Chapter 1

August 1975.
Clang, clang—the train wheels struck against the rails, carrying a rumbling echo through the long carriages.

A train whistled its way toward Heilongjiang Province. In one of the compartments reserved for “educated youth” headed to the countryside, a delicate and beautiful young girl slowly opened her eyes.

Jiang Siyi blinked in confusion, stunned by the sight before her. She clearly remembered that, on the eve of the college entrance exams, she had been tricked by Bai Qingying and Zhang Jianjun into going up the mountain—only to be pushed off a cliff to her death. After that, her soul had drifted endlessly…

And yet—this scene before her was unmistakably the very train she had once taken on her way down to the countryside. Could it be… she had been reborn? Back to the very beginning, before it all started?

Her gaze fell on Zhang Jianjun, sitting across from her, looking smug in his self-importance. Jiang Siyi suppressed the hatred burning in her chest and forced her mind to think calmly.

Only after her death had she realized the truth: they were all characters in a book. Zhang Jianjun was the male lead; Bai Qingying, the heroine. And she? She was nothing but a disposable side character, there to provide money and resources for the leads. When she was no longer needed, she was written out—snuffed out.

That explained why, in her previous life, even though she didn’t love Zhang Jianjun at all, she could never refuse him. It was as if she had been compelled to obey every unreasonable demand.

A wave of nausea hit her. What shameless, disgusting “plot” was this?

Her eyes darkened. Zhang Jianjun, Bai Qingying—I’m back. This time, I won’t follow the script. You’d better be ready.

When Zhang Jianjun noticed she was awake, he said casually,
“Siy i, let’s go to the dining car for lunch.”

Jiang Siyi gave him a deep look and replied,
“I’m not hungry. You can go by yourself.”

Her refusal stunned him. Jiang Siyi had never denied him anything before, as if she had been born to serve him like a slave.

He straightened his white shirt and green army-style trousers—the best clothes he owned—trying to look composed. In truth, he was from a poor family. The Zhangs had six children; he was the fourth son, neither favored nor neglected. His parents were only temporary workers at a steel factory. His older sisters were married, his third brother had married into a widow’s family, and the younger boys were still in school. That left only him to be sent down to the countryside.

The family couldn’t spare much money or food coupons for him. Zhang Jianjun knew very well that his situation was dire, which was why he had persuaded Jiang Siyi to go down to the countryside with him—so she could help subsidize him.

His calculations had worked in their last life. But in this life, Jiang Siyi would never let him succeed.

His stomach growled loudly, betraying his lie when he said, “I’m just worried you’ll get hungry. I’m not really hungry either.”

Embarrassed, he pulled out a hard cornbread bun from his bundle and gnawed at it quietly. This was all his family could afford for him to eat outside. If he wanted anything better, he’d have to swindle it from Jiang Siyi or other girls.

The train chugged along slowly, living proof of the old saying: in the past, the carriages and horses moved at a leisurely pace. Zhang Jianjun couldn’t quite place it, but he felt that something about Jiang Siyi was different.

Meanwhile, Jiang Siyi was busy mapping out her future. The first rule: never follow the plot again. She had already noticed that she could reject Zhang Jianjun now—something impossible before. Did this mean she was finally free from the story’s control?

Her revenge list was clear: Zhang Jianjun and Bai Qingying, who had betrayed and murdered her, would pay the price.

And she would take the college entrance exam. This time, she would be admitted to Beijing University—for herself, and for her parents.

In her last life, as a wandering ghost, she had watched helplessly as her parents, grief-stricken by her death, turned white-haired overnight and lived out their lives in loneliness. The thought ached bitterly in her heart.

Lost in these thoughts, she hardly noticed that the train had arrived. By the time they disembarked, it was already past three in the afternoon.

It was late August—summer’s end. Although Heilongjiang lay in northern China, the weather was still sweltering. Passengers poured out of the train, sweating in the crush.

Outside the Hongxing Commune train station, ox carts and horse carts from different brigades were already waiting to collect the incoming educated youth.

Carrying her bag, Jiang Siyi heard a man calling out,
“Educated youth for Daqingshan Brigade, gather here!”

Without sparing Zhang Jianjun a glance, she hurried over with her luggage. She knew the man must be Li Aiguo, the brigade leader of Daqingshan.

She smiled politely. “Hello, Uncle. I’m Jiang Siyi, newly assigned to Daqingshan Brigade.”

Li Aiguo looked her over. Such a beautiful, well-mannered young girl. His first impression of her was very good.
“Wait over there by the ox cart. Once everyone’s here, we’ll head back to the village.”

Zhang Jianjun followed in a rush, annoyed that Jiang Siyi hadn’t waited for him. Still, he dared not show it. He had only twenty yuan from his mother—barely enough to survive—and he needed Jiang Siyi’s money and food coupons.

Even so, he didn’t bother greeting Li Aiguo. In his eyes, peasants were beneath him; city folk like him were naturally superior.

Li Aiguo noticed his arrogance and sneered inwardly. We’ll see if he’s still so high and mighty after a few days of farm work.

Before long, the four new educated youth assigned to the brigade had arrived: two boys and two girls. Li Aiguo called the roll to make sure none were missing.

“Jiang Siyi, Zhao Sufen, Liu Liye, Zhang Jianjun!” Each person signaled their presence in turn.

“Good. Everyone’s here. Let’s go. Up onto the ox cart.”

Once they had all climbed aboard, Li Aiguo snapped his whip, and the cart rumbled toward Daqingshan Brigade.

Along the way, the newcomers gazed at the countryside scenery, each lost in thought—some full of expectation, some with dreams, some helpless, and some resigned to fate. Few spoke; after all, they were strangers, only learning each other’s names during roll call.

After about twenty minutes, they arrived at Daqingshan Village. Li Aiguo stopped at the “educated youth spot,” their assigned living quarters.

The sight of the rough environment left most of them unsettled—though Jiang Siyi, this time, felt nothing but calm resolve.