Volume One, Chapter 15: The Fate of a Minor Character Mentioned in Passing

Everything proceeded as expected. After Yu Dingguo stayed overnight, he coaxed the original owner into an irreversible situation, insisting it would force the family to relent. Yet, after he left the next day, there was no further news.

The original owner waited at home for two days until the lively commotion from the sent-down youth office reached her ears—Yu Dingguo had sent a matchmaker to propose to Zhang, one of the sent-down youths.

The news came unexpectedly.

Perhaps wanting clarity or out of anger at being deceived, Yu Nian’an watched the original owner dash into the sent-down youth office and fiercely questioned the people there. What she could not have known was that the man who had been affectionate just days before had suddenly changed his demeanor, declaring they had no connection and warning her to stop bothering him.

Facing the stares and whispers of the crowd, the original owner was overwhelmed with shame and fled home. Suddenly recalling something, she rummaged through the wardrobe and found that the IOU she had left there was missing, along with the remaining seventy yuan.

Without a doubt, this was Yu Dingguo’s doing. The original owner immediately went to the county police to report the matter.

But the means of investigation were limited. Moreover, since she had opened the door herself and Yu Dingguo had arrived late, no one had witnessed his presence. The IOU had long been destroyed, and no witnesses remained. As for the engagement preparations, it was eventually confirmed that the aunt had paid for everything.

Between the police report and the daytime commotion at the sent-down youth office, everyone believed the original owner was concocting a scheme to cling to Yu Dingguo.

As the village rumors grew increasingly malicious, the original owner found herself unable to speak her grievances. Ultimately, she ended her life in the tributary.

Yu Nian’an hovered above the river, silently cursing Yu Dingguo’s villainy. She was relieved to have arrived early; otherwise, this mess would have been even harder to clean up.

Nearby, some passing villagers discovered the body in the river and called for help. Yu Nian’an overheard a faint complaint: “Is this river cursed? Two people drowned here in just a few days.”

Drowned in the river.

Those words flashed through her mind, jolting Yu Nian’an awake.

Exhaling deeply, she recalled Gu Shen, who had also died in that river.

The original text barely mentioned him, only a single sentence—the very one she heard in her dream—and after that, all trace of him was erased.

This meant Gu Shen was supposed to have died when he fell into the river that noon.

The thought made Yu Nian’an’s heart pound even harder. She had thought her transmigration was a mere accident, but unexpectedly, she had inadvertently saved Gu Shen and changed his original fate.

***

Rising from bed, Yu Nian’an dressed and rubbed her slightly swollen temples. She went to the water tank and splashed cold water on her face, gradually regaining full awareness.

Today was a day off—no need to head to the fields. The sudden leisure felt unfamiliar.

She reheated last night’s leftover rice casually. As she ate, Uncle Jianping and the others arrived. After brief greetings, they began their work for the day.

With someone at home, Yu Nian’an felt comfortable stepping out. She planned to use this rare rest to verify her suspicions.

At the kitchen’s back door, she found a small pickaxe and dug out a battered basket, padding it with cloth to make it barely usable.

Greeting Uncle Jianping, Yu Nian’an left the small courtyard, glancing toward the narrow path where Gu Shen had disappeared last night. After some thought, she headed toward the sent-down youth office.

The sent-down youth quarters occupied the old commune site. The brigade found it inconveniently distant, and since the sent-down youths had just arrived, they took the opportunity to move the commune into the village. The vacated rooms were repurposed as their living quarters.

This saved money and kept the youths from mingling too closely with the villagers.

As Yu Nian’an approached the sent-down youth office, smoke was just rising from the kitchen chimney—likely the youths were enjoying a rare day off and sleeping in.

She entered the gate, and someone spotted her immediately, calling out, “Comrade, who are you looking for?”

The shout drew the sent-down youths’ attention. One of them recognized her and quickly approached.

“Comrade Yu, what brings you here?”

Yu Nian’an looked up to see Ye Xiao.

She raised her basket and explained, “I’m planning a trip up the mountain. Are you, Lin Zhi, and Gu Shen coming?”

The first two were incidental; her real question concerned Gu Shen.

He hadn’t returned all night, and the dream unsettled her deeply.

Hearing her plans, Ye Xiao perked up.

“I’ll go with Lin Zhi, but Ah Shen probably can’t make it.”

Yu Nian’an panicked, “Why not?”

Ye Xiao’s expression faltered briefly, then he forced a laugh and said lightly, “He’s been worn out these past days. Today’s his rare day off, he’s still sleeping in.”

Had Yu Nian’an not seen Gu Shen last night, she might have believed this excuse.

***

But Ye Xiao’s words suggested Gu Shen had returned.

As they spoke, Lin Zhi appeared. Upon hearing Yu Nian’an’s purpose, her eyes brightened.

“Let’s go together after we eat?”

And so, Yu Nian’an stayed at the sent-down youth office.

Their breakfast was simple—coarse rice porridge with a plate of dried radish.

While eating, Zhang Yulan emerged from a room, scanning the group. Her gaze paused briefly on Yu Nian’an.

“It’s rare for villagers to voluntarily come to our sent-down youth quarters.”

The remark sounded odd. Yu Nian’an turned and realized she recognized this woman—or rather, had seen her in last night’s dream.

She was the sent-down youth who had been proposed to by Yu Dingguo.

It was an unwelcome coincidence. Seeing her stirred a pang of bitterness in Yu Nian’an—probably sympathy for the original owner.

When no one responded, Zhang Yulan passed by, casting a sidelong glance at Yu Nian’an.

Yu Nian’an felt puzzled by the gesture, but Lin Zhi reassured her, “Don’t mind her; she’s after me.”

Given they were still at the sent-down youth office, Lin Zhi only smiled without explaining further.

After finishing their meal and washing the bowls, Lin Zhi linked arms with Yu Nian’an.

“Let’s go. You lead the way.”

Ye Xiao followed behind.

Feeling the warmth of Lin Zhi’s arm, Yu Nian’an was momentarily stunned. She did not dislike such closeness; it was just that she kept reminding herself Lin Zhi was the female lead, which made her instinctively cautious.

Since their plan was simply to gather wild vegetables in the mountains, and coming here had been a spur-of-the-moment decision, Yu Nian’an found it hard to refuse the friendly atmosphere. She nodded and led the two along the remembered path toward the back mountain.

The mountain air was much cooler than outside. Beneath the shrubs, many wild vegetables grew.

Ferns, purslane—following the trail, they collected quite a bit, placing everything in Yu Nian’an’s basket.

At first, she thought Lin Zhi hadn’t brought a basket, intending to share later. But Lin Zhi shook her head with a smile.

“I’m just uncomfortable staying in the sent-down youth office. This is a good chance to sneak out and take a walk.”

Yu Nian’an was puzzled—could it be because of that woman earlier?