“Su Huaiyuan, Qiao Jiuru, Su Ze, Zhou Wanwan, Su Xingchen, Su Xinghai—personnel sent down from the capital—get off the train immediately, or bear the consequences yourselves!”

“Which of you is Su Huaiyuan, Qiao Jiuru, Su Ze, Zhou Wanwan, Su Xingchen, Su Xinghai? Stand up, all of you! Follow us off the train!”

The people wearing red armbands climbed into the carriage from both ends, blocking the exits with purpose.

One of them shouted out names from a sheet of paper, bellowing at the passengers.

When the people in the carriage heard that “stinking old intellectuals” were being sent down, they all shrank back as if afraid of being contaminated.

Still, their eyes darted around curiously, wondering which unfortunate souls were the targets.

“We’re here, that’s us. We’re coming, we’re coming.”

Su Huaiyuan had already mentally prepared himself for the scrutiny, disgust, and hostility from the other passengers.

He didn’t feel ashamed, embarrassed, or uneasy.

His wife had once said that they were just facing a temporary hardship.

As long as they endured these few years, those who now looked down on them would end up living lives no better than theirs.

The Su family was seated near the carriage door.

When Su Huaiyuan responded, the red armband wearers locked their eyes on them.

By then, the Su family had already gathered their luggage.

Dabao and Xiaobao were being tightly held by Su Ze and Zhou Wanwan.

When the two children woke up, Zhou Wanwan and Qiao Jiuru had intentionally dressed them in patched-up clothes.

Their faces had been rubbed with a yellowish ointment from Qiao Jiuru’s hidden stash, giving them a sallow appearance.

Not only the children’s faces but also Zhou Wanwan and Qiao Jiuru’s were made up to look sickly and pale.

Zhou Wanwan even had dark blotches drawn onto her face, instantly dulling her appearance and aura.

The whole family wore faded, patched-up clothes.

Su Huaiyuan and his son Su Ze had messy, unkempt hair and wrinkled garments.

“Hurry up! Stop dawdling!”

“You stinking intellectuals! Get down! Do you think we’ll invite you with flowers?!”

“Move! Now!”

There were five red armband wearers on board.

After sizing up the Su family, they barked impatient orders with no courtesy in their tone.

As Su Ze and Su Huaiyuan passed by, they were shoved roughly by the red armbands.

Caught off guard, the father and son stumbled and banged into the door.

Qiao Jiuru and Zhou Wanwan clenched their fists and held back their urge to rush over.

Instead, they huddled protectively around Xiaobao, shielding him from the terrifying scene.

Dabao was also held tightly in his father’s arms.

His little head buried into Su Ze’s chest.

Though small, children are especially sensitive.

Hearing the hostile voices and then getting jostled into the door, he finally burst into tears from fear.

And once Dabao cried, Xiaobao joined in loudly as well.

Qiao Jiuru and Zhou Wanwan’s hearts ached terribly.

They softly whispered to comfort the children, gently stroking their heads.

Some soft-hearted passengers on the train couldn’t help but sigh, but dared not speak.

Others, however, wore schadenfreude smiles as they watched the commotion.

Dragged and shoved, the Su family was finally forced off the train.

On the platform stood three more red armbands, who immediately gave them a thorough once-over.

“Everyone accounted for?”

“Director Fang, the Su family—Four adults and two kids—all the stinking intellectuals are here.”

“Cooperative?”

“They wouldn’t dare not to be. If they don’t behave, just beat them.”

“Take them away.”

“Move it! Don’t dawdle!”

The red armband wearers spoke without restraint, right in front of the Su family, as if they were invisible.

And no sooner were the words out than Su Huaiyuan and Su Ze were shoved again.

Though they’d prepared mentally, they still staggered from the force.

Dabao didn’t dare look up, huddling tightly against his father.

Though he wasn’t crying anymore, he kept sobbing softly, breaking his father’s and grandfather’s hearts.

Qiao Jiuru, quick-eyed, grabbed her daughter-in-law’s arm and clutched it tightly as they hurried to catch up with Su Huaiyuan and Su Ze, not giving the red armbands a chance to lay hands on them.

From the train station to the Huaxian Revolutionary Committee (the “gewei”), the walk was only about twenty minutes, but during that time, Su Huaiyuan was deliberately pushed to the ground.

Su Ze, young and strong, did his best to protect Dabao in his arms.

Though he was shoved multiple times, he managed to stay upright.

If he hadn’t been carrying his child, Su Ze thought, maybe he should’ve just fallen—let these people vent their anger and get it out of their systems, so they’d go easier on the rest of the family.

At the Huaxian gewei, the whole family was shoved into a small, dark room—not even allowed to use the bathroom.

As soon as they were locked in, Qiao Jiuru threw their luggage to the floor, pulled a White Rabbit milk candy from her pocket, bit it in half, and put one piece into Xiaobao’s mouth, and the other into Dabao’s.

Zhou Wanwan and Su Ze sat in the corner, still holding the kids, whispering comfort.

Qiao Jiuru checked the boys’ foreheads anxiously.

Sensing no fever, she finally relaxed a little.

But just as their nerves settled, the door to the little black room burst open again—and several red armband men surged inside.