Chapter 6

Ye Huan’s seat was a two-seater, and her seatmate hadn’t arrived yet when she boarded.

Ye Yongguo and Li Xiufen found Ye Huan and waved her over from outside the train window, holding up her luggage. “Huanhuan, take your luggage!”

Ye Huan went to retrieve her luggage, but instead of her parents, a young man in a green military uniform handed it to her.

The young man was surprisingly strong, effortlessly shoving the luggage into the compartment without Ye Huan needing to lift a finger.

Forgetting to stow her luggage on the overhead rack, Ye Huan leaned out the window to speak to Li Xiufen and Ye Yongguo. “Mom, Dad, you should go home now.”

Li Xiufen suddenly remembered something she had forgotten to tell Ye Huan and clung to the window to explain, “The person your Brother Shengbing arranged is named Li Mingjie. He’s not in the same carriage as you, but your brother gave him your seat number. Once the train starts moving, he’ll come find you. You two should look after each other on the way. When you arrive, try to find a phone and call home—call your dad’s work number, the one you have memorized. If you can’t make a call, send a telegram so we know you arrived safely…”

The train whistle blared as Li Xiufen clung to the window, showering Ye Huan with last-minute reminders. Ye Yongguo gently pulled her away. “The train’s about to leave.”

Li Xiufen seized the moment for one final instruction. “Don’t worry about home. Take good care of yourself, and let us know if you need anything.”

As the train began to inch forward, Li Xiufen finally released her grip, allowing Ye Yongguo to guide her aside.

Ye Huan called out, “I understand, Mom and Dad. You should head back now.”

“Don’t worry about us,” Li Xiufen replied. “Just sit down quickly. The train’s moving—be careful not to fall.”

The train whistle echoed as it slowly pulled away.

Li Xiufen stood with red-rimmed eyes beside Ye Yongguo, watching until the train disappeared from view before they finally left the station.

***

A few steps later, Li Xiufen suddenly stopped and said to Ye Yongguo, “That soldier from earlier looked familiar.”

She was certain she’d seen him before, but her mind had been in such turmoil these past few days over Ye Huan’s rural assignment that she couldn’t place where.

Ye Yongguo teased, “You just think the young man looks proper.”

But then he added sincerely, “He does look quite decent. I wonder if he’s seeing anyone?”

Ye Yongguo had never been particularly concerned about his children’s marriages, leaving such matters entirely to Li Xiufen. However, after hearing her mention it so often lately, he had started to pay more attention. When he saw a young man who caught his eye, he couldn’t help but consider the possibility.

His words reminded Li Xiufen. “I forgot to tell Huanhuan—when she gets to the countryside, she absolutely must not get into a relationship. Shengbing promised me that in a few years, he’d find a way to bring her back. If she gets involved with someone down there, she might not be able to return even if there’s a chance.”

Still thinking about the young soldier he’d seen earlier, Ye Yongguo grumbled, “What if Huanhuan wanted to be with that young man? Would you still disapprove?”

Ye Yongguo’s question made Li Xiufen realize where she’d seen the young man before.

A few days ago, when Sister Zhang came to talk about a marriage prospect for Ye Huan, Li Xiufen had walked her out and spotted that same man on the street. He was driving a jeep and had gone into the food store to buy a bag of apples.

She’d noticed his handsome appearance and glanced at him several times, prompting Sister Zhang to tease her, saying it was pointless to even look—the young man clearly came from a privileged family, far beyond their reach.

Li Xiufen sighed. “What good is my willingness? Even if I wanted him as my son-in-law, would he even consider us?”

Even putting aside whether he’d be interested in a girl from their background—just the fact that people on the train came from all over the country meant that once they got off, everyone would go their separate ways. Who would remember whom?

No one ever finds a spouse just by sitting next to them on a train.

Ye Yongguo also knew it was wishful thinking. He said to her, “I was just talking. The train’s long gone. Let’s go.”

***

Back on the train, Ye Huan had just finished settling her luggage when the person sitting next to her arrived. It was a man wearing black-framed glasses—he looked like a government official.

Not long after the train started moving, a young man came over.

He looked to be in his early twenties, of average height, also wearing black-rimmed glasses, with a fair complexion and gentle demeanor.

He held a slip of paper and checked seat numbers as he walked. When he got to Ye Huan’s row, he looked at her seat number and compared it with the paper, his eyes lighting up.

“You’re Ye Huan, right?” he asked.

Ye Huan nodded, remembering what Li Xiufen had said before she boarded. “Are you Li Mingjie?”

“It’s me! Hello, hello!” Li Mingjie enthusiastically shook hands with Ye Huan. “I wanted to come find you as soon as I boarded, but the aisle was so crowded I couldn’t get through. Did your parents see you off? Do you have much luggage? Is there enough space for it?”

Ye Huan didn’t appreciate his overly enthusiastic manner and quickly pulled her hand back, answering each question briefly.

Li Mingjie then looked at the cadre sitting next to her and politely asked, “Comrade, excuse me. Would you be willing to switch seats with me? This young lady’s parents asked me to look after her on the journey, so sitting together would make things easier. I’m in Car 12—also a two-person seat. If it’s okay with you, let’s switch. But if not, that’s perfectly fine—don’t feel pressured.”

Originally, Li Mingjie had only intended to introduce himself and maybe help with her luggage at the end of the journey. That would have been enough to complete his task.

However, seeing how beautiful Ye Huan was, he abruptly changed his mind and decided he wanted to sit with her.

The man sitting next to Ye Huan didn’t mind—he was alone, after all—so he agreed readily.

Li Mingjie said cheerfully, “Thank you so much, comrade! Where’s your luggage? I’ll help you carry it over.”

The man replied, “No need, I only have this one bag.”

He took his bag from the luggage rack and followed Li Mingjie.

Soon after, Li Mingjie returned with his own luggage—just a large duffel bag, which he stuffed onto the rack.

Sitting down next to Ye Huan, he said, “Let’s sit together. I’ll watch your luggage at night so you can get some sleep.”

Ye Huan didn’t mind sitting with anyone. Since Li Mingjie wanted to sit here, she figured, why not? Besides, Li Xiufen had asked her to look after Li Mingjie on the journey, and sitting together would make that easier.

……

Across from them sat two young women, also educated youths being sent to the countryside. Naturally outgoing, they struck up a conversation with Li Mingjie and Ye Huan. “You two are going to the countryside too, right? Where are you assigned?”

Ye Huan replied, “Hongxing Farm in Jiangping City.”

The two girls looked envious. “We heard Hongxing Farm has much better conditions than the villages. We wanted to go there too, but we signed up too late. By the time we applied, all the spots were filled.”

The other girl added, “If only we’d signed up earlier!”

Li Mingjie thought to himself, Even if you’d signed up earlier, it wouldn’t have mattered. Without connections, you’d never get in. But aloud, he said, “We’re all going to the countryside for re-education by the poor and lower-middle peasants. It’s the same no matter where we end up.”

“That’s not true at all!” one of the girls retorted. “We’re going to Jiangping too, but to some of the local brigades. I heard some of them are terribly poor—fields are all alkaline, can’t grow crops, not enough food. Even the wealthier brigades aren’t that much better—everyone’s struggling. But Hongxing Farm is different. It’s the grain depot of Jiangping! The work is easier, the work points are higher, and at least you won’t go hungry.”

“Let’s just hope we don’t get assigned to those poor brigades.”

“Even if we do, we’ll have to go. We don’t get a choice. The thought of working myself to death and still going hungry makes me want to jump off this train.”

The train car was filled with educated youth being sent to the countryside. The girls’ conversation resonated with everyone, and soon everyone was chiming in. “We’re going to Nan County,” someone said. “It’s even worse than Jiangping City—just endless mountain valleys.”

“I heard they eat sweet potatoes every meal in Nan County.”

“My grandma said eating too many sweet potatoes gives you heartburn. If we have to eat them every day, I’d rather starve.”

“You say that now, but you’ll be begging for sweet potatoes when there’s nothing else to eat.”

As the conversation went on, the mood got heavier. One girl even started crying.

Most city families weren’t exactly well-off, but at least they had grain rations and regular monthly allocations. They might not eat well, but they didn’t worry about starving.

Life in the countryside was different. There was no rationed grain, they had to earn work points through labor.

If they were sent to a relatively prosperous area, it wouldn’t be too bad. As long as they worked diligently, they could probably fill their stomachs.

But the real fear was being sent to a poor, remote village. Even if they worked themselves to the bone, they might not harvest enough grain to feed themselves.

The thought was truly despairing.

Ye Huan realized just how much difference there could be between assignments to different rural areas. It seemed Li Xiufen had gone to great lengths to secure a good placement for her.

When she had the means, she would make sure to repay Li Xiufen properly, honoring the original owner’s filial duty.