Huo Ying said dismissively, “I have no relationship with her whatsoever. I’m just doing someone a favor.”
“Hehe, the person asking Captain Huo must be quite someone, right? Otherwise, the Captain wouldn’t be taking this so seriously.”
Damn it, this is exactly the persistence he taught them. Huo Ying didn’t even blink. “Of course. That person is my father.”
The father-in-law asking his son to take care of his future daughter-in-law technically, he wasn’t lying.
“Y-yes, Sir!” Zheng Bin was so shocked he almost stood at attention and saluted. He dared not ask any more questions and secretly vowed to protect Jiang Yan with his life.
Early the next morning, Jiang Yan arrived at the train station. The first familiar face she saw in the waiting hall was Section Chief Zhu.
It had only been a few days, but the middle-aged man looked terrible. His eye bags were heavier, his bald spot shone even brighter, and he was hunched over as if he had aged twenty years overnight. He walked right past her without noticing, chattering nonstop to the young man beside him:
“…Dad managed to keep his position, but there are still people trying to bring me down. So remember, Kaimo, if you want to get back to the city early, you must take good care of Comrade Su Zhenzhen…”
Jiang Yan’s eyes widened in shock.
In her past life, the Huo family had already chosen a suitable daughter-in-law named Su Zhenzhen.
But Huo Ying insisted on marrying Jiang Yan instead. They lived a happy life, and she soon became pregnant with twins.
Many people came to congratulate her, including Su Zhenzhen. During one conversation, Su Zhenzhen casually mentioned her time being sent down to the countryside in Nan Province. She told Jiang Yan about an elderly couple who had died a tragic death there and even showed her a photo.
Jiang Yan said nothing at the time, but that night, she suffered a miscarriage.
Because the elderly couple in the photo were her adoptive parents!
Jiang Yan didn’t know if the village she was being sent to was the same place where her parents had been sent.
But if the “Su Zhenzhen” Section Chief Zhu was talking about was the same woman she knew, then this was her chance to find out exactly where her parents had been sent.
Her heart raced, but her face remained calm as she quietly followed them.
However, after finding seats, Chief Zhu and his son sat down and didn’t move again.
Jiang Yan felt a pang of disappointment, wondering if she had misheard.
Soon, it was time to board the train. Zhu Kaimo went to report at the designated meeting point for the educated youth, and Chief Zhu walked him to the entrance. Relatives could buy temporary platform tickets to see people off.
Jiang Yan quickly checked in at the Educated Youth Office and hurried after them.
When they reached the platform, there was no train there yet.
Only when the announcement rang out “The train from Jingdu to Nan Province is now arriving” did the locomotive pull in.
The father and son walked towards their carriage. When Jiang Yan tried to follow, she was stopped. “Comrade, this is the sleeper car entrance. Please show your ticket.”
Jiang Yan forced a smile. “I have a hard-seat ticket, but I saw a friend going to the countryside with me over there. I just want to say hello. I won’t go inside.”
The officer’s face remained impassive. “That’s what everyone with a hard-seat ticket says when they want to get into the sleeper cars. Please go to your correct boarding area. Don’t make things difficult for us, or for yourself.”
Jiang Yan had to stop, but she refused to give up, staring intently in their direction.
Zhu Kaimo had already stepped one foot into the carriage when he suddenly stepped back. Then, a young woman walked out, stretching her arms wide.
She had two thick braids hanging down her chest, wearing a brand-new green shirt tucked into matching green pants, secured with a black leather belt, and a military canteen slung across her shoulder.
It was the most fashionable and trendy outfit of the era.
Her appearance immediately caught everyone’s attention.
She lifted her chin slightly, clearly accustomed to being the center of attention. The haughty air of superiority she exuded was palpable even from a distance.
It was definitely the Su Zhenzhen she knew!
No wonder. Since Su Zhenzhen lived in Jingdu except when she was sent down, the Zhu family would only be able to meet her here on the train.
Section Chief Zhu bowed slightly as he introduced his son to her.
Su Zhenzhen looked at them with utter disdain, then turned and walked inside. Zhu Kaimo hurried in after her, while Chief Zhu waved goodbye from outside.
Jiang Yan felt a wave of regret. If only she had taken that sleeper ticket from Zheng Bin earlier! Now she could have approached Su Zhenzhen and found out exactly where she was going.
But there was no turning back. The announcement warned that the train was about to depart, so she had to turn and find her own carriage.
Inside her car, it was packed with people and cluttered with sacks and baskets. After some difficulty, she found her seat, only to see a scruffy man with a beard already sitting there. He had his arms crossed, a straw hat pulled down over his eyes, seemingly napping.
Jiang Yan took out her ticket and spoke politely. “Comrade, this is my seat. Could you please move?”
Before the bearded man could respond, a low, rough voice growled from behind her: “That’s not your seat. Get up!”
Jiang Yan turned around, her mouth falling open in shock.
Was she seeing things? Why was Zheng Bin here?
Did that mean Huo Ying had come too?
She looked around frantically, but Zheng Bin had already grabbed the man’s arm and yanked him to his feet.
The hat fell off, and the bearded man glared angrily. But when he met Zheng Bin’s cold, disdainful eyes, the fire instantly went out. He picked up his hat and scurried away without a sound.
Zheng Bin gestured to her. “Come on, Miss. Sit down.”
“Huh?” He seemed to recognize her only now. “It’s you? Are you going to Nan Province too?” He patted his bag. “What a coincidence! Me too. We can keep each other company on the trip.”
Jiang Yan sat down expressionlessly and turned her face toward the window.
In her past life, Zheng Bin had never been sent to the countryside.
He was only here suffering because of her.
What could she possibly do to make them stop interfering in her life?
Passengers nearby began to whisper. “That girl is so rude. Someone helped her get her seat back, and she didn’t even say thank you. What manners.”
Anger flashed in Zheng Bin’s eyes, but he snapped at the gossips instead: “I stepped in because I hate men who bully the weak and fear the strong. I wanted to do it. What does it have to do with her? Mind your own business!”
No sooner had he spoken than a woman shouted from further down the aisle: “Hey, Comrade who hates bullies! Come help me over here! This shameless woman is stealing my seat!”
Zheng Bin returned to his seat diagonally opposite, crossed his arms, and closed his eyes just like the bearded man had done.
Everyone was stunned.
The woman’s voice continued: “Get up! If you don’t move, I’ll call the conductor!”
Another sharp voice cut in: “Go ahead! Call them! If you dare touch me again, I’ll kick your guts out!”
It was Shi Hongmei!
Jiang Yan instinctively stood up to look.
Two rows away, Shi Hongmei looked disheveled and dirty. She was shamelessly occupying a seat, clearly bullying the smaller woman who was trying to get her seat back.
Jiang Yan sat back down silently.
She wasn’t a saint; she couldn’t solve everyone’s problems. She could only worry about her own family. How was she going to get close to Su Zhenzhen and find out where her parents were?
Sometime later, she heard Shi Hongmei screaming: “Officer! I didn’t sneak on! I’m an educated youth! Someone stole my ticket when I got on! I sat here because I remembered the seat number! Ask Jiang Yan over there! She’s also an educated youth, she knows me!”
Hmph. Of course she saw Jiang Yan stand up just now.