Chapter 10: Donated

Chapter 10: Donated

Once the People's Liberation Army rolled into Nancheng, they set up a temporary Military Control Office in the old city government building.

Lin Zhijin paid the driver, fixed her hair, took a deep breath, and headed straight for the front door.

"Comrade, may I ask what business you have here?" The guard stepped forward and blocked her path.

Lin Zhijin's breath hitched at his stare—not that he was trying to scare her, but his eyes were nothing like the soldiers she'd seen in later years. Figuring he'd come straight off the battlefield and seen his share of blood, it made sense.

"Old Li, don't go scaring the girl." A middle-aged man in a Mao suit with a refined air stepped out of the building, giving Lin Zhijin a warm smile. "Young lady, is there something we can help you with? Don't be afraid—we're the People's Liberation Army. You can tell us whatever's troubling you."

Lin Zhijin pressed her lips together, took a deep breath, and mustered her courage to ask: "I heard you're here to liberate the people, and everyone's supposed to be equal now, right?"

The middle-aged man exchanged a glance with Old Li, then nodded with a smile. "That's right, we're the Communist Party. New China was founded in '49, and everyone in the country is equal now."

Lin Zhijin glanced around and lowered her voice: "Can we talk inside? I've got something really important to tell you, besides my own business."

Lin Zhijin followed the middle-aged man to the reception room, where two men in uniform were sitting. When they saw her, they politely asked her to sit down, and one of them poured her a cup of tea.

"What's this young comrade here for?" The older man in uniform asked the man in the Mao suit.

"Comrade, don't be afraid. I'm the director of the temporary office, surnamed Yang. This is Deputy Director Li of the Military Control Office, and this is Staff Officer Wang." The man in the Mao suit—er, Division Chief Yang—made the introductions with a friendly air.

The office had only been open five days, and Lin Zhijin was the first civilian to come asking for help, which is why Division Chief Yang showed up himself.

Lin Zhijin held the teacup, the warmth spreading from her palm through her whole body, calming her nerves.

"My surname is Lin, my name is Lin Pandi. You can tell from my name that my folks valued boys over girls. This past February, Master Chen of the city was deathly ill with no hope of recovery, so they tried that old folk remedy of a wedding to chase off death. My birth chart happened to fit, and the Chens offered good money, so my parents sold me to them as Master Chen's good-luck bride." Lin Zhijin paused, then said with a choked voice: "I heard everyone's equal in New China. Can you get me out of the Chen house?"

The three men exchanged looks, surprised that such a young woman had been through so much.

"Of course, no problem. Everyone's equal now, and our country has one-man-one-wife laws—a man can only have one wife. Taking concubines is against the law, and selling people is a capital offense. Young lady, you're your own person—your parents have no right to sell you." Division Chief Yang saw Lin Zhijin burst into tears and frantically patted himself down for a handkerchief, but came up empty.

Lin Zhijin pulled a handkerchief from her own bag, dabbed her eyes, and choked out, "Thank you."

Division Chief Yang waited until she'd settled down a bit before asking: "I heard that Master Chen has already passed away?"

As one of Nancheng's big-name families, the Chens' situation had naturally landed on the leaders' desks right away.

"Yeah, he passed at the end of February. That's the other thing I wanted to talk to you about." Lin Zhijin looked at them, hesitating before asking: "Can I trust you all?"

"Of course. I swear as a soldier I'd never do a thing to hurt you." Deputy Director Li said solemnly from the side.

Lin Zhijin nodded and explained how Master Chen had left her a small bit of private property before he died, and how Second Master Chen and Fourth Master Chen both had their eyes on the mountain in her name.

"The First Mistress probably doesn't know, but Second Master Chen and Fourth Master Chen definitely do. I was just thinking to myself—Goldstone Mountain, goldstone mountain, golden stones... could there be gold in there?" Noticing their breathing pick up, Lin Zhijin hurried to add: "I'm just guessing, so don't take it to heart. But if big shots like Second Master Chen and Fourth Master Chen want that mountain, there's gotta be something good on it."

"So what does Comrade Lin want to do?" Division Chief Yang had already guessed what Lin Zhijin intended, but wanted to confirm.

"Donate it all to the country. But... I heard there's fighting up north and a lot of people have died. If there really is something valuable, I'd want it to go to the soldiers on the front lines first. Is that okay?" Lin Zhijin was worried about misappropriation, so she emphasized this point.

Division Chief Yang, Deputy Director Li, and Staff Officer Wang all shot to their feet and saluted Lin Zhijin.

"Thank you, Comrade Lin."

"I was just guessing—maybe there's only a hot spring up there after all." Lin Zhijin scrambled to her feet, not knowing what to do with her hands.

"Comrade Lin, no need to get flustered. Just having that intention is enough to earn our respect." Division Chief Yang invited Lin Zhijin to sit back down, looking at her with even more warmth.

"When can I get out of the Chen house? Second Mistress Chen told me the First Mistress is nice to me because she wants to marry me off to her brother—a guy who drinks, gambles, and chases women. He's pushing fifty and already buried two wives. I'm scared." Lin Zhijin said with a pale face.

Division Chief Yang said a few comforting words and had Staff Officer Wang go fetch the Women's Federation director, getting ready to start rescuing women ahead of schedule.

"Comrade Lin, this is Director Zhang of the Women's Federation. Don't worry—we'll come to the Chen residence to take you away soon." Staff Officer Wang came back with a middle-aged woman with short hair and a sharp, no-nonsense air.

"Comrade Lin, don't be scared. Within three days, tops, we'll come to the Chen house and get you out. Just keep yourself safe until then." Director Zhang studied Lin Zhijin's pretty face and frowned. She was so gorgeous—without someone watching her back, trouble was guaranteed. "What are you planning to do once you're out of the Chen house?"

Lin Zhijin hadn't expected Director Zhang to ask that so soon. She knit her brows and said: "I can't go back to my folks' place—they sold me once, and they'd sell me again. The stuff Master Chen left me—the farmland, the mountain, and that three-courtyard house—can all go to the state. Can I keep my clothes, jewelry, and money for myself? If possible, can you help me find a job? Just something to support myself."

Division Chief Yang and the other two looked at the frail, delicate, and pitiable Lin Zhijin and had already guessed Director Zhang's concern.

Beauty is not a sin, but without the ability to protect oneself, beauty becomes poison.

This girl was too beautiful. If she lived alone, she would never have a peaceful day.

Save a person to the end—besides, the young lady was patriotic at heart, donating so much to the state. They couldn't just watch her come to harm.

"Hey, Director Zhang, aren't you short-staffed? Let Comrade Lin help you out. Besides, Comrade Lin, as an oppressed person who voluntarily sought help, is an excellent positive example." Deputy Director Li slapped his forehead and said.

"No." Director Zhang shook her head.

"No." Lin Zhijin's face turned pale. Was Deputy Director Li some kind of living devil, wanting her to die faster?

The Chen residence would face trouble eventually, but that was ten years or more away. Right now, they were still the local power in Nancheng. As a concubine of the Chen family, if she voluntarily sought help from the Communist Party demanding liberation, wouldn't that be exposing the Chen family's wrongdoing? The Chens cared so much about face—they would never let her get away with it.

Besides, was "good-luck bride" something worth advertising? Spreading it all over town—how could she ever hold her head up again? Walking outside, she would definitely be pointed at and whispered about.

Division Chief Yang and Staff Officer Wang also realized this. The two glared at Deputy Director Li, while Director Zhang comforted Lin Zhijin: "Xiao Lin, may I call you that? Old Li is just a rough fellow who doesn't understand these things. Don't take offense. Don't worry—we won't put you in danger."

Staff Officer Wang explained the reasoning to Deputy Director Li, then told him to keep quiet and leave these matters to them.

"Go back for now. Act as if you never came today. In three days, we'll organize personnel to conduct door-to-door inspections. From now on, there will be no maidservants, no concubines, no chamber maids—those are all feudal remnants. This is New China, and we must abide by New China's laws." Division Chief Yang said solemnly.

The implication was clear: Lin Zhijin was just one of many who needed liberation. It was the state liberating her, not her leaving the residence of her own accord.

"Thank you for understanding, leaders. The Chen family is powerful, and I'm just an ordinary weak woman—I don't dare to confront them. So the land and mountain I'm donating may need you to take the blame for me." After all, the story told to the Chen family couldn't be that she initiated it, but that the state had taken an interest, and she, a timid young woman, had simply nodded in agreement—which fit the image they had of her.

"What's the problem with that? It's only right." Deputy Director Li waved his hand dismissively.

As long as they could get money and reduce casualties among the soldiers on the front lines, what did a little damage to his reputation matter? He'd always been a rough soldier anyway.

"Thank you. I'll be going now—it's not good to return too late." Lin Zhijin expressed her sincere gratitude and turned to leave.

Once Lin Zhijin's figure disappeared, Deputy Director Li's simple, honest smile vanished, replaced by a grave expression. "Can we trust her?"

Although the country had been founded for two years, many saboteurs remained within its borders. Especially since they had only just entered Nancheng a few days ago and hadn't yet grasped the local situation—it was entirely possible they could be set up.

"Just investigate and find out." Division Chief Yang reviewed Lin Zhijin's words and expressions piece by piece, realizing that this young woman genuinely trusted them. If all of this was an act, then she must have been trained as a spy since childhood.

"Also investigate Goldstone Mountain. If there really is gold..." Staff Officer Wang's breathing grew heavier.

Director Zhang's eyes suddenly widened. "What gold?"

"Comrade Lin suspects that the mountain she received might contain a gold mine. It's just a suspicion, but what if? We must send people to investigate immediately." Division Chief Yang didn't hesitate, immediately dispatching teams in two directions—one to investigate Lin Zhijin, the other to investigate Goldstone Mountain.

Meanwhile, Lin Zhijin had returned to the department store. She first bought some pastries and candies, then purchased a pair of new leather shoes that had just arrived—said to be from Shanghai. She looked at them; they were indeed beautiful, and more importantly, comfortable—they didn't rub her feet at all.

"Ninth Concubine." Xiaohong was already waiting at the fabric shop.

"Have you been waiting long? Here, for you. Didn't you say you wanted these last time?" Lin Zhijin handed a package of mung bean cakes to Xiaohong.

"Thanks, Ninth Concubine. You're so good to me." Xiaohong hugged the mung bean cakes happily.

Back at the Chen residence, the First Madam hadn't sent for her. Lin Zhijin was glad for the easy break. She took Xiaohong back to the Wenzhu Courtyard and began taking stock of her belongings, packing up everything she could take with her. This was her compensation for mental anguish and reputational damage—she had no qualms about it.

Clothes, shoes, and jewelry were definitely going. The fabric, the supplements, the fine writing brushes, ink sticks, paper, and inkstones—take it all, take it all. It was still a long way off from 1966, so there was no need to worry. She also took some ancient texts and paintings.

"Ninth Concubine, what are you doing?" Xiaohong asked curiously, watching Lin Zhijin look at this, touch that.

"Nothing. Have someone bring up lunch; I'm hungry." Lin Zhijin smiled.

Three days later, in the morning, Lin Zhijin wore simple clothes and trousers, draped with a shawl, sitting by the asparagus fern in the courtyard, soaking up the sun.

There was a commotion outside. Lin Zhijin's eyes lit up—could it be Director Zhang and the others?

"Ninth Concubine, something terrible has happened! A group of soldiers has come, saying they're here to liberate the oppressed." Xiaohong ran in, flustered.

Author's note:

Oh my god, I suddenly had the idea to write about the clash between the feudal system and New China. I didn't expect it to be so hard to write. I'll update this for now and revise it tomorrow when I wake up. Love you all, mwah (づ￣3￣)づ╭?～ Thanks to Cloud Baby for the landmine, love you, mwah (づ￣3￣)づ╭?～