Chapter 6

Sister Zhang pulled Jiang Xiaoyuan over, placed her hands on her hips, and shouted at the little boy: "Go away! I'll hit you!"

Jiang Xiaoyuan was thus taken away by Sister Zhang

"Do you still want to stay in a hotel? What star rating do you prefer?" Sister Zhang asked teasingly.

It can be described as a patch of dog skin plaster in the bustling city center

Jiang Xiaoyuan was in a dire situation, realizing that she did not have a single credit card on her, only five hundred yuan in cash. Even for the cheapest budget hotel, she could probably only manage to get by for three or four days

Jiang Xiaoyuan felt a heavy pot of water in her stomach, which pressed her soul, on the verge of ascending to the heavens, back down. Her numb and dazed mind gradually became clear, and only then did she realize that the hygiene situation of this female driver was concerning, and she had bad breath

Jiang Xiaoyuan hurriedly followed in her footsteps, her toes painfully rubbed by the inferior synthetic leather. She numbly glanced down, deciding to choose to trust Mingguang, ignoring the alarming messages sent to her by those who contacted her later.

Truck driver: "What do I have in this truck... Sigh, you really are pitiful. Where are you planning to go? Let me give you a ride, sister."

Jiang Xiaoyuan immediately realized, indeed, who else would ask for someone's ID just because they inquired where they came from

Furthermore, perhaps Mingguang did not deceive her

The car is filled with the smell of gasoline, human odor, and a hint of fermented food, creating a polluted atmosphere. Taking a breath feels as if it gets stuck in the throat, refusing to go down.

Zhang Xiuqin said without turning her head: "Just stay here for now, you know nothing. If you go out, you will be deceived. Later, I will take you to find your fellow townspeople. When you come out to work, you can't do it all on your own. You must find someone from your hometown to guide you. You are too reckless.

Sister Zhang asked casually while walking, "What will we do after we arrive? Have you thought it through?"

Jiang Xiaoyuan was called "pitiful" by her twice in a row; when in her life has she ever been pitied by anyone?

Jiang Xiaoyuan was hesitating in her heart, yet she spoke grandly, saying: "I need to find a job that provides food and accommodation; I can't keep troubling you here."

She, on the verge of collapse due to hunger and cold, felt the resurgence of her grievances, and her eyes began to burn with tears again. Unfortunately, although Jiang Xiaoyuan was delicate, she was not the type to show vulnerability in front of others. She quickly leaned back against the dirty car seat, tilted her head back, and held back her tears.

Jiang Xiaoyuan is unable to confront her identity as a rural migrant worker, nor can she bear such a life. Being forced to carry this identity to the glamorous city of A, she feels that it would be more comfortable to die. Even if Mingguang deceived her, Jiang Xiaoyuan would still prefer to cling to a glimmer of hope

Jiang Xiaoyuan had no clue at all

Driving a truck on a narrow road at night requires the driver to be extremely focused. Once the vehicle is in motion, Sister Zhang no longer engages in conversation with Jiang Xiaoyuan, only advising her to take a rest if she feels tired.

In the cramped cockpit, whenever the driver spoke, his breath would blow directly onto Jiang Xiaoyuan's face. Jiang Xiaoyuan's face twitched slightly, almost imperceptibly, and her weak digestive system began to rebel, churning in a small area.

After driving for another three to four hours, we finally arrived in the downtown area of City A

At first, there were certainly people to take care of him, but their family had another child last year, a normal one, and they let him fend for himself. He runs around all day like a wild horse, looking just like a beggar. Alas! Sister Zhang did not know whether to sigh out of anger or sympathy, and turned back to remind Jiang Xiaoyuan, saying, "From now on, make sure to close the door properly when living here, to prevent him from sneaking in. Oh, and be alert while walking; this child does not understand much and hardly comprehends a few words. Today, he threw down a bucket, and last time, I don't know where he threw down a brick, which hit the son-in-law in the yard and required eight stitches at the hospital."

Due to the prevalence of difficult individuals in this area, prolonged disputes have ensued, and the various interests remain difficult to reconcile. It seems that there is little hope for relocation in this lifetime. Surrounding us are towering buildings, and just across a narrow alley is a bustling thoroughfare. However, upon entering the alley, it feels as though one has traversed several decades—inside is cramped and narrow, cluttered with debris and garbage, with mosquitoes and flies rampant. The smell of cooking oil mingles with the stench of the sewage, creating a dismal atmosphere.

She thought to herself: "Damn it, it's only fifty days, I can endure it."

In that fleeting moment, it seemed to be her instinctive reaction; that unfamiliar identity card appeared to be the only fulcrum for her in this strange time and space. Without it, she would be unable to clarify her origins and circumstances.

Jiang Xiaoyuan cautiously asked, "Is no one taking care of it?"

Jiang Xiaoyuan thought: "Once I endure this, the world will be vast and open to me, no matter what happens next"

My phone is dead, she struggled to maintain a steady pace in her voice and said softly, "I can't find anyone, ah..."

Sister Zhang waved her hand and said: "What are you asking for? A young girl out in the world without any relatives or friends, and you don't have much money. Even if you had money, you must keep it safe and not let others know, understand? We have a cafeteria here, come on, I'll take you there"

This city is not unfamiliar to Jiang Xiaoyuan; it is her mother's hometown, where her grandparents reside. She often comes here to play during her holidays, and she is well aware of where the good food and fun activities are. However, she has never traveled on the highway in the early morning.

Sister Zhang's monkey-like face broke into a kind expression as she patted her on the back: "Alright, you might as well come with me."

The little rascal was leaning on the railing, picking his nose while making funny faces and squinting, mumbling "bang—bang—"

The driver appeared to have a gentle temperament and patiently asked, "Where are you from?"

The two characters "hotel" amused Sister Zhang, and she was stirred by Jiang Xiaoyuan's foolish idea, feeling an indescribable sympathy. Although this girl could be considered not young anymore, she had clearly never seen the world. Having watched a few episodes of a television drama from somewhere, she was planning to "venture out".

Even if I were to be killed by that so-called law, I would not live in this cursed place.

In such chaotic thoughts, she curled her neck and fell asleep feeling wronged. Several times, she was jolted awake by the bumpy ride, and Jiang Xiaoyuan remained in a daze, feeling as if she were trapped in a nightmare. It was not until the morning light tore through the mist and illuminated the road that Jiang Xiaoyuan, at a remote rest stop, received a bottle of cold water from Sister Zhang, and only then did she numbly remember: "Oh, the nightmare is not over yet"

The alley is predominantly lined with small buildings of two to three stories, which must have once been a picturesque area of charming villas. Now, each villa accommodates five to eight households, and the former charm is no longer worth mentioning, replaced only by the sight of indecent children. Women's undergarments, tattered and torn, hang on bamboo poles, fluttering in the wind amidst the chaos, resembling a display of international flags.

Jiang Xiaoyuan quickly reported the name of her town as listed on her new ID card, and instinctively took out the ID card, holding it up in front of the driver: "Look, this is my ID card."

The little boy shrank back, peering down from the terrace in a sneaky manner. Sister Zhang casually picked up a broom, raised a flurry of debris, and pretended to use the broomstick to chase the little boy on the terrace, causing the child to hurriedly curse and run away

Unable to eat anything, but water is drinkable. Jiang Xiaoyuan gulped down an entire bottle of cold mineral water in one go, wishing she could transform into a funnel to swallow and expel rivers.

With a slight shift in perspective, the entire city seems to have become unfamiliar.

The female driver thought that a female ghost would not have such a bland taste for raw flesh and blood, so she felt slightly relieved. With her large eyes, which occupied half of her face, she asked, "Why are you walking here alone in the dead of night? Have you encountered any bad people?"

In a state of distraction, suddenly, a worn-out plastic bucket fell from the sky, landing squarely in front of Jiang Xiaoyuan. Had she taken two steps faster, it might have landed on her head.

Jiang Xiaoyuan instinctively curled up into a ball, thinking to herself that if she could return to her own time and space, she would definitely drive carefully in the future, eliminating all safety hazards. She also wanted to resign from the company where she was just passing time, go back to study properly, obtain a legitimate degree, and then find a suitable job for herself. After gaining some experience for a few years, she would return to help her family when she was capable.

After much contemplation, she realized that she still was unwilling to believe the assertion that "Mingguang intends to harm her"

He casually replied, "Uh... how about finding a job first? Could you please tell me where there are affordable hotels around here?"

Sister Zhang bent down to pick up the plastic bucket and said to Jiang Xiaoyuan: "Fool, it doesn't matter, if you don't have much courage, just be a bit fiercer next time you see it, and it will run away."

Jiang Xiaoyuan did not know where she should go, so she could only silently follow Sister Zhang, accompanying her to unload goods and settle accounts. Once everything was completed, Jiang Xiaoyuan took the initiative to say: "Thank you, otherwise, how about I treat you to lunch?"

The driver was amused by her: "I am not a police officer, why would I check your ID? You are about the same age as my niece, this can't be your first time out, right?"

Jiang Xiaoyuan realized that if it were not for this experience, she might never have felt how happy her life truly was, and how much time she had wasted.

Jiang Xiaoyuan almost blurted out "Auntie," but after a brief pause, her emotional intelligence, which had been offline for over twenty years, was called into action, and she reluctantly intervened to prompt her to change her words

Sister Zhang lives in an old house in the old town of City A, a building from the 1930s and 1940s, originating from the old society

Jiang Xiaoyuan: "Sister, can you charge your car?"

Jiang Xiaoyuan : `` ... ... ''

In Jiang Xiaoyuan's restless heart, a fire ignited. Suddenly, she looked up and saw on the second-floor terrace, which was cluttered with junk, a little boy about six or seven years old. That mischievous child was as dirty as a mud monkey, and it was unclear whether he was neglected, as he was still wearing split-crotch pants at such an age.

Jiang Xiaoyuan leaned against the cold car window, gazing at her faint reflection on the dark glass, her mind in turmoil as she pondered over those few pieces of information

Jiang Xiaoyuan followed Sister Zhang into the alley, stepping cautiously as if one foot was sinking and the other was barely touching the ground. She felt that the black soil and mud beneath her feet carried a foul odor, making her feel extremely nauseous. She deeply regretted her decision; had she known it would be like this, she would have preferred to grit her teeth and stay in a budget hotel. If she ran out of money, at least she could stay in the restaurant and wash dishes—she would even have a job secured.

This cursed place is absolutely uninhabitable

She felt both touched and unwilling, tears began to well up in her eyes, and she could only blink desperately twice: "Thank you, elder sister, how should I address you?"

The female driver flipped her license, on which the three characters "Zhang Xiuqin" were arranged beneath her avatar that resembled a little pet she raised at home: "This is my surname, you can call me Sister Zhang."

The driver said: "Oh, I see, I have a relative from your area. In recent years, many young people from your place have been leaving to work in big cities. Those going to City A all take this route. Our family is over there, so it's just on the way. I can give you a ride back... Oh, the young girl was terrified; it was her first time out and she encountered such a situation, poor thing.

After a pause, Sister Zhang added, "However, after all, he is just a child. It's enough to scare him a little; don't actually hit him. It's not like he intended to be foolish; it's quite pitiful."

Jiang Xiaoyuan found herself unable to defend herself, so she had no choice but to remain silent. She couldn't help but feel anxious again. Although the term "fellow townsman" does not necessarily refer to close neighbors or relatives, if the area is small, they might indeed know each other. As an outsider, if she were to assume this identity, would she inadvertently reveal her true self and be recognized?