Three days passed in the blink of an eye. During these three days, Nan’s Mother had prepared plenty of delicious food for Nan Mo, storing it in aluminum lunch boxes inside her Dimension space.
On the final evening, Nan’s Mother came to Nan Mo’s room and handed her a thick stack of coupons.
“Take these coupons—I’ve exchanged them all for national coupons.
When you’re out there alone, be careful using the Dimension space. Use money and coupons to buy things whenever possible,” Nan’s Mother advised.
“Write to us every month after you arrive. If there’s an emergency, call or send a telegram.
I’ve heard that your Dàduì has a telephone at the brigade office. If it’s inconvenient to write, let us know in advance.”
“Understood.”
“Do farm work if you can manage it; if not, pretend to be sick. Don’t pay attention to what others say—living your own life well is what matters most…”
“Pfft!”
“What are you laughing at? Are you listening?” Nan’s Mother glared at Nan Mo before continuing,
“Try to get along with others in the countryside, but don’t meddle in others’ affairs. Listen and observe more, speak less.
If anyone bullies you, don’t tolerate it. No matter what happens, we’ll back you up.
And no dating in the countryside! Even if you meet someone you like, write to me first. Wait until I’ve checked them out before anything else.”
“Okay.”
Nan’s Mother chattered on for a long time that night, but Nan Mo didn’t feel the slightest impatience. Instead, her heart felt warm.
Early the next morning, Nan Mo set off for the train station with her parents.
At the train station entrance, they found the Educated Youth Office staff, went over to register, and collected her train ticket.
Just as the train was about to depart, Nan’s Father and Nan’s Mother saw her onto the train, found her seat, and passed her suitcase through the window.
After storing the suitcase, Nan Mo turned and waved to her parents, signaling them to head back.
Soon the train started moving. Nan’s Father and Nan’s Mother, eyes red, chased after it for a few steps, making Nan Mo’s heart ache.
Snapping back to reality, she noticed everyone in the carriage watching her. Embarrassed, she took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears.
“Nan Mo?” Wu Mingyue called out in surprise upon seeing her.
Nan Mo wasn’t surprised at all to see Wu Mingyue—in the original story, she was the one who went Down to the Countryside.
No matter where Wu Mingyue went, Nan Mo needed to keep her distance. She didn’t want to end up being associated with Wu Mingyue.
Whether she planned to do anything to Wu Mingyue in the future, having no connection at all would be more convenient than being on good or bad terms.
“Who are you?” Nan Mo looked at Wu Mingyue with confusion.
Wu Mingyue clearly didn’t believe that Nan Mo didn’t recognize her. Hadn’t she introduced herself last time?
“I’m Wu Mingyue. We’re schoolmates,” Wu Mingyue said plaintively.
Her words sparked whispers around them. Nan Mo found it amusing—it had been a while since she’d encountered such a low-level tactic.
“Ah? Sorry, Wu. Are you also in Yī zhōng 3 bān?”
“I’m in Class 1, but we share the same math teacher. I’m also Wu Mingkang’s sister,” Wu Mingyue said, seemingly trying hard to jog Nan Mo’s memory.
In reality, she wanted to let everyone in the carriage know that Nan Mo didn’t recognize a schoolmate but knew her brother…
“Who? Wu what?”
“Pfft…”
Nan Mo and Wu Mingyue both turned to look. A round-faced girl covered her mouth, saying, “Sorry, please continue.”
Nan Mo laughed along as if Wu Mingyue were some kind of joke. But her words sounded sincere: “I’m sorry, Wu. I really can’t remember.”
Wu Mingyue noticed the teasing looks from others in the carriage and glanced resentfully at Nan Mo before reluctantly returning to her seat.
Once seated, she deliberately maintained a dejected expression.
Nan Mo thought to herself, “Her control over facial expressions is quite impressive—this is clearly the caliber befitting the original female lead, with a hint of that ‘white lotus’ flavor.”
The round-faced girl stared unblinkingly at Nan Mo, a gaze too intense to ignore.
Sensing no malice, Nan Mo looked back. The round-faced girl, caught off guard by the returned gaze, blushed, her large round eyes widening further. “Wh-what are you looking at me for?”
Seeing her blush, Nan Mo felt mischievous. “Shouldn’t I be the one asking? You’ve been staring at me—why?”
“What’s wrong with looking?” she retorted, then softened her tone, worried she’d startled Nan Mo. “I just noticed your nice skin and wanted to ask what face cream you use.”
Nan Mo raised an eyebrow. “Your skin is lovely too.”
“Really? I think so too. Hehe. I’m Lu Yuanyuan—you can call me Yuanyuan. I’m 17, from Xī City in Sū Province.” She blinked expectantly, waiting for Nan Mo’s introduction.
Amused by this thoroughly round girl whose name matched her appearance, Nan Mo didn’t keep her waiting long. “I’m Nan Mo—you can call me Xiao Mo. I’m 17, from Hai Shi.”
Mirroring Lu Yuanyuan’s format, she elicited another blush.
Nan Mo found her repeated blushing utterly entertaining. “So easily flustered? Your skin must be delicate. What cream do you use?”
Lu Yuanyuan couldn’t contain herself anymore, lightly swatting Nan Mo’s shoulder and glaring—though it only made Nan Mo laugh harder.
As Nan Mo and Lu Yuanyuan quietly bantered and giggled, Wu Mingyue seethed with rage.
She lamented her misfortune: not only was she substituting for her brother in the “Down to the Countryside” movement, but her attempt to socialize had been mocked, and now the carriage’s attention was entirely on Nan Mo.
“It’s all Nan Mo’s fault,” she fumed inwardly. “If not for her, my brother wouldn’t have considered marriage, and I wouldn’t be here.”
Unaware of Wu Mingyue’s thoughts—and likely dismissing them as absurd if she knew—Nan Mo remained undisturbed.
The train sped onward, filled with educated youth headed for rural postings. Someone initiated self-introductions.
“I’m Chen Ruonan, 18, from Xiāng Province.”
“I’m Jiang Haodong, 19, from Xiāng Province.”
“I’m Chen Jianming, 19, from Zhè Province.”
“I’m Peng Liang, 18, from Sū Province.”
“I’m Hu Mingliang, 17, from Sū Province.”
“I’m Lu Yuanyuan, 17, from Sū Province. Hu Mingliang and I are classmates—he’s also my cousin.”
“Cousin? I’m the older one!” Hu Mingliang protested vehemently.
“You’re the younger one! You promised to call me ‘elder sister’ if I convinced Auntie to let you join the movement.”
The group chuckled at their antics.
“I’m Wu Mingyue, 17, from Hai Shi.”
“I’m Nan Mo, 17, from Hai Shi.”
…
After the introductions, Chen Jianming led everyone in singing Red songs.
Nan Mo genuinely admired these fervent young people—their passion was palpable.
Over there, Peng Liang had taken off his shoes, standing on his seat with arms raised, trying to energize the entire carriage.
Jiang Haodong was singing with a flushed face and strained neck, the veins on his neck nearly bursting.
Hu Mingliang wasn’t faring much better, clapping his hands to the rhythm until they were almost swollen.
Nan Mo hummed along softly, afraid that not joining in might get her blood splattered on the spot.
The scene didn’t last long as everyone grew somewhat exhausted, and the carriage gradually quieted down.
Nan Mo closed her eyes pretending to doze off, but in reality, she was using her mind to open a tablet in the Dimension Space and started reading a novel…