Zhao Mengxue also looked at the women, her face extremely unpleasant, pale as a ghost.
The women quickly scrambled to their feet, awkwardly brushing the dust off themselves. “Haha, just passing by and tripped,” they said.
Zhao Mother no longer had the lively excitement she usually had when gossiping; she looked completely deflated, like a frostbitten eggplant.
Zhao Mengxue was dragged downstairs. To make a good impression on Qian Ling, she had deliberately changed into a diacron dress, but now it was wrinkled and shabby, completely losing its dignity.
Zhao Mother rushed to grab the two women holding Zhao Mengxue. “Where are you trying to take my daughter?!”
Qian Ling followed behind, her gaze like a blade slicing at Zhao Mother. “Are you sure you want to make a scene here?”
Zhao Mengxue’s voice was hoarse. “Mom, stop arguing.”
She looked at Qian Ling, eyes full of unwillingness.
Qian Ling glanced at her disdainfully and got into the car first.
Zhao Mother wanted to follow but couldn’t fit in. Qian Ling’s voice was calm. “Don’t worry, we’ll bring her back shortly.”
Zhao Mengxue returned home three hours later, carried back by others.
At the same time, officials from the “Educated Youth Office” had already arrived at the Zhao residence.
Zhao Mother hadn’t expected that Zhao Mengxue would have to go to the countryside so soon after the abortion.
Zhao Mengxue was dazed and exhausted, the pain from the abortion almost unbearable. Her voice had been hoarse from screaming during the procedure.
The doctor even mocked her: “What are you yelling for? The procedure must be thorough. If not, you’ll have to come back next time!”
“Hmph! Such shameless girls, sleeping with men before marriage, no sense of shame!”
When Zhao Mengxue woke, pale as a sheet, Zhao Mother handed her a bowl of brown sugar water. “Drink this. You need to recover quickly; in three days, you’re going to the countryside.”
Zhao Mengxue was shocked. “What?! Three days? Why so soon?”
Zhao Mother wiped her tears. “The officials are here. News of your brother going to prison has spread. You’re going, no question.”
“Mom! I just had an abortion! How can I go to the countryside? I’ll die!” Zhao Mengxue couldn’t imagine working in her current state.
Zhao Mother knew that, of course, but what could she do? Zhao Mengxue had been so reckless, getting pregnant before marriage!
She hadn’t even scolded her yet. The news of Zhao Mengxue’s premarital pregnancy and forced abortion had already spread everywhere.
Even earlier, when she went to buy groceries, she had overheard people discussing it. She was too embarrassed to leave the house.
Thinking this way, sending Zhao Mengxue to the countryside might be better; staying home, she’d likely never marry.
“Mengxue, listen to your mother. With your reputation now, you won’t marry well. Better to go to the countryside and marry an honest man.”
Zhao Mengxue’s tears fell immediately. “No! Marry a peasant? I’d rather die!”
Zhao Mother patted the edge of the bed. “Then what do you want? With your reputation, who would marry you?”
She was angry too. If Zhou Chongming got his brother out, Qian Ling might come knocking.
Now one son might be in prison for years, the other sent to the harsh north. Who knew if Zhao Chengren could even marry?
When she heard the countryside destination was the North Wilds, Zhao Mengxue fainted.
Meanwhile, Su Wan finished paying the detective and went to the train station. “Comrade, are there tickets to Chun Province in three days? I want a sleeper, preferably a four-person compartment. Here’s my application report.”
The clerk took the report and was momentarily stunned by her beauty. Such a delicate and pretty woman was rare.
“Yes, there’s a 7 p.m. train. Will that work?” the clerk asked.
Seeing such a pretty girl lifted his mood; he was polite.
Su Wan nodded. “Yes, thank you, comrade.”
She had mostly packed her things. Last time, she had sent several large parcels to the southwest troops.
This time, she only needed to bring a small suitcase. Traveling to Chun Province by train would take four days and three nights. Lately, probably due to her pregnancy, she had little appetite.
She planned to prepare some food herself to last at least a few meals. She had little hope for the train food.
Three days later,
Su Wan arrived at the train station in the afternoon with her suitcase, needing to say goodbye to someone.
Zhao Mengxue’s face was ghostly pale. Even those accompanying her to the countryside were shocked by her appearance.
Since arriving, she had been crying non-stop.
Seeing her tears, some male comrades felt sympathetic. “Comrade Zhao, don’t cry. The North Wilds is harsh, but I believe you can endure it!”
Some female educated youth scowled. “Comrade Zhao, we’re going to the countryside to build a new society. Why are you crying like this?”
“Exactly, shows a lack of awareness!”
Su Wan found the group and, hearing this, a faint smile appeared on her lips. She had been just like them, dragging her recently aborted body to the countryside.
The uncertainty of the future, the fear of never seeing Gu Huaizhi again, panic at having nothing—her family had been seized as a capitalist family, leaving her penniless.
Zhao Mengxue even hypocritically gave her a small bundle with a diacron dress. Why would she need that dress?
How could she have been so foolish back then?
“Mengxue,” Su Wan called out.
The educated youth all turned to look. A few of the young men blushed instantly.
This girl was truly beautiful, wearing a white dress that seemed to radiate soft light, like an angel from Western mythology.
Zhao Mengxue suddenly looked up at Su Wan, her eyes blazing with an intense, undeniable heat.
She quickly ran over and grabbed Su Wan’s hand, crying desperately:
“Wanwan! Wanwan, I was wrong! Please forgive me! I have to go to the countryside, please help me! I beg you, save me!”
Everyone was shocked by her frantic behavior, many staring at the two of them.
Su Wan gently patted her back. The tenderness immediately delighted Zhao Mengxue; after all, this fool still had a soft heart.
If she acted a little more, maybe Su Wan would really help her.
Su Wan hugged Zhao Mengxue and whispered deliberately in her ear, word by word: “It seems we won’t meet again in this life, Mengxue. You must live well.”
Live well, survive, and experience a little more of the suffering I endured back then.
“No! Su Wan wouldn’t do this to me! Who are you really?” Zhao Mengxue tried to push her away, but Su Wan held her tightly.
Her smile didn’t fade. “Mengxue, I am your best friend Su Wan. Remember that? Your nightmare starts from this moment.”
Su Wan let her go, observing her completely broken expression. This was how she had looked back then.
“No! Mengxue wouldn’t do this to me! Who are you?”
“Wanwan, I am your best friend Zhao Mengxue. Remember that? Your nightmare starts from this moment.”
On September 23, 1970, at Shanghai train station, Su Wan had asked Zhao Mengxue this question.
But now, it was September 21, 1970.