Chapter 2

Xiangyang Brigade was under the jurisdiction of Huojiazhuang Commune.

Located in northeastern China, winter here was long and harsh. By late December, the ground was covered in snow.

Most years, villagers stayed indoors during this season. But this year was different.

Huo Xiao—the most promising young man in the village—had been declared dead three months ago. Before his body was even cold, his new wife, a college student, abandoned her in-laws and ran away.

Worse, she took money with her.

The scandal spread like wildfire.

People gossiped about it as eagerly as they celebrated the New Year.

The Huo family had been restless ever since.

Most villagers were sympathetic.

For instance, Huo Xiao’s third Aunt, Zhang Meihua, was deeply worried about Huo Xiao’s mother, Hu Xiu. Ever since the daughter-in-law disappeared, Zhang Meihua had practically moved into her sister-in-law’s house.

“Meihua, go home. I’m feeling much better now.” After the curious onlookers left, Hu Xiu lay half-reclined on the kang bed. She checked on her grandchildren, whose rosy faces showed they were sleeping well. After making sure they hadn’t wet the bed, she weakly urged her sister-in-law to leave.

Zhang Meihua, a tall and sturdy woman with a square, honest face, sat cross-legged at the foot of the kang. A winnowing basket of chestnuts rested beside her, and she skillfully peeled the shells.

Hearing Hu Xiu’s words, she glanced at her sister-in-law, who now looked years older, and muttered, “If I go home, I’ll just be working the same. Might as well stay here.”

Since the news of Huo Xiao’s death, Hu Xiu had fallen ill for months. Just as she recovered, her daughter-in-law disappeared, leaving her frail and gray-haired.

Zhang Meihua wasn’t good with words, but she stayed to keep her sister-in-law from despair.

Besides, her presence made gossipers more cautious—her husband was the brigade accountant, after all.

Hu Xiu understood her sister-in-law’s concerns. With no choice but to reassure her, she said, “I still have to raise Miaomiao and Guoguo. I won’t let this break me.”

Zhang Meihua glanced at the fair, chubby twins. Just as she was about to speak, the thick wooden door creaked open.

A sharp voice called out: “Sister-in-law, the old secretary is here to see you.”

It was Chen Guilan, Hu Xiu’s second sister-in-law.

Unlike the strong and quiet Zhang Meihua, Chen Guilan was thin but sharp-tongued.

She stepped inside, her pretty face full of disdain. “Sister-in-law, you’re too soft-hearted. Why are we saving face for the Lin family? Everyone in the village says she ran away! Otherwise, why would she take so much money and clothes? If you ask me, we should demand the Lin family pay us back!”

She wanted to add that if Hu Xiu didn’t need the money, she should give it to them instead—after all, she had six children, and money was tight.

But seeing how pale and frail Hu Xiu looked, she held her tongue.

Instead, she sat on the kang, pulled out a handful of sunflower seeds from her pocket, and started eating.

Ignoring Chen Guilan, Hu Xiu turned to the old secretary, who had just stepped inside.

He wore a patched-up thick coat and a Lei Feng hat ^[1]which is a style of fur-lined winter hat, named after a Chinese soldier known for his selflessness.. His face was weathered from years of hard work.

Straightening up, Hu Xiu greeted him, “Why have you come? Please, sit down. Meihua, make some tea to warm him up.”

Zhang Meihua responded immediately, “I’ll go now!”

The old secretary placed his cloth bag on the table, brushed the snow off his coat, and sat down on a wooden bench near the kang.

Waving his hand, he said, “No need for anything fancy. Just plain water is fine.”

Hu Xiu didn’t argue and told Meihua to continue. She also asked her to make a cup of sugar water for Guilan, then turned to the old secretary. “I’m really fine. I can go out tomorrow. But you, the snow is thick, and the road is slippery. If something happens to you…”

“Ahem… I’m fine,” the old secretary coughed. “It’s good that you’re thinking positively. Life is hard, but we must move forward. Besides, you need to plan for your grandchildren.” He talked for a while, lit his pipe, took two puffs, then pointed to a small bag on the table. “I brought you some food. It’s not much, but it’s nutritious.”

Hu Xiu immediately interrupted. “No, take it back. I really don’t need it.”

This wasn’t just politeness. Although her husband passed away early, leaving only one son, her in-laws, brother-in-law, and sisters-in-law all supported her. Additionally, she had many brothers from her own family and was quite capable. In the past, she lived well, and after her son joined the army, he regularly sent back an allowance.

The old secretary frowned. “This isn’t just from me. Everyone agreed to this. It’s called caring for the families of martyrs, and the organization encourages it. But that child… what a pity.” His voice, usually loud, softened as he stroked his pipe.

Hu Xiu, who had already cried all her tears, blinked. Even after three months, her son’s death still weighed heavily on her.

Seeing this, Chen Guilan, who was drinking sugar water, quickly changed the subject. “Old Secretary, why bring this up now? We should gather some men, grab weapons, and find the Lin family. Their daughter ran away with so much money—we can’t let it go.”

Hu Xiu sighed and patted her sister-in-law. “My in-laws are good people. They returned some of the money today and promised to gather the rest. Besides, we don’t know what really happened with Tingting. Don’t spread rumors that could ruin her reputation.”

She didn’t say that she never wanted the money back in the first place. No matter what, it was already unfortunate that such an outstanding young woman like her daughter-in-law became a widow so soon.

But her mother-in-law had left with the money.

Thinking of the woman’s swollen eyes and blistered lips, it was clear she had been suffering. Even if Hu Xiu had felt resentment, it had faded.

The stack of money contained both Great Unity banknotes ^[2]a type of Chinese currency from the mid-20th century. and Mao Zedong notes ^[3]another form of Chinese currency issued after the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.. The mix of old and new bills showed how difficult it had been to collect.

Because of the Lin family’s character, Hu Xiu suspected there was another reason behind her daughter-in-law’s disappearance.

Chen Guilan was surprised the Lin family was willing to return the money. “That’s rare. Could it be that good bamboo produces bad shoots?” ^[4]a phrase meaning good families can still have bad descendants.

The old secretary was about to ask more when someone called from outside. “Is anyone home?”

The voice was unfamiliar. The group exchanged glances before Zhang Meihua, who had been peeling chestnuts on the kang, went to open the door.

She returned with a middle-aged woman in a military coat.

The old secretary recognized her and stood up in confusion. “Secretary Wang? Why are you here?”

“I have good news!” The visitor, Wang Chunling, was the secretary of Huojiazhuang Commune.

Wang Chunling knew Huo Xiao, the most accomplished officer in the commune. After his death, she had paid even more attention to his family. She was also aware that his wife had allegedly run away with the money.

Now that there was new information, she had rushed over. As soon as she sat down, she blurted, “Lin Ting called!”

“What?!”

The news shocked everyone.

Hu Xiu reacted the fastest. With red eyes, she moved closer. “I knew Tingting wasn’t a bad child! Secretary Wang, tell me quickly—where is she? Is she okay?”

Wang Chunling got straight to the point. “Lin Ting called to confirm Huo Xiao’s death. She said that if it was true, as his wife, she had to bring his belongings home. She left secretly because she feared you wouldn’t approve of her joining the army. She left in such a hurry that she forgot to leave a message. So, she called as soon as she arrived in Shanghai.”

Hearing this, everyone looked relieved except for Chen Guilan, who remained skeptical. “If that’s true, why did she take all the money?”

Wang Chunling sighed. “Lin Ting said she never planned to use the money. She took it in case Huo Xiao needed it.”

Then she added, “Educated people think differently. She wanted to see things for herself and get closure. No matter the outcome, she needed an explanation.”

Of course, Wang Chunling didn’t entirely trust Lin Ting’s words. But since this explanation benefitted everyone, she was willing to accept it and act on it quickly.

Hu Xiu, feeling much lighter, nodded. “Yes! Tingting was right to do this. She’s a thoughtful child.”

The old secretary added, “I’m glad she’s safe. I’ll explain this to the villagers. We can’t let them misunderstand her.”

Secretary Wang nodded. “Yes, we need to clarify everything. I’ll go to the radio station with you and broadcast the truth.”

She stood up, ready to leave. The impact of this incident had been severe. After all, Huo Xiao was a martyr and a high-ranking officer. If his wife had truly abandoned the family for money, the backlash would have been immense.

If this situation isn’t resolved quickly, once the news reaches the county armed forces department, even Wang Chunling, the commune secretary, will be in trouble.

Realizing this, Wang Chunling couldn’t sit still. She quickly retied her scarf and pulled the old secretary along.

Seeing this, Hu Xiu turned to her third sister-in-law. “Meihua, we need Dahai to go to the next village and send a message to our in-laws.”

Hearing this, Zhang Meihua immediately put on her shoes and thick coat, her voice loud and clear: “I’m going right now!”

Wang Chunling suddenly slapped her forehead and turned back. “I almost forgot. Comrade Lin Ting also asked me to notify her parents’ home. Someone has already gone.”

Hu Xiu, mainly concerned with delivering money to their in-laws, reassured her. “It’s fine. Tingting made this trip for Xiao, so it’s only right that we go ourselves.”

She then turned to her third brother’s wife at the door. “Meihua, have Dahai come with me. The snow is thick, so ask Dazhu to join us. The two brothers can go together!”

Without turning back, Zhang Meihua replied, “Understood.”

Everyone was delighted except for Chen Guilan, who still felt uneasy. She pouted, thinking the reason seemed far-fetched. But seeing everyone’s joy, she kept quiet. Her sister-in-law had finally regained some energy, so it was best to stay silent for now.

Meanwhile, in stark contrast to the joyous Xiangyang Brigade, Lin Ting, disheveled and dirty, was in a foul mood on the train to Chengdu.

The journey covered more than 1,900 kilometers, lasting four days and three nights in a hard seat. It was bearable given the times, but her luck had been terrible. Not only had she inexplicably traveled through time, but now, even on the train, she faced more troubles.

The mother and son sitting opposite her had removed their shoes. Judging by the stench filling the carriage, it had been ages since they last washed their feet or changed their shoes. The air was so pungent it made her eyes sting.

From the moment she boarded, Lin Ting had kept her face pressed against the window, unwilling to breathe through her nose. Even when her neck ached, she refused to turn back.

Just when she thought things couldn’t get worse, the woman opposite suddenly shouted, “Hey, big sister, move back a little.”

Lin Ting turned reluctantly, only to see the woman grinning, revealing yellowed teeth. “Move back, my baby needs to pee.”

Without waiting for a response, she reached out to open the window. A biting wind rushed in, making Lin Ting shiver. She was about to take a deep breath of fresh air when a boy, around fourteen or fifteen, squeezed next to her.

Before she could react, the boy unbuttoned his pants, aiming toward the window. Lin Ting barely had time to dodge as the wind blew urine back into the carriage.

The woman, unfazed, shouted, “Hey, sister, why are you dodging? Hold onto my baby so he doesn’t fall!”

Even though Lin Ting prided herself on her patience, her face darkened like the bottom of a pot.

She wanted to go home!