“Uncle Li, are you all right?”
Li Xianglin waved his hand to show he was fine, then handed something to Ruan Shujin.
“This was knitted for you by your aunt when she was conscious. It’s dangerous in Mengdu, and the journey won’t be easy, so take good care of yourselves.”
“Thank you.”
Ruan Shujin felt the tug on her clothes and looked at Liu Wenxiu, who was smiling gently.
“What is it?”
“Miss, you’re Second Boy’s wife. He’s truly fortunate.”
After saying this, Liu Wenxiu tugged again at Ruan Shujin’s clothes, lost in thought.
Li Xianglin didn’t stay long either and left, taking Liu Wenxiu with him.
Ruan Shujin saw the elderly couple to the gate, watched them get into the car, and then reluctantly returned.
Back home, she opened Minister Li’s gift. Inside, along with some clothes, was a plump envelope. A peek inside revealed it was full of money—small denominations, mostly ten-yuan “Great Unity” notes.
Ruan Shujin organized it all for Xie Zheng, though the safest place remained the space she controlled.
Still, she felt uneasy. Aunt Liu’s demeanor seemed to hint at a difficult past; she looked genuinely pitiful.
Time passed quickly. The military families heading north from Hushi to Mengdu had already been informed about departure times and meeting points.
The night before leaving, the children were asleep, and the three adults were busy packing.
From Hushi to Jindu took tens of hours. The green train was chaotic, and no matter where they placed their belongings, nothing felt safe.
Li Yinglan had asked for Ruan Shujin’s clothes a few days in advance.
Ruan Shujin, having lived through her previous life, knew Li Yinglan intended to sew pockets inside the clothes to hide items—just like they had done when first sent to the countryside. Back then, Li Yinglan’s sewing wasn’t strong, and the pockets would tear. Her in-laws had scolded her for it.
Ruan Shujin thought about it and wanted to give her own “brain” a turn.
Watching Li Yinglan’s neat stitching, Ruan Shujin said,
“Yinglan sister, sorry to trouble you. You’ve been sewing all these days.”
“It’s nothing. It’s my duty.”
Once the adults checked and packed everything, Ruan Shujin sent the children to bed, then double-checked the house herself.
Anything that could go into the space went there, since she didn’t yet know what life there would be like—it was best to prepare in advance.
Ruan Shujin eventually dozed off leaning against the luggage.
The next day, she woke very early. She wasn’t sure what was stirring in her heart. Three parts fear of the unknown, seven parts excitement.
Li Yinglan came downstairs and saw Ruan Shujin checking the luggage again.
“Ah, Jin sister, don’t worry. Everything’s ready; we’ve checked multiple times.”
Li Yinglan had learned to fetch meals in the compound, so she went to the canteen. Today they were leaving and didn’t want to dirty their hands cooking.
When Li Yinglan returned, everyone was up.
Ruan Shujin was teasing Minwa, and Li Yinglan smiled as she approached.
“Ah, Jin sister, take advantage of your youth—have children soon, but think carefully if you really want them.”
Li Yinglan’s words made Ruan Shujin pause. She was late to realize and felt nervous.
Having children and raising them was a gamble. Her own children with An Minhua had been raised with so much effort, yet many had turned ungrateful.
Ruan Shujin poked Minwa’s head.
“Cheng Minsheng, be filial to your mother.”
“Aunt Jin, I will. I’m not like those in our village.”
Ruan Shujin exclaimed in surprise as Cheng Minsheng shoved half a slightly hard steamed bun into her hand while eating the other half himself.
“Aunt Jin, you don’t know how some people in our village really are. Their families treat them well, but they don’t return the favor. I’m not like that.”
“Yes, Minwa is not like them.”
After eating, Ruan Shujin led everyone to the train station.
She checked the tickets, then guided the group to the designated spot. There were three children in the middle, Ruan Dong at the back, and Yinglan sister by the side.
At the meeting point, Ruan Shujin saw comrades in green military uniforms, asked a few questions, and then joined the line obediently.
“There are quite a few people going there,” Ruan Shujin remarked to Li Yinglan.
“Yes.”
Waiting a while, Ruan Shujin noticed a group of children, about a dozen, also joining their side. Yet, the adults weren’t showing up.
She squatted, watching the children with some confusion. Why weren’t their parents there? It was almost time.
Even after boarding the green train, she didn’t see the children’s guardians.
Seated, she looked around curiously, trying to control herself from staring.
Ruan Dong patted her, and she nodded, holding herself in check.
“These children are probably orphans, sent to sparsely populated areas,” he whispered.
Ruan Shujin tilted her head, staring at Uncle Ruan Dong.
“How do you know?”
“Your uncle was well-informed in Hushi. Naturally, he knew some news. These children are pitiful, but there’s no way around it—welfare institutions can’t cover their daily lives.”
Ruan Dong watched the children.
“Some people just have kids and don’t take responsibility.”
Ruan Shujin’s heart sank.
The trip from Hushi to Jindu was exhausting. Finally arriving at the station, they immediately transferred to the train to Jingdu.
Near Jingdu, a green-uniformed official approached Ruan Shujin.
“Comrade, what’s the matter?”
“We’ll stay a night in Jingdu. The train to Baotou is delayed. We received a message—Deputy Captain Xie’s family wants to see you. We’ll take you to meet them.”
“All right, thank you, comrade.”
Ruan Shujin was flustered, smoothing her hair.
This was really sudden. She felt even more nervous than when her grandfather checked her schoolwork.
No longer bored, she sat upright, tense.
Ruan Dong and Li Yinglan exchanged glances, then looked at her.
Ruan Shujin waved them off.
“I’m fine, just surprised. I wasn’t ready… and now I have to meet the Xie family.”
She scanned the surroundings.
“Do you think pretending to go missing temporarily would work?”
Everyone shook their heads.
Ruan Shujin anxiously rubbed her face.
“This is awful!”
On the train, she couldn’t vent loudly, so she clenched her fists and muttered quietly, inhaling the train station’s mixed air deeply.
“It’s all right. Ugly daughters-in-law have to meet the in-laws eventually. Better to get it over with quickly.”