There was a scene in the original novel that had completely baffled Yang Yuan when she’d first read it—yet somehow left a deep impression on her.
After falling into utter despair, Song Can wandered aimlessly outside for the entire day.
By the time she remembered to head home, dusk had already settled.
Hurrying back, she happened to run into a patrol of Red Armbands on the road. Acting on instinct, she immediately ducked into the nearest alley.
Only then did she remember there was an abandoned house nearby. Adults always said the place was haunted.
Hunching her shoulders, she quickened her pace, wanting nothing more than to leave as soon as possible.
Then she heard it.
Soft voices—a man and a woman talking secretly around the corner of the ruined house.
Song Can recognized the man’s voice immediately.
He had been one of her classmates—a local delinquent who spent his days fighting instead of studying. He’d bullied her more than once, even taking pleasure in cutting girls’ braids.
She cautiously peeked around the corner.
Though she couldn’t see his face, his build and silhouette were unmistakable.
It was definitely him.
After overhearing their conversation, all the frustration she’d bottled up throughout the day suddenly gave her a bold idea.
Keeping her voice low, she stepped out and addressed the pair.
She told them she’d overheard their illicit affair and demanded they hand over all the money they had on them.
Otherwise…
She would expose their secret to everyone and send the boy to prison.
Well, well.
Easy money.
Yang Yuan had already made up her mind.
This ill-gotten fortune that belonged to the heroine—
She was going to steal it first.
Taking advantage of the empty house, she slipped into the east room and took Father Yang’s rubber boots.
Then she rummaged through the trunks until she found one of his old, oversized padded cotton jackets and matching trousers.
She also “borrowed” one of Mother Yang’s red scarves and grabbed Yang Wenping’s Lei Feng hat.
The rubber boots were far too big for her.
Returning to the west room, she dug out some old childhood clothes, tore them into strips, and stuffed them into the boots to make them fit.
Once everything was packed, she shoved the bundle beneath her bed before cheerfully swinging her braid as she headed out.
She promised two neighborhood children five fen each if they would help her.
Leading them near the delinquent boy’s house, she instructed them to keep a close eye on him.
Before dinner, they were to come to her house and report everything they’d seen.
After arranging that, Yang Yuan hurried off to find Song Can.
Everything else was ready.
Now she only needed the heroine—the final piece of the puzzle.
Relying on her memory of the novel, Yang Yuan searched every place Song Can might have gone.
By the time she circled back to the small park for the third time…
She finally spotted her.
Yang Yuan’s eyes immediately turned misty.
Honestly, in all her years of life, she’d never been so excited to see another person.
Not even her own mother had ever inspired this level of relief.
Taking a deep breath and wiping the sweat from her forehead, she ran over with a smile that was genuinely heartfelt.
“CanCan! So this is where you were! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
Song Can looked up from the stone steps.
Yang Yuan stared without blinking.
As expected of the heroine…
The author’s precious darling.
That perfectly oval face… porcelain-white skin… those large, bright eyes…
Seriously, who wouldn’t fall for someone this pretty?
“Yang Yuan?”
“What are you looking for me for?”
A trace of melancholy lingered on Song Can’s otherwise lovely face.
Seeing who had come, she showed little reaction.
The two had grown up together, and outsiders believed they were close friends.
But in reality, the original Yang Yuan had mocked and belittled Song Can more times than she could count.
Yang Yuan smiled knowingly.
She understood there wasn’t much friendship left to rely on.
So she skipped the emotional appeals and went straight to the point.
“CanCan, I heard your family’s argument today.”
“So… you really passed the recruitment exam for the textile factory?”
“…Mm.”
Song Can answered indifferently.
“And now your mother has signed you up to go to the countryside. Since you can’t refuse…”
“Are you really going to give your job to Ma Yingying?”
Song Can remained silent.
Her expression only grew colder as she stared blankly into the distance.
Yang Yuan licked her chapped lips before gathering her courage and sitting beside her on the freezing stone steps.
“CanCan, you worked so hard to earn that job. Why should you give it to her?”
“Ma Yingying has been eating your family’s food and living under your roof all these years, and now she still wants to take advantage of you.”
“If you really hand it over…”
“Wouldn’t you regret it forever?”
She hesitated briefly before saying,
“…Why don’t you sell the job to me instead?”
Song Can finally turned to look at her.
Her gaze was filled with scrutiny.
Hmph.
I knew Yang Yuan wouldn’t come without an ulterior motive.
So this is what she’s after.
Yang Yuan maintained her smile.
“CanCan, I won’t take advantage of you.”
“I’ve already asked around.”
“Factory jobs usually sell for five or six hundred yuan.”
“If it’s an office position, it can even fetch seven or eight hundred.”
“Oh, by the way…”
“What position did you get?”
Pretending she knew nothing, Yang Yuan asked like any ordinary local girl.
When Song Can still didn’t answer, she pressed on.
“Think about it.”
“If you sell the job to me, you’ll have money.”
“You can buy supplies before going to the countryside, and life there will be much easier.”
“And our houses are right next to each other.”
“If anything happens at home—or if something comes up with your younger brother—I can write to you and keep you informed.”
At the mention of her brother…
Song Can’s expression softened ever so slightly.
Her younger brother had stopped attending junior high after schools shut down.
Their father had managed to arrange an apprenticeship repairing bicycles for him, and he’d only recently started.
If Song Can’s factory position hadn’t required a high school education…
She probably would have given it to her brother instead.
Yang Yuan sensed an opening and continued eagerly.
“CanCan, my older sister works at the supply and marketing cooperative.”
“She has connections.”
“Maybe she can help you get some ration coupons.”
“I’ll even ask if she can find some cotton for you.”
“The countryside is freezing.”
“You should at least make yourself a new padded winter coat…”
“All right.”
“I agree.”
Yang Yuan was speaking so enthusiastically that she didn’t immediately register the words.
“Yang Yuan.”
“I’ll sell the job to you.”
Determination shone in Song Can’s eyes.
She had made her decision.
Even if she sold the position…
She would never let that mother and daughter benefit from it.
“I’ll ask around tomorrow to find out the going price.”
“If you can accept it, we’ll complete the transfer procedures.”
“If not…”
“I’ll sell it to someone else.”
Yang Yuan nodded repeatedly.
“I’ll definitely buy it.”
The two chatted as they walked home together.
Approaching the alley leading to Song Can’s house from the south, Yang Yuan watched her stride fearlessly through the front gate.
Only after Song Can disappeared inside did Yang Yuan turn and sprint away.
Right on cue, she ran into the two children she’d hired.
The delinquent boy had spent the afternoon bathing at the public bathhouse.
On the way home, he’d stopped by the supply cooperative to buy sunflower seeds and osmanthus cakes.
Judging by that…
He was clearly preparing for a date.
Yang Yuan recalled the route she’d just taken with Song Can.
If she hadn’t appeared earlier and persuaded Song Can to return home…
The heroine would have remained sitting in the park until dark, just like in the original novel.
Yang Yuan silently counted every side alley Song Can might have passed through on the way home…
Then thought about which neighborhood contained the supposedly haunted abandoned house.
From there, she guessed where the boy would meet the girl.
After paying the children the remaining money she’d promised, she asked them for one more favor.
“If you see Yang Wenping, tell him to meet me at the Great Locust Tree Supply Cooperative at six-thirty.”
Winter nights came early.
The sun had already set.
Not daring to waste another moment, Yang Yuan picked up her disguise.
She even rubbed soot from the honeycomb coal briquettes across her face for camouflage.
As she stepped outside, she heard Song Can and Ma Yingying arguing loudly in the neighboring courtyard.
Without looking back, she quickened her pace.
There weren’t many abandoned houses left in the city.
And during these politically sensitive times, anyone daring to spread rumors about a place being “haunted” or “unclean” would attract attention.
Within miles around…
There was probably only one such place.
Yang Yuan checked two ruined courtyards before finding the right one.
The clue?
An elderly woman with a limp had stopped to ask why she was there.
Yang Yuan lied smoothly.
“I lost my keys on my way to the early shift this morning. I’m just looking for them.”
The old woman kindly lowered her voice and warned her,
“It’s getting dark.”
“Don’t stay here.”
“Go home while you still can.”
That warning only convinced Yang Yuan she’d found the correct location.
Sure enough…
After changing into her disguise, grabbing a sturdy makeshift weapon, and waiting for less than half an hour—
She heard approaching footsteps.
Good.
They’re finally here.