Chapter 140: Suddenly Doubting My Own Judgment

Xu Mo picked up a rag and bandaged the wound on his palm. Then he raised his eyes and gave a sarcastic smile.

“What can you do? If you really had the ability, would you waste your days picking your nose and playing in pig dung?”

Big Fool’s face darkened. If he wanted to, he would. Only by acting like a fool would others believe it and not pay too much attention to him, which made it easier for him to move around.

Big Fool said, “I have connections upstairs. If you really want to get out of this pig farm, I can help you find a way, but you have to agree to one condition.”

Xu Mo’s eyes flickered slightly. “What condition?”

Big Fool stared at him intently. “I want you to betray your country. Will you do it?”

Xu Mo didn’t respond to that directly but asked, “So you’re an enemy agent? Aren’t you afraid I’ll report you?”

Big Fool sneered, “With your physique, do you think you could beat me? If you dare to snitch, I’ll snap your neck right now.”

His gaze was ruthless, as if Xu Mo only needed to say no, and he would kill him on the spot.

Xu Mo felt a flicker of unease but kept a calm expression. “I won’t do something like that.”

Big Fool snorted coldly. “You’re quite patriotic, huh?”

Xu Mo’s voice was indifferent. “It has nothing to do with patriotism.”

After losing all his family and seeing his beliefs crumble, he was no longer the passionate, patriotic youth he once was. If it weren’t for meeting Zhu Qingqing, his world might have remained shrouded in darkness.

He wanted to avoid any connection with Big Fool, mainly for Zhu Qingqing’s sake—she still had family.

Big Fool noticed his expression and seemed to guess something.

“You wouldn’t do this for that stupid Zhu Qingqing, would you? She’s already abandoned you, and you still care for her? You’re way too kind!”

“Zhu Qingqing is my woman. I won’t let you speak of her like that.”

Xu Mo glanced at him and then said, “We walk different paths; you do your thing, I’ll do mine. We’re not involved.”

Big Fool chuckled, “Alright, kid, I like you. If you ever find yourself stuck, you’re always welcome to come find me.”

Xu Mo replied, “That day will never come.”

No matter how far he fell, he would never stoop to consorting with people like him.

Yet, Xu Mo was soon proven wrong.

Since Zhu Qingqing left, Director Hu’s favor vanished immediately.

The steward, who once greeted him with a smile, turned cold.

The task of cutting pig grass reverted back to shoveling pig dung.

He was burdened with many more menial chores, forbidden from slacking off, or he’d be whipped.

Finally, at the end of the month, there was half a day off.

Xu Mo climbed over the wall and fled to the Zhu family home, hoping to see Zhu Qingqing.

But not only did he fail to see her, he was beaten by Zhu’s father.

“You filthy labor camp convict, don’t you dare ruin my daughter. If you appear at our house again, I’ll beat you every time I see you!”

Xu Mo returned to the pig farm battered and grim-faced.

Seeing his pitiful state, Big Fool was speechless.

“Look at you, all this trouble for a heartless woman. What’s the point?”

“I have to see Zhu Qingqing. I want to confront her face to face and ask why she abandoned me.”

Xu Mo’s gaze met his. “Can you help me?”

Big Fool laughed, “Of course I can, but you know my condition.”

Xu Mo said, “As long as you let me see Zhu Qingqing, I’ll agree after it’s done.”

Big Fool nodded, “Deal!”

No one knew what method Big Fool used.

Two days later, the steward granted Xu Mo half a day off again.

“You can go out for a walk, but be back before dark. Got it?”

Xu Mo nodded. “Understood.”

Without any papers or a letter of introduction, he couldn’t travel far, so the steward felt safe letting him roam alone.

Once outside the pig farm, Xu Mo used the money Big Fool gave him to call a phone booth near Zhu Qingqing’s home.

When the call connected, he pretended to be Zhu Qingqing’s classmate, saying there was an urgent matter.

Soon, a clear voice answered, “Hello? Who is this?”

Hearing the familiar voice, Xu Mo’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

“Qingqing, it’s me.”

“Xu Mo!!” The girl’s voice was filled with joy. “Where are you?!”

...

An hour later, in a small grove on the outskirts of the county.

Zhu Qingqing, overwhelmed with emotion, dashed to Xu Mo and embraced him tightly, her voice choked with tears.

“Xu Mo, I missed you so much, so much, sobbing...”

Xu Mo stood stiffly, hands frozen in midair for a long moment.

Finally, he pushed her away.

“Sister, you broke your promise.”

“Sorry, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have left without telling you. I’m sorry!”

Zhu Qingqing’s eyes were red as she hurriedly explained.

“You don’t know what happened that day; I was forced, there was no other choice...”

Twenty minutes later, after hearing everything, Xu Mo’s cold expression softened slightly.

Though Zhu Qingqing was foolish and impulsive, she had never truly betrayed him.

That alone was enough.

“Sister, I’ve missed you too, but your family doesn’t want me to contact you.”

Xu Mo told her about being beaten by her father a few days ago.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Qingqing exploded in anger.

“What! My father actually hit you? How could he? That’s outrageous!”

Xu Mo calmed her. “Don’t get angry yet. Tell me, what does your family plan to do?”

Talking about it made Zhu Qingqing furious.

“Don’t mention it! My parents want me to go on blind dates, trying to marry me off quickly. It’s driving me crazy!”

Xu Mo’s face darkened. “Sister... you promised me... you wouldn’t leave me.”

Before he was done using her, before he grew tired of her, she could not leave him.

“I don’t want to leave you either, but I have no choice.”

Biting her lip, Zhu Qingqing thought for a moment, then blurted out.

“Xu Mo, why don’t we run away together?”

Xu Mo shook his head. “No. Traveling far requires identification and letters of introduction. If we escape like this, we’ll be stateless and unable to survive.”

Zhu Qingqing’s eyes sparkled. “We don’t have to go far. We could live deep in the mountains. I’ve heard there are many good things and wild animals there to sustain us for a long time.”

She had read many historical and farming novels in the modern world, where the heroines often sought treasures and hunted in the mountains, living a happy life.

As a time traveler, her luck surely wouldn’t be worse than theirs.

Xu Mo twitched at the corner of his mouth.

If the mountains were really as idyllic as she claimed, then the people living there wouldn’t suffer so much.

Suddenly, Xu Mo doubted his own judgment.

Was it really worth binding his fate to a traitor for such a foolish woman?

Xu Mo and Zhu Qingqing chatted in the little grove, completely unaware.

Not far away, a tall figure silently took in the scene.