“I still have the official notice for my rural relocation! If you take me, you’re obstructing the country’s rural development! You’re enemies of the state, counter-revolutionaries!” Shen Xinwei struggled free and pulled the notice from her pocket, holding it high, her voice growing louder and louder.
One accusation after another landed like a hammer, and every member of the Shen family went pale as paper, frightened out of their wits.
Wang Songde’s face darkened as if ink could drip from it. The air turned silent, and even the onlookers around them changed their expressions, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire.
Shen Xinwei, thinking the notice would work in her favor, flashed Shen Qingjun a triumphant, challenging smile.
Shen Qingjun looked at her with a gaze that could only be described as gently pitying—did this girl want to get herself killed that badly?
Wang Songde’s expression was stern. “Comrade, you are responsible for your words. Our great leaders taught us that ‘without investigation, there’s no right to speak.’ You call us enemies of the state, counter-revolutionaries—where is your investigation? Where is your evidence? What factual basis do you have?”
“No evidence? Then you are slandering revolutionary comrades! Your reckless accusations are inciting conflict among the masses and undermining revolutionary unity! Only class enemies wish for chaos and distrust within our revolutionary ranks. What is your real intention in doing this?”
Shen Xinwei’s face drained of color. She stammered for a long time, unable to answer.
Shen Qingjun spoke firmly and righteously: “Director Wang, she’s deliberately evading responsibility! This kind of bourgeois indulgence must be thoroughly criticized. I suggest sending her to the countryside immediately, to the harshest locations for reform!”
Wang Songde glanced at her appreciatively. “Good. Comrades with such ideological awareness are rare these days!”
“No! I’m not going to some godforsaken place!” Shen Xinwei felt as if the sky were falling. Rebirth hadn’t been about suffering like this.
Her strong refusal was futile, and the Committee members forcibly dragged her away.
Shen Hanyang and the others followed behind, not daring to utter a word.
Hearing that Shen Xinwei would be sent not only to the countryside but to the most remote, harsh location, Sun Lanzhi snapped. Her eyes bloodshot, she lunged at Shen Qingjun with pure hatred.
“You said you’re my mother? Parents disciplining their children is natural, but today, I, Sun Lanzhi, will break your legs, tear your mouth apart, and send you to Ma Daqiang’s bed to suffer every torment alive!”
Her eyes burned with malice as she raised her hand. Just then, Wang Songde, about to leave, turned and looked at her.
“You are Sun Lanzhi?”
She had to stop, nodding reluctantly.
Wang Songde narrowed his eyes and snorted coldly. “Arrest her!”
Sun Lanzhi’s face went from venomous to terrified as she scrambled up. Shen Zhigao was startled, quickly saying, “She’s just sharp-tongued, saying all sorts of nonsense. What she said earlier were just vile words.” He then yelled at Sun Lanzhi, “Apologize to Qingjun immediately!”
Sun Lanzhi shivered. “S-sorry.”
“I heard your apology, but it doesn’t erase the harm you’ve done,” Shen Qingjun said righteously.
Sun Lanzhi looked helplessly at Shen Zhigao, then Wang Songde, unable to think of what wrongdoing she had committed.
Wang Songde snorted. “Comrade Sun Lanzhi, Shen Hanyang and Bai Yue have personally accused you of stealing public property. What do you have to say?”
Sun Lanzhi’s vision darkened.
“Take her away!”
…
Shen Hanyang and the others arrived at the train station.
“I’ve already made arrangements at Minghua Village. Everything will go smoothly from here,” Shen Hanyang reassured Bai Yue.
Bai Yue naturally believed him and felt slightly relieved, but seeing Shen Xinwei quietly weeping nearby made her heart heavy. “What about Weiwei?”
“She’ll have to fend for herself,” Shen Hanyang sighed. They couldn’t even guarantee their own safety, let alone Shen Xinwei’s. She had angered Wang Songde so much that she’d been assigned to the remote, harsh Hei Province.
“Weiwei, you must be careful alone in Hei Province. Stay safe and don’t let those country folk trick you into ruining your life,” Bai Yue said anxiously, holding Shen Xinwei’s hand.
Shen Xinwei felt as if the sky had fallen—her future was bleak.
Her relocation site had changed. Without that man, without the Shen family, what purpose did this assignment even have?
Gripping Bai Yue’s hand, she said, “Mom, Dad, please come with me to Hei Province.”
Bai Yue’s expression froze.
Shen Hanyang frowned. “Weiwei, think carefully. Hei Province is so cold. Your mother and little brother can’t handle it.”
If Mom and Shen Hao couldn’t handle it, why should she? Shen Xinwei’s heart turned cold, and resentment grew. She was willing to go as an educated youth, but her parents weren’t even willing to make this small sacrifice.
Shen Hanyang and Bai Yue said they loved her the most, but in reality, they loved Shen Hao more. If it were him going to Hei Province, she didn’t believe they wouldn’t care.
The train arrived, and Shen Xinwei boarded. Outside, Shen Hanyang, Bai Yue, and Shen Hao looked pale and reluctant, waving goodbye.
Suddenly, Shen Hanyang was pushed.
“What are you waiting for? Get on the train! Do you plan to walk to Hei Province?”
Bai Yue froze. “Aren’t we going to Yun Province?”
“Not a chance. Yun Province slots are full. Get on, don’t delay my work,” a Committee member impatiently urged.
Shen Xinwei saw Shen Hanyang and Bai Yue, both pale, get on the train and sit beside her.
The parents who had just been saying a thousand things seemed to have pressed a mute button—silence reigned.
Soon, Shen Hao cried, saying he was hungry.
Bai Yue and Shen Hanyang looked at Shen Xinwei. She shrugged. “Mom packed my luggage, but I didn’t get it in time.”
Shen Hanyang and Bai Yue exchanged glances, seeing the same despair in each other’s eyes.
No cash, no food coupons, no warm clothes—how would they survive in freezing Hei Province?
…
Once the Committee left, the curious onlookers dispersed.
“Weiwei is being sent away, your mother’s been arrested—are you satisfied now?”
Shen Zhigao looked at Shen Qingjun with disgust and went back inside. Sun Lanzhi had been taken by the Committee; they needed to rescue her quickly.
Shen Qinghe followed, warning sharply: “Shen Qingjun, my room is no longer yours. Don’t come back!” She didn’t want to share a room with Shen Qingjun anymore; it was too cramped.
With that, the door slammed shut.
Shen Qingjun had no time to react. She pondered if her combat effectiveness had somehow declined.
At that moment, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning, she met a familiar, kindly face.
“Aunt Su?”
“Zhou Zhanyang was worried about you, so he asked me to check on you. Come on, let’s go home.” Su Xiangmei pulled Shen Qingjun along, eventually stopping at Shen Hanyang’s house—no, since Shen Hanyang had been sent away, the house was now government property.
Noticing Shen Qingjun’s confusion, Su Xiangmei smiled and led her inside.
“Zhou Zhanyang has made all the arrangements. You can stay here safely. The army will only reclaim the house after you get married.”
“Stop dawdling. Start tidying up.”
“Ugh, these Committee members have no sense of moderation. Look at this mess—there’s not even a clean spot to step.” Su Xiangmei rolled up her sleeves and started cleaning.
Shen Qingjun chuckled. “Aunt Su, let me help you.”
Halfway through, Zhou Zhanyang returned.
Looking at the high sun, Su Xiangmei slapped her thigh as if she’d just remembered. “Oh! It’s almost noon! The old man is waiting for me for lunch. Qingjun, I’ll head back first.”
She shot Zhou Zhanyang a meaningful glance and disappeared in a flash.