Chapter 20: Let's Share This Blessing Together

[This is the definition of "killing someone's spirit."]

[I also applaud your kind gesture.]

[Like +1!]

[Zhou Yuyu: Using one moment of bravery to trade for a lifetime of introversion.]

[The words Zhou Yuyu said right before she jumped were clearly meant to incite the crowd, hoping to turn public opinion against Jiang Xiaoya. No one expected that Jiang Xiaoya had already realized the thing in the river wasn't human, so her scheme failed. If the person falling into the river had been real, and Jiang Xiaoya's hesitation had cost a life, those few words from Zhou Yuyu would have been enough to make Jiang Xiaoya a target of public hatred. How terrifying is cyberbullying? Does Zhou Yuyu not understand that? She understands, which is why she did it. Jumping in so resolutely was also a bid for fame, and before gaining that fame, she wanted to step on Jiang Xiaoya to boost herself. She didn't expect her plan to backfire so badly that she became the laughingstock. In this round, Jiang Xiaoya wins hands down!]

[Who exactly said Jiang Xiaoya was stupid? I just rewatched the livestream replay, and there's only one word: satisfying!]

Meanwhile, the scene in Zhou Yuyu's livestream was entirely different.

[Waaaah, I cried again just now. I don't understand what's wrong with this world. Is being kind a crime?]

[Jiang Xiaoya is too much. She stood by and watched someone die, yet she turned around to mock someone who risked their life to save others. Even if she saved the wrong person, Yuyu is still a kind person. To mock and insult a kind person so heartlessly, isn't Jiang Xiaoya afraid of being struck by lightning?]

[What did Yuyu do wrong? Why does she have to face such mockery and malice?]

[Is Jiang Xiaoya mentally ill? She's really like a rabid dog, biting anyone she sees.]

[Yuyu is too kind. Kindness is never wrong. We will always support you.]

[...]

Jiang Xiaoya didn't care about the netizens' evaluations. Seeing that they had all quieted down, she grabbed her burlap sack, intending to slip away.

However, she had underestimated how thick-skinned these people were.

Seeing her prepare to leave, the group instantly swarmed around her, trying their best to act friendly.

"Xiaoya, did you see it earlier...? Oh, let's not talk about that. Look at the time! We're falling behind on our scavenging. Let's hurry up the mountain. If we're any later, it'll be dark, and if we don't find any junk today, I'll have to eat cold steamed buns again."

"Let's go, let's go. Since we're already here, let's stop chatting and get to work."

"Xiaoya has such sharp eyes. No wonder... if we follow you from now on, maybe we'll get a taste of the good life too, hehe."

Jiang Xiaoya: "..."

She looked at the hands resting on her shoulder, then at their hypocritical faces. Thinking about her recent "good luck," a smirk curled at the corner of her lips.

"Fine, let's go together then."

If they wanted this kind of fortune, of course, she couldn't be stingy.

Without further hesitation, Jiang Xiaoya tied the burlap sack around her waist and followed them up Mount Qiong.

Mount Qiong wasn't particularly high, but it was famous for its beautiful scenery because it was part of a continuous mountain range.

The group took turns rummaging through trash cans. Realizing that Jiang Xiaoya, the last to join the group, wasn't moving, they simply slowed their pace to let her walk in front.

Jiang Xiaoya didn't stand on ceremony. She began clattering through the trash cans to pick up bottles, making the others' eyes twitch with irritation.

The group moved steadily, but because they were busy rummaging through trash, it was already dark by the time they prepared to head back down.

Someone took out some self-brought cold steamed buns to share.

"Take one, don't be polite. It's one yuan per bun; just give me cash."

The round-faced middle-aged man smiled憨厚ly as he distributed the buns.

Jiang Xiaoya took one, gave him a yuan, and began walking down the mountain while eating.

"Sigh, it's too far to go all the way back. I remember there's a small path here that leads straight to the foot of the mountain. It should take about half an hour."

After handing out the buns, the round-faced man pointed toward another mountain path.

"Really?"

"Really. I'm a local, can you not believe me?"

The middle-aged man led the way, walking down the path with practiced ease.

Seeing this, the others thought that in such peaceful times, nothing could go wrong, so they all followed.

After a few seconds of hesitation, Jiang Xiaoya followed as well.

As she walked in the middle of the crowd, moving away from the lit paths, the scenery became increasingly blurred. Even with her flashlight, she couldn't see the road clearly and nearly tripped several times.

Many people were starting to regret it and wanted to turn back, but then they heard the encouraging voice of the round-faced man.

"Almost there, almost there! The junction is just ahead."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, suspecting nothing, and quickened their pace.

Another half hour passed before the round-faced man cried out in surprise.

"We're out! We're out! Once we cross this big wilderness, we can catch a bus and head back to Licheng!"

The crowd: "..."

A flock of crows seemed to fly past their eyes.

Silence was the loudest response.

At that moment, someone pulled out a phone to check the navigation. After a long pause, they squeezed out a sentence

"We *are* out, alright. We've crossed this mountain range and even left the province."

The crowd: "..."

After climbing for hours, their legs were nearly useless; forget crossing a wilderness.

The history teacher, clutching his legs, looked at Jiang Xiaoya, who still appeared relatively relaxed.

"Xiaoya, what do you think we should do now?"

"Didn't the bun man say so? There's a road once we cross this wilderness."

Holding her flashlight, Jiang Xiaoya shone it on the wilderness ahead. Suddenly, she walked briskly in one direction and began to climb.

The group snapped out of their stupor, thinking she had made another discovery, and hurriedly chased after her.

"What's wrong with Jiang Xiaoya?"

The round-faced "Bun Brother" looked around nervously, hoping for a major discovery so he could make some money; he was getting desperate from eating nothing but buns for the past few days.

The others shared the same solemn expression.

Zhou Yuyu stared intently at Jiang Xiaoya. No matter what secrets Jiang Xiaoya held, she was determined to get a piece of the pie this time.

Even if she couldn't have it, she wouldn't let Jiang Xiaoya monopolize the benefits.

Jiang Xiaoya pointed to her surroundings and then to the ground, her gaze meaningful: "This is a feng shui treasure land."

The crowd: "..."

A treasure land?

Who was she performing a reading for?

Everyone felt a chill down their spines. With a collective gasp, they huddled together, afraid to move recklessly.

Jiang Xiaoya pulled out a shovel and suddenly began to dig.

"Jiang Xiaoya, what are you doing? Why are you digging in the middle of nowhere?"

Bun Brother was completely bewildered by her sudden digging.

Jiang Xiaoya stopped, lowered her voice, and said, "I have a feeling there's something here..."

"Ah!"

Another scream erupted from the crowd. The surroundings were pitch black, the wind howled, and everything felt eerie, as if wandering souls were calling out to them.

"..." Jiang Xiaoya was speechless.

She wanted to cry.

The system kept dinging, dinging, reminding her incessantly. She didn't want to dig, but she had no choice.

However, she wasn't alone today; she had so many "companions" with her.

How wonderful!

After the initial fright, Zhou Yuyu was the first to react. Knowing that Jiang Xiaoya wouldn't dig in that spot without reason, she hurriedly approached with a shovel in hand.

(End of Chapter)