The 1960s: The Story of a Country Girl's Journey to the City

After Bao Ya finished eating, she saw two live fish, each over a foot long, in a large wooden basin in the yard, and two pieces of pork hanging on the handlebars of her bicycle. She knew that these were the gifts she was going to take to the Su family for her return visit today.

Seeing that it was almost time, she quickly tidied up, packed the wine and snacks in the room into a net bag, and followed Jiang Yuan out.

Si Mao, along with Gou Dan and Niu Dan, were already waiting at the village entrance.

"Sis~"

"Sis~"

Seeing them approaching from afar, Gou Dan and Niu Dan shouted at them, each shouting louder than the last, like they were calling for their souls.

"Sister, brother-in-law."

Upon reaching them, Simao quickly went up to call for help.

"Hey, you've been waiting here for a while, haven't you?"

"No, just a little while."

Bao Ya got out of the car and walked with them, while Jiang Yuan pushed his bicycle and walked alongside.

Gou Dan started running around like a puppy again, circling around them. Bao Ya was afraid of accidentally stepping on him.

They greeted the villagers as they walked home, stopping to chat with acquaintances whenever they encountered them.

We walked and stopped frequently, taking more than half an hour to cover a ten-minute walk.

Grandma Su, Su Ruyi, Lin Dahai, Su Daqiang, and Su Erqiang kept looking out the door.

Upon seeing them return, they quickly welcomed them inside.

After exchanging pleasantries, Su Ruyi and her two aunts went to cook. Grandma Su pulled Bao Ya into the house and stared at her for a long time, as if afraid of missing something.

Seeing that her expression hadn't changed, and that the two of them had been happy just now, not like they were having a fight, he finally felt relieved.

"Baoya, when did your mother-in-law go back?"

After careful consideration, Grandma Su asked Bao Ya, "When we first met Jiang Yuan, we learned that he had been adopted and that his uncle had passed away. That's why Grandma Su was so determined to win his heart."

She knew her ancestor's temper very well. Jiang Yuan had been adopted by his eldest uncle, so theoretically, Liao Chunhua couldn't openly act like a mother-in-law in front of Bao Ya, but there's always a way.

Although they had agreed that they wouldn't live with Jiang Yuan anymore and wouldn't need him to support them in their old age, she was still Jiang Yuan's biological mother, and it wouldn't be very convincing to say they wouldn't take care of her.

Adding to the worry was the issue of the 500 yuan dowry, which made the old lady even more anxious.

"I went back to the village after I finished packing for the wedding."

Hearing Bao Ya say this, the old lady breathed a huge sigh of relief.

She wasn't afraid that Bao Ya would suffer mistreatment under her mother-in-law's care; the girl had a strong temper, and not many people could make her suffer. She was just worried that the young couple would quarrel over this and hurt their relationship.

Grandma Su asked her how she had been these past two days, and seeing that nothing was wrong, she was relieved.

Before the meal was ready, Grandma Su sent Jiang Yuan and Bao Ya to Aunt Pang's house. The wedding was over; they should thank the matchmaker.

Jiang Yuan took two bottles of wine, a piece of meat, a box of pastries, and two cans of fruit from the things he brought, and then went out with Bao Ya.

When Bao Ya and Jiang Yuan returned from Aunt Pang's house, they saw Su Daqiang leading two people out of the house.

"Captain, Accountant Shi wants you to go and take a look at the farm tools that need to be replaced in the warehouse."

Before Bao Ya could even call out to Su Daqiang, a young man came running up to him, panting.

"this……"

Su Daqiang glanced at the two people behind him, thinking he would write them letters of introduction later, but then he realized it was getting late and they would be taking their lunch break by the time they got to the commune. Just as he was hesitating, he turned around and saw Bao Ya and Jiang Yuan returning.

"Bao Ya, go to the brigade headquarters and get them letters of introduction from Kaifeng."

As he spoke, he took the key off his belt and handed it to her.

"Okay."

She used to help him get letters of introduction, so Su Daqiang wasn't too worried about it.

After handing the key to Bao Ya, Su Daqiang followed the young man away.

The person who came to open the letter of introduction was Qi Jianjun, whom I had met a few days ago. The girl next to him was wearing clothes covered in patches, with two thin, yellow braids hanging down her chest. She was staring blankly at me.

Is it Lin Taohua? She's the granddaughter of the uncle who had never spoken to Old Man Lin before.

But she was a little different today. In the past, she would always keep her head down and not dare to look at me. Why was she like this today? Her expression was like she had seen a ghost.

"Bao Ya, thank you for your help."

Qi Jianjun hesitated for a moment when he saw Bao Ya, then came over to greet her. Seeing Jiang Yuan beside Bao Ya, he felt a strange sense of loss. He had returned too late.

"No trouble at all, let's go to the brigade headquarters."

She turned and led them toward the brigade headquarters, with Jiang Yuan following behind her.

Qi Jianjun followed along, but Lin Taohua only came to her senses after they had gone far away and quickly caught up with them.

This Lin Baoya looks so much like her good-for-nothing boss; their features are practically a one-to-one replica, except she's much thinner than that good-for-nothing second-generation rich kid.

That useless boss of hers was always talking about losing weight; she even suspected he was taking too many diet pills and almost killed himself. Could it be that she'd also transmigrated? No, she's still alive.

Lin Taohua's eyes were filled with suspicion and uncertainty, and she kept glancing at Baoya.

Upon arriving at the brigade headquarters, Bao Ya skillfully opened a drawer, took out letter paper and the brigade's official seal, and sat down at the table to write a letter of introduction.

Lin Taohua had recovered from her shock and suddenly said to Baoya:

"Um, Baoya, I'd like to change my name, what do you think..."

Hearing her say that, Bao Ya put down her pen and asked:

What name do you want to change it to?

It's just changing a name, nothing serious, it just means I'll have to write another letter of introduction.

"I want to change my name to Lin Chuxue, Chu as in early winter and Xue as in snow."

After saying that, Lin Taohua stared intently at Bao Ya, trying to discern a flaw in her expression.

"Lin Chuxue, that's a nice name. Have they started literacy classes in the village again recently?"

Lin Taohua was brought along by her uncle's second aunt. She had never been to school, but now she knows which two characters it is, so it seems she has learned quite well.

The CEO of her company in her past life, who always gave her pep talks, seemed to have the same name. Bao Ya nonchalantly began writing the letter of introduction.

Lin Chuxue stared intently at Bao Ya's face, trying to find a flaw, but when Bao Ya mentioned the literacy class, her expression showed a moment of panic before returning to calm.

Upon hearing that she wanted to change her name, Qi Jianjun glanced at Lin Chuxue with some surprise, but said nothing. He then turned his gaze to Bao Ya's face, lost in thought.

Jiang Yuan also noticed the changes in the two of them and felt quite unhappy, thinking that he had to get rid of his wife as soon as possible.

Bao Ya handed them the letter of introduction stamped with the official seal.

Congratulations on your marriage!

Hearing this, Qi Jianjun felt a pang of bitterness in his heart. He forced a smile.

"Thank you, Baoya. I'll send you some wedding candy later."

Jiang Yuan was already fed up with his clingy behavior, his eyes practically spitting fire, and urged him on from the side:

"Is it all done? Grandma's still waiting at home."

"Alright, let's go."

After packing her things, Bao Ya went back to the Su family home with Jiang Yuan.

After lunch, Bao Ya sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) watching Grandma Su pack her things, while her aunt helped her.

The old lady took a large bag of cotton out of the box, stuffed it into a burlap sack, and also stuffed in two bolts of homespun cloth that she had woven at home.

"The cotton harvest in the brigade was good this year, and each family received a lot. Take this back and make a cotton-padded coat for your parents-in-law this winter."

Also, when you go to your in-laws' house in a while, make a pair of shoes for each of them. It's an old tradition, so don't take it lightly.

After the old lady finished speaking, she put the two pairs of sewn shoe soles into a burlap sack, and her aunt chimed in.

"If you don't have enough cotton, just tell your family, and I'll get you some more in the village. Don't forget what your grandma said, or your in-laws will find fault with you."

"Okay, okay, I understand."

Bao Ya nodded vigorously, her hands never stopping as she opened a box of pastries, broke off two pieces, and fed one to her maternal grandmother and the other to her aunt. If she didn't open it herself, she figured they wouldn't want to eat it and would save it to give away.

Then I looked at my adoptive mother, who had already taken a piece and was eating it, not even hearing what the old lady was saying.