Chapter 7: Cannon Fodder Sidekick Number One

Chapter 7: Cannon Fodder Sidekick Number One

"Xiao Xiao, it's me! Don't you recognize me?"

The voice sounded familiar, but Ye Xiaoxiao couldn't quite place the voice and continued to struggle fiercely.

Besides, she had transmigrated into the book and didn't have the original owner's memories.

Even if it was someone she knew, she wouldn't recognize them now.

"Let me go!"

Ye Xiaoxiao stomped on the other person's foot, forcing them to release her.

"Ouch! Xiao Xiao, what are you doing? I waited for you in the county town for several days, and when I didn't see you, I came here to look for you... Finally found you, and you hit me..."

The voice was full of grievance.

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Who the hell are you?"

The shadowy figure: "It's me, Duan Lei!"

Ye Xiaoxiao: "..."

Oh... the original owner's sidekick.

Duan Lei was also a kid from the military compound in the capital, and his parents held higher military ranks than Hao Yanyan's father, making him a bit of a troublemaker in the compound.

This time, when Ye Xiaoxiao insisted on coming to Baichuan Village, Duan Lei, worried, followed along.

However, once they reached the city, Ye Xiaoxiao refused to let him accompany her further, telling him to wait there.

In the original book, after Ye Xiaoxiao left Baichuan Village, she would return to the capital with Duan Lei.

The Hao family warmly welcomed her back and promised to treat her and Hao Yanyan equally. But as time went on, Hao Yanyan became more and more outstanding, while Ye Xiaoxiao kept making mistakes, and the balance naturally tipped.

Duan Lei was the one who stuck by her side even after everyone else had given up on the original owner.

But his end was tragic. After opposing the male and female protagonists and committing a crime, he fled to the mountains, where he was eventually mauled to death by wild beasts.

When they finally found him, his body was in pieces.

After realizing who it was, Ye Xiaoxiao calmed down.

"I told you to wait for me in town. How did you find your way here?"

"I've been waiting for you for four or five days. If you didn't show up soon, I was going to call the local cops to drag you out of that godforsaken village!" Duan Lei's tone was extremely unpleasant.

Ye Xiaoxiao: "I'm okay."

Duan Lei: "So, when are we heading back? I can't take this place for another day. How can a place be so poor?"

Ye Xiaoxiao spoke honestly: "I think it's pretty nice here. I don't plan to go back."

"What! What's so great about this dump? It's freezing inside, you have to walk dozens of miles to buy anything, there are no restaurants everywhere, no department stores, nothing!"

Duan Lei hadn't expected that after enduring the cold for so long, he would get such an answer. His mindset instantly collapsed.

"Calm down."

Ye Xiaoxiao quickly went to cover Duan Lei’s mouth, worried his loud voice might sound like he was starting a fight.

"How can I calm down... ugh... damn it..."

Duan Lei was about to break free from Ye Xiaoxiao’s grip when suddenly, someone yanked him from behind, making him stumble.

"How dare you mess with my sister!"

Ye Changyuan punched Duan Lei in the face.

"Damn it... screw you!" Duan Lei, a seasoned fighter, didn’t bother listening and swung back.

The two started brawling.

"Are you alright?" Ye Changsheng rushed over.

He and Ye Changyuan had just come back and saw someone grabbing Ye Xiaoxiao, thinking he was a troublemaker.

"Stop it, you guys! We’re all friends here!"

Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t have time to explain and jumped in to pull them apart.

Duan Lei had a black eye, and Ye Changyuan’s lip was bleeding.

Both were gasping for air, neither ready to give in.

"Fourth Brother, Brother Yuan, this is Duan Lei, a friend of mine from the capital."

Ye Changyuan just stared, speechless.

Ye Changsheng and Ye Changyuan picked up the rice bags that had fallen to the ground, and the four of them entered the courtyard.

Inside, the dim kerosene lamp hid their injuries.

"What were you doing? Dinner’s ready—stop dragging Xiao Xiao around."

Miao Fengshan noticed the extra kid but didn’t ask, figuring he was their classmate.

Duan Lei’s face twisted in disgust as he stepped inside.

He felt a pang of resentment, baffled why Ye Xiaoxiao would choose this over the capital.

"Look at this dump—no electricity, nothing."

Ye Xiaoxiao started serving the food, snapping at Duan Lei, "We’ll talk later!"

"Still eating? It’s so dark I can’t even see my chopsticks."

"Then get out."

Duan Lei: "..."

Dinner was potatoes in yesterday’s rabbit soup—no meat in sight, but it smelled amazing.

Only Duan Lei sneered, "I’d rather starve than touch this slop."

No one bothered with him, and Miao Fengshan just gave him a knowing smile.

After a moment, Duan Lei reluctantly picked up his bowl and took a small bite.

Mmm... smells amazing!

After the meal, while her grandpa and the others were clearing the table, Ye Xiaoxiao called Duan Lei aside.

"I wasn’t done with what I was saying earlier. It’s not that I’m not going back; I’m just waiting until next year to return to Beijing."

"Why?"

Ye Xiaoxiao spoke resolutely, "I’m not the biological daughter of the Hao family. I’d be too ashamed to go back unless I get into university. Otherwise, I wouldn’t dare face you all, afraid you’d look down on me."

Duan Lei was a bit anxious, "How could that be? We’re not friends with you because of your family. No matter who your family is, we’re good friends."

Ye Xiaoxiao thought to herself, not everyone is as naive as you.

She put on a hurt expression, "But I don’t dare to see my parents. I’ve decided to study hard, get into a university in Beijing, and repay them for raising me."

Ye Xiaoxiao did intend to go to university, but she definitely wouldn’t apply to any in Beijing. She wanted to stay as far away from trouble as possible.

But for now, her priority was to keep Duan Lei calm, so she said this.

Duan Lei seemed to understand, but after some thought, he still felt something was off, "Has anyone from here ever gotten into university? With only six months left and no teacher to help, are you sure you can get in?"

Ye Xiaoxiao looked up, her eyes misty with tears, "So it’s up to you. Go back to Beijing, study hard, and send me study materials regularly. That way, we can meet again at the same university."

Duan Lei suddenly felt a sense of mission and responsibility.

"No problem, I’ll definitely help you!"

He completely forgot he wasn’t exactly a star student.

Ye Xiaoxiao was very moved and took the opportunity to make a request, "When you get back to Beijing, study hard, no fighting, and don’t go picking fights with Hao Yanyan."

This unlucky kid had gone off track after offending the heroine; she had to set him straight.

"Since you said so, I’ll let her go."

Duan Lei had originally planned to give Hao Yanyan a good lesson back in Beijing for taking away Xiao Xiao’s parents, but now he no longer had that thought.

His mind was racing, thinking about which teacher to ask for study materials.

If Xiao Xiao knew he wasn’t a good student, she’d be disappointed. He couldn’t let Xiao Xiao down!

Duan Lei stayed at Grandpa Miao’s for the night and found Ye Xiaoxiao early the next morning to say goodbye.

"Xiao Xiao, I have to hurry back to Beijing. I’ll send you the study materials as soon as I’m back. Remember my home number, and call me if anything comes up."

"Won’t you stay for breakfast before you leave?"

"No, there’s only one early bus to the county town. If I miss it, I’ll have to figure out another way back."

Ye Xiaoxiao, "Alright then, remember to put some medicine on your face."

Overnight, the bruise on Duan Lei’s face got worse.

His once-handsome face now looked a bit ridiculous.

"It’s okay... ouch..." Duan Lei wanted to touch his face but felt a sharp pain as soon as he did. That kid hit hard. If it weren’t for Xiao Xiao’s brother, he’d have... hmph!

Seeing Ye Xiaoxiao’s concerned gaze, he felt that the pain was nothing.

Duan Lei took out some money from his pocket: "Here's some money; it's not much, but take it. I'll send you more when I get back to Beijing."

"I don't want it."

"Why the formality? We've been friends since childhood. I can't stand the thought of you starving here."

Without another word, Duan Lei pushed the money into Ye Xiaoxiao's hands, then took off running.

"Fine, I'll take it. Be safe on your way."

Ye Xiaoxiao followed him to the door, watched Duan Lei disappear down the alley, and then headed back inside.

Now that Duan Lei was gone and Ye Changsheng had recovered, it was time to figure out her next move to make some money.