Chapter 7: Farewell at the Station

“You don’t understand. It’s better to be well-prepared when you’re poor. I’ve heard that that little mountain village is poor and remote. You might not even be able to buy things there. Bring more stuff when you go. It’s better to have too much than not enough and be in a bind.”

“But that’s too much, how will my sister carry all this stuff?” Jiang Wan Zhou, a big man, was almost crying from exhaustion. They had a bicycle to carry things on the way to the station, but his sister didn’t know what the situation would be like when she got there.

That was true. The key was that even with all this stuff, he still felt it wasn’t enough.

It was all because of that Tan Mingyu and that damn Cheng Yi Rou. What a pair!

If it weren’t for those two dogs, his little darling wouldn’t have to suffer like this.

At least if she could work in a nearby village, he could go see her when he missed her. Now, who knows when he’ll see her again.

“There will be a way. If all else fails, we can ask someone for help.” Jiang Qinghe pondered, not sure what he was thinking.

Jiang Nian, wearing a glorious red flower on her chest, stood in the line of educated youth, receiving praise from the Youth League office with drums and gongs.

The surroundings were filled with people, all parents who had come to see them off. They were all secretly wiping away tears.

The whistle of the train arriving at the station sounded. The Youth League office staff began to arrange things. “The train has arrived. Everyone, get ready…”

“Educated youth going to Jianglin City, please board the ninth and tenth carriages. Everyone, try to maintain order and don’t get out of line. Please take your seats according to the arrangement…”

Jiang Qinghe and Jiang Wan Zhou carried their things onto the train. Jiang Nian said goodbye to Zhu Xianglan. As she was leaving, Zhoudie grabbed her hand. “Anian, be careful when you get to the countryside. Don’t forget what I told you. Don’t settle down in the countryside. And keep up with your studies. Don’t forget.”

Jiang Nian nodded. “I know. I have to get on the train. Take care.”

As she stepped onto the train, Zhu Xianglan was already sobbing.

Zhoudie thought that Jiang Nian must resent her. The person who used to call her “sister” hadn’t called her that in a while, and she wasn’t inseparable from her anymore.

Their sisterhood had become increasingly distant since the matter of going to the countryside came up.

“Hello, everyone. I’m just asking, are there any comrades going to Zhoujia Village, Bali Tun, Jianglin City?”

As soon as Jiang Nian got on the train, she heard Jiang Qinghe shouting.

“Me…”

A male comrade hesitantly raised his hand, but seeing that no one else was moving, he wasn’t sure what was going on.

Jiang Qinghe smiled warmly. “It’s like this. My daughter is also going to that place. She’s a little girl, and she’s never left home before. I just want to ask you all to take care of her. You are all glorious educated youth who are going to the countryside with dreams, contributing to the construction of our country. You must be united, friendly, and share the same heart. Help each other if you need anything. That way, you won’t be bullied. I’ve talked a bit too much today. Don’t mind me…”

They were all children who had just experienced separation. Jiang Qinghe’s words made them think of their own families again.

A mother worries about her child even when they are a thousand miles away. Both parents and children feel bad.

However, when their eyes fell on Jiang Nian, who was standing behind Jiang Qinghe, their sadness seemed to disappear suddenly.

What a beautiful girl!

Their eyes lit up instantly. The male comrade smiled foolishly. “Uncle, don’t worry. We’ll definitely help each other. My name is Li Rui. What’s your name, miss?”

Compared to him, the other boys were annoyed. Why wasn’t it them going to that village?

But luckily, they were all in Jiangning City, maybe not too far away. They still had a chance.

Jiang Qinghe suddenly regretted it. Looking at their gazes, it was like his precious daughter had fallen into a wolf’s den.

“Hello, my name is Jiang Nian.”

Jiang Qinghe’s face was black, so Jiang Nian had to speak.

“Hello, hello.” Li Rui chuckled. The girl in front of him was beautiful, her voice was nice, and even her name was beautiful!

Going to the countryside to work wasn’t all bad, it seemed.

Jiang Qinghe’s face turned even worse.

Just then, the girl sitting in front of them suddenly raised her hand and waved. Her round face smiled, with a hint of joy. “Hello, uncle. Hello, Comrade Jiang Nian. My name is Niu Aixiang. This is Zhao Heping next to me. We’re also going to Zhoujia Village.”

Jiang Qinghe instantly brightened up. “Hello, my daughter is alone. Her classmates all went to other places. You two are girls, you can talk to each other. Make sure you get along well when you get to the new place…”

The train announcement for departure sounded. Jiang Qinghe was full of reluctance, but he could only get off the train first.

Jiang Wan Zhou had said very little the whole time, but Jiang Nian noticed that his eyes were red.

“Jiang Nian, we’re all going to the same place. We’ll be seeing each other all the time, so let’s not be so formal. Let’s just call each other by our names.” Niu Aixiang gestured to the empty seat opposite her. “Come on, sit down. You got on here, so you must be from Su City. We’re both from Haicheng.”

Li Rui also moved his things over and sat down next to Jiang Nian. “What a coincidence, I’m from Haicheng too.”

Niu Aixiang and Li Rui were both quite talkative and quickly started chatting. Jiang Nian didn’t say much, and Zhao Heping didn’t speak either. He sat slumped in his seat, pale, with a look of confusion in his eyes.

Jiang Nian could tell at a glance that Zhao Heping must be injured.

But she didn’t pay much attention to him. Through the window, she could still see her family standing outside.

As the train slowly started moving, their footsteps followed, running alongside.

Zhu Xianglan was the first to lose her footing and stumble. Zhoudie turned back to help her up.

The train gradually picked up speed. Jiang Nian waved to them through the window, but she could no longer see Jiang Qinghe and Jiang Wan Zhou clearly.

Haicheng was the starting point for this train, and it took three days and two nights to reach the final destination. They would arrive at Jianglin City in two days and two nights.

Most of the people who had just boarded the train had recovered from their sadness and started chatting with those around them, looking for people going to the same destination. Then, they gathered in groups of three or five, discussing their future lives with great enthusiasm.

Jiang Nian slept as soon as she got on the train. When she woke up, she saw that Niu Aixiang and Zhao Heping had switched seats. They were also drowsy.

She had woken up early and eaten early, and her stomach was already grumbling.

The lunchbox in her satchel was wrapped in a towel and still warm.

Jiang Nian opened it. It was white rice mixed with green pepper and egg stir-fry, and two pieces of braised pork, making her mouth water.

The people around her were also drawn by the smell of food and took out their own lunchboxes.

After all, they were going thousands of miles away. Even the poorest families would prepare a hearty meal for their children.

Some people started crying as they ate, burying their faces in their lunchboxes.

“I don’t want to go to the countryside. I want to stay home. I want to go home, woo woo…”

“I don’t want to go to the countryside either. I want to go home.”

At first, they only dared to think about it in their hearts, not daring to say it out loud. But once someone took the lead, it instantly resonated with everyone.

The entire carriage was filled with sobs, painful and suffocating.

Niu Aixiang and Li Rui didn’t cry, but their eyes turned red.

Jiang Nian quickly finished her meal, got up to wash her lunchbox, and brought back a pot of tea.

The crying in the carriage had stopped, leaving only their red eyes, a testament to the reality of what had just happened.

Her seat was on the inside, so Li Rui had to stand up for her to get in. Li Rui wanted to lean against the window and take a nap, so he moved to the inside, letting Jiang Nian sit by the window.

Zhao Heping remained expressionless throughout. He didn’t show any empathy when others were crying. He seemed even more heartless than Jiang Nian.

After Jiang Nian sat down, he took out his teacup from his bag and stood up to leave.

Niu Aixiang was worried and concerned. “Heping, are you going to get some water? You can rest. I’ll go get some water for you.”

“No need. I’ll go myself.”

This was the first time she had heard him speak.

His voice was hoarse, like it was being pulled out by a saw. He walked with his arms crossed and his back hunched, weak and wary.