Shen Hanning said, “We’re family now. Our family’s political status is rather sensitive at the moment, so we’re planning to take Tiantian to Hong Kong to lie low for a while.”
“Once you’ve picked an auspicious wedding date, let us know. Jiaxing can come and bring Tiantian home for the ceremony.”
“We’ll be entrusting Tiantian to your family.”
Father Pan and Mother Pan nodded repeatedly.
“Of course.”
The Shen family might have fallen on hard times, but the wealth they had accumulated was still far beyond anything the Pan family could ever hope to achieve.
The Pan family’s circumstances weren’t actually bad.
Father Pan had recently retired from the machinery factory and received a monthly pension of thirty yuan.
Pan Jiaxing was a permanent employee at the steel mill, earning over thirty yuan a month himself.
However, Father Pan had been a compulsive gambler since he was young.
On top of that, he’d been swindled out of a considerable amount of money by a merchant a couple of years earlier.
As a result, not only did the Pan family have virtually no savings, they were also burdened with substantial debts.
Naturally, they were eager to marry into the Shen family and get their hands on some of its wealth.
Shen Hanning turned to Pan Jiaxing.
“Jiaxing, you work at the steel mill. After you’re married, see if you can arrange for Tiantian to get a job there too.”
Pan Jiaxing was so distracted that he didn’t even hear him.
“Jiaxing?”
Only then did he snap back to reality.
“Oh… yes. I’ll ask around when I get the chance.”
Noticing something was off, Shen Tiantian asked,
“Brother Jiaxing, we’re getting married. Aren’t you happy?”
“I am. I’m very happy.”
Shen Xiaoyuan also noticed that Pan Jiaxing’s eyes kept lingering on her.
It disgusted her so much that her skin crawled.
After everything had been settled, the two families chatted politely for a while before Shen Hanning took his two daughters home.
On the way back, Shen Hanning walked in front while Shen Xiaoyuan and Shen Tiantian followed behind.
Keeping her voice low, Shen Tiantian said smugly,
“You’re angry, aren’t you?”
“Brother Jiaxing loves me so much, yet he has to marry you.”
“Luckily, his feelings for me have never changed.”
“So what if Grandpa personally arranged the engagement?”
“It was changed just like that.”
Shen Xiaoyuan rolled her eyes.
“Some people are cheap and interchangeable, yet they keep imagining they’re luxury goods.”
“You…” Shen Tiantian gritted her teeth.
“You’ve certainly gotten better at talking.”
“We’ll see how long that lasts.”
Ignoring her completely, Shen Xiaoyuan caught up with Shen Hanning.
“Dad, you two go home first.”
“I’m about to leave for the countryside, so I’d like to stop by the supply and marketing cooperative and buy a few necessities.”
Shen Hanning nodded.
“Go ahead.”
Shen Xiaoyuan walked toward the cooperative before turning into a narrow alley.
Going straight through the alley led directly to the Educated Youth Office.
Following the memories of the original owner, she quickly found the office.
The moment she entered, she saw Director Li sitting there with a miserable expression.
The list of educated youths being sent to the countryside had to be submitted the following day.
Every other province had already filled its assigned quota.
Only the Great Northwest was still short by one person.
Director Li was so worried she hadn’t even eaten lunch.
She had talked herself hoarse trying to persuade people, yet no one volunteered.
“Hello, Director Li.”
A soft female voice interrupted her thoughts.
Looking up, Director Li was greeted by the sight of an exceptionally beautiful young woman.
The girl’s bright eyes were filled with youthful innocence, making her look utterly naïve and inexperienced.
Director Li’s eyes lit up.
“Comrade, are you here to register for the countryside?”
“Would you like to go to the Great Northwest?”
“It has magnificent scenery, a rich history, and wonderful local specialties.”
“Lamb skewers, raisins, Hami melons…”
“And most importantly, the policies there are much more relaxed.”
“There are tremendous opportunities for young people.”
“Lots of volunteers have already signed up.”
Shen Xiaoyuan blinked innocently.
“Director Li, is it really that wonderful?”
“Are there still openings?”
Director Li quickly replied,
“Only one spot remains.”
“Would you like me to register you?”
Shen Xiaoyuan shook her head regretfully.
“Director, my father has already registered me.”
Director Li’s face immediately fell.
“Then why are you here?”
“You’ve wasted my breath.”
Shen Xiaoyuan smiled apologetically.
“I’m here to register on behalf of my older brother.”
“He’s twenty-two now.”
“He should’ve gone to the countryside long ago.”
“But because of family circumstances, our parents wanted him to stay home.”
“My brother has a very high level of political consciousness.”
“He wants to go to the countryside, temper himself, and contribute wherever the country needs him most.”
“So he asked me to come and see whether he can still register.”
Director Li looked at her suspiciously.
“Which family?”
“Who kept their son home even after he reached the required age?”
Feeling embarrassed, Shen Xiaoyuan answered,
“The Shen family.”
“Forty-two Guangming Road.”
Director Li pulled out a stack of files and searched through them.
Finally, she looked over her glasses.
“Shen Jiawei?”
Shen Xiaoyuan nodded.
“Yes.”
“My brother.”
Director Li pointed to the list of people already scheduled to be sent away.
“Then you’re Shen Xiaoyuan?”
“That’s right.”
Director Li immediately realized there was more to the story.
This little girl wasn’t nearly as innocent as she looked.
But what did that matter?
As long as someone solved her immediate problem, that was enough.
Clearing her throat, she said,
“The Shen family are classified as capitalists.”
“Originally, the whole family should’ve been sent for reeducation.”
“Sending only you was inappropriate to begin with.”
“We were already planning to visit your home and conduct ideological work.”
“Since Comrade Shen Jiawei has voluntarily chosen to receive education in the countryside…”
“That’s excellent.”
With that, she wrote Shen Jiawei’s name into the final remaining slot on the Great Northwest list.
Shen Xiaoyuan hesitated before speaking again.
“Director Li…”
“If anyone asks who registered him…”
“Could you please say it was Shen Tiantian?”
“The ‘Tian’ that means quiet and beautiful.”
“My father doesn’t like me.”
“If he finds out I helped register my brother…”
“He’ll definitely beat me.”
Hearing that, Director Li could more or less piece together the family’s situation.
Nothing more than parents favoring their son and least-favored daughter being forced to the countryside.
The girl was unwilling to accept it and wanted someone else to suffer alongside her.
Director Li carefully studied Shen Xiaoyuan.
She appeared gentle and delicate.
Yet there was unmistakable determination in her eyes.
She hadn’t surrendered despite being treated unfairly by her own family.
Instead…
She had sent her brother straight to the Great Northwest.
Ruthless.
As a fellow woman, Director Li admired that spirit.
Women of the new era needed exactly this kind of backbone.
Who said women were inferior to men?
Women were half the sky of socialist society.
“Very well.”
“I’ll do it.”
This girl had solved such a huge problem for her.
There was no reason to refuse such a small favor.
“Thank you, Director Li.”
Shen Xiaoyuan smiled radiantly.
“Oh, right.”
She took a packet of chamomile tea and a bag of White Rabbit milk candies from her canvas bag.
“Director Li, your eyes are bloodshot.”
“You’ve been working far too hard because of the relocation program.”
“I happen to have some calming tea.”
“Drink it tonight and you’ll sleep much better.”
“And these candies…”
“They won’t be convenient to take with me to the countryside.”
“They’re perfect for you.”
Director Li’s eyes lit up once again.
This girl really knows how to conduct herself.
The icy expression she’d worn all day finally melted into a smile.
“Very well.”
“You’re thoughtful.”
“The group heading to the Great Northwest leaves tomorrow.”
“We’ll personally go to the Shen family and escort Comrade Shen Jiawei to the train.”
“Great!”
Walking out of the Educated Youth Office, Shen Xiaoyuan was in an excellent mood.
Today she had not only secured ownership of the house…
She had also successfully signed Shen Jiawei up for the Great Northwest.
As she strolled home, she couldn’t help humming a cheerful tune.
Passing by the state-owned restaurant, waves of delicious aromas drifted outside.
She had been here for several days already but hadn’t yet tasted the restaurant’s food.
It also happened to be dinnertime.
Without hesitation, she walked inside.
Looking over the menu, she swallowed involuntarily.
Everything looked delicious.
Unable to decide, she simply ordered four meat dishes and a soup.
Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs.
Braised Crucian Carp.
Braised Pork Belly.
Kung Pao Chicken.
Seaweed Egg Drop Soup.
As the waitress served the dishes, she couldn’t help giving Shen Xiaoyuan several extra glances.
The young woman was exceptionally beautiful.
Yet her clothes were very ordinary—a white Dacron blouse paired with gray-blue trousers.
She isn’t planning to eat on credit, is she?
The surrounding diners also began looking over.
What wealthy family spends money this extravagantly?