Chapter 4: The Night Before Departure

Furious, she picked up a firewood stick from the corner and stormed into the kitchen. “You little rascal! You dared to go behind your mother’s back to see Li Lan and call her godmother! Do you think your mother is dead?!”

Wang Shuning heard the door open and thought it was Aunt Li bringing good news. But the spatula was barely down when her mother rushed in with a stick.

Her face was like a black-faced demon—terrifying.

She must have found out about her visit to Aunt Li.

Wang Shuning quickly dodged. “Mom, I was just being sweet-talking to get her to help. You taught me that!”

They chased each other around the yard for several rounds, Song Guiying nearly out of breath before she caught her. “Tell me, where did you get the money for the apples?”

Wang Shuning: “It’s my New Year’s money saved up since I was little.”

“Nonsense! I always kept your New Year’s money. After you turned ten, you went out with your siblings on New Year’s Eve to buy food. Where did you get the money?”

“Did you secretly sell eggs from the hen? I noticed fewer eggs lately. And that soy sauce yesterday—did it really break, or did you not even buy it?”

Wang Shuning felt utterly wronged and could only explain loudly. “Mom~~ It’s so hot now; it’s normal for hens not to lay eggs. The soy sauce really broke. I’ve never wasted money. I saved some private money because I’m going to the countryside.”

“City D is worse than City B, and it’s far from home. You heartless child! You’re trying to make your mother die so your father can find a new wife!” Song Guiying threw the stick on the ground, her hands on her hips, overcome with grief.

“Why are you so disobedient?”

Wang Jianguo arrived at the front door just as Song Guiying mentioned finding a new wife. He didn’t enter but stood aside, eavesdropping. He didn’t know who to help in a mother-daughter argument.

Besides, his wife’s anger subsided quickly, so he’d wait.

When Wang Jianjun and Zhang Xiuzhen returned, they saw their father standing at the door, but the door was closed.

Was his sister not home, and the door locked? That didn’t seem right.

Wang Shuning, seeing her mother had stopped beating her, glanced at the chicken coop in the corner. “Mom, Big Sister came back this morning when I went out. She wanted to take our hen home, and she asked me for the kitchen key.”

Song Guiying’s eyes widened. “What?! That dead girl came back to beg for money again?”

She rushed to the kitchen to check things.

Wang Shuning chased after her. “Mom, don’t worry. I didn’t give her the kitchen key. Eldest sister left empty-handed.”

But Song Guiying was still uneasy. After thoroughly checking the cupboards, she finally relaxed. “The soup is almost dry. Come in here.”

Wang Jianguo, hearing the quiet in the yard, opened the door.

Wang Jianjun and his wife, approaching, were puzzled. It wasn’t locked? Why didn’t they go in earlier?

When Zhang Xiuzhen went to the kitchen to help, she noticed something was off between her sister-in-law and mother-in-law.

Her sister-in-law looked uneasy, a little guilty, constantly trying to smooth things over with Song Guiying.

At dinner, Song Guiying announced, “Ning girl’s countryside assignment has been changed from City B to City D.”

Wang Jianjun frowned. “Isn’t that much farther from home?”

Wang Jianguo saw his wife silent. She clearly hadn’t agreed last night. Something must have happened. “As long as Ningning is willing.”

Wang Shuning quickly put a bit of food into Wang Jianguo and Song Guiying’s bowls. “I am, I am.”

That night, Wang Jianguo asked Song Guiying what happened.

Song Guiying told him about her daughter’s actions. The notice had arrived, and it was settled.

Wang Jianguo placed a large water jar on the kang table. “This child is more clever than before.”

Song Guiying scoffed, still angry. Why not go to City B? City D was worse; it was suffering. “I think her brain isn’t working right. She’s stubborn.”

Over the next few days, Wang Shuning packed her things.

City D was in the south, warmer than Beijing in winter; they didn’t sleep on kangs.

But there were downsides: lots of farm work year-round, frequent droughts and floods, and poor harvests—a hard place.

The night before her departure, Song Guiying came to Wang Shuning’s room with a small cloth bag.

“Here’s one hundred yuan, some food coupons, meat coupons, and industrial coupons. Keep them safe. Don’t lose them or let pickpockets steal them. Send a letter when you arrive, with your address. When we have more money next year, Mom will send you more.”

Song Guiying sat by the bed, looking at her youngest daughter, who was unaware of the hardships ahead. She was worried. “Don’t cause trouble. Stay away from fights and arguments. Medical conditions are poor in the countryside; even minor illnesses can be fatal.”

Song Guiying continued, “Don’t look for a partner in the countryside. If you do, write home. Don’t be like your sister and find someone with poor conditions.”

It was impossible for her youngest daughter to return to the city anytime soon. The eldest daughter’s situation was a precedent; the government wouldn’t approve.

Song Guiying spent three or four hours instructing Wang Shuning, wanting to impart her life’s experience.

She was afraid her daughter would suffer alone in the countryside.

Wang Shuning patiently listened, nodding occasionally, not feeling annoyed.

After Song Guiying left, Wang Shuning opened the bag—bills of various denominations and coupons.

She kept five yuan, putting the rest in the small wooden house in the space.

Preparing to leave, she discovered the apple tree, from which she’d picked a dozen apples, was full of fruit again. The harvested rice paddy had also returned to its original state.

Could the plants in this space regrow repeatedly? It had been exactly a week since her last harvest.

To test her theory, Wang Shuning picked some of each plant and put them in the small wooden house.

She would check in a week to see if they had grown back.

The next day, before dawn, Song Guiying got up early and prepared food in the kitchen.

Wang Shuning only discovered the food on the kitchen table when she got up to wash.

Oil-fried mustard greens and meat-filled pancakes, boiled tea eggs, and freshly baked mixed-grain buns—all separated to prevent mixing flavors.

Wang Shuning was stunned. “Mom, when did you get up?”

Song Guiying wiped her hands and started cooking, using all white rice.

For a long journey, breakfast needed to be filling.

“The train ride from Beijing to City D takes two days and two nights, not counting the time to get to the county under City D. I heard they don’t have time to buy food until they reach their destination, and the villagers are busy with farm work.”

“It’s still a bit hot. Mom got up early to make this for you; it’s better than making it last night and letting it sit overnight.”

Wang Shuning watched Song Guiying pack the food, feeling a sense of parting for the first time.

Before transmigrating, she grew up in an orphanage, abandoned by her parents. No one cared about her except the orphanage’s caretaker.

But the caretaker had many children to care for, so little attention was given to her.

Yet even that little was precious.

“Mom, don’t worry. I’ll come back when I have a chance, and I can come back for the New Year holiday,” Wang Shuning put down her toothbrush and helped her mother pack.

After breakfast, Wang Jianjun carried the packed luggage to the train station to see his sister off.

Wang Jianguo and Song Guiying stood at the gate to see them off.

Song Guiying’s eyes were red, but she held back her tears until Wang Shuning was far away. “This child has always been outdone by her older sister. Going so far away alone, I’m really worried.”

Wang Jianguo comforted his wife, putting his arm around her shoulder.