Just after six o’clock, Ye Weiliang got up.
She quietly rose from bed, careful not to wake Zhao Xiyuan.
She left a note by the bedside, saying that they could write to each other in the future.
Bao Shuxin had already prepared breakfast—one big steamed bun and a bowl of mixed-grain porridge.
While Zhao Youliang and Bao Shuxin weren’t paying attention, Ye Weiliang placed ten yuan, a two-tael meat coupon, and a one-jin grain coupon on their cabinet, weighing them down with a book so they wouldn’t be blown away by the wind.
Zhao Youliang rode his bicycle to send Ye Weiliang to the train station.
Bao Shuxin also prepared five eggs and three steamed buns for her.
For people she had only just met, this was already extremely generous.
Ye Weiliang originally didn’t want to take them. After all, she still had food she had packed earlier from the state-owned restaurant in her space, still warm as if freshly made.
Bao Shuxin firmly stuffed the food into Ye Weiliang’s small bag.
“Take it. It’s not worth much. In the future, if you want to eat something, tell Auntie and I’ll mail it to you.”
“Thank you, Auntie. You’re really too kind,” Ye Weiliang’s eyes reddened.
It was the first time she had felt a mother’s care—even if it belonged to someone else’s mother.
“Good child, hurry and go. Don’t be late,” Bao Shuxin said as she lovingly tidied Ye Weiliang’s clothes.
The night before, Zhao Youliang had carefully told his wife about Ye Weiliang’s life over the past decade.
When she learned that this child was being forced to go to the countryside at just fourteen, she cried until she could hardly stop.
Ten minutes after Zhao Youliang left with Ye Weiliang, Bao Shuxin finally noticed the wad of money and coupons pressed under the book.
She was both angry and moved.
“This child—why doesn’t she know to keep it for herself?”
“Mom? Keep what for herself? Where’s Sister Weiliang?”
“She’s already gone to the train station. You just woke up. Go wash up and eat breakfast. Weiliang left you a note on the table.”
Zhao Xiyuan didn’t even bother eating. She rushed to read the note, and after seeing the address, other thoughts formed in her mind.
When Zhao Youliang brought Ye Weiliang to the train station, there were already quite a lot of people.
“Uncle Zhao, thank you for taking me in!”
Ye Weiliang bowed deeply to express her gratitude.
“Take this money and keep it safe. Don’t let anyone steal it. Don’t refuse, girl—there are many places you’ll need money after going to the countryside. Just consider it a loan from me.”
Although he said that, Zhao Youliang never once thought about her paying it back.
“Thank you, Uncle. I’ll definitely repay you.”
Even though she didn’t lack money, she lacked this kind of care—fatherly care.
“Go on!”
Zhao Youliang waved for her to hurry and assemble.
“Uncle, Sister Xiyuan seems to have ideas about going to the countryside to join the production teams. You should keep an eye on her.”
“I know. Thank you, Xiao Ye,” Zhao Youliang sighed. He had always known his daughter wanted to go.
“Go on in.”
Ye Weiliang got her train ticket and waved to Zhao Youliang.
After receiving his response, she followed the group into the station.
Her seat was by the window, specially arranged by someone from the Educated Youth Office.
Among all these youths going to the countryside, Ye Weiliang was the youngest.
Naturally, she needed extra care.
She didn’t have much luggage and could hold it herself, so she sat down directly.
She looked at the crowd of people seeing others off outside the window, feeling indifferent—until she spotted Zhao Youliang among them, watching her.
Her calm heart suddenly trembled.
So she really was someone people cared about.
“Weiliang, call Uncle when you arrive and tell me you’re safe, understand? Auntie and I are worried about you.”
“I understand, Uncle Zhao. You should go back. I’ll call you,” Ye Weiliang said as she waved.
Her eyes reddened slightly.
Being remembered and cared for—it really felt good.
Only after Zhao Youliang left did she withdraw her gaze and steady her emotions.
Ye Weiliang felt that this body’s tear glands were unusually developed—tears came far too easily.
Wasn’t this a bit much?
Wouldn’t this crying-prone constitution make people mistake her for a scheming green-tea white lotus?
While she was thinking, someone patted her arm.
She raised her head.
“Is there something you need?”
Yi Manyu looked at Ye Weiliang arrogantly.
“Little sister, I get motion sickness. Can you let me have the window seat?”
“Sister, I don’t want to switch,” Ye Weiliang shook her head.
Who would want an aisle seat? Besides, she was young—she had reason.
“Little sister, it’s just changing seats. Why cling to it so tightly? Besides, I get motion sickness. Shouldn’t you take care of me?”
Ye Weiliang: ??
Did I hear that right? Say that again?
“Right, it’s just a seat. Why are you clinging to it so tightly?”
Ye Weiliang blinked her big eyes, her voice soft and sweet.
It was very easy to make people feel fond of her.
Of course, Yi Manyu was the exception.
Yi Manyu was practically furious.
From childhood to adulthood, when had she ever suffered such grievance?
Because of her family background, everyone around her doted on her. No one had ever dared speak to her like this.
And now this country bumpkin dared to refuse her?
“Who do you think you are? You reek of poverty. I’m willing to sit in your seat because I’m honoring you, and you dare talk back to me? Don’t be ungrateful.”
Ye Weiliang widened her eyes.
“So… are you a capitalist heiress?”
“You—!” Yi Manyu was so angry she didn’t know what to say.
“Yi Manyu, stop fooling around. You’ll end up implicating your family,” a man beside them spoke up.
Ye Weiliang followed the voice and glanced over.
It was a clean-cut young man.
Yi Manyu seemed to listen to him.
“Brother Shao, she bullied me. I just wanted the window seat.”
“Who doesn’t want a window seat? Why should I give it to you just because you want it?”
Ye Weiliang spoke in the softest, most innocent tone.
“Unless… it’s because you’re a capitalist heiress?”
“Little comrade, she’s talking nonsense. Don’t take it seriously,” Shao Song said with a frown, his tone carrying a warning.
Although he was annoyed by Yi Manyu, their long history meant he couldn’t ignore her.
“Hey, hey, hey—what are you all doing? Bullying a fourteen-year-old little girl?”
The speaker was Ao Jiarui, the youngest son of Director Ao from the Educated Youth Office.
He didn’t actually need to go to the countryside. His family had planned to arrange another job for him, but he didn’t want to burden them.
So he secretly signed up himself and chose Qishi City in Heilongjiang Province.
Since it was already decided, Director Ao prepared everything for him and told him there was a fourteen-year-old girl on the train, asking him to look after her.
Seeing everyone crowding around the young girl, Ao Jiarui couldn’t stand it anymore.
“All of you are sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, right? Bullying a fourteen-year-old child—does that look good?”
“Exactly, how can you bully a kid like that?”
“Oh my god, she’s also an educated youth going to the countryside? She’s only fourteen?”
“I thought you had to be sixteen to go?”
The topic quickly shifted to whether a fourteen-year-old could even go to the countryside.
Seeing this, Yi Manyu couldn’t keep targeting Ye Weiliang.
She shot Ye Weiliang a resentful glare and obediently sat in the aisle seat.
Not long after, the train started moving.
Ye Weiliang looked at the scenery outside. Sitting on a hard wooden seat, she felt that by the time they reached Heilongjiang, her backside would be completely flattened.
A bespectacled boy sitting across from her saw that everyone was bored and started a conversation.
“Since we’re all educated youths going to the countryside, let’s get to know each other.”
“I’ll go first. My name is Li Yang. I’m going to Gannan County, Qishi City, Heilongjiang.”
“I’m Chen Pingyao, also going to Qishi City, but to Longjiang County.”
“My name is Yu Xingyun, also going to Gannan County.”
“Ao Jiarui, Gannan County.”
“I’m Shao Song, also going to Gannan County.”
The arrogant capitalist heiress clearly disdained speaking with them.
“My name is Ye Weiliang. I’m also going to Gannan County, Qishi City, Heilongjiang,” Ye Weiliang said seriously, her voice impossibly soft.
It made the comrades around her want to protect her.
“My name is Li Xingxing. I’m also going to Gannan County,” Li Xingxing said, looking at Ye Weiliang.
She really liked this little sister.
Beautiful, and with such a sweet voice.
“My name is Li Pandi. I’m also going to Gannan County,” Li Pandi said.
She was dressed rather shabbily and looked like she came from a poor family.
Her voice was timid, but the look in her eyes made people uncomfortable.
After introductions, they realized that only Chen Pingyao was going to Longjiang County; everyone else was headed to Gannan County.
As for whether they’d be assigned to the same production team—that was still unknown.
After the introductions, some of the educated youths continued chatting.
Ye Weiliang leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes.
These educated youths, having never lived in the countryside, still held expectations for the future.
But having read novels, Ye Weiliang knew these were all illusions.
Once they reached the production teams, every fantasy would be shattered.
After going to the countryside, they were supposedly building the new rural world—but in reality, they were just going to do farm labor.
She had no expectations.
She only wanted to see the parents of this body—how could they not even tell whether the child they raised was their own?
Wasn’t there such a thing as a mother’s intuition?
How did they never notice that the daughter they cherished wasn’t actually theirs?
The train ride would take a full day and night.
They wouldn’t reach Qishi City in Heilongjiang until the next afternoon, then they would transfer to the county town.
Only at the county’s Educated Youth Office would people from the production teams come to pick them up.
Only then would they know which team they were assigned to.