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After driving Wen Qing away, Wen Nuan felt a sudden warmth emanating from her pocket. She reached in and pulled out the jade amulet she had snatched back from Wen Qing earlier.
Originally flawless and pure white, the jade amulet now had a faint trace of blood on it. Wen Nuan glanced at her palm and realized it must have come from the scrape she got when Wen Qing pushed her down. Since it no longer hurt, she hadn’t noticed it until now.
But why was the jade amulet heating up? Wen Nuan picked it up for a closer look. Suddenly, a flash of red light burst from her hand, and the jade amulet instantly disappeared.
In its place, a small red mole appeared on her wrist. Before Wen Nuan could process what had just happened, her vision went black. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in an entirely different place.
Lush greenery surrounded her, and the vibrant scenery was breathtaking. Wen Nuan stood in stunned silence, completely dumbfounded. What on earth was going on? It was simply beyond belief.
Not far away, a crystal-clear stream flowed gently, its delicate waters caressing the smooth pebbles along the bank, creating a melodious and soothing sound.
A quaint and elegant stone bridge arched gracefully over the stream. Made of bluish-green stone, the bridge was adorned with intricate and mysterious carvings, evoking a sense of wonder and inviting one to delve into its enigmatic secrets.
Beyond the bridge lay a serene bamboo grove. Within the grove, a solitary bamboo house stood quietly, as if it were the perfect harmony of nature and craftsmanship.
Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy of bamboo leaves, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow on the bamboo house, cloaking this tranquil haven in a soft, golden veil of mystery.
The lush green bamboo, tall and slender, stood like vigilant guardians encircling the house, offering it their unwavering protection.
Wen Nuan took slow, measured steps across the bridge, approaching the bamboo grove. She finally arrived at the doorstep of the bamboo house. Gently pushing the door open, she found the interior to be simple yet refined, exuding an understated elegance.
The natural wood-colored furniture complemented the bamboo materials seamlessly, reflecting a lifestyle that embraced simplicity and authenticity.
Several ink wash paintings hung on the walls, depicting distant mountains, flowing streams, and swaying bamboo shadows. The scenes harmonized perfectly with the view outside the window, making it feel as though one were immersed in a living landscape painting.
Suddenly, a rush of information flooded Wen Nuan’s mind—details about this mysterious space.
It turned out that the Qi family’s ancestors once had a connection to the divine. This space was a treasure inadvertently acquired by their forebears.
However, as the world entered the era of dwindling spiritual energy, cultivation practices ceased entirely. The treasure was shelved and forgotten, its significance fading over generations.
After being passed down through many hands over countless years, it finally ended up with Qi Chunmei, who then passed it on to Wen Nuan.
Because Wen Nuan carried the Qi family’s bloodline, she was naturally able to unlock the space.
However, due to the depletion of spiritual energy, only a small portion of the space was usable. To fully unlock and control the space, Wen Nuan would need to find more spirit-infused stones to upgrade it.
For now, the accessible areas included only the small river, the bamboo grove, and the bamboo house.
Even the vegetable garden behind the bamboo house was off-limits. A transparent, glass-like wall stood in her way—she could see through it, but she couldn’t pass.
After exploring the space thoroughly, Wen Nuan finally accepted the reality of owning such a unique place. Though it felt almost unbelievable, she couldn’t suppress her excitement.
She had been worrying about how to safely store her money and belongings, but now this space provided her with an entirely new solution.
Even with its limited usable area, it was more than enough to hold everything the Wen family owned.
Wen Nuan’s heart and eyes brimmed with satisfaction. This time, she would ensure Wen Changming and Tan Xiulian were left with nothing.
Without the support of Wen Changming and Tan Xiulian, she wondered how long Wen Qing could maintain her comfortable life.
With a single thought, Wen Nuan returned to her small cubicle. The space could be accessed and exited purely through her will.
Of course, the entry and exit points were fixed—she would always return to the exact spot where she entered.
After placing the money she had taken from Wen Changming and her spare clothes into the space, Wen Nuan prepared to head out.
The courtyard was silent, without a sound. Glancing toward the neighboring room, she noticed that Wen Qing had apparently gone out at some point.
Given her swollen, pig-like face, Wen Nuan guessed that Wen Qing had most likely gone to the hospital. After all, Wen Qing was incredibly vain about her appearance.
Carrying the household registration book she had tricked out of Tan Xiulian, Wen Nuan first went to the newspaper office. She paid two yuan to publish a statement of severance for half a month straight.
This move would ensure everyone knew that Wen Nuan had no further ties with Wen Changming.
After leaving the newspaper office, Wen Nuan headed to the community office.
Her own assignment to the countryside was already set in stone. Once her name had been registered, there was no way to change it.
But such a noble cause as building the nation and benefiting the people—how could Wen Qing not take part in that?
“Comrade, hello! I’m here to sign my younger sister up for the countryside program. She’s absolutely enthusiastic about contributing to the construction of a new rural China and dedicating her efforts to the masses!”
“Really? That’s great news! Did you bring the household registration book? What’s the name?”
Zhang Honglian was fretting over the insufficient number of recruits for the countryside program this month. It felt like a pillow had landed in her lap just as she was nodding off.
“My younger sister’s name is Wen Qing, and I’m Wen Nuan. I’ve already registered for the countryside program myself. After hearing about it, my sister was so inspired that she begged me to come and sign her up too!”
Zhang Honglian took the household registration book and confirmed they were indeed siblings. With a flourish of her pen, she registered Wen Qing for the program.
“Dear sister, my younger sister specifically mentioned that she wants to go to the poorest and most challenging place available. She believes it will truly temper her will and build her character. Please make sure to fulfill her wish.”
Zhang Honglian blinked a few times, her face full of admiration.
“Your sister truly has great awareness. To honor her wish, I’ll arrange for her to go to an island in the south. They’re in dire need of motivated and progressive young people like her!”
“Thank you so much for helping with this, sister! Oh, by the way, last time I was in such a rush that I didn’t find out where I’m assigned to go. Would it be possible for you to check for me?”
“No problem. Your name is Wen Nuan, right?”
“That’s right!”
“Give me a moment; I’ll check the records for you.”
Zhang Honglian flipped through the records, finally finding Wen Nuan’s name on the second-to-last line.
“Wen Nuan, 18 years old, Machine Factory Residential Compound, Committee Seven, Group Six, correct?”
“Correct!”
“Got it. You’re scheduled for the next departure, which is in three days. The assigned destination is the Red Flag Brigade in Gongrong Commune, Zhaoxian County, Heilongjiang Province.”
It was the same place as in her past life. Wen Nuan had wondered if anything would change, but this outcome suited her just fine. She had endured the hardships and suffering there once before; this time, she wouldn’t make the same mistakes.
She was no longer the timid, weak Wen Nuan of her previous life. Having been reborn from the ashes, she now lived on her own terms, refusing to compromise or endure unnecessary grievances.
Zhang Zhenzhen, Li Manyu, Zhu Jianjun, Liu Haizhu, Zhao Cuiping…
Those who had bullied her in the past—she would repay them all, one by one. Let them prepare to face the consequences!
Her thoughts returned to the present as she looked at the staff member in front of her. Wen Nuan feigned ignorance and asked innocently:
“Heilongjiang Province? That’s really far from here, isn’t it? I don’t even know where it is!”
Zhang Honglian, seeing the curious and slightly confused look on the young girl’s face, chuckled and replied:
“Heilongjiang is to the north of our capital. It takes about two days and a night by train to get there. But trust me, it’s a great place! A lot of people are eager to go there.”
“Really? Seems like I’m pretty lucky then! Thank you so much for the information, sister. I’ll head back now!”
“Don’t rush off just yet. Since you’re here, I’ll give you the notice form now. In three days, just take this to the train station for the assembly. Oh, and here’s your sister’s countryside subsidy—take it back with you too!”
“Got it. Thank you so much, sister! You’re such a kind person!”
“You little girl, you really have a sweet tongue. I’m probably older than your mom, yet you keep calling me ‘sister.’ You’re making me blush!”
“No way! You don’t look that much older than me. Alright then, I won’t hold you up any longer—I need to head back and make dinner. Goodbye, sister!”
“Alright, goodbye, little one!”