A train rumbled along from Haicheng to the capital.
Children cried and wailed, tears streaming down their faces, while adults took out their own steamed buns and pickled vegetables, washing them down with steaming hot soup. The train was filled with the lively atmosphere of everyday life.
A woman leaned back in her train seat, her eyes tightly shut. Beads of sweat glistened on her fair skin, and stray strands of hair, slightly damp, clung to her full forehead.
The older sister sitting next to her, who was with a child, gently shook her arm. “Young lady, are you alright?”
Lin Yiqiao slowly woke from her slumber and stretched lazily.
“I’m fine, sister. I just sleep very deeply.”
She smiled, revealing two shallow dimples. Her cheeks were flushed with the rosy hue of someone just waking up, and two thick, dark braids rested on her shoulders, giving her an air of innocence mixed with a delicate charm.
Liu Yun stared, captivated, thinking to herself, This girl is too eye-catching. She’s definitely not someone to be trifled with.
Lin Yiqiao paid no mind to what others thought. She picked up a small mirror to tidy her hair just as the conductor’s loud, powerful voice announced that they had now reached the north.
No wonder it felt so dry. She’d have to buy some face cream when she arrived in the capital.
Lin Yiqiao was currently penniless, but that didn’t stop her from daydreaming about life in the capital.
Her reason for going to the capital was simple: she couldn’t make it in Haicheng anymore.
Since childhood, she had followed her mother into a remarriage. Her stepfather’s family already had a stepsister, and Lin Yiqiao could hardly get a warm meal.
But from a young age, she knew she was pretty and had a knack for winning people over. Boys lined up every day just to bring her food.
Lin Yiqiao didn’t see anything wrong with interacting with boys. No one had ever taught her otherwise. Her mother’s attention was entirely focused on her stepfather’s family, to the point where she didn’t even care if Lin Yiqiao had clothes to wear—she’d have gladly thrown her away if she could.
Growing up like this hadn’t been easy. Besides, being able to rely on men for food was a skill in itself; a pretty face alone wasn’t enough.
But in this conservative era, girls as bold and eye-catching as her were rare. Interactions between men and women were cautious and polite, so Lin Yiqiao’s reputation naturally wasn’t the best.
But did reputation matter? Did other people’s opinions matter?
Sometimes, she just wanted to take on the whole world.
Lin Yiqiao took a fierce bite of the dry, hard flatbread. She had been living with this defiant spirit for eighteen years now.
Those boys liked her well enough, but they had to listen to their families. Even if she managed to secure some benefits through clever maneuvering, she was always at the mercy of others, ending up in a mediocre position and becoming the subject of gossip among relatives and neighbors.
Her stepfather was determined to marry her off as a favor to build connections, with no regard for her well-being.
Freedom didn’t belong to someone like her, but she wanted freedom and dignity. That’s why she couldn’t stay in a small place like Haicheng.
Lin Yiqiao knew she had to leave as soon as possible. If there was one good thing about her, it was that she had endured plenty of hardships since childhood. When times were tough, she wasn’t afraid to live without shame or pride.
So, she decided to go to the capital and seek refuge with her aunt.
Her aunt had only one daughter, who was already married, and she had always doted on Lin Yiqiao. Her uncle held a sinecure in the military, and the family lived in a military compound.
It was a good place to go. Besides, big cities offered more opportunities—perfect for making the most of her strengths.
She blinked at herself in the mirror, her eyes like pools of clear spring water, her long, thick lashes like delicate little fans.
No man she had her eye on could look into those eyes for more than three seconds without blushing.
Lin Yiqiao had never left Haicheng in all her life. The two-day, two-night train journey was no easy feat, and her delicate skin was already starting to feel a bit dry and flaky.
With one more day to go, Lin Yiqiao took out some mooncakes she had brought and shared them with the woman and child sitting next to her. She was naturally sociable and talkative, and before long, she had become quite familiar with the woman.
Liu Yun was traveling with her child to join her husband, who had been promoted this year, allowing his family to accompany him in the military.
What a coincidence—they might even end up living in the same compound in the future.
Liu Yun insisted on inviting Lin Yiqiao to her home, and Lin Yiqiao agreed with a smile.
As the setting sun cast its golden glow across the entire carriage, the train arrived at Jingdu Station.
The conductor’s voice was loud and firm as the train slowly came to a stop. The capital’s train station was grand and clean, with soldiers in military green uniforms lining both sides, holding loaded rifles.
Only then did Lin Yiqiao truly feel it—this was the heart of the nation, the center of power. Gone was the dampness of the Jiangnan region, replaced by the intense scent of sunlight, as if it could wash away the shadows and moisture clinging to her.
She brushed the dust off her clothes and silently said to herself, “Lin Yiqiao, the capital welcomes you.”