Chapter 12

Lin Xiang held Lin Jianxin’s household registration booklet in her hand. Originally intended for transferring a job to him, it now served a new purpose: registering him for rural labor.

This pampered “precious child” of the Lin family, who drained the family’s resources—especially those of her original self—deserved no less. After all, in the original storyline, despite her giving up her job for him, Lin Jianxin showed no gratitude. Later, when she was manipulated into marrying Sun Yaozu, suffering beatings and a miserable life, Lin Jianxin remained indifferent. Even after she died from severe injuries, his callous remark was, “She must have done something wrong to upset her husband.”

Is that even human speech?

In those days, it wasn’t uncommon for family members to register others for rural labor. The staff at the local office reviewed Lin Xiang’s submission of Lin Jianxin’s household registration document, found no issues, and promptly recorded his name in the registry.

Let him go work in the countryside and experience the grind firsthand—perhaps it might straighten out his warped character.

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Lin Jianxin disliked working and only tolerated it to avoid being sent to the countryside. After spending the day loafing around and losing two yuan in poker, he timed his return to coincide with the steel factory’s end-of-shift hours to make it seem as though he had been at work.

Qiu Aiying, his doting mother, noticed he hadn’t asked for her all day and assumed the job transfer was complete. She casually asked, “Son, did you get the transfer done?”

Feeling guilty but quick to respond, Lin Jianxin raised his voice, “Of course I did, Mom. I even worked all day. I’m exhausted!”

“Stay put; I’ll whip up something nice for you!” Qiu Aiying adored her son and couldn’t bear to see him overworked.

Relieved, Qiu Aiying and Lin Guangming finally believed their beloved son had secured an official position and avoided rural labor.

That night, Lin Xiang hadn’t returned home. Lin Guangming refused to discuss his “ungrateful” daughter, blaming her for not appreciating their efforts. He was glad she’d chosen to leave for the island, predicting she’d regret it and crawl back one day. He vowed to turn her away even if she begged.

Qiu Aiying was less furious, though disappointed they couldn’t leverage Lin Xiang’s marriage for tangible benefits. However, she was satisfied with securing her son’s job and looked forward to seeing Lin Xiang’s eventual regrets.

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While the family barely noticed Lin Xiang’s absence, concern arose when their younger daughter, Lin Chuchu, didn’t return by dinner. Qiu Aiying began to worry: “Where could that girl be?”

Lin Jianxin was nonchalant. “Mom, big sister’s old enough. She won’t get lost.”

Lin Guangming, equally indifferent, said, “Maybe she’s busy. Let’s eat first.”

Lin Chuchu finally returned around 8 p.m. As Qiu Aiying took a basin of hot water to dump outside, she noticed her daughter looking disheveled. “Chuchu, where’ve you been? It’s so late.”

Lin Chuchu hesitated for a moment before replying, “Oh, I went out to eat with colleagues and forgot to mention it.”

“You should’ve said something…” Qiu Aiying sighed but didn’t press further, too exhausted from recent events.

With the chaos surrounding Lin Xiang’s failed marriage arrangement and whispers in the factory about her own reputation, Qiu Aiying was drained. She decided to leave Lin Xiang to her fate and focus on her son’s future, which now seemed secured. At least tonight, she could sleep soundly.

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That night, the serene summer darkness of Xifeng City was accompanied by cicadas and rustling banyan leaves. Life seemed to proceed as usual, with most people already asleep after a day’s toil.

Lin Xiang, however, rose before dawn to prepare for her journey. Her train, scheduled for 6:30 a.m., was the earliest available. By 5 a.m., as faint light broke the horizon and thin wisps of smoke emerged from chimneys, she was already ready to leave.

Aunt He, her companion, had woken even earlier. Using a relative’s kitchen, she steamed a pot of cornmeal buns from dry provisions brought from the village. These were meant to sustain Lin Xiang on her train journey.

After eating two buns each, Aunt He took Lin Xiang’s hand and led her to the kitchen. From atop the stove, she retrieved a blackened glass jar.

Lin Xiang looked curiously at the blackish-yellow liquid inside the glass jar and asked in confusion, “Auntie, what is this?”

Aunt He smiled, her wrinkled face kind and gentle. “This is something good! Back when the Japanese invaded the village, I used this to smear on the village women so we could hide and escape their searches. Now, since you’re traveling alone, taking a three-day, two-night train ride, and looking like this…”

As she spoke about Lin Xiang’s appearance, Aunt He glanced at her in the dim light of the stove room, the early dawn faintly illuminating her face. She remembered Lin Xiang’s mother, Feng Huiling, a woman of striking beauty. Now her daughter had grown into a radiant young lady, so lovely it was hard not to like her at first glance.

Letting Lin Xiang travel alone on a train to a faraway place—how could anyone not worry?

“This is juice boiled from wild berries on the hillside in our village. It’s black and will make you less pale, so you won’t stand out as much when you’re outside. The effect lasts for a while. It’ll look quite dark at first but fade to a yellowish tint later.”

Lin Xiang understood—it was Aunt He’s way of disguising her to avoid attention during her travels.

Still, this method intrigued her. She asked, “Can I just wash it off with clean water?”

“It’ll take some effort with clean water. When you reach the army base, you can boil these berries and use the juice to wash your face. It’ll come off, and you’ll look just like you did before—no stains left behind. Don’t worry.” Aunt He placed five or six small black berries in Lin Xiang’s palm and advised earnestly, “You have to be careful when you’re out and about. You don’t know, but I’ve heard stories of kidnappers at train stations and on trains. Some target little boys, and others go after pretty young women to sell them off as brides. They’re heartless!”

Hearing this, Lin Xiang immediately grew vigilant. Human traffickers were despicable in any era.

The cooled berry juice was applied to Lin Xiang’s face by Aunt He. The sensation reminded her of applying a face mask. When Aunt He was done, Lin Xiang hurriedly found a mirror and gasped.

After the transformation, her once fair and delicate face was now dark and sallow, completely hiding her features.

“Let me add some freckles!” Aunt He said proudly, recalling her skill. “My work is so good, no one can tell!”

In these chaotic times, without modern surveillance or technology, being cautious while traveling alone was essential. Lin Xiang looked at her new appearance and was satisfied. She truly blended in and even looked a bit unattractive.

With her new disguise—dark, sallow skin and freckles—Lin Xiang donned her plain gray shirt and set off. She and Aunt He had to take the early bus for a 40-minute ride from Qingshui Lane to the train station. They were efficient, arriving at 6:10 AM.

The 1970s train station was dilapidated and small, lacking the spaciousness and grandeur of later years. Whitewashed single-story buildings stood there, with a steel-framed roof supporting the red-painted characters “Xifeng,” prominently perched above. Outside, crowds bustled with people in gray shirts carrying large bags, adding a touch of life to the scene.

Inside the waiting hall, rows of wooden benches stretched out, surrounded by loud chatter. The platform was packed with people waiting to board or meet someone, their eyes fixed on the empty tracks, anticipating the whistle and sight of the green train.

Lin Xiang and Aunt He walked around before finding two empty seats. Lin Xiang’s luggage was simple and light, but Aunt He had prepared plenty for her.

“These are salted duck eggs made at home. Hongyuan loves them, and you should try my cooking too.” Aunt He loved making salted duck eggs, and her sons adored them. Reluctant to let Lin Xiang go empty-handed, she packed six eggs for her. “Eat these with the cornbread on the train to stay full. For lunch and dinner, buy meals sold on the train. Take this money and these ration tickets I got from the village leader. Be careful, and don’t talk to strangers. You’re too pretty, and if you catch the eye of a trafficker, it’ll be trouble. When you see Hongyuan, don’t hold back. You two are properly engaged with a marriage certificate. I’ll back you up if needed!”

Aunt He had gone out of her way to ensure Lin Xiang’s safety, even arranging for relatives to pick her up if her fiancé, He Hongyuan, wasn’t around when she arrived.

Lin Xiang, who had crossed into the 1970s, cherished the warmth she felt from Aunt He. As someone who was an orphan in her past life and had dealt with an unkind father and stepmother in this one, she hadn’t experienced much familial love.

Touched by Aunt He’s kindness, Lin Xiang smiled, looking at the salted duck eggs and cornbread. “Auntie, I’ll remember everything. Don’t worry—I’ll be extra careful on the train.”

After a brief chat, Lin Xiang packed everything neatly. She kept money and tickets close to her body and left the bag mostly for clothes and food—nothing too valuable. She planned to stay alert throughout the journey.

When the train’s whistle finally sounded, the green train, billowing white smoke, rumbled into the station. The crowd surged, and the chaos was overwhelming.

“The train is here!” Aunt He, seeing Lin Xiang’s slender frame, grabbed her luggage with one hand and her arm with the other, leading the way. “You’ll never get on like this. I’ll help you board.”

Lin Xiang had never experienced such a chaotic boarding scene. Though she had seen crowded train stations during the Spring Festival in modern times, the 1970s train station was a brand-new experience.

The crowd surged, leaving no room to step. People were pressed chest to back, making it hard to breathe. Those eager to disembark climbed out of windows, while some desperate to board the train entered through the windows too.

Aunt He had spent her life working hard in the fields, strong and capable. She wouldn’t have been able to raise three sons on her own without such skills. With her leading the way, Lin Xiang’s journey was much smoother.

At that time, the trains didn’t have assigned seat numbers; whoever boarded first could claim a seat. There were even fights and arguments over seats.

Aunt He was quick with her hands and eyes, spotting an empty seat by the window from a passenger about to get off. Before Lin Xiang could even arrive, she threw her bundle onto the seat, securing it. She noticed a middle-aged man sprinting towards the seat, seemingly aiming for the same spot. She quickly pulled Lin Xiang to the seat, moved the bundle, and helped Lin Xiang sit down.

The entire action was smooth and seamless.

It was Lin Xiang’s first time on a train from this era. She hadn’t even fully processed what happened before the man who had lost the seat shot her a glare and muttered under his breath.

Aunt He wasn’t one to back down; she glared right back. What did it matter if she was slow? The seat was hers!

“Auntie, you’re amazing!” Lin Xiang sincerely admired her. According to Aunt He, she had only traveled once in her life and ridden the train once, but she had heard plenty of stories about people fighting for seats. Now, watching it unfold, she was impressed by how strong and imposing Aunt He was—it gave her a real sense of security.

“This is nothing,” Aunt He said, thinking of how her son’s marriage was settled and how she had a beautiful daughter-in-law. It was truly a blessing. “When you’re out there, don’t stand out too much, but don’t let anyone bully you either. If anything happens, ask the conductor for help!”

“Okay.” Lin Xiang felt a warm feeling in her heart. It was rare to receive such protective care, and it made her feel secure.

As the green train was about to depart, Aunt He swiftly squeezed through the crowd and got off the train. On the platform, she waved goodbye to Lin Xiang, reminding her to stay safe and to contact her once she reached the army.

The train’s whistle blew as white smoke billowed from the engine. Lin Xiang tightly held her bundle, turning to look out the window. She waved at Aunt He.

She had traveled to Xifeng City, and now she was leaving for Langhua Island.

A strange feeling surged within her. How much attachment did she have to this place? Perhaps not much. But it was the first place she had stayed after crossing over. Now, with the train heading toward the unknown future, there was curiosity, hope, and even some wandering thoughts.

As the green train headed south, toward Langhua Island, something big was happening at the Lin Family’s steel mill in Xifeng City.

The surprise Lin Xiang left for Lin Guangming and Qiao Aiying was just beginning to unfold.

Lin Jianxin was urged by his parents to go to work, only to be told that he didn’t have a job at the steel mill at all.

When Lin Guangming and Qiao Aiying heard this, they almost passed out from shock.