Before dawn on the day of her departure, Wen Wan quietly got out of bed and went into the kitchen.
She kneaded the dough herself, cooked millet porridge, steamed a basket of soft white buns, and prepared several simple side dishes.
Into every dish, she secretly added a few drops of water from her spiritual spring.
Into the bowl of millet porridge meant for her father, Wen Youhe, she mixed in twice as much.
“Dad, your stomach isn’t in the best condition. Drink more porridge—it’ll do you good.”
She gently pushed the bowl toward him.
Holding the warm bowl in his hands, Wen Youhe’s eyes misted over from the rising steam.
He lowered his head and took a sip.
A warm current immediately spread from his stomach throughout his body.
Even the chronic aches in his joints seemed to ease considerably.
He raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“What’s going on? I suddenly feel so light and refreshed.”
Wen Wan smiled.
“That’s because my breakfast is delicious.”
Wen Lin laughed.
“Dad, Wanwan’s your little cotton jacket. Everything she cooks tastes wonderful. Even a bowl of millet porridge is better than an elixir.”
Wen Youhe nodded in agreement, though his eyes grew moist.
No one broke the unspoken sadness hanging over the family.
They quietly finished breakfast together.
Outside, the rickshaw Wen Lin had hired was already waiting.
The train station was packed with people.
Xiao Tao clung tightly to Wen Wan’s sleeve, crying so hard she could barely breathe.
“Miss… please take me with you. I-I can wash your clothes and cook for you…”
Wen Wan gently stroked her head before turning to Wen Lin.
“Big Brother, I’ll leave Xiao Tao in your care.”
“Find her a good family.”
“Don’t let anyone bully her.”
Wen Lin nodded solemnly.
“You have my word.”
Wen Wan looked back at Xiao Tao.
“Xiao Tao, this is the new society now.”
“You can’t call me ‘Miss’ anymore.”
“You should call me ‘Comrade.'”
“I truly can’t take you with me.”
“Listen to my brother.”
“He’ll make proper arrangements for you.”
Still sobbing, Xiao Tao nodded.
“C-Comrade…”
“You… you mustn’t forget me.”
Wen Wan smiled gently.
“I won’t.”
Wen Zhuo slipped a sealed envelope bearing a military insignia into his sister’s hands.
“When you reach the frontier, go straight to Li Zhan.”
“He’s a brother who once risked his life beside me.”
“He’ll protect you.”
“Remember his name—Li Zhan.”
“Don’t get lost.”
Wen Wan smiled reassuringly.
“Don’t worry, Second Brother.”
“I’ll take care of myself.”
The train whistle sounded.
Suddenly, Wen Youhe pulled a warm paper bag of freshly roasted chestnuts from inside his coat and stuffed it into Wen Wan’s luggage.
“Eat these on the way.”
“Don’t go hungry.”
Watching his younger sister, Wen Lin’s eyes quickly reddened.
People always had to part eventually.
Taking a deep breath, he said,
“Dad… Wen Zhuo…”
“Let’s not block the platform.”
“Let Wanwan board first.”
“It’ll only get more crowded.”
Wen Zhuo nodded.
He carried her luggage onto the train, found her seat, arranged all her belongings, and repeated every instruction he could think of before finally getting off.
The train’s rumbling departure tore apart every lingering attachment.
Inside the carriage, the smell of sweat, cigarette smoke, and crying babies mixed into an unpleasant haze.
Sitting with difficulty in her assigned seat, Wen Wan gazed out the window.
Having grown up in comfort, she’d never before found herself in such a chaotic environment.
Across from her sat a burly man with a fleshy face.
He deliberately stretched one of his feet toward her.
“Where are you headed, Comrade?”
He grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellowed teeth.
Wen Wan glanced at him coldly.
She calmly took a pair of scissors from her bag…
Thunk!
…and drove them into the small table between them.
The man’s expression immediately changed.
Embarrassed, he quietly withdrew his foot.
Xu Mingli awoke with a sharp stinging pain on her face.
Still groggy, she reached up to touch it.
Her fingertips brushed against dried ink.
Instantly wide awake, she scrambled to the dressing table.
The bronze mirror reflected a horrifying sight.
Carved into her right cheek was a large, crooked Chinese character meaning “Slut.”
The ink had already seeped into the wound.
There was no way it would wash off anytime soon.
“AHHHHH!!”
Her scream shattered the silence of the Xu residence.
Like a madwoman, Xu Mingli rushed downstairs.
Halfway down, she suddenly froze.
The antique display shelves in the living room stood completely empty.
Every priceless painting had disappeared from the walls.
Even the carpets had been rolled away, exposing the bare floorboards beneath.
The entire Xu mansion looked as though a swarm of locusts had devoured it.
Nothing remained.
“T-This…”
Xu Mingli’s legs nearly gave out beneath her.
She had to cling to the staircase railing to keep from collapsing.
Hearing the commotion, Xu Zhiguo emerged from his bedroom wearing only a robe.
The moment he saw the devastated mansion, every trace of color drained from his face.
“Who did this?!”
“WHO?!”
Halfway through his roar, he suddenly clutched his chest.
His eyes rolled back.
He collapsed to the floor.
“Dad! Dad!”
Xu Mingli threw herself beside him, desperately shaking his shoulders.
But Xu Zhiguo was already foaming at the mouth, completely unconscious.
What should she do?
Her trembling hands grabbed the telephone as she hurriedly dialed Xu Mingzhe’s number.
The phone rang for a long time before someone finally answered.
Instead of Xu Mingzhe’s voice, a cold male voice spoke.
“Xu Mingzhe has been detained on suspicion of treason.”
“Are you a family member?”
“Good.”
“Come to the Military Control Office tomorrow to sign the arrest notice.”
“W-What?!”
Xu Mingli’s hand went limp.
The receiver slipped from her fingers and crashed onto the floor.
Under dim interrogation room lights, Xu Mingzhe and Lin Xiaoman sat handcuffed to separate interrogation chairs.
Xu Mingzhe’s expensive suit was wrinkled beyond recognition, and bruises covered his face.
He glared furiously at the one-way mirror.
“I want to see my lawyer!”
“Do you people even know who I am?!”
In the next room, Lin Xiaoman looked even worse.
Her qipao was torn, and her makeup had run into a complete mess.
She sobbed hysterically, tears and mucus streaming down her face.
“Officer!”
“I was forced into this!”
“It was all Xu Mingzhe!”
“He made me do everything!”
“I’m pregnant!”
“You can’t arrest me!”
The interrogating officer slammed the ledger onto the table with a loud smack.
“Miss Lin.”
“Your signature is all over this ledger.”
“Smuggling military weapons.”
“Colluding with enemy agents.”
“That’s enough to have you executed several times over.”
“I want to see President Su!”
Lin Xiaoman screamed as she repeatedly pounded the table.
“President Su is also under investigation.”
“I suggest you cooperate.”
“It’s over…”
“It’s all over…”
She muttered blankly.
Then, without warning, she burst into wild laughter.
She laughed…
Then immediately began crying again.
A warm sensation spread beneath her.
A puddle slowly formed on the floor.
Throughout the journey, Wen Wan faithfully remembered her second brother’s warning.
“There are all kinds of people on trains.”
“Never let your guard down.”
“Keep an eye on your luggage at all times.”
So she stayed alert the entire trip, sleeping only when absolutely necessary.
The overweight man across from her, although frightened away by her scissors, still occasionally cast greedy glances in her direction.
Wen Wan ignored him.
She simply took a book from her bag and quietly began reading, pretending not to notice anyone watching her.
Before long, a middle-aged woman wearing a floral blouse scooted over with a warm smile.
“Young lady, traveling alone?”
Wen Wan looked up.
“Mhm.”
Seeing a response, the woman immediately became more enthusiastic.
“Oh my, you’re such a pretty girl!”
“Are you married?”
“My nephew works for the railway bureau.”
“He earns eighty yuan a month!”
“Would you like me to introduce you?”
Closing her book, Wen Wan smiled politely.
“Thank you, but I’m already engaged.”
The woman blinked in surprise.
“Engaged?”
“Then why isn’t your fiancé traveling with you?”
Without changing expression, Wen Wan answered coolly,
“He’s serving in the army.”
“He’ll be coming to pick me up soon.”
The moment the woman heard the word army, her expression changed.
Awkwardly, she retreated to her own seat.
Several men nearby who had been eyeing Wen Wan also quietly gave up any thoughts of approaching her.
Although the journey lasted several exhausting days and nights, nothing else happened.
At last, the train reached its destination.
Carrying her luggage, Wen Wan stepped onto the platform.
The provincial capital’s railway station was much smaller than Shanghai’s, but it was still bustling with people.
According to Wen Zhuo’s instructions, Li Zhan was stationed deep in the distant northern frontier.
After arriving at the provincial capital, she would need to buy another train ticket to the northern frontier.
After that, she’d have to continue by bus and then on horseback before finally reaching Li Zhan’s military base.
With her luggage in hand, Wen Wan headed to the ticket office.
“The train to the northern frontier only runs once every three days.”
“The next one won’t leave until the day after tomorrow.”
The ticket clerk, a friendly middle-aged woman, noticed the young woman traveling alone and couldn’t resist asking a few more questions.
“Miss, what are you going all the way to the northern frontier for?”
“There’s practically nothing out there.”
Smiling politely, Wen Wan repeated the explanation her second brother had taught her.
“I’m joining my family.”
“They’re stationed there.”
“Oh!”
The clerk slapped her thigh excitedly.
“Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
“Several soldiers came today to pick up military family members.”
“They’re over on the platform right now!”
“Come on.”
“I’ll take you over.”
“Maybe you can catch a ride with them!”