Chapter 1: Past Events

In the autumn of 1985, Lin Jianming, the head of the Agriculture Department at the Yuanzhou Agricultural Technology College, left the principals office with an irrepressible excitement. The principal had just shared news that the vice president in charge of research management had fallen ill and submitted an application for sick leave, which the school had approved. With the vice president on leave, a new acting vice president needed to be promoted. The principal expressed the schools affirmation of Lins work over the past two years and, after careful consideration, the unanimous belief among the school leaders that he was the most suitable candidate for the position. They encouraged him to continue his efforts in leading the schools research teams and students in research and education, to increase agricultural yields, train professional talents, and contribute more to the nation.

Knowing that the principals words essentially meant the decision had been made, Lin Jianming, a composed man, could not hide his inner thrill. The leap from department head to vice president was not a simple step; it was a qualitative leap from being a departmental leader to entering the schools leadership team.

Unable to contain his excitement, he wanted to call his wife, Zhao Xinlan, to share some of his joy, even if it wasnt about the news hed received. As he reached for the phone, it rang unexpectedly, startling him before he smiled, thinking it might be a kind of telepathy.

He picked up the phone and said, "Hello?"

"Jianming, this is Da Huai."

The voice on the other end was distant and somewhat unfamiliar.

Hearing this voice, the smile on Lin Jianmings face faded significantly.

"What can I do for you?"

His voice was somewhat stiff as he spoke.

"Jianming," the voice on the other end hesitated but continued, "Im sorry to bother you. This time its not about asking for help with anything at home, but its about Qiao Niang, Qiao Niang she... Jianming, Qiao Niang passed away a few days ago, and Yao Yaos situation is not good."

This time, the smile on Lin Jianmings face didnt just fade; it disappeared entirely.

The voice continued.

Afraid of being interrupted by Lin Jianming, the speaker rushed on, "Yao Yao has always been obedient and well-behaved, but perhaps her mothers passing has agitated her. Her emotions are very unstable now. She says she wants to come to the provincial city to find you... I tried to stop her, but Jianming, this child, though obedient, has always been strong-willed. Once she makes up her mind, nothing can hold her back. She told me shes going to find you. I can stop her for a while, but not forever... Jianming, do you want to come back and see how to arrange for this child? I know I promised to take good care of her, but I didnt expect this child to have such a deep obsession..."

Lin Jianmings head was buzzing as he spoke a few words with Zhou Da Huai before hanging up the phone. After hanging up, he sat on his office wooden chair, staring blankly out the window.

The Agricultural Technology College was in the suburbs.

Outside the window of the Agriculture Department office building was a field of experimental fields.

Beyond the experimental fields were vast farmlands.

Gazing through the farmlands, Lin Jianming seemed to see the endless wheat fields of Qingyi Farm many years ago.

There was also a little girl in a small flowered jacket, quiet to the point of being somewhat wooden, and a young woman standing by, looking at her tenderly.

The woman was called Zhou Qiao Niang.

She was the wife he had married in the countryside during his demotion and reform.

That little girl was their daughter, named Lin Yao.

But Zhou Qiao Niang was not his current wife.

He had actually been married before his demotion.

His wife, Zhao Xinlan, was his high school classmate, and the two had a strong emotional foundation.

However, fate is unpredictable. Not long after the turmoil began, he was labeled as a black element due to his fathers landlord family background and high intellectual status, and he and his younger brother were sent to Qingyi Farm in the neighboring province for reform through labor.

At that time, his eldest son, Lin Jiahua, was only three years old, and his young daughter, Lin Jia Ke, had not yet been born.

His wife, heavily pregnant, and his son were too young to follow him to the farm for reform, so out of helplessness, the two decided to divorce. His wife distanced herself from him, took their son, and returned to her working-class family, which had a good reputation. He went to the farm alone for reform.

Those days were like a nightmare for him.

Living in a cow shed, working from dawn to dusk... He was engaged in crop research and had planted crops before, but not this kind of labor from morning till night, eating only black buns and porridge, barely half full every day.

He had never suffered such hardships before. Soon his body broke down.

He thought he couldnt endure it.

There were so many people who died of illness in the farm during that time.

Just not long before, he had watched his own younger brother die of illness.

But in the end, he did not die, because a country girl came to his side when he was seriously ill.

She was the daughter of the production team leader of Zhoujia Village near the farm, Zhou Qiao Niang.

Zhou Qiao Niang, despite her familys opposition and regardless of others opinions, spent money to hire a doctor for him, sent him food and drink, and took care of him meticulously.

He was grateful to her and touched by her sincerity and enthusiasm... In fact, at that time, he couldnt do without her, and the two eventually got married.

A year later, they had a daughter named Lin Yao.

He thought life would go on like this.

But he didnt expect that after ten years of suffering, they, the "black elements," would actually usher in a dawn.

In 77, intellectuals were rehabilitated, and he returned to the city, back to Yuanzhou Agricultural Technology College, back to the podium and his laboratory.

He returned to the city.

But he couldnt bring Zhou Qiao Niang and Lin Yao back to the city.

Moreover, after he returned to the city, Zhao Xinlan came to find him with their children... Zhao Xinlan was still unmarried.

The separation was originally forced, and over the years, it can be imagined how difficult it was for Zhao Xinlan to raise two children alone... Now that hes back, he naturally cant abandon that pair of children.

As for Zhou Qiao Niang and Lin Yao... This marriage was originally a product of mistakes, not to mention the existence of Zhao Xinlan and the two previous children, so he didnt hesitate to choose to divorce Zhou Qiao Niang and remarry Zhao Xinlan.

And Lin Yao, of course, stayed with Zhou Qiao Niang in the countryside.

However, he didnt treat them badly. Over the years, he has sent them a fixed living allowance every month.

These things are the darkest and untouchable past in Lin Jianmings heart. He knows that this past is also a scar in his wife Zhao Xinlans heart.

So over the years, he returned to the city, divorced and remarried, and never mentioned this matter, not to the outside world, not even between the two of them.

As a result, not only people outside, but also their two children, Lin Jiahua and Lin Jia Ke, dont know that their father once married someone else when he was in the countryside and had a daughter.

They all hope that this matter, like the hardships they have suffered, will become completely the past.

No one is willing to open it up and taste the flavor again.

But now a phone call has completely exposed the past that Lin Jianming wanted to seal.

Not only has it been exposed, but that past may also become a thorn, inserting into his current peaceful and happy life.

*

When Lin Jianming returned to his home in the college faculty compound, it was already dark.

The living room was lit.

The kitchen door was closed, and the sound of "sizzling" frying could be heard, mixed with a strong aroma... All of this, which would normally make people feel warm and comfortable, could not sweep away all the haze in Lin Jianmings heart at the moment.

"Jianming, youre back?"

The kitchen door opened, and Zhao Xinlan came out with a bowl of just fried green beans and shredded pork, put it on the table, and then said to Lin Jianming, who was sitting on the single sofa by the window.

Lin Jianming looked at his wife and didnt speak for a while.

Zhao Xinlan smiled again, "Jia Ke went to Uncle Hans house and said she would stay there with Hui Hui tonight,