The next morning, the Xie household was decorated with lanterns and streamers, ready to welcome the bride.
However, when the Xie family went to the town guesthouse to fetch the bride, they found the place empty, only receiving a note left by Song Zhiyi.
Written in neat, elegant handwriting were a few lines:
To the Xie Family:
This marriage was forced upon me by my stepmother, Wen Shufen, for her own selfish gain. It was never my intention, and I have had no relationship with Comrade Xie Xingwen.
I, Song Zhiyi, will absolutely not marry into the Xie family. The betrothal gifts received are all in Wen Shufen’s hands. Please seek repayment from her.
Furthermore, regarding the disgraceful actions you and my stepmother carried out against an unmarried woman, I advise you to reflect on your behavior. You will bear the consequences.
When Xie Xingwen’s parents brought back the note, they were so furious they nearly fainted on the spot.
“This is rebellion! Utter defiance!”
The aunts and relatives who had come along immediately erupted into chaos.
“The Song family is utterly shameless! This is marriage fraud!”
“Exactly! They took the betrothal gifts and now the bride has run off! What do they take our village head for?”
“Let’s go! Let’s settle the score with the Song family! They must give us an explanation!”
A crowd gathered in the Xie family courtyard, all clamoring to confront the Song family.
Xie Xingwen’s mother, as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, lashed out at Xie Xingwen, who was sitting nearby:
“Xingwen! What are you still sitting there daydreaming for at a time like this!”
Xie Xingwen ignored Xu Lan, his gaze drifting into the distance as he pondered.
Could it be… she has also returned?
Xie Xingwen’s expression changed abruptly. He immediately turned and strode purposefully toward the town to call the military unit.
The call was quickly answered by Ma.
“Hey, Xingwen, you called at just the right time!” Ma’s hearty voice carried a hint of teasing. “You’ve really messed up this time, kid. Your bride was so angry she called the military unit to break off the engagement? What’s going on?”
Xie Xingwen was taken aback for a moment, but his tone remained steady as usual.
“Ma, I apologize for the embarrassment. It’s just a small disagreement between me and my bride. She’s young and has a temper, so she’s throwing a tantrum.”
“A small disagreement that leads to breaking off an engagement? Did you bully her, kid?”
“It’s just a minor domestic issue. I didn’t handle it well and upset her. I’ve already apologized, and she’s calmed down.”
“Ma, what about the marriage application…?”
Ma fell silent on the other end, seemingly weighing his words.
“Xingwen, marriage is a serious matter, not something to be taken lightly. You’re a soldier; you need a stable home front. Be more patient with your loved one. Don’t act on impulse, and don’t let your loved one complain to the organization over every little thing.”
“Yes, Ma’s advice is well taken. I’ll remember it.” Xie Xingwen’s attitude was sincere.
“Alright, since it’s just a lovers’ quarrel, clearing the air is enough. I’ll continue processing the application on my end. Hurry up and make up with her. Don’t let anything else go wrong!”
“Yes! Thank you, Ma!”
After hanging up, Xie Xingwen stood where he was.
Song Zhiyi, it seems she really has returned, but this time, he won’t let her go.
After leaving the Song family, Song Zhiyi hadn’t slept properly.
After spending a night at the town guesthouse, she left as early as five in the morning. She went to the town post office, planning to call her aunt.
After calling the military unit yesterday, the heavy stone in Song Zhiyi’s heart finally settled.
The military unit values reputation and discipline above all.
She had made her point clear, accusing the Xie family and her stepmother of engaging in the feudal practice of a “blind marriage.” This was a matter of conduct.
The annulment of the engagement was practically a done deal.
As for the Xie and Song families, she had plenty of time to settle accounts with them slowly.
Right now, there was something even more important.
She needed to see her aunt.
In her previous life, her aunt was the only person who had shown her warmth during her time in the devouring Xie family.
Unfortunately, her aunt herself didn’t have an easy life. After remarrying a military officer, something unexpected happened later, and the entire family vanished without a trace.
She hurried to the public telephone, dialed the number, and waited for her aunt to answer.
After a long wait, she finally heard her aunt pick up the phone.
A gentle and familiar voice came from the other end.
“Hello, how are you?”
Song Zhiyi’s eyes instantly reddened.
It was her aunt’s voice.
She bit her lip hard to keep her sobs from escaping, her voice trembling uncontrollably: “Auntie, it’s me, Zhiyi.”
There was a pause on the other end, followed by an exclamation of surprise: “Zhiyi? Why are you calling?”
“Auntie, I miss you. I want to come see you.”
There was a moment of silence on the other end, tinged with a hint of barely concealed heartache: “Good child, have you been wronged in the Song family? Don’t be afraid. You’re always welcome here whenever you want to come.”
Song Zhiyi hummed in agreement, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Auntie, would it be convenient for me to come over in the next couple of days?”
“Of course! I’m at the military family compound in Bai City. Take the train here, and I’ll pick you up at the station.”
Bai City?
Song Zhiyi’s heart sank. How could it be such a coincidence?
Wasn’t Bai City exactly where Xie Xingwen’s military unit was stationed?
After buying a train ticket to Bai City, Song Zhiyi found a seat by the window.
The green-skinned train clattered forward, and her heart felt just as unsettled.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that Xie Xingwen’s reactions in this lifetime were strangely off.
In her previous life, he had despised her to the core, wishing she would disappear from the world.
But this time, when she saw him, that aura of disgust was gone.
It was almost as if he were a different person.
“Is there a doctor? Is there anyone on the train who’s a doctor?”
An urgent cry abruptly snapped Song Zhiyi out of her thoughts.
The train car immediately erupted into commotion.
A train attendant hurried over, anxiously asking among the passengers: “Who here is a doctor? Please help! An elderly passenger has fallen ill!”
After several rounds of inquiries, no one in the car stepped forward.
Hearing the cries for help grow increasingly desperate, Song Zhiyi’s heart tightened. Though she wasn’t a licensed doctor, she stood up and walked over.
“I’ve studied acupuncture and have experience treating people with my family. Let me take a look.”
The patient was an elderly man with graying hair, likely in his eighties.
He was clutching his chest in pain, his face as pale as paper, beads of cold sweat covering his forehead, and his breathing was labored.
Song Zhiyi quickly approached, knelt down, and placed three fingers on the old man’s wrist to check his pulse.
The pulse was deep and sluggish—a sign of obstructed heart vessels.
Combined with the symptoms, it resembled acute angina.
She looked up at the middle-aged woman supporting the old man beside him. “Does he have a history of coronary heart disease? Does he have nitroglycerin with him?”
The woman looked frantic, on the verge of tears: “Yes, he does. But we’re traveling, and we just ran out of medicine.”
Song Zhiyi asked the attendant, “How long until the next stop?”
“At least half an hour!”
Half an hour—they couldn’t wait that long.
Song Zhiyi made a swift decision: “There’s no time. I’ll use acupuncture to help relieve his pain so he can hold on until the next stop.”
As soon as she finished speaking, someone nearby raised a question.
“Little girl, are you sure you can do this? This is a matter of life and death—don’t push yourself!”
“Yeah, you look so young. Do you even know how to treat illnesses?”
Ignoring the voices, Song Zhiyi remained calm and focused only on the patient’s family.
“I’m confident. It’s up to you whether you trust me or not.”
The old man was already in too much pain to speak, but he managed a difficult nod.
The woman beside him immediately made a decision and said earnestly to Song Zhiyi, “Miss, I trust you! Thank you for helping.”
“Alright.”
Without further hesitation, Song Zhiyi took out a small wooden box wrapped in fine cloth from her cloth bag.
Inside lay rows of silver needles of varying lengths.
It was a keepsake left to her by her mother.
She selected three silver needles, swiftly twirled them between her fingertips with practiced precision, located the Neiguan point, and swiftly inserted the needles using the Tou Tian Liang technique.
Gradually, the old man’s tightly furrowed brow began to relax.
Song Zhiyi then applied needles to several other points. Soon, the old man’s breathing grew steady and smooth, and his pallid complexion regained a hint of color.
Praise echoed through the carriage.
“It really worked! This girl is amazing!”
“So young and already so skilled. We really underestimated her.”
The old man caught his breath, opened his eyes, and looked gratefully at the girl before him.
“Little comrade, thank you. You saved this old man’s life.”
“Please, don’t mention it,” Song Zhiyi replied gently as she tidied up the silver needles.
“May I ask, what’s your name?”
Song Zhiyi answered plainly:
“My name is Song Zhiyi.”
Seeing that the old man was out of danger, Song Zhiyi turned to the middle-aged woman beside him and whispered:
“Pay more attention to the old man’s food and daily items. His pulse felt unusual, almost as if… there were signs of chronic poisoning.”
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged woman’s hawk-like eyes grew alert.