With tears streaming down her face, Shen Ruoruo complained to her mother, “Mom, that bitch is here too. You… you have to teach her a proper lesson for me…”
Wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes, Shen Yueyue’s stepmother asked fiercely, “Where is that little bitch?”
Shen Ruoruo pointed toward Shen Yueyue, who was huddled in a corner with disheveled hair.
Following her daughter’s finger, the woman stared for a long moment before finally recognizing the girl who was, at least in name, her daughter.
“So it really is you, you little wretch. You actually dare show your face in front of us?” she snarled through gritted teeth as she stepped forward, intending to slap Shen Yueyue.
Shen Yueyue slowly raised her head. Her eyes were filled with stubbornness and grievance as she shouted, “It was clearly you… who married into my family with her.” She pointed at her stepsister. “Whenever my father wasn’t home, you beat and abused me every single day… sob…”
Tears poured down her cheeks like a broken dam.
By now, everyone understood exactly what kind of drama was unfolding.
At last, a young man from the neighboring seats could no longer stand by and watch. He spoke up, “Comrade, do you think becoming a Sent-down Youth and contributing to the construction of our country is something shameful? If you don’t leave now, I’ll report you for interfering with national development and construction.”
Hearing such a serious accusation, Shen Yueyue’s stepmother knew she could not afford the consequences. Surrounded by people on all sides, she had no choice but to suppress her desire to cause trouble.
Still, she spat out a final threat.
“As soon as I get back, I’ll make your father cut ties with you. From now on, don’t expect a single bit of help from this family!”
With that, she left the train in disgrace.
Thus, the farce finally came to an end.
Watching the Female Lead and the Supporting Female Character, Li Lezhi could not help sighing inwardly. This journey certainly would not be boring.
After all, both the Female Lead and the Supporting Female Character were here, and the conflict between them clearly had no possibility of reconciliation.
The train let out a long whistle and slowly began moving.
Inside Li Lezhi’s carriage, everyone remained silent. After witnessing the commotion just now, no one knew how to break the awkward atmosphere.
Li Lezhi, meanwhile, was perfectly content. Leaning against the window, she closed her eyes and pretended to rest.
After tidying herself up, Shen Ruoruo kept staring fixedly at Shen Yueyue as though she would never tire of it.
Shen Yueyue continued pretending to sniffle softly.
Even she had not expected so many changes to occur in this lifetime.
She glanced at Li Lezhi and thought to herself, In my previous life, she was labeled a capitalist and sent away. Yet in this life, for some reason, she has also gone to the countryside.
Her expression darkened.
Doesn’t that mean she’ll have more opportunities to get close to Zhou Junling? No. Zhou Junling belongs to me.
A ruthless look flashed through her eyes.
Naturally, Li Lezhi noticed none of it.
The train ride would take two days and one night before reaching their destination.
It was not until noon, when everyone began eating lunch, that the atmosphere eased somewhat.
Li Lezhi took out the meat buns her mother had prepared along with the spiritual spring water stored in her military canteen and began eating.
The rich aroma spread throughout the carriage.
The honest-looking young man beside her kept swallowing his saliva, inhaling the scent of meat while viciously biting into the coarse cornbread in his hand.
Li Lezhi paid no attention to him.
Shen Yueyue had finally calmed down as well. She took out several eggs and began eating.
The others also rummaged through their luggage for food and started their meals.
The short-haired girl looked around and was the first to break the silence.
“How about everyone introducing themselves? After all, we’re all comrades heading out to help build our country.”
Then she introduced herself first.
“My name is Lin Chaomei. I’m from Haishi, and I’m going to Qingshan Village as a Sent-down Youth.”
As she spoke, she looked toward the honest young man across from her.
The young man immediately said, “My name is Zhang Guoqiang. I’m also heading to Qingshan Village as a Sent-down Youth.”
After taking a sip of water, Li Lezhi calmly said, “I’m Li Lezhi. I’m going to Qingshan Village as well.”
Shen Yueyue looked toward her and spoke softly.
“I… I’m Shen Yueyue. I’m also going to Qingshan Village.”
Filled with anger, Shen Ruoruo suddenly shouted, “You bitch, how dare you even speak! If it weren’t for you, I’d already be working at the textile factory… sob…”
Before she could finish, she broke down crying again.
Everyone stared at Shen Yueyue in surprise.
After all, everyone understood exactly what it meant to have a job in the city.
Without connections or influence, obtaining one was extremely difficult.
Naturally, they were shocked.
“That job was originally left to me by my mother! Not only did you steal my father, but you kept taking my new clothes too. Your mother even beat me!”
As Shen Yueyue spoke, her entire body trembled, as if trying to prove the depth of her suffering.
Hearing this, everyone immediately filled in the rest of the story themselves, imagining a cruel stepmother tormenting her stepdaughter. Such situations were not uncommon.
One after another, sympathetic looks were directed toward Shen Yueyue.
“You… you…” Shen Ruoruo was so furious she could not even find words to respond.
Inwardly, she thought that this so-called elder sister of hers was every bit as scheming as she had suspected.
For eighteen years, she had pretended to be obedient and harmless at home. Who would have thought she was actually a vicious wolf in sheep’s clothing?
Even Li Lezhi had not expected the Female Lead to be this bold.
Without any cheat ability like a spiritual spring space, Shen Yueyue had still dared to steal the family’s money. Most likely, she had only taken the money rather than emptying the house like she had in the original novel.
At this point, everyone had become acquainted.
The air was thick with tension, as though a single spark could ignite the entire carriage.
After putting away her things, Li Lezhi pretended not to notice the silent battle between the Female Lead and the Supporting Female Character and once again closed her eyes to rest.
Partway through the journey, another young man boarded and took the seat beside Li Lezhi.
The boy had handsome features and fair skin, giving off a bright and energetic impression.
“My name is Yang Jun,” he introduced himself.
Li Lezhi glanced at him and nodded lightly in acknowledgment.
Seeing this, Zhang Guoqiang took it upon himself to introduce everyone in the carriage before striking up a conversation with Yang Jun.
As time passed, night gradually fell.
Everyone prepared to rest.
Under the cover of darkness, Shen Ruoruo quietly approached Shen Yueyue’s luggage, intending to search for money and valuables.
Unfortunately, Shen Yueyue caught her red-handed.
Immediately, Shen Yueyue tearfully declared that she would report her to the Public Security Bureau.
Once again, arguing erupted throughout the compartment in the darkness.
Li Lezhi had not fallen asleep either. Stretching her aching body after sitting for so long, she listened to the argument and endured the night.
Fortunately, she had spiritual spring water to replenish her energy. Otherwise, she truly did not know how she would have survived such a long night.
At last, the scenery outside the window grew increasingly bleak.
Several days seemed to pass in the blink of an eye, signaling that they were nearing their destination.
A few hours later, the train finally slowed to a stop.
Carrying large bags and bundles, the passengers poured out of the train.
After disembarking, everyone began searching for their respective teams.
The representative sent to receive the Sent-down Youth from Qingshan Village was a dark-skinned middle-aged man holding a sign that read:
Qingshan Team:
“Sent-down Youth heading to Qingshan Village, gather over here!”
His booming voice echoed throughout the station.
The youths assigned to Qingshan Village quickly made their way toward him.
Looking over the group of fair-skinned, thin city youths, the middle-aged man secretly grumbled to himself.
These educated city kids don’t look like people who can work in the fields at all. Most of them probably can’t do farm work, and they’re not even as capable as the village women.
Especially the men. They look so delicate, and the women are thin and weak. They’ll only drag down the production team.
And this year they actually assigned another eight people to us.
His face drooped with dissatisfaction.
“Put all your luggage onto the ox cart,” he said reluctantly.
Li Lezhi also noticed two newly arrived young men joining the group.
One of them was refined and scholarly-looking, wearing glasses. Even standing among the crowd, he was particularly eye-catching, carrying the unmistakable aura of an intellectual.