Chapter 183: Arrival in Hu City
“Hello, Comrade Ji? I’m here.”
Ning Xiyue heard Comrade Ji’s calm voice on the other end of the line, giving her clear instructions without haste.
“The train tickets to Hu City are already purchased — tomorrow morning, the train departs around ten o’clock. I bought two tickets, so you and your second brother can go together. It’ll be safer with someone accompanying you. At six tomorrow morning, Comrade Li from the County Armed Forces will be waiting in Yongchuan Town. The tickets are with him, and he will also ensure you get safely to the train station.”
Comrade Ji had thought of everything, even her safety. Truly a good person. Ning Xiyue sniffled slightly, her voice full of gratitude:
“Alright, thank you so much, Comrade Ji. I’ll leave my eldest brother in your care for now.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything. Be careful on your way here. When you arrive, I’ll come to pick you up. Also, the Youth Office has been informed — no need to worry about taking leave. You just need to get your team leader to come in; I’ll say a few words to him.”
“Comrade Ji, thanks again. Wait a moment — I’ll call the team leader.”
Excited and eager, Ning Xiyue called toward the door: “Team Leader, someone’s calling for you.”
She thought to herself that once her eldest brother was feeling better, she must have him take Comrade Ji out to a meal to thank him. He had helped them so much — truly a loyal comrade.
The team leader quickly pushed the door open and took the phone from Ning Xiyue. His voice was friendly, tinged with a flattering smile:
“Hello, Comrade Ji. Yes, yes, go ahead.”
“Mm, alright, understood, okay, okay.”
Ning Xiyue only heard him smiling and responding affirmatively before the call ended.
She watched him sit down, take out a black fountain pen and a stack of blank letterheads with the brigade’s heading, uncapped the pen, and quickly fill out the relevant information. After signing his name, he took the team’s official seal and stamped the letter with two firm presses. With a rustle, he tore it off and handed it to Ning Xiyue.
Every step was decisive and swift, without a hint of hesitation.
In less than a minute, Ning Xiyue had a freshly prepared introduction letter in her hands. She carefully read its contents under the team leader’s watchful eyes.
Seeing the words “One month leave for personal matters,” Ning Xiyue froze. The team leader had granted her such a long leave?
She cautiously pointed at the text and asked: “Team Leader, this is correct, right?”
“Yes, it’s correct. The Youth Office has approved it. Go ahead, just remember to return on time.”
The team leader nodded firmly, confirming there was no mistake.
“As for today’s phone bill, we’ll record it and deduct it from your welfare allowance next month.”
Ning Xiyue gratefully accepted the introduction letter: “Thank you, Team Leader. I’m leaving now.”
At the door, she turned back.
The team leader asked in surprise, “Is there something else?”
“Team Leader, does the Dahuai team where my second brother is have a phone?” Ning Xiyue asked sheepishly.
“Yes, do you want to call them?”
“Yes. He’s going too. I’ll call and let him know so I don’t have to make the trip.”
“Alright.”
The team leader picked up the phone book, found the number for the neighboring team, and helped Ning Xiyue connect and explain the situation.
It was then she learned that Comrade Ji had already called over there.
After ten minutes, Ning Xiyue received a call from Ning Qingyuan. Since Comrade Ji had already notified him, Ning Xiyue kept it brief, arranged a meeting time, and hung up, then returned to pack her things.
She hung up the ham, stored Xiao Hui in the space, finished packing, and informed Chen Ye Chu that she would be away for a while.
That night, lying in bed, Ning Xiyue immediately entered the host training room to study the courses on Bear Gallbladder Vision Pills and Vision Eye Drops.
After finishing, she went straight to the simulation room to practice.
She kept making pills, each batch better than the last, until she reached 94 points for Vision Pills and 95 for Eye Drops. Then she hit a plateau — no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t surpass that score.
The more she tried, the more frustrated she became.
System pressed down on her hand to stop her from making more pills.
[Host, rest. Don’t rush. Sometimes impatience is what holds you back. Your mind is too tense now; it’s bad for your health. Drink some Yangzhi Ganlu and get a good sleep.]
“Alright, I’ll listen. I’ll rest first.”
Ning Xiyue stopped, looked at the pile of unchanged pills, and angrily had the system recycle them. She took out the stored Yangzhi Ganlu, drank it, relaxed her entire body, and let her mind enter a peaceful sleep.
…
At six in the morning, a hurried Ning Xiyue and Ning Qingyuan were already in Comrade Li’s car, heading to the city train station.
The siblings were tense the whole way.
Ning Xiyue noticed faint dark circles under her brother’s eyes and redness in his eyes. The usually smiling face was serious, worry etched in every line.
Although they often joked around, the brothers were close. Seeing his state, she knew he had stayed awake all night worrying after hearing the news.
That wouldn’t do — now that her eldest brother was better, she couldn’t have the second brother wear himself out.
She took out Ning Qingyuan’s water bottle, added a drop of Yangzhi Ganlu, and handed him the hot water:
“Second brother, drink some water. After that, lean back and rest in the car. Don’t worry about the eldest; I have it under control.”
“Mm.” Ning Qingyuan drank and covered the bottle: “Sister, you should rest too. It’s still early.”
Comrade Li, driving ahead, thoughtfully said: “Both of you sleep. I’ll wake you when we arrive.”
“Alright, thank you, Comrade Li.”
Ning Xiyue took a sip from her own bottle, and the siblings closed their eyes for a short nap.
By ten in the morning, Ning Xiyue and Ning Qingyuan were on the train.
Comrade Ji had specifically arranged for Comrade Li to buy two adjacent sleeper tickets.
They quickly found their spots — one on the upper bunk, the other below. Everyone in the carriage was decent and well-mannered, making the environment quiet and pleasant, without bad odors or noise.
Such an environment was perfect — no disturbances, and she could focus on her work.
Ning Qingyuan leaned on his bed reading, while Ning Xiyue pretended to sleep but was already in the system’s simulation room, aiming for perfect pills.
Over the next two days on the train, except for eating, using the bathroom, and sleeping, Ning Xiyue spent all her time in the simulation room making medicine.
A perfect score was truly difficult; her highest so far was 98 points.
She felt discouraged. If she hadn’t achieved perfection by the time she saw her eldest brother, she’d have to temporarily let him use the current batch and keep practicing.
As the train approached Hu City, the announcement came. Passengers stirred, picked up their luggage, and waited for the train to stop.
At Hu City Station, Ning Xiyue and Ning Qingyuan carried their bags, looking for Comrade Ji in the crowd.
The station was crowded, several times busier than the Song City station they had departed from.
Ning Qingyuan grabbed Ning Xiyue, who was being jostled, and took out a hemp rope. He looped one end around his hand and passed the other to her:
“Sister, stay close. Loop this around your wrist so we don’t get separated in the crowd.”
“Okay.”
Ning Xiyue reluctantly accepted the rope and looped it around her wrist.
Her brother was treating her like a child, even preparing a safety rope to prevent them from getting lost.
