"Qiaoying, if you suffer any grievances while you're in the countryside this time, remember to tell your family. Your parents aren't home and can't see you off. Your second uncle has some things to take care of tomorrow, so he can only come to see you now."

Shen Yuanyi only just learned that his eldest niece was going to the countryside, to the same place as her former university professor.

How could he not be worried?

"Uncle, I understand. I will take good care of myself," Shen Qiaoying nodded.

Shen Yuanyi moved his lips, unsure of what to say.

After a long while, Shen Yuanyi sighed and took some things out of the package.

"Qiaoying, these are things your second uncle asked you to bring to your old comrades. The other package is food your second uncle bought for you, including biscuits, pastries, some malted milk powder, beef jerky, and dried fruit. Also, your second uncle has a colleague's son named He Ping, who is also going to the same place to participate in labor construction. Tomorrow, Xiao Liu will come to take you to the station. He Ping will be waiting for you at the station, so you can look after each other on the way."

Shen Yuanyi was also worried, so worried that he was restless.

They helped Qiaoyue get married back then, completely forgetting that high school would be suspended and Qiaoying would be sent to the countryside.

The main concern isn't that my child will suffer there, but rather that there are people with ulterior motives.

Some of the first batch of female educated youth sent to the countryside were targeted by some hooligans, lost their virginity, and either got married or committed suicide by jumping into the river.

"Second Uncle, I understand. Thank you for your concern." Shen Qiaoying's expression remained the same as always.

Seeing her second uncle's worry, she quickly said, "Second Uncle, don't worry. I will write to you and Qiaoyue when I get there. If anything bad happens, I will tell your friends. I won't suffer any injustice."

Shen Yuanyi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Qiaoying, when you get there, you need to learn to be patient, but you can't let others bully you. Comrade He Ping is from the military. He doesn't practice boxing much, but his self-defense skills are outstanding. When you have free time, ask Comrade He Ping for advice and learn how to defend yourself."

Shen Yuanyi was filled with regret. He slapped his knees and said in frustration, "Your second uncle should have taught you two more fist techniques back then."

"Second Uncle, I've remembered what you said. I'll take good care of myself when I get there. I did make mistakes before, and even if we're in the same place, I can tell the difference." Even though Shen Qiaoying liked her teacher, he still got married in the end.

Shen Yuanyi comforted him, "It's not wrong for you to like someone. Don't worry about it. I believe you will meet someone better."

Thinking of that teacher, Shen Yuanyi got angry. He had a fiancée but still went after his niece, causing his fiancée to attempt suicide by drinking poison and almost not being saved. He then pinned all the blame on Shen Qiaoying.

I feel really uncomfortable if I don't punch him a few times whenever I see him again.

"Second Uncle, I believe in myself too," Shen Qiaoying said to Shen Yuanyi with a smile.

Seeing Shen Qiaoying's smile, Shen Yuanyi stood up and said, "Qiaoying, remember to write to your second uncle. Take lots of photos over there and send them back. Your parents are away from home most of the year. If you go there and run out of money or encounter any difficulties, just call your second uncle and he will send you money."

"Yes, thank you, Second Uncle."

Shen Qiaoying stood up and nodded in response.

Shen Yuanyi waved his hand and said, "Second Uncle won't disturb your rest anymore, go to sleep."

"Take care, Second Uncle."

After Shen Yuanyi left, Shen Qiaoying closed the door.

He let out a long sigh and then began to quickly pack his things.

When she was packing the packages her second uncle had brought, he said that the package he had given her contained fifty catties of grain coupons, ten catties of meat coupons, soap coupons, sugar coupons, oil coupons, and one hundred yuan.

With all sorts of food, Shen Qiaoying knew that her second uncle was probably worried that she wouldn't be doing well over there.

I was so moved that tears streamed down my face.

Shen Qiaoying packed her things, wrote a letter to Shen Qiaoyue, and left it in the house.

She slept for more than two hours before her second uncle's car came to pick her up and take her to the station.

On the way to the 8 a.m. bus, Shen Qiaoying looked at the street scene outside the window.

I don't know when I'll be able to come back after this departure.

When they arrived at the station, Xiao Liu helped Shen Qiaoying carry her luggage as she got off the train.

"Thank you, Comrade Liu."

"You're welcome. I'll go back and report to my superior now." After saying that, Xiao Liu got into his car and left.

Shen Qiaoying carried two bags and walked towards the station. She stretched out a hand and said, "Hello, Comrade Shen, my name is He Ping. Let me help you with these."

When Shen Qiaoying looked up, she saw a handsome man with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and well-defined features. He had a buzz cut and a very serious expression.

"Hello, thank you." Shen Qiaoying remembered that her second uncle had greeted her.

“Comrade Shen, we’re from the same place, so we can look out for each other on the road. If you encounter any problems in the future, you can tell me,” He Ping said to Shen Qiaoying.

Shen Qiaoying nodded slightly. "Okay, thank you, Comrade He."

“Just call me He Ping. I’m thirty-one this year. If you don’t mind, you can call me Brother He,” He Ping said again.

Shen Qiaoying nodded, too nervous to look He Ping in the eye.

"There are a lot of people in the station, so stay close to me and don't get lost," He Ping said, turning back every now and then.

Shen Qiaoying would only nod in response to him.

He Ping was a former soldier. Due to family matters, he was forced to temporarily suspend his duties and leave the army to participate in labor and study in the countryside.

The leader entrusted Shen Qiaoying to him, so naturally she needs to be taken good care of.

After getting on the bus, He Ping helped Shen Qiaoying find her seat and then turned and left.

Shen Qiaoying looked at the soft sleeper berth; it was bought for her by her uncle.

Ordinary people really can't buy a place like this.

He Ping returned shortly afterward.

"you……"

"I asked the train attendant, and there was no one here, so I paid extra to come here. The train journey will take two days and one night, so we can look out for each other." He Ping knew that Shen Qiaoying would definitely ask questions, so he explained first.

Shen Qiaoying awkwardly shut her mouth.

The two were in a private room, and Shen Qiaoying felt it was very quiet.

After putting his luggage away, He Ping took out a notebook and pen from his bag and started writing, though it was unclear what he was writing.

Shen Qiaoying could only take out her own books and start reading.

The two of them were relatively quiet, and aside from routine conversations, they didn't talk about anything else.

The commander said that Comrade Shen Qiaoying is not talkative, timid, and shy, and asked him to help take care of her. He Ping is usually such a stern person, so he didn't dare to speak casually for fear of scaring her.

As the car drove along the road, everyone's emotions remained unsettled for a long time.

They were all unwilling to leave their hometown for a strange place, and some of them couldn't help but shed tears while sitting in their seats.

Some people are very quiet, but they are also afraid. They go to something unfamiliar and wonder if they will never come back.

Some people, however, are full of expectations for the future.