In the following days, the Shen family was caught in a busy and oppressive atmosphere.
Zi Xi's resistance shifted from words to passive resistance through actions.
She used the excuse of feeling depressed and unable to eat to refuse to go downstairs for dinner.
Each meal consisted of only a small bowl of rock sugar bird's nest or chicken porridge brought upstairs by the maid, Wu Ma.
Madam Shen doted on her daughter and naturally responded to everything.
Sigh, this bird's nest isn't cooked quite right; it's nowhere near as good as the ones from Mo Youcai's kitchen.
[Once we get to the island, I'm afraid we won't even be able to afford this anymore, right?]
I need to eat more now to make up for it!
As Zi Xi ate the expensive bird's nest in small bites, she was mentally planning how to make the most of this last bit of time and enjoy the fading vestiges of capitalism.
She began packing her luggage, a process filled with meticulousness and repeated revisions.
"You should bring this Suzhou embroidery cheongsam."
"Even though I may never be able to wear them, just looking at them gives me something to look forward to..."
【Of course I'm bringing my favorite piece of clothing! I'll wear it even when I'm locked up there! I can't lose my style!】
Zi Xi directed Wu Ma, who was helping her tidy up, her voice weak but firm.
"And these books, they are my spiritual nourishment..."
[It's definitely nourishing for the mind, and at crucial moments it can even serve as evidence of ideological problems, making it easier for me to carry out the first step of my self-destructive plan! It's practically perfect.]
She pointed to a set of original language books in cloth-bound hardcover on the bookshelf.
[This is too conspicuous, so it's temporarily shelved.]
Just bring a few bars of soap and face cream; it should reflect decadence without going too far—you need to strike the right balance.
Zi Xi picked up a bottle of French perfume that was still more than half full, hesitated for a moment, and finally stuffed it into the corner of her suitcase.
When she tried to pack up the rather large phonograph and a box of vinyl records as well.
Shen Huai-ren, who had been observing silently, finally couldn't help but speak up: "Xi-xi, conditions on the island are harsh, and electricity is scarce. These things are too conspicuous and inappropriate."
"Dad, I can't live without music. Music can also soothe my lonely heart..."
[Eye-catching? That's exactly what I want—eye-catching!]
[I hope that Company Commander Pei will immediately see me as a hopeless, bourgeois young lady addicted to decadent music and send me back right away!]
I still want to be with my mom and dad.
Zi Xi immediately wiped her eyes with her fingers, on the verge of tears.
Ultimately, due to Shen Huai-ren's almost forceful insistence, the phonograph and most of the records were preserved.
Zi Xi cried sadly for half an hour because of this.
It wasn't until the kind-hearted Mrs. Shen agreed to let her bring a few more cassette tapes containing revolutionary songs and model operas, which were available in China at the time, that she reluctantly agreed, sobbing.
Revolutionary songs are better than nothing.
Alas, my songs... I'll have to say goodbye for a while after I go to the island.
On the eve of her departure, Zi Xi stood alone on the balcony.
A summer night breeze caressed her slightly slender figure, while the chirping of insects echoed from the garden downstairs.
After all the daytime performances faded away, a genuine sense of bewilderment and unease about the future enveloped her.
What are islands really like?
Is it really like the legend says, where all you see is sand and rocks, fresh water is scarce, and you can't take a comfortable hot shower for ten days or half a month?
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