Just a Transitional Period

One year had passed, with two more to go. A transfer to the township was impossible; the most likely path was a transitional period of two or three years in Qingyang Town, after which she could return directly to Zhuque City without passing through the county seat.

Once back in Zhuque City, it would be best to find a boyfriend within her unit. At least then she would have someone to lean on. As for those people from her past, it was better to see them as little as possible—ideally, never again.

Liu Caiyun smiled faintly, feeling that her younger self had been far too childish, neglecting her studies to hang out with a rough crowd. Back then, she thought men with tattoos and dyed hair were fashionable and admirable, and so she had drifted along with those social outcasts.

Thinking back now, it all seemed so naive. She was lucky her family was well-off. Otherwise, she would have ended up like some of her old friends who, after graduation, either worked menial jobs or remained entangled with those thugs—looking glamorous on the outside while living hand-to-mouth. Some had even been deceived by men, lured into "that kind" of business just to support their worthless boyfriends.

Since arriving in Taohua Village, in the quiet depth of the night, she often found herself reminiscing about the past. She no longer felt angry about the slaps her father had given her, or the heavy beating and the months of being locked away.

After all, she had needs. She still had a boyfriend in the city, a rather handsome man. During her leaves, they would occasionally meet in secret to satisfy those urges. But as time went on, she began to find those encounters dull, perhaps because the novelty had worn off. Or perhaps, being alone out here, the loneliness and solitude made her overthink things.

Unable to sleep and feeling the stifling heat after reading for so long, her eyes felt a bit strained. The air in the countryside was relatively fresh, so she decided to go for a short walk to clear her head before heading to bed.

Liu Caiyun closed her book, placed it on the table, and stood up. As her shapely figure rose from the chair, she tilted her head back and stretched her arms high. Then, she leaned down, reached into the desk drawer, and pulled out a handheld flashlight.

She stepped out of her bedroom and pulled the door shut. She didn't dare go too far, only wandering around the school grounds to check if the doors and windows were properly secured to prevent theft. Or she might run a lap around the playground, and that was it. She did this often on boring nights.

There was a reason she didn't venture far. Having lived here for a year, she had heard many stories about the countryside. Moreover, working here had exposed her to all sorts of people. While the villagers of Taohua Village were mostly simple and honest, there were a few who were truly repulsive. There were even some uneducated middle-aged men who, whenever they were idle, would loiter around the Village Committee, pretending to have business just to get close to her, their hands wandering during conversation.

Some had even suggested she sleep with them for a night or asked her to be a mistress. Even in Taohua Village, there was a man who, when she first arrived, demanded she become his woman, promising to support her career in exchange. He didn't realize Liu Caiyun had powerful backing; six months ago, she had found a way to kick him out of the Village Committee.

Because of such incidents, some people harbored ill intentions. For instance, in Hedian Village, two female university interns had ended up pregnant by the Village Head and the Director there the year before last. In Xiaoxi Village, another girl had fallen in love with a local man, and eventually, both left together to work as migrant laborers.

Essentially, in this day and age, if one went to the countryside without any background or strength, protecting a hard-earned job—after over a decade of study and carrying their parents' expectations—often meant having to mingle and maintain good relations with the local "tyrants," sometimes even becoming their playthings. It was a common occurrence.

Liu Caiyun left her bedroom and stood on the third-floor corridor, looking out into the pitch-black night. She didn't turn on her flashlight, choosing instead to enjoy the cool breeze. The wind was neither cold nor hot, brushing against her cheeks with a particularly pleasant sensation that sharpened her spirit.

"I remember seeing a young man when I first arrived; he looked quite handsome. There are still two years left! If I could find such a handsome man in Taohua Village to play with and solve this loneliness, it wouldn't be bad. Once I return to the big city, who's going to know?"

Liu Caiyun muttered to herself as she thought of something. Her past life had been chaotic, and in the silence of the night, such thoughts were hard to suppress. Never mind young men; even the middle-aged men in the village had impressive physiques from farm work. Though they were a bit ugly and tanned, seeing them drenched in sweat while trying to strike up a conversation sometimes stirred something in her, despite her stern and angry facade.

"But that person... I heard his name is Wang Yonggui. They say he's married and very capable. The plastic greenhouse project has been a big hit lately, and Er Bizi said it was all his doing. I also heard he's doing very well for himself, working on a major project. I've been meaning to find time to meet this famous 'big figure,' but I keep forgetting or running out of time. My previous visits to his house were unsuccessful. He's a native of Taohua Village, and this place is so poor that attracting investment is incredibly difficult. If I can connect with Wang Yonggui and build a good relationship, perhaps we can collaborate on a project. With some achievements to my name, my parents will see me in a different light, and I might even be able to return to the city sooner. It seems that thanks to him, Taohua Village has recently received praise and is even about to be designated as a model village."

Liu Caiyun had already tasted the benefits. The fertilizer the village provided wasn't free. When reporting to her superiors, she claimed it was all under their guidance. However, Old Lei and Liu Caiyun were currently engaged in a subtle power struggle, both trying to claim credit. Er Bizi, though uneducated, was sharp-witted and was clearly leaning toward Liu Caiyun's side. Thus, Liu Caiyun had snatched the credit for the greenhouse success to vie for rewards.

She frequently heard Er Bizi mention Wang Yonggui's name, which fueled her desire to visit him. Since Wang Yonggui was often in Zhuque City, she hadn't met him, but she had met Yang Qiuju and Su Wanhe. She had been secretly astonished that such a remote mountain village could harbor two such beautiful women.

"If I have Wang Yonggui's support—after all, he and Er Bizi are on good terms—I can have Er Bizi put in a good word so Wang Yonggui sides with me. Then, kicking Old Lei out will only be a matter of time. Furthermore, we can negotiate; the plastic greenhouses were successful this year and are expanding. By then, it will be a major project. With a happy cooperation, my performance record will look even better. It seems I need to find time to schedule a meeting with Er Bizi."

Having made up her mind, Liu Caiyun didn't turn on her flashlight. She prepared to head downstairs for a walk before retiring for the night.