Era: Rise from the Wilderness

"I...I just felt sorry for that old man..."

Lu Ruoxi said softly, her voice filled with sympathy and reluctance.

"Yes, he's pitiful. That little bit of money might be very important to him."

Li Yunjing nodded, a hint of helplessness in his voice, "But that's reality. Sometimes our abilities are limited; we can't help everyone, nor can we bear all the risks."

"All I can do today is make a commotion to scare him away and prevent him from harming other passengers for the time being. It also serves as an indirect reminder to those around him to be careful."

"This is the maximum we can do while protecting ourselves."

He reached out and gently patted Lü Ruoxi's shoulder, as if to dispel the chill and heaviness in her heart: "Don't overthink it."

"We got off the bus safely today, which is the best outcome."

"When you go out in the future, especially in crowded and chaotic places, remember, safety comes first."

"Observe more, listen more, and mind your own business!"

"It's not indifference, it's self-preservation."

"When you grow up and become stronger, you will naturally be able to do more things."

Lü Ruoxi raised her head and looked at Li Yunjing.

The light from the streetlamp reflected a faint glow in his eyes. That glow lacked the impulsiveness and passion common among young people, but instead possessed a calmness beyond his years and a kind of... cruel clarity.

This clarity made her feel somewhat unfamiliar, even uncomfortable, but at the same time, it gave her a strange, protective sense of security.

"Okay, I've got it."

She nodded vigorously, taking his words to heart.

As dusk deepened, it slowly enveloped the small town of Pu City like a deep blue curtain.

One by one, the streetlights turned on, their dim yellow light barely dispelling the darkness of the street corner.

There were very few pedestrians on the street, and occasionally a bicycle would ring out with a "ding-ling," the bell sounding particularly crisp in the silence.

The hustle and bustle of the distant train station had long since subsided, leaving only the mournful sound of the evening wind blowing across the empty railway tracks.

Li Yunjing and Lü Ruoxi stood at the agreed-upon intersection, under a street lamp.

Clutching her schoolbag, Lü Ruoxi occasionally tiptoed to peek in the direction of oncoming cars.

Li Yunjing leaned against a lamppost, seemingly relaxed, but his eyes were always on his surroundings, especially several shadowy corners where people could easily hide.

Time passed by, minute by minute. It was past six o'clock, then a quarter past six... and Father still hadn't arrived.

It would be a lie to say he wasn't worried, but he forced himself to remain calm so as not to make Lü Ruoxi even more nervous.

"Don't rush, it will take time for my dad to unload the goods and drive over."

He spoke softly to Lü Ruoxi, his tone steady.

"Um!"

Lü Ruoxi nodded without saying anything, but simply hugged her schoolbag tighter.

Finally, just after 6:30, two familiar, slightly dim lights shone from the street corner in the distance. Then, the familiar yellow Daihatsu van, like a tired but loyal old ox, slowly drove over, panting heavily.

The car body was still covered in dust, gleaming grayish under the streetlights.

The car screeched to a halt in front of the two of them.

The driver's side window rolled down, revealing Li Hongfeng's face, which was etched with exhaustion yet also showed a sense of relief.

"dad!"

Li Yunjing immediately stepped forward and opened the car door.

"Uncle Li!"

Lü Ruoxi also quickly greeted them.

"Are you getting impatient? Hurry up and get in the car!"

Li Hongfeng's voice was a little hoarse, but he seemed to be in good spirits. "There were a lot of cars on the road, which caused the delay. Come on, it must be cold outside!"

The two quickly got into the car.

The carriage still carried the lingering smell of cardboard boxes from the daytime stationery loading, along with the sweat and cigarette smoke from Li Hongfeng. The combination of these lingered, yet it made one feel incredibly at ease.

The car restarted and drove away from the dimly lit streets of Pu City, heading towards Fuzhou Town.

The carriage was quiet for a while, with only the roar of the engine and the whistling wind outside the window.

Li Hongfeng drove intently, seemingly still recovering from a long day of travel.

"Dad, have all the goods been unloaded at the store?"

Li Yunjing broke the silence.

"Yes, everything's been moved in. Your mom and I organized it and put it on the shelves."

Li Hongfeng nodded, his tone relaxed as if he had completed a task, "Your mother was overjoyed, saying that everything was complete and looked quite presentable when laid out."

"That's good."

Li Yunjing also breathed a sigh of relief; the most basic aspect of running the convenience store was now resolved.

Sitting in the back, Lü Ruoxi hesitated for a moment, glancing at Li Yunjing's back and then at Li Hongfeng driving in the front. Finally, she couldn't help but whisper, "Uncle Li... we encountered a thief on the train today."

"What?"

Li Hongfeng's grip on the steering wheel tightened noticeably, and the car slowed down slightly. He immediately looked towards the back seat in the rearview mirror. "What happened? Are you all alright?"

"We're fine."

Li Yunjing took over the conversation and calmly recounted how she had seen the man in the gray jacket stealing on the train, and how she had "accidentally" knocked over the enamel mug, scaring the man away.

He didn't exaggerate the danger or his "resourcefulness," he simply stated the facts plainly.

After listening, Li Hongfeng remained silent for a few seconds.

The headlights cut through the darkness ahead, illuminating the receding poplar trees and the occasional farmhouse that flashed by.

"Yun Jing, you did the right thing."

Li Hongfeng's voice rang out again, more composed than before, carrying a complex emotion unique to fathers, a mixture of lingering fear and approval: "In that situation, you two children absolutely could not have forced it."

"Being able to think of that method to scare people away, without getting yourself involved, is already quite good."

He looked at his son in the rearview mirror, his eyes filled with undisguised certainty: "When you're out and about, especially in a messy place like this, safety is always the top priority."

"What kind of heroic act is that? It depends on whether you have the ability!"

"Trying to climb the ladder without the ability is just stupid!"

He then turned to Lü Ruoxi, his tone gentle but solemn: "Ruoxi, remember what Uncle Li said."

"You are all good children, kind-hearted, and can't bear to see others suffer, that's right."

"But before helping others, you should first consider your own capabilities."

"You two are students now, children. Your primary task is to protect yourselves and stay safe. That's the greatest filial piety you can show your parents, understand?"

"Yes, Uncle Li, I've got it."

Lu Ruoxi nodded vigorously in the back row: "Yun Jing just told me too."

"That's good."

Li Hongfeng nodded in satisfaction and looked ahead again. "Although nothing went wrong today, it served as a reminder to you all."

"Be more careful wherever you go in the future."

"One should not have the heart to harm others, but one must have the heart to guard against others."

"Money and valuables must be kept close to your body; don't flaunt your wealth."

The car drove smoothly through the night.