Yan Naqian was very upset.

When the postman came to the village to deliver letters, everyone else received letters from family or friends. Even Song Zhi had one, but she didn’t.

She just couldn’t figure it out—why didn’t Song Sui write back to her?

She was so angry!

But then her eyes shifted, and she picked up Song Zhi’s letter and studied it carefully.

She didn’t know who had written to Song Zhi. It was a thin envelope, probably containing only a single sheet of paper. The sender’s address on the envelope said “Details inside,” but from the postmark, it was clear the letter had been sent from the capital.

Song Sui and his adoptive father, Song Xi, were in the southern city, so this letter definitely wasn’t from them. It was more likely sent by one of Song Zhi’s friends in the capital.

Who could have written to Song Zhi? What did the letter say?

The more Yan Naqian thought about it, the more curious she became.

On an impulse, she quietly took Song Zhi’s letter, ran into her bedroom, drew all the curtains, climbed onto the bed, pulled the quilt over herself, and then reached for the flashlight by her pillow and turned it on.

In the pitch-black room, the beam of the flashlight seemed especially bright.

Lying flat on her back, Yan Naqian held the letter in one hand and the flashlight in the other, shining light through the white envelope. Sure enough, she could vaguely make out the words written on the paper inside.

Of course, that was because the person who wrote to Song Zhi had only written a few words.

[Song Zhi: Greetings! I have already started processing your transfer order back to the capital. This matter is extremely urgent. P.S.: Send your reply to your mentor’s wife, or call me directly.]

The signature was a single character—“Huang.”

Yan Naqian carefully examined every faint word, reading them over and over again.

Until the flashlight’s glare hurt her eyes.

She turned off the flashlight, sat up, and took deep breaths.

—Song Zhi was about to return to the capital? Oh my god! He had been in Ruyi Village for less than a month, and now… he was going back to the capital?!

Jealousy and anger surged uncontrollably in Yan Naqian’s heart.

She had been stuck in this poor mountain village, where even having enough to eat was a struggle, for almost two years. The longer she stayed, the more hopeless her chances of returning to the city seemed, and the more desperately she longed to go back.

The problem was, she didn’t seem to have any way out.

Even Song Sui wasn’t responding to her anymore…

Yan Naqian bit her lip.

A fire burned fiercely inside her.

It was the anger of having no hope of returning to the city—and the jealousy that Song Zhi could go back.

Suddenly, a thought popped into her mind—since Song Zhi was the only person she’d seen with a chance to return to the city, what if… she married him? Then she could go back to the city with him!

This idea started to take root and grow wildly in Yan Naqian’s mind.

She quietly put Song Zhi’s letter back in the mail basket and began plotting how she could get close to him.

Yan Naqian felt pretty confident in her chances.

—Song Zhi was her savior. He had saved her from being humiliated by Bai Shikeng, so she had a legitimate reason to approach him and “repay his kindness.”

—She was the most beautiful girl in the village… Well, okay, maybe Bai Taotao was prettier, but Bai Taotao was a fool! Song Zhi had no reason not to like a beautiful and cultured city girl like her.
—She and Song Zhi were both educated youths sent from the city, so they should have more in common.
—Song Zhi was being ostracized by Jiang Hongzhi. If she showed kindness to him now, cared about him, and paid attention to him… wouldn’t that be an easy win?

Yan Naqian smiled smugly.

When she returned the letter, she happened to glance at the educated youths’ attendance board on the wall. Was Song Zhi off work today?

Ah, that was perfect!

Song Zhi was off today, and so was she. Most of the villagers were out working, so this was a great opportunity to get close to him!

Yan Naqian happily went to look for Song Zhi, but after searching all around, she couldn’t find him in the village.

Later, she asked around and found out that Song Zhi had gone to town today.

Yan Naqian felt a little disappointed.

But then she thought—she could just wait for him to come back.

She was even a little excited—Song Zhi probably went to town to buy something, right? So why not stage a “coincidental” encounter? Maybe after chatting with him for a bit, he’d even give her something!

So Yan Naqian went to the kitchen, hoping to get some leftover rice water.

—In this poor and remote place, relying on just one jar of vanishing cream for skincare was definitely not enough!

Back when Yan Naqian was still in the city, her family could drink fresh milk. So she would save a little milk every day to apply on her face, and sometimes she used egg whites for face masks.

But now…

She had to settle for rice water.

At the Educated Youth Station, everyone took turns cooking, and today it was Jia Xiaohong’s turn.

When Jia Xiaohong saw Yan Naqian walk in and start rummaging around, she sneered, “What? The young madam wants to eat steamed egg custard again?”

Yan Naqian frowned and said, “Don’t say that!” If someone overheard and accused her of being a “capitalist,” she’d be finished!

Jia Xiaohong mocked, “You didn’t mind it before. You used to beam whenever I called you that! You even laughed at me for not knowing what steamed egg custard was. What, are you scared now?”

Yan Naqian bit her lip and faintly heard someone approaching the kitchen. She immediately teared up and said, “Xiaohong, we’re all proletarian brothers and sisters. Why are you targeting me like this?”

Just as Yan Naqian finished speaking, Jiang Hongzhi stepped into the kitchen and overheard her. He flared up, “Jia Xiaohong, you’re an intellectual too. Why are you always targeting our proletarian brothers and sisters?”

Jia Xiaohong stammered, “I…”

Jiang Hongzhi ignored her and helped Yan Naqian stand. “Didn’t you say you weren’t feeling well? Why are you out and about? Come on, I’ll take you back to rest…” Then he called out without turning back, “Jia Xiaohong! Make some egg custard for Naqian!”

Yan Naqian’s eyes sparkled as she shyly said, “Hongzhi, thank you.” Then she added, “Xiaohong, bring the rice water to my room later too.”

Jia Xiaohong was furious.

At lunchtime, Yan Naqian ate a bowl of soft egg custard, washed her face with rice water, put on a mask, and went to take a beauty nap.

Jiang Hongzhi hid in the next room, opening the letter sent by his mother.

He had written to ask her for money, so he expected to receive a remittance slip today. Why was there no remittance slip, only a letter?

Feeling puzzled, he opened the envelope and found two sheets of paper inside.

One was a short note handwritten by his mother. The writing was hurried and messy, and the paper had even been torn in places by the pen’s tip. It was obvious that his mother had been extremely agitated and angry when she wrote it.

[You like this kind of thing?]

Jiang Hongzhi froze.

Then, suspicious, he unfolded the other sheet of paper.

This one was densely packed with neatly written words, and the handwriting was elegant and beautiful. However, the content seemed odd. The more Jiang Hongzhi read, the more confused he became, until it suddenly struck him—this looked like Yan Naqian’s handwriting!

He grabbed a notebook and flipped through it to compare the handwriting.

The notebook contained thirty poems handwritten by Yan Naqian. It had been her birthday gift to him.

When he compared the letter to the poetry excerpts, he could confirm without a doubt that this page filled with delicate, graceful script was indeed written by Yan Naqian!

Looking closer…

The letter was full of tender, sentimental words, all of them directed at someone named “Ah Sui.”

She wrote about how she had been bullied in Ruyi Village, how much she missed this “Ah Sui,” and even recounted their sweet past together. She also complained about how the station leader at Ruyi Village’s Educated Youth Station was a tyrant and a bully, relentlessly pursuing her despite her delicate and pitiful state. She went on and on about how much she hated this ugly and foul-smelling station leader…

Jiang Hongzhi was so furious that he couldn’t catch his breath and nearly passed out!

—He was the station leader of the Educated Youth Station in Ruyi Village!

He had treated Yan Naqian like a treasure, protecting her and refusing to let her suffer even the slightest grievance. Yet, she had actually—

Jiang Hongzhi couldn’t bear it. With a dark expression, he grabbed the letter and stormed out of his dormitory, intending to confront Yan Naqian. But halfway there, he suddenly stopped.

How could Yan Naqian’s letter have ended up in his mother’s hands?

—Secretly opening someone else’s mail was one of the most disgraceful and contemptible acts among the educated youths.

Suppressing his anger, Jiang Hongzhi returned to his room.

He picked up a pen and wrote a reply to his mother, asking how she had gotten hold of Yan Naqian’s letter…

But he was still seething.

No matter how his mother had obtained the letter, its contents were undeniably written by Yan Naqian!

When the afternoon work shift started, Jiang Hongzhi was still fuming. During roll call, he had Jia Xiaohong go wake up Yan Naqian and bring her over. Once everyone had gathered, he said, “Alright, we’re all here. Let’s go! Time to work!”

Yan Naqian was still groggy from sleep when Jia Xiaohong dragged her out. She could barely tell east from west but still spoke gently, “I—I’m still feeling unwell. My head is spinning. You all go ahead…”

After speaking, she turned to head back to her dormitory for more rest.

Jiang Hongzhi said coldly, “Naqian, what exactly is wrong with you? Should I take you to the hospital for a check-up and see if you’ve come down with some incurable disease?”

Everyone was shocked.

Yan Naqian was utterly shocked. Her clear eyes were full of disbelief. “Hongzhi, you…”

Jiang Hongzhi’s gaze shifted to the attendance chart hanging on the wall. Noticing that Song Zhi had taken leave, he immediately threw out a remark, “Even Song Zhi mentioned it—how come you’re always asking for leave? He’s new here, and even he’s started to think that way. If I keep favoring you, won’t it make the others feel resentful?”

“Naqian, we’re here in the countryside for labor reform, not to enjoy life! If you’re sick, then go see a doctor. But you can’t keep using illness as an excuse to avoid work. We can’t keep making exceptions for you—we have to consider the feelings of our fellow proletariat brothers and sisters! Don’t you think so, comrades? Alright, let’s move! Time to get to work!”

With that, Jiang Hongzhi marched off.

Yan Naqian bit her lip, her heart filled with disbelief and unwillingness.

Jia Xiaohong didn’t give her a chance to argue and pulled her into the group, heading to the fields for work.

All afternoon, because of Jiang Hongzhi’s change in attitude, no one paid attention to Yan Naqian. Jia Xiaohong kept a strict watch on her, which left her no chance to slip away. She had no choice but to spend the entire afternoon under the scorching sun, shelling edamame until her fingernails ached. She was so upset that she ended up crying.

Still, Yan Naqian couldn’t stop thinking about Song Zhi, who had gone into town.

T/N: I’m happy Jiang Hongzhi has seen Yan Naqian’s true face but my guy is such a hypocrite. He’s so ew, so if you like her she deserves to be exempted from everything ever but if you don’t then she has to suffer with everyone else. I definitely don’t think Yan Naqian deserves a free pass but he’s moving weird. Then again, maybe the change is so agressive because in the letter she called him all kinds of things but was acting like she liked him in person.