Chapter 2: The Little Troublemaker of the Seventies (2)

Three days later, the train reached its destination.

Liu Suihui could hardly recall how she had spent those three days. With no convenient way to wash on the train, she managed only to wipe herself down with hot water. She changed clothes once a day, but, lacking water, had to stuff her worn garments into her bundle for now. If not for the limitations of the era, she would have gladly thrown out those two sets of new clothes, even though they’d only been worn once. The thought that she could no longer change freely unsettled her deeply.

Most of the time on the train, she wrapped her face in a cloth, like those women from certain distant lands—one strip of cloth atop her head, the richest in the country. Thus, throughout the journey, not a soul knew what she looked like. They only knew she was wealthy, fastidious, spoiled, and not very sociable.

“Red Star Brigade, over here!”

“Sunshine Brigade! This way, Sunshine Brigade!”

“Forward Brigade, come over here!”

Peering through the slit in her headscarf, Liu Suihui found the Red Star Brigade. An uncle waved a wooden sign, eager that they not miss it.

Besides herself, there were two other girls and four boys—seven in all assigned to the Red Star Brigade.

“Hello, I’m the brigade leader of Red Star Brigade. I’ll take you out first, then we’ll talk about other matters.”

Liu Suihui, carrying her bundle and frowning, followed behind the brigade leader. She was petite, and the crowded train station made it even harder for her. To avoid others’ touch, she kept vigilant, but a few inevitable brushes occurred.

“007, I hate you, sob, sob…” She regretted everything, truly regretted it. This era was about hunger, cold, and customs utterly alien to her; coming here was nothing but hardship. Though this was the last two years of the sent-down youth movement, she would still have to endure two more years here—two years of suffering, unbearable.

007 was troubled, too. It hadn’t anticipated its host to be so pampered. Should it consult other systems for advice?

The Red Star Brigade owned a tractor, parked in a clearing, waiting for the arrival of the youth. Beside the tractor stood a man, slender and tall, dressed plainly in a white shirt and grey trousers. He radiated a sense of distance, difficult to approach. His eyes held no emotion, but his sharp brows and starry gaze made him exceptionally handsome.

“Host, that’s the antagonist, and also your uncle’s soul fragment.”

With her face hidden beneath the scarf, Liu Suihui boldly sized him up. Compared to the sly charm he once had, he now seemed more scholarly—cool, aloof, and a bit proud. As always, strikingly handsome. Though his looks had changed, the impression was still superb.

In the next instant, his gaze locked onto hers. Just one look, and she felt as though a wild beast had fixed upon her—her hairs stood on end.

“Hello, I’m Chen Hongxia from Province A, eighteen years old.”

“Hello, I’m Ding Ruyi from Haishi, eighteen years old.”

“Hi, I’m Chen Guodong from Province G, nineteen.”

“…”

It was Liu Suihui’s turn. She looked at everyone, blinked, and spoke slowly, “Hello, I’m Liu Suihui from the capital, sixteen years old.”

Her voice was soft and sweet, melting hearts unconsciously. Especially with her unhurried cadence, she seemed unlike ordinary people. Some had seen her on the train, but never heard her speak.

But—

“Sixteen? You’re so young, and your family sent you to the countryside?” Chen Hongxia looked at her in surprise, unable to see her face, but still moved with compassion.

Liu Suihui pressed her lips together, offering no explanation. Some things didn’t need to be explained—let them imagine as they please. Perhaps they’d fill in the story themselves.

“Ahem, I’m your brigade leader, Li Xiangdang. Just call me Leader Li. We’re not going back so soon—if you need to buy anything, do it now. You have an hour; meet back here afterwards.”

With those words, the youths familiar from the train quickly formed groups. Chen Hongxia had wanted to invite Liu Suihui, but seeing her aloofness, sensed she didn’t need company. On the train, she’d always been alone—independent and distant. So, she thought better of it.

Two minutes later, the other six youths had gone, leaving only Liu Suihui.

The man by the tractor withdrew his gaze, intending to wait until time was up before driving back.

After a while, he felt something touch his arm.

“Hello, may I ask you a favor? My things are heavy, and I can’t manage them alone. Don’t worry, I’ll pay you.”

Liu Suihui reached out her right index finger and gently poked his arm. Her fingertip was soft and pale, like a feather brushing against him—slightly ticklish.

Li Xiangyang turned and saw a small head wrapped in a scarf, with only two round, kitten-like eyes exposed—big, bright, and lively.

The words “I won’t” stuck in his throat, suddenly impossible to say.

“Where?”

“Do you know where the post office is?”

She had sent her belongings to the post office ahead of time, planning to retrieve them upon arrival. Otherwise, she couldn’t just conjure her things out of thin air. She was a pampered young lady, not a pampered fool.

She’d also considered how to approach her uncle’s soul fragment—should she act as she always did, heedless and bold? But faced with this entirely new person, who didn’t know her, behaving as before might be disastrous.

A noble lady, not only spoiled, but always impeccable in manners.

Li Xiangyang was nearly six foot three, making the five-foot-tall Liu Suihui seem like a child beside him. The contrast between the two figures was oddly harmonious.

They fetched her parcels from the post office—large and small, all carried by Li Xiangyang. Liu Suihui only took a small bundle, light as air.

“Comrade, thank you. Without your help, I couldn’t have managed alone.” She looked up and met his gaze.

Li Xiangyang merely murmured an acknowledgment, carrying the packages forward.

Yet, inwardly, he wondered—how could this girl’s voice be so pleasant, like a songbird’s trill?