Chapter 2: You're Wrong, I Won't Take Wenxin to the Countryside!

Substitute for Wen Xin in the countryside?

The scene was so familiar, the dialogue so familiar; she had just dreamt of it. For a moment, she felt dazed, unsure if she was still dreaming or if her parents were truly arguing. She thought to herself, if the thermos were to shatter in a moment, then it certainly wouldn't be a dream.

*Crash!*

Shards of the glass liner sprayed into the bedroom along with the sound of the thermos shattering.

That dream—it wasn't just a dream? Does this mean everything in the dream will come to pass?

She could no longer lie still and pushed herself up to sit.

She heard her father, Song Jianshe, speaking in a coaxing tone: "Your younger brother saved my life, and Xin Xin has been raised in our home since she was small, and her health is fragile. We cannot let her go to the countryside. My brother and his wife will eventually return from the labor camp, and how heartbroken will they be to know their daughter suffered in the countryside!"

"Don't give me that nonsense! You know very well why you're doing this! Have you even considered how heartbroken I will be to let Ran Ran go to the countryside, or how heartbroken Ran Ran will be?" Lu Meiqin argued back indignantly. "Your brother saved your life, not our daughter. If you don't want her to go, find another way, but don't set your sights on my daughter! Besides, Ran Ran has been betrothed to Fu Kaiyu since childhood; if she goes in her place, her marriage prospects will be ruined!"

Song Jianshe furrowed his brows: "The betrothal didn't specify a name. Kaiyu and Xin Xin get along well now, and Director Fu wants to bring the two of them together!"

"What?" Lu Meiqin was even more incensed. "That betrothal was made because I was pregnant with Ran Ran! Kaiyu is a smart boy; he entered the factory office at a young age and will surely be more capable than his father in the future—he might even become a factory director. He is the best match for our Ran Ran."

Song Jianshe looked helpless: "None of that is important. What matters is that Xin Xin and Kaiyu are in love, and Director Fu has no objections!"

Lu Meiqin glared: "Bullshit, that's an illicit affair! How could Wen Xin do such a thing? This is a stab in the back! It's infuriating; I always said that girl was nothing but trouble!"

"Enough! Do you want to stay married or not? If not, let's divorce!" Song Jianshe threatened, slamming the table. "Stop blaming everything on Xin Xin. Kaiyu liked her first; what did she do wrong? Old Fu is the office director, and I am currently running for workshop director. Our families' relationship cannot be severed because of a disagreement between children! Wen Ran has always been sensible and understanding; she will surely not make things difficult for her father. Taking her sister's place in the countryside is a virtuous act for an older sister."

"You're wrong. I will not go to the countryside in Wen Xin's place!" Song Wenran stood quietly at the doorway, her expression cold and her resolve firm.

Lu Meiqin hurriedly draped a coat over her: "You're still running a fever; why did you get up?"

"If I didn't get up, my father would have sold me off!" There was disappointment in Song Wenran's voice. The dialogue she had just heard was exactly the same as in her dream. Hearing it again, she felt an unstoppable chill. So, that dream wasn't just a dream—it was her entire life!

She had never understood why her father treated his niece better than his own daughter, even going so far as to threaten divorce to force her to go to the countryside. Now she knew! Her cousin, Wen Xin, was actually his daughter with his sister-in-law—a secret known only to them. In the book, the sister-in-law was his "white moonlight."

There was no proof of an affair, and no evidence that Wen Xin was Song Jianshe's daughter. Even if she were to write a letter of denunciation now, Song Jianshe would easily talk his way out of it. She still possessed her reason; if she wanted to drag them into hell, it had to be done step by step. Besides, behind Song Jianshe's hypocrisy was her uncle, who was also a victim.

In truth, as long as she refused, her mother would surely stand by her to the end. Why should she sacrifice herself to satisfy others? Only by doing what she wanted could she avoid falling into a deep depression.

Song Jianshe bristled: "What nonsense are you spouting? How could your father sell you? So many young people are going to the countryside together; several of your classmates are going too. Just think of it as experiencing life!"

"That sounds nice, why don't you let Wen Xin experience it?" Song Wenran said coldly. "The factory's list is for Wen Xin to go, not me!"

Song Jianshe frowned: "Wen Ran, you are the older sister; you should show the demeanor of an older sister! Xin Xin has been sickly since she was a child and is not as adaptable as you. You go in her place first, and later, when I become the workshop director, I'll find a way to get you a spot to return to the city."

"I am not a child; you don't need to use those tricks to fool me! Whoever is supposed to go should go. If you make me go in her place again, I will go to the government and report you for fraud!" Wenran said decisively.

In the book, after she went to the countryside, Song Jianshe did indeed become the workshop director, but he never wrote her a single letter, let alone secured her a spot to return.

Song Jianshe's face turned black: "Song Wenran, I am your own father. Try reporting me and see what happens!"

Wenran scoffed: "You know you're my father? What kind of father sends his own daughter to the countryside for the sake of someone else's daughter!"

Song Jianshe was left speechless, seething with rage. He scowled and said in a low voice: "You're going to the countryside, so just go; why so much talk? You used to be so sensible; how did you become like this?"

"What did I get for being sensible?" Song Wenran looked at him as if he were a stranger. "Anything Wen Xin takes a liking to, you make me give it to her! Now you want me to go to the countryside for her? Is she your daughter, or am I? My patience has its limits. Don't even think about making me go! Besides, I have already been accepted as a nurse at the East City Hospital. Even if you want me to go, there's no chance!"

"You..." Song Jianshe raised his hand to strike, but in the next second, he was kicked aside by Lu Meiqin.

Lu Meiqin pointed at him: "Try touching my daughter, and I'll fight you to the death today!"

Startled by her ferocity, Song Jianshe confirmed: "The hospital is hard to get into. You haven't been to nursing school and have no connections; how could you have passed the exam?"

"I said I passed, so I passed! Never mind how I did it!" Song Wenran had always been the model daughter, sensible and generous. Since she spoke with such confidence, it was hard for others not to believe her.

However, she was lying. The hospital did have a recruitment notice, and it was for a limited number of apprentices. The position didn't require nursing school and was only known to internal staff, but the exam was this afternoon. Therefore, this afternoon was her only chance.

Caught off guard, Song Jianshe said nothing and walked out with his hands behind his back. He recalled that Wenran had a classmate whose mother was a director at the East City Hospital; she must have found a way through them. But letting Wen Xin go to the countryside was impossible; he would have to think of another way.

Once he was gone, Song Wenran immediately said to Lu Meiqin: "Mom, give me the household registration book quickly. I'm going to take that exam!"

"You..." Lu Meiqin was stunned. "You didn't pass?"

Song Wenran urged: "Mom, please hurry and find the registration book. If I delay any longer, I really won't be able to take it. Do you really want me to go to the countryside?"

"I don't." Lu Meiqin wanted that even less than anything in the world and immediately went to get the book. After handing it to her, she said: "You're still sick; can you go take the exam now?"

Song Wenran said firmly: "I have to, even if I'm not up to it. I don't want to go to the countryside."

"Then take another pill." Lu Meiqin handed her an Analgin tablet.

She swallowed the pill with a sip of water and took her own pulse. She was stunned; she didn't have a pulse? How could she explain being alive and well? Her head buzzed. She checked again—still nothing. Seeing her standing still, Lu Meiqin asked with concern: "What is it? Are you not feeling well?"

"It's nothing, I'm heading out now." Wenran didn't want to worry her mother. She tidied her clothes, strapped on her military-green crossbody bag, and hurried out on her bicycle.

The road was wet and muddy from the rain, but it didn't hinder her cycling. The crisp air made her mind clearer, confirming that she was truly alive. Living was what mattered; she would think about the lack of a pulse later. Securing the job was the only thing that mattered!

She wouldn't be a puppet like in the book, and she certainly wouldn't pave the way for her cousin with her own life. Come to think of it, her depression and suicide were inseparable from Wen Xin.

Being unable to conceive had been her greatest pain, and Wen Xin often flaunted her own children in front of her. When she married Fu Kaiyu, she wrote letters to her in the countryside to boast; after the wedding, she flaunted her pregnant belly; and when she knew Wenran couldn't have children, she continued to use her children to show off.

She could have ignored all of that, but later, when she and Shen Nanzheng adopted a daughter, Wen Xin found a new hobby: winning over her adopted daughter. The girl grew distant from Wenran and became close only to Wen Xin.

All the grievances bottled up inside her were about to explode. She couldn't tell her husband, who was rarely home, and there was no one else to confide in. Shen Nanzheng was an officer and the son of a high-ranking cadre; there was a vast gap in their education and backgrounds. Because she felt inferior, their communication dwindled. They were left like tools trying to have children, yet failing to succeed.

She didn't know if she was naturally infertile or if the hardships in the countryside had ruined her, but no matter how they tried, she couldn't conceive. Perhaps she wasn't meant to have children, so she decided she would no longer drag Shen Nanzheng down. Shen Nanzheng was a good man; he deserved a complete and happy home. To cover for her, he even told his parents that he was the one who couldn't have children. But the medical results clearly stated it was her.

In the book, after she jumped, he grieved for a long time until he sacrificed himself in an earthquake while saving others. It would be a lie to say she wasn't moved. It was precisely because he was so good that she felt such deep guilt.

This time, she had figured it out! No entanglements, no marriage. Let each live their own happy life.

To completely dispel Song Jianshe's plan to make her replace Wen Xin, she needed more than just marriage; she needed a formal job in the city. Most importantly, she needed to be self-reliant and have enough capital to confront all misfortune.

Therefore, her top priority was to pass the nurse exam at the East City Hospital.

Upon arriving at the hospital, she headed straight for the examination room. Her best friend, Ruan Ling, caught sight of her from afar and waved: "Wen Ran, over here!"