Transmigrated as Cannon Fodder — I Rise to Female Lead Through Hard Work-Chapter 37: Your Guidance Is Appreciated

"Are you feeling better?" On the way back to the educated youth spot, Ding Anmin saw Xia Xingchen was slightly better than in the afternoon, but still depressed, and was a bit worried.

"It’s normal not to accept it immediately," Yi Roujing interjected. "After all, it’s someone you genuinely liked and trusted. Being betrayed by such a person, it’d be abnormal if you had no reaction at all." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"It’s not necessarily true," Xia Xingchen stubbornly replied.

Yi Roujing was somewhat annoyed, a cold smile crept up her lips, "If you’ve truly been sold off, you’d have nowhere left to cry."

Thinking about being tied up this morning, Xia Xingchen’s face turned pale.

Ding Anmin tugged Yi Roujing’s sleeve, "Xingchen can’t accept it all at once, she’ll get better slowly."

"Hope so," Yi Roujing said calmly, her gaze carrying a hint of sarcasm which Xia Xingchen couldn’t meet and quickly looked away.

"Sister-in-law..." Xia Xingchen understood Yi Roujing meant well, "I just can’t believe it. Ever since childhood, she’s cared for me, washed my clothes, cooked, made new clothes for me every year. I never lacked what others had, and even had things others didn’t."

"If all those years of concern were just a scheme, I wouldn’t know how to face it; it’s like the world is collapsing."

"Sister-in-law, you asked me before why, being from Jing City, I came to the south to become an educated youth." Xia Xingchen smiled somewhat bitterly, "The quota was originally meant for my sister."

"She’s my stepmother’s biological daughter, a year older than me."

"Back then, I had just graduated high school and was about to start working."

"How could you go to the countryside if you had a job?" Ding Anmin was shocked, hearing this from Xia Xingchen for the first time. "You took the quota meant for your sister, didn’t you give her your job quota instead?"

Xia Xingchen nodded, Ding Anmin was astonished, "You’re truly foolish, giving your good job to someone else, and still coming to the countryside to work. Is something wrong with you?"

"She found someone she wanted to marry soon and cried begging me for help, saying her biological mother spent almost all her thoughts on me. Just this once, could I help her?"

Ding Anmin rolled her eyes, "She shed some crocodile tears, and you softened. Going to the countryside as an educated youth is no simple matter."

"I was somewhat at a loss at the time, didn’t agree immediately, but after going back, I saw my stepmother holding my sister secretly crying." Ding Anmin said wryly.

"So you softened when your stepmother shed crocodile tears." Ding Anmin exclaimed.

"She didn’t speak for my sister or mention letting me go to the countryside. I couldn’t bear seeing her upset and volunteered," Xia Xingchen said.

Ding Anmin was stunned, while Yi Roujing chuckled, "Such high tricks, and yet you’re this simpleton being played around."

"Xingchen, your stepmother isn’t a good person," Ding Anmin said seriously. "If she genuinely cared for you, she wouldn’t have agreed to this, especially given your health, and you’ve been at the Dingping Production Team for over a year without any family visiting."

"Aside from the so-called tonics you mentioned, nothing extra provided for you, haven’t seen you buy meat, fish, or grain. Look at other educated youths, whose families are well off, they eat well at national restaurants monthly."

"She says money went to buying medicine," Xia Xingchen’s gaze dimmed, she’s never doubted this explanation.

"Tomorrow go find Elder Ren, let him check the medicine. If it’s no good, stop drinking it, have Elder Ren prescribe something to boost your health," Ding Anmin said angrily.

Xia Xingchen slowly nodded.

The next day, Xia Xingchen carried the medicine remnants, and with Ding Anmin and Yi Roujing, set out to the commune before dawn. A tractor from the production team was heading to the commune early, they hopped on it at the village entrance.

"Anmin, going to the commune this early for what?" Driving the tractor was Ding Shengwu, a technician from the team.

"Xingchen’s health is too weak, we’re taking her to the clinic," Ding Anmin explained.

Yesterday morning, the news circulated was Xia Xingchen fainting at work. Ding Shengwu, hearing this, believed it and showed concern for Xia Xingchen in a low voice.

Taking the tractor, the three reached the commune in half an hour. The sky wasn’t fully bright, and the clinic wasn’t open yet, so they found a place to sit and took out breakfast they’d prepared.

Yi Roujing and Ding Anmin had a boiled egg each, flatbread, and water in military-green flasks.

Xia Xingchen took out two sweet potatoes, Ding Anmin didn’t have the heart and gave her a boiled egg along with a flatbread, taking a sweet potato for herself.

Xia Xingchen felt warm inside, "Eat the egg yourself, this bread is great for me."

"Take it." It was Yi Roujing who spoke, dividing her egg in half with Ding Anmin, whose eyes laughed briefly, displaying a "wise choice" expression, cheekily. Xia Xingchen saw this and smiled.

"Your sister-in-law bond is great."

"Ha, check your eyes today too, your vision’s poor." Ding Anmin retorted, making Xia Xingchen laugh even bigger.

Yi Roujing remained calm, "Don’t bother with the little one, someone’s coming, is it him?"

Ding Anmin’s annoyed expression faded upon hearing Yi Roujing’s latter words and seeing an elderly man about sixty slowly approaching.

"It’s Elder Ren." Ding Anmin stood up and patted herself, then walked to the clinic entrance to wait.

"Kids, why so early, doctors haven’t started yet." The elderly man took out a key while opening the door.

"Elder Ren, we’re here for you," Ding Anmin whispered, causing Elder Ren’s hand to pause.

"I’m just a doorkeeper, what could you want from me?" Elder Ren smiled.

"Elder Ren, my friend has been drinking this medicinal decoction since childhood, please take a look for any issues?" Ding Anmin explained their purpose.

Elder Ren’s expression turned stern, "You’ve got the wrong person, I can’t analyze medicinal decoction."

"Elder Ren, please..."

"Elder Ren, please take a look, otherwise my friend might not live long." Yi Roujing interrupted Ding Anmin, "Her name is Xia Xingchen, from Jing City, at Dingping Production Team as educated youth, her stepmother gives her the tonic. She’s nineteen now, and barely can do any work without getting breathless."

"I have some basic knowledge of pharmacology, reviewed the medicine before, won’t kill but neither cure, and contains some cold-type herbs; a normal person taking it long-term would develop issues, let alone Xingchen who was born premature."

"Saving lives has always been my dream; can’t bear seeing her this way due to her stepmother’s maltreatment, but I’m not yet a doctor, lack authority, I humbly ask for your guidance." Yi Roujing pleaded earnestly.