Jiang Yuyan stepped out of the train station. The streets were nearly empty, and for a moment, she didn’t know where to go.
Catching sight of a station guard, she quickly dragged her luggage over and asked:
“Hello, Comrade. Um… how do I get to the… uh… Shifei (literally ‘Poop-Smell’) Brigade?”
She felt embarrassed even saying it; the name of the brigade was… uniquely fragrant.
Fortunately, the guard was used to such questions and pointed her the way casually:
“Turn right here. There’s a bus station. There are two buses to the brigade every day—one at noon, one in the afternoon. Miss it, and you’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”
Jiang Yuyan thanked him and hurried toward the bus station. After confirming the departure time with the staff, she ate at the state-run inn and packed a dozen buns to bring to the Jiang family.
She had nearly starved. The train’s smell was worse than a restroom, and the first ride felt like torture.
For three days, Jiang Yuyan had eaten nothing but sips of water and some sugar to soothe her throat—no rice at all. She was on the verge of fainting from hunger.
In the state-run inn, everyone stared in shock as this beautiful young woman ate as if she were starving, devouring food more voraciously than anyone had imagined.
Some onlookers had already dismissed any negative assumptions they’d had about Jiang Yuyan.
She didn’t even realize that her seemingly “rude” way of eating had solved many potential problems for her later.
Satisfied and well-fed, she carried her packed buns and luggage to the bus station.
Arriving early, she picked any seat, sitting in the first row without hesitation, placing her luggage under her feet and firmly pressing it down so no one could touch it.
She leaned back and rested, waiting for the bus to the Jiang family’s brigade.
Even with the moment to think, she felt a little anxious. She didn’t know what had happened to her biological family—would they want to see her?
From what she remembered in the book, only after the reborn Lin Yue succeeded did it mention, in passing, that the original family’s misfortunes left none alive.
Jiang Yuyan had no idea what had happened that nearly wiped out the Jiang family—at least five people in total.
Thinking more wouldn’t help; she had to see for herself. This time, since she was here, she couldn’t let the Jiang family have “accidents” without reason.
Deep in thought, she suddenly felt someone shove her shoulder hard. If she hadn’t steadied herself, she might have slammed into a support pole.
Opening her eyes, she saw a fierce elderly woman glaring at her, scolding:
“Get up quickly! Young people nowadays don’t respect elders. You’re completely useless, a worthless drain!”
Jiang Yuyan scanned the bus. In just a few minutes, it had filled with people.
No one found the scene unusual; a middle-aged woman even spoke in support of the elderly lady.
Jiang Yuyan sat steadily, blinking innocently at them, and loudly said:
“What? Auntie, what did you say? Speak louder—I can’t hear you.”
“You worthless thing! Get up immediately! I want this seat!”
“What? Auntie, you want money? Why? I don’t understand, but if it makes you feel better, I’ll accept it.”
With that, Jiang Yuyan extended her hand toward the elderly woman, asking for money.
Pfft!
The others on the bus barely contained their laughter.
No one expected such a beautiful young woman to be deaf. Too bad, really.
The elderly woman raised her hand to strike, but Jiang Yuyan quickly dodged. Her hand hit the armrest instead, grimacing in pain.
Jiang Yuyan looked at her with a puzzled expression and blinked:
“Auntie… are you… having a fit? Oh my, someone call for help! This woman is having a fit—send her to the hospital!”
The elderly woman trembled with rage, her face twisted in anger.
The startled conductor quickly called for help. Several people dragged the woman off, ignoring her shouting.
Once she was removed, the bus immediately drove off, leaving her no chance to interfere.
The passengers curiously watched Jiang Yuyan, but she didn’t care, closing her eyes again to rest.
About half an hour later:
“We’ve arrived at the Shifei Brigade!”
Jiang Yuyan grabbed her luggage and stepped off, looking at the uneven, empty road.
If it weren’t for someone walking ahead, she would have thought she had gotten off at the wrong stop. She quickly caught up to the man in front and called:
“Uncle! Uncle…”
He turned, surprised to see her:
“You’re here? You’re part of the Shifei Brigade too? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before.”
Of course—she was coming for the first time herself.
“Uncle, I’m from the Jiang family. How do I get to Jiang Gou-dan’s house?”
Jiang Gou-dan was the original father.
Hearing the name, Jiang Yuyan couldn’t help mumbling. Unlike the other children, the father had the ridiculous nickname “Gou-dan” (Dog Egg).
The man’s eyes widened.
“Could it be… you’re Gou-dan’s biological daughter? Oh, you’re back? We thought both of his daughters didn’t want to return.”
Jiang Yuyan smiled awkwardly.
“Ah, you’re looking for the Gou-dan household? Come on, I’ll take you—my family lives just…”
Suddenly, a child shouted from nearby:
“The Jiang family is in chaos! They’re fighting! Grandma Jiang is going wild!”
Jiang Yuyan: “…”
The uncle: “…”
Sensitive to the Jiang name, she hurried after the child. They reached the Jiang family’s entrance, already surrounded by people. Before she could see clearly, a piercing, angry voice rang out:
“Eviction! I’m splitting the Gou-dan household! From now on, whether they live or die is none of our Li Jiang family’s concern!”
A hunched middle-aged man knelt, looking at Grandma Jiang with pain and pleading:
“Mother, you’re kicking our family out! How are we supposed to survive?”
He held her hand tightly.
“Ten yuan… just ten yuan, Mu Xuan is in the hospital waiting for treatment. Mother, please save him—he’s your grandson too!”
Grandma Jiang waved him off violently.
“Bah! I have plenty of grandchildren, I don’t need any more. Besides, wasn’t Mu Xuan’s leg broken at the construction site? Go ask for compensation there. And your children… one disabled, one arrested by the police, the daughter isn’t even yours, and there’s still one son left to care for you, isn’t that enough?”
The middle-aged woman next to Jiang Gou-dan’s side had red eyes and challenged her:
“Mother! Our second branch has worked like oxen for decades. Now the eldest brother is a worker in town, and the third slacks off. You don’t care. Now that our family faces such disaster, you’re kicking us out? Do you have any heart? Has your conscience been eaten by dogs? How can you be so ruthless and let us die?”