Countdown… The last day.

Just off work, Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan hurried from Jing University to the train station.

Lu Baoguo and Su Feng had tickets for the train departing at 5:35 PM.

When the couple arrived at the station, it was just time to check tickets and board.

Their youngest son, Su Feng, was anxiously looking toward the station entrance at the ticket gate, his face full of worry.

Only when he saw his parents did he finally relax and quietly breathe a sigh of relief.

Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan quickly ran toward him and then bought platform tickets together.

“Xiaofeng, make sure to keep the employment notice safe. Your mom and dad won’t be by your side. You have to take good care of yourself. Mom also prepared some Qiao family’s ancestral medicine for you — only for your use, no sharing, or it could bring trouble.”

“We’ve already sent your luggage ahead, don’t worry about us. When we arrive, your sister will write to you. If you write letters, send them to Huazhu. Be careful what you say.”

Qiao Jiuru put the medicine and some food for the journey into their son’s arms, giving him last reminders.

Su Feng nodded repeatedly, his eyes red, his nose burning with emotion.

Beyond nodding, he was too upset to speak.

By then, Lu Baoguo and the others had loaded all the luggage into their train car.

“Jiuru, Huaiyuan, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Xiaofeng on the way,” Lu Baoguo said, feeling pained seeing the family’s sad and heavy hearts.

He could only promise to get Su Feng safely to the south.

“Big Brother Lu, thanks a lot for looking after Xiaofeng.”

The train was about to depart.

Besides thanking Lu Baoguo, Qiao Jiuru had little else to say.

“No need for formalities among family. Xiaofeng isn’t a little kid. You two should hurry back,” Lu Baoguo waved them off impatiently, seeing them off with Su Feng.

The three stood on either side of the train door, watching each other until the doors closed and the train slowly pulled away, disappearing from their sight.

…

In the evening, Su Huazhu returned home with her luggage and books.

“Huazhu, why are you back?!”

“Isn’t today Sunday? It’s not a holiday yet, right?”

“Wait, why did you bring your luggage back?!”

“What’s wrong?! Huazhu?! Why are you back?!”

“What happened?! Were you expelled?!”

“Expelled?! Huazhu’s grades are good! Even if her son was expelled, she wouldn’t be!”

“How can you say that?! I was just asking out of kindness. No need to get so defensive!”

“Kindness? Sounds more like schadenfreude hoping the Su family falls apart.”

“You’re crazy, I don’t want to argue.”

“You’re the crazy one. Your whole family’s crazy.”

…

Su Huazhu “…”

Even before she reached home with her luggage and books, the neighbors in the compound had already started arguing.

“Aunties, sisters-in-law, I already signed up to go to the countryside two days ago. I’ll leave tomorrow. I just finished my high school graduation exam today, that’s why I came back late.”

Her mother hadn’t forbidden her from telling anyone, only explained that it was Huazhu who signed up. So Huazhu straightforwardly told the neighbors.

After all, these people would find out sooner or later, it was just a matter of a day.

“What?! Huazhu signed up to go to the countryside?!”

“Are you crazy? No one wants to go, why are you volunteering?!”

“Does your mom know? You’re going to make her sick.”

“Young people really don’t understand. They only have enthusiasm, but the countryside isn’t a good place! Living conditions are worse than the city, the food is worse, and you have to get up early and work hard. Is your land so easy to farm?”

“Exactly. Except when it snows and you don’t have to work, when else do you get a day off? Unless you’re really sick.”

“Yeah, kids in our compound who went to the countryside either write back complaining and asking for money or cry begging to come back.”

“Huazhu, you’re too naive.”

“Naive or not, no use getting mad. Didn’t you hear her? She leaves tomorrow — a done deal.”

“Tomorrow?! So soon?! Can she even prepare?”

“Stop talking, just let her go. Prepare what you can now. If not enough, Mr. Qiao can buy some things and send them later.”

…

The neighbors babbled on, calling Su Huazhu foolish, yet partly gloating and partly feeling sorry for Qiao Jiuru’s “foolish daughter.”

Huazhu said nothing, obediently listening, and went home.

Such a commotion right outside the door was heard by everyone in the Su family.

Zhou Wanwan, who had just brought the dishes to the table, was shocked.

Is the little sister-in-law out of her mind?

Or did classmates egg her on to sign up?

“Mom, Dad, big brother, sister-in-law, I’m back.”

Su Huazhu entered the living room with her luggage and books, smiling politely and greeting her parents and brother’s wife.

“Welcome back, come eat. Later, your parents will take you to Uncle Zhang’s place. Dabao and Xiaobao are there; it’ll be easier for you not to get into trouble.”

“You leave for the countryside tomorrow. Start from Uncle Zhang’s place. Someone from the team will pick you up and take care of you on the way.”

Qiao Jiuru had planned everything clearly, not angry as outsiders guessed.

Zhou Wanwan looked at her parents-in-law and sister-in-law speechless.

Su Huazhu nodded, washed her hands, then sat down to eat while telling her parents about today’s exam.

“As long as you took the graduation exam, that’s good. Later Uncle Zhang or Uncle Lu will get your high school diploma.”

Qiao Jiuru nodded, feeling reassured about her daughter.

The family quickly finished dinner.

Zhou Wanwan was asked to clean up, while Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan helped Huazhu pack again, sending the parcels to Zhang Hong’s place for mailing tomorrow.

“Xiao Ze, Wanwan, we’re taking Huazhu to Uncle Zhang’s place. You two get some rest early.”

Before leaving, Qiao Jiuru told her eldest son and daughter-in-law, then she and Su Huaiyuan pushed a bike with their youngest daughter and two big bags of luggage.

At this time, the neighbors were busy eating.

With few people outside, the family of three left smoothly.

Only after leaving the compound far behind did Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan breathe a sigh of relief.

“Huazhu, when you’re out there, don’t trust anyone. Keep the money your parents gave you safe. Don’t carry too much money at once — it’s unsafe. When we arrive, we’ll find a chance to give you more. Don’t eat anything strangers give you, don’t talk to strangers. The big brother escorting you is from the team. If you feel unwell, tell him.”

“Also, we found two companions for you on the trip. They’re grandchildren of your maternal grandfather’s childhood classmates. They’re decent people. Stay together and look out for each other.”

“Huazhu, here are five pills to strengthen your body. Take one now. Mom also prepared various medicines. Don’t tough it out if you feel bad. Rest when you need to, work when you must.”

Qiao Jiuru kept reminding her daughter.

Near Uncle Zhang’s house, she took out some useful pills from her ‘Ink Bracelet space,’ and had Huazhu take the necessary ones.

Su Huazhu quickly took the pill from her mother, and before she could look, Mom had already put one in her mouth.

“These Chinese medicine pills must be kept secretly. They’re Qiao family ancestral secret recipes, specially made by your late grandfather and great-grandfather. This is the antidote pill, which cures all poisons. This one is a special cold medicine — one pill is enough.”

“Huazhu, these medicines are precious and nearly lost to time. Except your late grandfather and great-grandfather, no one else can make them. ‘Innocent men suffer for having treasure.’ Mom hopes you don’t let others know or take them. They’re one pill less each time. Besides you, Mom also gave some to your little brother. Not much left now.”

“From now on, you must be strong, brave, independent, and know how to protect yourself. Finally, don’t give up easily. We will have the day we return to the city. You must hold on. Then, we’ll go home together.”

Qiao Jiuru was full of worry for her youngest daughter.

Girls were different from boys.

Su Huazhu nodded silently, tears streaming down her face.

She wasn’t a child anymore.

She knew about her sister-in-law’s family ordeal, and classmates had similar experiences — she saw these things often.

So she wouldn’t be naive or easily trust others.

She knew what she was facing, and was afraid and confused.

But her mother said that soon they would live not far away, so she felt more reassured.

Time was tight.

After sending Su Huazhu to Uncle Zhang’s house, Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan only stayed half an hour before leaving hurriedly.

Their first stop was to find Xiao Lei, asking him to order 2,000 jin (about 1,000 kg) of grain — both coarse and fine — 200 eggs, over 30 salted sea fish, 10 cured bacon pieces, half a pig’s side, 30 jin (15 kg) of pork fat, 5 live chickens, 20 jin (10 kg) of brown sugar, 50 jin (25 kg) of toilet paper, and 20 jin (10 kg) of salt.

Delivery was set for 5 AM, to the same address as before — next to the Song family’s.

Then the couple rushed to Guangsheng’s house, asked Guangsheng’s wife’s nephew to go to Zhang Hong’s place near the hospital tomorrow, and hurriedly gave Guangsheng 20 yuan to pass on to that nephew, then left quickly.

“Huaiyuan, I just realized we missed a very serious and fatal problem…”