Ignoring the puzzled looks everyone was giving her, Yun Wan turned to Grandpa Li.
“Grandpa, even though being sent down is basically inevitable now, we can’t just sit here and wait for fate to decide everything.”
“And what are you suggesting, child?” Grandpa Li asked, looking at his granddaughter-in-law, whose transformation left him deeply moved.
Ever since the Li family had fallen into trouble, everyone had shown their true colors.
He had thought the first person to abandon the family would be this newly married granddaughter-in-law.
Instead, the one who had pushed the Li family into hell…
…was the adopted daughter who had lived with them day and night for ten years.
It seemed that affection really couldn’t be measured by the amount of time people spent together.
Yun Wan smiled.
“Grandpa, we can’t change the fact that we’re going to be exiled.”
“But…”
“We can still influence where we’re sent.”
“Right?”
She blinked, her long lashes fluttering as a mischievous gleam flashed through her eyes.
If she had to follow them to the countryside, she certainly wanted to choose somewhere decent.
She wasn’t a masochist.
As the saying went, poor mountains and harsh waters breed unruly people.
She had no desire to experience that firsthand.
Besides…
The Li family had served in the military for three generations.
Their connections were extensive.
Surely they could manage something as small as this.
Grandpa Li was sixty-five years old and held the rank of Marshal.
Father Li was now the Commander of the Kyoto Military Region with the rank of lieutenant general.
Someone at their level wouldn’t ordinarily attract an investigation simply because they had a distant relative overseas whom they hadn’t contacted for decades.
The only reason the Revolutionary Committee had come knocking was because Cao Zhizhi, consumed by resentment after being rejected by Li Jingye, had deliberately reported them.
In the original novel, the forged letter had been discovered in Father Li’s study.
He had been arrested on the spot.
The entire Li family had been branded traitors collaborating with foreign enemies.
Shortly afterward, an explosion occurred at a military supply warehouse, and the Li family was made the scapegoat for everything.
Now the plot had changed.
Did a cousin whom they’d had no contact with for fifty years really count as an overseas connection?
Yun Wan didn’t think so.
Unfortunately…
Her opinion carried no weight.
And the thoughts of those in power were hardly something an ordinary person like her could predict.
Grandpa Li smiled faintly.
“So, my granddaughter-in-law…”
“Where do you think would be best?”
“Northeast China.”
The answer slipped out of her mouth without hesitation.
“I heard it’s freezing up there,” Li Jingmo muttered quietly.
Ever since witnessing just how formidable women could be, he no longer dared speak carelessly in front of Yun Wan.
“Exactly because it’s cold!”
Yun Wan’s eyes sparkled.
“You can spend the winter indoors!”
“You hardly have to work for months.”
“So what if it’s cold?”
“Besides, people sleep on heated brick beds—the kang.”
“Once you light the fire underneath in winter…”
“It’s warm, cozy, and incredibly comfortable.”
The more she talked, the more excited she became.
Her cheeks flushed a healthy pink.
Li Jingye suddenly asked,
“Have you ever been there?”
Yun Wan froze.
“…”
Seriously?
Does this man have to ruin the mood every single time?
“I haven’t.”
“But I’ve read about it.”
“And some of my classmates were sent there as educated youths.”
“When they came home to visit, they talked about it.”
She recovered quickly.
The original owner had never been there.
But before transmigrating, Yun Wan herself had traveled through Northeast China.
She had genuinely liked it.
Grandpa Li chuckled.
“Speaking of the Northeast…”
“I do have several old subordinates stationed there.”
Father Li immediately chimed in.
“So do I.”
Mother Li hesitated.
“Given the Li family’s current situation…”
“Would anyone still be willing to help us?”
She wasn’t trying to dampen their spirits.
Things were different now.
Yun Wan smiled.
“The people who want to help us…”
“…will help even if we never ask.”
“The people who don’t…”
“…will pretend not to hear us even if we do.”
“Grandpa and Dad have so many former subordinates in the Northeast.”
“There will always be someone willing to step forward.”
At times like this…
Everything came down to human nature.
Li Jingmo looked at her in surprise.
“You’re a lot more optimistic than I expected.”
Yun Wan shrugged.
“Whether you’re happy or miserable…”
“One day still passes.”
“So if both choices lead to the same tomorrow…”
“Why not spend today happily?”
Although she seemed to be speaking to Li Jingmo…
The words were actually meant for Grandpa Li.
After joining the army, Grandpa Li had certainly experienced life-and-death situations.
But his military career itself had been remarkably smooth.
He had rarely suffered major setbacks.
Who could have expected that, with one foot already in the grave, he would encounter such a devastating blow?
Of course…
As someone who had reached such heights, his mental fortitude far exceeded that of ordinary people.
Sooner or later, he would come to terms with it.
What he didn’t know…
Was that the darkest days were almost over.
Yun Wan couldn’t reveal that.
So all she could do was encourage him in subtle ways.
Turning to Mother Li, she said,
“Mom, I’m going back to the Lin family for a while.”
“I’ll be back before dinner.”
Ever since her biological mother had died…
That place had never truly been home to the original owner.
“I’ll go with you.”
Li Jingye stood as well.
“Sure.”
Yun Wan readily agreed.
“But once we get there…”
“You have to cooperate with me.”
“Otherwise, don’t come.”
Although Li Jingye had no idea what she meant…
He nodded anyway.
Given the Li family’s current circumstances, driving their car was no longer an option.
The two of them walked to the residential compound belonging to the Machinery Factory.
Lin Jianye taught at a middle school.
The only reason he lived in a detached courtyard house inside the factory compound…
Was because of his late wife, Yun Caixia.
She had died protecting factory equipment.
The weathered residential neighborhood was filled with the warmth and bustle of everyday life.
Pushing open the courtyard gate, Yun Wan entered the main hall.
Her stepmother was sitting there cutting fabric.
The moment she saw Yun Wan, disgust flashed across Wang Lili’s face.
But it disappeared just as quickly, replaced by a smile.
“Xiaowan, you’re back.”
That smile vanished the instant she noticed Yun Wan had come empty-handed.
Yun Wan smiled pleasantly.
Unfortunately…
Her words were anything but polite.
“Aunt Wang, you really shouldn’t be so practical.”
“If I remember correctly…”
“Isn’t that piece of fabric you’re cutting one that I brought back before?”
“You certainly didn’t wear that expression then.”
The original owner had been hopelessly naïve.
In just one month of marriage, she had carried so many supplies back to her natal family that it was enough to support an ordinary household for an entire year.
That alone proved how generous the Li family truly was.
Wang Lili showed no embarrassment at being exposed.
Without even looking up, she continued cutting.
“So…”
“What are you back here for today?”
Yun Wan couldn’t be bothered maintaining the illusion of family harmony.
“Aunt Wang…”
“I’m returning to my mother’s house.”
“Do I need your permission?”
A flash of resentment crossed Wang Lili’s face.
She had been married to Lin Jianye for ten years.
She had even given birth to two sons.
Yet the house they lived in still belonged to his deceased first wife.
Who would believe such a thing?
Every time she thought about it…
Her chest tightened with anger.
This wretched girl always knew exactly where to stab.
Just as Wang Lili was about to retreat into the bedroom, she noticed Li Jingye standing behind Yun Wan.
Her face transformed instantly.
“Oh!”
“Commander Li is here too!”
“Please, come in!”
She casually set the half-cut piece of red fabric onto the sofa.
“Please have a seat.”
“I’ll pour you some water.”
“Old Lin will be home soon.”
Yun Wan clicked her tongue inwardly.
That speed of changing expressions…
Impressive.
Without hesitation, she picked up the half-cut piece of red cloth…
Stuffed it into the cloth bag she had brought with her…
And casually took the scissors as well.
Li Jingye stared at her in complete shock.
Yun Wan merely winked at him before walking into the bedroom that had once belonged to the original owner.
Now…
It had been completely occupied by Lin Xiaodie.
Lin Xiaodie was the daughter Wang Lili had brought with her when she remarried.
The moment Wang Lili entered the Lin family, she had transferred her daughter’s household registration into the family and even changed her surname to Lin.
Yun Wan rolled her eyes.
What a shameless sycophant.
She had no interest whatsoever in Lin Xiaodie’s belongings.
She only packed up the things the original owner had once brought back from the Li family…
Along with Yun Caixia’s personal keepsakes.
Watching Yun Wan emerge from her daughter’s room carrying a bulging cloth bag, Wang Lili exploded.
“You…!”
“How dare you take Xiaodie’s things?!”