On the train station platform, everyone was lugging heavy bags and bundles on their shoulders and backs. Miao Qing, carrying only a small crossbody cloth bag, looked especially out of place.
“This is the special train for educated youth. You’re in Carriage 7. Once you’re on the train, don’t wander around. If anyone finds out you’re a fool, you’ll get beaten to death!”
Miao Jiang stuffed the ticket into his little sister’s hand and, seeing her dazed, vacant look, leaned in to warn her in a low voice, still uneasy.
Miao Qing really wanted to roll her eyes. She wasn’t stupid—she’d just transmigrated recently, and her soul hadn’t fully synced with this body yet.
But her stiff eyelids were too heavy to roll properly, and her tongue felt tied, making speech even more laborious. Forget it.
Anyway, once she left, she’d never see them again.
Beside them, a mother and son were sobbing in each other’s arms. Miao Qing watched that stocky, dark-skinned boy—who was nearly a head taller than his mother—crying so hard that snot bubbles formed at his nose, and she couldn’t help twitching her lips.
Anyone watching would think he was being exiled, not just sent to the countryside.
Miao Jiang saw his little sister staring blankly at the mother-son pair and felt a little uneasy.
After hesitating for a long time, he gritted his teeth and pulled a few worn bills from his pocket, stuffing them into her hand.
“Don’t blame your big brother. If you’d stayed home, our whole family wouldn’t have been able to go on. Sending you to the countryside is for your own good too. Take this money—if you get hungry, buy yourself something to eat.”
Miao Qing looked down. One five-jiao note, one two-jiao, and three one-jiao notes—exactly one yuan in total.
“You recognize money, right? You know how to buy things, don’t you?”
Miao Jiang couldn’t help worrying. His little sister had been born a fool—she couldn’t speak and couldn’t understand people.
She’d only improved a little in the past month, but it was just a tiny bit. She spoke slowly, reacted slowly, moved even more slowly. Compared to normal people, she was still far behind.
At sixteen, she’d never been to school and knew nothing of the ways of the world. Could she really make it all the way to the distant Northwest?
But if he didn’t send her away, the family would have to keep supporting her. She was frail and needed constant medication, and over the years, her treatment had already left them deep in debt.
He was already twenty-three—had a good job, wasn’t bad-looking—yet no decent girl would marry him. All because he was the family’s only son and would have to take care of his little sister for life.
And then there was his older sister, who’d already graduated high school but still had no job. Under the current policy, if his little sister didn’t go to the countryside, his sister would have to go instead.
How could he bear that?
Besides, it was too late for regrets now.
Pushing down that flicker of guilt, Miao Jiang grabbed Miao Qing by the arm and dragged her onto the train.
The green-skinned train was packed with people, and even the space under the seats was stuffed with bags of all sizes. The air was thick with a mix of odors, and before long, Miao Qing felt nauseous.
She wanted to open the window, but her arms were too weak to lift it.
The handsome, refined young man sitting diagonally across from her leaned over to help, but managed to pry it open only a crack.
“The train hasn’t left yet—can’t open it too wide, or people might climb in through the window.”
Miao Qing nodded.
“Thanks.”
Just one word, and she nearly bit her tongue.
Internally, she cursed the heavens, the earth, and her ancestors for the ten-thousandth time. Of all the rotten luck—why did she have to end up in this pathetic state?
Sure, she’d been a little superstitious, a little rash, and too easily swayed by that charlatan who got her to practice some so-called “method for awakening the body’s energy field.”
But how was she supposed to know she’d accidentally cultivate herself straight into the grave?
And not just transmigrate—but into 1970.
Was this really an era where she could rely on her own efforts to live a good life?
Especially now, with this body that couldn’t even put in a single bit of effort!
“Are you getting carsick?”
The young man noticed Miao Qing’s pale face and furrowed brows and asked with concern.
Miao Qing slowly raised her head. Her clear, cold eyes held little light, and her pale lips forced out a few words with difficulty:
“Too many people. Smells bad.”
The young man twitched his nose, chuckled, and nodded.
“Definitely not great. It’ll get a little better once the train starts moving. My name is Zhang Jingshan. What’s yours?”
“Miao Qing.”
Her chest felt tight and her breathing was shallow, making speech even harder. She didn’t want to say another word.
But Zhang Jingshan kept chattering on.
“My family’s from the East Gate area of Guancheng. I’m being sent to Dingcun Commune in Qi County. Where are you from? Where are you heading? Are you feeling really unwell? I’ve got some oranges here—if you hold the peel under your nose, it might help a little. Want to give it a try…”
Miao Qing didn’t respond. Zhang Jingshan awkwardly pulled back the hand offering the orange and gave an embarrassed smile.
“You’re really quiet. You don’t talk much, do you?”
“She’s not quiet—she just doesn’t understand what you’re saying. She’s a fool!”
A harsh voice cut in from the side. Miao Qing turned and saw a vaguely familiar face.
Long oval face, triangular eyes, wearing a red floral jacket that made her skin look even darker, with yellowish double braids tied with bright green ribbons.
That taste in accessories was exactly like her original body’s sister—no wonder they were such good friends.
But why was Wang Haiyan popping up now and saying this?
Was she stabbing her bestie in the back to play the hero? Or was she deliberately picking a fight?
Wang Haiyan’s tone was sharp and her voice loud. As soon as the words left her mouth, the noisy carriage fell silent.
Everyone turned to look at Miao Qing. She looked young—small and frail, probably not even fifteen.
But she was really pretty. Such fair skin, such dark brows, such big eyes, and a small mouth—well, her lips were a bit pale, but that didn’t take away from her looks at all; if anything, it made her seem even more delicate and pitiable.
Could someone like that really be a fool?
Could a fool become an educated youth, heading off to the countryside to build the nation alongside them?
Surely this dark-faced female comrade was talking nonsense, slandering her out of nowhere?
The stark contrast in looks made Wang Haiyan instantly feel the hostility coming from all directions. Indignant, she pointed at Miao Qing and shouted loudly,
“I swear, every word I said is true! She’s a fool—everyone on our street knows it! Her family must have bribed someone at the educated youth office and used who-knows-what trick to get her registered!”
The carriage erupted in murmurs. Even Zhang Jingshan stared in shock.
The girl sitting beside Zhang Jingshan, with her hair in two low pigtails, had taken a dislike to Miao Qing from the start. Seizing the opportunity, she immediately chimed in to condemn her.
“How could your family do something like this? Sending you to the countryside when they knew you had issues—aren’t they just dumping their burden onto the state? That’s going too far!”
That remark lit a fire under the crowd. If that was really the case, then her family was deliberately taking advantage of the state!
How could that be allowed?
Absolutely shameless!
Seeing everyone now on her side, Wang Haiyan lifted her chin triumphantly at Miao Qing.
“I bet your sister didn’t want to go to the countryside, so your family made you take her place. You fool—you’ve been sold and you’re still counting the money for them!”
They were both children of steel mill families, both from households that favored sons over daughters.
Why should she have to suffer and go to the countryside, while Miao Hong got to stay? And they thought they could use their idiot sister as a substitute? No way!
Wang Haiyan raised her arm and shouted,
“If word gets out that there’s a fool mixed in with our group, the reputation of all us Guancheng educated youth will be ruined! Throw her off the train!”
“Yeah! Throw her off! Don’t let her into our group!”
“Throw the fool off!”
“Throw her off!”
…