Xia Xiaolan had become quite familiar with the Yangcheng-Shangdu route.

While she was happily making money in Pengcheng, Xia Ziyu was carrying bags of belongings with Wang Jianhua, changing trains three times, riding tractors, and finally hitching rides on horse carts. It took them four to five days to reach the farm where Wang Jianhua’s parents had been sent for reform through labor!

Xia Ziyu wasn’t unfamiliar with snow – Shangdu had snow every winter.

But Shangdu’s snow was nothing compared to that of Ha Province in the far north. The farm was some distance from the nearest county town. With roads blocked by heavy snow and donkey carts unable to move, Xia Ziyu and Wang Jianhua had to trudge through knee-deep snow to reach the farm. The snow was bitterly cold – despite tightly binding their trouser legs with rope, their shoes and pants still got soaked.

Forgetting about appearances, Xia Ziyu put on all available layers when they reached the nearest county town, topped with a cotton jacket, her head wrapped in a scarf with only her eyes showing.

She had also bought Wang Jianhua a thick dog fur hat.

Since Wang Jianhua was wearing one, she needed to get two more for his parents.

With family members sent to different locations, Wang Jianhua hadn’t had many chances to visit his parents before, and this was his first winter visit. Both Wang Jianhua and Xia Ziyu knew conditions at the farm were harsh, but they hadn’t imagined it would be this bad! Beijing had snow too, but its streets were kept clear to ensure people and vehicles could move about.

Unlike this wilderness, where snow reached past their knees?

Wang Jianhua carried most of their luggage on his back, holding Xia Ziyu’s hand with his free hand. What should have been a short distance took them over two hours. When they finally saw his parents, Wang Jianhua, a grown man, broke into tears.

He had only seen his parents once before transferring to Dahe Village. Back then, their spirits had been good – Wang Jianhua’s father had even believed he would be rehabilitated and reinstated, full of confidence that he could endure any hardship.

But now it was February 1984. Of the officials sent down earlier, those who could return to the cities had gradually done so. The farm that housed the Wang couple originally had twenty to thirty relocated officials; now, including them, only eight remained.

By 1984, with still no correction to the Wang family’s case, the chances grew dimmer with time.

Wang Jianhua’s father had lost hope, his spirit suddenly crumbling.

He had fallen seriously ill that summer – if news of Wang Jianhua’s admission to Beijing Normal College hadn’t reached the farm, Father Wang might not have survived that illness. Wang Jianhua’s university acceptance had rekindled his father’s hope! What could one do stuck in a rural village? Wang Jianhua’s life would be wasted – marry a village woman and become a farmer forever?

Getting into university not only changed Wang Jianhua’s circumstances but also meant he could return to the power center and work toward the family’s rehabilitation.

“Good! It’s good you’re here! Come in quickly and warm up by the fire!”

Father Wang’s temples had turned white, and he was overjoyed to see his son after several years. While Wang Jianhua was “sent down youth,” his parents were undergoing reform through labor at the farm, deprived of personal freedom under extremely harsh conditions.

Wang Jianhua’s mother had also grown thin – even the most beautiful person would change drastically after years in such severe conditions.

Inside, a small brazier burned, making the room warmer than outside. The usually quick-witted Xia Ziyu had been frozen to a near stupor. In extreme cold, the mind works slowly – after warming herself for a while, she finally wondered whether she had properly greeted Wang Jianhua’s parents.

“Hello Uncle, hello Auntie.”

Wang Jianhua also just remembered: “Dad, Mom, this is Xia Ziyu, whom I’ve mentioned before.”

Father Wang nodded, while Mother Wang was more enthusiastic, taking Xia Ziyu’s hand, “You must be frozen – warm up by the fire for a while.”

“Ziyu and I are dating now. She’s an excellent girl, and we plan to marry after graduating from university.”

Bringing Xia Ziyu to the farm already implied she was a future marriage prospect – given the Wang family’s situation, what ordinary female friend would change multiple trains with Wang Jianhua and brave the bitter cold to visit his parents at the farm? A future daughter-in-law was different – no matter how difficult the conditions, Xia Ziyu had to make this trip.

But Wang Jianhua’s heartfelt declaration of Xia Ziyu’s status stunned his parents.

Father Wang finally took a proper look at Xia Ziyu.

Wang Jianhua had written about her before – they’d met as a sent-down youth in Dahe Village and both gotten into Beijing Normal College.

He’d written that Xia Ziyu took great care of him and showed concern for his parents – the clothes Father Wang wore now were sent by her. After Xia Ziyu unwrapped her scarf, the Wang couple could see her appearance.

She had a dignified look, with bold eyebrows and large eyes – the appearance of someone who would manage a household well.

With the Wang family in difficult circumstances, though Xia Ziyu was a village girl, her education and character could make up for her humble origins. Mother Wang thought she and her son made a good match. Like all mothers-in-law, she hoped for a daughter-in-law who would take good care of her son, and Xia Ziyu’s personality and appearance were both appealing.

But Father Wang was dissatisfied.

He could accept them dating, but bringing her here talking about marriage… Marriage? Wang Jianhua’s marriage could help the family’s rehabilitation. Though Xia Ziyu was fine in every other way, her background was too humble. If Wang Jianhua insisted on marrying her, not only could they not expect help from her family connections, they would have to support her rural family!

It was too irrational.

Wearing clothes bought by Xia Ziyu, Father Wang couldn’t openly express his disapproval of their marriage, making the moment extremely awkward. Wang Jianhua hadn’t considered this angle, assuming the farm life had just made his once-spirited father quiet and reserved. But Xia Ziyu sensed something was wrong.

Was Wang Jianhua’s father looking down on her?

Xia Ziyu was stunned.

However glorious the Wang family’s past, look at their current situation. His parents’ life at the farm was worse than farmers in Dahe Village. Though Dahe was poor, its natural conditions weren’t this harsh. As Xia Ziyu warmed herself, the melting snow from her trousers legs, and shoes dripped onto the ground.

She felt a chill rise from her feet.

If the Wang family hadn’t fallen from grace, she wouldn’t have been worthy of Wang Jianhua.

Back then, Wang Jianhua was a high-ranking cadre’s son with a bright future after getting into university, while the Xia family had been farmers for generations! But now the Wang family’s status was lower than farmers, and while Wang Jianhua had gotten into university, she, Xia Ziyu, was also a university student – how was she not good enough for Wang Jianhua?

Despite usually being patient and good at acting, Xia Ziyu felt uncomfortable with Father Wang’s attitude.

“Auntie, is there a kitchen here? I brought some food – we could heat it for a meal.”

Xia Ziyu couldn’t stay in the room. Mother Wang wanted to say they usually just heated food over the brazier, not needing a kitchen. But seeing Xia Ziyu’s expression, and being no fool herself, she led Xia Ziyu out, leaving the room to father and son.