Song Qingyan was the first to refuse.
“You just came back from the countryside—you can’t go back again!”
Su Qianqian hurried over and sat down on the sofa, affectionately taking Song Qingyan’s hand.
“Dad, Mom, listen to me.
“First, Big Brother already has a job, so there’s no need for him to go to the countryside. Second Brother is also doing what he likes. I’m the only one who’s idle.”
As she said this, she shot a glance at Su Qingyue.
She continued, “Second, I checked the destination for this countryside assignment—it happens to be Shuangqiao Commune. Out of everyone in the family, I’m the most familiar with rural life. Cooking, chopping firewood, raising pigs, feeding chickens—I can handle all of that.”
Hearing this, Su Weixin and Song Qingyan were full of heartache. This child had suffered so much, yet she was still thinking of the family.
Su Qianqian held Su Qingyue’s hand, her tone firm yet gentle.
“Lastly, I’m worried Qingyue won’t adapt once she returns to the countryside. If I go too, I can look after her a bit.
“We’re both girls—it’s much more convenient than Big Brother and Second Brother.”
Shen Xunbao frowned.
“Qingyue is going to the countryside too?”
Su Qianqian took a letter out of her bag, her face filled with pain.
“Yes. The mountain flood has passed.
“Our rural foster father isn’t in good health. This is a letter they wrote—they want to see my sister.”
She added earnestly, “But if you don’t want to go back, that’s fine too, little sister. I can go in your place to fulfill my filial duty. After all, they raised me for seventeen years.”
Su Qingyue had never planned to stay with the Su family forever. She just hadn’t expected Su Qianqian to be so eager to drag her into this.
Acting? She could do that too.
Su Qingyue’s eyes instantly reddened. Her voice trembled, her expression anxious.
“Sister, is Father’s condition serious? I’ll go back with you.
“Mom, Dad, actually I wanted to say this yesterday. I plan to return to the countryside in the future. Father is getting old—I should stay by his side and be filial.”
After speaking, she took out a bag she had prepared in advance.
“These are clothes I bought yesterday for you and for my foster parents’ family. There’s something for everyone.”
She took the clothes out one by one. For Su Weixin, a dark gray herringbone tie; for Song Qingyan, a deep blue dress; for her two brothers, two white Dacron shirts.
The Su family lacked nothing in terms of clothing, but Su Qingyue had also written a letter for each of them.
She blinked her big eyes, her face slightly shy, lips pursed as she spoke softly in a coquettish tone.
“Please don’t open the letters yet. Read them after you get back to your rooms, okay?”
Su Yuan looked at her indulgently.
“Don’t tell me you’re writing letters like when you were little, asking us to buy you snacks again?”
Everyone laughed, reminiscing about old times, and much of the sadness about going to the countryside was eased.
Su Qingyue smiled brightly.
“This dress is for Sister. Thank you for taking care of me in every way.”
Su Qianqian put on a look of surprise.
“It’s beautiful. Thank you, little sister.”
Inside, she was cursing Su Qingyue to no end.
She had thought that once Su Qingyue was told to return to the countryside, she would explode in anger and cause a huge scene—then Su Qianqian could step in to smooth things over and earn everyone’s gratitude and sympathy.
Who would have thought Su Qingyue would agree outright? And even prepare farewell gifts for the family in advance!
But so what? The countryside was Su Qianqian’s home turf. Su Qingyue should just wait to suffer!
Suppressing her malicious thoughts, Su Qianqian secretly glanced at Shen Xunbao and continued persuading the family.
“Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Second Brother—just let me go. I’ll work hard to help build the countryside, take good care of myself and my sister, and bring honor to our family.”
Su Weixin was deeply gratified. Looking closely, tears even glimmered in his eyes.
“My child, since you have this level of political awareness and revolutionary enthusiasm, then go. After one year, I’ll find a way to get you a quota to return to the city.”
When he was young and marching in the army, he had been to many mountain villages. He knew how harsh rural conditions were—of course he felt heartache.
He had recently planned to arrange a job for his youngest child, but this situation arose. Now that Su Qianqian was willing to voluntarily go to the countryside, her sense of responsibility and sacrifice made him both happy and impressed.
“Qingyan, from now on, send Qianqian one hundred yuan every month.
“Qianqian, your parents will regularly send you packages. If you lack anything, call home. Qingyan, hurry and help the girls pack—Xunbao said the train leaves early tomorrow morning. It’s urgent.”
“All right, let’s get ready.”
After setting the departure time, Shen Xunbao went home.
Commander Shen wasn’t home. Packing luggage was handled by the maid, Zhang Xiuli.
She treated Shen Xunbao like her own child, doing everything personally, her tone full of indulgence.
“Bao, the bedsheets, quilt covers, and clothes are in this trunk. Food is in that one. See if there’s anything else you need?”
Shen Xunbao didn’t even need to look—he knew how considerate she was. After all, Aunt Zhang was his biological mother.
“I’ll just bring a few books.”
Zhang Xiuli took out a thick stack of money and vouchers from her bag.
“This is all the money I’ve saved, plus plenty of grain, meat, and sugar coupons. Life in the countryside is hard. Once you’re there, use money to hire people to earn work points for you—don’t go laboring in the fields…”
As she spoke, she began to sob, her voice choking repeatedly.
“Take good care of yourself in the countryside. Hire help for laundry and cooking. Get along well with the educated youth. Hold on for a year—Commander Shen will arrange for you to come back.”
“And you—you’re a fine young man. After you go to the countryside, don’t—”
“I’ve told you how many times already!” Shen Xunbao cut her off harshly. “Don’t ever bring that up again!”
Zhang Xiuli shrank her shoulders in fright, her tears flowing even harder.
“All right, all right. I won’t say it.”
Shen Xunbao sighed deeply, pushed all the money back, and only took a stack of vouchers.
“The commander will give me money. Keep yours for yourself.”
Before long, Commander Shen returned with the driver. In his early forties, wearing a military uniform, he was solidly built with a stern, resolute face.
Shen Xunbao stepped forward to take his coat, but Commander Shen raised a hand to stop him.
He spoke calmly, his tone carrying the authority of someone in power, creating an unspoken pressure.
“Once you’re in the countryside, reform yourself properly!”
“Yes, Father,” Shen Xunbao replied, lowering his head, his eyes filled with sorrow.
Commander Shen went upstairs, then stopped halfway and said to the maid and the driver,
“Indulging a child is no different from killing him. You’d both better keep that in mind.”
Zhang Xiuli nodded nervously. The driver, Qiao Jinsheng, bent at the waist nearly ninety degrees.
Only after Commander Shen disappeared did the two finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Seeing Zhang Xiuli’s reddened eyes, Qiao Jinsheng scolded softly,
“What are you crying for? Going to the countryside isn’t a death sentence.”
“You know how hard life is out there! Can Xunbao really endure it?”
Lowering his voice, Qiao Jinsheng said,
“Don’t worry. I’ve made arrangements.”
……
Song Qingyan took her two daughters to the Friendship Store to buy supplies. After finishing her shopping, Su Qingyue waited at the entrance the whole time.
She kept checking her watch. She had arrived at the store entrance at noon—now it was almost two o’clock, and her lifesaver still hadn’t come.
Su Yuan drove a jeep to pick them up. Song Qingyan and Su Qianqian lifted bag after bag into the car.
Su Qingyue had no choice but to get into the car, looking back repeatedly.
As the car started, her gaze remained fixed on the entrance of the Friendship Store, her eyes full of disappointment.
She rarely felt regret this deep. Thinking that she didn’t even know her benefactor’s name made her heart feel hollow and heavy.
Back at the Su residence, Song Qingyan and the maid helped the sisters pack. In the end, they somehow filled four large trunks.
To see the sisters off, dinner that evening was far more lavish than usual.
Putting down his chopsticks, Su Weixin said,
“Zhou Wenfang from the compound is also going to the countryside. Qianqian, you should look out for each other. Her parents even came by today to mention it.”
Su Qianqian’s eyes lit up.
“No problem, Dad.”
Thinking it over, Su Qingyue realized that Zhou Wenfang was an only child. The Zhou family wanted to climb higher, so everything they did had to stay in step with Commander Shen. No wonder they were willing to send her to the countryside.
After the elders finished giving instructions, the two brothers added countless words of advice.
Soon it was four o’clock the next morning. After washing up, Su Qingyue carried her luggage downstairs.
Song Qingyan wanted to go to the train station to see them off, but the two daughters persuaded her to stay behind. Su Chen and Su Yuan drove their two sisters to the station, then waved goodbye as the train departed.