Chapter 11 Successfully Registered for Rural Service
Lin Jinguo's vision went black, as if someone had poured a bucket of ice water over his head.
Damn it!
This girl has been setting a trap from the very beginning!
The existence of the confession was his biggest nightmare, and it was being brought up repeatedly, as if he could already see himself being imprisoned.
He stared intently at the cold smile on Xu Zhili's lips, realizing for the first time that this daughter, whom he had oppressed for so many years, had long since become a sharp blade capable of tearing his life apart.
He had to face reality.
In the afternoon, at the office of the director of the educated youth office in A City, Hunan Province.
Sunlight streamed through the mottled glass windows, casting dappled patterns on the old wooden desk.
The portraits of the top leaders on the wall are solemn and dignified, while the red background and black characters of the slogan "Vast world, great potential" are particularly eye-catching.
Xu Zhili stood in front of the table with An'an in her hand, her figure so thin that she looked as if a gust of wind could blow her over.
She gripped the application form that read "Application to go to the Northeast Wilderness" tightly in one hand, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force.
With her other hand, she held tightly the hand of a little boy who was about four or five years old, with a dirty face but unusually quiet—her younger brother, Xu Zhian.
The little one clung tightly to his sister's leg, his big eyes filled with timidity and curiosity.
An'an opened her round eyes and looked around curiously at everything.
This unfamiliar environment was full of novelty for him.
Upon suddenly spotting someone, he felt a chill run down his spine and hurriedly hid behind Xu Zhili in fear.
However, his curiosity quickly took over, and he cautiously peeked out to examine the person in front of him again.
Xu Zhili smiled as she looked at An'an standing behind him. She took a deep breath and gently placed the registration form on the desk of Wang Jianguo, the director of the educated youth office.
Wang Jianguo slowly raised his head and pushed up his reading glasses perched on the bridge of his nose.
His gaze first lingered on Xu Zhili's youthful yet stubborn face, then fell on the little boy beside her, and finally looked at the registration form.
His brows immediately furrowed, forming a knot.
"Little girl."
Wang Jianguo's voice carried the worry of an elder, "How old are you? Fourteen, right? And you're taking care of such a young brother? The Great Northern Wilderness is no joke! Do you know that in winter, it's dozens of degrees below zero, enough to freeze your ears off? You're a delicate girl who grew up in the south, and you're taking care of a baby. How could you be so determined to go into that icy place?"
His gaze swept over the siblings' faded old clothes, filled with heartache.
Xu Zhili stood straight, like a young poplar tree facing the wind, her eyes clear yet exceptionally firm: "Director Wang, hello. I know that place is harsh, with ice and snow, but I'm not afraid. My mother, Xu Nuoyan, is in the Great Northern Wilderness, and my maternal grandfather's family is there too. I have to go, I have to take care of them, and I also have to... find someone for my younger brother to rely on."
She felt her younger brother's little hand gripping her even tighter, and for some reason, the sudden surge of ruthless, apocalyptic rage within her was instantly suppressed.
But when faced with this kind elder, she reminded herself: This is a peaceful era, I should restrain myself and act like a "normal person".
Upon hearing the name "Xu Nuoyan," Wang Jianguo looked surprised: "Your mother is Xu Nuoyan? That incident back then... sigh, I know a little about it. She was reported and suffered a lot. I never expected..."
He paused, then sighed heavily. "Rules are rules, but in your situation... young lady, what about your father?"
Xu Zhili keenly noticed the sympathy in his eyes, which was exactly the breakthrough she needed.
She deliberately made her voice sound aggrieved and slightly trembling, befitting her age—this wasn't entirely a pretense; when the original owner mentioned the betrayal of the mother and daughter and the father, her emotions remained strong.
He quickly suppressed the chilling murderous intent that instinctively welled up in his heart at the mention of betrayal—a lingering effect of the apocalypse.
"Director Wang, my father, Lin Jinguo... he was the one who reported my maternal grandfather's family. In order to sever ties, he divorced my mother and sent my mother and maternal grandfather to the Great Northern Wilderness. Only three months later, he married his stepmother, who brought a daughter who was older than me into the family."
I passed the exam on my own and got a job in the office of the provincial capital's No. 1 Machinery Factory, but... to curry favor with them, my father forcibly took the job and gave it to my stepsister. Even... even my fiancé, with whom I was betrothed since childhood, was ruined by them.
She lowered her eyelids slightly, concealing the fierce glint that flashed in her eyes. When she looked up again, only sorrow and pleading remained.
"Director Wang, there's no way for my brother and me to survive in the city. No matter how tough it is in the Great Northern Wilderness, at least we still have my mother's blood relatives. Please help us."
The office fell silent for a moment.
Looking at the two orphaned children before him, especially the little boy's innocent and dependent appearance, Wang Jianguo's doubts about whether his stepdaughter was his biological daughter were instantly overwhelmed by sympathy.
But this is their business. Even an upright official can't settle family disputes. The suffering of these two siblings is real.
He leaned back heavily in his chair, took off his reading glasses, and wearily pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Alas...what a tragedy!"
He sighed, put his glasses back on, and looked at Xu Zhili with a complicated expression.
"Your mother... was a good comrade. It's such a pity. The Great Northern Wilderness... that place is truly harsh. You were raising your younger brother, and..."
He shook his head, clearly feeling that it was an almost impossible task, too difficult indeed.
“Director Wang, I’m ready. My mother said in her letter that although it’s tough there, the people are honest and the land is vast. I want to go to the place where she shed her sweat, and I also want to be closer to my grandparents. I’m young, strong, and can endure hardship!”
Xu Zhili's voice was not loud, but every word was clear and carried an undeniable determination.
She quietly relaxed her clenched fist—her nails had almost dug into her palm.
Remind myself again: peace, goodwill.
Wang Jianguo remained silent for a long time, his gaze lingering on the siblings.
Finally, as if he had made up his mind, he opened the drawer and took out the official seal and documents.
"Sigh... Alright, girl, since you're determined, there really isn't any other way."
He deftly stamped the registration form and letter of introduction, and handed the resettlement fee document with "two hundred yuan" written on it to Xu Zhili.
"This is the resettlement allowance, two hundred yuan. Use it sparingly. The most important thing is to buy winter supplies! Cotton-padded coats, cotton-padded trousers, cotton-padded shoes, cotton-padded hats, thick gloves—you can't be missing a single item! The cold in the Great Northern Wilderness is unimaginable for us southerners; it can really freeze you to death. Also, stock up on common medicines: cold and fever medicine, diarrhea medicine, and frostbite cream. There's a shortage of medical care and medicine there."
Xu Zhili carefully accepted the document and thanked them sincerely.
"Thank you, Director Wang! I've got it. I'll definitely buy warm clothes first."
Wang Jianguo waved his hand, not letting her finish speaking.
He opened the drawer again, this time faster and more discreetly. He quickly pulled a small cloth bag from the inside pocket of his shirt, and without even looking at it, stuffed it under Xu Zhili's hand holding the documents, covering them with the documents.
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