Everything proceeded as expected. After staying the night, Yu Dingguo tricked the original girl into consummating their relationship, claiming it would force the family to relent.
However, once he left the next day, he disappeared without a trace.
The girl waited at home for two days, until the commotion at the youth cadre station reached her ears Yu Dingguo had gone to a matchmaker to formally propose to Zhang, the educated youth.
The news came completely out of the blue.
Perhaps wanting to clarify things, or perhaps in anger at being deceived, Yu Nian’an watched helplessly as the original girl rushed into the youth cadre station and grabbed Yu Dingguo, bombarding him with questions.
What she couldn’t have known was that the man who had been so affectionate just days before had suddenly changed his demeanor, insisting that the two of them had nothing to do with each other and warning her not to interfere.
Under the scrutiny and gossip of everyone present, the original girl felt deeply ashamed. She ran straight home and, as if suddenly remembering something, began rummaging through her wardrobe.
In the end, she discovered that the IOU she had kept there was gone, and even the remaining seventy yuan had vanished.
It was obvious who was responsible. The girl immediately went to the county town to report it to the police.
But the authorities had limited means to investigate. Moreover, she had opened the door herself; Yu Dingguo had arrived too late for anyone to see. The IOU had already been destroyed, leaving no witnesses. As for the items for the proposal, it was eventually discovered that they had all been purchased with Aunt’s money.
Between the police report and the daytime chaos at the youth station, everyone concluded that the girl had concocted the scheme herself to cling to Yu Dingguo.
Faced with the ever-worsening rumors circulating through the village, the girl felt she could not speak her pain. In the end, she ended her life in that tributary river.
Yu Nian’an floated above the river, cursing Yu Dingguo in her heart he really was despicable. Luckily, she had arrived earlier, or else cleaning up this mess would have been impossible.
By this time, passing villagers had already spotted the body in the river. As they came to retrieve it, Yu Nian’an heard someone mutter quietly, “Is this river not clean? In just a few days, two people have drowned.”
Drowned… in the river.
The words flashed through her mind, and Yu Nian’an woke from the dream in a start.
“Hoo…”
She let out a heavy sigh. She remembered Gu Shen had also died in that river.
It was only that the original text mentioned him so little just a single line, the one she had just heard in her dream. After that, everything about him had been erased.
In other words, Gu Shen should have died when he fell into the river that noon.
Thinking of this, Yu Nian’an’s heart began pounding even faster. She had thought that her transmigration into the book was just a coincidence, but unexpectedly, she had accidentally saved Gu Shen, changing his original fate.
She got out of bed, dressed, and rubbed her slightly throbbing temples before going to the water tank to draw a basin of water for herself.
Splashing the cold water on her face gradually brought her mind back to clarity.
It was a day off from the fields, and the sudden free time still felt a little unfamiliar.
She reheated the leftover rice from last night and was just starting to eat when Uncle Jianping and the others arrived. After a brief greeting, they got started on today’s work.
With people at home, Yu Nian’an could leave the house without worry. She wanted to take advantage of this rare free time to test the idea that had been on her mind.
She found a small pickaxe by the kitchen’s back door and dug out an old basket, padding it with some cloth so she could barely use it.
After greeting Uncle Jianping, Yu Nian’an stepped out of her small courtyard. Her eyes glanced toward the little path where Gu Shen had disappeared the night before. After a moment’s thought, she headed in the direction of the youth cadre station.
The youth cadres’ quarters had been set up in the former site of the commune. Since it was a bit far away, and with the youth being sent to the countryside, the village took the opportunity to move the commune offices into the village. The vacant rooms happened to serve as their lodgings.
It saved money, and it also kept the youths from being too close to the villagers’ daily lives.
When Yu Nian’an reached the youth station, smoke was just starting to rise from the kitchen next door. Since it was a day off, the youths were probably still sleeping in.
She entered the main gate, and someone with sharp eyes spotted her first, calling out: “Comrade, who are you looking for?”
The shout drew the attention of several of the youths in the courtyard. One of them recognized her and quickly came over.
The shout drew the attention of several of the youths in the courtyard. One of them, seeing her, hurried over.
“Comrade Yu, what brings you here?”
Yu Nian’an looked up it was Ye Xiao.
She raised the basket in her hand and explained, “I’m planning to go up the mountain. I wanted to ask if you, Lin Zhi, and Gu Shen want to come?”
The first two were just incidental she was really asking about Gu Shen.
Since he hadn’t returned last night, and after recalling that dream, Yu Nian’an felt uneasy.
Hearing that she was planning to go up the mountain, Ye Xiao became interested.
“Lin Zhi and I can go, but Ah Shen probably won’t be able to.”
Yu Nian’an’s worry deepened. “Why not?”
Ye Xiao hesitated for a moment, then gave a dry laugh, pretending to sound casual: “He’s been worn out the past few days. Today’s his first day off, and he’s still sleeping in.”
If she hadn’t seen Gu Shen last night, Yu Nian’an might have almost believed this excuse.
But hearing Ye Xiao say this, she guessed that Gu Shen must have already returned.
While they were talking, Lin Zhi also came out. Upon learning her purpose, her eyes lit up. “Then after breakfast, shall we go up the mountain together?”
And so, Yu Nian’an stayed at the youth station.
Their breakfast was similar to hers coarse rice porridge with a plate of pickled radish.
While she was eating, Zhang Yulan came out of the room. Her eyes swept the courtyard, lingering on Yu Nian’an for a brief moment.
“How unusual,” she said. “People from the village actually come to our youth station on their own.”
The remark sounded strange no matter how she heard it. Yu Nian’an turned her head and realized that she recognized the person or, to put it another way, she had seen her in last night’s dream.
It was the same youth who had been proposed to by Yu Dingguo in the end.
It was a bit of a case of enemies meeting by chance. Seeing her now, Yu Nian’an felt a twinge of sourness in her chest probably pity for the original girl.
Seeing that no one paid her any attention, Zhang Yulan walked past and gave her a sidelong glance.
Yu Nian’an felt a little confused by the gesture, but Lin Zhi comforted her: “Don’t mind her, she’s targeting me.”
Since they were still at the youth station, Lin Zhi only smiled at her without explaining the reason.
After finishing breakfast and washing the bowls, Lin Zhi came up and linked her arm with Yu Nian’an. “Let’s go. You lead the way.”
Ye Xiao followed behind them.
Feeling the warmth at her side, Yu Nian’an was momentarily taken aback. She didn’t actually mind such closeness it was just that she kept thinking this person was the original girl, which made her subconsciously care.
Fortunately, their original plan was simply to go into the mountains to gather wild vegetables. Coming to the youth station had been a spontaneous decision. Now, with Lin Zhi smiling at her, Yu Nian’an couldn’t bring herself to refuse. She nodded instead and led the two along the route she remembered toward the back of the mountain.
The temperature in the mountains was much cooler than outside. Beneath the shrubs, there were plenty of wild vegetables.
Ferns, purslane following a single path, they collected quite a bit, all placed into Yu Nian’an’s basket.
At first, she thought Lin Zhi hadn’t brought a basket, and planned to divide the vegetables later. But Lin Zhi shook her head with a smile: “I just feel a bit out of place staying in the youth station. This is a good chance to sneak out and take a walk with you.”
Yu Nian’an was puzzled by her words. Could it be because of the person from earlier?