Lin Xun did not go to the station to see off Lü Yuzhi. It was not that she did not want to. She had something far more important to do—
Prevent that train accident.
If she did not know beforehand, it would be one thing. Now that she already knew a train would derail, she could not ignore it.
Even though Lü Yuzhi had avoided that train thanks to Lin Xun’s intervention, there were still countless lives on board. Lin Xun could not stand by and watch them die.
Stopping it was not easy. She had no proof and needed a convincing reason.
As soon as Lü Yuzhi left, Lin Xun rushed to the post office outside the residential area, paid three mao, and started making a call.
In those days, the phone could be connected to government offices. She dialed quietly, “Hello, comrade. Please connect me to the Qixian train station.”
The operator, Xiao Li, worked at the train station. She was usually very busy, handling dozens of calls a day—questions about tickets or lost items. Today, she received an unusual call.
“Comrade, you mean the railway near the Qixian tunnel might be damaged?”
Lin Xun did not know exactly where the train would fall off the cliff, but with mountains nearby, there would certainly be a tunnel.
“Yes! On my way to the Northwest, I overheard someone mention it. He probably worked at the railway bureau, so he knew. I heard him say there was something wrong with that route and that it should be reported. How come you haven’t received a notice?”
She had no proof, so she fabricated the story. She had indeed passed through Qixian on the way to the Northwest, so it would not be suspicious.
Whether the station had received a notice, Xiao Li did not know. But she understood the seriousness of potential railway damage. “Please wait, comrade. I will get a supervisor.”
Soon a supervisor arrived, and Lin Xun repeated her account.
The supervisor listened seriously. “Comrade, your call is from the military district. You must be military personnel or a military dependent. Can you be responsible for what you are saying?”
Inspecting the railway was not a trivial matter. If Lin Xun had lied, it would waste public resources, and she would be held accountable.
Lin Xun nodded. “I am willing to take responsibility.”
Due to the terrain, railways in the Northwest were prone to wear and tear. With the current bad weather, track damage was not unusual.
Hearing Lin Xun’s solemn assurance, the supervisor paused. “Understood, comrade. We will inspect the railway. If there are any issues, we will contact you.”
Relieved by the response, Lin Xun still felt anxious. Even if the station said they would check, would the inspection really catch the problem?
What if bad weather caused the inspectors to miss it?
And Lü Yuzhi—although she had returned early to Beijing, was she truly safe? The journey from the Northwest to Beijing still took a full day. What if another accident happened along the way?
“Lin, what is wrong? You seem distracted.”
A figure appeared, snapping Lin Xun back to reality. It was He Yuerong, Cheng Qingsong’s wife.
Huo Yanzhou, commander of the Third Regiment, was closest to Cheng Qingsong, the captain of the First Battalion, and Yan Xiang, the captain of the Second Battalion. Yan Xiang was unmarried. Cheng Qingsong had been married for two years.
Yesterday at the wedding, Huo Yanzhou introduced He Yuerong to Lin Xun and said to contact them if she needed help.
Lin Xun shook her head. “Nothing! Where are you going?”
“Today is market day. I am going to buy some things. Are you coming, sister-in-law?”
He Yuerong’s family was from the local village. Her mother was Mongolian. She was tall, lively, and cheerful.
It was still a strict enforcement period. Private trade was forbidden. But on the first and fifteenth of each month, a market would be held on the hill east of the residential area.
At the market, residents sold crops, cloth, and furs. If lucky, one could find meat without tickets. It was lively.
Lin Xun nodded. “I will buy some chicken.”
She needed something to distract herself from her worries.
He Yuerong asked, “Chicks?”
“No, hens.” Lin Xun had decided yesterday. She had been forced by Aunt Cai to take medications that depleted her body. She needed proper nourishment.
Near the pasture, they could buy milk, but milk alone was not enough. Eggs were needed for balanced nutrition.
He Yuerong, thinking Lin Xun had no experience with chickens, said quickly, “Sister-in-law, hens won’t lay eggs in this cold.”
Lin Xun smiled. “I have a way.”
Of course, she did. As a veterinarian, she knew more than ordinary people.
“Really?” He Yuerong felt tempted.
Her child with Cheng Qingsong was over a year old. During pregnancy, she had been scared by a wild wolf, affecting her health. The child did not like milk. Eggs could supplement nutrition.
“If you trust me, you can try. I will tell you how later.”
He Yuerong nodded repeatedly. “Okay!”
Even without knowing Lin Xun’s method, she would try for her child. If it failed, she could at least make chicken soup.
With a goal, the two headed straight to the chicken stalls at the market. The grassland locals did not raise chickens; these were village hens. Lin Xun visited three stalls and selected four healthy hens. Then she bought some soybeans.
The Northwest soil was poor. People could only grow potatoes and onions. In winter, every household ate potatoes in every form—roasted, steamed, stir-fried.
The soybeans were scarce and expensive, but Lin Xun did not mind. Both she and Huo Yanzhou needed good nutrition. Life was about making yourself as comfortable as possible.
After buying most of what they needed, Lin Xun and He Yuerong prepared to return.
At the entrance to the residential area, they ran into Yuan Yaqing.
Lin Xun thought it was a coincidence and prepared to leave, but Yuan Yaqing approached, looking worried. “Lin Xun, why did your mother-in-law leave so early? She looks unwell. Did something happen?”
Lin Xun frowned. “She returned to Beijing for work. What could happen? What does it have to do with you?”
Yuan Yaqing softened her voice. “Don’t be angry. I just heard that Director Lü works at a publishing house. When I was in high school, I liked writing and wanted to ask if I could submit to her publisher.”
Yuan Yaqing phrased it this way to mention Lü Yuzhi legitimately and to show she was a high school student. Few in the residential area had more education than her.
Passersby were shocked. “Yuan Zhiqing is a high school student. No wonder Doctor Xu liked her!”
Yuan Yaqing raised her chin proudly and continued, “I also heard Director Lü seemed worried. Yesterday she said she would leave tonight. Why did she leave so early?”
Yesterday, Lü Yuzhi had mentioned attending the wedding and leaving in the evening. Now Yuan Yaqing brought it up, and the other military wives realized something was off. Who leaves so early in such cold weather?
Could it be… Lin Xun and Lü Yuzhi had an argument that forced her to leave?
For a moment, everyone thought so. Everyone knew mother-in-law and daughter-in-law could be adversaries. Lü Yuzhi had come from afar but left so quickly. She must have been upset with the new daughter-in-law.
Lin Xun had been too inconsiderate. Lü Yuzhi treated her well, bought expensive furniture, did not care that she was divorced, yet Lin Xun had driven her away.
Seeing this, everyone’s expression changed.
Yuan Yaqing was delighted. Yesterday she wondered how to link Lü Yuzhi’s death to Lin Xun. This morning, she saw Lü Yuzhi leave in a hurry, frowning. Wasn’t this proof of an argument?
If she exposed it publicly, when news of Lü Yuzhi’s death spread, everyone would think Lin Xun’s anger caused it.
As for Lü Yuzhi’s original plan to leave today, no one would care. People liked gossip more than the truth.