A bitter feeling welled up in Lin Jiaojiao’s heart. Who could understand a child without a mother or father? They simply couldn’t experience the warmth of this world.
But she didn’t need others’ sympathy either, because she had long since grown accustomed to it.
Lin Jiaojiao said nothing more and quietly admired the scenery outside the window.
Along the way, thanks to the auntie’s care, no tactless person had caused her trouble.
It was only on the second day that the uncle and auntie got off the train.
They had reached their stop, and two strangers boarded afterward.
These two were rather quiet and didn’t greet them.
Everyone sat in their own seats, and things passed peacefully enough.
On the third day on the train, the two Zhiqing sitting across from them also got off.
Fortunately, the seats were empty and no one had come to fill them yet, which made things much easier for Zhang Jiyao.
Throughout the journey, he observed Lin Jiaojiao very carefully.
He noticed that although Lin Jiaojiao had brought little luggage, she had money and ration coupons on her, so she hadn’t actually gone hungry.
Later he secretly asked, and she said her uncle’s family had given them to her. Zhang Jiyao didn’t doubt it.
There were always relatives who couldn’t stand by and do nothing—the girl’s parents were truly awful.
But as an outsider, he couldn’t say much.
He could only help out in small ways.
Like fetching water and such.
At two in the afternoon on the third day, they finally arrived at the place where they were to be sent down to the countryside.
It was a small station in the county town, and the train didn’t stop for long.
Fortunately, Lin Jiaojiao didn’t have much luggage—it was Zhang Jiyao who had two big bags.
Thinking they were going to the countryside together, he reached out and helped carry one.
And so, the two of them had somewhat struck up a friendship.
At the entrance of the train station, several ox carts were parked.
The old men driving the carts were loudly calling out things like such-and-such Production Brigade, such-and-such village, welcoming Zhiqing to the countryside.
The two quickly found the ox cart for Qingshan Production Brigade and hurried over.
“Uncle, is this the cart to Qingshan Production Brigade?”
Zhang Jiyao stepped forward. As the man, he had to take the initiative to ask for directions.
“Yes, you must be the new Zhiqing.”
“I’m the Daduizhang of Qingshan Production Brigade.”
“There’s still one more female comrade who hasn’t arrived. Let’s wait a bit longer.”
The uncle glanced at Zhang Jiyao, confirmed his identity, and then said to him.
“No need to wait, Uncle. The other Zhiqing is here too.”
From the Daduizhang’s tone, it seemed there were only two Zhiqing this time.
That would be him and Lin Jiaojiao.
Lin Shunde tilted his head and looked behind Zhang Jiyao.
But that one glance left him frozen in place.
This young girl—how could she look exactly like his wife when she was young?
Even the small dark mole at the outer corner of her right eye was identical.
She looked like her. She really did.
How could there be two people so alike in this world?
“Uncle, what are you looking at?”
“This is Comrade Lin Jiaojiao. She’s also a Zhiqing going to Qingshan Production Brigade.”
“We came from the same place. If there are no other Zhiqing to pick up, then we should be able to head back now.”
Zhang Jiyao couldn’t understand Lin Shunde’s expression—it was far too rich.
It was as if he had seen a long-lost daughter.
“Ah…?”
“Lin Jiaojiao, is it? Welcome to Qingshan Production Brigade.”
“It must have been a tiring journey. Are you tired? Come sit on the ox cart quickly.”
Lin Shunde walked over a bit awkwardly, took the large bag from Lin Jiaojiao’s hands, and placed it onto the ox cart.
Then he pulled out his own cushion and laid one down in the spot behind him.
He urged Lin Jiaojiao to get on the ox cart, and considerately asked if she was hungry or thirsty.
This enthusiasm was not only off to Zhang Jiyao, but even Lin Jiaojiao herself sensed something unusual.
“Uncle, you don’t need to do this.”
“I can sit anywhere.”
Lin Jiaojiao felt a little embarrassed, but she also did not want to walk alongside the ox cart, and she did not know how far Qingshan Production Brigade was. Having a ride was much better than walking on two legs.
“It’s fine, this is what I should do as Daduizhang.”
“Come, girl! These are oranges my son bought for me. Try some and see if they’re good.”
In the brief moment she had been sitting on the ox cart, Lin Jiaojiao’s arms were already full of things to eat.
Warm water in a military canteen, fragrant oranges, two White Rabbit Creamy Candies, and sunflower seeds wrapped in kraft paper.
Anyone who did not know better would really think Lin Shunde was her own father.
“That Zhang fellow, find a place to sit yourself!”
“Comrade Lin Jiaojiao is a girl, and we men should take more care of her.”
Lin Shunde explained, then began leading the ox cart outward.
They quickly left the crowded area and gradually got onto the main road.
Occasionally, ox carts would pass by on the road, but most people were walking on foot.
Lin Jiaojiao peeled an orange and gave half to Zhang Jiyao.
Then she asked Lin Shunde about the situation in Qingshan Production Brigade.
“Uncle, is our Qingshan Production Brigade far from the train station?”
After three days on the train, breathing the fresh air now, Lin Jiaojiao’s mood had improved.
So there was a rare smile on her face, and that smile made Lin Shunde feel the girl looked even more like his wife.
Back then, he had also had a daughter, but unfortunately, when she was only three years old, she was abducted by a hateful human trafficker.
If his daughter were still alive, she should be like the girl in front of him.
Lin Shunde even suspected that this female Zhiqing who had come from afar might be his own daughter.
Heaven knew that over the years, whenever his wife missed their little daughter, she would dream of her every few days.
Although it was always the image of her at three years old, the two of them had also imagined what their daughter would look like when she grew up.
Exactly like Lin Jiaojiao now, as if cast from the same mold.
“Not far, not far, only about an hour’s journey.”
When Lin Shunde heard Lin Jiaojiao’s question, he immediately waved his hand and said.
Their Qingshan Production Brigade was a good place, backed by the main road, with especially convenient transportation.
Compared with other villages, life in their village was relatively much better.
An hour, and he still called that not far?
But then again, the train station was on the edge of the county town, and if it only took an hour to get here, that meant Qingshan Production Brigade was also very close to the county town.
It should not be the kind of remote mountain nook she had imagined before.
Zhang Jiyao listened to their conversation, but because of Daduizhang’s unusual behavior, he did not quite dare to interrupt.
After an hour of bumping along, they finally arrived at the village entrance.
As soon as the ox cart reached the village entrance, several elderly people who had been chatting under the large banyan tree came over.
These old folks were all too old to do heavy work.
Every day after eating, they would come to the banyan tree to chat.
They helped their families cook and looked after the little children.
Life was not hard.
“Daduizhang, are these two the new Zhiqing?”
An old woman squinted and leaned in. Perhaps her eyesight wasn’t great, for she got so close that Lin Jiaojiao’s cheek was almost touching her.
“Oh my goodness, Daduizhang, how has your wife become young again?”
The old woman, having gotten a clear look at Lin Jiaojiao’s face, was so startled that she took a step back.