Quick Transmigration: The Control Group in Sweet Novels

"Okay, goodbye, Teacher Lin." Qi Yang waved to him, carrying her cloth bag, her slender figure gradually disappearing at the end of the winding field ridge.

Lin Huaixu didn't slowly withdraw his gaze until she had completely left. The wind under the tree blew his stray hairs forward, and his heart remained unsettled for a long time.

A moment later, he turned and walked slowly toward the school at the village entrance.

The school in Qingya Village was poorly equipped. The principal did his best to provide him with a small single room. The room was small, the walls were a bit mottled, and there was only a wooden bed, an old desk and a chair.

As dusk settled and the room grew dimly lit, he turned on the small, yellowish light bulb on the table, instantly filling the surface with warm yellow light.

Lin Huaixu sat down at the table, took out a piece of letter paper, and picked up a fountain pen.

The young man was silent for a while, then picked up his pen and wrote a few lines. He first briefly informed his family that he was safe and sound in the mountain village and that his family should not worry. He then inquired about his parents' health and asked about the recent situation at home.

After finishing his casual remarks, Lin Huaixu paused, pondered for a moment, and then added a few more words:

I have discovered many promising students here, but due to poverty, they are unable to continue their studies. Do you know any organizations that provide financial assistance to these children? I would like to request that they apply for educational aid for them.

With the pen tip settled, he gently put down the pen and carefully placed the letter into the envelope.

...

After saying goodbye to Lin Huaixu, Qi Yang jogged to the village entrance and saw a familiar figure approaching from afar.

Qi Jing carried a heavy basket full of herbs, her body leaning slightly forward under the weight of the basket, her eyes revealing her exhaustion.

"Sister." Qi Yang quickly handed over the money and gently reached out to support the bamboo basket on her back to share the weight.

Qi Jing looked up at the sound, her tired brows relaxing slightly. "Just came from the fields?"

"Mm." Qi Yang nodded, raised her hand and gently patted Qi Jing's shoulder, her voice soft and comforting, "You've worked hard. I'll go into the mountains tomorrow."

Before Qi Jing could speak, Qi Yang interrupted, "We agreed to switch every day, so that one person stays at home to avoid arousing suspicion from Mom and Dad."

Qi Jing pursed her lips, "Okay, I'll listen to you."

The two found a stone bench to sit on, unloaded the heavy bamboo basket, carefully selected a few plants and put them into a clean cloth bag, then found a place to hide them behind the Qi family's courtyard.

By the time everything was ready, it was completely dark.

The two sisters walked home side by side. When they opened the door, the dim light of a kerosene lamp was already on inside.

Qi Rongguang had already woken up. Seeing that the two men were covered in dust and their trouser legs were stained with grass, they looked like they had just finished working and came back, so he didn't say anything.

His gaze shifted and landed on Qi Tianci, who was playing with a slingshot in the yard. His face immediately darkened, and he said in a stern voice, "Qi Tianci, you're not allowed to skip school anymore!"

The little boy ignored him and picked up the fallen pebbles in the yard.

Qi Rongguang tapped his pipe. "Our whole family is counting on you to study hard and become a high-ranking official. You have to make our family proud!"

Qi Tianci grinned and joked with Qi Rongguang, saying, "I'm not going, I'm not going."

Qi Rongguang was exasperated, "You're hopeless!"

Qi Tianci stuck out his tongue and continued to hop and jump around with his slingshot as usual.

Qi Rongguang withdrew his gaze, glancing at Qi Jing who remained silent to the side. He suddenly spoke slowly, "I've heard that young man from the Miao family recently. His family is raising several fat pigs again. Pork is so precious, and their harvest is good. They live a life that's among the best in the village. They're really enjoying themselves."

Qi Jing didn't even lift her eyelids, her face expressionless, and she remained silent.

Qi Yang, standing to the side, was full of doubt. "What Miao lad? I've never heard of him before?"

Qi Rongguang said matter-of-factly, "Who else could it be? He'll be your brother-in-law from now on. We're all family. It's truly a great honor for our family that your sister has been able to marry into this family."

Qi Yang feigned surprise: "Aren't Miao men all over forty? How come you're still calling yourself a young man?"

Qi Rongguang's smile froze instantly, and his face immediately darkened. "What did you say?"

Seeing that the atmosphere was getting tense, Dong Yuehua quickly spoke up to ease the tension, saying, "The child doesn't understand anything and just talks nonsense. He was just teasing you. There's no need to get angry."

As she spoke, she secretly gave Qi Yang a wink, signaling her to stop talking nonsense.

Qi Yang lowered her head, quickly ate her food, put down her chopsticks and bowl, and before anyone could react, she made an excuse and slipped away.

Qi Rongguang's face darkened, his chest tight from Qi Yang's earlier words. He sat on the bench, snorted coldly, and said irritably, "None of these kids are any good, a bunch of ingrates! I can't stand being in this house any longer!"

He was seething with anger, and after sitting for a short while, he got up and walked out, clearly going to the village to find someone to play cards with again.

Seeing this, Dong Yuehua frowned and quickly called out to him, "Don't go! You've gambled away all our allowance for the month. If you go again, how will our whole family eat?"

Qi Rongguang said nonchalantly, "Why are you worrying about this? In card games, there are wins and losses. I have my winning streaks too. It's impossible for me to lose everything. Maybe I can even make some money back today. Besides, we have plenty of money in our hands right now."

Dong Yuehua frowned deeply. "That was Jingjing's betrothal money..."

Qi Rongguang impatiently interrupted her, "Alright, alright, stop nagging. I know what I'm doing. How could I possibly lose it all? I'm saving up for my son to buy a house. Don't worry about it!"

After saying that, he completely ignored Dong Yuehua's attempts to stop him and strode out without looking back.

Dong Yuehua felt utterly helpless. She sighed heavily, sat back down, and said, "Your dad is really something..."

Qi Jing pushed a bowl of rice in front of her without looking up, "Never mind him, you eat yours."

Dong Yuehua was slightly taken aback. She looked up at her eldest daughter, who had become taciturn since their engagement. It was from that time that the two of them began to speak less.

Seeing her daughter's calm and composed demeanor, the knot in her heart loosened a little, and she quickly replied, "Okay, okay."

The courtyard gradually returned to peace. The next day, just as dawn was breaking, the morning mist still thickly enveloped the green mountains, and the flowers, grasses, and trees in the forest were covered with a thin layer of moisture.

Qi Yang quietly got up, slung the prepared bamboo basket over her shoulder, and left home alone, heading towards the mountain pass.

The mountain roads surrounding Qingya Village are steep and rugged, with slippery moss along the sides, but the children in the mountains are used to it and find it easier to walk.

She avoided the rocks and walked deeper into the forest.

Most high-quality herbs are hidden deep in the mountains and forests, but I dare not go any deeper, for I might encounter poisonous snakes and wild animals.

Qi Yang skillfully navigated the path.