The true heiress of metaphysics travels back to the 1970s and recognizes her father, a high-ranking

Jiang Muyan seemed to see through Song Wenhui's thoughts, gently shaking her head, her tone calm yet carrying an undeniable firmness:

"I'm sorry, I'm used to living alone."

Having said that, she changed the subject, a half-smile playing on her lips:

"Song, there are other empty individual dormitories in the educated youth compound. If you don't want to live in the communal dormitory, you can choose one."

Rejected in public, a flash of annoyance crossed Song Wenhui's eyes, which quickly turned into a wronged expression:

"Since you don't agree, then forget it... I'll be scared living alone, I'd rather stay in the big dormitory."

Jiang Muyan nodded, responding with an air of seriousness, her tone completely devoid of any emotion:

"I'm really sorry. But there are still vacant rooms in the yard. You can find someone else to share with. It's only 50 cents a month, and I think someone will be willing."

As Jiang Muyan spoke, she followed the brigade leader toward the rows of houses behind.

Song Wenhui was stunned for a moment, then stomped her foot in anger. Was that what she meant? She didn't want to waste money on renting a place!

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The entire educated youth compound consisted of a large dormitory-style dormitory at the front, and several rows of houses at the back, each with four rooms, separated by a passageway.

Captain Qiao explained the availability of the vacant rooms as they walked, and only when they reached the last row did he point to the room on the west side and say:

"The westernmost room in this row of houses is occupied by another educated youth from Jiang, and the remaining three rooms are still empty."

After saying that, he belatedly realized that after Jiang Muyan arrived, there were now two educated youths with the surname Jiang at the educated youth settlement.

Jiang Muyan looked around. This last row was right next to the foot of the mountain, furthest from the large dormitories in front, and the environment was exceptionally quiet. She had already made up her mind, and pointed to the easternmost room:

"Captain, I choose this one."

Captain Qiao nodded:

"Okay, I'll go to the brigade headquarters to get the keys for you, and we can get the paperwork done then!"

"I'll go with you."

As Jiang Muyan spoke, she followed in Captain Qiao's footsteps.

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Meanwhile, on the other side, Jiang Xiechuan was leading Fu Moxuan towards his residence.

Before I even reached the door, I could hear a puppy whimpering inside.

Fu Moxuan turned to look at Jiang Xiechuan and raised his handsome eyebrows.

"Um... this is my little dog!"

Jiang Xiechuan scratched his head and explained with a smile. As they spoke, the two had already reached the dormitory door. He pushed the door open, stepped aside to let Fu Moxuan in, and spoke with a hint of smugness in his tone.

"Third Brother, I found this puppy when I went up the mountain. It's usually very obedient! I named it Jiang Xiaobai. What do you think? Isn't it a nice name?"

Fu Moxuan wasn't averse to small animals. He looked down at the snow-white puppy that was happily frolicking around Jiang Xiechuan at his feet and thought to himself: "The name does match its fur color quite well."

He glanced casually at the room; it was clean and tidy, and the most striking feature was a large heated kang (a traditional Chinese bed-stove). Just as Jiang Xiechuan had said, the kang was spacious enough to accommodate several people.

"Third Brother, why don't you sleep on the east side and I'll sleep on the west side? I'm afraid I'll snore at night and disturb your rest," Jiang Xiechuan suggested.

"It's alright," Fu Moxuan said, temporarily placing his luggage on a chair beside the kang (heated brick bed). His gaze swept over the tables and chairs in the room, and he asked curiously, "Did you make these chairs yourself?"

"Yes!" Jiang Xiechuan nodded emphatically, his tone tinged with pride. "When I first arrived, there was nothing at all. I found the wood for the tables and chairs myself and slowly built them by asking the villagers for advice. At first, they were crooked and uneven, and I had to dismantle and rebuild them several times before they became what they are now."

"Not bad." Fu Moxuan sincerely praised. He clearly remembered that Jiang Xiechuan was only about fifteen years old when he went to the countryside, still a teenager.

At that age, facing an unfamiliar environment alone, having to adapt to heavy farm work, and also taking care of two elderly people, it was already quite an achievement.

Thinking of this, Fu Moxuan looked at Jiang Xiechuan and asked softly, "Xiechuan, how are the two elders now?"

Upon hearing this question, the smile in Jiang Xiechuan's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a suppressed bitterness:

"It's alright, but those people with red armbands come two or three times a month. Although they haven't laid a hand on my grandparents, they verbally abuse them every time."

As he spoke, his hands unconsciously clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white. Several times, he wanted to rush forward to protect his grandparents, but his grandfather sternly stopped him each time.

My grandfather said that if he dared to stand up for himself, those people would definitely beat him up, or even report him to higher authorities. In that case, the educated youth office would transfer him to another brigade or farm.

My grandfather also said that they are fortunate to have only suffered verbal abuse and not any real harm.

Seeing the two elderly people who once loved him so much reduced to this state, Jiang Xiechuan felt as if a huge rock was lodged in his heart. He felt both frustrated and angry, yet powerless to do anything about it.

Jiang Xiaobai, seemingly sensing its master's sadness, gently rubbed against Jiang Xiechuan's trouser leg and let out a low whimper.

Fu Moxuan's expression also darkened, his brows furrowing tightly. He raised his hand and patted Jiang Xiechuan's shoulder, his tone firm: "Things will get better gradually."

He paused, then added:

"I brought some tonics with me. I'll go with you to deliver them to the two elders tonight."

Jiang Xiechuan was stunned for a moment, then a warm feeling welled up in his heart, and a faint redness appeared in his eyes:

"Third Brother, thank you! Actually, it didn't have to be so complicated. I can earn work points now, and my parents often send me things. It's just..."

You know, my grandparents had never suffered such humiliation in their entire lives. My grandmother is in poor mental health now, but she is better off and can't understand what those people are saying.

But my maternal grandfather was different. He had made great contributions on the battlefield, but also suffered from a lot of injuries—gunshot wounds on his legs and knife wounds on his back. When the pain came, he couldn't sleep all night.

On weekdays, my maternal grandfather also had to take care of my maternal grandmother, who was like a child. Even though he secretly helped her, my maternal grandfather insisted that he not reveal their relationship, so he could only occasionally cook some delicious food and secretly send it over.

Physical exhaustion and pain, coupled with the endless insults, have caused my grandfather to visibly age considerably in the past two years.

This is the most agonizing part for Jiang Xiechuan—he hates the injustice of the world, hates that he is not strong enough, and hates even more Jiang Chuyao, who reported his grandmother, for being heartless and cruel.

Fu Moxuan looked at the anger and helplessness surging in his eyes, patted his shoulder again, and offered silent comfort.

Jiang Xiechuan took a deep breath, suppressed his emotions, and took the initiative to change the subject:

"Brother Fu, is there anything else you need? You should have an afternoon off to go shopping, and I'll go with you!"

Fu Moxuan nodded: "Okay. But, don't you have to go to work?"

Jiang Xiechuan: "I took a day off today, it's fine!" He thought Fu Moxuan might come today, so when the brigade leader was going to the county town to pick him up, he volunteered.

With that, he turned and walked towards the kitchen outside the door: "Third Brother, you rest, I'll cook!"

In this dormitory, besides a large heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed), there were also tables and chairs. Although it's common practice in Heilongjiang Province to have a table on the kang for meals, Jiang Xiechuan wasn't used to it, so he placed the tables and chairs on the floor. As a result, the space inside the room seemed a bit cramped, so he simply built a makeshift kitchen outside the door.

The stove in the kitchen is connected to the heated kang (a traditional heated platform bed) in the house. In winter, when cooking in the kitchen, the heat can be transmitted into the house through the kang's heating channels, making the house much warmer.

Fu Moxuan followed him to the kitchen door and said:

"I'll help." Over the years in the army, he had already developed the ability to live independently, so cooking simple meals was naturally no problem for him.