Cheng Ning had always been a quiet, well‑behaved girl. Gentle and considerate. In short, the kind of girl who puts people at ease. So when Aunt Liu heard her speak like that, it was as if she had been struck by lightning. She stared at Cheng Ning, unable to tell whether the girl was mocking her or not.
But Cheng Ning’s expression was far too earnest, far too sincere.
After a long pause, Aunt Liu said: “Ning Ning, what are you talking about? What girl who’s supposed to help him? Don’t you know how much your Brother Chengyun cares for you? And what do you mean, it’s bad for your reputation…” Her tone grew unhappy.
What did she mean? That she didn’t want to marry Chengyun, afraid it would hurt her reputation? And if she didn’t want to marry him, fine—but why make up nonsense about dreaming of her grandmother, saying Chengyun would marry some girl who would help his and his father’s future?
Everyone knew Chengyun was devoted to her. Was she implying his character was lacking? The more Aunt Liu thought about it, the more annoyed she became.
But Cheng Ning was not the sort of child one could easily vent anger on. Her expression remained solemn, almost devout. She said: “It’s true. My grandmother told me in a dream. Aunt Liu, please don’t mention this again. It’s not only bad for my reputation—if people misunderstand, then when Brother Chengyun starts courting that girl, what should have been a wonderful thing might be twisted into gossip about his character. If you don’t believe me, wait a year. Once Brother Chengyun goes to university, you’ll see. Oh, and my grandmother also said he’ll be recommended for admission.”
At that, Aunt Liu’s anger turned instantly into shock. Their family was really working to get him recommended for university. But apart from her husband, herself, and her son’s supervisor, no one else knew. She instinctively looked at Cheng Suya, who was frowning, clearly unaware of any such plans.
Aunt Liu no longer had the heart to bring up the matter of jobs. Uneasy and unsettled, she left the Han household.
After she left, Cheng Suya immediately asked Cheng Ning: “What did you mean by all that?”
“I meant it,” Cheng Ning said quietly. “Right now they’re asking me for my job, as if I couldn’t marry and had to beg. But when Ji Chengyun goes to university and finds someone else, even though I never intended to marry him, it’ll look like I was dumped. If I give up my job, who knows how much ugly talk will spread. Auntie, you know what that old lady in the Ji family is like.”
Cheng Suya pressed her lips together. She was upset. Her niece wasn’t unmarriageable—yet Liu Minfen spoke as if granting her charity. How could she say such things?
Seeing her aunt’s anger, Cheng Ning took her arm and changed the subject with a smile: “Auntie, I’ve already given my job to someone else. A classmate of mine. She gave me a thousand yuan and a big stack of ration tickets. But I don’t plan to keep them. Once I’m in the countryside, I’ll return it to Third Brother. The job was his to begin with.”
A thousand yuan.
Her job paid only thirty yuan a month, three hundred sixty a year. After food and clothing expenses, she could save at most a hundred yuan a year. To save a thousand, she would need ten years!
And yet that old lady of the Ji family had the nerve to ask for it, dangling marriage like a carrot in front of her, without even considering whether the carrot was worth taking.
Cheng Suya was stunned. She looked at her niece’s animated expression, sensing something was off, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
After Liu Minfen left, another visitor came from the compound—Aunt Liao. Her youngest son, Liao Sheng, was Han Dongyuan’s childhood friend. When Han Dongyuan went down to Shanghan Brigade, Liao Sheng went with him.
Master Liao was a sixth‑level fitter at the machinery factory; Aunt Liao worked in the factory’s canteen. Their three children—the eldest two already employed—meant the family was relatively well‑off.
Aunt Liao brought a basket of food: cured meat, dried fish and beef, and scallion pancakes from the canteen, all things that kept well. She took Cheng Ning’s hand and said warmly: “Ning Ning, share these with Shengzi and Dongyuan—half for them, half for yourself. Eat slowly. Your Brother Shengzi is careless; once you’re there, help Auntie keep an eye on him. And if anything happens, don’t hesitate to call on him. If anyone bullies you, tell Shengzi and your third brother. You mustn’t be bullied again.”
Aunt Liao worried endlessly about her son. Worried his reckless temper would cause trouble in the countryside. Worried his charm would lead him to marry a village girl. Many educated youths had married locally in recent years. Her own nephew had taken a rural wife. It wasn’t that she despised village girls, but marrying there meant cutting off the road back to the city. So when she heard Cheng Ning was going down too, her heart stirred.
Cheng Ning was perfect—she had watched her grow up, knew her character inside out—gentle, sensible, kind. And with Cheng Suya childless, Cheng Ning was her treasure. Surely Cheng Suya would find a way to bring her back from the countryside sooner or later. If her son Shengzi and Cheng Ning became close, wouldn’t he also have a way back? She wasn’t thinking of relying on the Han family’s influence. She could step aside herself, give her job to her youngest, and that would be enough. The more she thought, the happier she became. Her gaze on Cheng Ning practically glowed.
Cheng Ning, seeing this, felt no displeasure—only a deep ache in her heart. Because she knew all too well: in the flood six months later, not only would Han Dongyuan lose an arm, but Liao Sheng would never return alive.
Even after so many years, she could still remember that tall, broad‑shouldered boy swaggering around the compound with Han Dongyuan, sometimes teasing her with a few words when Dongyuan wasn’t looking.
She nodded and said: “Alright, Auntie, I’ll keep these things. I’ll give him some every few days—otherwise they won’t last.”
With their personalities, once they got hold of food, it would be gone in no time.
Aunt Liao grew even happier. Looking at Cheng Ning, she almost felt as if the girl were already paired with her silly son.
Cheng Suya couldn’t bear it any longer. She coughed twice and gently pulled her niece free from Aunt Liao’s enthusiasm: “When Ning Ning goes down, we’ll have to trouble Shengzi to look after her.”
They all knew Han Dongyuan didn’t care for Cheng Ning, so they didn’t even mention him.
Cheng Suya certainly didn’t expect Dongyuan to take much care of her niece.
Aunt Liao’s face bloomed with smiles: “No trouble at all, no trouble. That rascal may be reckless, but Suya, you know his character is sound. Once Ning Ning is there, he’ll surely take good care of her. I’ll even write him a letter!”
Seeing Aunt Liao’s attitude, Cheng Suya finally felt some relief. *This* was the proper way to ask someone to look after a girl.
In the following days, many neighbors and relatives came by, each bringing something for Cheng Ning—food or useful items. Everyone worried she wouldn’t be able to endure the hardships of the countryside, though none doubted her safety.
As neighbor Aunt Cai comforted Cheng Suya: “Dongyuan is there. Who would dare lay a hand on your Ning Ning?”
They all knew the Han siblings didn’t care for Cheng Suya, their stepmother, nor for Cheng Ning, whom she had brought into the family. But dislike was one thing—the Han family fiercely protected their own. They might bully her themselves, but outsiders were not allowed to.
From childhood, Cheng Ning had been strikingly pretty. Whether inside or outside the compound, there were always boys with ideas about her.
Two years earlier, a thug from outside had followed her. Han Dongyuan beat him so badly that he was bedridden for three months, nearly killed.
After that, who dared make a move on Cheng Ning? Even if they had the desire, they no longer had the courage.
Five days passed quickly amid all the bustle.
On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, before dawn, Cheng Ning wrapped herself in an oversized, worn military coat, pulled on a snow hat, and heavy boots—ready to leave. Her appearance startled everyone.
Han Yimei’s eyes twitched.
Cheng Suya exclaimed: “Ning Ning, what are you doing? Dressed like that, how will you travel conveniently?”
Cheng Ning laughed: “Auntie, you worried I didn’t bring enough bedding. If my luggage doesn’t arrive in time, won’t I freeze at night?”
The journey was long, and carrying thick quilts was impractical. Most of her luggage had been sent two days earlier, addressed “Han Dongyuan, for Cheng Ning.”
“So I wore this coat. At night, it can serve as a quilt. And the trip will take a full day and night by train, then hours on an uncovered ox cart. With the mountain winds blowing, it’s better to stay warm.”
“That’s true,” everyone realized.
Still, her outfit left them speechless. The contrast was too great.
Cheng Ning had always loved looking pretty. Even with scarce supplies, she could cinch her waist in blue or green clothes and appear delicate and refined.
Grandma Han, however, was delighted. She patted the thick military coat and laughed: “Our Ning girl is clever. This is exactly right. I tell you, the mountain winds in winter are terrible. If it snows, it’s even worse—like knives cutting your face. This is perfect!”
And so, under the varied gazes of her family and neighbors, Cheng Ning set out on her journey.