Courtyard House: Starting by inheriting the tradition and suppressing the barbarians.

The sky was just beginning to lighten.

Qin Huairu stood by the water trough in the central courtyard.

He repeatedly washed his face and neck with well water.

Even though the skin was rubbed until it was red and even a little painful.

She still felt that she had a nauseating smell about her.

That's the smell of Xu Damao.

"As long as we can keep the baseball bat... it's all worth it."

Looking at her pale and haggard face in the mirror, Qin Huairu comforted herself again and again.

Xu Damao patted his chest and guaranteed it last night.

If the roster comes out today, Bang Geng will definitely stay in the city!

Cherishing this hope, which she had earned with her dignity, Qin Huairu specially changed into a clean set of clothes.

I arrived at the bulletin board in front of the street office early.

By this time, the bulletin board was already surrounded by people.

Everyone was anxiously awaiting the list of the first batch of educated youth sent to the countryside.

"It's posted! It's posted!"

As the clerk came out carrying a bucket of paste and red paper, the crowd instantly stirred.

Qin Huairu squeezed to the front with all her might, her heart pounding as if it were going to jump out of her throat.

Her eyes darted across the red paper, searching for the two characters "Jia Geng".

She searched through the "staying in the city unemployed" section.

No.

She searched through the "suburban areas of the city" section.

No.

She searched through the "suburban farms" section.

Still no!

Qin Huairu's heart began to sink, and her hands and feet began to grow cold.

Finally, her gaze trembled as she looked towards the very top...

The column with the largest font size, which is also the one that no one wants to go to, is titled "Supporting Frontier Construction: The Sixth Division of the Great Northwest Corps!"

And in that line of bright red names, the first one was none other than Jia Geng!

"boom!"

Qin Huairu felt as if she had been struck by lightning, and her mind went completely blank.

His legs went weak, and he collapsed onto the muddy ground.

The Great Northwest!

And it was the Sixth Division of the Corps!

Who doesn't know that place?

That's the deepest part of the Gobi Desert, a no-man's-land where even birds don't bother!

I heard that the wind blows twice a year there, and each time it lasts for half a year!

Anyone who's even slightly weak will have no chance of coming back alive!

"How could this happen... how could this happen..."

Qin Huairu murmured to herself, "Xu Damao clearly promised me..."

"He clearly promised me!"

The next second, Qin Huairu suddenly sprang up from the ground and rushed towards the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill like a madwoman.

......

Office of the Deputy Director of the Revolutionary Committee.

Xu Damao was humming a little tune, drinking hot tea, and reminiscing about the blissful experience of the previous night.

"Bang!"

The office door was violently kicked open.

Qin Huairu rushed in with her hair disheveled.

Those bloodshot eyes stared intently at Xu Damao, as if they wanted to devour him.

"Xu Damao! You bastard! You lied to me!"

Qin Huairu rushed to the table, shouting frantically, "I saw the list!"

"Bang Geng went to the far Northwest! And the harshest Gobi Desert at that!"

"Didn't you say you'd take care of it?"

"Didn't you say you could stay in the city?"

"Give me back my innocence! Give me back my son!"

Faced with Qin Huairu's questioning, Xu Damao showed no remorse whatsoever.

Instead, he slowly put down his teacup, looking impatient.

"What are you yelling about? What are you yelling about?"

"This is the Revolutionary Committee, not a vegetable market!"

Xu Damao picked at his ear, glanced at Qin Huairu, and said, "Qin Huairu, you're wronging an innocent person with those words."

"I called Section Chief Liu first thing this morning, and there shouldn't have been any problems."

"But it turned out someone from above gave it special approval!"

"They say Banggeng has a long history of bad behavior and must be sent to the Northwest for reformation! No one's opinion matters!"

"What can I do?"

Xu Damao shrugged, looking like a rogue.

"I don't believe it! It's because you didn't try your best!"

"You're the one who lied to me!"

Qin Huairu broke down. She lunged at Xu Damao, trying to grab his face, yelling, "You've played me! You'll get what's coming to you!"

"I'm going to sue you! I'm going to tell everyone you raped me!"

"Snapped!"

A crisp slap sounded.

Xu Damao suddenly stood up and slapped Qin Huairu onto the sofa.

He then kicked her in the stomach.

"You're asking for it, aren't you?"

Xu Damao looked at Qin Huairu, who was curled up on the sofa, his face full of ferocity and contempt.

"Go ahead and sue! Go ahead and sue!"

"Let's see if anyone believes you!"

"You're a used woman, I'm a cadre!"

"I'll just say you seduced me for our son, and we'll see who has a worse reputation!"

"Rape? Who was screaming so wildly in the warehouse last night?"

Xu Damao sneered and straightened his collar. "Qin Huairu, don't take yourself too seriously."

"Last night was a transaction, it was consensual."

"The deal has fallen through; that's fate."

"I'm done playing with you, so get out of here! Don't get in my way!"

"roll!"

Qin Huairu clutched her stomach, looking at the devil before her in despair.

She lost.

We lost completely.

She gave up her body, lost her dignity, ruined her reputation, and in the end... she couldn't even keep her son.

......

Three days later, at the train station.

The sound of gongs and drums filled the air, and red flags fluttered in the breeze.

But the festive atmosphere could not mask the heart-wrenching cries coming from the platform.

Hundreds of educated youth, wearing big red flowers on their chests and carrying their bags, are saying goodbye to their families.

On the Jia family's side, the crying was deafening.

"I'm not going!"

"I'm not going to the Northwest! That's suicide!"

Bang Geng clung tightly to the pillar on the platform, crying his eyes out.

Its one eye was swollen like a peach, and its face was filled with fear.

Two strong staff members rushed up and grabbed the stick from the left and right.

They dragged him into the old green train carriage like a dead dog.

"Let me go! Mom! Help me!"

"Grandma! Help me!"

Bang Geng struggled desperately, but in the face of the nation, his strength was as insignificant as an ant.

"Great job! My dear grandson!"

Jia Zhangshi sat on the ground, slapping her thigh and wailing. She tried to rush over but was stopped by the police.

Qin Huairu had already cried all her tears.

She stood in the wind, watching her son being forcibly shoved through the car window.

That outstretched, flailing hand became the most painful memory of her life.

"Clang—Clang—"

With a long whistle, the train slowly started moving.

Carrying the worries and tears of countless families, they drove towards the remote and desolate Northwest.

Banggeng leaned against the car window, watching Beijing recede into the distance.

Watching the figure on the platform gradually blur, she finally burst into despair and wailed.

He knew that his life was ruined.

......

On the overpass not far away.

Li Xuan put his hands in his pockets and quietly watched the departing train.

He neither laughed nor gloated.

There is only one kind of calm in control of everything.

"You reap what you sow."

Li Xuan turned around, facing the winter sun, and strode towards the courtyard.

There, a new life awaits him.

But the Jia family's suffering had only just begun.

......