1985
Summer.
Jiangcheng Train Station.
A group of young men walked out of the station, all dressed in matching olive-green military uniforms—the latest batch of retired soldiers.
Their tall postures and striking looks naturally drew the attention of passersby.
“Brother Zhou.”
Jiang Canran, wearing his uniform loosely with half the buttons undone, slung an arm over the shoulder of the man in front of him—Zhou Fuguang.
“Didn’t the army want to groom you for advancement? Why’d you retire with us? What, you’re done with military life?”
Standing at 1.85 meters, Zhou Fuguang’s posture was straight and sharp. His uniform fit perfectly, forming a stark contrast to Jiang Canran’s sloppy appearance.
They came from the same town—naturally becoming friends in the army.
“Mm. Wanted to do something else.”
Zhou Fuguang responded coolly, lit a cigarette, and took a drag.
Suddenly, he froze mid-movement, eyes narrowing sharply as he stared toward a crowded spot ahead.
Jiang Canran followed his gaze, clicked his tongue, and cursed:
“Damn! That old geezer’s got guts—selling a girl right at the train station!”
Before he even finished, the always-composed Zhou Fuguang flicked out his cigarette, face darkening, and strode toward the scene.
“Old man, you expect us to believe she’s your daughter? With your ugly mug, how could you possibly produce something this pretty?”
“She’s probably someone you kidnapped! You’d better tell the truth, or we’re calling the police!”
At the station entrance, a one-eyed old man had spread a plastic sheet on the ground. Sitting on it was a young woman with messy hair.
She was breathtakingly beautiful, but clearly not right in the head. She sat there blank and silly, drooling continuously.
One look, and anyone could tell she was mentally impaired.
The old man, however, spoke with confidence.
“She is my daughter! She’s stupid, sure, but I raised her for eighteen years—I can’t have done that for nothing!”
“Fixed price, five hundred yuan! Whoever wants her as a wife, give me the money and you can consummate the marriage tonight!”
“Her brain’s not good, but her body’s fine everywhere it matters. Look at this face—if she weren’t stupid, you think five hundred could get you such a beauty?”
He pinched her face and turned it so the crowd could see. People sighed.
She was pretty—red lips, white teeth, eyes like ink, features delicate as a painting. Even now, with drool dripping from her mouth and no reaction to being handled, she was lovely.
But pretty or not, she was a fool. Couldn’t work, couldn’t raise children. What use was she as a wife?
People shook their heads and began to leave.
Seeing the crowd disperse, the old man panicked.
“Four hundred! Fine, two hundred! She’s stupid, but she can bear children! Where else can you get a girl this cheap to give you kids?”
A lifelong bachelor hesitated, then stopped.
“How about one-fifty? You say she can have kids, but I ain’t tested the goods!”
“One-eighty! Take her home and test her yourself!”
The bachelor stared at the bulge under the girl’s blouse, grinning lewdly. He reached toward her chest—
“Let me test the goo— ow! Who the hell—!”
His wrist was clamped in an iron grip from behind. Turning around, he found a tall, striking young man in military uniform.
The man’s sharp, falcon-like eyes sent a shock through his heart. Intimidated, the bachelor muttered nothing and slunk away.
Zhou Fuguang lifted his gaze to the girl on the ground, then reached down and pulled her to her feet.
“Hey, what are you—!”
The old man began shouting, but another soldier ran over.
“Brother Zhou, should we call the police?”
“……”
The old man fell silent. His eyes darted around—then he took the chance to escape.
He’d only picked the girl up near the mountain today, planning to make a quick buck. Jail was not part of the plan.
“Hey! Stop!”
Jiang Canran instinctively chased after him.
Zhou Fuguang remained where he was, looking at the girl whose mouth was full of something, drool still dripping. He pinched her cheeks between his fingers, pried her jaw open, and dug out a piece of candy.
Then he raised his sleeve and wiped her face clean.
A pale, exquisite face fully emerged.
She had grown even more beautiful. And the pampered arrogance she’d been raised with—it lingered unmistakably, even in her foolish state.
With the candy gone, the girl whimpered and began crying, bending down to pick it back up.
Zhou Fuguang caught her chin, preventing her from lowering her head. His dark, sharp eyes locked onto hers.
“Qin Baozhu… even if you turned to ashes, I would still recognize you.”