Chapter 81: Xu Caixia Is Truly a Song

Back in the days of war, Old Master Song was always away fighting. His wife stayed in their hometown to care for his elderly parents. They had a son, and when Old Master Song left, his wife was already pregnant again.

It was a stroke of misfortune—natural disaster struck his hometown that year, and the two elders did not survive. Madam Song, heavily pregnant, buried them with the help of neighbors and then set out with her son to seek her husband.

She endured many hardships along the way. The child was born during the journey—no one knows the details, but in the end, she arrived with her son and daughter to find Old Master Song, only to discover he had already taken up with a new lover, a gentle beauty in his arms. He justified it as breaking free from the shackles of feudal marriage to seek a like-minded revolutionary comrade.

Thus, the original wife was abandoned, but the son remained; he took the daughter with him. A year later, in An City, he left behind a daughter of just over one year old, who died.

Lin Jingyue’s expression twisted, “So Xu Caixia is the daughter who was taken away?”

“Mm.” Jiang Xun understood her suspicions and sighed. “I’ve investigated carefully. Xu Caixia is indeed the Song family’s daughter. She bears an uncanny resemblance to Old Master Song’s first wife.”

Lin Jingyue… Something wasn’t right.

She had guessed wrong; the story didn’t follow the usual script. She had expected it to be a case of identity substitution.

If the identity wasn’t in doubt, then what was the reason? Why had her mother never mentioned someone who was once a close friend?

Why had Xu Caixia gone to the capital for more than ten years and never returned? Was there no correspondence, or was there something she hadn’t been told?

Xu Caixia treated her well—was it genuine?

Lin Jingyue felt complicated. It seemed she would have to return to An City during the New Year to get to the bottom of things.

“I’ll keep looking into the Song family, but most who know the old stories are elders.” Jiang Xun saw her frown and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll help you get to the truth.” He, too, wanted to know the Song family’s intent.

“Mm, keep investigating.” For some reason, Lin Jingyue felt that things were far from simple.

She had a sense that, one day, this matter would come to her door.

That was the reason for her persistent desire to unravel the truth.

An City.

Xu Caixia—or rather, Song Qinglan, as she was now called—returned home from work and saw a large package in the living room. She paused. “Returned again?”

The man in the living room glanced at her. “This time, it was sent straight back by the post office. They asked you not to send anything to Long City anymore, or you’ll bear the consequences.”

“…Who was it?” Song Qinglan’s brows knitted tightly.

“The letter? Was it returned too?”

“It was. Stop sending them. The capital’s already called.”

“The capital? Who called? That old bastard?”

“…He’s your father,” the man replied irritably.

Song Qinglan sneered, but didn’t retort. “I’m asking, who made the call?”

She hated being managed.

“The Jiang family.”

“….”

Seeing Song Qinglan silenced, the man was speechless. “So, stop trying. If she won’t accept, think of another way.”

“I know what I’m doing.” Song Qinglan’s gaze darkened as she looked at him, then carried her bag into the study.

The man sighed and looked silently toward Beiyin, saying nothing more.

…

Qingshan Brigade. The autumn air was brisk and clear. Today was the joyous wedding day of Secretary Sun’s daughter, Lanlan.

It was lively.

But the celebrations had nothing to do with the educated youth compound; everyone went about their business. A few days ago, food rations were distributed, and Lin Jingyue and her companions received quite a lot. For coarse grains, they took a hundred pounds of potatoes, a hundred pounds of sweet potatoes, and fifty pounds of cornmeal; the rest was fine grain.

It was a good haul.

Mainly, Jiang Xun and Zhou Yan earned many work points, which made others in the brigade envious.

Some even schemed to marry their daughters to Zhou Yan, though Jiang Xun was out of the question.

But it was just a fleeting thought—later, they sobered up. What if the educated youth returned to the city?

Those who truly loved their daughters couldn’t bear to marry them to outsiders, even if the youth could provide for a family.

“Would you believe, they fetched the bride on a bicycle? Sun Lanlan’s just a country girl, is she worth it?” Chen Chunlan, back from the festivities, couldn’t resist gossiping.

Xie Wenjuan replied helplessly, “She’s marrying a city man, after all.”

Chen Chunlan made a face and glanced at the silent Sun Liangdong nearby, feeling annoyed.

She was a city person herself.

Sun Liangdong didn’t notice Chen Chunlan’s irritation; he was about to call someone for lunch when he saw Chen Chunlan sidle up to Lin Jingyue and whisper.

He nearly fainted from anger.

“Lin Jingyue, guess what dowry the Cai family gave?” Chen Chunlan asked enthusiastically as Lin Jingyue read.

“…You’re blocking my light.”

“They gave a bicycle and eighty yuan in bride price. The Cai family is generous,” Chen Chunlan continued, ignoring Lin Jingyue’s complaint.

“…”

“But Sun Lanlan was shrewd—she not only took the bicycle, but also one hundred and fifty yuan as her bottom drawer money.”

“I said you’re blocking my light.” Lin Jingyue was losing patience; she cared nothing for Sun Lanlan's dowry and bride price.

“…You can’t even gossip with this one,” Chen Chunlan muttered before hurrying away, fearing her anger.

Lin Jingyue was speechless.

People like Chen Chunlan were truly something else.

“Jingyue!” She rolled her eyes, about to resume reading, when a familiar voice called out.

Xu Qingqing.

The girl beamed, her smile warm and eyes resolute, evidently changed.

She carried a bag—inside were a pound of White Rabbit candies and three cans of yellow peach preserves.

“Why bring all this?” Lin Jingyue smiled as she put away her book.

“It’s for you. Thank you.” Xu Qingqing handed the bag to Lin Jingyue, smiling with a blink.

Lin Jingyue was helpless. “I don’t deserve it. I only gave you a reminder.”

“Your advice was invaluable. Well, enough about that. The autumn harvest is over—how are you still so fair?” Xu Qingqing waved, curious as she looked at Lin Jingyue.

She seemed paler than ever.

Those who saw Lin Jingyue every day didn’t notice much, but for someone like Xu Qingqing, who visited occasionally, it was striking—her skin not only hadn’t suffered, but had improved. There was hardly a flaw to be found.

“Born beautiful; nothing to envy.” Lin Jingyue had never known what it meant to be thick-skinned.

“…”

Outside, Chen Chunlan and the others could only sigh.

Xu Qingqing had barely arrived when Xie Yunzheng appeared.

“Lin Jingyue, where’s my brother?” He placed a wild rabbit by her stove and, without ceremony, grabbed a handful of peanuts to shell at her table.

Lin Jingyue and Xu Qingqing sat on the kang; he took a seat on a nearby stool.

“He’s gone to mail things home.”

Jiang Xun had received food rations and, along with Zhou Yan, had gone into the mountains twice, gathering wild game and mountain goods to send to his family, along with a letter.

He also collected Lin Jingyue’s manuscript fees.

Xie Yunzheng: “…Why didn’t you wait for me?”