said, preparing to leave.

"Hurry, you’ll be in trouble if anyone sees you." Lin Jun urged her to depart quickly, to avoid being seen.

Fu Xiaoxiao nodded, ready to head out when Lin Jun couldn’t help but ask, "What’s your name?"

"Fu Xiaoxiao, you can call me Xiao Xiao." Fu Xiaoxiao stood under the moonlight, smiling at Lin Jun.

Lin Jun watched her leave, looking down at the medicine and seeds in his hands, gently cradling them.

Fu Xiaoxiao was about to return home, but as she passed through the small woods, she heard a faint gasp.

Her whole body froze.