Chapter 80: The Yongchuan Commune Icon
Ding! [Check-in successful. You’ve received one [Fairness and Integrity Talisman], effective for one day. Would the host like to use it?”]
What’s that supposed to mean?
Just from the name, Ning Xiyue could roughly guess the talisman’s function.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked toward the people at the very front of the line — the ones responsible for grading the grain.
Was this… exactly what she thought it was?
“Sister Guifang, could you help me hold the grain for a bit? I want to go up front and take a look.”
“Sure.”
Ning Xiyue squeezed through the crowd to the front where the public grain was being collected.
Ding! [Would the host like to use the item?]
She had originally planned to observe for a while, but when she heard the system’s prompt, she decided to skip the observation altogether.
Since the problem lay here anyway, she might as well activate it immediately.
She absolutely didn’t want their team’s grain to run into issues and be sent back for rework for no reason. If that happened, the ones who’d suffer most would be her sun-drying team — herself included. Ning Xiyue was not going to let that happen.
“Use.”
Ding! [‘Fairness and Integrity Talisman’ activated.]
As the system’s voice faded, a beam of golden light — visible only to Ning Xiyue — flashed briefly over all the grain station staff and sank into their bodies.
Ning Xiyue crouched nearby to observe the effect for a while.
She soon noticed the staff’s expressions had become much more serious, their evaluations more impartial. They pointed out every flaw in detail, explained exactly where points were deducted, and did it so thoroughly that everyone had to accept their judgments.
No amount of small talk or flattery worked — what was fair remained fair. The staff were firm and incorruptible.
Satisfied with what she saw, Ning Xiyue returned to her team. Now, nothing could go wrong. With the quality of their grain, a top rating was guaranteed.
There was absolutely no way they’d have to rework anything.
Ning Xiyue walked up to Aunt Yangliu. “Auntie, it looks like it’s still going to be a long time before our turn. I’m thinking of heading into town to buy a few things and coming back later.”
Aunt Yangliu glanced ahead and assessed the situation. “Go ahead. Looks like we won’t be up until around noon.”
Ning Xiyue then went to inform the team leader and the other leaders, and also told Wu Guifang.
Wu Guifang and Zhao Jianshe had made up their minds to stay and watch the grading. They didn’t plan to leave, their eyes constantly glued to the front with a look that said they couldn’t spare a second.
Ning Xiyue was honestly a bit worried — if their team didn’t get a spot, those two might not be able to handle the blow and would go crazy from the disappointment.
Leaving the grain station, Ning Xiyue headed straight to the post office.
Ding! [Check-in location discovered: Yongchuan Commune Post Office. Would you like to check in?]
“Check in.”
Ding! [Check-in successful. You’ve received a ‘Whole Country Glows Red’ commemorative stamp.]
What?!
A stamp worth as much as a house?!
Why was it that back in her hometown, checking in at the post office only got her a hundred ordinary stamps, but here, the reward was something this expensive?
“The gap between these check-in rewards is too huge. This isn’t scientific! Comrade System, don’t try to fool me just because I haven’t read enough books!”
Ding! [The system never deceives the host. Also, the host has read plenty of books. Your time-travel itself is the most unscientific thing here.]
Pfft!
“Even you, little turtle, have learned how to make deadpan jokes now.”
Using her mind, Ning Xiyue checked the stamp in her inventory — it was the most valuable thing she had ever received. That brilliant red stamp filled her with pure joy.
It seemed that after switching to a new check-in map, not only were the items different, but so were the check-in locations. Some places in An County might not exist here, and vice versa.
Ning Xiyue figured the check-in items in the rural area were more valuable and surprising — probably because they were related to her being sent down here.
Once she calmed herself down, she pulled out two large parcels from her basket — one to send home, and one to her eldest brother.
The parcels contained dried wild boar meat, ointments she made herself, and some mountain goods she “borrowed” from her second brother. She was sending them as gifts.
Of course, the most important thing was the wolf fang amulet, and she wrote in the letter instructing them to always keep it on their person.
After mailing them, she casually asked, “Comrade, could you check if there’s a package for me? It should be addressed to Ning Xiyue from Daliu Brigade.”
The postman, who was sorting mail for rural delivery, looked up. “Yes, there’s one. It’s pretty big. I’m heading to your team this afternoon to deliver mail anyway. Do you want to pick it up yourself? Looks like it’d be hard for you to carry.”
Ning Xiyue hadn’t expected a package for herself. After hearing the postman’s words, she decided not to pick it up. “Then I’ll trouble you to deliver it for me. Thank you, comrade.”
The postman nodded, still friendly as ever. “Sure. Just remember to come by your brigade office this afternoon to collect it. Might be a little late — I have to deliver to the other brigades first.”
“Alright, thank you. I’ll leave you to your work.”
People were so simple and sincere in this era.
Leaving the post office, Ning Xiyue set out on a new journey — leaving her footprints all over Yongchuan Commune.
She had saved up three days’ worth of check-in chances — nine in total — and she planned to use them all today.
The town of Yongchuan Commune wasn’t large, with only three streets, and not many check-in locations.
Ning Xiyue multitasked — strolling through town while monitoring the system’s check-in backend with her mind.
Hmm? There was a new update on the backend.
She curiously looked at the freshly updated Yongchuan Commune map, where a new detail appeared next to the main icon: 2/5
She had checked in at two places so far. That meant there were five check-in locations in Yongchuan Commune.
Looks like she wouldn’t be able to use up all nine attempts today after all.
There were still four check-in spots left — and she had to find them all.
After thinking about possible locations, Ning Xiyue headed toward the Supply Station.
On the way, she passed a grand and luxurious building.
Ding! [Check-in location discovered: Former Landlord’s Mansion, now the Revolutionary Committee. This is an important check-in site. Host must pose with a ‘glance-over-the-shoulder smile’ to complete the check-in. Proceed?]
“Check in.”
A glance-over-the-shoulder smile? Easy.
If the reward was good enough, she’d even do Tai Chi at the entrance.
Ning Xiyue calmly walked to the mansion gate and casually turned her head, posing without anyone around even noticing.
Ding! [Check-in successful. You’ve received a Super Grand Gift Pack.]
The icon updated to 3/5, confirming that her guess was correct.
Short on time, she didn’t bother opening the gift pack and rushed to the next location.
As expected, the Yongchuan Commune Supply Station was another check-in location.
Checking in there earned her a Kitchen Grand Pack.
Only two check-in locations remained untriggered.
Ning Xiyue headed to the next street and spotted a scrap recycling station.
Ding! [Check-in location discovered: Yongchuan Commune Scrap Station. The host must enter the station to complete check-in. Proceed?]
Since that was the case, she went inside, picked out some old newspapers and books, and then stood among the piles of scrap — with a perfect panoramic view — to complete the check-in.
“Check in.”
Ding! [Check-in successful. You’ve received a Mysterious Box.]
After spending three mao, she walked out of the station carrying a stack of old newspapers, a set of high school exercise books, and a small jewelry box.
Only one check-in location remained.
Ning Xiyue walked up and down all three streets but still couldn’t trigger it.
She sat down at the end of the last street, thinking hard about where the final check-in location could be.
Where was it?
