Chapter 11 Meeting Classmates

These young intellectuals, each carrying large packages, had long faces.  A few years ago, they might have been enthusiastic, but now they knew how hard and tiring life in the countryside was.  Those going to the countryside were those who had no other choice, unless their families could secure them a job position.

 If not, the local authorities would arrange for them to go to the countryside once they reached a certain age. If Jiang Chengye hadn’t taken Jiang Li’s job, she would have faced the same fate.  Unlike these young people, Jiang Li was in good spirits. She was capable and confident that she would be fine wherever she went. 

This time, she was going to Heilongjiang Province.  She divined that the local production team was near deep mountains with abundant spiritual energy, a good place for cultivation.  Furthermore, there was a chance to find ginseng and other herbs beneficial to her cultivation.  She wouldn’t have access to these things if she stayed in Beijing.

 At the Youth League office, Jiang Li unexpectedly met a familiar face: Liu Yulan, Jiang Wan’s classmate and best friend.  Since Liu Yulan’s brother was an employee at the machinery factory and worked under Jiang Wenjun, Liu Yulan had always fawned over Jiang Wan in school, hoping to curry favor and get her brother preferential treatment.  Jiang Wan had always bullied Jiang Li, and Liu Yulan, as her friend, had joined in.

 Now that Jiang Wan had been dealt with by Jiang Li, fate brought them together again. Jiang Li performed another divination.  Liu Yulan was assigned to the same production team: the Shengli Production Brigade of the Hongqi Commune in Anfeng County, Heilongjiang Province.  This was convenient. Liu Yulan had bullied the original owner; now, Jiang Li would get revenge.  Jiang Li saw Liu Yulan arguing with her mother.

 “I don’t want to go to the countryside, Mom. Didn’t you say you’d find a way? Didn’t you say you’d buy me a job position? Why didn’t you buy one? Why do I still have to go to the countryside?” Liu’s mother tried to appease her. “Yulan, it’s not that Mom wants you to go to the countryside. I’ve been looking for a job position, but they’re scarce in the city.

” Liu Yulan said, “Mom, since you couldn’t find a job, why didn’t you let my brother go to the countryside? You’re biased; you only care about my brother!” This remark drew strange looks from the surrounding people, especially the women, who seemed to empathize. This was a new era, not the old society; the leaders said women could hold up half the sky.

 Liu’s mother’s face burned, but instead of scolding her daughter, she said, “Lanlan, Mom knows you’ll suffer in the countryside, but don’t worry; I’ll send you money and coupons. Your brother is too young to go to the countryside; you’ll have to endure hardship.

” Liu Yulan continued to argue. “No, you’re biased! Replace my name with my brother’s; let him go to the countryside instead!” Liu’s mother only had one daughter; while other families were biased towards sons, they treated their daughter well. Seeing Liu Yulan’s tantrum, Liu’s mother felt uneasy and hesitated whether to let her son go to the countryside instead… Jiang Li heard Liu’s mother’s thoughts and knew this wouldn’t work.

 If Liu Yulan didn’t go to the countryside, how would Jiang Li get revenge? Jiang Li stepped forward and sneered, “Oh, isn’t this Liu Yulan?  If I remember correctly, isn’t your brother only fifteen? He’s too young to go to the countryside. We’re all adults. You’re of age; this countryside assignment is yours.  How can you let your younger brother go in your place? How can you accuse your mother of being biased?”  The surrounding people’s expressions changed from sympathy to disdain. 

They hadn’t heard the whole story. If this were true, it was shameless for an older sister to let her younger brother go to the countryside instead. Liu Yulan looked at Jiang Li. She hadn’t expected to meet her here.

 Jiang Li was completely different from the timid girl she had bullied in school.  Liu Yulan had heard about the Jiang family’s misfortunes; Jiang Wan had even asked her for money before going to the countryside.

Liu Yulan had thought Jiang Wan was exaggerating, but now Jiang Li seemed like a completely different person. While Liu Yulan was lost in thought, the people around her started to mock her. “I thought her mother was biased towards sons, but it turns out she should be going to the countryside.

How can she let her younger brother go in her place?” “She’s shameless.  She should be taking care of her brother, not letting him go to the countryside in her place.” “What a troublesome daughter!” Liu Yulan’s face flushed. She blamed Jiang Li and yelled, “Jiang Li, you bitch! What does this have to do with you? Why are you saying this?”  She tried to slap Jiang Li.  Jiang Li calmly grabbed Liu Yulan’s wrist and slapped her.

“Ah!”  A red handprint appeared on Liu Yulan’s cheek.