The sky was gradually growing dark, and Su’s second sister had already returned home.
The family ate dinner in silence. Su Yu, thinking her younger sister still wasn’t fully recovered, took the dishes and bowls out to wash them herself.
Su Yun, however, was a bit nervous. She was about to share a room with Su’s second sister — she absolutely couldn’t slip up!
The original owner and her second sister had shared a bed since childhood. Growing up in that household environment, they’d clung to each other for warmth and told each other everything — their bond was incredibly close.
Although there had been some friction over the matter of going to the countryside, the original owner had only ever thought about it privately and never showed it.
The person most likely to notice something off about her was Su’s second sister.
Better to pretend she was still sick, with a sore throat, and talk as little as possible.
After a little while, she’d just pretend to fall asleep!
Su Yun decided to stay on high alert around Su’s second sister over the next few days.
The next morning, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, Su Yun woke up.
She summoned the system and checked the time — it was only 6:10 AM.
Not because she was diligent, but because she’d gone to bed way too early last night.
Last night, Su Yu had come into the room, lifted the curtain, and glanced at Su Yun, who was putting on a sickly, listless act. True to form, she didn’t say much — just a few words of concern, telling her to rest well and sleep more, before heading back to her own side of the bed.
It had only been a little past eight. With no phone to occupy her, Su Yun was bored out of her mind and could only sleep.
That was why she was up at six-something this morning — and this was someone who used to need multiple alarms just to drag herself out of bed at 8:30!
By now, the others in the household had already eaten and were getting ready to leave for work.
Su’s second sister had woken up the earliest — she had to get up first to prepare breakfast in advance, since Su’s mother wouldn’t get up early to cook.
Su Yun pricked up her ears, listening to the sounds from the main room. She got dressed and sat on the bed for a while longer, waiting until she heard Su’s father and mother leave before opening the door.
At the same time, Su’s younger brother darted out of his room.
They exchanged a glance, understanding each other without words, and sat down to eat breakfast.
The hardworking Su’s second sister had already ladled out their portions before she left.
On the table, besides two bowls of thin porridge, there was only a plate of black pickled vegetables — locally known as “Big Head Vegetable.” Su Yun had eaten it in her past life too; breakfast shops usually called it “Kongming Vegetable.” Mixed with a little sesame oil, it actually tasted pretty good.
After finishing breakfast, Su’s younger brother rinsed the two bowls on his own, tidied up, and then dashed out the gate — off to wander somewhere or other.
Su Yun planned to go out for a stroll today. She locked the main gate, pocketed the key, and headed out.
East of the Su family home, about a ten-minute walk away, was the original owner’s former high school — “Jing City No. 2 High School” — and the school Su’s younger brother would soon attend.
Further east was the furniture factory, and beyond that was the cannery where Su’s father and mother worked.
This road was usually quiet, but during rush hours — work and school let-out — it got crowded with workers on bicycles and students on foot.
Going west from the Su home, however, was much livelier in just a few minutes. The route was lined with streets and residential homes, interspersed with a cinema, a state-run restaurant, a scrap collection station, a supply and marketing cooperative, and further ahead, a large department store with a photo studio next to it.
The Educated Youth Office that Su Yun planned to visit was also near the department store.
At this time, educated youth being sent to the countryside were given subsidies. She needed to go ask about the process — she couldn’t let Su’s father and mother get their hands on that money!
She also wanted to see where she’d been assigned and find out in advance what the local situation was like.
Su Yun set off westward. Walking past the long street where the Su family lived, the first thing she spotted was the cinema.
It looked quite imposing — its signboard was even bigger than the supply cooperative’s, and several movie posters were plastered on the pillars.
As she passed by, Su Yun took a closer look. She’d assumed that films from this era were all war movies, but from the posters, she saw there were actually martial arts films and comedies too!
But it was still early morning, so not many people were heading inside.
Across from the cinema was a post office. It was only seven o’clock, yet it was already open.
People sure had passion for their work back then, Su Yun mused. Too bad the original owner had no money — and neither did she — so she couldn’t go buy stamps to collect like the heroines in those period novels she’d read.
She could only stare longingly.
Better keep moving. If she still had check-in attempts left on the way back, she’d try one.
Su Yun simply lowered her head and pressed on — out of sight, out of mind! Otherwise, she was afraid she’d blow through all her check-in attempts before even reaching the Educated Youth Office.
She was curious about everything she saw and wanted to try checking in at every shop to see what she’d get.
Unfortunately, she only gained one check-in attempt per day — the extra ones had come from the beginner’s gift pack.
This morning when she woke up, the remaining attempts had gone from 4 to 5.
But even though she was strapped now, she’d be better off once she got to the countryside.
Attempts could be accumulated. Once she was settled in one place for a long stretch, there wouldn’t be much worth checking in on in the fields — she could save them up, then occasionally head into town and go on a spree!
It’d be even more satisfying than shopping in her past life — after all, it was all free!
Su Yun couldn’t help the corners of her mouth curling up.
She then stepped into the Educated Youth Office. Maybe because she’d come early, there were only two staff members inside.
Smiling politely, Su Yun spoke up:
“Hello, comrade!”
“Comrade, I’d like to ask — where are the educated youth from No. 2 High School being assigned to go to the countryside?”
Jing City No. 2 High School — locals just called it No. 2 High. The original owner had just graduated, and the Educated Youth Office had grouped her with the school batch.
“This batch is all heading to Yang City in Dong Province, spread across several counties,” answered the round-faced girl sitting behind the desk, who looked to be in her early twenties.
“Is this for yourself?”
“Yes, I’m one of the educated youth in this batch. My name is Su Yun!”
“Let me look you up.” The round-faced girl opened a drawer and pulled out a notebook.
“You’re assigned to Shangxi Production Brigade, under Qingfeng Commune.”
“The departure date is May 31st, with a train at 9 AM.”
“If you hadn’t come today, we’d have sent you a notice in a couple of days to come pick up your assignment certificate.”
“Comrade, can I collect it now?” Su Yun thought it was better to get it in hand sooner rather than later — who knew what could happen in between.
“Did you bring your household registration booklet? You need it to collect the certificate,” the round-faced girl looked up at Su Yun.
“I didn’t. I’ll go back and get it right now and be back shortly. Thank you, comrade!”
Su Yun planned to make a quick trip — grab the household registration, come back for the certificate, and then ask about the subsidies.
She didn’t want the Educated Youth Office to contact the Su family directly, as there was a chance Su’s father and mother might be home.
She didn’t want them knowing her specific destination — it would give them too much leverage over her, and her eldest brother was the perfect example of that! That way, even if they went to the school, they could only find out the city, not which county, commune, or specific brigade she was in.
She jogged all the way back to the Su house, unlocked the gate, and went straight to Su’s mother’s room. Strangely enough, their room was never locked — weird, right?
That was because in this household, aside from the parents themselves, none of the kids would ever dare to go in there — after all, no one wanted to ask for a beating.
Su Yun carefully searched around. According to the original owner’s memory, Su’s mother kept the household registration and some photos in a biscuit tin.
She checked under the bed and inside the cabinets, finally finding the box at the very bottom of the wardrobe.
She opened it — on top lay a stack of photos, maybe a dozen or so, all of Su’s father and mother — solo shots and couple photos alike.
Beneath the photos was the household registration booklet.
It listed only five people — the eldest brother’s registration had been moved out years ago.
Once she relocated and had her registration transferred, there would be only four left.
Su Yun took the booklet, closed the tin, and casually stuffed it back into the wardrobe.
Su’s father and mother didn’t come home for lunch — they ate at the factory canteen. She could put everything back after she was done and they’d never know.