After finishing the meal,
Niuniu fell asleep, so Su Qiu let her sister take the child home first while she went out to buy some things needed for going to the countryside.
The day after tomorrow, she would be heading down to the countryside. Although she had quite a bit of money on hand, she did not have many ration tickets.
In this era, everything required tickets. Su Qiu strolled around while observing whether she could find something like the black market described in novels.
After walking around, she did not find any black market, but instead came across a few street loafers bullying someone.
It was not on the main street, but inside an alley. Faint cries could be heard from within.
Su Qiu, as someone who loved gossip, pretended to be buying sesame cakes at the alley entrance while quietly pricking up her ears to listen to the commotion inside.
“Please, stop hitting me. You already took my money and grain tickets. I’ll starve to death when I go down to the countryside…”
Oh? It turned out to be another educated youth going down to the countryside.
That was a bit improper. Going to the countryside was already miserable enough, yet they were still robbing someone’s money and belongings.
At that moment, another sharp scolding voice rang out: “Niu Dali, damn your mother! You stole something yourself and still have the nerve to cry thief! Do you think I care about your money and grain tickets? Hand over those things obediently, or I’ll kill you today!”
“I really didn’t take it. If you don’t believe me, search me! I saw it yesterday, but I didn’t take it…”
Suddenly, a whistle sounded from the street. It seemed the Neighborhood Patrol Team was coming. The group inside the alley cursed and quickly ran away.
Su Qiu, holding her sesame cake, secretly tilted her head to peek inside the alley.
The person who had been beaten was wearing a blue work uniform, crouched against the wall. Seeing the others run away, he quickly stood up and muttered curses:
“Whatever falls into my hands, why should I give it to you? Tch! I’ll be leaving the countryside the day after tomorrow anyway. Let’s see if you can still bother me then…”
Su Qiu thought the person looked unpleasant, so she quickly withdrew her gaze and left.
She treated it as nothing more than excitement and soon forgot about it.
In her dimension space, she already had all kinds of food and clothing, so there was really nothing she needed to buy.
Money was hard to earn in this era, so she decided to keep what she had for now.
Moreover, in the next two years, she needed to save as much money as possible so she could buy houses once she returned to the city.
One must know that courtyard houses in Beijing in this era were as cheap as cabbage. She aimed to work hard and become a landlord, living a relaxed and comfortable life early.
……
Because her sister’s home was too small, Su Qiu stayed in a guesthouse for two days.
On the day of going down to the countryside,
Su Qiu was still asleep in bed when Su Li arrived knocking with large and small bags.
“Xiaoqiu, get up quickly. Today is the day you go to the countryside. Don’t miss the bus.”
Only then did Su Qiu groggily get out of bed and open the door.
Seeing that her younger sister was still sleepy, Su Li quickly put down her things and went outside to fetch a basin of water.
“Xiaoqiu, wash your face and wake up.”
Seeing her sister busily moving around, warmth rose in Su Qiu’s heart. After wiping her face, she became much clearer.
“Thank you, sis.”
Su Li casually opened the bundle while saying: “What’s there to thank? You’re my younger sister. It’s only right that I help you.”
Then Su Li pointed at the items inside, such as bed sheets, quilts, and some daily necessities, and said:
“When you get there, lay these quilts down. I washed and dried them yesterday. In the small bag are two sanitary belts I sewed for you, along with some cotton and paper…”
Having seen how her sister-in-law’s family treated her sister before—stingy, petty, and looking down on her—Su Qiu knew it had not been easy for Su Li to prepare all these things.
A faint sense of emotion rose in her heart. She stepped forward and hugged her.
“Sis, I understand. It’s really good to have you.”
Su Qiu did not have many friends in modern times, being an only child, and had never experienced having siblings.
Now, in this unfamiliar era, feeling the care of her biological sister, she was deeply moved.
Su Li had been holding back her emotions, but upon hearing her sister’s words, she could no longer restrain herself and began to cry.
No one knew how long the countryside assignment would last. She had already fallen out with their father, leaving only this younger sister.
Thinking about how her sister used to visit her and Niuniu every few days, and how in the future they might not even see each other once a year, her heart ached terribly.
“Xiaoqiu, once you go to the countryside, you must eat well. Only with a strong body can you endure it. Don’t force yourself when doing heavy work. Quietly give some money to the Production Team Leader so they can assign you easier tasks. No matter how hard it gets, you must hold on. Maybe you’ll be able to come back someday…”
Originally, Su Qiu had no strong feelings about going to the countryside, but hearing her sister like this made her feel a heaviness in her chest.
“I understand, sis. Don’t worry. I adapt quickly. Besides, money can make the devil work. I’ll take care of myself.”
Hearing this, Su Li nodded with a bittersweet heart.
……
“Those not yet on the bus, hurry up and get on…”
On the bus to the countryside, everyone wore large red flowers pinned to their chests.
Su Qiu was sent off by her sister and, before she could react, had already been pinned with a big red flower.
A comrade from the Educated Youth Office grabbed her hand excitedly and said: “Responding to the nation’s call, all those going down to the countryside are positive and outstanding comrades. Congratulations!”
Most people were tearfully saying goodbye to their families, but this person walked through the crowd congratulating everyone.
Su Qiu looked at the red flower on her chest and felt it was both tacky and awkward.
“Come, come, comrades with red flowers, board the bus quickly. Don’t delay the schedule…”
Su Li held her sister’s hand tightly, reluctant to let go. She looked around but did not see their father, and her resentment deepened.
She handed the luggage to her sister, choking as she said: “Write to me if you encounter difficulties. Take care of yourself in the countryside.”
Su Qiu nodded. “I know, sis.”
She used the crowded moment to pretend to bend down and adjust her luggage, secretly taking out a bundle she had prepared the night before from her dimension space.
“Sis, take this.”
Su Li, eyes red, accepted it absentmindedly, not noticing anything unusual. She continued to remind her sister to be careful.
Su Qiu got onto the bus. Soon, the bus was filled with people and slowly started moving.
Su Li followed the crowd, running after the bus for a long distance without stopping.
Watching this, Su Qiu’s eyes reddened slightly. She stood on tiptoe and waved: “Sis, don’t chase anymore. Go back. Keep the bundle and use it yourself.”
The bus gradually sped up. The figures chasing after it became smaller and smaller until they could no longer be seen.
Su Li could not catch up anymore. She stopped, holding her knees and panting heavily. Thinking of the bundle her sister had mentioned, she quickly opened it.
She was completely stunned.
Inside were three large bags of milk powder in transparent packaging, along with scattered biscuits, candies, and milk candies. The entire bundle was filled with rich milky and fruity aromas—clearly expensive items.
She immediately covered her mouth and burst into tears.
……
On the other side,
Su Qiu sat by the window of the bus holding her luggage, feeling the gentle breeze and a calm state of mind.
The items she gave her sister were all things she had casually stored in her dimension space. She had removed all packaging, so nothing should be discovered.
The educated youths included both men and women. Everyone’s spirits were low, and some female educated youths were quietly crying.
……
At the same time, the Su Family was shocked when people from the Educated Youth Office barged in.
“Your family’s registered educated youth, Su Ting, did not get on the bus. Quickly pack her belongings and take the second bus.”
“What nonsense are you talking about? The one going down to the countryside is Su Qiu! My daughter Su Ting has a job!”
Liu Xiangyu stood firmly in front of her daughter and shouted sharply at them.
“If someone registered does not go down to the countryside, the whole family will be penalized. Stop arguing. Men, take her away!”
Four or five strong men from the Educated Youth Office directly dragged Su Ting out. Su Ting screamed in fear: “I don’t want to go to the countryside! I don’t want to go…”
Su Jiazhong and Liu Xiangyu could not stop them at all. In the end, they could only watch helplessly as their daughter was taken away.
Liu Xiangyu was so furious that her vision went dark and she fainted.