Chapter 8

Off to the Countryside!

After the family left, Summer Mother took Xia Wanyang to the department store. They bought one pack of Guihua cigarettes, five boxes of Daqianmen cigarettes, one pack of Meideng cigarettes, three bottles of Xiqing Chun liquor, two bottles of Maotai, and three bottles of Luzhou Laojiao, using up all their tobacco and liquor coupons, and even spent the money from the envelopes her two sisters-in-law had given her that morning.

As they walked home, Summer Mother kept muttering, “Yanyang, keep these cigarettes and liquor. If you have a chance to give them to the people in charge of the village, they might give you some easy tasks. Be sweet with your words. If they’re older, call them ‘Uncle’ or ‘Aunt.’ People around your parents’ age should be called ‘Uncle’ or ‘Aunt.’ Anyone slightly older than you should be called ‘Big Brother’ or ‘Big Sister.’ Don’t act too high and mighty!”

Although Xia Wanyang was reluctant, she obediently nodded along, knowing it was her mother’s concern for her.

At lunchtime, Summer Father came back and handed Xia Wanyang a big envelope. “This is what I exchanged with the military folks this morning. Keep it. Money’s no good without coupons. Coupons are what matter!”

“Thank you, Dad!”

After the family finished lunch, Liu Yue rushed back in. “Yanyang, I’m glad I caught you. I got you some snacks. If you’re hungry and can’t get enough food, eat these. I’ll buy more in a few days and mail them to you. Oh, I’m so exhausted!”

Summer Mother took a towel and wiped Liu Yue’s sweat. “What’s the rush? Look at your face, all drenched in sweat!”

Although it was a reprimand, the tone was full of affection. Liu Yue had played with Xia Wanyang since they were young, and Summer Mother had watched her grow up.

At 2 PM, at the train station.

“Daughter, I paid extra for your sleeper ticket. The hard seat had too many people, and there was a young man on a business trip who had a sleeper ticket from his work unit. I swapped your ticket with his, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

Summer Father felt like he was burdening his daughter. If it weren’t for Xu Zhengguo keeping an eye on him, he wouldn’t have sent his only daughter to the countryside!

Xia Wanyang took the ticket and gave Summer Father a hug. She whispered in his ear, “Dad, Mom and I prepared a gift for you. You’ll love it!”

Summer Mother patted her little head. “Alright, get on the train. You’re all set. Don’t worry, your parents are at ease.”

Liu Yue had red eyes. “Yanyang, even though I’m your second sister-in-law, I’m also your good friend. You have to write to me, not just to the family. Write me separately!”

“Alright, stop crying. Take good care of Mom and Dad for me. When I get back, you’d better have a nephew or niece for me to play with, okay?”

Liu Yue, for once, didn’t feel shy and nodded vigorously. “Yes, when I have a baby, you have to come back!”

The sharp whistle of the train sounded, and Xia Wanyang boarded the train.

The train slowly moved away, and the station was filled with people seeing off their friends and family. Some waved goodbye, while others silently watched the train depart, their faces showing signs of reluctance.

Summer Father, Summer Mother, and Liu Yue also started running alongside the train, stretching their hands out as if trying to catch something, but in the end, they could only watch helplessly as the train grew farther and farther away.

“Dad, Mom, Second Sister-in-law, go back now! I’ll write to you when I get there!” Xia Wanyang waved vigorously from the window, calling out loudly. She knew her parents and sisters-in-law were worried about her, so she wanted to reassure them.

Summer Father, Summer Mother, and Liu Yue stopped and watched as the train gradually disappeared from their sight, their hearts filled with endless longing and concern.

Xia Wanyang wiped her tears and entered the sleeper carriage. After finding her berth, she placed her package on the bed.

It was a lower bunk, and Xia Wanyang was quite happy. Just as she lifted the box to place it on the luggage rack, a sharp voice rang out.

“Hey, whose spot is this? Switch with me, I’m old, it’s hard for me to climb up there!”

Xia Wanyang turned around to glance at the woman but ignored her and directly plopped down on the bed. She pulled out a book and started reading.

“You little brat, didn’t you hear me? Didn’t your parents teach you to respect your elders?” the woman snapped.

Xia Wanyang raised her eyes to look at the old lady, who had a sharp, pinched face. “Elder? Did you give birth to me or raise me? What makes you think you’re my elder? Who do you think you are? Why should I swap with you? Is it because you smell bad and haven’t bathed, or is it because you have a thick face?”

The woman, named Qian Guilan, flared up. “Oh, sharp-tongued little thing! Do you know who I am? My son is serving in the military in the big city. I’m a military dependent, do you treat military dependents like this?”

Xia Wanyang sneered, “So what if you’re a military dependent? Does that give you the right to bully others? Which unit is your son in? I’ll go check, see if they know their soldier’s family is out here bullying others like this! Even well-behaved children know that each berth has a different price. You can’t just demand a change like that. You’re giving your son a bad name!”

When Qian Guilan heard Xia Wanyang was going to inquire about her son, she immediately shrank back. Her son was her pride, and although this trip was because her son and daughter-in-law had sent her back to her hometown, it was enough to make the village’s people envious. If she caused trouble for her son, she feared he might never come home again!

Even though she had these thoughts, she didn’t back down verbally. “You little brat, do you think you can just ask about my son’s unit? You’re just a kid talking big. Hmph, I won’t argue with you. Move aside, I need to climb up!”

Xia Wanyang saw she was about to take off her shoes and quickly said, “There’s a ladder over there. Go use that to get up. My body is weak, and if you step on my bed and stink it up with your smelly feet, you’ll have to pay for my medical expenses!”

Qian Guilan shot her a dirty look but obediently climbed up using the ladder.

“Well, at least you’re agile. Some people just can’t stand missing out on something cheap!” Xia Wanyang muttered as she flipped through her book.

Qian Guilan was furious but dared not say anything more. She noticed how well-dressed Xia Wanyang was and couldn’t tell if she was the child of some high-ranking official. If her son found out, it would be a real problem!

The rest of the berths were occupied by a couple in their thirties with a little girl and an elderly couple with gray hair.

The elderly couple, seeing Xia Wanyang’s sharp retort, smiled warmly. “Young lady, where are you headed?”

Xia Wanyang put down her book and smiled sweetly. “Hello, sir and ma’am. I’m a sent-down youth, heading to Liaoning Province for the rural work program. I’m not well, so my family helped me change my ticket to a sleeper. I didn’t take the youth carriage.”

The old man smiled kindly. “Well, young lady, my wife and I are heading to Shanghai to visit our grandson.”

Xia Wanyang chatted a bit more with the elderly couple. Before she knew it, it was five o’clock. The elderly couple ate the dumplings made by their grandson and daughter-in-law, while the family of three ate boxed meals from the train. Xia Wanyang took out the stir-fried shredded pork with soybeans and stir-fried bean sprouts her mother had made for her at lunchtime, along with two steamed buns. Qian Guilan took out a few corn cakes.

“Sir, ma’am, try this. It’s what my mother made for me. I brought too much and can’t finish it. The weather is getting warmer, and if I leave it until tomorrow, it will spoil. Wasting food is shameful!” Xia Wanyang said, handing over the meal box without giving them a chance to refuse.

The elderly couple handed over their dumplings, and the three of them enjoyed their meal together. The smell of dumplings and the pork stir-fry filled the entire compartment. Qian Guilan, feeling frustrated, gnawed on the corn cakes, as if she were biting into Xia Wanyang herself!