Chapter 8

The next day marked their departure from Guangdong Province. Deng Zhilan and the Wei family headed together to the train station.

Sunlight spilled across the platform, bustling with people. Deng Zhilan felt a sense of clarity in her heart. The Wei family’s assigned re-education location was a remote small town in Heilongjiang Province.

Once on the train, the green train chugged slowly along, swaying quite a bit.

Deng Zhilan felt groggy and dizzy, her stomach churning in waves—it was so uncomfortable she thought she might throw up.

Her face turned pale, and her eyes were filled with fatigue. Her body leaned softly against Wei Yanzhen.

Wei Yanzhen was heartbroken seeing her like this.

His strong and broad arms held Deng Zhilan tightly, as if by doing so, he could shield her from all discomfort.

He bent slightly, lowering his head to look at her with concern, asking softly from time to time, “Wife, do you feel any better?”

Seated nearby, Qin Ping could easily tell what was going on with Deng Zhilan.

Morning sickness—it had to be pregnancy symptoms.

She quickly spoke up, “Yanzhen, take out the preserved plums. Give Xiaolan one. Something sour might help ease her nausea.”

Wei Yanzhen immediately freed one hand and rummaged through the travel bag.

His movements were a bit frantic, making a mess of the bag’s contents, but he didn’t care—his only concern was finding the preserved plums quickly to ease Deng Zhilan’s suffering.

Finally, his fingers brushed against the small pouch of plums.

He quickly pulled it out, opened it, and took one from inside.

The preserved plum was a deep purple color, its wrinkled surface giving off a faint sweet-sour aroma.

Wei Yanzhen brought it to Deng Zhilan’s lips and said softly, “Here, have a plum. It’ll help you feel a bit better.”

Deng Zhilan slightly opened her mouth and weakly took the plum into her mouth.

The sour taste spread across her tongue, and the discomfort in her stomach genuinely began to ease.

She slowly closed her eyes, her furrowed brows beginning to relax, leaning comfortably into Wei Yanzhen’s arms, feeling much better.

Truth be told, this journey had been worthwhile.

Wei Yanzhen treated her with such care and affection.

His parents, too, looked after her attentively.

Even Wei Jinyue, who had never liked the original host, was now behaving reasonably and didn’t start arguments.

Seeing her feel a bit better, Wei Yanzhen also let out a small sigh of relief and held her even tighter.

A voice came from the opposite seat, where an elderly lady smiled and said to Qin Ping, “That’s your son and daughter-in-law? You’re really lucky, such a lovely couple.”

“Your daughter-in-law is pregnant, isn’t she? I bet the baby they have will be adorable!”

Qin Ping looked at the young couple.

She did feel blessed to have such a beautiful daughter-in-law.

Smiling, she replied, “Yes, I’m overjoyed. Just hoping the baby arrives safely.”

The old woman continued, “She’ll need to be extra careful while pregnant. The train conditions aren’t great—you all need to look after her, make sure she doesn’t get jostled or bumped.”

Qin Ping nodded in agreement.

At that moment, Deng Zhilan got up to go to the bathroom.

The train suddenly lurched violently. She lost her balance and nearly fell.

Wei Yanzhen, quick as lightning, caught her tightly.

Deng Zhilan was visibly shaken, but Wei Yanzhen gently reassured her, “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

Qin Ping’s heart leapt into her throat as she rushed over to check.

A short while later, the train conductor announced over the speaker that there was a minor issue ahead and the train would need to stop for repairs.

With no choice, Deng Zhilan sat and waited.

Once the train resumed, Wei Yanzhen helped her to the bathroom. She quietly curled up in his arms and fell asleep, unaware that Wei Yanzhen placed a gentle kiss on her forehead…

Three days later, the train finally arrived in Songling City.

After staying two days at a guesthouse in the city, Deng Zhilan finally got over her dizziness and nausea.

Next, they took a bus to the Shazhou Bay commune.

Then, they had to transfer to a tractor to reach Dongfeng Brigade.

Deng Zhilan’s backside was sore from the ride—the tractor jolted even more than the green train.

She occasionally glanced at the driver, who was none other than Luo Yisen, the brigade leader of Dongfeng.

He stood about 1.8 meters tall, with a sturdy build. He wore an old-fashioned collared shirt tucked into dark blue trousers with a brown belt around his waist and straw-woven shoes on his feet.

As expected of the original book’s die-hard simp for the female lead—he was decent quality, but just a side character, ultimately no match for Wei Yanzhen’s male lead aura.

“He’s an old bachelor, wife. I heard his kid can already climb trees!”

Deng Zhilan turned her gaze back—what a jealous guy.

“Wei Yanzhen, you’re 25. Captain Luo is only 23. If anyone’s old, it’s you!”

Seated nearby, Wei Jinyue secretly eavesdropped on the couple’s conversation and stifled a laugh.

She loved hearing her sister-in-law tease her brother. Her brother really was getting old!

His wife was five years younger—he was totally robbing the cradle!

Wei Yanzhen had no comeback and was left speechless. All he could do was hold Deng Zhilan even tighter, finding some comfort in that.

He was getting older…

But at least he had a beautiful wife~

On the tractor sat several people also heading to Dongfeng Brigade. Wei’s parents chatted cheerfully with others, enjoying the fresh countryside air.

Just then, someone suddenly shouted, “Hey! Wait! Hold on!”

Luo Yisen heard the call and quickly slowed the tractor to a stop.

“Comrade, are you going to Dongfeng Brigade?”

Luo Yisen replied, “Yes, we’re headed there.”

Deng Zhilan looked in the direction of the voice—and was instantly stunned.

It was Song Yitao, hurrying toward them in big strides!

Deng Zhilan’s brows furrowed tightly—what terrible luck. Was Song Yitao also being sent to Dongfeng Brigade?

Wearing a straw hat that shaded her face, a floral shirt, and her hair in a ponytail, Song Yitao’s cheeks were flushed from running.

She reached the tractor, hands on her knees, panting heavily, gasping out, “Finally caught up with you! You walk way too fast.”

As she spoke, she began climbing onto the tractor.

The moment she got on, she locked eyes with Deng Zhilan. What rotten luck—enemies really did meet on narrow roads.

Song Yitao immediately tugged her hat brim lower to hide her face.

The tractor was nearly full, with only a narrow spot left beside Deng Zhilan, but Song Yitao didn’t hesitate and squeezed in.

The tractor started again, chugging toward Dongfeng Brigade.

Song Yitao was already fuming inside.

She muttered under her breath, “Seriously, can’t get away from her anywhere. What bad luck.”

Deng Zhilan, of course, recognized her instantly.

She lifted her cloth shoe and firmly stepped on Song Yitao’s toes, making her yelp in pain.

“What the hell is wrong with you? Why’d you step on me?!”

But Deng Zhilan didn’t move her foot. In fact, hearing her complain, she pressed down even harder.

Everyone on the tractor turned to look at her.

Song Yitao flushed with embarrassment and snapped, “What are you all looking at? Never seen an outsider before?”

She cursed them silently as a bunch of hillbillies.

Finally, Deng Zhilan let go.

Song Yitao wanted to lash out but didn’t dare—not with Wei Yanzhen sitting right there.

She took a deep breath, feeling deeply frustrated.

Song Chengzu had been ordered to go to the countryside for labor reform, but her stepfather and mother refused.

So they bought her a train ticket and sent her instead.

Now, arms crossed and eyes staring elsewhere, Song Yitao looked utterly annoyed.