“Xiaolin, let me carry your luggage for you!” Zhou Jianguo took the bags from Chen Xiaolin’s hands and strapped them onto the back of his bicycle.
“Let’s go. We’ll walk together. I originally wanted to borrow a bike to take you, but time was tight, so I didn’t manage to get one. The train station isn’t far, and it’s still early. Walking there will be fine.” Liu Aihong pulled Chen Xiaolin along. Walking from Chen Xiaolin’s house to the station would take over half an hour! She wanted to use that time to chat a bit more with Chen Xiaolin.
“It’s alright, Aunt Liu, you don’t need to feel guilty. I was planning to carry my own luggage anyway. Now that Brother Jianguo is helping me with the bike, I’m more grateful than I can express.” Chen Xiaolin knew borrowing a bicycle at this time wasn’t easy. Besides, Liu Aihong and her family had come all the way to see her off—how could she blame them for not getting a bike?
“Xiaolin, when you get to the countryside, don’t rush into marriage. Always have a companion when you go out, and don’t let anyone take advantage of you. Don’t let the villagers know you’re wealthy—sometimes having money in the countryside isn’t a good thing.” Liu Aihong was worried Chen Xiaolin would attract the wrong kind of attention. A rich, pretty, orphaned girl—who knew how many people would have their eyes on her!
“I know what I’m doing. Besides, my eldest uncle is the brigade leader back home—no one dares to bully me. And my father taught me military boxing from a young age; normally, even two men together can’t beat me.” Chen Xiaolin meant: whoever tried to mess with her would soon find out why she’s so formidable.
“I know you can protect yourself, but some people play dirty. It’s better to be careful,” Liu Aihong said, still worried that Chen Xiaolin was too young to understand how tricky some scoundrels could be.
“Don’t worry! I’ll remember what you told me and stay away from troublemakers in the village.” Chen Xiaolin understood Liu Aihong was only nagging out of concern.
Zhou Jianguo pushed the bike, following behind his father, listening to Chen Xiaolin and Liu Aihong chatting along the way.
Half an hour later, they arrived at the train station. Today was probably a popular day for going to the countryside, as the station was crowded. Looking around, it was just a sea of heads. Liu Aihong left her husband to watch the bike while she and Zhou Jianguo carried the larger luggage, leaving Chen Xiaolin with only a small package of food.
Finally, they squeezed onto the train and found Chen Xiaolin’s carriage.
Luckily, she had a sleeper seat; otherwise, finding a place to sit would have been much harder.
Chen Xiaolin placed her luggage on the rack above her bed.
“Aunt Liu, Brother Jianguo, you should go back. I’m fine alone. I’ll come visit you when I have time.”
“Xiaolin, take care of yourself. Remember to write to us,” Liu Aihong said, her eyes red, unwilling to let her go.
“Xiaolin, my mom and I are leaving now. If you have any difficulties, remember to write to us.” Zhou Jianguo pulled Liu Aihong off the train as it was about to depart.
Once they left, Chen Xiaolin finally breathed a sigh of relief. Their enthusiasm had been a bit overwhelming.
Soon, two boys around eighteen or nineteen and a slightly younger girl entered her carriage.
“Brother Ran, help me put the luggage up.” Shen Jiaojiao tugged at her neighbor, Li Ran’s sleeve, looking at him expectantly.
“Can’t you use your own hands?” Li Ran really disliked Shen Jiaojiao, his little neighbor. If she didn’t pester him every day, he wouldn’t even think about going to the countryside. Yet in the end, he couldn’t escape her. Now he was dreading facing her every day.
“Brother Ran, don’t be so mean! You almost scared me!” Shen Jiaojiao’s eyes filled with tears. She didn’t understand why he was so impatient with her.
“Don’t call me Brother Ran. I’m not your brother. And can you speak normally? Your voice makes me want to vomit.” Li Ran knew Shen Jiaojiao was pretending to be innocent again, as she always did since childhood, acting like he was bullying her.
Hearing Li Ran’s harsh words, Shen Jiaojiao could no longer hold back and started crying.
“Alright! Li Ran, don’t be angry. And Shen Jiaojiao, stop crying.” Chen Yuhang was exasperated by the pair: one liked chasing, the other liked running away. Their parents always tried to pair them together. This time, going to the countryside was the same—they wouldn’t have had to go if not for Li Ran trying to escape Shen Jiaojiao.
Li Ran ignored Shen Jiaojiao and lay down on his bed.
Shen Jiaojiao felt extremely wronged—why was Brother Ran so cold to her?
Chen Yuhang sighed deeply. He wasn’t sure whether traveling with these two was a blessing or a curse.
Chen Xiaolin had been pretending to nap on her bed. Hearing Shen Jiaojiao’s whining voice, she finally opened her eyes.
Sigh—another silly girl caught up in love. Going to the countryside isn’t a good thing for someone so delicate; she’d probably cry and throw a fit and want to return to the city soon enough.
“Hello, my name is Chen Yuhang. I’m a sent-down youth going to Yongping County, Ha City, Hei Province,” Chen Yuhang greeted Chen Xiaolin warmly, knowing they’d be in the same carriage for the next four days.
“Hello, my name is Chen Xiaolin. I’m not a sent-down youth, but I’m also going to Yongping County, Ha City, Hei Province.” Chen Xiaolin responded politely to his enthusiasm.
“Hello, I’m Li Ran. I’ve known Chen Yuhang since childhood. We’re going to Yongping County, Ha City, Hei Province, too.”
“Hello, I’m Shen Jiaojiao. I’m going to the countryside with Brother Ran.”
“Shen Jiaojiao, I already told you, don’t pair me with you. Why are you so annoying?” Li Ran felt sick hearing her high-pitched, cutesy voice. He really felt his life was miserable.
“Sorry, Brother Ran. Did I make you angry again?” Shen Jiaojiao’s heart hurt hearing his cold tone. What was wrong with her that Brother Ran disliked her so much?
Chen Xiaolin thought: poor Shen Jiaojiao, it’s her own trouble. She has looks, figure, and a good family background—why must someone treat her this way?
Seeing Shen Jiaojiao about to cry again, Chen Yuhang quickly glared at Li Ran, telling him to shut up.
“Alright! Shen Jiaojiao, stop crying. The more you cry, the more Li Ran will dislike you.”