Chapter 28 Escape

“Keep it up!”
“Keep it up!”

Before going on stage, they encouraged each other and fell into their respective positions. First came a spotless chorus, then a group dance. Even though they had performed it countless times, the villagers still cheered with enthusiasm, sitting together with their families, looking up under that solitary light at the soldiers who blossomed like flowers.

The adaptation of a classical water-sleeve dance by Su Niannian and Liu Tao was the grand finale. Drawing inspiration from ethnic minorities, Su Niannian fell back gracefully while Liu Tao stood high upon a stool, directly sending the atmosphere to a fever pitch. The long water sleeves flowed alive in their hands, striking alongside the heavy beats of the song — delivering a dramatic and beautiful experience for those villagers who had never seen anything like it. The thunderous applause made a nearby teacher, Mr. Yang, turn his gaze toward a somewhat inconspicuous elderly man in the crowd. The elderly man’s eyes glimmered with a smile as he turned to the person beside him. “Excellent! This is what a cultural troupe should be — a riot of color. The previous programs were all a bit stale.” Mr. Yang fought back his own nervousness and excitement, reluctantly turning his eyes away as Su Niannian and Liu Tao disappeared into the wings.

…
Once offstage, Su Niannian and Liu Tao exchanged glances — then a rush of delighted, silver-like laughter filled their hearts. They were dripping with sweat, their breaths heavy, but their happiness was unprecedented. especially for Su Niannian — the difficulty of her routines hadn’t been much less than Liu Tao’s. Her performance had left her underclothing soaked, her forehead glimmering with drops of perspiration, and her face a rosy hue. She nodded slightly. “I’m going to go change.”

As soon as she turned to leave, the soldiers who were removing their makeup rushed over, chattering about their beautiful performance. When they heard it was Su Niannian’s own adaptation, many turned green with regret.

Su Niannian remained oblivous to their remorse. She walked toward the back with her change of clothes in hand. Just as she drew back the curtain, a weak voice called from the pile of dirty laundry: “Niannian…” It was Su Zhaodi, hunched down, nervous and shaking. “C-Can you… can you really take me away?”

Su Niannian let out a small, sad smile. She hung up her performance outfit and slowly walked toward Su Zhaodi. “Cousin, when I was ostracized and ignored back in Xiangyang Village, you turned a blind eye — only reluctantly helping me when Grandmother forced you to. We may both be members of the Su family, but we owe each other nothing. This two yuan… consider it a bit of kindness from me. Tonight’s a good opportunity. Whether you want to call from town or not… that’s up to you. Whether Grandmother will come for you… that’s not my concern.”

The icy bills fell into Su Zhaodi’s hands. She was momentarily dazed, then suddenly raised her eyes toward Su Niannian. “You… you’re deceiving me! I… I can’t… I can’t do it!”

“What’s deception? If I really didn’t want to help you, do you think you’d be able to hide back here? Cousin, you have only this one chance. If you’re not able to win back the Su family’s understanding, then even if you manage to escape, they’ll send you back. This phone call is crucial.”

Su Zhaodi tightened her grip on the bills. From the dim glow, she could see the weariness and drops of sweat glimmering on Su Niannian’s face. “Thank you… and… I’m sorry.”
Su Zhaodi was a smart woman — a few words were enough for her to realize. This was her chance to break free, and it was up to her whether or not to take it. So with a rush, she darted away, nearly bumping into Liu Tao as the latter entered.

Liu Tao was stunned. “That person… isn’t…?”
Su Niannian pressed her finger to her lips in a “shh.”
Liu Tao lowered her voice. “How come she’s attached to you?”
“She wanted to escape. I just gave her a way out.”
While wiping away the lipstick with a handkerchief and quickly changing back into her plain attire — which made Liu Tao nearly drool with envy — Su Niannian felt a rush of warmth to her cheeks, thinking back to Gu Zhiye and their passionate night together. Her lashes trembled, adding a rosy softness to her face. “Don’t talk nonsense.”

Liu Tao turned up her nose and drew a deep breath, adding, “But honestly… do you think she’ll make it? I went outside just now — I saw those brutes, her…husband and his friends, guarding the path by the river — that’s the only way out of the village.”

At these words, Su Niannian fell silent, then pressed her lips together.

…
About five kilometers from the farm, at the mouth of the river — the grass blew quietly in the night breeze. Su Zhaodi held back the mosquito bites, tears dripping down her face, nearly deforming the bills in her grip. Tonight was her best chance — once the troupe left, the man would keep her there for good. His intent was to force her to produce children, disregarding her health. Su Zhaodi was truly afraid — afraid that she might die there — yet there was no way out… until a soldier in a green uniform darted toward the group of brutes, exchanged a few words, and casually drew them back toward the farm with a smile. Su Zhaodi held her breath, slipped past, crossed the bridge, and disappeared into the night.

It was only after that that Su Niannian and Liu Tao came out from a side path. Liu Tao fell into deep thought. “She’s a relative of yours? Are you close?”
“Not really.”
“Then… why did you help her?”
“It was up to her to help herself.”

Su Niannian’s expression grew distant. When she was held against her will by Jinchuan, she tried countless times to escape — and she knew that feeling. So rather than helping Su Zhaodi, it was more like freeing herself from the past. Fear is human, but courage is the only way forward — the Su family’s blood runs through both of them. Su Niannian’s warm black eyes glimmered quietly. She furrowed her brows, about to explain, when a sharp pain suddenly came from her abdomen. “Ah…” Her face turned white in an instant. Liu Tao was alarmed and rushed forward. “Niannian, what’s the matter? Don’t scare me…”