Mei Lin woke before dawn.
The sky was still dark, a faint grey just beginning to stretch across the horizon. For a moment, she lay still, listening.
No voices.
No movement.
Then—
Dong… Dong…
The distant bell hadn't rung yet.
But soon it would.
The signal for the entire brigade to begin another day of labor.
Mei Lin sat up.
Her mind was already clear.
Three years.
That's how long it would take.
Before reforms.
Before opportunities opened.
Before everything changed.
But three years was too long to wait blindly.
She needed money.
For herself.
For Ming Li.
For their daughter.
For education.
For survival.
For the future she had already lost once.
She stood up quietly and walked to the kitchen.
---
Cold water splashed against her hands as she washed.
The chill helped steady her thoughts.
Today—
She would leave for the county.
But not to run away.
To build something.
---
She lit the fire.
The small flame flickered, then steadied.
She moved with calm precision.
Chopping vegetables.
Mixing wheat batter.
Cracking eggs.
A simple meal—
Vegetable omelette with wheat pancakes.
Nothing fancy.
But enough.
---
Behind her—
Movement.
Ming Li had woken up.
He didn't speak.
He simply went to wash, then gently woke their daughter.
"Wake up," he said softly. "Time to eat."
The little girl rubbed her eyes sleepily.
"Is Mother cooking again…?"
Her voice carried a hint of excitement.
Ming Li didn't answer.
---
The bell rang.
Dong—Dong—Dong—
The entire brigade stirred.
Footsteps. Voices. Tools being picked up.
Another day had begun.
---
They sat down to eat.
Silence.
Only the sound of chopsticks and quiet breathing.
Mei Lin didn't force conversation.
She knew—
Words meant nothing right now.
Only actions did.
---
After they finished—
Ming Li stood up.
He went inside briefly, then returned with money in his hand.
"Ninety yuan," he said.
He placed it on the table.
"You can take it."
Mei Lin froze slightly.
This was not a small amount.
This was trust—
Even if he didn't say it.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"…Thank you," she said softly.
He didn't respond.
---
He turned, lifting their daughter into his arms.
"Let's go."
He was about to leave.
Just like that.
No questions.
No expectations.
No stopping her.
Because in his heart—
He still believed she might not come back.
---
Mei Lin moved suddenly.
She stepped forward—
And hugged him from behind.
Ming Li froze.
Her arms wrapped around him tightly.
Not hesitant.
Not unsure.
Firm.
"I'll be back in two days," she said softly.
Her voice was steady.
"We'll get our marriage certificate."
Silence.
Even the morning noise outside seemed distant.
Ming Li stood there—
Not moving.
Then slowly—
He turned his head slightly.
"…Alright," he said quietly.
Just one word.
But this time—
It wasn't distant.
It wasn't empty.
It carried something small.
Something fragile.
Something like—
Hope.
"Take care," he added.
Then he walked away.
Carrying their daughter.
Walking toward the fields.
Toward another day.
---
Mei Lin stood there.
Watching him go.
Her arms slowly lowered.
Her heart was calm.
Not anxious.
Not afraid.
Just—
Certain.
---
She turned back inside.
Picked up the money.
Prepared her small bundle.
Today—
She would step out.
Not to escape.
But to return stronger.
The brigade office was quieter than usual.
Morning light fell across the wooden desk, highlighting stacks of records and worn-out ledgers. Everything inside spoke of order, discipline, and authority.
Mei Lin stepped in.
Her small cloth bundle rested in her hands.
Behind the desk—
Her father-in-law looked up.
The moment his eyes landed on the bundle—
His expression changed.
"…You're leaving?"
His voice was not loud.
But sharp.
Suspicious.
Mei Lin stopped in front of him and lowered her head slightly.
"I'm going to the county," she said calmly.
"To meet my friend… and look for work."
Silence.
His brows furrowed deeply.
"Work?"
The word carried doubt.
In this era—
Work wasn't something you looked for.
It was assigned.
Controlled.
Scarce.
Even educated people struggled.
And she—
A woman who had never properly worked in the fields—
Was talking about finding a job?
His eyes hardened slightly.
"You think it's that easy?"
Mei Lin didn't argue.
"I'll try."
That answer only made him more suspicious.
But something in her calm tone… made him pause.
He stared at her longer than usual.
Then slowly—
He opened the drawer.
Took out a paper.
Stamped it.
The sound echoed in the quiet room.
"This is the last time," he said firmly.
"If you're playing tricks again—
I will report you."
A pause.
"To the police."
No room for negotiation.
No second chances.
Mei Lin didn't flinch.
She nodded.
"I understand."
He handed her the letter.
She accepted it with both hands.
"Thank you, Father."
---
Outside—
The village was alive.
People heading to the fields.
Children running barefoot.
Voices calling across the courtyard.
Everything was the same.
But for Mei Lin—
Nothing was.
---
She walked toward the road.
The bus arrived slowly, raising dust behind it.
Old. Crowded. Noisy.
She climbed in and found a seat by the window.
Her bundle rested on her lap.
As the bus started moving—
The brigade faded behind her.
---
Her thoughts drifted.
Back to the beginning.
---
Once—
Her life had been completely different.
Her parents were teachers.
Educated. Respected.
They lived in a small but refined house.
Books. Clean surroundings. A cultured life.
Not rich in luxury—
But rich in dignity.
They belonged to a higher social circle.
A world far from this brigade.
---
Then—
Everything collapsed.
A corruption case.
False accusations.
No explanation.
No justice.
Her parents lost everything overnight.
Her father.
Her mother.
Stripped of position.
Stripped of respect.
Sent north.
Her brother and his wife—
Exiled to the south.
And she—
Thrown here.
To survive.
---
At that time—
She had only 200 yuan.
No skills.
No strength.
No understanding of rural life.
She couldn't earn work points.
Couldn't farm.
Couldn't endure.
And slowly—
She became desperate.
---
Then came another memory.
Zhang Xiu.
---
Zhang Xiu had always been watching.
Quiet.
Careful.
Observant.
But never simple.
She knew everything about Ming Li.
His background.
His family.
His value.
Her father-in-law—
A retired army officer.
Respected.
Now the brigade head.
Her husband—
A rare educated man in the village.
A high school teacher.
Earning 120 yuan per month.
In that time—
It was extremely high.
Stable.
Powerful.
---
The family structure was strong:
Father-in-law: brigade head
Husband: teacher
Mother-in-law, elder brother, sister-in-law: farm workers (earning work points, about 30 yuan value each)
And the house—
Better than most.
Two brick houses with tiled roofs:
Main house: for parents-in-law, elder brother's family
Side house: for Mei Lin, Ming Li, and their daughter
---
Everything Zhang Xiu wanted—
Was right there.
And in her past life—
Mei Lin had walked away from it.
Handed it over.
Without even realizing.
---
The bus moved steadily.
The road stretched ahead.
Dust danced in the sunlight.
Mei Lin looked out of the window.
Her reflection stared back at her.
Calm.
Sharp.
Awake.
---
"This time…"
Her fingers tightened around her bundle.
"I won't lose again."
Not her husband.
Not her daughter.
Not her life.
And definitely—
Not to Zhang Xiu.
---
The county town slowly appeared ahead.
A new step.
A new battlefield.