With three superpowers at his fingertips, he could dominate the 1970s.

The rumble of the train gradually subsided on the platform. Jiang Zhiyu stepped off the train with the flow of people, and a chilling blast of air hit her face, causing her to instinctively pull her coat tighter. The northeast wind, carrying icy shards, felt like tiny knives against her face; it was several levels colder than Shanghai.

"Comrade Xiao Jiang, we'll part ways here. I'll write to you when I get back. Don't think this old man is a nuisance." Old Zhao stood not far away, with a military jeep parked beside him. Xiao Li was helping him carry his luggage. "If you encounter any difficulties when you get to Kaoshantun, write to the Geological Research Institute."

Jiang Zhiyu nodded: "Take care on your journey, Elder Zhao."

Watching the jeep disappear into the dust, she turned and walked toward the educated youth assembly point. The assembly point was set up in an open space next to the station, where quite a few people had already gathered, carrying large and small bags, their faces showing a mixture of bewilderment and excitement; they were clearly educated youth from the same batch who had been sent to the countryside.

Jiang Zhiyu had just put down her luggage when she heard a sarcastic snort: "Oh, isn't this that vixen? Coming all the way to the Northeast to seduce people?"

She looked up and saw the girl with braided pigtails from the train. The girl had her arms crossed, her chin held high, and she couldn't hide the jealousy in her eyes.

The surrounding educated youth instantly fell silent, all turning their gazes toward this side.

Jiang Zhiyu initially didn't want to pay attention, but the girl went further, her voice growing louder and louder: "Dressed so neatly, you don't look like someone sent to the countryside for 'sent-down youth' at all! You're not some capitalist's daughter, are you? I bet you're just here to gain prestige, who knows what kind of connections you have..."

"Snapped!"

A crisp slap interrupted her.

Jiang Zhiyu had already walked up to her without her noticing, still holding the other's braid with her left hand, and slapping her face with her right hand, the force was quick and hard.

"Who are you calling a vixen?" Jiang Zhiyu's eyes were as cold as ice. "Your mouth stinks so badly, did you not brush your teeth or eat shit?"

The girl was stunned by the blow, covering her face and standing there dumbfounded for a long time before she finally reacted and started to throw a tantrum: "You dare hit me?! I'll fight you to the death!"

Jiang Zhiyu slapped him several more times with her backhand, the sound of the slaps was shocking, and the corners of his mouth turned red: "If you dare to talk nonsense again, I'll tear your mouth apart."

The educated youth around were completely stunned, and even the staff in charge of registration at the educated youth office opened their mouths wide—this girl looks pretty and quiet, how come she is more ruthless than a rough man?

"You, you wait! I'm going to sue you!" The girl was both angry and scared, tears streaming down her face. She turned and rushed towards the people from the educated youth office, "Comrades, she hit me! Look how badly she beat me..."

The uncle at the educated youth office frowned. He had heard everything clearly. Now, he waved his hand impatiently: "Alright! That girl ignored you from the start. You were the one who was foul-mouthed and insulted her first. You deserved to be beaten! If you keep causing trouble, we'll send you to the most remote village!"

The girl was speechless, staring at Jiang Zhiyu with a wronged expression, but her eyes also held a hint of fear.

At this moment, several female educated youths gathered around, criticizing them all at once: "Even if she insults you, you can't hit her! That's too rude!"

"We're all former educated youth sent to the countryside; we should look out for each other. How could you hit someone?"

Jiang Zhiyu glanced at them coldly: "That's just how I am. I don't offend others unless they offend me, but if they do, I'll retaliate tenfold. Anyone who thinks she's been wronged and wants to stand up for her is welcome to try."

Her gaze was so sharp, carrying a fierce edge born of years of experience, that the female educated youths felt intimidated by her stare and reluctantly shut their mouths.

Jiang Zhiyu then released her grip, leaving the girl's braids in a mess. She covered her face and dared not make a sound.

"My name is Jiang Zhiyu." She didn't bother to look at the girl anymore, turned around and said indifferently to the people around her, "From Kaoshantun."

A short-haired girl in the crowd had her eyes light up and walked over. "My name is Zhang Chong, and I'm also going to Kaoshantun!" She spoke crisply and decisively, with a sharp look in her eyes. She had been watching Jiang Zhiyu hit someone with wide eyes, and now she was excited to have "found her people."

Jiang Zhiyu remembered her; the girl on the train was quiet, but she hadn't expected her name to be so imposing. She nodded, as if to say hello.

Not long after, the people from the educated youth office began taking attendance. Jiang Zhiyu heard that her name and Zhang Chong's name were both followed by "Kaoshantun," and even the girl who had been beaten—Jiang Wenwen—had been assigned to Kaoshantun.

Jiang Wenwen's face turned pale, but she dared not utter another word, only glaring at Jiang Zhiyu with resentment.

Besides the three of them, five other educated youths were assigned to Kaoshantun: two girls from Sichuan Province, Song Laidi and Zhao Jing, who looked timid; and three boys, Lin Wei from Shanghai, Gu Yan from Beijing, and Wang Qiang from Yunnan Province, all around twenty years old.

After roll call, people from each commune came to pick up the educated youth. The one from Kaoshantun was a dark-skinned, thin middle-aged man, wearing a patched cotton-padded jacket with a straw rope tied around his waist. His voice was booming: "All educated youth from Kaoshantun, come here! I'm the brigade leader, Chen Daqian!"

After counting the number of people, Captain Chen frowned deeply. "Why are there so many? And five girls too..." He sighed, pointing to an oxcart not far away. "We've thrown all our luggage on the cart. We have to walk two hours along mountain paths. We must reach the village before dark, or there will be wolves!"

"What?! Walking?" Jiang Wenwen screamed. "Can't we take an oxcart? How are we supposed to get around this road?!"

"The oxcart is for luggage. If you want to ride, go talk to the oxen yourself!" Captain Chen glared at her impatiently. "If you want to come here as a pampered young lady, don't come at all. You'll have to put up with it even if you do!"

Jiang Wenwen choked, her face turning red. Looking at the bumpy dirt road, tears welled up in her eyes again. Zhang Chong rolled his eyes and whispered to Jiang Zhiyu, "Her brain... she probably forgot it at home."

Jiang Zhiyu didn't say anything, silently tossing the canvas bag onto the oxcart. There were snow boots and thermal pants readily available in the space, so walking wasn't difficult for her. She just hadn't expected Kaoshantun to be so remote, without even a tractor.

Captain Chen shouted as they set off, and eight educated youths followed behind the oxcart, trudging into the mountains. At first, they chatted and laughed, but after less than half an hour, no one spoke—the mountain path was rugged, the wind was biting cold, and Jiang Wenwen was panting after just a few steps, muttering "I'm exhausted" and "This godforsaken place," which made Captain Chen's face grow increasingly grim.

Song Laidi and Zhao Jing couldn't keep up either and fell behind the group. Lin Wei and Wang Qiang couldn't bear to see them like that, so they helped them carry their bags. Gu Yan walked at the front, carrying a military green bag, glancing back from time to time with a calm and unwavering gaze.

Zhang Chong was in good physical condition, walking side by side with Jiang Zhiyu, humming a song: "My mom said that the more difficult the place, the better it can temper a person. When I make something of myself, I'll bring her to the Northeast to see the snow."

Jiang Zhiyu glanced at her sideways. Although the girl was of average appearance, her eyes were very bright and showed a spirit of never giving up.

"Why did you go to the countryside?" she asked casually.

"My family has a bad class background, so I came to the countryside to find a way out," Zhang Chong said with a frank smile. "And you? You don't look like someone who can endure hardship."

"About the same as you," Jiang Zhiyu said succinctly.

Zhang Chong didn't ask any more questions, but simply patted her on the shoulder: "It will pass."

As the sun gradually set, the woods along the mountain path grew denser, and the wind whistled through the treetops, making a "whooshing" sound like the howling of wild beasts. Jiang Wenwen was so frightened that she clung tightly to the hem of the person in front of her, no longer daring to complain.

"Hurry up! We must get to the village before it gets completely dark!" Captain Li quickened his pace, turning on his flashlight, the beam of light flickering in the darkness.

After walking for another half hour, lights finally appeared ahead. Captain Li breathed a sigh of relief: "We're here! That's Kaoshantun!"