Time-Travel: The Tragic Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character Makes a Comeback
CHAPTER 17: The 1970s Naive Supporting Girl (17)
After resting for a night in the county town, the siblings went the next morning to ask around about transportation to Xingling Village.
The roads out there were rough, so most of the vehicles were ox carts or mule carts, carrying both people and goods along the way.
They figured they would arrive around noon.
Each of them carried a bundle of luggage. Since they could not find any suitable transport tools, they ended up boarding a fairly empty ox cart.
Two middle-aged women were already seated on the cart, blue headscarves wrapped around their heads. When they saw Song Susu and her brother climb up, their eyes immediately lit up.
“Goodness, this girl is really pretty. Which village are you from? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”
Before Song Susu could speak, Song Yuanchao answered first, his tone cautious. “The adults at home told us not to talk to strangers.”
The two women froze for a moment, then covered their mouths and laughed.
One of them chuckled and said, “Look at how sharp this kid is. What, you think we’re traffickers or something?”
The other waved her hand and muttered, “Forget it. Look at how fair and delicate they are. They’re probably from the City. How would they want to chat with people like us?”
The two women continued muttering to themselves. Song Susu ignored them, reaching into her bag and handing some snacks to her brother.
Song Yuanchao tugged on his sister’s bundle, signaling for her to stay closer to him, then shot her a look to tell her not to mind the two strangers.
He had heard wandering scissor ¹sharpeners say that there were lots of traffickers outside, people who would knock out pretty young girls and carry them off.
Uncle Li had also said that the countryside was pretty remote. With his sister being so pretty, as a man, it was only natural for him to protect her at all times.
Song Susu understood what he meant. The corners of her lips lifted slightly as she stuffed a few pieces of candied fruit into his hand, signaling that she got it.
An ox cart only moved a little faster than walking.
It was Song Yuanchao’s first time traveling far, and he was extremely excited. Sitting on the cart, hugging their luggage, he kept looking around the whole way.
Song Susu leaned against her bundle and closed her eyes to nap.
The morning sun was gentle. Even though the ox cart moved slowly, it swayed back and forth, warm under the sunlight and surprisingly comfortable.
After about half an hour, the cart suddenly lurched, followed by the driver’s startled cry.
“The road caved in. The wheel’s stuck. Everyone get off and help push.”
The two middle-aged women got off helplessly. Song Yuanchao quickly jumped down as well, then helped his sister down carefully.
“Sis, you’re wearing white. Sit on the side. I’ll go help.”
Everyone took a look at Song Susu. She was small-framed, dressed in a round-collared white shirt and dark blue pants, pretty and clearly delicate.
She really did not look like someone who could lift a cart wheel.
Several people worked together to push the cart, but the wheel was stuck deep in a hole. It had rained a couple of days ago, and the soil underneath was still wet, making it hard to get the wheel out.
The old man driving the cart ran off to gather some branches, using them to scrape away the wet mud.
After all that effort, everyone was drenched in sweat. Just as they finally managed to lift the wheel out, the ox suddenly took a step backward, and the other two wheels fell straight into the hole again.
“Aiya!”
The two women immediately started shouting in frustration, faces dark as they complained, “How long is this going to take? We should’ve taken someone else’s cart. I still need to get back to work in the fields.”
“Exactly. It’s sunk in so deep, how are we supposed to lift it?”
The two of them plopped down by the roadside and outright stopped helping.
Song Yuanchao wiped the sweat from his forehead and went back to help the old man lift the wheel again.
By the roadside, Song Susu clapped her hands lightly and stood up.
She walked over to help.
Song Yuanchao saw his sister coming and was just about to say something when, in the next second, his eyes went wide.
He watched as his sister briskly lifted the cart wheel, shifting it aside with ease. With a single smooth motion, both wheels came free.
Song Susu did not let go. She took a step to the side, gave a firm push forward, and the ox moved ahead a few steps. The cart rolled smoothly out of the collapsed spot.
Both of Song Susu’s hands were covered in mud and grime. She asked her brother to bring the water flask so she could rinse them off.
Song Yuanchao snapped out of it, his eyes shining as he hurried over with the flask.
He deftly unscrewed the cap and poured out a thin stream of water to help his sister wash her hands.
He could not hide his excitement. “Sis, how did you suddenly get so strong? That was amazing.”
Song Susu made up an excuse on the spot. “Mm, working in the countryside built it up.”
The excitement in Song Yuanchao’s eyes turned into concern. He lowered his voice and said, “Sis, from now on I’ll do the heavy work. I’ll slowly get stronger too, so you won’t have to work so hard.”
Song Susu smiled. “Alright.”
While the siblings were talking, the other three finally snapped out of it.
The old man walked over, smiling as he thanked her. “Oh my, young lady, you’re really strong. This old man is so grateful to you.”
Song Susu stood up and wiped her hands with a handkerchief, replying casually, “You’re welcome.”
The two women also came over, staring in amazement at Song Susu’s pair of fair, slender hands.
Honestly, it was strange. Hands like that had lifted such a huge cart wheel.
“This little girl doesn’t look strong at all. She really lifted it?”
Song Susu replied offhandedly, “I’m strong.”
They tidied up and got back onto the ox cart, continuing on their way.
They had not gone very far when a loud bang suddenly came from behind them.
Everyone instinctively turned around. Another vehicle had fallen into the very same pit the ox cart had just gotten stuck in.
Song Susu’s gaze fixed on that vehicle. The army green jeep looked strangely familiar.
The two women burst out laughing. “Oh my, that driver must be blind to go straight into that pit.”
The old man sighed helplessly. “An ox cart wheel can still be lifted with some effort. That big thing though, that’s not easy at all.”
A young man in a military uniform was the first to step out of the jeep. After taking a look, he scratched his head awkwardly and said something to the person in the passenger seat.
Not long after, the passenger door opened, and a tall, straight figure stepped out.
Song Susu raised a hand to shield her eyes from the sun and squinted as she looked over.
Oh. She remembered now.
It was the kind PLA soldier from the hospital.
What a coincidence.
“Oh wow, they’re soldiers. And they look so proper too. That build is really solid,” the two women started gossiping again.
At that moment, Song Susu got down from the cart.
Lu Tingxiao from the jeep glanced over. When he saw Song Susu, his gaze lingered for a few seconds before he turned away and went to look for tools with his teammate.
Seeing his sister get down, Song Yuanchao quickly hopped off after her and asked in a low voice, “Sis, are you going to help?”
Song Susu nodded. “Yeah.”
After all, they were benefactors. And with her strength being several times that of an ordinary person, helping out was just a small thing.
“Then I’ll help too.”
Song Yuanchao followed closely behind her.
Seeing the siblings leave, the old man driving the cart also prepared to go lend a hand.
The two women immediately called out to him. “Hey, old man, what’s wrong with you? We’ve already been delayed for half the day. That big car is going to take forever to get out. Are you even leaving or not?”
The old man looked conflicted and said helplessly, “Those two are passengers too. I can’t just leave them behind. Besides, everyone’s having a hard time. Lending a hand is only right.”
One of the women immediately shouted, “Why are you meddling in other people’s business? I took this ox cart to save trouble, and I already paid. Hurry up and go. If they want to play the good guy and waste time, then let them get off the cart.”
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Glossary:
¹Back then, scissor sharpeners were a common street trade. They went from alley to alley or village to village sharpening scissors, knives, and tools. Think old-school mobile service, zero app, max calf muscles.
In Chinese settings like this, they’re usually:
• Types that go from street to street and alley to alley
• Always traveling
• Hearing all the gossip
• Low-key rumor hubs of the era
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