The train clattered along for fifteen hours.
Finally, with a long whistle, it came to a stop.
As soon as the doors opened, a gust of cold wind mixed with the earthy smell of soil rushed in, blowing away the stifling odor of sweat and instant noodles that had lingered in the carriage the whole journey.
The educated youths poured out of the train like dumplings, carrying large and small bags.
Su Wanqing followed the crowd. Though her feet stepped onto solid ground, her heart remained tense.
“Red Flag Brigade this way!!”
“Red Star Brigade over here!”
“Hope Brigade, this way…”
…
Loud shouts echoed throughout the station.
Su Wanqing adjusted her braids and clothes, then walked toward the caller.
“Comrade, serve the people.”
“Comrade, serve the people.”
“Hello, comrade. I’m Su Wanqing, assigned to Red Flag Brigade.”
The one who came to receive them was the brigade leader of Red Flag Brigade, Chen Aidang.
He looked her up and down.
Clearly displeased.
What kind of work could such a delicate girl possibly do?
“I’m Chen Aidang, the brigade leader of Red Flag Brigade.”
“Sit over there. Once everyone’s here, we’ll head back to the brigade.”
“Alright, thank you, comrade.” Su Wanqing could tell he didn’t think much of her.
She took a few White Rabbit milk candies out of her pocket.
These were rare treats—something you couldn’t always buy even if you had money, let alone without it.
She slipped them into Chen Aidang’s hand. “Uncle Chen, just a small token—let the kids have a treat.”
Chen Aidang glanced at the candies, then looked at her again—this time with a different expression.
This girl knew how to handle things.
Even if she couldn’t work much, it didn’t matter—one less pair of hands wouldn’t change much.
“Xiao Su, sit over here. That side gets really bumpy when we enter the village.”
“Okay, thank you, Uncle Chen.”
What a sweet-tongued girl.
Chen Aidang quickly tucked the candies into his pocket.
Su Wanqing sat down on the tricycle, satisfied.
She didn’t mind using small things like this to win people over—after all, they were minor items. What mattered was that people accepted them.
After the train stopped, Lu Zhenting had been searching everywhere for Su Wanqing, hoping to strike up a conversation—but there were too many people, and he couldn’t find her.
When he finally spotted the Red Flag Brigade’s vehicle, he immediately saw her.
His heart leapt with joy.
So she was going to the same brigade.
Even heaven was helping him.
He was just about to sit closer to her—
“Hey, you there! Find your seat and stay put—no moving around!”
Chen Aidang immediately saw that this male youth had ill intentions toward Xiao Su.
He still had Xiao Su’s candies in his pocket—no way he’d let someone like this get close to her.
“Alright, Brigade Leader,” Lu Zhenting replied obediently, though he was cursing under his breath.
Before long, everyone had arrived.
“Uncle Chen, I’ve bought everything.”
【She’s here, she’s here. This is the original novel’s female lead—Lin Zhaodi.】
【Wanqing, the scumbag man and the vile woman are both here now.】
All here?
Perfect. She would find a chance to tie those two together for good.
Lin Zhaodi also spotted Su Wanqing among the group.
Su Wanqing wore a crisp dress, her hair in two braids, her skin fair and delicate.
It sparked jealousy in Lin Zhaodi.
Someone who looked like that must be a seductress.
A strong urge to ruin her rose in her heart.
Lin Zhaodi found a seat and sat down.
The tricycle drove out of the station toward Red Flag Brigade.
【That vile woman’s gaze is terrifying—it’s like she wants to devour Wanqing.】
【It’s their first meeting. Why does she already have such hostility?】
Yes, Su Wanqing wondered the same.
Why did Lin Zhaodi harbor such strong hatred toward her—and even her second brother?
Lin Zhaodi observed the other educated youths.
When her eyes landed on Lu Zhenting, her expression changed completely.
A young girl in love—her heart quietly given.
She wanted him.
But… who was he looking at?
Following his gaze, she realized—
He was looking at Su Wanqing.
Of course.
That shameless woman Su Wanqing was a vixen.
She hadn’t even done anything yet, and she was already seducing her man.
Su Wanqing had no idea Lin Zhaodi had already spun an entire drama in her head.
She looked out at the barren fields and low mud houses stretching in all directions.
The tricycle sputtered along, belching black smoke.
The ride was so bumpy that one of the youths at the back couldn’t help but vomit.
She silently felt grateful—the White Rabbit candies had been well worth it.
The tricycle stopped by the roadside to rest, giving the girl time to recover.
“I say, you city kids can’t even handle a little road—why come to the countryside at all?” Chen Aidang squatted under a tree, smoking, grumbling nonstop.
The youths lowered their heads, embarrassed.
As if they had a choice.
But what could they do?
Su Wanqing said nothing and was just about to drink some water—
When someone approached.
“Comrade Su, you’re from Shanghai, right?” a cheerful voice sounded beside her.
She looked up and saw an overly enthusiastic face.
Lin Zhaodi couldn’t sit still any longer—she had come over herself.
She held a coarse bun in her hand.
“My name is Lin Zhaodi. I went with the brigade leader to the supply store today. Among all the educated youths, you look the kindest to me. Here, have this bun.”
If she didn’t know what kind of person she was, Su Wanqing might really have been fooled by her simple, honest appearance.
Thinking back, in her previous life, wasn’t this exactly how she deceived everyone—framing her second brother and ruining him?
A wave of nausea surged in Su Wanqing’s stomach—not from motion sickness, but disgust.
She instinctively covered her stomach, leaned back slightly, and showed an apologetic, troubled expression. Her voice was soft like cotton.
“Thank you, Comrade Lin… I feel a bit carsick. I can’t eat anything right now.”
Lin Zhaodi’s smile froze for a moment.
She actually refused a bun.
A trace of venom flashed through her eyes—so fast it could’ve been missed.
But she quickly resumed her warm demeanor and set the bun aside.
“Oh dear, then have some water? Drinking warm water will help.”
As she spoke, she pulled out a military canteen from her bag like a magic trick and unscrewed the cap, offering it over.
What a kind “little fairy,” indeed.
Just as Su Wanqing was about to come up with another excuse to refuse, the barrage of comments in her mind suddenly exploded with warnings.
【Don’t drink it! Absolutely don’t drink it! That vicious woman put something in the water.】
【She wants you to embarrass yourself in public—get all dazed and ‘lose control’ so everyone can laugh at you!】
Even without the warning, Su Wanqing would never touch anything from Lin Zhaodi.
【People like Lin Zhaodi just can’t stand others being better than them. The better you live, the worse they feel.】
【In simple terms—jealousy.】
So that’s it.
Su Wanqing understood instantly, a trace of coldness curling at her lips.
Jealousy?
Already?
Then when she’s eating white rice and stewed meat—
how will she keep up this innocent act?