Zhao Youliang went to work at the Public Security Bureau early that morning, planning to talk to his wife at noon about their daughter having thoughts of going to the countryside to join the production teams.
However, he was held up by other cases and stayed busy for several days, completely forgetting about it.
As a result, a month and a half later, his daughter showed up with official papers for going to the countryside, asking him for money and coupons to buy supplies.
Zhao Youliang was so furious he nearly wanted to hang her up and give her a beating.
But all of that was for later.
At this moment, Ye Weiliang had already woken up.
At noon, everyone was eating, and Ye Weiliang also took out an egg and a big steamed bun, eating slowly.
After the meal, she went to the restroom.
The moment she stepped inside, the smell nearly knocked her out.
The stench was indescribable.
Holding her breath, Ye Weiliang locked the door and immediately slipped into her space.
Behind the bamboo house was a latrine. With a thought, she remodeled it—at least there wouldn’t be “gold” all over the ground.
After finishing, she came right back out and left the train restroom.
Instead of returning to her seat, she stood at the junction between train cars, looking at the scenery outside.
The July sun was scorching. With the train moving, a breeze blew in, making it surprisingly comfortable.
She felt someone constantly squeezing against her side. She glanced over—it was a small old woman.
Ye Weiliang didn’t think much of it and simply moved aside.
Unexpectedly, the old woman kept inching closer.
Instantly, Ye Weiliang became alert.
This woman had ill intentions—most likely a human trafficker.
That night when she dreamed of beating up a scumbag, Black and White Impermanence had appeared in her dream and told her that King Yama had granted her a cheat ability: immense strength, enough that ordinary people couldn’t deal with her.
So although she was on guard, she wasn’t too worried.
She was even a little excited, wanting to test just how strong this “super strength” really was.
“Little girl, where are you headed?” the old woman struck up a conversation.
Mm—classic pre-abduction dialogue.
“I’m going to the countryside to find relatives,” Ye Weiliang said timidly.
The old woman’s eyes narrowed happily.
Going to the countryside was good. Looking for relatives was even better.
This girl was really pretty—she could definitely be sold for a good price.
“Which province are you going to?” the old woman asked eagerly.
“Heilongjiang Province,” Ye Weiliang replied, pretending to be naïve.
“Heilongjiang is a hard place. A little girl like you is bound to suffer,” the old woman sighed and shook her head.
Ye Weiliang glanced at her but didn’t respond.
The old woman was stunned.
Why wasn’t she continuing the conversation? How was she supposed to go on?
“Little girl, I have a son, a bit older than you. Why don’t you come be my daughter-in-law? Our family conditions are very good…”
“I’m still young. I’m not getting married,” Ye Weiliang rolled her eyes.
She was only fourteen—marriage? Was this woman crazy?
“Being young is fine. We can set it first. You can live at my place, and once you’re grown up, you can marry.”
“I’ve taken a liking to you as my daughter-in-law,” the old woman said as she reached out to grab Ye Weiliang’s hand, trying to drag her away.
“Old lady, are you trying to kidnap a girl?” Ye Weiliang said quietly.
“What kidnapping? I already gave you a bride price. You agreed to be my daughter-in-law.”
Ye Weiliang subtly sensed the extra item on her person, then tossed it into her space.
Her eyes reddened as she looked at the woman.
“What nonsense are you talking about? When did I take your things? Don’t slander me. And I don’t even know you—why are you dragging me away?”
“I’ve taken a liking to you, so you have to come with me,” the old woman dropped her kind expression and pulled hard.
Yet Ye Weiliang stood firmly in place, not moving an inch.
“How can you be like this? I don’t even know you!”
“Is there any kind person who can help call the train attendant? This old woman is trying to traffic me.”
The old woman immediately exploded in anger.
“Nonsense! You’re my family’s daughter-in-law. You ran away and I caught you this time!”
“I’m an educated youth going to the countryside. I never said that. Could some kind brother please help call the train attendant?”
Ye Weiliang’s eyes were red, clearly looking like someone who had been bullied.
Li Xingxing noticed that Ye Weiliang had been gone for a long time and came looking for her, only to hear this exchange.
She immediately ran to the carriage to find several male educated youths and told them what was happening.
Ao Jiarui told Li Xingxing to get the train police, while he and several others rushed to the junction between the cars.
The old woman didn’t want to talk to anyone else. She tugged at Ye Weiliang, trying to leave, but no matter how hard she pulled, Ye Weiliang didn’t budge.
Seeing more and more people gathering—and the attendants approaching—she knew she couldn’t escape.
With no other choice, she sat down on the floor and began wailing loudly.
“Oh heavens, what sin have I committed! This is the little daughter-in-law I raised since childhood. When she saw my son was disabled, she ran away. Now I’m trying to take her home, and she refuses to recognize me!”
The people who arrived later didn’t know the situation and assumed Ye Weiliang had run away because she looked down on the family.
They immediately turned into righteous critics.
“How can you be like this, young girl? They raised you for over ten years—how can you despise them?”
“Exactly. Hurry and go home with your mother.”
“If this were my daughter-in-law, I’d break her legs and see how she runs again.”
Hearing all this, the old woman’s face showed a smug expression.
“How can you wrongly accuse someone like this?” Ye Weiliang said softly, tears falling one by one.
“I don’t know her at all. I’m an educated youth going to the countryside. I was just standing here looking at the scenery when she came over, said she liked me as her daughter-in-law, and tried to drag me away without any explanation.”
Her voice was gentle, her tears sincere, and she looked utterly wronged.
The people who had been condemning her immediately fell silent.
Judging by her expression, she didn’t seem to be lying.
They all looked suspiciously at the old woman sitting on the ground.
“Nonsense! You just despise my family for being poor and my son for being disabled. You even have our family’s heirloom jade pendant on you!”
Ye Weiliang silently rolled her eyes.
She was already poor as dirt—what heirloom jade pendant?
Just then, Ao Jiarui and the others squeezed their way in.
“Xiao Ye, are you alright? Is this old hag trying to traffic you?”
“Who are you?” the old woman’s face darkened.
She hadn’t expected the little girl to have companions. Things had gone badly.
“Who I am doesn’t matter. Are you trying to abduct Xiao Ye? She’s only fourteen—one of our educated youths. You actually dare traffic her?”
“Human traffickers deserve to die,” Yu Xingyun said fiercely.
One of his older sisters had been trafficked, and to this day, they hadn’t found her.
The old woman panicked and tried to run.
But Ye Weiliang grabbed her arm tightly—she couldn’t break free at all.
She never expected such a delicate-looking girl to have such terrifying strength.
By the time the attendants arrived, the old woman’s face had turned ashen.
After understanding the situation, they directly took her away.
At the next station, she would be handed over to the Public Security Bureau.
“Comrade, I suspect she has accomplices. Please be careful of the people on the train,” Ye Weiliang reminded them.
“Understood. Thank you, little comrade,” the attendant nodded seriously.
Back at their seats, everyone surrounded Ye Weiliang with concern.
“Xiao Ye, if anything like this happens again, just call out. We’ll all help you.”
“That’s right. You’re still so young—we’ll look after you.”
Li Xingxing also looked at Ye Weiliang with heartache.
She knew Ye Weiliang’s background through Ao Jiarui and felt even more sympathy for her.
“Thank you, everyone,” Ye Weiliang hadn’t expected them to care so much.
Only Yi Manyu snorted disdainfully.
After Shao Song shot her a glare, she shut up.
This small incident didn’t affect their enthusiasm for going to the countryside.
Soon, they were even happily singing revolutionary songs.
Such a passionate group.
It was just that once they truly reached the countryside, no one knew whether they’d still be able to maintain this mood.
They were the first batch of educated youths sent down, and everything ahead was unknown.
All they could do was pray that the production team leader wasn’t a black-hearted one.