Time-Travel: The Tragic Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character Makes a Comeback
CHAPTER 33: The 1970s Naive Supporting Girl (33)
Over here, Xingling Village was seven to eight hours away from the county town.
By the time Song Susu and her younger brother arrived, night had already fallen.
After sitting in the cart for an entire day, both of them felt sore all over, their backs aching badly, so they decided to stop and rest for the night.
Song Susu even booked a single room for Wang Fugui, the man who had driven them there. The gesture startled him so much that he immediately clasped his fists and thanked her with a wide grin, showering her with all sorts of auspicious blessings.
After years of driving carts, this was the first time a customer had ever paid for a guesthouse room for him.
After all, staying a night in a guesthouse was expensive these days. He was practically overjoyed, treating the siblings like living bodhisattvas. Beautiful, generous people like this were truly rare.
Song Susu only smiled. It was already late, and roads at night barely had any lighting in this era. Traveling after dark was honestly dangerous.
“Uncle Fugui, no need to be so polite. I still owe you that drink I promised before. Let’s head to a restaurant later.”
“Oh my, today I’m really enjoying good fortune! Thank you, Song Zhiqing. You truly are my lucky star…”
Song Susu laughed at his enthusiasm, while Song Yuanchao dug at his ear, silently thinking this uncle was ridiculously good at flattering people.
The siblings booked a double room. Mainly because they were unfamiliar with the place, and kidnappers were rampant in this era. Song Yuanchao might be clever, but he was still only a ten-year-old child. Staying together felt much safer.
The single rooms were located downstairs, while the double rooms were upstairs.
Having never stayed in a guesthouse before, Wang Fugui stood there holding his room number, completely lost about where he was supposed to go.
Seeing this, Song Susu took the room tag from him and helped look for the room.
“105…”
“Sis! Over here!”
Song Yuanchao ran to the corner and pointed excitedly.
Song Susu led Wang Fugui over. Just as she helped open the door for him, the room next door suddenly opened as well.
“Comrade Song?!”
He Jun let out a surprised and delighted shout.
Startled, Song Susu turned her head to look, then nodded lightly. “What a coincidence. So it’s you, Comrade.”
After speaking, she instinctively glanced around and casually asked, “Isn’t Comrade Lu with you?”
The bright smile on He Jun’s face faded slightly as he explained helplessly, “We’re together. Comrade Lu is inside washing up.”
For some reason, Song Susu immediately felt more at ease. Running into two familiar PLA comrades at the guesthouse made the place feel much safer.
“Looks like we’re quite fated to keep meeting,” she said with a smile.
He Jun’s gaze shifted to Wang Fugui. “And this is…?”
Before Song Susu could answer, Wang Fugui hurriedly stepped in, afraid of causing misunderstandings that might trouble the siblings.
“Comrade, I’m the cart driver from Xingling Village. Song Zhiqing and her brother came to the county town to catch a train, but we arrived after dark and missed it. Song Zhiqing kindly booked me a room for the night. These two are truly good people. This old man is deeply grateful!”
He Jun nodded with a smile, feeling even more convinced of his own good judgment. He could not help sighing, “So that’s how it is. Comrade Song is not only beautiful but kind-hearted as well.”
Song Susu replied politely, “It’s nothing. Just a small favor.”
The door to the single room was already open. Wang Fugui hurried inside excitedly, looking around as he happily listed everything the room had.
After reminding him of a few things, Song Susu politely nodded to He Jun and prepared to head upstairs.
Just then, the door to the room next to He Jun’s opened.
Lu Tingxiao stepped out wearing a white shirt and army green uniform trousers. His hair was still damp, and he was casually drying it with a towel.
Song Susu happened to be standing right in front of him. Seeing his sharply defined, striking features up close, she was hit by an almost overwhelming sense of clean, masculine energy.
Song Susu blinked, then subconsciously raised her hand and waved. “Hi, Comrade Lu. Looks like we meet again.”
Lu Tingxiao paused mid-motion while drying his hair, clearly a little surprised. He lowered the towel into his hand and gave a polite nod. “What a coincidence, Comrade Song. Are you heading back to the city?”
Song Susu nodded. “Yes. Everything that needed to be handled is done.”
Song Yuanchao still remembered this big brother. He deeply admired soldiers and dreamed of becoming just as brave and capable someday. Tilting his head up eagerly, he called out, “Big Brother Lu, I’m here too! Do you still remember me?”
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Lu Tingxiao’s lips. He reached out and gently ruffled the boy’s hair. “Of course I remember. Little Song Yuanchao.”
Song Yuanchao grinned happily and asked without thinking, “Big Brother Lu, are you here for work? Or are you taking the train back to the city tomorrow like us?”
“There’s still some work to handle here, so I won’t be leaving for now,” Lu Tingxiao explained.
Song Yuanchao looked a little disappointed. “Oh… alright.”
He had secretly hoped there would be a familiar face traveling back with them.
Song Susu immediately understood that Comrade Lu and the others were likely on assignment. She quickly spoke up, “Yuanchao, let’s go put our things in the room first. We still need to head out for dinner later.”
“Oh, okay.”
Song Susu smiled at the two of them. “Then we won’t disturb you any longer. See you around.”
Lu Tingxiao nodded, while He Jun waved cheerfully. “Goodbye, Comrade Song.”
After watching the siblings leave, He Jun glanced sideways at Lu Tingxiao and clicked his tongue.
Lu Tingxiao immediately kicked him in the backside. “Quit talking nonsense and go back to sleep.”
“Ow! That’s ruthless!”
He Jun bared his teeth as he rubbed the injured spot, muttering under his breath, “Such a waste of that handsome face and solid build. Acting like a sealed jar all day. Who knows what year you’ll finally get yourself a girl.”
Lu Tingxiao’s expression darkened. This brat really had the nerve to tease him now.
Just as he lifted his foot to kick again, He Jun sensed the danger and instantly dashed into his room, slamming the door shut with a loud bang.
Lu Tingxiao continued drying his hair, preparing to return to his room, when the corner of his eye suddenly caught sight of a figure hurriedly leaving.
His brows instantly furrowed, vigilance flashing in his eyes.
Thinking back to his earlier conversation with the Song siblings, his frown deepened.
Nothing’s happened… right?
After hesitating for only a few seconds, he quickly wiped his hair twice, returned to his room to toss aside the towel, threw on an outer coat, and headed straight upstairs.
At the same time.
Upstairs, Song Susu found their room number. Just as she opened the door, she suddenly heard footsteps approaching from behind.
Her instincts kicked in. She quickly pushed her younger brother into the room first. Before she could even turn around, someone behind her raised a hand and struck toward her.
Song Susu ducked low, shutting the door in one smooth motion before spinning around and kicking out fiercely.
The attacker clearly hadn’t expected a young woman to move like that and was caught completely off guard, sent stumbling backward by the blow.
“Ugh!”
The man staggered back to his feet, glaring viciously at Song Susu.
“Sis! Are you okay?” Song Yuanchao shouted anxiously from inside the room.
Song Susu rolled her ankle slightly, her tone calm as ever. “I’m fine. Stay inside and don’t come out.”
The moment she finished speaking, the attacker suddenly rushed forward again. Relying on her long legs and strength, Song Susu turned sideways and kicked out once more.
This time, the man was prepared. He was only forced back two steps before swiftly pulling a dagger from his waist and lunging at her.
Song Susu raised her arm to block instinctively.
Bang!
Lu Tingxiao arrived just in time, striking the attacker’s hand with his weapon.
“Ah!”
The dagger clattered loudly onto the floor.
Clutching his bleeding hands, the man trembled as he tried to flee.
Lu Tingxiao strode forward in two quick steps, chased him down, twisted his arm behind his back, and slammed him to the ground. With a sharp strike to the back of the neck, he knocked the man unconscious to avoid drawing attention.
The entire exchange took less than ten seconds.
“Are you hurt?”
Only after hearing Lu Tingxiao’s voice did Song Susu finally lower her arm and snap back to her senses.
She glanced at the blood on the floor and the man’s mangled hands, then shook her head. “I’m fine. Good thing you came in time. Do you know this person?”
Lu Tingxiao’s expression turned serious as he explained apologetically, “We’re handling a matter here. He came for us. You got dragged into this because of it. I’m sorry.”
Song Susu had not expected that at all. She had only exchanged a simple greeting downstairs earlier, yet she had nearly been caught up in something life threatening. Thinking about it now, it really was dangerous.
She pointed at the unconscious man on the ground. “So what about him? There are people coming and going. All this blood looks pretty scary.”
Noticing there was no fear on her face, only calm composure, Lu Tingxiao shook his head slightly. “We’ll take care of it. No one will trouble you again. Go back to your room and get some rest.”
Song Susu had no intention of getting involved anyway, so she nodded. “Alright.”
She quickly took out her key and opened the door. Inside, Song Yuanchao immediately rushed over with worried questions. Song Susu reassured her anxious little brother a few words before closing the door behind them.
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