Chapter 21

Li Yumei couldn’t help but complain in her heart that Bai Jiaojiao was truly ridiculously narcissistic. They were all standing on this side, yet the moment that male comrade looked over, she insisted he was looking at her?

Someone couldn’t help saying it out loud, “Bai Jiaojiao, why are you still so shameless? That comrade already said on the train that he doesn’t even know you. Look at you now, still trying to throw yourself at him.”

Li Yumei seized the chance to flatter her and said in a low voice, “Jiaojiao, don’t be mad. They must all be jealous of you. Think about it, that comrade even saved you—obviously, you two are fated.”

Bai Jiaojiao immediately hugged Li Yumei’s arm. “Yumei, you’re still the best to me. My big brother is in the military down south, and this comrade is also a soldier. I think we’re destined for sure.”

“Jiaojiao, your brother is in the military?”
Li Yumei hadn’t expected Bai Jiaojiao’s family to have military ties.

“Mm-hmm.”
Bai Jiaojiao nodded proudly.

Li Yumei thought bitterly that comparing people would only drive her mad. They were both sent-down youth, but she, Li Yumei, was clearly so clever and still lost out because of her family background.

Chi Yiyi couldn’t understand how she’d ended up standing near Bai Jiaojiao again. She had a low tolerance for stupidity and quickly distanced herself from the airheaded Jiaojiao.

Chi Junshu clearly saw that Gu Xuan’s gaze was following his sister.

He couldn’t believe there was such a bold and reckless man in this world and nearly charged over to punch him.

Chi Junjie gloated from the side, saying, “Brother, don’t worry about it. Looks like this guy going after big sis is a soldier. That’s not bad—big sis has good fortune.”

Chi Junshu replied, “Would you be happy if this ‘good fortune’ were gifted to your own sister?”

Chi Junjie pouted, “Of course Brother Zixiao is the best choice—he’s reliable and familiar.”

Chi Junshu walked up to Chi Yiyi. “Sis, you have to stay calm. That man’s been following us since the train. He was originally walking from the sleeper carriage, but somehow ended up in our hard seat section. Sis, there’s no such thing as that many coincidences in the world—he clearly has ulterior motives.”

Chi Yiyi disliked her brother, but she had to admit that he was spot-on with that last sentence.

She asked, “How do you know he was originally in the sleeper car?”

Chi Junshu said, “Because I saw him come from there early yesterday morning. Plus, the clothes he wore yesterday were expensive—there’s no way someone dressed like that would ride in hard seats.”

Chi Yiyi suddenly realized that Gu Xuan had indeed lied to her. He’d already revealed his identity to her, so why did he change into a military uniform and suffer through the hard seat section?

She couldn’t figure it out and, feeling a wave of suspicion, forcibly buried the slight romantic feelings she had begun to develop for him.

Far away at the entrance of the commune building, Gu Xuan sensed that Chi Yiyi had stopped responding to him. His instinct told him something bad had happened. Had her brother brought up her childhood sweetheart again and stirred old feelings?

Gu Xuan wanted to go talk to her directly, but just then someone called out, “Director Gu, the meeting you arranged with the Hezigou Commune officials is about to start. Everyone is already waiting in the conference room.”

Gu Xuan looked down at his military uniform and finally realized he had once again acted selfishly out of personal desire.

His assignment to Hezigou’s small ordnance factory as director wasn’t casual—he was on an important mission. The story given to outsiders was that he’d been sent down for “reform” after misconduct, supposedly to enjoy a quiet life in the countryside. But in truth, he had already compromised by wearing his formal uniform just to impress a girl.

Frowning, Gu Xuan said, “This uniform is uncomfortable. Go tell them I’ll be a little late—I need to change before I attend the meeting.”

The secretary who came to fetch him was speechless. This new director really lived up to the rumors.

He’d come all the way from the distant northern city not to work, but to pad his resume.

When Chi Yiyi looked up again, Gu Xuan was already gone.

At that moment, a tractor pulled up to where the group of sent-down youth were gathered.

Chi Yiyi immediately recognized that this must be the person sent to pick them up and take them to their assigned village.

Just as she moved to approach, Chi Junshu noticed the large amount of luggage she had brought.

“Sis, what kind of goodies did you pack in that bag?”

After all, his sister had been under the protection of Zhou Zixiao. Unlike him and Chi Junjie—who were sent here with nothing but 10 yuan each—Chi Yiyi must have brought plenty of supplies.

Chi Yiyi shot him a look and tightly clutched her bag. “Don’t even think about it. I’m here to work too, not to enjoy life. I’m just as miserable as you.”

She really hadn’t expected to be placed in the same commune as her two blockhead brothers. If she had known, she wouldn’t have taken things out from her space and stuffed them into her bag.

Now she could only hope that they wouldn’t end up in the same production brigade.

A man introduced himself, “I’m Zheng Dayong, deputy branch secretary of the Red Flag Brigade. Listen carefully as I call names. If I call yours, you’ll be joining our brigade.”

“Zhao Xiu, Cheng Yuan, Bai Jiaojiao, Li Yumei…”

Bai Jiaojiao squealed, “Yumei, this is great—we really got assigned together!”

Chi Yiyi silently prayed she wouldn’t be grouped with these troublemakers.

Zheng Dayong paused, then continued, “Chi Yiyi, Chi Junshu, Chi Junjie.”

“Alright, the seven of you are this year’s assigned youth for the Red Flag Brigade. Grab your luggage and hop on the tractor.”

Chi Yiyi was too stunned to even be angry.

Chi Junshu and Chi Junjie both tried to grab her luggage.

“Sis, let me help you.”

“Sis, from now on you’re my real sister—just let me carry it!”

Chi Yiyi sneered and shot both of them a glare. “I don’t need your help!”

Bai Jiaojiao, holding a pink suitcase, looked over and said with wide eyes, “Wow, what kind of family is this? All three siblings ended up getting sent down?”

The sent-down youth from the city knew: usually, only families that really couldn’t secure jobs for their children would be forced to send them all down like this.