The man glanced at Su Nian’an, his face still impassive.
He nodded toward her, then brushed past her without a word.
Tch, what’s the use of being handsome? He’s just like an iceberg—he’ll probably never get a wife in his life.
Iceberg-cold men weren’t popular in this era; women only found them frigid and utterly unromantic.
Su Nian’an grumbled inwardly as she stepped into the restroom. When she came out, she glanced around instinctively, but the man was nowhere to be seen.
Back in her seat, Su Nian’an noticed the young male intellectual who had been sitting across from her had swapped places with the middle-aged man beside him.
Now, he was still chatting animatedly with the young woman sitting next to him.
For some reason, Su Nian’an sensed this baby-faced intellectual was no good—likely a seasoned charmer.
He was exceptionally good at putting on a facade. At first, even she had been fooled, thinking him innocent, the very picture of a pure and earnest college student.
Fortunately, the train ride from the capital to Hebei Province was short—only about three hours.
As soon as the train pulled into the station, the crowd surged off.
Sure enough, quite a few people got off here.
Since Su Nian’an wasn’t part of the resettled youth program, no one had come to meet her. She headed straight for the bus station to catch a ride to the town first.
The Gu family had been sent down to a village called Honghe, and to get there, she first needed to reach Qingqiao Town by bus.
In her haste to make connections, Su Nian’an didn’t even stop to eat, heading straight to the bus station to buy a ticket.
Thankfully, that part went smoothly, and the journey to town passed without incident.
By the time she arrived in town, it was already past three in the afternoon.
Having barely eaten all day, Su Nian’an was famished. Unfortunately, it wasn’t market day—she wandered around until she finally found a state-run dumpling shop still open.
Private businesses were forbidden these days, making it surprisingly difficult to find a meal out.
While eating her dumplings, Su Nian’an asked the shopkeeper for directions to Honghe Village.
The shopkeeper was a kind, straightforward man. Seeing her traveling alone, he asked with concern about her plans.
When she explained she was on her way to meet her husband, he thought for a moment and said:
“If you want to reach Honghe today, go ask Old Man Niu. He’s hauling goods to the Hongxing Production Team with his ox cart and makes the trip often. If you’re in no rush, you could wait for the tractor to Honghe tomorrow morning—though there aren’t any more tractors running this late in the day.”
Su Nian’an promptly finished her meal and hurried off in the direction he’d indicated. She had no desire to spend the night in town—what if something happened to her jade bracelet while she was delayed?
Old Man Niu’s house was easy to spot; she caught sight of his cattle shed right away.
Truly a haulier’s household—three head of cattle! That was practically wealthy by local standards.
As she reached the gate, an elderly man stepped out—surely the Old Man Niu the shopkeeper had mentioned.
“Excuse me, are you Uncle Niu?” Su Nian’an asked with a warm smile.
Old Man Niu seemed kindly disposed toward strangers. He smiled back. “What can I do for you, young lady?”
“I was wondering—are you heading to Honghe Village today? Might I ride along with you?”
Su Nian’an had never imagined she’d be traveling by ox cart on this journey. Though she’d seen oxen and horses hauling goods back in her childhood village, she’d never ridden on a flatbed cart meant for people.
“As it happens, I’m delivering supplies to the Hongxing Production Team. You’re welcome to come along,” he said.
Su Nian’an’s heart leapt. Perfect timing!
Without further delay, Old Man Niu had her climb onto the cart bed, while he walked alongside guiding the oxen.
The country roads of that era were rough and rutted. Su Nian’an bounced along with every jolt. The wooden bed was hard and unforgiving; even with a thick layer of straw beneath her, she felt every bump.
Old Man Niu was a man of few words. After asking her a few polite questions, he fell quiet.
Su Nian’an felt no fear—she’d already asked the neighbors about him and knew he was widely regarded as honest and trustworthy.
The journey was slow and bumpy. A drive that would have taken less than an hour by tractor stretched to nearly two hours by ox cart before Honghe Village finally came into view.
Old Man Niu turned to her. “Where would you like to get off, miss? I’m heading straight to the Resettlement Office.”
“I’ll go with you to the office, if I may—I don’t yet know where my husband’s family has been assigned housing,” Su Nian’an replied.
“Very well.”
By the time they reached the Resettlement Office, the sun had fully dipped below the horizon.
“Just made it before dark,” Old Man Niu murmured. Just then, a young man stepped out from the office.
“Ah, Uncle Niu—thank goodness you’ve arrived! We’ve been waiting for this group of newcomers so we can assign work duties tomorrow.” The young man looked visibly relieved to see him.
“The delivery was urgent this time, but we’ve made it,” Old Man Niu said with a smile. “Now I must hurry back—I’ll be traveling home after dark.”
“Why not spend the night here?” the young man suggested. “It’ll be pitch-black soon.”
“Thank you, but I’ll make good time on the way back—it’s nothing. By the way, why is it only you here?”
“Another group of youth arrived today; the others are off arranging their lodgings.”
“There seem to be so many coming to the countryside lately… at this rate, will there even be enough housing left?”
“Tell me about it…”
As the two chatted, Su Nian’an stayed quietly out of sight, not interrupting. After a while, Old Man Niu remembered her presence and spoke to the young official:
“I’ve brought a young lady with me—she’s come to join her husband. Perhaps you can help locate his family?”
Both men turned their attention to her.
“Comrade,” the official asked, “whose family are you seeking? What is their surname? Perhaps I know them.”
“The Gu family,” Su Nian’an said quickly. “They were sent here quite recently—do you happen to know them?”
“The Gu family?” Old Man Niu muttered, his expression shifting. On the journey he’d asked about her situation, but not which family she sought.
Even the young official’s face changed noticeably at the name.
“Only one household named Gu is registered in this village,” the official said gravely. “I believe we have the right family.”
Old Man Niu nodded and turned to Su Nian’an. “Well, miss, I must be on my way. Let Comrade Wang here escort you to their home.”
“Of course—thank you so much, Uncle Niu!” Su Nian’an said gratefully.
She had intended to pay him for the ride once they arrived, but he had refused. Instead, and unwilling to take advantage of his kindness, she pressed upon him some biscuits and candies she had brought along. This he accepted, saying they would make a fine supper on his journey home.
Once Old Man Niu had departed, only Su Nian’an and Comrade Wang remained.
“Come along, then,” Comrade Wang said, locking the office door. “I shall take you to the Gu family. We must hurry before darkness falls completely.”
“Thank you, Comrade Wang,” Su Nian’an said promptly.
As they set off, he asked casually, “And how should I address you, comrade?”
“Su Nian’an—please call me Xiao Su.”
“Very well, Xiao Su. The settlement grounds are not far—do you see that row of adobe houses across the way? That is where everyone stays.” He gestured toward the row of simple earthen dwellings with a faint smile.
The resettlement quarters? Su Nian’an wondered. The Gu family was sent down as “resettled youth”? She had assumed they were being punished through hard labor—yet the treatment of political exiles and ordinary youth sent to the countryside was quite different. Both Comrade Wang and Old Man Niu had seemed surprised at the name Gu, yet had shown no sign of extraordinary treatment…
Which meant, perhaps, that the Gu family had been sent here under ordinary status—not singled out for special harshness after all?