Chapter 1

Chapter 1

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.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***