Zhao Lanxiang's eyes brimmed with sorrow, tears cascading down her cheeks like a relentless downpour. Clasping the warm, weathered hand on the hospital bed, she wept silently, lost in a sea of grief.

"Lanxiang, you're no longer a child, don’t cry like that...." The man on the bed strived to reach out, to caress her, but his body failed him. 

His advanced years and old wounds that had accumulated over the years had finally ambushed him, aggressively pushing him to the ground. The prison term he'd served in his youth had left him frail, his health hanging by a thread. To have endured this long was indeed a miracle.

His aged eyes, blurred with time, still beheld his wife with enduring affection. In spite of sharing his years, her beauty still enthralled him. He cherished the delicate arch of her eyebrows and moonlit crescents when she smiled.

"Could I see that smile one last time?" 

Zhao Lanxiang wiped away her tears, offering her husband a pained smile. He closed his eyes in peaceful satisfaction, leaving her to hide her sobs behind her hand, her tears relentless.

Secretary He, standing beside her, removed his gold-rimmed glasses, his hand trembling as it checked the patient's pulse. With difficulty, he attempted to console Lanxiang, "Madam, please find comfort. We will soon discuss your late husband's estate with the lawyer."

His gaze drifted back to the bed, melancholy, and respect intertwined. He was born in poverty, then he went to prison at the age of nineteen and spent ten years in jail. After he was released, he worked hard for ten years and suddenly turned from a poor boy with no background to a business titan. The deceased man's life had been a remarkable saga of ups and downs. He was a legend who fought a bunch of seasoned businessmen with no prior experience himself.

...

Twin streams of tears ran down Zhao Lanxiang's cheeks. Feng Lian, her mother, wiped her red face, and poked her forehead while chiding, "Such a crybaby even with a fever! If your dad sees you like this, you will get another scolding."

Zhao Lanxiang looked at her mother blankly, trying to make sense of it all.

 But Feng Lian dismissed her bewilderment and sighed, "Who doesn't marry these days? The first time I met with your dad was when I was getting the marriage certificate. Although it was a blind date, haven't the days been going well for us?"

Caught in the throes of losing her husband, Zhao Lanxiang felt like she was in a surreal dream. It was just that, if this was a dream, why was she so confused... that she would dream about her young mother? 

Seeing her daughter ignore her, Feng Lian thought that she was being stubborn and hated the iron for not becoming steel. She prodded her daughter's forehead, stressing the significance of the matter at hand, "After all, it's not a small marriage. It's not easy to make your dad decline the other party's parents since they are your dad's boss!"

[T/N: "Hating the iron for not becoming steel" means blaming other people for not meeting their expectations.]

A flash of pain brought Zhao Lanxiang back to reality, forcing her to confront her mother's chatter. Rising hastily, she noted the date on the tabletop calendar: April 16, 1976.

A blend of terror and disbelief surged within Zhao Lanxiang, rooting her to the spot.

"Mom, can you go out first and let me think about it?"

The plea tugged at Feng Lian's heartstrings. Seeing her daughter, whom she had tenderly raised for 17 years, now appearing as delicate as a bird with a broken wing, her heart softened. No matter what, she couldn't harden her heart and force her child. 

Slowly, Zhao Lanxiang emerged from the fog of disbelief. Incredibly, she had journeyed back in time - to forty years ago!

Forty years ago, she was captivated by the enigmatic, handsome Jiang Jianjun. Her heart was set on winning his acceptance, which led her to fiercely oppose her parents' engagement plans.

In her previous life, it was also this year when she finally got married to him.

Regrettably, she never managed to unlock Jiang Jianjun's heart. Following the devastating loss of two children, Zhao Lanxiang's heart frosted over, and she severed her marital ties with him.

Now, her gaze fell upon the table strewn with health supplements. Jiang Jianjun had been injured and was hospitalized during this period, and she had bought these supplements to aid with his recovery.

A glint of icy determination flashed in Zhao Lanxiang's eyes. Her return was timely. Had she been late by half a year, she might have found herself entangled with that detestable man once again, a thought that sparked unquenchable anger in her.

Jiang Jianjun was her ex-husband, a chapter she had gladly closed before encountering the soothing presence of He Songbai.

However, now wasn't the time to dwell on Jiang Jianjun. Imminent peril awaited her father, as Zhao Lanxiang vividly remembered his unintentional crime of killing a person in the forthcoming years that led to his imprisonment!

Without a moment's hesitation, she swiftly filled a duffel bag with malted milk, honey, and milk powder, not forgetting to add a few sets of clothes.

Time was of the essence; she needed to find her old man!

…

Upon learning that their daughter had willingly enlisted in the "Down to the Countryside" movement, Zhao's parents felt helpless. 

[T/N: This is a Chinese government program in the late 1960s to early 1970s to force privileged urban middle school or high-school graduates to mountainous areas or farming villages to learn from the workers and farmers there.]

Zhao Lanxiang's decision marked the end of any potential union with Zeng Hang's son.

A furious Zhao Yongqing, with a face darkened by rage, scolded her, "Do you think that your wings are now so strong that we can't control you anymore?"

Amidst the gloom, Feng Lian, as she assisted her daughter in packing her belongings, voiced her concerns. "Your father managed to secure an exemption for you from the program, but you still chose to volunteer. My girl, with your thin arms and legs, are you sure you can handle the grueling farm work?"

Touched by her parents' concern, Zhao Lanxiang felt a warmth flooding her heart.

"It's a glorious thing to go to the countryside. Almost every young person my age has taken this path. If I hadn't, father would have lost face."

"I promise to take good care of myself and never let you down."

Zhao Yongqing, staring at his daughter's resolute face, found his anger subsiding. He had to admit, the prospect of his daughter braving hardships wasn't entirely negative. After all, her mother had been pampering her all her life!

For him, it would be a good thing for her to go to the countryside if they could hone his daughter's will. If that was not possible, he could always pull a few strings to move her somewhere more bearable.

"You always keep on harping about things. It's better to take that time to let her clean up and pack her luggage." Zhao Yongqing grumbled, fixing his wife with a stern look.

Turning to his daughter, he stated firmly, "Since this is your decision, you better not report back and complain in the future. Our arms can't stretch that far!"

Little Huzi latched onto his sister's legs, his innocent eyes brimming with tears. He gazed up at her, his voice trembling, "Are you going far away?"

Zhao Lanxiang enveloped her little brother in a tight embrace, planting a gentle kiss on him, "Yes."

Burying his face in her neck, Little Huzi cried his heart out with a runny nose. His grievous little look made Zhao Lanxiang want to both cry and laugh. She could hardly believe this adorable, vulnerable boy would one day transform into a formidable figure, feared by all. He would also play a significant role in beating that scumbag, Jiang Jianjun. Life indeed had an uncanny way of surprising her. It was truly incredible.

Wrapping her arms around the little tiger, she offered him her entire stash of candy.

His tears soaked into her clothes, his small form wracked with sorrow.

Understanding his misconception, Zhao Lanxiang caressed his soft hair, clarifying, "I'm not disappearing like our grandparents, who journeyed far and never returned. After the new year, your sister will be back."

Her words drew a snort from Zhao Yongqing, "Oh, so do you remember the way back?"

Zhao Lanxiang simply nodded.

Her destination was City N, merely a day's train ride away. She'd calculated that within a year, the educated youths would be returning to the city. Her late entry into the program ensured she wouldn't face the same trials as the previous batch.

And even if she were to really suffer, wasn't her man over there?

That evening, Zhao Yongqing pulled out a stack of banknotes, meticulously counting out a hundred yuan. He sternly advised his daughter, "Once you're in the countryside, listen carefully to the arrangements of the instructors and leaders. Try to get along well with others. You can use this money to buy yourself some necessities for daily use."

Zhao Lanxiang, their firstborn, was their pride. Her doll-like, endearing appearance, coupled with her knack for winning hearts, was irresistible. Back when Zhao Yongqing was a mere bank employee, he would carry his daughter to work in a cloth sling, year after year.

Ten 10-yuan banknotes were placed neatly on the table, and his large hand pushed it to his daughter.

He had been one of the last to attend college in the 1960s, before a pause in student enrollments, making his diploma precious. Through sheer hard work, he ascended to the position of bank manager, earning a monthly salary of 73 yuan and 5 cents – a decent income that provided a comfortable life for his family.

Yet, Zhao Yongqing generously offered a hundred yuan to Zhao Lanxiang, a gesture that left her deeply touched.

Feng Lian completed packing her daughter's four-seasons wardrobe into her luggage, declaring, "Tomorrow, after work, we'll shop for your everyday essentials."

Zhao Lanxiang nodded obediently.

...

Focused on rescuing her beloved from the countryside, Zhao Lanxiang cast aside all thoughts of Jiang Jianjun, that loathsome figure.

She diligently chose what she needed for the countryside, from cotton flannel and malted milk powder to Ejiao and everyday essentials like gloves, toilet paper, skincare products, and more.

[T/N: Ejiao is a Chinese medicine which is a gelatin made from donkey hide for nourishing blood.]

During late-night conversations, her old man often told her, "Had you seen me back then, you wouldn't have given me a second glance. I was pitifully poor, living worse than a dog. My greatest dream was to savor a white steamed bun. Even the finest clothes I had were hand-me-downs. Fortunately, I met you after I had some ability."

Born into relative prosperity, Zhao Lanxiang was born without ever knowing the feeling of hunger or cold. Hearing about his past hardships, she could only hug her old man tightly, promising, "My family was quite affluent then. Had we met, I assure you, I would have fed you till you were plump and milky."

[T/N: The "milky" here is not referring to race. It only means lighter skin color, which indicates having a better life; someone who never needs to work outside and tow away under the sun.]

As she gathered her rural supplies, memories of their conversation replayed in her mind. She picked up a few extras for her old man, adding them to her shopping basket.

Little did she know, her whimsical idea of providing for him would one day come true.

A week later...

In a celebratory display, all junior and senior high school graduates volunteering for the countryside were adorned with large red flowers while comfortably seated in cars.

In the sea of raven-haired individuals, Zhao Lanxiang’s keen eyes effortlessly located Zhao Yongqing and Feng Lian. She offered them a radiant smile. In response, Zhao Yongqing’s serious expression hardened, while Feng Lian cradled a teary-eyed Little Huzi. As the bus hummed to life, Little Huzi’s dam of restraint broke. His tiny arms flailed, reaching out as they would when his sister would comfort him.

Zhao Lanxiang had intended to depart without showing any signs of sadness, but the heart-rending sobs of Little Huzi had nearly prompted her own tears to fall.

On the road, the cityscape quickly receded from her view and was soon replaced by the verdant allure of rolling hills and lofty mountains.

Once they disembarked, the instructor began a roll call. A dozen names were called out and assigned to the Qingmiao Community in N City. Among them was Jiang Li. Catching sight of Zhao Lanxiang, she visibly stiffened, her face quickly morphing into a mask of distaste.

Zhao Lanxiang could only sigh at the misfortune of crossing paths with the Jiang family once again.

Jiang Li, her previous life’s sister-in-law, was a woman of high birth. With her nose forever turned up, she always looked down on Zhao Lanxiang. Her criticisms were sharp, and her arrogance was unrestrained. Zhao Lanxiang had previously endured this overbearing woman for the sake of family harmony and out of respect for Jiang Jianjun. But now...

Zhao Lanxiang treated her like air, still immersed in the joy of being able to meet He Songbai.

Transitioning from cars to a train and then finally to ox-carts, it wasn’t until dawn painted the horizon that Zhao Lanxiang set foot in Hezi village.

With a careful measure of deliberation, Zhao Lanxiang changed her clothes before getting off the train. After all, she might see her old man when she entered the village.

How could she afford to look anything less than her best at their first meeting?

Donning her new ensemble, her aura transformed entirely - clean, crisp, and orderly. In stark contrast stood the other educated youths, their clothes imprinted with the creases of a day’s travel.

Jiang Li, on the other hand, was tossed around during the long-distance trip. She arrived at Hezi village with the appearance of a soft-footed shrimp and was too exhausted to even scowl at Zhao Lanxiang.

In the end, it was just the two of them from their group who were stationed at Hezi village. Alongside three other educated youths from various locations, there were five of them altogether.

Having navigated the arduous mountain road in an ox-cart, they finally arrived at their destination. Zhao Lanxiang, armed with a pocketful of fruit candy and a smile on her face, followed the instructor into the village with her head held high.

Huddled at the village’s entrance were a handful of olive-skinned little radishes. Their wide-eyed gaze tracking the procession of educated youths. 

Zhao Lanxiang cast a cursory glance their way, her eyes lighting up in recognition. Even Jiang Li, weakened and sluggish by her side, was momentarily revitalized by Zhao Lanxiang’s surge of excitement.

Among the group, Zhao Lanxiang spotted He Songbai’s sister, He Songzhi. The little radish head in front of her was the spitting image of a picture she had seen of the seven-year-old girl. 

Slipping her hands into her pockets, she approached the gaggle of children, gifting each a sweet candy treat.

He Songzhi didn’t dare get close to the other children and cowered in a corner. Her face bore the grime of days without a wash. With her pair of black eyes, she enviously observed her peers relishing their candies. All the while, her small, scrawny fingers dug into the earth, betraying her longing until she couldn’t stop herself from glancing at Zhao Lanxiang.

Having tended to the group of children, Zhao Lanxiang made her way over to give the sweetest and most expensive chocolate candy to He Songzhi.

“What’s your name?” she asked with a warm smile.

She peeled off the wrapper and put the candy into the mouth of this little  radish head.

A symphony of mellow sweetness flooded He Songzhi’s mouth as the chocolate melted on her tongue, triggering a wave of saliva to coat the sugary morsel. She was too smitten by the velvety taste and didn’t dare speak.

He Songzhi had never eaten such good candy, nor had she ever known that candy could even taste like this.

He Songzhi didn't say anything, and Zhao Lanxiang didn't ask anymore. She secretly stuffed the remaining fruit candy into the small child's pocket and said with a smile, “Go home and eat them. Don’t tell anyone about how much candy you have.”

Just as Zhao Lanxiang finished her sentence, the instructor’s voice bellowed through the air. “Get back here, now!”

Jiang Li couldn’t suppress a wicked grin as Zhao Lanxiang quickly complied, swiftly rejoining the group.

Suddenly, a lean figure swooped in, scooping up He Songzhi and whispering to the tiny, radish-topped child. Zhao Lanxiang turned around just in time to witness this tender moment, and a jolt of recognition rippled through her.

This is ... her old man when he was young?

Her heart pounded thunderously, and a flush of warmth tinged her cheeks.

The man had his back to her as he cradled his sister. As Zhao Lanxiang’s patience thinned to the brink of confronting him, he turned around, locking his gaze with hers.

Zhao Lanxiang’s breath hitched. The familiar silhouette undeniably belonged to He Songbai.

She gave him a quick look, he was quite different from her old man.

He hadn’t yet grown into the prudent, elegant demeanor of his mature self. He was still just a youth, radiant with a heroic spirit. He Songbai was clad in coarse, repeatedly mended clothes. His frayed trousers, which barely reached his mid-calves, revealed thin, muscular legs. This ragtag attire did little justice to his handsomeness, presenting an image of poverty and sourness that others might find repulsive.

However, when it reached Zhao Lanxiang's eyes, no matter how poor her man was, he would still look good.

When Zhao Lanxiang met He Songbai in her previous life, they were no longer young. By then, He Songbai carried an air of seasoned wisdom, his demeanor prudent, calm, unhurried—a gentle soul honed by life’s tribulations.

At that time, He Songbai had a better temperament, which was prudent and calm, and never rushing. He was peaceful and gentle after all the years of suffering.

Breaking their eye contact, he hoisted his sister onto his hip with one hand as if she were a lightweight bundle while keeping his other hand on his waist.

He Songbai noticed a suspicious smudge around the young girl’s mouth and playfully knocked her on the head.

"Silly girl, so hungry that you would eat dirt? You can't eat soil. Hurry and spit it out!"

His body exuded a fearsome wildness, yet, when his gaze fell on his sister, the frosty demeanor melted into a pool of water.

He Songzhi flashed a gleeful grin, revealing more of the ‘black soil’. “It’s yummy, so sweet! That sister gave it to me.”

He Songbai, catching sight of the colorful fruit candy nestled in his sister’s pocket, followed her line of sight towards Zhao Lanxiang. Without a word, he held He Songzhi and disappeared into the village.

The instructor severely criticized Zhao Lanxiang.

However, having set eyes on He Songbai, a fervor had ignited in Zhao Lanxiang’s heart, a fiery current pulsating through her. Despite the instructor’s reprimand, she didn’t put it in her heart.

"Yes! I am deeply aware of my mistake, and I will keep in mind the discipline of the organization in the future, strictly improve myself, strive to be an excellent educated youth, and help build a vast new world for the country!"

Her voice echoed loud and clear, and as the instructor swept his gaze over her fair face once more, he decided to give up the rest of his reprimand. 

This kind of charming city student was a matter for the production captain to have a headache over.

Having gathered the educated youths, the instructor organized a welcoming assembly for the newcomers and the seniors alike, before returning to the city by car overnight.

...

At night...

In the small dilapidated house of the He family, He Songzhi pulled the fruit candy out from her pocket and arranged them neatly in a line.

With a grin that revealed sticky teeth, she proudly declared, “Grandma, I’ll give you eight pieces of candy!”

The elderly woman, who usually remained bedridden, laboriously sat up. Born in the era of Guangxu in 1924, she had once adorned the luxuries of being a landlord’s wife, adorned in gold and silver. However, as age took its toll, she lost her husband and her son. Any hint of unrest would see her being chastised. Her twilight years were bleak and barren.

At the mention of “candy”, her murky eyes sparked to life and her mouth opened expectantly towards her little granddaughter.

He Songzhi obliged by unwrapping a candy and feeding it to her. The sugary taste swirled in her mouth, sparking a glimmer of delight in her cloudy eyes.

"It's delicious. Brother Bai, eat some too."

He Songbai accepted a piece from his sister, stowing away the remaining candies in a jar that he placed on the grandmother’s bedside table.

"Don't accept other people's things casually in the future, do you hear?"

He Songbai sternly taught his sister.

He Songzhi narrowed her mouth in a grievance, but seeing the fierce and serious expression on her brother's face, she agreed.

... 

When Zhao Lanxiang’s group arrived, it happened to be the busiest season for the farmers. The production team captain took the newcomers under his wing for the first few days, demonstrating various tasks and supervising their progress.

Li Dali, the captain of the first team in Hezi village, was a young man with a passion for productivity and strict expectations. None of the female educated youths dared to be lazy under his watchful gaze.

On the first day when she officially went to work, Zhao Lanxiang was suddenly caught off guard.

They arrived at five in the morning, and the group of educated youths were pulled into the field to work. After Li Dali finished working with the male educated youths, he glanced at the two newly arrived female educated youths, his thick brows twisting into a knot.

“You might struggle with fertilizing the crops or irrigating the fields, but surely you can handle weeding? Today, this cornfield is your responsibility. Work swiftly, make the most of daylight, and get the job done,” he instructed, handing out gloves to the women.

Li Dali distributed gloves to these female educated youths. There were only five pairs of gloves, but there were ten people. Li Dali took care of the two newly-arrived female educated youths and thus, let them pick first. 

The gloves, however, were so soiled that their original color couldn’t be seen anymore. Jiang Li promptly distanced herself and delved into the cornfield.

When it was Zhao Lanxiang's turn, she took out a pair of cotton gloves from her own pocket with a smile. "Thank you, Captain Li, but I won't put any burden on the team." 

Li Dali grinned, "You look at what others are doing and learn to do it together." 

Li Dali took the whole brigade to work and finished the work for the morning. After that, he took the villagers to collect farm tools.

Zhao Lanxiang was no fool. Anticipating a day of wedding, she had deliberately dressed in long trousers and sleeves, and hadn’t forgotten her mask and gloves either. She wrapped herself up tightly and got to work.

Meanwhile, Jiang Li fared worse. Reprimanded by Li Dali for trampling several corn plants, she was dismissed early to write a self-reflection of her actions. 

Before Jiang Li returned to the dormitory, she smiled proudly at Zhao Lanxiang.

Zhao Lanxiang didn't think there was anything to be proud of. Instead, she silently observed the senior educated youths, mastering the art of weeding

Cleverly, Zhao Lanxiang had donned gloves and kept a slow, measured pace as she tackled the weeding task. Thanks to this foresight, her hands were saved from the typical injuries of such labor. However, as someone unaccustomed to such demanding labor, she found herself teetering on the edge of exhaustion by noon, the relentless sun beating down on her. Yet, her five-point task remained unfinished.

While the others were scattered around in pairs or groups, Zhao Lanxiang was a solitary figure, a silhouette hunched amidst the vast cornfield, locked in battle with the pesky weeds.

She stripped off her mask and rolled up her long sleeves, revealing her fair arms. Beads of perspiration trickled down her skin, drenching her clothes until they clung to her body like a second skin.

Suddenly, the crunch of footsteps echoed from the cornfield. A man appeared, bearing a yoke with buckets brimming with water balanced at both ends. Despite the weight causing the yoke to bow, the man traversed the sprawling cornfield without losing a drop.

Zhao Lanxiang’s act of fanning herself with her mask ceased. It was her man, He Songbai!

She quickly emerged from the lush green field of corn stalks and called out to Songbai, “Comrade, could I borrow a moment of your time? I’ve run into some trouble. Could you lend a hand?” 

Her voice rang out, pure and melodious as a mountain lark’s song.

To her dismay, the man seemed to not just ignore her, but to quicken his stride, moving past her with his water buckets until he disappeared into the distance. Zhao Lanxiang stood frozen, watching the water droplets left behind by his hasty retreat, her eyes darkening. It seemed…he was more intent on avoiding her than engaging.

Undeterred, Zhao Lanxiang slipped her gloves back on, returned to her crouching position, and dove back into her war against the weeds.

Around ten minutes later, a rustling sound rose from the cornfield. Zhao Lanxiang’s lips curled into a knowing smile as she maintained her squatting position, casting a fleeting glance at the approaching figure.

A tall, slender silhouette, thin as a bamboo stalk, emerged from the foliage.

The man weaved his way through the cornfield without uttering a word, then crouched down silently and began to pull weeds. His dark, thick brows remained smooth as he efficiently eradicated the weeds around Zhao Lanxiang, even managing to uproot the stubborn tussocks that usually required a shovel’s force.

After plowing through work worth two points, he paused, drawing a deep breath, and gruffly asked, “Which piece of land is yours?”

Taking advantage of the shade provided by the corn leaves to shield herself from relentless sun, Zhao Lanxiang lounged comfortably. She extended a slender finger, tracing a lazy circle in the air to indicate the land that surrounded them. “I’ve finished these two plots, from here to there.”

Hidden amongst the verdant corn stalks and leaves, her delicate complexion glowed softly. Her features were exquisite, and her eyes, soft and tender, reflected the sunlight, illuminating them with a warm, radiant glow.

He Songbai wordlessly returned to his task, his expression etched in stone. He toiled for another half-hour with his hoe, wrapping up the remainder of Zhao Lanxiang’s work.

While he made a conscious effort to evade Zhao Lanxiang’s gaze, she studied him with undisguised curiosity. His clothes for the day were threadbare at best, with his shorts revealing his lower abdomen and strong, lengthy thighs. Despite the blistering heat, he refrained from removing his shirt due to her presence, rolling up his sleeves instead to reveal muscular arms bronzed by the sun.

He was lean but sturdy. With a more nourishing diet, he might gain even more muscle strength.

Catching her lower lip in contemplation, Zhao Lanxiang reached into her cloth bag to retrieve a snowy white steamed bun.

“My deepest desire back then,” her old man had once revealed during a late-night conversation, his voice imbued with a heartfelt sincerity, “was to taste a white steamed bun.”

When the second batch of educated youths had made a trip to the county town for agricultural tools, Zhao Lanxiang had accompanied them, seizing the opportunity to purchase a bag of high-quality, high-gluten flour. She traded eight pounds of this precious commodity with the cafeteria cook, securing a monthly supply of white noodles and steamed buns.

A single pound of fine flour could create ten fluffy buns, and eight pounds promised a yield of eighty. By allocating two a day for herself, she used the remaining two kilograms of flour as payment for the cook’s efforts.

Zhao Lanxiang held out a chilled, white steamed bun to He Songbai.

His focus snapped to the bun. Its surface was smooth, glossy, and a pristine snow-white. The round bun was flawlessly crafted with the superior flour, displaying no hint of discoloration. It was said that a bun like this, pliant and slightly sweet, could awaken even the deepest of hungers. But such a taste remained foreign to He Songbai.

However, the sight of her hands, more tender and paler than the bun, may have held a stronger allure. She had just slipped off her gloves, leaving her hands gleaming white, with cherry-red fingertips adding a touch of color.

He Songbai diverted his gaze from Zhao Lanxiang, focusing instead on the dark mud at his feet.

“No,” he answered, his expression veiling indifference, yet his eyes flickered with unspoken intensity.

Then, he asked, “How much was your candy?”

Zhao Lanxiang responded, confused, “What?”

Growing visibly impatient, the man elaborated, “Sanya took your candy. Here’s some money to cover for it.”

[T/N: Sanya is the nickname for He Songzhi (He Songbai’s younger sister). It translates to “third girl” as she is the third child in the family.]

From his pocket, he withdrew fifty cents and thrust the crumpled tickets into Zhao Lanxiang’s hand.

Caught off guard by his sudden terseness, Zhao Lanxiang replied softly, “It’s just a handful of candies, there’s no need to repay me. You helped with my work. Won’t you stay for a meal?”

Standing in his path like a gentle blockade, her smile never wavered. But his brows furrowed in exasperation as he nudged her aside, reclaimed his shovel, and proceeded to march away.

His demeanor was as piercing and frigid as a winter thorn bush.

In all her life, Zhao Lanxiang had never been met with such icy indifference.

It was quite the revelation that her partner had once embodied such severity. His elder years had seen him mellow into a gentler demeanor, but his younger self, this Version 1.0, was full of harsh edges. She nibbled on the white steamed bun, thoughtfully watching his figure recede until it was a mere speck in the distance.

One day, you will understand who I am!

[T/N: “you will understand who I am” is a phrase implying that she will eventually get him to understand or appreciate her, not a threat.]

...

As the afternoon waned, Zhao Lanxiang returned to the hostel designated for the educated youths, casting an unimpressed look at Jiang Li. Following dinner, she indulged in a bath and applied some soothing ointment.

For a week, Zhao Lanxiang and He Songbai didn’t cross paths. The reason wasn’t their previous prickly interaction, but rather the grueling workload they both bore.

Strenuous farming sessions sapped her energy, rendering her so drained that she’d sink into her bed immediately after work. The vigor she needed to keep reaching out to her partner was spent. At night, as she fell into the arms of sleep, her mind was filled with thoughts of him.

The food provided to the educated youths was dreadfully subpar, lacking the savoriness of oil, seasoning, or any trace of meat. Each day, their plates held nothing more than coarse grain buns paired with sweet potatoes and bland greens. Every now and then, the cafeteria would replace the coarse grain buns with a lukewarm sweet potato porridge. Zhao Lanxiang playfully joked to another senior educated youth in the dormitory, “Where’s the rice in this so-called sweet potato mix? It’s just sweet potatoes through and through. The grains of rice in this ‘sweet potato porridge’ are so scarce, you could count them on one hand.”

Fortunately, Zhao Lanxiang had a safety net against the terrible communal meals. Her parents continued to send her living expenses.

After a week of enduring the monotonous menu of corn and sweet potatoes, Zhao Lanxiang resolved to buy some meat and flour on the coming weekend to upgrade her meals.

With a sigh, she polished off her bowl of sweet potato porridge. It had been a week since she’d tasted oil, and her longing for meat was becoming intense.

Zhou Jiazhen, the senior sister among them, cast a curious glance at Zhao Lanxiang and inquired, “Your family seems well off. Why did you choose to toil in the countryside instead of staying comfortably in the city?”

“I believe that constructing a new rural world can fulfill life’s ideals. The daily struggle is endless and exceptionally stimulating, which is why I’m here.”

“I’m drawn to the idea of shaping a new rural world, fulfilling life’s ideals. The relentless everyday struggle is a thrilling challenge so that’s why I’m here.”

Zhou Jiazhen’s reply was a bitter smile. Zhao Lanxiang was cut from a different cloth. If Zhou Jiazhen had been in Zhao Lanxiang’s comfortable shoes, she would never have chosen the grueling rural life, not even under duress.

In Zhou Jiazhen’s case, after completing her elementary education, she had remained in the city, but was unable to secure a job. Her brother had been the sole provider for their family. To lighten her brother’s burden, she willingly relocated to the countryside to work for sustenance.

Zhou Jiazhen suggested, “You seem to lack stamina, and hard labor doesn’t suit you. If you get a chance, offer a pound of pork to the captain and ask him to assign you lighter duties.”

Zhao Lanxiang nodded, appreciating Zhou Jiazhen’s advice.

“Okay, thank you for your suggestion.” she responded, a mischievous glint flickering in her eyes.

Her eyes held the warm hues of autumn, her skin was tender and fair, her ebony hair flowed as smooth as satin, and her body radiated vitality. She seemed untouched by the grueling trials of hunger and hardship.

When not working, Zhao Lanxiang adorned herself in a simple white shirt, paired with a black skirt, her silky hair cascading naturally over a shawl that covered her shoulders. There was an effortless elegance about her. Her clothes, while modest, were versatile. There was an indefinable allure about her.

The male educated youths often found their eyes irresistibly drawn towards Zhao Lanxiang, their work-induced weariness seemingly melting away in her presence. She was like an enchanting panorama that continually captivated their attention.

However, Zhao Lanxiang wasn’t as sociable as her female peers, and her interactions with the young men were considerably more restrained. Consequently, these young men found their chances to interact with Zhao Lanxiang exceedingly rare. Given the nuanced dynamics of male-female relationships in that era, Zhao Lanxiang’s distant demeanor implied that any advances by the men could be seen as having bad intentions.

After working tirelessly for several days, the captain finally granted the newly arrived educated youths a well-deserved break on Saturday. Jiang Li, along with a group of educated youths, departed early in the morning for a day trip to the county town.

Zhao Lanxiang, unfazed by the day’s excitement, instead went to procure five pounds of white flour and a cut of pork layered with 20 to 30 percent fat.

She returned to the shared dormitory with her purchases, only to be flabbergasted by the sight of the collapsed building. Zhou Jiazhen emerged from the wreckage, brandishing a hoe and exclaiming with palpable relief, “Luckily, we’re okay. There weren’t many inside, so no one was killed.”

Bewildered, Zhao Lanxiang turned to Zhou Jiazhen, “What happened?”

Zhou Jiazhen filled her in, “Apparently, while Zhao Si was herding pigs, one of them charged into the wall and brought down the dormitory. The building was an old house that had been converted into our dormitory years ago. It had been worn down by heavy rainfall over time. I was cooking when it suddenly fell apart. Just my luck, the white dust ruined a good piece of meat.”

“I must give Zhao Si a piece of my mind,” Zhou Jiazhen declared, bristling with indignation.

The villagers had always taken a somewhat dismissive stance towards the city-bred educated youths. They perceived these youths as a drain, consuming food without making significant contributions to the brigade’s annual food quota.

When the initial wave of educated youths arrived, the village was too impoverished to build new residences for them. The old captain resorted to refurbishing some dilapidated structures to house them. However, as the villagers began to discern the true character of these city dwellers, their eagerness to provide housing dwindled.

Now, faced with the prospect of being homeless for the night, Zhou Jiazhen and Zhao Lanxiang exchanged looks of concern. What should they do now?

“Don’t just stare.” urged Zhou Jiazhen, “Go and get your things. Have you looked for them?”

Zhao Lanxiang, having bought fine noodles and meat, unfortunately didn’t have time to enjoy them. Instead, she anxiously focused on rescuing her belongings.

Brigade captain Li Dali arrived as soon as he heard the news. He cast a resentful glare at the ruins of the old collapsed building. With the previous year’s harvest being subpar, the brigade was too poor to pay for any relief efforts. Where would they find the money to build a new home for these educated youths now that the green and yellow had not yet met? 

[T/N: “Time when the green and yellow have not met” means the previous harvest has been eaten, and the new crop was just planted.]

The educated youths gathered around Li Dali, seeking a solution. Wiping his face with determination, Li Dali declared, “We’ll arrange something for each of you. Tonight, you’ll stay with the villagers temporarily... As for the allocation, I’ll need to go back and think about that. Now, all of you--“

Li Dali was on the verge of saying, ‘let people go out and play,’ when he caught sight of Zhao Lanxiang’s delicate complexion, which prompted him to swallow back his words.

It’s not good to leave these beautiful girls without supervision. What if something happened?

Quickly pivoting, he commanded, “You come with me. The house where we store farm tools is currently empty. You could use it as a temporary resting spot during the day.”

Zhao Lanxiang and the others temporarily put their belongings in the house, which was doubling as their storage. Their faces echoed each other’s embarrassment and discomfort.

The male educated youths appeared to have the roughest time, their faces and hands were as dark as Justice Bao. This sight managed to get smiles from the dispirited female educated youths. Jiang Li, returning cheerfully in the afternoon, discovered all her items in her box were crushed. The discovery ruined her mood, turning her jovial expression sour. Once the captain left, she sneered, “What a wretched place.”

[T/N: Justice Bao is a legendary judge who is famous for his ability to help peasants to overcome corruption. He is also renowned for his dark skin and supposedly ugly face.]

Zhao Lanxiang could only roll her eyes inwardly. She was aware this was a less than ideal place, and yet she still decided to come. Zhao Lanxiang couldn’t understand her mindset.

However, with hunger gnawing at her insides until she felt her chest could meet her back, she had no time to muse over Jiang Li’s motivations. Borrowing a kitchen from the locals, she set about preparing meat buns and vegetarian noodles with Zhou Jiazhen. Zhao Lanxiang was more than willing to use her cut of pork and drain the fat for oil. Within an hour, her buns, made from the finest flour and semi-fatty pork, were ready, tender and flavorful. As the rest of the group languished in hunger in the house, she and Zhou Jiazhen savored their noodles in a house next door.

The scent spread throughout the room, which attracted other educated youths to look around. When they saw Zhou Jiazhen’s happy expression, they became even hungrier. Zhao Lanxiang saw it and did not hide her food. She invited everyone to eat together. She took out some of the noodles and gave it to the educated youths who had hollow bellies. Though the serving was modest, the hot soup provided a comforting cushion for their empty stomachs.

Zhao Lanxiang’s generosity elevated her standing among the displaced educated youths. Despite not sharing her precious meat buns, the beauty of the noodles mixed with bean paste, made from refined flour and precious pork, made their hearts swell with gratitude. Having freeloaded such a fine meal, they felt their fortune had improved significantly.

Jiang Li returned to the temporary dormitory after filling her belly. However, the grueling task of gathering her belongings had nearly digested the meal she’d had. When Zhao Lanxiang had been preparing the buns, the tantalizing aroma had been irresistible, even superior to the buns she’d tasted at the state-run restaurant.

Still, without an invitation from Zhao Lanxiang and not wanting to lose face, she could only watch in frustration as Zhao Lanxiang enjoyed the last bun, never once offering her a taste. Her eyes blazed with anger.

Her annoyance at Zhao Lanxiang deepened as she remembered the girl’s devotion to her brother, so unwavering and sticky, much like a piece of brown sugar. When her brother had been hospitalized some time ago, Zhao Lanxiang had, without a second thought, purchased a bunch of nutrients for him, most of which he couldn’t even finish until now. So why, now that they were in the country, was Zhao Lanxiang unwilling to offer her even a single meat bun?

“I’ll be writing to my family this weekend,” she warned Zhao, her voice dripping with frost, “don’t expect any praises to be said about you.”

With that, she stormed out of the farmhouse.

Unfazed, Zhao Lanxiang contentedly patted her full stomach. Zhou Jiazhen leaned in, whispering, “Do you two know each other well?”

Zhao Lanxiang said vaguely, “We come from the same city, but we’re not really close.”

Annoyed, Zhou Jiazhen vented, “She’s truly something. Still giving the captain that disdainful look. Despite him being a man of few words, he’s dedicated to his duties. Other brigades often starve to death, yet under his guidance, our brigade’s scarce food is evenly distributed each year. If she really thinks we’re poor, why did she choose to come to the countryside?”

With a noncommittal smile, Zhao Lanxiang focused her attention on mending some torn clothes. She deftly guided the needle and thread through the snowy white fabric, embellishing a cuff with a simple, blue floral design. The area, once torn by a branch, now had a delicate and elegant charm.

Zhou Jiazhen’s attention was quickly drawn to the unusual flower design. Handing the clothes to Zhou Jiazhen, Zhao Lanxiang seemed content, gazing at the blue sky, a peaceful aura around her.

The educated youth’s dormitory had collapsed, and the captain’s impending allocation of new residences was uncertain. For her, there was only one place she wished to stay — her beloved’s house.

......

While Zhao Lanxiang was caught up in the tantalizing thought of living at her partner’s place, Li Dali had been scratching his head in distress, trying to figure out how to allocate residences for these educated youths.

Having called the villagers for a meeting, Li Dali’s mouth had run dry from endless discussions. While the title “educated youth” sparkled with promise, the newcomers had paraded into the village under the ambitious claim of constructing a new socialist countryside. In reality, their involvement only burdened the villages further, draining their already meager resources. In truth, none of the families were eager to host these intelligent newcomers.

Li Dali patiently proposed, “You won’t be burdened with feeding them. Just let them stay for a while. Once the dormitory for the new educated youths is fully constructed, they won't trouble you anymore. If this still doesn’t sit well with you, we can arrange a rotation. There’s only a dozen of them, so each household will host one every month. This way, it’s fair to all and also saves us money from having to build multiple houses.”

The villagers could not sit still once hearing this.

“Hey, Captain, are you setting us up?” a gutsy one challenged.

Another disgruntled villager grumbled, “No, no, won’t be stable for our families. Having them live with us for a month could disrupt our lives. And honestly, those educated ones barely put our needs into their hearts.”

A more daring one suggested,“How about this? We draw lots. Whoever gets picked deals with it.”

Amid a flurry of heated exchanges that left faces flushed, Li Dali finally settled on a compromise. The officials would step up first, welcoming the educated youths into their homes. The team captain and the branch secretary would each take in two, while their deputies would each handle one. The other villagers’ fate would be determined by a lottery, requiring them only to offer a clean room.

And so it was agreed upon, primarily because many villagers didn’t fancy the idea of their pockets getting any lighter.

When the lottery was drawn, the families of Li Youfu, Li Jianguo, He Guoqing, and He Aijun were allocated three, three, three, and two students, respectively. Those who evaded this responsibility secretly breathed a sigh of relief, trying to comfort the “lucky” families with hopeful words. “Don’t worry, those students are sensible.Maybe they'll subsidize your rent and meals every month!"

Li Jianguo’s madam, hands firmly planted on her hips, scanned the list of names with a discerning eye. She confidently singled out Jiang Li, Zhao Lanxiang, and Tang Qing. “Our family wants these three.”

These well-dressed, courteous individuals exuded a city-bred charm. Recently spotted dining out or returning home with bundles of fresh meat, they carried an air of sophistication. If they received these three people, her family might be able to eat some meat with them.

This obvious cherry-picking sent ripples of discontent through the gathered families. Squabbles broke out over the chance to host the “better” youths. It was then that Li Dali’s booming voice cut through the clamor like a knife.

He scolded while vigorously smacking the table. “Shut up for me, so noisy!”

Captain Li Dali, though a sturdy figure with a fierce temperament, was a man of kindness. His word was law in the brigade, and even the fiercest of housewives didn’t dare to provoke him.

The branch secretary chimed in with a voice of reason, “This won’t do. We can’t all fight over the ‘good ones.’ Those willing to host an educated youth, please step forward.”

With reassurances from the captain and the secretary, a few families reluctantly agreed to ease the burden, taking in one or two students. This spread the load evenly, and kept it within acceptable limits.

After dismissing everyone, Li Dali collapsed into a chair with exhaustion.

Wiping his weary face with a towel, he confessed to the branch secretary, “Sorting out these comrades is giving me a headache.”

The secretary chuckled, “What’s the matter? Why not let them decide for themselves?”

A light bulb seemed to go off in Li Dali’s head, and he slapped his forehead in relief, “Yes. Let them sort it out. I’ve had enough.”

Later that day, he went to the temporary residence of the educated youths to announce his decision. They were to choose their temporary homes from a list of willing households until the brigade could afford to build their dormitories.

Zhao Lanxiang, scanning the list containing eight willing households, noticed the glaring absence of her partner’s family. Though she marked this sin in her small mental “account book”, she replied with a sweet smile, “Reporting to the captain, I’ve already sorted my living arrangements, so I won’t be a burden on the team.”

Caught off guard by the unflinching gaze of the expressive young woman, Li Dali stumbled over his words, his usual confidence wavering. “Wh-which family is it?” he finally managed, his voice thick with his accent.

“The family of He Songbai,” she replied, her smile enigmatic and her voice clear as a bell.

Li Dali’s hands trembled at her answer. There was something in her smile, her crescent-shaped eyes, that cut straight to his heart, leaving him feeling almost numb.

“Oh... He Songbai’s family, He Song—” he began, only to catch himself abruptly. He Songbai - wasn’t that the village’s infamous layabout gangster?

Li Dali abruptly shook his head and spoke earnestly, “You need to change your arrangements. This family isn’t suitable.”