Jiang Yan’s heart was in her throat as she followed the staff member to meet the leader.
“Comrade Jiang Yan,” the leader said, “The Railway Police have sent us a letter of commendation, and we also sent an inquiry to Jiangcheng to look into your background.”
“Since you have severed ties with your adoptive parents, shown positive progress, and performed such a meritorious deed on the train saving countless lives and protecting state property the organization has decided to assign you to a rural area near the provincial capital for re-education.”
Jiang Yan froze for three seconds, then bowed deeply. “Thank you for this decision. I am deeply honored.”
She straightened up and said firmly, “Protecting lives and property is the duty of every youth in this new era. I cannot let this achievement stop me from hardening myself. I request to be sent to Menghan Slope to support rural development.”
The smile froze on the leader’s face. After a moment, he said, “Comrade Jiang, please think carefully. You can train anywhere. Menghan Slope isn’t just hard work it’s near the border and dangerous. More than one educated youth has gone missing there.”
Dear Mom and Dad, are you there? How much have you suffered?
Tears welled up, but she wiped them away and stood tall. “I am just a brick in the wall of the motherland; I go wherever I am needed. If Menghan Slope is so harsh and dangerous, it means it needs educated youth the most. That is where I will go.”
The leader almost reached out to feel her forehead.
Is this girl running a fever?
After she left, the leader walked into the back room. “Comrade Huo, her ideological awareness is simply too high. I couldn’t talk her out of it.”
Huo Ying shook hands with him, his expression calm. “You said everything you could. That’s just her personality. Let her do as she wishes.”
Internally, he was dying to run after her, shake her, and scream: ‘You idiot! Today you do exactly what I say, whether you like it or not!’
As soon as Zheng Bin regained consciousness, he had contacted Huo Ying and told him everything that happened on the train.
Huo Ying had been terrified, but seeing it as an opportunity, he pulled strings to get her that safe assignment near the city.
He never expected that this stubborn girl would throw all his efforts away with a few noble slogans.
Really, why bother worrying about such a foolish, brainless little thing?
Sitting in the back of the open truck bumping along the road to Menghan Slope, Jiang Yan was surprised to find that not only was Shi Hongmei there, but Su Zhenzhen was also coming along with her two lackeys.
Su Zhenzhen’s eyes were swollen from crying. Yao Qingsong’s face was pale and splotchy like vitiligo, and Zhu Kaimo looked like a wilted eggplant, sighing nonstop.
Although seeing them miserable was satisfying, Jiang Yan sincerely hoped they were just passing through and would get off at another village.
She was afraid that with troublemaker Su Zhenzhen around, rescuing her parents would become even harder.
But they transferred from the truck to a tractor, and the group followed her. Then they switched to an ox cart, and they were still right behind her.
When they finally got off the ox cart, Su Zhenzhen rounded on the driver. “Hey, did you bring us to the wrong place? What are you up to?”
The simple, honest farmer looked confused. “What am I up to?”
Su Zhenzhen scowled. “Don’t think I don’t know! I heard that Nan Province has no seasons it’s just summer all year round! Pineapples fall from the sky, you step on bananas, and if you trip, you grab a handful of peanuts!”
“But it’s getting colder and colder here! It isn’t even autumn yet, and the mountains are bare! Not a single pineapple or banana tree in sight there aren’t even any eucalyptus trees!”
The driver stared blankly, scratching his head, unable to answer.
“Yeah! Where exactly did you bring us?” the other youths chimed in. None of them wanted to be here, and after the exhausting journey, they were all frustrated. Now they had someone to vent on.
Encouraged by the support, Su Zhenzhen became bolder. “Are you a human trafficker? Don’t forget, there are more of us than…”
Ahem.
A middle-aged man stood up from the bushes. His face was dark from the sun, he was barely 1.6 meters tall, and so thin his cheeks were sunken. His clothes were covered in layers of patches.
Yet, Jiang Yan was inexplicably reminded of a native Chinese village dog plain-looking, but bred by generations to survive perfectly on this land.
Those two coughs silenced everyone instantly. He tapped his pipe against his palm. “Old Ma, you can head back now. Make sure the cattle get fed.”
“Yes, Village Head.”
The driver had finally realized what “human trafficker” meant and was about to argue back, but hearing the order, he didn’t dare linger and quickly drove the ox cart away.
Su Zhenzhen tilted her head, frowning. “Are you Luo Biao, the village head of Menghan Slope? Did the higher-ups call to tell you to take ca…”
Yao Qingsong quickly clamped his hand over her mouth, pushed her behind him, and forced a smile. “Hello, Village Head Luo! Thank you for coming to welcome us. On behalf of all the youths, thank you! Could we ask the cart to carry our luggage to the dormitory first?”
“Who came to welcome you?” the man interrupted flatly. “I came to check on my ox. I wanted to see if pulling all this ‘trash’ tired him out. The dormitory is west of the village. Rest today. Work starts early tomorrow morning.” He turned and walked away.
“Who are you calling trash?!” Su Zhenzhen tried to shout again, but Yao Qingsong covered her mouth tightly.
Watching his back, the youths complained loudly. “We traveled so far! How can we recover in just one day? Working tomorrow is like treating us like animals!”
Jiang Yan trotted to catch up with Luo Biao. “Hello, Village Head. My name is Jiang Yan. I’m new here and don’t know anything. I’ll have to trouble you to teach me a lot in the future.”
She held out a package. “This is for the children. Please don’t refuse. We youths live in the west village, but… where do the ‘sent-down’ cadres and families stay?”
She had wanted to bring luxury items like malted milk or White Rabbit candies, but the journey was long and dangerous. Bringing too little was useless, bringing too much attracted trouble, and she already had to carry her own bedding.
The most practical plan was to bring money and buy things locally.
Unfortunately, the nearest supply and marketing cooperative didn’t have milk or candies. The best local snack available was mung bean cakes.
It would have to do as an opening gift.
The man didn’t even glance at it. He pushed her hand away and kept walking, tossing over his shoulder: “There are no ‘sent-down’ personnel in this village.”
Boom.
It was like a thunderclap. Jiang Yan froze.
Had she chosen the wrong place?
Or… did that mean her parents weren’t here anymore?
Refusing to give up, she ran after him again, her throat tight. Fortunately, she heard him add, “I think there might be some in the neighboring village.”
Like parched earth receiving rain, Jiang Yan pressed a hand to her chest, closed her eyes, and exhaled deeply.
The youth dormitory consisted of only two rooms one for men, one for women both filled with long plank beds.
Shi Hongmei rushed inside immediately, claiming the best spot near the back wall, and waved wildly. “Zhenzhen! Come sit here!”
During the journey, Su Zhenzhen had taken out egg cakes a luxury even in Jiangcheng and shared them with everyone except Jiang Yan.
Naturally, Shi Hongmei had become extremely servile and eager to please her.
She was also delighted to confirm one thing: Zhenzhen hated that wretched Jiang Yan just as much as she did.