It was just past four o'clock in the morning when Feng Damei got up to steam two pots of mixed-grain buns. She also generously boiled eight eggs—two for each person to eat on the train, and that was all there was to spare.
Seeing this, Feng Qingqing pursed her lips in silence; she had known Feng Damei wouldn't prepare anything decent.
After a chaotic flurry of activity, the family headed out. Even Jiang Yong, who never took time off, had someone notify the personnel department at his factory that he would be an hour late. After all, sending several children to the countryside was a major event.
Ever since Jiang Yun had told Jiang Yong about her dream, he had come to value her above everyone else in the Jiang family. He had a vague feeling that the future prosperity of the Jiang family would depend entirely on Yunyun.
Time ticked by amidst Feng Damei's tearful sobbing, Jiang Yong’s wandering thoughts, and Feng Qingqing’s vacant staring. These events had all happened in her previous life, though back then, she hadn't had this whole family to see her off; she had simply grabbed a small bag with a few changes of clothes and boarded the train alone.
Since their destination was Qing City in the neighboring province, the distance was not particularly far, and the train ride would only take one day.
Except for Feng Qingqing, everyone else carried large bundles. Feng Qingqing only carried one large bag on the surface, having lied that her other belongings had already been sent ahead by mail.
Once on the train, they finally managed to find their seats after a great deal of effort, wiping the sweat from their brows before sitting down.
Feng Qingqing and Jiang Yun sat next to each other. Feng Qingqing immediately claimed the window seat. Jiang Yun wanted it too, but after glancing at Feng Qingqing a few times, she decided not to say anything.
The third child, Jiang Hongjun, was simple-minded and crude. Seeing that his own sister, Jiang Yun, also wanted the window seat, he stood up without a second thought and said haughtily to Feng Qingqing, "Can't you yield to Yunyun? She’s physically weak and wants to sit by the window to get some air. How can you be so cold-hearted?"
Feng Qingqing glanced at Jiang Hongjun. It was the same in her previous life; Jiang Hongjun was merely a blade in Jiang Yun’s hand—wherever she pointed, he would strike, without hesitation. Back at home, Jiang Hongjun had occasionally wanted to lash out, but because many things were still uncertain and Jiang Yun had been keeping an eye on him, he hadn't caused a major scene.
But now, once on the train, they saw Feng Qingqing as an orphan who was nothing more than a fish on a cutting board, ready to be carved up, so he began to show his true colors.
Jiang Yun didn't stop him this time. For her, even though she was going to the countryside, she wasn't going there to suffer. With her luck, things would be just as favorable wherever she went. Furthermore, she had a clear goal: she was after Feng Qingqing's necklace. Now was the perfect time to crush her spirit and let her know that times had changed, and from now on, she and her siblings would be the ones calling the shots. Perhaps with that, she could get her hands on the necklace soon.
With the necklace space in her possession, there would be so much she could do.
Jiang Yun’s silence only fueled Jiang Hongjun’s arrogance. He knew his sister despised this cousin from the bottom of her heart, but they had all been holding back because the family still relied on her job. But now, they were on the train, and things were no longer under her control.
He had expected Feng Qingqing, now reduced to an orphan, to be submissive and obedient, but Feng Qingqing merely gave him a cold glance and turned to look at the scenery outside the window, ignoring him completely.
At that moment, Jiang Yun noticed a man and a woman sitting across from them. The man clearly came from a well-off family; he wore a white Dacron shirt, dark green army-issue trousers, white sneakers, and a Shanghai-brand watch on his wrist. That watch wasn't cheap—it cost at least 200 yuan.
Jiang Yun hurriedly stopped her third brother, who was about to fly into a rage, and gave him a meaningful look. Jiang Hongjun reined in his expression, though he kept muttering under his breath—needless to say, nothing pleasant.Seeing the commotion brushed aside by Jiang Yun’s soft-spoken words, Feng Qingqing felt nothing; after all, it had been exactly like this in her previous life.
Just then, Jiang Yun spoke up: "Are you two also educated youth? The four of us siblings are headed to the Lanshan Production Brigade under Qing City to serve as educated youth. My name is Jiang Yun, these are my brothers Jiang Hongwei and Jiang Hongjun, and this is my cousin, Feng Qingqing. She isn't very good with words, so please don't mind her."
After she finished speaking, she offered them an apologetic smile, as if Feng Qingqing had committed some unforgivable sin.
The man who had just boarded along with a woman replied with a smile: "What a coincidence! We are also headed to the Lanshan Production Brigade under Qing City. My name is Qi Hongsheng, and this beside me is Zhuang Shan, a neighbor from our compound."
Qi Hongsheng was not usually a warm person; he was somewhat cold toward strangers. Yet, for some reason, the moment he saw the girl opposite him, he felt an immediate fondness, which prompted him to respond with a smile before he even realized it.
Hearing his introduction, Feng Qingqing, who had been staring out the window, turned to glance at Qi Hongsheng.
Very well, the male supporting character had arrived right on schedule. In her past life, this Qi Hongsheng had been the most important early-stage male supporting character by Jiang Yun’s side.
Qi Hongsheng was from Beijing. His parents were high-ranking officials in the Beijing Education Bureau. As the youngest child, he had been sent to the countryside right when he came of age. However, because he was doted on by his family, he received parcels from Beijing every month even after moving to the countryside, allowing him to live quite comfortably there.In her past life, he had been Jiang Yun’s number one sycophant. Back then, Jiang Yun had never been sent to the countryside. Three months after Feng Qingqing arrived in the countryside, Jiang Yun had come under the pretext of visiting her cousin, but her true purpose was to find someone to monitor Feng Qingqing’s every move. Even though Jiang Yun had already obtained the necklace space, she was worried that something might go wrong since it had originally belonged to Feng Qingqing, and she simply could not put her mind at ease.
Qi Hongsheng had been one of her lackeys. She had not expected to run into him on the journey to the countryside this time, and that they would even be sent to the same place. It seemed that life in the countryside was going to be lively.
"Brother Hongsheng, why bother talking so much to them? They’re just a bunch of country bumpkins, hmph." Although she said the last part under her breath, everyone still heard her, and their expressions changed one by one.
Those who had initially formed a good impression of Qi Hongsheng immediately stopped speaking.
Jiang Yun didn't say anything, her expression cooling. The two brothers, Jiang Hongwei, saw that the pair were dressed in fine clothes and held their tongues, though the atmosphere turned icy in an instant.
Upon hearing Zhuang Shan say this, Qi Hongsheng immediately chided her:
"What are you saying, Zhuang Shan? All the educated youth sent to the countryside are brothers and sisters. Besides, we are all going to the same production brigade; we should get along with one another."
Although Qi Hongsheng’s face didn't look pleasant either, he saw so many people nearby and ultimately felt it wouldn't be right to embarrass a girl. After saying those few words, he let the matter drop.
He had felt a headache about Zhuang Shan insisting on coming to the countryside with him.
Zhuang Shan had followed him around since she was a child. When they were younger, there hadn't been many thoughts behind it, but as they grew older and their families both favored the match, he had only ever treated her as a younger sister—yet he couldn't withstand her persistent pestering.
Qi Hongsheng had volunteered to head to the countryside this time not only because his family needed someone to go and he was the most suitable candidate, but also to get away from Zhuang Shan. Who would have guessed that heaven would not grant his wish, and she had actually followed him here?
Still, he couldn't just ignore her. After all, their families were old acquaintances, and they were childhood friends; he would help her within the scope of his ability.
And so, it wasn't until they sat down for lunch that the group slowly began to converse again.