After days of traveling on the train, Jiang Lai finally took a shower. She hadn’t even fully dried her hair when she flopped onto the bed and fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.
The next morning, she was woken by a knock at the door. Opening her eyes, she saw that it was already broad daylight.
A sliver of sunlight streamed through the windowsill.
Remembering the appointment she had made yesterday with Chen Jianguo’s third aunt, Jiang Lai threw off the blanket and went to answer the door barefoot.
The visitor had a short, ear-length haircut, clear, sharp features, and exuded a brisk, capable aura.
Though dressed simply in a plaid shirt and work pants, she carried herself with a confidence and poise that screamed “cadre.”
Jiang Lai instantly understood: this seemed like the organization had sent someone to test her.
She immediately went into performance mode, tugged at her shirt nervously, and said apologetically, “I’m so sorry. This is my first time traveling out. On the train, I didn’t dare close my eyes and barely slept for days, so I accidentally overslept this morning.”
Her large, watery almond-shaped eyes drooped slightly, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Ma Chunmiao instantly understood the child—so inexperienced, so easy to read, and still unable to hide her true emotions.
Her expression softened, reassuringly: “It’s nothing, I just came too early. Take your time getting ready. No need to rush for the bus—we’ll drive into the city ourselves today.”
“Wow! Auntie, you can drive? That’s amazing!” Jiang Lai exclaimed, giving a thumbs-up, her little face full of admiration, as if Ma Chunmiao were her idol.
No one, regardless of age or gender, could resist such adoring eyes. Ma Chunmiao reminded herself of her task for the day and forced a composed smile: “Driving is actually very simple. I’ll teach you later.”
Instantly, Jiang Lai’s beautiful eyes sparkled even brighter.
“Auntie, you really are a wonderful person.”
Ma Chunmiao’s tight smile threatened to break.
The department store in Shenzhou City was seven stories high. It was a weekend, and the place was bustling. At some counters, lines stretched long.
Inquiring around, they learned that the goods were scarce items brought from Shanghai.
Although Jiang Lai had enough money, after spending time with Ma Chunmiao, she realized this auntie was frugal and careful with money. So she leaned toward practical purchases—like snow cream: the bottled version cost the same as the packet, but the fancy packaging made the packet fifty cents more expensive.
She bought a bunch of small, miscellaneous items, but didn’t skimp on clothing.
Both the original owner of the body and she herself were fond of beauty. She picked out two outfits for changing, including a delicate pale yellow dress that Ma Chunmiao immediately wanted to wear.
Jiang Lai’s fair skin and natural beauty made the dress even more striking. It accentuated her slim waist and curves in all the right places.
Ma Chunmiao often marveled. She had thought all beautiful girls belonged to the performance troupe, but after seeing Jiang Lai, she realized there was always someone even more stunning.
Women lost all sense of time while shopping. By the time they noticed they could barely carry their bags, the clock on the wall read 12:35.
“Auntie, let me take you to a state-run restaurant for lunch,” Jiang Lai said, her red lips curling into two shallow dimples. “I didn’t bring anything when I came to the military district. If you hadn’t driven me today, I wouldn’t have known where to buy anything—or how to carry it back.”
Faced with those admiring eyes, Ma Chunmiao couldn’t refuse. She thought: at the state-run restaurant, a bowl of shredded pork noodles costs only twenty cents. Add two large steamed buns, and they’d be full without Jiang Lai spending too much.
But when they arrived, Jiang Lai insisted Ma Chunmiao stay seated while she went to the counter herself, ordered the food, paid, and handed over the ration tickets in one go.
When she returned carrying a bowl of braised beef and two bowls of rice, Ma Chunmiao was startled. “Lai Lai, auntie doesn’t need to eat so well. Two buns would’ve been enough.”
Jiang Lai had a perfectly reasonable explanation: “Auntie, you’re right. I had planned to just buy two buns to fill up. But when I got to the counter, I caught a whiff of the beef—it smelled so good.”
Biting her lip, she continued softly, “Since my mother passed away, I haven’t really eaten meat.”
The Jiang family was fairly well-off, but the original owner had been misled by her stepmother to save the meat for her siblings to grow, while she kept herself lean.
Her words were half-truth, half excuse. In reality, she saw the beef was tenderly braised and didn’t want to deprive herself.
Ma Chunmiao’s nose tingled. “Eat! It’s okay to have braised beef occasionally. If it’s not enough, auntie will get another portion.”
Jiang Lai looked up, her eyes glistening red. “Auntie, you’re so kind. No wonder I felt so close to you when we first met—you’re like my real mom.”
Ma Chunmiao nearly cried. This child was so grateful and so trusting, even comparing her to her deceased mother. And all day, she had been secretly testing her character. She felt like a fool.
“Auntie, you should eat more too, consider it keeping me company.”
“Alright, auntie will eat with you.”
The beef was tender and flavorful. The brisket fell apart with chopsticks, especially the tendon-rich sections, which wobbled with each bite, soaking every mouthful in rich sauce.
Jiang Lai ate greedily, her mouth glistening with oil, while Ma Chunmiao teared up.
After lunch, they drove back to the military district.
Along the way, Ma Chunmiao was distracted, her eyes scanning the roadside.
Just as Jiang Lai was wondering, the car clunked and slowed. On the main road ahead, two large trees had suddenly appeared, blocking their way.
Ma Chunmiao gripped the steering wheel tightly. It’s happening!
She parked by the roadside.
“Lai Lai, if…” she started, but before she could finish, shouts of “Ouch! Ouch!” came from behind the trees.
“Could a kind comrade please come help me?”
Jiang Lai: ?
Ma Chunmiao: !!
Soon, an old person emerged from behind the trees, legs trembling as though suffering from some ailment.
“Comrades, I’ve twisted my ankle. Could you help me gather this basket of potatoes and take them to the military district?”
Ma Chunmiao covered her face in embarrassment.
The performance was far too crude. If they were pretending to be a local, why appear in the middle of nowhere and insist on sending potatoes to the military district?
This was completely illogical. Who would believe it?
Yet, there were still innocent souls in this world.
Jiang Lai opened the car door and briskly approached, grasping the “old person’s” arm. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you gather the potatoes.”
The arm beneath her hand was solid and strong, feeling as if a single punch could knock her flying.
Sure enough, this wasn’t an old person at all.
Jiang Lai pretended not to notice and bent down to pick up the potatoes.
Watching this, Ma Chunmiao felt a mixture of pride and guilt. This child had a good heart… and yet, she seemed a little foolish.