Chapter 26 Arrived in the Capital

Some things really couldn’t be helped. When Song Nanting and the others returned to the carriage, she voiced her concerns. Comrade Han frowned with worry, “I don’t know how much influence he really has.”

Song Nanting said, “Comrade Han, actually it’s not a big problem for us. After all, we bought tickets to go northeast, and it won’t be easy for him to find us. But you live and work in the capital.”

Han was momentarily stunned at this, then laughed, “That should be fine. The capital is huge; I’m not unlucky enough to live in the same area as him. After all these years, we haven’t bumped into each other. It shouldn’t be a problem.” He added confidently, “Everyone living in the ‘Forty-nine City’ has some capable relatives.”

That was true. Song Nanting nodded, “But you should still keep an eye on him.”

Han nodded, “Okay.” Then he asked Li Guihua’s destination and said, “Once we get off the train, I’ll immediately buy tickets for you.”

The three of them thanked him in unison, “Thank you very much, Comrade Han.”

Han smiled casually, “It’s fate that we met. We spent the New Year together, so it’s only right to help a little.”

They might arrive in the capital by evening, stay there for a while, buy tickets, and then board the train again. The farther north they went, the colder it got. Song Nanting had already taken out sweaters and thermal pants to wear under her cotton coat.

Song Grandma sighed, “I’ve heard it’s even colder in the northeast.”

Song Nanting nodded, “Yeah, they say the snow there can pile up to over ten centimeters. When you walk, your legs sink right into it. It’s tough going.”

“Geez, that’s scary. We haven’t had snow here for many years.”

Song Nanting nodded again, this was true. Before leaving Ning County in her previous life, she had never seen snow. The first time she went north with Lu Jian’an and saw snow, she was overjoyed. Later, Lu Jian’an teased her, saying she looked like a child seeing snow for the first time. She retorted, “Have you ever seen a forty-year-old child?”

But Lu Jian’an was gentle, reaching out to touch her head and saying, “You can always be a child if you want.”

By evening, the train slowly stopped. The four of them wrapped scarves around their necks and got off with their luggage. Upon getting off, they saw two train police escorting a battered Xu Shichang.

Xu Shichang also saw Song Nanting and the others. His gaze was dark and cold as he glared at them, gritting his teeth, “I won’t let you off easy.”

The others didn’t hear him, but Song Nanting did. She glanced back at Xu Shichang, smiled slightly, and continued forward.

Comrade Han, who had many connections, went to the ticket office at the station to find someone he knew to buy tickets. When he returned, he said, “Tickets here are even harder to get. These are for the early morning two days later, so you two will have to stay here for a couple more nights.”

As for Li Guihua, she was headed in a different direction, so she would part ways here.

After getting the tickets, Song Nanting and the others had to say goodbye to Comrade Han. Song Nanting also specially asked Han where to buy things. Before parting, she warned, “Comrade Han, I know you have many connections, but you still need to be careful around someone like Xu Shichang.”

Han looked at her meaningfully and nodded, “Okay. You and Sister Song also take care. The tickets are together, so you can watch out for each other.” Then he took out a note he had prepared in advance and handed it to Song Nanting, “If you come to the capital later, you can look me up. I’ll help you buy tickets.”

Song Nanting nodded and thanked him. After Han left, Song Grandma sighed, “He really is a good man.”

Song Nanting agreed wholeheartedly. She also had a vague feeling that Han had probably figured out she was behind the Xu Shichang incident. But he said nothing and even played along with the act. That alone made him a good person.

Looking down at the address and contact information on the note, Song Nanting couldn’t help but be stunned. This man… really was quite capable. Had she accidentally met a big shot?

In the 1980s of the future, when televisions gradually became common, she and Lu Jian’an even had one at home. Once, while watching the news, she had seen this very comrade — the same name. Only now, Han was still young and didn’t quite resemble the person she’d later seen on TV.

But for them, this might be the last time they ever met. Many people were destined to be just passing figures in each other’s lives. Traveling together this far was already a great fortune.

Li Guihua was headed somewhere not far from the capital. It was convenient to buy tickets and go there, so it was time for her to say goodbye, too.

After everyone left, only Song Grandma and Song Nanting remained. Song Grandma sighed again, “All good people.”

Song Nanting nodded, “Yes.”

“Let’s go find a place to stay for a couple of nights,” Song Grandma said excitedly. “I heard the capital is lively. We should take a good look around and maybe buy some things for my daughter-in-law and the unborn baby.”

Song Nanting also planned to buy some things and immediately agreed, “Sure.”

The two didn’t go far and found a guesthouse near the train station. In those days, guesthouses were priced the same within a city. In the capital, one night cost three and a half yuan — which made Song Grandma wince, “This trip is going to cost almost a hundred yuan.”

It was true. Taking the hard-seat trains could save some money but was too grueling for such a long journey.

They rented one room to save at least half the cost. After putting down their things, night had fallen. The two went out to a nearby state-run restaurant for a simple meal. After returning, Song Grandma went to bed early, but Song Nanting spread out some writing paper.

She was about to start writing the report letter against Pan Shifeng.

Even though she knew Pan Shifeng now had a powerful father-in-law, she couldn’t let Pan Shifeng off easy. Besides, judging by Wei Dani’s nature, once Pan Shiying went to the countryside, she’d probably head north to join Pan Shifeng. And Pan Shifeng’s city wife wasn’t someone to be taken lightly — if those two women ended up together, things would get even more lively.

Early the next morning, the two got up early. At this time, the department stores had just opened for business. Song Nanting first went to mail a letter, then went shopping at the department store with Song Grandma.

Far away in Ning County, inside the textile factory workers’ housing compound, there was crying everywhere. Who was crying? Whose house else but the Song family? Their daughter had run away and disappeared, and both sons had mysteriously been registered to go down to the countryside.

The two young men knew that going to the countryside was no picnic. They were so scared they clung to their parents and cried early that morning. The children cried, and the parents cried in heartache. It was a deeply moving scene. But unfortunately, no one felt sorry for them.

Some even secretly complained, “They’re all children of the same parents, but the difference is huge. When Song Nanting was home, she practically drove them crazy — only these two sons were decent.”

“That’s karma,” everyone agreed.

Yes, it was karma. They were stuck in a situation where they had to go down to the countryside.

At the same time, there was continuous crying at the Pan family. Wei Dani had even caused a scene at the educated youth office on behalf of Pan Shiying, arguing that her son had already died out there and they couldn’t let the daughter leave.

But the youth office didn’t accept that. They said, “Your son died? What proof do you have? Without proof, it means he’s enjoying himself outside and refuses to come back. The quotas for rural placements still stand.”

In the end, Wei Dani had no choice but to beg to change the destination for the countryside assignment. The director of the youth office was even less willing. It was hard enough to fill all the quotas for other provinces; there was no way to change them now.

Besides, the mother and daughter were making a big fuss, and it was a miracle they weren’t taken away.

Change the destination? No way.

Finally, Wei Dani promised Pan Shiying, “Later I’ll go to the capital to find your brother and have him figure out a way to get you back.”

But when the day to leave came, the two couldn’t take it anymore and were crying again from early morning, cursing Song Nanting the whole time.

The neighbors just watched the drama unfold. They thought the mother and daughter deserved it — it was their karma. But they still couldn’t help but feel sorry for Song Nanting: “Who knows where that girl has gone? Hope nothing bad happens to her.”

Pan Shiying still hadn’t left yet, because Zhao Xiue, grieving over her son going to the countryside, had come to their door, saying, “Give me back my daughter.”