As the People’s Liberation Army entered the city, Nancheng was completely taken over by the PLA.
Many people were frightened and hid inside their homes. Those who followed national affairs knew that the PLA treated ordinary people well, so they waited outside instead. Some even brought out pastries and eggs from home to give to the soldiers.
“Sir, I can’t accept these. It would violate discipline, and I’d be punished. Please take them back.”
A tall, thin soldier held down the old man’s hand and refused to accept his things no matter what.
“They’re only a few eggs. It’s fine. If your superior punishes you, I’ll testify for you. I was the one who insisted on stuffing them into your hands.”
The old man continued trying to push the eggs into the soldier’s hands.
“Sir, I can’t understand the Nancheng dialect you’re speaking. I really can’t take these things. I have to go now. I’ll also be punished if I fall behind my unit.”
The tall, thin soldier saluted the old man, then jogged away.
“This child. They’re only a few eggs. Why can’t he accept them?”
The old man watched the PLA soldiers march neatly past him and wiped away his tears.
“Thank goodness. From now on, we’ll finally be able to live peaceful lives.”
Lin Zhijin had already returned to the Chen residence.
However, the residence was completely silent, as though a storm was about to break.
“Ninth Concubine, First Madam asked me to wait here for you. She said that once you returned, you should go see her.”
Chunlan stood by the hanging-flower gate waiting for Lin Zhijin.
“Let’s go.”
Lin Zhijin nodded.
After visiting so many times, Lin Zhijin no longer behaved as nervously as before. Occasionally, she would even chat and joke with First Madam.
“I heard Fifth Master approached you?”
First Madam asked while copying Buddhist scriptures.
“He didn’t specifically seek me out, but Fifth Master wants to buy that mountain of mine. He said there’s a hot spring on the mountain and he wants to build a hot spring resort.”
Lin Zhijin did not hide anything from First Madam.
The brush in First Madam’s hand paused for a moment before she continued writing.
“So there’s a hot spring. I was wondering why one after another wanted it. What do you think?”
“I don’t know either. What do you think I should do?”
Lin Zhijin asked somewhat blankly.
First Madam raised her head and glanced at her.
“Tempted? If you really want to sell it, you might as well sell it to me. At least then you’ll actually receive the money.”
What did that mean?
Was she telling Lin Zhijin that if she sold it to anyone else, she wouldn’t actually get the money?
Tsk, tsk.
Every single one of them was trying to frighten her.
But she wasn’t afraid.
The People’s Liberation Army had entered the city.
She would soon be able to cling to Motherland’s thigh.
“No, no. I’m just a little scared. By the way, First Madam, do you know that the People’s Liberation Army has entered the city?”
Lin Zhijin deliberately changed the subject.
Regardless of whether Jinshi Mountain had gold or not, she would hand it over to the country.
If there really was gold there, it could genuinely mean fewer people dying.
“I already know. That’s also why I called you here. Don’t leave the residence for the next few days. Master hasn’t even been gone for a hundred days yet. It doesn’t look good for you to leave the residence every few days. Since you can’t write, learn to recite scriptures and fold some paper ingots for Master. Master treated you well. Once he’s down there, he can also bless you and keep you safe.”
First Madam took out a Buddhist scripture she had copied herself and gave it to Lin Zhijin, telling her to look through it more after returning.
“I understand. Thank you for teaching me, First Madam. Then I’ll head back first.”
Lin Zhijin returned with the Buddhist scripture in hand.
Following behind her was a literate maid First Madam had sent to teach her how to read the scripture.
If she remembered correctly, for concubines taken before 1952, as long as the concubine herself was willing, the state would recognize the marriage as legal. If she wanted to leave, the state would also help her.
The Women’s Federation handled these matters.
If someone refused to cooperate, the police station would get involved.
But registration for this would only begin several months later, right?
It might even be next year.
She could not wait that long.
She had to find a way to leave the Chen residence and then go find the Women’s Federation.
Did the army have a Women’s Federation?
Forget it.
She would find the People’s Liberation Army first.
Given her situation, the state would definitely help her resolve the problem.
After reciting scriptures all afternoon, Lin Zhijin felt like her head was about to explode.
Fortunately, once the person First Madam had sent confirmed that she knew how to read them, she returned to report back and did not stay behind to keep watching her.
“Xiaohong, do you know what things are like outside right now?”
Lin Zhijin put down the Buddhist scripture and asked quietly.
“Those soldiers outside are different from the ones before. Not only do they not steal anything, they won’t even accept things ordinary people give them. They say accepting them violates discipline and they’ll be criticized.”
Xiaohong kept working with her hands as she spoke.
“Ninth Concubine, I heard my father say that now the People’s Liberation Army is here, we’ll be able to get our indenture contracts back. I wonder if that’s true.”
Lin Zhijin wanted to say it was true, but remembering the original owner’s limited knowledge, she shook her head.
“I don’t know either. By the way, did Concubine Hu come looking for me?”
“Yes. I forgot to tell you. Concubine Hu came looking for you this morning and said she had something to discuss. In my opinion, she just wanted to show off. Hmph. Her luck really is good. She actually became pregnant with Master’s child, and it’s even a posthumous child.”
Xiaohong looked around.
After confirming that Old Woman Zhang was not there, she leaned close to Lin Zhijin’s ear and whispered, “For the sake of their reputation alone, First Madam and Second Master will definitely protect this child.”
The original owner had indeed carried her pregnancy all the way until childbirth.
Unfortunately, she had died from difficult labor in the end.
Lin Zhijin just did not know whether that had been an accident or deliberate.
“Tell Old Woman Zhang that the next time Hu Xiaoyue comes looking for me, just send her away. She’s precious now. If anything happens to her in our courtyard, I wouldn’t be able to clear my name even if I jumped into the Yellow River.”
Lin Zhijin did not dare get involved with Hu Xiaoyue.
She obediently stayed in Wenzhu Courtyard for five days.
Given the PLA’s speed, Nancheng’s military and governmental affairs should already have been completely taken over.
It was time to go find them.
After breakfast, Lin Zhijin went to the main courtyard to see First Madam.
“First Madam, the Ninth Concubine is here,” Chunlan said softly.
“What is she here for? Let her in.”
First Madam was choosing from a new batch of fabrics.
When she saw Lin Zhijin enter, she beckoned to her.
“Come see if there’s anything you like. Pick two bolts.”
“No, no. I already have plenty of clothes.”
Lin Zhijin hurriedly waved her hands.
“A woman can never have too many clothes. You’re young and fair-skinned. This pink and tender yellow both suit you.”
First Madam directly chose two bolts for her.
Lin Zhijin really did like them, but she could not be too direct about it.
“Why don’t you leave them for Miss Wan’er? She’ll definitely like them too.”
“Wan’er already chose hers. Just take them without worrying.”
The corners of First Madam’s lips curved upward.
Of course Lin Zhijin knew.
Chen Wan’er was Madam Chen Lishi’s biological granddaughter and the only direct-line blood relative who remained by her side.
No matter who was treated poorly, Chen Wan’er never would be.
“Then thank you, First Madam. You’ve spent money on me again.”
Lin Zhijin hesitated for a moment.
“First Madam, may I go to the eastern district to check on the house?”
First Madam frowned.
She seemed about to say something, but ultimately swallowed it back.
“You can go if you want. But Fourth Master specifically instructed that our family should keep a low profile for the time being. You can’t use the automobile. The household rickshaws are already being used. If you want to go, you’ll have to find your own transportation.”
“That’s fine. I can just hire a rickshaw on the street myself. Thank you, First Madam. I’ll definitely come back early.”
Lin Zhijin happily left the residence with Xiaohong.
It had already been five days since the People’s Liberation Army entered the city.
The people of Nancheng had discovered that they were completely different from the soldiers who had come before.
Their discipline was extremely strict.
Not only did they never bully ordinary people, they even helped them everywhere.
As a result, everyone became bolder and dared to leave their homes again.
Things had already returned to how they were before.
In fact, because the PLA was present, there were even fewer local thugs and hooligans around.
For this outing, Lin Zhijin had packed two trunks of things.
They were all clothes and jewelry.
Aside from Xiaohong, no one knew.
Everyone assumed they were decorative objects.
Actually, she had already transferred quite a few things to the eastern district.
At first, it had only been a few pieces of clothing.
Later, she moved small pieces of jewelry.
Once she was certain Xiaohong would not report her, she became much bolder.
“Xiaohong, I won’t go to the eastern district today. Help me take these things over. I’ll look around the department store.”
Lin Zhijin sent Xiaohong away.
“You’ll be alone?”
Xiaohong asked worriedly.
“Yes. Don’t worry. I’m very familiar with this area now. I won’t get lost. Later, wait for me at Jinxiu Cloth Shop.”
Lin Zhijin took two silver dollars from her bag and handed them to Xiaohong.
“If I haven’t arrived yet, buy yourself something to eat. In any case, I’ll definitely return to the residence before dark.”
Xiaohong hesitated.
Before she could say anything, Lin Zhijin had already instructed the rickshaw puller to take her to the house in the eastern district.
After confirming that Xiaohong had left, Lin Zhijin hailed another rickshaw.
“Take me to the Military Control Office.”
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
I’ll post half a chapter first. The rest will be updated later. Muah muah (づ￣3￣)づ╭?～