Chapter 9: The Cousin Goes to the Countryside, Meet the Original Female Lead

Ming Changjiang stood in the empty room, his face dark and gloomy. It seemed that wretched girl, Ming Dai, had caught wind of the situation and escaped.

Xing Cuilan clutched her face, looking at the man in horror. “What do we do?”

“Idiot!”

Ming Changjiang cursed and turned on his heel, sprinting toward the train station.

That wretched girl wouldn’t dare become a drifter; she would have no choice but to go to the countryside. If he went to the train station now, he was sure he could catch her.

His guess was indeed correct.

After the commotion yesterday, Ming Dai had simply packed up the last of her belongings and, under the cover of night, quietly made her way to the train station.

She had slipped through a broken section of the station’s fence and found a secluded spot before entering her hidden space.

At this moment, she was still sound asleep inside.

Meanwhile, Ming Changjiang had searched every corner of the train station but found nothing.

Ming Yanhong ran back and forth, her throat parched, but she didn’t dare stop.

This was about her future marriage!

Without a formal job, the director of the meat processing plant would never agree to let her marry into their family.

Soon, more and more people gathered at the train station, yet Ming Changjiang and his group were still empty-handed.

Just as Ming Changjiang started to suspect that Ming Dai had really run off and dared to become a vagrant instead of going to the countryside, a voice suddenly made him shudder.

“Dad! Dad!”

It was his son!

Ming Changjiang turned around to look and saw several people escorting his disheveled son onto the train.

“Yaozu! Yaozu!”

Ming Changjiang’s heart nearly shattered. He panicked and shoved through the crowd to chase after them.

Ming Yaozu was being dragged forward like a helpless chick, his neck gripped tightly by one of the men. His face and body were covered in bruises.

After much difficulty, Ming Changjiang finally caught up, only to be stopped by a station official.

He recognized Director Qi—it was the same man he had met when he arranged for Ming Dai to take Ming Yanhong’s place in the countryside.

“Director, Director, what’s going on? Why are you taking my son?”

Sensing that something was terribly wrong, Ming Changjiang still put on a flattering smile, trying to warm up to Director Qi.

But Director Qi didn’t even acknowledge the cigarette he offered. “Your family has two children. According to the regulations, at least one of them must be sent to the countryside. Ming Yaozu registered, so I’m taking him there. Is there a problem?”

Ming Changjiang panicked. “Didn’t our family already send Ming Dai?”

“Ming Dai?”

Director Qi pretended to think for a moment. “Oh, yes, there was someone by that name. But that doesn’t affect your son going. He signed up.”

Ming Changjiang was dumbfounded. “Who signed him up?!”

“Ming Yanhong. She said he was from your family.”

Without another glance at the stunned Ming Changjiang, Director Qi signaled for his men to escort Ming Yaozu onto the train.

Ming Yaozu struggled, but his mouth was covered, and he was forcibly shoved onto the train.

Before leaving, Director Qi wrote down the location where Ming Yaozu would be sent and stuffed the note into Ming Changjiang’s hand, leaving him completely dumbstruck.

“Your son left in a hurry. He probably didn’t bring anything with him. Send his belongings to this address,” Director Qi said.

Ming Changjiang stared at his son being escorted onto the train, then looked down at the slip of paper in his hand.

When he saw the destination was in the remote northwest, his mind completely collapsed!

That was his only son, his precious lifeblood!

On the train, Ming Yaozu struggled desperately, refusing to accept his fate.

Director Qi gave a single glance, and the men guarding Yaozu immediately dragged him to a spot out of view from the windows and gave him a thorough beating.

Before long, Ming Yaozu “fell asleep,” and the train car fell into silence.

Outside, Ming Changjiang watched his son disappear into the distance, knowing there was no way to change what had happened.

Yaozu’s departure to the countryside was now a certainty!

At that moment, Xing Cuilan and Ming Yanhong came running over.

Seeing her son had already boarded the train, Xing Cuilan panicked. “Changjiang, why is Yaozu on that train? Get him off, quickly!”

Ming Changjiang stiffly shifted his gaze to his wife and daughter. When his eyes landed on Ming Yanhong, the rage in his heart exploded.

Without a word, he pulled out his belt and, right there in front of everyone, mercilessly lashed Xing Cuilan and Ming Yanhong until they were half-dead.

The bystanders at the station were so shocked that they didn’t even have time to intervene. Ming Yanhong was barely hanging onto life by the time it was over.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Ming Dai quietly boarded the train.

She concealed herself behind the train window, watching the scene outside.

Ming Changjiang’s most cherished son had been sent to the countryside because of Ming Yanhong. Even if he eventually realized it was Ming Dai’s doing, what could he do?

A man like Ming Changjiang would only blame Ming Yanhong, thinking that if she had obediently gone to the countryside in the first place, none of this mess would have happened. His precious son wouldn’t have been sent to the northwest.

Ming Dai believed that stabbing where it hurt the most would make the pain unforgettable.

She was certain that this gift would be remembered by the Ming family for a lifetime.

And indeed, it was—especially after they discovered that Ming Dai’s job and house had been sold. Their hatred for her reached its peak.

As the train roared to life, drowning out Ming Yanhong and Xing Cuilan’s wails, Ming Dai sat calmly in her seat, heading north—to the place she would call home for at least the next five years.

The sorrow of departure hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over the youthful faces in the carriage. Many of the more sentimental girls quietly shed tears.

“You’re not sad?”

A choked voice suddenly pulled Ming Dai from her thoughts.

During her moment of distraction, someone had taken the seat beside her—a thin girl with a sharp chin, dark skin, and light-colored hair. Her only striking feature was a pair of large, almond-shaped eyes that were currently rimmed red. She looked at Ming Dai as if accusing her of being cold-hearted.

“I cried yesterday,” Ming Dai replied simply.

The girl hadn’t expected this response. She sniffled, pulling out a faded, well-worn handkerchief from her pocket to dab at her tears.

“Where are you from? I’m from the East District,” she asked after a moment.

Since this was the departure station, everyone boarding here was from the capital. Ming Dai instantly understood what the girl was trying to gauge.

“Oh, I’m from the West District.”

Just as expected, upon hearing that, the girl lost interest in conversation. She clutched her handkerchief and turned to whisper with the other passengers, occasionally dabbing at her eyes.

Ming Dai enjoyed five minutes of peace.

Then, two people approached.

A man and a woman, both dressed remarkably well.

The girl wore a light-colored wool coat over a pale yellow dress, with a matching silk ribbon tied in her hair. She carried a fashionable red leather suitcase, and on her feet were rare black calfskin shoes.

Everything about her appearance screamed, I am wealthy. I have status.

The man was dressed in a military coat, green army pants, and liberation shoes. A green canvas military bag was slung over his shoulder, and he, too, carried a large black suitcase.

His presence exuded a similar message: I also have money. I also have status.

The girl who had been crying moments ago suddenly brightened at the sight of them—especially upon noticing the male comrade. She eagerly stood up to help with their luggage, her enthusiasm making Ming Dai’s quiet indifference seem almost rude.

Fortunately, Ming Dai had never cared for others’ opinions. She remained seated, lost in thought.

The train’s seating arrangement allowed six people per section, and by sheer coincidence, their group of four had all boarded from Beijing.

When the time came for introductions, Ming Dai had a bad feeling—this wasn’t fate, this was retribution.

The new arrivals took their seats across from Ming Dai, the girl sitting directly opposite her.

A long journey lay ahead, and introductions were inevitable. As the other passengers began exchanging names, it was only natural for their group to follow suit.

The male comrade spoke first.

Qi Zhijun stood tall and confident as he introduced himself, his voice filled with enthusiasm.

“Hello, everyone! My name is Qi Zhijun. I’m 18 years old and just graduated from high school. I have responded to the call of the ‘Up to the Mountains and Down to the Countryside’ movement and have voluntarily come to Hei Province to contribute my efforts!”

His impassioned speech made the girl standing beside him look at him with admiration, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

When he finished speaking, the girl next to him responded with a faint smile, “Fang Rou, 18 years old, also a high school graduate. I’ll be in Hei Province for the countryside movement as well.”

Ming Dai, who had been quietly listening, was left speechless. She had just arrived and had already run into the female lead and the second male lead. Did this mean that as a mere side character, she had to follow the storyline?

A soft, playful laugh rang out beside her. “What a coincidence! I’m also 18. My name is Liu Yan—Yan, as in ‘swallow.’ I just graduated from high school and have also come to Hei Province. Don’t tell me you’re all assigned to the Hongqi Commune too?”

As she said her name, she purposely cast a glance at Qi Zhijun. Unfortunately, Qi Zhijun was completely devoted to the female lead, Fang Rou. His decision to come to the countryside was for her, so he failed to notice Liu Yan’s flirtatious gaze.

However, Fang Rou’s eyes flickered with a subtle expression upon hearing Liu Yan’s name.

“What a coincidence! Xiao Rou and I are also assigned to the Hongqi Commune!”

Qi Zhijun was naturally outgoing, and with Liu Yan intentionally engaging him, the two quickly struck up a lively conversation.

After a while, Qi Zhijun suddenly realized that the young woman sitting by the window had yet to introduce herself.

“Comrade, hello. Why don’t you introduce yourself?”

He flashed a friendly smile at Ming Dai. It was nothing more than a polite greeting, but in Liu Yan’s eyes, it seemed as if Ming Dai had deliberately remained silent just to attract Qi Zhijun’s attention.

If Ming Dai had known what Liu Yan was thinking, she would have rolled her eyes so hard they’d reach the sky.

Wasn’t it Liu Yan who had hijacked the conversation just now with her own question?

“I’m Ming Dai. Fourteen years old. High school graduate. Assigned to the Hongqi Commune in Hei Province.”

To avoid any further trouble, she stated everything clearly in one go.