Jiang Muyan paused briefly, her nose twitching slightly. She wanted to distance herself from the Jiang family, so the neighboring county was out of the question. Between the two remaining options, she preferred the mountainous area, as Spiritual Power tended to be more abundant in the hills. Without hesitation, she declared:
“Comrade, I choose Wanshan Brigade!”
Zhang Qiuyan was taken aback for a moment before nodding with a smile:
“Heilongjiang Province is a good place, though the winters can be quite harsh. You’ll need to prepare some thick cotton clothes and quilts!”
Seeing Jiang Muyan nod in agreement, Zhang Qiuyan continued:
“Alright, I’ll make a note of that. Fill out the form and give me your household registration page. I’ll register and file it first. Come back tomorrow to collect your introduction letter, and the day after tomorrow, gather with this batch of Educated Youth at the commune early in the morning.”
Jiang Muyan quickly filled out the form and handed both the household registration page and the form over. After verifying the information, Zhang Qiuyan looked up at her again and couldn’t help but add:
“You’ll need to prepare your own luggage for the countryside—bedding, changes of clothes, everything must be brought along. It won’t be as convenient to buy things in the countryside as it is in the city.”
Seeing how earnest Zhang Qiuyan was, Jiang Muyan recalled the Physiognomy she had just observed and felt compelled to warn her:
“Comrade, your youngest son is in danger right now. If you believe me, hurry to the woods behind his school to find him!”
As she spoke, her fingertips moved subtly, discreetly retrieving a Talisman from her Mustard Seed Bag. Taking advantage of Zhang Qiuyan’s stunned silence, she flicked her finger lightly, and the Talisman silently landed on the other woman, instantly merging into her clothing without a trace.
From Zhang Qiuyan’s Physiognomy, Jiang Muyan had already discerned that she was inherently good-natured and warm-hearted, though prone to gossip and unable to keep secrets. To prevent her warning from being spread around and causing unnecessary trouble, she had used a Secrecy Talisman.
Zhang Qiuyan was stunned by these words, her eyes filled with disbelief. Hesitantly, she asked, “Young lady, what… what do you mean by that?”
Seeing that the formalities were complete, Jiang Muyan smiled and replied, “Exactly what I said. If you go now, there’s still time.” With that, she said no more, turned, and walked straight out of the office.
Earlier, she had noticed a faint dark mist lingering around Zhang Qiuyan’s children’s palace in her Physiognomy, which had prompted her to open her Heavenly Eye for a closer look.
However, her current Spiritual Power was limited, and what she had cultivated today could only sustain her Heavenly Eye for a short while.
Still, if Zhang Qiuyan believed her words, the child might have a chance of survival.
After leaving the office, Jiang Muyan considered going shopping. But after taking a few steps, she realized she had no money or ration tickets from this era.
However, just because she didn’t have any didn’t mean Liu Fangmei and the others didn’t. With this thought in mind, Jiang Muyan turned and headed in the direction of the Jiang family.
Inside the office, Zhang Qiuyan watched Jiang Muyan’s retreating figure, her heart instantly torn with conflict. Logically, the young girl’s words sounded like feudal superstition, likely nothing more than a joke.
Yet she couldn’t forget the earnest and resolute expression on Jiang Muyan’s face when she spoke—it bore no resemblance to teasing. Moreover, there was indeed a secluded patch of woods behind her son’s school.
With her son’s life potentially at stake, Zhang Qiuyan could no longer sit still. She hurried into the backyard, called a colleague to cover her shift, grabbed her bicycle keys, rushed out of the compound, mounted her somewhat worn bicycle, and pedaled frantically toward her son’s school.
Evening, Jiang Residence
After returning from work, Liu Fangmei found the house unusually quiet. She first went to the kitchen and was instantly enraged to see the cold stove and empty pots.
She turned around, intending to confront Jiang Muyan in the storage room, but then remembered she still needed to persuade her to marry Director Zhang. She forcefully suppressed her anger.
In truth, she could also force Jiang Muyan to agree through beatings or threats. However, not only would that lead to gossip and pointing fingers from the neighbors if word got out, but it would also make that wretched girl resent her. What if, in the future, she whispered complaints into Director Zhang’s ear? Would they still have any peace?
Anyway, that girl wouldn’t be staying at home for much longer. She could manage without her cooking for these few meals.
Thinking this, Liu Fangmei resigned herself and busily got to work.
In her room, Jiang Muyan heard the commotion outside and allowed a slight smile to touch her lips before resuming her focused cultivation.
She had just received some Light of Merit, likely because Zhang Qiuyan had believed her words and saved her own son.
Her current task was to quickly convert this Merit into Spiritual Power to strengthen herself.
In the evening, as Liu Fangmei was about to finish cooking, the other members of the Jiang family gradually returned home.
When Jiang Tianci returned and saw his mother busy in the kitchen, he asked,
“Mom, hasn’t that wretched girl Jiang Muyan woken up yet?”
Having grown up watching his mother mistreat Jiang Muyan, Jiang Tianci had learned to be thoroughly mean-spirited, referring to her as “that wretched girl” at every turn.
Seeing her son return, Liu Fangmei’s somewhat resentful expression was replaced by a smile:
“Tianci, you’re back. Did you have fun with your friends today?”
“Of course! They were so envious when they heard I’ll have a job soon!”
Jiang Tianci said, then asked with some concern:
“Mom, is that wretched girl really okay? If necessary, let’s just take her to the hospital. If she really dies, what about my job? I don’t want to be sent down to the countryside!”
Jiang Tianci even thought that if Jiang Muyan didn’t wake up, they could have Jiang Muqian take her place in the marriage. He had already boasted to his friends; if he lost this job, wouldn’t they laugh at him?
Hearing her son speak so loudly, Liu Fangmei quickly shot him a warning glance and called him into the kitchen. There, she quietly explained her plan.
Upon hearing that Jiang Muyan had already woken up, Jiang Tianci secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said:
“Mom, you better hurry then. The sooner she marries Director Zhang, the sooner I can start working, right!”
“I know, don’t worry. If it really comes to it, I have other methods!”
Liu Fangmei had already planned it out. Ideally, she could persuade Jiang Muyan to willingly marry Director Zhang. If, in the end, she still refused, then she would have to resort to special measures—like drugging her. In short, she had plenty of ways.
Thinking this, Liu Fangmei dished out the food from the pot and said to her precious son:
“Tianci, go wash your hands quickly. Today, there’s your favorite stir-fried potatoes with meat!”
As she spoke, she also shouted towards the courtyard:
“Time to eat!”
In her room, Jiang Muyan opened her eyes upon hearing Liu Fangmei’s call.
Originally, she hadn’t planned to go out for dinner, but remembering what she needed to do tonight, she stood up, opened the door, washed her hands in the courtyard, and then headed towards the main hall.
Jiang Tianci saw Jiang Muyan walk out, and his gaze immediately fell on the wound on her forehead, his brows instantly furrowing. Such a large scar—he wondered if Director Zhang would mind.
He cursed Jiang Muyan inwardly for not knowing what was good for her—marrying Director Zhang, eating state-supplied grain and living in an apartment building, was a hundred times better than marrying a rural farmer, wasn’t it? He opened his mouth, wanting to mock her, but remembering his mother’s earlier warning, he reluctantly closed it again, turning his head away with a displeased expression.