Chapter 20

Chi Junshu found the post office in the train station and picked up the phone to call the Zhou family.

Chi Junjie, on the other hand, called the cotton mill to reach Chi Daqiang. He knew that if Chi Daqiang found out that Chi Yiyi had found a new man, then his mother and sister would soon hear about it too.

Zhou Zixiao hadn’t been feeling well these past few days. He’d caught a cold and had stayed home.

When the call came through, he picked up the phone himself.

“Hello?”

Chi Junshu was excited. “Zixiao-ge, it’s really you!”

Zhou Zixiao’s headache worsened. He had been trying to forget Chi Yiyi these past few days, even refusing to see Chi Bilian. But now Chi Junshu had called him.

“What do you want?” Zhou Zixiao asked, clearly annoyed.

Chi Junshu got nervous but forced himself to go on. “Zixiao-ge, please don’t be mad. I’ve always felt sorry about the relationship between you and my sister — you were childhood sweethearts for over ten years. That’s why I had to tell you something important.”

Zhou Zixiao softened slightly. “What is it?”

Chi Junshu said, “I saw a man on the train pursuing my sister. He’s a soldier.”

Zhou Zixiao’s temple throbbed with anger. He frowned and asked, “Did your sister agree?”

Chi Junshu quickly replied, “No, no! My sister is not that kind of woman. But she’s beautiful, and there were quite a few male educated youths going down to the countryside this time. Zixiao-ge, if you still have feelings for her, you must do something.”

Zhou Zixiao was furious and hung up the phone.

Madam Zhou came out of the kitchen with a sigh. She placed a bowl of minced meat and egg custard on the table in front of the sofa.

“Zixiao, eat something.”

“Mom, I don’t have an appetite.”

“That call just now—was it from the Chi family again?”

“Yes.”

Zhou Zixiao’s voice unexpectedly choked a little. “Chi Junshu said a soldier was chasing Yiyi on the train.”

“Mom, Yiyi and I were childhood sweethearts for more than ten years. How could she just leave like that?”

He was filled with grievance.

Madam Zhou could see her son had truly fallen hard this time. People like her son, slow to realize their feelings, often fell the deepest.

“To untie the knot, you have to find the one who tied it.”

Madam Zhou sighed and decided to tell him the hard truth.

“Zixiao, you really made a mistake this time. And a big one. You never should’ve disappeared on your wedding day with Chi Yiyi.”

Zhou Zixiao rubbed his face in frustration. “Mom, I didn’t do it on purpose that day.”

Madam Zhou seized the opportunity. “Then stay away from Chi Bilian. If it weren’t for her, none of this would’ve happened between you and Yiyi.”

“Get your health back first. I’ll arrange for you to meet someone new. Once you’re in a new relationship, you’ll feel better.”

Zhou Zixiao shook his head. He finally made up his mind.

“Mom, I want to go to the countryside. I need to find Yiyi and explain everything to her.”

Madam Zhou flew into a rage. “No! Absolutely not!”

She couldn’t bear the thought of her son suffering in the countryside.

Zhou Zixiao then pulled out his trump card. “Mom, Uncle said going to the countryside to experience hardship for a year or two would help my future political career.”

Madam Zhou was speechless — because it was true. That was Zhou Yuanqiao’s suggestion.

“But son, it’s so hard being an educated youth.”

“I’ve got you and dad supporting me from the rear. I’m not afraid.”

Madam Zhou remembered how Zhou’s father always said she was spoiling her son, so she didn’t dare to argue further.

Meanwhile, Lin Ru and Chi Bilian were still gloating over the news that Chi Yiyi had found a new love. But their excitement didn’t last long. That afternoon, Chi Daqiang brought more news — Zhou Zixiao was also going to the countryside.

Lin Ru sighed at her daughter. “Bilian, maybe we should find someone else. Why would Zhou Zixiao give up his cushy life as the Zhou family’s young master to go suffer in the countryside?”

Chi Bilian figured that Zhou Zixiao must be going for Chi Yiyi. She couldn’t believe he would go that far for her.

She looked at her arm, which still ached slightly. She realized it might no longer be enough to draw Zhou Zixiao’s attention.

She finally made up her mind. “Mom, I’m also going to the countryside. If all goes well, I’ll follow Zhou Zixiao there.”

“No! Absolutely not!”

“Your brother’s already gone. My heart aches enough as it is.”

Chi Bilian said, “Mom, just think — can you find a better family in Su City than the Zhou family?”

And Zhou Zixiao was still her best option.

Lin Ru was speechless. She began to sob softly. “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have chosen that sweet-talking Chi Daqiang back then. If I’d chosen the other man, your lives would’ve been better.”

Chi Bilian knew about her mother’s past. Lin Ru had been a village beauty, courted by two men. One was the smooth-talking, generous Chi Daqiang, who ended up as a workshop supervisor. The other was Lin Dakang — poor, shy, and introverted back then — but now he held a top position in Yue City and had recently been transferred to Su City as the deputy leader of the Revolutionary Committee.

After crying, Lin Ru quietly handed Chi Bilian a slip of paper.

“Bilian, I may not be useful, but if you run into trouble in the countryside, go find your Uncle Lin. He’ll help you.”

Chi Bilian quickly understood her mother’s implication.

She grabbed Lin Ru’s hand and said, “Mom, I support you.”

Chi Daqiang had become increasingly unreliable in recent years. Lin Ru just wanted a better life — what was wrong with that?

Lin Ru was touched by her daughter’s understanding and almost cried again.

That afternoon, Chi Yiyi and the other educated youths arrived in Yucheng, then transferred to Hezigou Commune.

Just as Chi Yiyi felt glad to be assigned to Hezigou Commune, she turned and saw the two fools Chi Junshu and Chi Junjie also getting off the bus.

As the saying goes — enemies are bound to meet.

Chi Yiyi felt a headache coming on. She had hoped for peace and quiet in the countryside.

Suddenly, Li Yumei’s excited voice rang in her ear. “Jiaojiao, look! Isn’t that the man who saved you on the train?”

Chi Yiyi immediately thought of the handsome man — Gu Xuan.

Bai Jiaojiao swooned again. “Yes, it’s him. I think he’s looking at me!”