Chapter 17 : Arrival at the Train Station

“Dad, I don’t know who secretly signed Ruxue up to go to the countryside. Today, we received the notice, and she’s leaving tomorrow. You have a wide network of contacts, can you help keep her from going? This child has already suffered in the countryside for 18 years. I can’t bear to be separated from her again, and I can’t bear to see her suffer more,” Tang Lingxue said with distress.

The old man’s eyes flickered slightly upon hearing this. He wondered who could’ve done it and, thinking of Shu Siying, shook his head again.

“I’ll go and try to pull some strings now. Ruxue can’t suffer in the countryside again,” Shu Guofeng said, heart aching as he looked at his daughter sobbing with her head down.

“That’s not right! You should be preparing supplies for her to go to the countryside!” Shu Zhisheng’s voice suddenly rang out.

“Dad, why won’t you help Ruxue? She’s your granddaughter. Because of our negligence, she suffered 18 years in the countryside. Why won’t you help her now? With your current status, isn’t this something you could easily resolve?” Tang Lingxue asked, angered.

“Do you know how many political enemies are targeting the Shu family right now? They’re all waiting for us to make a mistake. People with my rank have been demoted before, haven’t we seen that happen?” Shu Zhisheng’s face darkened, and he looked sternly at the confused couple.

Seeing their doubtful expressions, clearly not believing him, he closed his eyes and said, “The list has already been submitted. Ruxue must go to the countryside. We can’t go against the higher-ups’ policies. But we can use our connections to get her back to the city after one year.”

Old Shu shook his head. He thought his son, who was usually clever, became foolish when it came to Ruxue. He turned and walked out the courtyard gate. The guard followed behind, and soon the sound of a car starting could be heard.

The three people in the living room fell into deep thought. Finally, Shu Jianguo said, “Ruxue, your grandfather is right. Go to the countryside first. Your mother and I will send you 20 yuan a month along with supplies, so you won’t need to worry about food or basic needs. After a year, I will find a way to bring you back to the city.”

“Mom, Dad… I’ll follow your suggestion and go to the countryside as an educated youth, but I’m so reluctant to leave you… sob sob…” Shu Ruxue hadn’t expected her plan to be disrupted like this. It seemed this was the only way now.

“Lingxue, take the child and prepare the supplies she’ll need for going to the countryside. I have something to handle at the military base.” Shu Jianguo left quickly. He wanted to investigate who had signed Ruxue up for the countryside and who had transferred her job.

“Ruxue, let’s go. Mom will take you to buy what you need for the countryside. I won’t let you suffer there,” Tang Lingxue said as she went upstairs to get money.

“Okay, Mom.” Shu Ruxue’s mood was low. She kept wondering who had submitted her name to go to the countryside. She still believed it was Shu Siying only she had the motive.

That evening after dinner.

“Dad, I went to the machinery factory to work today, but everyone there said I had gone yesterday to transfer my job. There were even many eyewitnesses… But I’ve never gone to the machinery factory to transfer anything,” Shu Ruxue suddenly remembered her job situation.

“There’s such a thing?” Shu Chengzhi’s expression turned grim. Could they have been targeted by enemy spies? He knew the Sakura people (Japanese) were skilled in disguise, so this matter could not be taken lightly.

Shu Jianguo’s face also turned solemn. Their family couldn’t withstand another political storm. Several of his good friends had already been sent down to the countryside for reeducation. Then he said, “After I heard about this on the phone, I sent someone to investigate. The results are in, everything was signed and submitted by ‘Ruxue.’ It’s possible someone disguised themselves as her to do it.”

“The person who disguised themselves as Ruxue and transferred the job, were they also the one who signed her up to go to the countryside?” Shu Chengzhi’s expression grew serious. When had they offended someone capable of doing such things?

“It must be that ungrateful Shu Siying. She can’t stand seeing Ruxue living a good life. Not only did she sell Ruxue’s job, she also secretly signed her up for the rural posting,” Tang Lingxue said angrily, her voice filled with resentment.

“I remember Siying always being well-behaved, and she’s already left the Shu family. Could there be some mistake? And does she even have the ability to disguise herself?” Shu Chengzhi reasoned. He didn’t believe Siying was that kind of person.

“That’s only because her interests weren’t affected before. Don’t be fooled by her appearance. Who knows who she’s learned these things from? Maybe she picked it up in the past six months.” Tang Lingxue replied with clear dissatisfaction. She had a strong hunch that Shu Siying was the culprit.

The Shu family was shrouded in gloom that day. They confirmed that it was indeed “Shu Ruxue” who had signed up to go to the countryside, so they believed their theory must be right. Still, they had no clue who had disguised themselves to mess with their family. The fact that only Shu Ruxue had been targeted left them baffled.

Yun Siying, on the other hand, was in a great mood. That day, she went to the central square of Kyoto to watch the national flag-raising ceremony, visited the Martyrs’ Cemetery to pay respects to the heroes who saved the country, and toured several famous landmarks in the capital. Thinking about taking the train the next day, Yun Siying smiled faintly. She felt so energized that she wasn’t even sleepy anymore.

She entered her space and made steamed buns, mantou (plain buns), sesame flatbreads, and meat sauce. She stored them in a temperature-controlled warehouse where they’d stay warm and fresh, ready to be taken out and eaten at any time.

The next morning, Yun Siying got up early, washed up, and had breakfast. She tied her hair into a neat bun and wore a floral shirt with black pants, paired with white canvas Huili shoes. On her shoulder hung a military green messenger bag and a matching water bottle, and in her hand, she carried a leather suitcase.

The train station wasn’t far from the guesthouse just a ten-minute walk. On the way, she passed many people lugging all kinds of bags, surrounded by family members seeing them off.

When she arrived at the station, she saw a special ticket collection point for educated youth trains. A long line had formed. The staff at the station handed out tickets along with a large red flower for each person, pinning them on their chests. Everyone looked like they were headed to a wedding.

Yun Siying queued up for her ticket too, but refused the red flower she thought it was ugly.

Unfortunately, just as she stepped out of the line, she ran into Tang Lingxue, Shu Ruxue, Shu Chengzhi, and Shu Jianguo. It looked like they had come to send Shu Ruxue off.

Shu Ruxue noticed Yun Siying’s appearance. Her eyes flashed slightly with hostility, and she glared at Yun Siying.

“Shu Siying, you ungrateful thing! Why did you sign Ruxue up to go to the countryside?” Tang Lingxue asked loudly, ignoring the crowd around them. Her eyes burned with rage.

“Auntie, my name is Yun Siying. Please don’t get it wrong next time. And also, on what grounds are you accusing me? Where is your evidence? Even the police need proof to investigate a case. You can’t just convict someone without it,” Yun Siying replied calmly, completely unbothered.

“If it wasn’t you, then who else could it be?” Tang Lingxue continued pressing her, unwilling to back down.