With Deng Xiahong’s big mouth tirelessly spreading the news, it didn’t take long for the entire factory’s well-informed crowd to learn about it.
Some found it amusing, but most were sympathetic—people like Yan Yuzhen and Sun Qingchun, for instance.
Had Xiao An done anything wrong?
No, she was innocent. The ones at fault were those two. She was the victim—a strong one at that. They had worked together for over a month, and in all that time, no one could tell she had gone through such an ordeal. She often wore a smile, worked efficiently and meticulously, arrived at the office earliest every morning to help clean, refilled the water kettle without hesitation, and treated everyone with kindness. What a wonderful person! Her ex-fiancé must have been blind.
By now, Yan Yuzhen was already mentally filtering through the eligible young men she knew. She was certain that anyone with good judgment would recognize Xiao An’s virtues.
Just as Yu Xiang’an had anticipated, the Zhou family and Ding Minxiu became the epicenter of the storm.
Especially those who knew the origins of Zhou Boyang and Yu Xiang’an’s engagement couldn’t help but look at them with strange, judgmental eyes.
Zhou Boyang, who had initially thought himself fearless, now felt a twinge of regret. Some people made crude remarks, asking which of the two sisters was better or joking about his “good fortune” with the sisters. Ding Minxiu simply locked herself in her room, too afraid to step outside.
The rest of the Zhou family was also deeply troubled. Fang Rong even got an earful from her parents. They looked at their daughter with grave concern and said, “Don’t forget—when you were in trouble on the road back then, it was Yu Xiang’an’s mother, heavily pregnant, who took you to the hospital. She wasn’t due yet, but because of that, she went into early labor. If not for her, and with no one else around, have you ever thought about what would’ve happened to you?”
Fang Rong flushed red. “Mom, Dad, how could I not know that? But what can I do now?”
Her father sighed. “I know he’s your only son, and it’s hard not to indulge him. But you can’t let him have his way in everything. Too much indulgence ruins a child.”
Tears welled up in Fang Rong’s eyes, and she finally blurted out, “Dad, do you think I wanted this? But they already did… that. There was no other choice. If the Yu family had reported it, my son would’ve been finished.”
Her parents were shocked. “You mean—?!”
Her mother touched her stomach, and Fang Rong nodded tearfully.
At that, they fell silent. They had wondered why their daughter-in-law had retired from her job without passing it on to anyone else, and why their daughter had been evasive when asked. Now they understood.
Fang Rong’s mother asked, “Then… is she starting to show?”
Fang Rong nodded.
Her mother sighed helplessly. “It’s summer. Clothes won’t hide it for long.”
Fang Rong grasped her mother’s hand. “Mom, Dad, I was thinking… maybe she could go stay in our hometown for a while. A few months should be enough.”
Fang Rong’s father had originally been from the countryside, and their hometown was far enough that news from here wouldn’t reach there.
Her parents exchanged glances and sighed in unison. There was no other way.
At this point, Yu Xiang’an was unaware of these developments. Early in the morning, she had left with Deputy Director Wang on a business trip.
She had been wanting to find an opportunity to go to the city but hadn’t figured out how to get the necessary introduction letter. Soon enough, the opportunity fell into her lap without her needing to come up with an excuse.
Traveling to the city required an introduction letter. Without one, movement was nearly impossible. Even if one managed to reach their destination, getting caught could lead to serious trouble—even being mistaken for a spy. And spies were a real concern in those times.
Deputy Director Wang was heading to the city’s oil extraction factory. His usual assistant had sprained his ankle and couldn’t travel. Yu Xiang’an, whose neat handwriting had caught the deputy director’s eye, was asked if she could accompany him on the trip—leaving in the morning and returning by evening.
She agreed without hesitation.
That night, she informed Yu Qingshan. As a father, he couldn’t help but ask a few more questions. Only after learning that the deputy director was nearly fifty did he relax.
The next morning, Yu Xiang’an and Deputy Director Wang boarded the factory’s truck. Their food factory owned a single truck, a prized possession of the entire facility. This trip was a hitchhiking opportunity—the truck was transporting goods out, and they’d hitch a ride back in the evening, saving a lot of hassle.
Long-distance travel at the time was far from convenient. Transportation options were limited, and tickets weren’t cheap.
Yu Xiangju clung to her fifth sister’s hand, unwilling to let go. “Fifth Sister, you’re going to the city! What’s it like there?”
Yu Xiang’an had never been either, so she could only look to Yu Qingshan for an answer.
He, having visited a few times, laughed heartily. “When you’re older, I’ll take you there so you can see for yourself.”
The next day, Yu Xiang’an arrived early at the parking spot.
The two drivers were there even earlier, inspecting the vehicle.
Before long, Deputy Director Wang arrived. The drivers took the front seats, while Yu Xiang’an and the deputy director sat in the back with the cargo.
Every trip required one person in the driver’s seat and another in the passenger seat—both strong, capable men. Under the seats lay wooden sticks and machetes, just in case.
Being a driver was a highly sought-after profession at the time. It meant traveling far and wide, gaining broad experience, and having the chance to buy local specialties at discounted prices. Those with enough nerve could even make a tidy profit by reselling goods.
But with the benefits came risks. There were no repair shops everywhere back then—if the truck broke down, the drivers had to fix it themselves. While they might not handle complex issues, basic mechanical knowledge was a must. And on remote stretches of road, there was always the danger of bandits.
The people were simple and honest, yes, but such threats still existed.
Yu Xiang’an and Deputy Director Wang sat in the back, swaying with every bump in the road.
Having just eaten breakfast, the ride was… less than pleasant.
To distract herself, Yu Xiang’an let her mind wander. She knew how to drive—she’d gotten her license during the summer after high school and had four years of experience. But she drove an automatic, quite different from the vehicles of this era. Still, she could probably manage.
Though in the 1970s, owning a car was practically a fantasy.
If she had to compare it to the modern era, having a car back then might be equivalent to owning a luxury villa worth hundreds of millions in a first-tier city’s downtown—requiring both connections and wealth.
After a while, just as she was catching her breath, the truck jolted violently, then stalled.
The driver up front tried restarting it, but the engine only shuddered before falling silent again.
Then came the driver’s shout: “Director, the truck’s broken down. Let’s get out and take a look.”
Yu Xiang’an glanced around.
No villages ahead, no shops behind—just uneven dirt roads and wild grass-covered hills on either side.
Here? The truck broke down *here*?
She was utterly baffled.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage