Zhou Jin, sitting beside her, was rubbing her sore lower back with a pale face, while Gao Juan was grimacing so badly that she looked on the verge of collapsing.
Pei Nian couldn’t help feeling grateful for the Spirit Spring Space. Otherwise, she’d be in exactly the same miserable state.
The train finally slowed to a stop.
As soon as the doors opened, the passengers who had long been waiting surged toward the exits.
Following the crowd, Pei Nian squeezed off the train, her feet finally touching the solid platform beneath her.
The station platform was even more crowded than the train. Officials from various communes stood holding signs and loudly calling for their assigned educated youths to gather.
Around the sign reading “Xiangyang Commune,” more than a dozen exhausted yet curious young people had already gathered.
A man in a blue cotton shirt and black-rimmed glasses stood with a roster, checking names. After confirming that everyone assigned to Xiangyang Commune had arrived, he shouted,
“Everyone’s here! Follow me! We still need to catch the commune bus!”
The group followed the bespectacled man and squeezed onto the bus heading for the commune.
The bus looked even older than the train and bounced violently over the rough roads. Fortunately, the journey wasn’t too long. An hour later, they arrived at Xiangyang Commune.
Inside the commune courtyard, cadres from each production brigade held up signs and called out the names of their brigades.
“Pei Nian, Gu Zheng, Shen An, Zhou Jin, Jiang Xu, Gao Juan—Qu Liu Production Brigade!”
Hearing their names, Zhou Jin turned to Pei Nian in surprise.
“Educated Youth Pei, we’re assigned to the same brigade.”
Pei Nian smiled back.
Could she tell her she had known all along?
However, the other two names hadn’t appeared in the novel.
Ever since regaining her memories, Pei Nian’s recollection of the story had become increasingly clear. She was certain those two characters had never existed in the original plot.
“Everyone assigned to Qu Liu Brigade, gather over here!”
The loud voice drew their attention.
Standing not far away was a dark-skinned middle-aged man wearing a faded army-green jacket.
Beside him was a tractor.
In the countryside, where most places still relied on mule carts and ox carts, tractors were rare luxuries.
The middle-aged man was Wang Fugen, the captain of Qu Liu Production Brigade.
His gaze swept across the newly arrived educated youths, and a trace of impatience flashed across his face.
“You’ve got thirty minutes. The commune supply and marketing cooperative is over there. If there’s anything you urgently need to buy, go now.”
What was going on with this batch? Every single one of them was ridiculously good-looking. They looked like they’d be nothing but trouble.
Pei Nian’s space contained every supply she could possibly need, so she didn’t actually need to buy anything.
Still, she needed to make it look legitimate.
“Captain,” she said, “I’d like to pick up a parcel from the post office.”
Wang Fugen glanced at her and nodded.
“Fine. The post office’s over there. Go and come back quickly. Don’t take too long.”
“Thank you, Captain.”
After nodding to Zhou Jin, Pei Nian briskly headed in the direction he had indicated.
Turning a corner and confirming that no one was watching, she quickly ducked into a secluded spot.
With a thought, her consciousness entered the space.
She retrieved a large bundle packed with pots, bowls, kitchen utensils, and daily necessities, then hoisted it onto her shoulder.
When she returned to the tractor carrying the oversized bundle, all the other educated youths had already climbed into the trailer.
Seeing her come back—especially with such an enormous package on her shoulder—Wang Fugen paused in surprise.
She looked pretty and delicate, yet she was unexpectedly strong.
Pei Nian lifted the bulky bundle toward the trailer.
It wasn’t that she couldn’t lift it—it was simply awkward because of its size.
At that moment, a long, well-defined hand reached down from above.
Effortlessly grasping the bundle, its owner smoothly helped her place it securely into the trailer.
Pei Nian froze for a moment before looking up.
It was a young man.
He wore a crisp white shirt made of excellent fabric.
His features were strikingly handsome, with deep, refined eyes. He didn’t look cold or unfriendly, yet there was an invisible aura that discouraged people from approaching him.
He seemed completely out of place amid the noisy surroundings.
As Pei Nian studied him, his gaze also landed on her.
A faint ripple flashed through his eyes—so subtle that it vanished before anyone could catch it.
“Thank you, Comrade,” Pei Nian said politely.
At the same time, however, she instinctively took half a step back, increasing the distance between them.
Every instinct she had for avoiding danger was screaming at her.
Big shot. Definitely not someone to provoke.
Perhaps sensing her wariness, the young man stepped back slightly himself.
“You’re welcome,” he replied gently.
With her luggage no longer in the way, Pei Nian quickly climbed into the trailer and sat beside Zhou Jin, taking the opportunity to study everyone.
There were six educated youths in total.
The male lead, the female lead, the villainess, herself—the background character—and now two newcomers who hadn’t existed in the original novel.
Besides the intimidating “big shot,” there was another handsome young man with a bright, sunny appearance.
His personality matched his looks perfectly.
Seeing that everyone had boarded, he smiled and introduced himself first.
“Hello, everyone. I’m Shen An, twenty-two years old, from Beijing.”
The other young man kept it brief.
“Gu Zheng. Twenty-two. From Beijing.”
“Pei Nian. Eighteen. From Jiang County, Su Province.”
“Gao Juan. Nineteen. From Yi County, Su Province.”
“Jiang Xu. Nineteen. From Yi County, Su Province.”
Zhou Jin found the detailed introductions a little strange, but followed suit anyway.
“Zhou Jin. Eighteen. From Yi County, Su Province.”
Gu Zheng simply nodded in greeting.
His gaze lingered on Pei Nian for just a fraction longer before moving away.
“You three are all from Su Province,” Shen An laughed. “That’s quite a coincidence. Zheng and I arrived early this morning. Since we’re all part of the same batch of educated youths, let’s take care of each other from now on.”
Hearing they were from Beijing, combined with their bearing and demeanor, Pei Nian immediately understood.
The big shot… and his childhood friend.
When Gao Juan noticed the exceptionally handsome and distinguished Gu Zheng and Shen An—and learned they were from Beijing—her eyes lit up.
She immediately shuffled over, intending to sit on their side.
Unfortunately for her, Gu Zheng reacted even faster.
The instant she moved, he swiftly slid his luggage over, completely blocking the space.
Watching from across the trailer, Pei Nian found the scene highly entertaining.
So the villainess has switched targets?
As expected of the big shot.
The moment he appeared, he’d stolen another male lead’s admirer.
Then again, whether it was status or appearance, Gu Zheng was undoubtedly the more attractive choice.
Setting aside his powerful presence, his overall temperament was gentle and refined, like polished jade.
No matter what era’s beauty standards were, someone like him was naturally appealing.
Still unwilling to give up, Gao Juan tried speaking to him across the pile of luggage.
“Educated Youth Gu, you…”
For a brief instant, Gu Zheng’s expression turned cold.
Without saying a word, he picked up his luggage and moved to sit beside Pei Nian.
Then he called,
“Shen An.”
Shen An immediately understood and sat down on Gu Zheng’s other side.
The seating arrangement instantly became rather amusing.
Five people sat together on one side.
Gao Juan had the entire opposite side all to herself.
Her eyes immediately turned red.
She glared fiercely at Pei Nian.
Pei Nian almost laughed in disbelief.
Did Gao Juan already forget what happened on the train?
Besides, what does this have to do with me?
She glared right back and snapped,
“What are you staring at? Looking for a beating?”
Gao Juan instantly withdrew her gaze, lowering her head without daring to look at her again.
As the tractor rumbled noisily down the road, Shen An couldn’t suppress his curiosity.
Leaning around Gu Zheng, he asked,
“Educated Youth Pei, why is she so afraid of you?”
Pei Nian’s eyes gleamed mischievously.
“You want to know?”
She beckoned.
“Come a little closer, and I’ll tell you.”
The tractor bounced violently over the uneven road.
Even so, Shen An was dying to know what had happened.
Little by little, he edged closer.
Gu Zheng shot him a cool glance.
Before he could react, Pei Nian suddenly stood up while holding onto the side of the trailer.
By the time everyone realized what had happened—
Shen An was already dangling in midair.
Gao Juan: “!”
Terrifying!
Zhou Jin and Jiang Xu: “…!!!”
Even though they’d seen it once before, it was still shocking!
Shen An and Gu Zheng: “!!”
Shen An let out a miserable yelp.
“Heroine Pei! Mercy!”
Only then did Pei Nian set him back down.
Dusting off her hands without even breathing hard, she smiled.
“Now you know.”
“That’s why.”
Lying flat on the trailer, Shen An slowly raised a thumbs-up.
“I’m impressed.”
“No wonder Gao Juan behaved herself after just one glare. If it were me…”
“I’d behave too.”
Pei Nian was delighted by the compliment.
Trying to sound modest, she waved a hand.
“Oh, it’s nothing…”
She almost added, “…I’m only the third strongest in the world.”
Fortunately, she caught herself in time.
The heroine was still sitting right there.
If she said those familiar words aloud, she’d expose herself immediately.