After the People’s Liberation Army entered Nancheng, a temporary Military Control Office was established in the former municipal government building.
Lin Zhijin paid the fare, tidied her hair, took a deep breath, and walked straight toward the entrance.
“Comrade, may I ask what business you have here?”
The soldier standing guard stepped forward and stopped Lin Zhijin.
His gaze startled Lin Zhijin so much that her breath caught.
It wasn’t that he was deliberately being fierce toward her, but his eyes were truly different from those of soldiers in later generations. Thinking about how he had come straight from the battlefield and must have seen blood before, she no longer found it strange.
“Old Li, don’t scare the young lady.”
A refined-looking middle-aged man wearing a Zhongshan suit walked out of the municipal building. Seeing Lin Zhijin, he gave her a friendly smile.
“Young lady, is there something you need from us? Don’t be afraid. We are the People’s Liberation Army. If you have any difficulties, you can tell us.”
Lin Zhijin pursed her lips, took a deep breath, and gathered her courage before asking, “I heard people say that you came to liberate the people, and that everyone will be equal from now on. Is that right?”
The middle-aged man and Old Li exchanged a glance before smiling and nodding.
“That’s right. We are □□. In 1949, New Huaguo was founded. All the people of the country are equal.”
Lin Zhijin looked around and lowered her voice.
“Can I go inside to talk? Besides my own situation, there’s something very important I need to tell you.”
Lin Zhijin followed the middle-aged man into a reception room.
There were two men in military uniforms inside. When they saw her, they politely invited her to sit down, and one of them even poured her a cup of tea.
“What brings this young comrade here?” the older uniformed man asked the man in the Zhongshan suit.
“Young comrade, there’s no need to be afraid. I’m Director Yang of the temporary office. This is Deputy Director Li of the Military Control Office, and this is Staff Officer Wang.”
The man in the Zhongshan suit—no, Director Yang—introduced them kindly.
The Military Control Office had been established for five days, and Lin Zhijin was the first ordinary citizen to come to them for help, which was why Director Yang himself had come out.
Lin Zhijin held the teacup in both hands. The warmth seeped from her palms through her entire body, and she gradually became less nervous.
“My surname is Lin. My name is Lin Pandi. You can tell just from my name that my family favors sons over daughters. In February this year, Master Chen from the city became gravely ill and couldn’t be cured, so his family thought of the folk method of chongxi. My birth characters happened to be suitable, and the Chen family offered a high price, so my parents sold me to the Chen family and I became Master Chen’s concubine bride for chongxi.”
Lin Zhijin paused, then said in a choked voice, “I heard that everyone in New Huaguo is equal. Can you rescue me from the Chen family?”
The three men exchanged glances.
They had not expected such a young girl to have already gone through so much.
“Of course. Everyone is equal now, and our country practices monogamy. A man may only have one wife. Taking concubines is illegal, and trafficking people is an even more serious crime punishable by execution. Young lady, you have the right to control your own life. Your parents had no right to sell you either.”
Seeing Lin Zhijin suddenly burst into tears, Director Yang hurriedly searched for a handkerchief, only to find that he did not have one anywhere on him.
Lin Zhijin took a handkerchief from her own bag, wiped away her tears, and said through a choked voice, “Thank you.”
Only after her emotions had settled somewhat did Director Yang ask, “I heard Master Chen has already passed away?”
As one of Nancheng’s powerful families, information about the Chen family had naturally been placed on the leaders’ desks immediately.
“Mm. He died at the end of February. That’s also the other reason I came to see you.”
Lin Zhijin looked at them and hesitantly asked, “Can I trust you?”
“Of course. I give you my word as a soldier that we will absolutely not do anything to harm you.”
Deputy Director Li spoke solemnly from the side.
Lin Zhijin nodded and told them how Master Chen had left her some private assets before his death, and how Second Master Chen and Fourth Master Chen both wanted the mountain under her name.
“First Madam probably doesn’t know anything about it. Second Master Chen and Fourth Master Chen definitely do. I was just thinking about it on my own. Jinshi Mountain, Jinshi Mountain… golden stone. Could there be gold in the mountain?”
Seeing their breathing grow heavier, Lin Zhijin hurriedly added, “I’m only guessing. It might not be true at all. But people like Second Master Chen and Fourth Master Chen both want that mountain, so there must be something valuable there.”
“Then Comrade Lin, what do you intend to do?” Director Yang had already guessed what Lin Zhijin wanted, but he still wanted to confirm it.
“Donate all of it to the country. But…”
“I heard there’s fighting in the north and that many people have died. If there really is something valuable there, I want it to be donated to the soldiers fighting at the front first. Is that all right?”
Lin Zhijin was worried someone might misappropriate it, so she deliberately emphasized that point.
Director Yang, Deputy Director Li, and Staff Officer Wang shot to their feet and saluted Lin Zhijin.
“Thank you, Comrade Lin.”
“I’m only guessing. Maybe there really is nothing on the mountain except a hot spring.”
Lin Zhijin hurriedly stood up, looking flustered and at a loss.
“Comrade Lin, there’s no need to panic. Just having this intention is already worthy of our respect.”
Director Yang invited Lin Zhijin to sit back down, and his gaze became even kinder.
“Then when can I leave the Chen residence? Second Madam Chen told me that the reason First Madam treats me so well is because she wants to marry me to her younger brother, who indulges in eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling. I heard he’s almost fifty and two wives have already died. I’m scared.”
Lin Zhijin spoke with a pale face.
Director Yang comforted her for a while, then asked Staff Officer Wang to bring over the Women’s Affairs Director, preparing to begin the work of rescuing women ahead of schedule.
“Comrade Lin, this is Director Zhang of the Women’s Federation. Don’t worry. We’ll come help you leave the Chen residence very soon.”
Staff Officer Wang entered with a capable-looking middle-aged woman with short hair.
“Comrade Lin, don’t be afraid. Three days at most. We’ll go to the Chen family and take you out. Protect yourself during these three days.”
Director Zhang looked at Lin Zhijin’s beautiful face and frowned.
She was so beautiful. Without anyone protecting her, she was afraid something might happen.
“What do you plan to do after leaving the Chen family?”
Lin Zhijin had not expected Director Zhang to ask her that immediately.
She frowned and said, “I can’t return to my maternal family. If my parents could sell me once, they can sell me a second time. The inheritance Master Chen divided to me—the farmland estate, the mountain, and that three-courtyard residence—can all be donated to the country. Can I keep my clothes, jewelry, and money for myself? If I can, could you help me find a job? As long as I can support myself and establish a life, that’s enough.”
Director Yang and the other two looked at Lin Zhijin, who appeared delicate and fragile, and already understood Director Zhang’s concern.
There was nothing wrong with being beautiful.
But without the ability to protect oneself, beauty could become poison.
This girl was too beautiful.
If she lived alone, she was afraid she would never have a peaceful life.
Since they were rescuing her, they might as well see it through to the end.
Besides, the young woman was wholeheartedly patriotic and was donating so many things to the country. They could not simply stand by and watch something happen to her.
“Hey, Director Zhang, aren’t you short-handed over there? Let Comrade Lin go help you. It’s perfect. As one of the oppressed people who voluntarily came forward to ask for help, Comrade Lin would make excellent positive educational material.”
Deputy Director Li slapped his forehead and spoke.
“No.”
Director Zhang shook her head.
“No.”
Lin Zhijin’s face went pale.
Was Deputy Director Li some living King of Hell?
Did he think she wouldn’t die fast enough?
The Chen family might get into trouble in the future, but that would be ten years or even longer from now.
At present, they were still a local power in Nancheng.
As a concubine of the Chen family, if she openly went to □□ and asked to be rescued, wouldn’t that mean she was publicly declaring that the Chen family was bad?
The Chen family cared so much about face. They would absolutely never let her off.
And was being a chongxi concubine some glorious reputation?
If they publicized it everywhere until the whole city knew, would she still be able to face people in the future?
The moment she walked outside, everyone would point fingers at her.
Director Yang and Staff Officer Wang also thought of this.
The two glared at Deputy Director Li.
Director Zhang comforted Lin Zhijin.
“Xiao Lin, may I call you that? Old Li is just a rough fellow and doesn’t understand these things. Don’t take offense. Rest assured, we won’t put you in danger.”
Staff Officer Wang explained the reasons to Deputy Director Li, then told him not to speak anymore and to leave matters like this to them.
“Go back first and act as though you never came here today. Three days from now, we’ll organize people to conduct household-by-household inspections. From now on, there will be no maids or servants, and no concubines or bedchamber maids. Those are all remnants of feudal society. This is New Zhonghua now, so everyone must obey the laws of New Zhonghua.”
Director Yang spoke solemnly.
In other words, Lin Zhijin was merely one of the many people who needed to be liberated.
It was the country that intended to liberate her.
She herself was not the one insisting on leaving the Chen residence.
“Thank you, Leaders, for understanding. The Chen family is powerful. I’m just an ordinary weak woman and don’t dare confront them. So regarding the land and mountain I’m donating, I may need you to take the blame for that too.”
In any case, the explanation given to the Chen family definitely could not be that she had voluntarily donated them.
Instead, the country had taken a liking to them, and she, a timid young girl afraid of trouble, had simply nodded and agreed.
That perfectly matched the image the Chen family had of her.
“What’s the problem with that? It’s what we should do.”
Deputy Director Li waved a hand indifferently.
As long as they could obtain funds and reduce the number of soldiers sacrificing their lives on the front line, what did it matter if his reputation became a little worse?
He had always been a rough soldier anyway.
“Thank you. Then I’ll leave first. It won’t be good if I return too late.”
Lin Zhijin thanked them sincerely, then turned and left.
After Lin Zhijin’s figure disappeared, the honest smile on Deputy Director Li’s face vanished.
“Can we trust her?” he asked in a deep voice.
Although the country had already been founded for two years, many saboteurs still remained within the country.
Especially since they had only entered Nancheng a few days ago and had not yet fully understood the local situation, it was entirely possible they could be schemed against.
“We’ll know once we investigate.”
Director Yang mentally replayed everything Lin Zhijin had said and every expression she had shown.
He found that the young woman genuinely trusted them.
If all of that had been an act, then she must have been a spy trained from childhood.
“Investigate Jinshi Mountain too. If there really is gold…”
Staff Officer Wang’s breathing grew heavier.
Director Zhang’s eyes suddenly widened.
“What gold?”
“Comrade Lin suspects the mountain she inherited contains a gold mine. Although it’s only a suspicion, what if it’s true? We have to send people to investigate immediately.”
Director Yang did not hesitate.
He immediately ordered people to split into two groups—one to investigate Lin Zhijin and the other to investigate Jinshi Mountain.
Meanwhile, Lin Zhijin had already returned to the department store.
She first bought some pastries and candy, then bought a newly arrived pair of leather shoes.
They were said to be goods from Modu.
She took one look and found that they really were attractive.
More importantly, they were comfortable and did not rub her feet at all.
“Ninth Concubine.”
Xiaohong was already waiting at the cloth shop.
“Have you been waiting long? Here, this is for you. Didn’t you say last time that you wanted to try them?”
Lin Zhijin handed Xiaohong a package of mung bean cakes.
“Thank you, Ninth Concubine. You treat me so well.”
Xiaohong happily hugged the mung bean cakes.
After returning to the Chen residence, First Madam did not send anyone to look for her.
Lin Zhijin was happy to be left alone.
She returned to Wenzhu Courtyard with Xiaohong and began taking inventory of her belongings.
Anything she could take, she would take.
These were her compensation for emotional distress and damage to her reputation.
She had nothing to feel guilty about.
Clothes, shoes, and jewelry definitely had to go.
The fabric too.
The tonics as well.
Top-quality brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones?
Take them, take them.
There was still a long time before 1966, so there was no need to worry.
She would take some ancient books, calligraphy, and paintings too.
“Ninth Concubine, what are you doing?”
Seeing Lin Zhijin touching this and looking at that, Xiaohong asked in confusion.
“Nothing. Have someone bring lunch in. I’m hungry.”
Lin Zhijin smiled.
Three mornings later, Lin Zhijin wore a simple shirt and trousers with a shawl draped over her shoulders as she sat beside the asparagus ferns in the courtyard, basking in the sun.
A burst of commotion came from outside.
Lin Zhijin’s eyes lit up.
Could Director Zhang and the others have arrived?
“Ninth Concubine, something’s wrong! A group of soldiers came outside. They said they’re here to liberate the oppressed people!”
Xiaohong ran inside in a panic.
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
Oh my god, I suddenly had the idea to write about the conflict between the feudal system and New China. I didn’t expect it to be this difficult to write. I’ll update first and revise it again after I wake up tomorrow. Love you all, muah muah (づ￣3￣)づ╭?～ Thank you, Baby Yunduo, for the landmine. Love you, muah muah (づ￣3￣)づ╭?～