Chapter 45 She Has Many Ways to Protect Herself

Thinking of her daughter’s imminent departure to the countryside, Shi Jingfang’s face was filled with guilt. "Wenhui, do you blame your parents for this rural assignment?" Ye Wenhui looped her arm through her mom’s. "This wasn’t your wish. My elder brother has his own job and is about to get married, and my younger brother is too young. Someone from the family had to go to the countryside, and it just happened to be my turn." Shi Jingfang sighed. "It’s cold in the Northeast. I’ve exchanged quite a few ration tickets these past few days to make you a thick quilt and prepare two sets of heavy cotton clothes. Once you get there, if you need anything, just write to me, and I’ll mail it to you." Ye Wenhui leaned on her mother’s shoulder. "Mom, please don’t worry. Dad pulled some strings to get me into the Agricultural Reclamation Group, where I’ll get a salary. That’s much better than being assigned to a village like other educated youths." Suddenly, Shi Jingfang remembered something. "Wenhui, I heard today that your Aunt Zhiran’s daughter has also gone to the countryside. I’ve inquired, and her assigned location isn’t far from your Agricultural Reclamation Group. If you have time, please go check on her for me." Ye Wenhui took a moment to process. "Aunt Zhiran?" Shi Jingfang gently poked her daughter’s head. "You ungrateful little thing. When Aunt Zhiran returned to Beijing that year, she even visited our home." As she spoke, her eyes suddenly reddened. "It’s such a pity that good people don’t live long. Sigh." Knowing her daughter didn’t remember, her eyes filled with reminiscence as she slowly began to tell her their story... After two days and one night, the train was finally pulling into the station. Perhaps because Hua Wanqing had contacted the Educated Youth Office, the comrade escorting this batch of educated youths notified Yunyi in advance, "After disembarking, gather in the square in front of the station. We will then coordinate with the comrades from the Ji City Educated Youth Office for the handover. They will take charge from there." Yunyi acknowledged, and the comrade left. The train slowly came to a halt. As Yunyi carried her luggage off with the crowd, she realized she was much stronger than before—a change she attributed to the Spatial Well Water without a doubt. Looking at the bustling crowd on the platform, she was glad for the advantage her space provided. If I had to push through the crowd carrying my belongings on my shoulders and in my hands like everyone else, I truly doubt I could bear it. She had only seen such scenes in books or dramas and occasionally heard her elders mention them. Now, experiencing it firsthand, she truly understood that she had arrived in the era of her parents’ youth. Upon exiting the station, she saw a red banner not far off welcoming the educated youths. Carrying her luggage, she squeezed her way towards it. When she arrived, several educated youths were already waiting, none of them looking particularly happy. Finding a spot, she placed her bundle on the ground and sat on her leather suitcase. Groups of three to five educated youths gradually made their way over. Before long, over a hundred people were gathered there. Because she had drunk the Spatial Well Water, Yunyi’s five senses were exceptionally sharp, and she could feel numerous gazes fixed on her. The original owner of this body was already beautiful. Enhanced by the Spatial Water, she now possessed an exquisite, ethereal charm that, combined with her own innate temperament, made her truly captivating—enough to make people unable to look away. Some of these gazes were purely appreciative of her beauty, while others, of course, carried malice. However, Yunyi paid them no mind; after all, she had plenty of ways to protect herself. After the staff from the two Educated Youth Offices completed their handover, a staff member from the Ji City Educated Youth Office stood on a raised platform with a megaphone: "Welcome, everyone, to support rural construction! We will now begin the roll call. When your name is called, comrades, please pick up your luggage and follow the staff’s directions to board the vehicles. Remember, do not board the wrong vehicle." "Zhang Jiashu!" "Here!" "Wang Guirong!" "Here!" "Zhao Xiangyang!" "Here!" ... "Chuyunyi!" When Yunyi heard her name, she followed suit and responded loudly, "Here!" ... As she walked over, a few girls were complaining, "This bus is so high, how are we supposed to get on?" Another girl patted her Dacron blouse and pants. "They didn’t even wash the bus before sending it to pick us up! These are new clothes my mom just made for me." Yunyi glanced at the two grumbling girls. We’re already assigned to the countryside, what’s the point of being so pretentious? They’ll have to get on the bus eventually anyway.