Wu Ping’an pretended not to care. “Do I look like I’m joking? Take it. With your third brother’s skills, this little money is nothing.”  

His tone was light, but inwardly, his heart ached terribly.  

He didn’t even dare glance at the money in his little sister’s hand—otherwise, the pain would be even worse…  

Fifty yuan was nearly his entire savings.  

He had started stashing this money away since elementary school, and it hadn’t been easy.  

Back then, there was still a “pigeon market” where regulations were lax, and as long as no major trouble was stirred up, no one would interfere. Tagging along with his buddies, he started with his last two yuan and worked hard for three or four years before saving up over forty.  

Later, the pigeon market was shut down and became the current black market.  

Getting caught doing business in the black market could land you in jail, so he quit his old trade. Instead, he helped his mom at home, occasionally earning a few cents or dimes here and there.  

After more than a decade of scrimping, he had finally amassed a nest egg of fifty-some yuan.  

Originally, he had planned to hand over his savings to his future wife after marriage to make her happy.  

But now…  

It was obvious that life in the countryside would be tough. He couldn’t stop his second sister and little sister from being sent down, so the least he could do was make sure they had some money to spend.  

“Hide it quickly—don’t let anyone see,” Wu Ping’an reminded her.  

“Third Brother…” Rong Xiaoxiao hesitated. Though deeply moved, she knew how hard-earned this money was, and holding it felt like holding fire.  

“Take it. I already discussed it with your sister-in-law, and she didn’t object at all.” As he spoke, Wu Ping’an couldn’t help but feel a little smug.  

See how understanding his wife was?  

Not only did she not refuse, but she even said she’d cure some bacon at New Year’s and send it to them next year.  

Wu Ping’an felt that the best decision he’d ever made in his life was volunteering to become a live-in son-in-law.  

Rong Xiaoxiao didn’t refuse any further. Clutching the money, she flashed her third brother a bright smile and said loudly, “Thank you, Third Brother!”  

“Pfft, what’s there to thank between siblings?” Wu Ping’an grinned back. Glancing toward the river, he asked, “Do you really want to fish? Want me to borrow a rod for you?”  

Rong Xiaoxiao shook her head vigorously. “No, no, I need to go home and hide this money properly.”  

Such a large sum had to be stashed away carefully.  

With money in hand, she felt secure—so secure that she wasn’t the least bit afraid of going to the countryside anymore.  

Perhaps that fifty yuan brought her a wave of financial luck.  

Over the next few days, one person after another slipped money into her hands.

That same night, Rong Shuigen quietly sought her out and pressed a wad of cash into her hand—not a huge sum, totaling thirty-seven yuan, sixty-eight fen.  

Seeing the cautious look on the middle-aged man’s face, Rong Xiaoxiao was touched but couldn’t help teasing, “Dad, is this your secret stash?”  

“Shh!” Rong Shuigen looked panicked. “Don’t tell your mom, or I’ll be in big trouble.”  

Rong Xiaoxiao giggled, amused by his flustered expression. “Mom keeps such a tight grip on the money, yet you still managed to save up this much. You’re pretty impressive.”  

“Had to sneak a drink or two sometimes,” Rong Shuigen admitted, ruffling her hair with a mix of nostalgia and reluctance. “But starting today, I’m quitting drinking. Every penny I’d spend on liquor will go to you girls instead.”  

Aside from her dad, the biggest surprise came when Wu Pingzu sought her out in secret.  

It was genuinely shocking.  

In this household, she had the least interaction with Wu Pingzu—they barely exchanged a few words a day. She talked more with random neighbors in the courtyard than with him.  

When it came to the sisters being sent down to the countryside, as the eldest brother, he had never voiced an opinion, giving the impression that he simply didn’t care.  

Maybe because she’d gotten used to receiving money by now, Rong Xiaoxiao didn’t refuse when he handed her some. She thanked him and stuffed it into her pocket without a second thought.  

What was interesting was that everyone gave her double the amount—half for her, half for her second sister.  

Yet, without fail, they all entrusted the full sum to her first, echoing Third Brother’s reasoning: “Keep an eye on it—don’t let Second Sister waste it.”

Clearly, everyone saw how unreliable that scumbag was—except for the one person blinded by love.  

The whole family could see it. Only Second Sister was too deep in her delusion.  

But the real big spender was none other than the household’s matriarch.  

On their last night before departure, Wu Chuanfang entered the sisters’ room without much preamble and slapped down the cash.  

Ten big ten-yuan bills went to Rong Xiaoxiao.  

One single ten-yuan bill went to Wu Pinghui.  

The difference in treatment was… stark.  

“Quit staring,” Wu Chuanfang said sternly, though her face softened as the reality of their departure sank in. “If I gave you the money directly, you’d just lose it. I’ll send you installments every three months until it adds up to a hundred.”  

“Mom, I didn’t mean anything by it,” Wu Pinghui mumbled.  

She hadn’t expected anything, but the huge gap between her and her little sister still stung a little.  

Hearing her mom’s explanation, though, she felt ashamed.  

Here her mother was, thinking ahead for her, and she was busy overthinking things.  

“Remember what I told you?” Wu Chuanfang drilled it in one last time. “Out there, it’s best not to stir up trouble—but if someone starts trouble with you, don’t just take it. If you keep swallowing insults, people will think you’re easy to bully. Make a scene if you have to—the bigger, the better.” She jabbed a finger in the air for emphasis. “If things escalate, the brigade will have to step in. And if they don’t? Take it to the town. If the town ignores it? Send a telegram home. Your dad and I will—”

She rambled on, repeating her advice all night long.  

Rong Xiaoxiao leaned against her mother’s shoulder. She could practically recite those words by heart, but hearing them didn’t annoy her—instead, she felt a warmth she’d never known before.  

In her past life, no one had ever fussed over her like this.  

They slept late that night, and the next morning, it was time to grab their things and leave.  

Aside from the eldest brother, everyone else came to see them off.  

There were four large bags and two backpacks on the ground. Wu Ping’an, figuring that as a man, he should carry more of the load, reached for two of the big bags and lifted—  

“Oof—w-wait, how are these so heavy?!”  

Wu Ping’an was stunned. He’d mentally prepared himself—of course big bags would be heavy—but not this heavy. He couldn’t help but mutter, “How are Second Sister and Little Sis supposed to haul these all the way to the Northeast?”  

At that moment, Rong Xiaoxiao stepped forward.  

Without a word, she grabbed two of the large bags—one in each hand—and lifted them effortlessly.  

“…You’re terrifying,” Wu Ping’an said, not for the first time witnessing his little sister’s freakish strength. He couldn’t help but grumble, “Mom, did you mix us up at birth? How is it that I, a grown man, am weaker than Little Sis?”  

Wu Chuanfang ignored him, tossing him a look that said figure it out yourself.  

Then she picked up another large bag and started walking ahead.  

“……” Wu Ping’an fell silent.  

Little Sis was freakishly strong, and Mom wasn’t far behind.  

Watching his father gesture for them to share the load of the remaining bag, he suddenly understood why Mom was the head of the household.  

Who’d dare disobey her? One slap, and who could take it?  

And so, the group arrived at the train station.  

The green-skinned train was swarmed with people coming and going. For now, the Wu family had no time to dwell on their sadness—they had to fight through the crowd to find their train.  

“Climb up first, then we’ll pass the luggage to you,” Wu Chuanfang directed.  

Rong Xiaoxiao stared at the window, which was higher than her head. “You want me to climb **in**?”  

Wu Chuanfang urged, “Hurry up, or we’ll never squeeze through the doors.”  

Peeking inside, Rong Xiaoxiao saw the train was already packed wall-to-wall with people. Climbing through the window was the easier option.  

Seeing others around her doing the same, she rubbed her hands together, braced against the window ledge, and with a little effort, smoothly vaulted inside.  

Inside, Gao Liao and his two companions were chatting when suddenly—a girl climbed in through the window.  

They stared, momentarily stunned.  

Before they could react, the girl who had just infiltrated their compartment spoke up cheerfully:  

“Hello, comrades! My seat’s right next to yours—mind making some room so I can haul my luggage in?”

The three men naturally had no objections—especially since the young woman was so polite and smiling. Making a little room for her was no trouble at all.  

Gao Liao, seeing she was a female comrade, asked, “Do you need any help?”  

“No need, no need. It’s just a few pieces of luggage.”  

Hearing this, Gao Liao assumed she didn’t have much.  

And then…  

And then he watched in stunned silence as she hauled in four massive bags, each half a person’s height, through the window—and finally, she lifted an entire person inside. 

“Easy, easy! Don’t drop me!”  

“You weigh less than one of these bags—how could I possibly drop you?”  

Gao Liao’s jaw dropped. He just stood there, dumbfounded, as she effortlessly lifted a full-grown woman into the train.  

“Is she some kind of Hercules?” his companion whispered.  

Gao Liao coughed lightly, not wanting to gossip in front of the female comrades.  

Glancing at the four enormous bags now piled beside them, he couldn’t help but wonder just how heavy they really were.  

Maybe they just look big but are actually light?

No—even if the bags are light, a full-grown adult can’t possibly be that easy to lift, right?  

His curiosity burned, but before he could investigate, the young woman had already hoisted the bags onto the overhead racks. Somehow, those massive bundles actually fit. 

“Mom planned this perfectly—they fit just right,” Rong Xiaoxiao marveled. The bags weren’t just randomly stuffed; Wu Chuanfang had meticulously calculated their dimensions to ensure they’d squeeze into the storage space.  

Wu Pinghui, having found her seat, kept glancing around as if searching for someone.  

After securing the luggage, Rong Xiaoxiao leaned out the window again. “Mom, Dad, should I come down and chat for a bit?”  

There was still time before departure—plenty to talk.  

But Wu Chuanfang just waved her off. “No need. We’re heading back now.”  

“Already?”  

Wu Chuanfang didn’t answer, only nodded.  

If she spoke, she was afraid she’d burst into tears.  

Her chest felt tight, like something was lodged inside—one wrong move, and it would all spill out.  

She didn’t want to leave in tears.  

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she spoke briskly: “Send a telegram as soon as you arrive. And remember—write home often.” With that, she raised a hand in farewell and urged her husband and son to leave.  

But the moment she turned away, the tears fell.  

“Mom, Dad, Third Brother—we’ll be fine! Don’t worry about us!” Rong Xiaoxiao called out, leaning further out the window to wave vigorously.  

When she saw her third brother glance back, she waved even harder.  

“Why did they leave?” Wu Pinghui squeezed over, her face anxious as she watched their retreating figures. “The train hasn’t even left yet! Why did Mom and Dad go back so soon?” 

“You weren’t even planning to talk to them—why should they just stand there staring at you?” Rong Xiaoxiao huffed. From the moment they boarded, her sister had been scanning the crowd—clearly looking for someone else.  

Wu Pinghui’s face flushed. “I—I just…”

Rong Xiaoxiao ignored her and took her seat.  

Before long, Wu Pinghui sat down beside her, head bowed, sniffling softly.  

With a sigh, Rong Xiaoxiao handed her a handkerchief.  

She understood her sister’s feelings all too well.  

For those about to embark on a long journey, the initial emotions are excitement and anticipation.  

But once family members fade into the distance, that reluctance to part takes over completely.  

Inside the train, many were crying like Wu Pinghui.  

Especially once the train started moving—the entire carriage, once lively and bustling, fell into a heavy silence, broken only by muffled sobs from those around them.  

But after all, they were young people. They adapted quickly.  

A few hours later, the carriage grew lively again, and the two rows of passengers began introducing themselves to one another.  

“We’re all heading out to labor and build—since we’re sharing this carriage, it’s fate. Why don’t we introduce ourselves? Who knows, we might even end up assigned to the same brigade. Having familiar faces around will make things easier when we arrive.” A tall, lanky male comrade spoke up first. “I’m Chen Zhou, assigned to Luoshan Commune.” 

With someone leading the way, the others quickly followed.  

“I’m Liu Fen, a sent-down youth assigned to Chaoyang Commune.” 

“I’m…”  

One by one, they introduced themselves. Rong Xiaoxiao had no intention of standing out too much—when her turn came, she’d follow the crowd. But before that, she took the opportunity to dig out some snacks.  

Her small bag was packed with treats.  

She’d been craving them for ages, but her mother had kept a tight leash on them, insisting she could only eat them on the train.  

Now, she was finally free to indulge.  

As she rummaged through her bag, she happened to catch the two across from her speaking.  

“I’m Chen Shuming, assigned to Liushi Commune.”

“I’m Gao Liao, also assigned to Liushi Commune.”

Rong Xiaoxiao’s brows furrowed slightly. Beside her, Wu Pinghui reacted even more strongly.  

“Little Sis! They’re going to the same commune as you! You might even end up in the same brigade!”  

With that, she immediately struck up a conversation with the two male comrades across from them—clearly trying to help her little sister build connections.  

But Rong Xiaoxiao was momentarily lost in thought.  

Those two names… they felt oddly familiar.