Chapter 1 — Priceless Jade

When Luc Thanh Chau asked me about the jade pendant, I lied and said I had lost it. He was so worried that he mobilized a team of young intellectuals to go up the mountain to search. In his previous life, Luc Thanh Chau gave the jade pendant that my mother left behind to Tang Uyen Uyen. Thanks to the spiritual spring in the piece of jade, Zeng Uyen Uyen made breakfast cakes and prospered in business. As for me, she tricked me into going up the mountain and becoming prey for wild boars. When my father and brother heard the news of my death, they were extremely heartbroken. From then on, they broke off relations with Luc Thanh Chau and Zeng Uyen Uyen. While a group of young intellectuals went up the mountain to search, I bit the tip of my finger and dripped blood onto the jade pendant. This time, no one can take it away from me. In just ten days, my brother will come to pick me up.

1

"Tham Dong, where is my jade pendant? Uyen Uyen said she missed Aunt Giang and wanted to borrow it."

Luc Thanh Chau looked at me sincerely. Seeing that I didn't react, he hurriedly urged me. Have I… been reborn? Zeng Uyen Uyen is the daughter of my father's comrade, her mother ran away with someone else, leaving her alone. My father felt sorry for her and adopted her.

"Are you saying you miss my mother? You miss my mother and show it by stealing her daughter's fiance?"

I spoke coldly and sarcastically. His face turned red, he stammered for a long time, then said: "Uyen Uyen is your sister, also my sister. Don't be so harsh." I raised my hand to stop him: "I don't know where the jade pendant fell. Also, don't talk nonsense, my parents only gave birth to me and my brother." In the middle of winter, the intellectual team lacked firewood, and everyone wore thick cotton shirts. Luc Thanh Chau couldn't see whether I was wearing a jade pendant or not. He hesitated, looking at me with suspicious eyes.

"Anyway, it's a relic Aunt Giang left you. Wherever you lost it, I'll help you find it."

“I don't know, I probably dropped it while going up the mountain to pick pig grass.”

He nodded haphazardly and then hurriedly went to find Tang Uyen Uyen. I took out the jade piece, gritted my teeth and tried to bite the tip of my finger. Not determined enough, I went into the kitchen and took a knife to gently cut my finger. The jade pendant in my hand gradually disappeared. I closed my eyes, my heart stirred. No wonder in her previous life, after Luc Thanh Chau lent her jade pendant to Tang Uyen Uyen, she said she lost it. I searched through her luggage but couldn't find it anywhere. Turns out it already had an owner. I put a few drops of Lingquan into the kettle and tried drinking it. Sure enough, it has a sweet taste and soothes a tired body a bit. I rolled up my pant leg to check, the wound from the hoe had not healed yet. It seems that this spiritual spring only helps reduce fatigue and is not miraculous enough to heal all wounds. I breathed a sigh of relief, that's good, something so magical also makes people afraid. In the house there are only me and my brother. The older brother is serving in the army in the Northwest. According to policy, I shouldn't have to go to the countryside. But Tang Uyen Uyen ran to tell me that Luc Thanh Chau was about to leave. Since childhood, I have been infatuated with him and desperately begged my father to let me follow him. Thinking about my past life, how heartbreaking it would be for my father and brother to hear the news of my death. My nose stung and my eyes couldn't help but turn red. While remembering his father and brother, someone suddenly pushed open the door to the room. Luc Thanh Chau is covered in dust and dirt.

"Tieu Dong, where did you go yesterday? Everyone searched the foot of the mountain but couldn't find anything Found that piece of jade!”

I didn't raise my head: "Oh, so maybe it fell away the day before yesterday." Tang Uyen Uyen looked like she wanted to cry but didn't dare, looking at me shyly: "Sister Dong Dong, that's Aunt Giang's relics." How can you be so indifferent?”

“You also know that those are my mother's things, not yours, right?”

Ly Sang jumped out, his face full of dissatisfaction: "Dong Dong, what are you talking about? Uyen Uyen just cares about you. You really have no conscience.” I lost patience and said: "You guys are so annoying. My things are lost. Can I ask you to help me find them?" Tears fell from Tang Uyen Uyen's eyes. She looked at me as if I had just said something worthy of being beaten by heaven, then turned around crying and ran away. Ly Sang quickly chased after him. Luc Thanh Chau looked awkward, looked at me and said: "Dong Dong, Uyen Uyen is still young." Having finished speaking, he also hurriedly chased after her. Just good at saying this. Tang Uyen Uyen is really small, only one month younger than me. Who knew she was eighteen years old, but if you didn't know, you'd think she was only eighteen months old. I rolled my eyes and continued packing my luggage. My luggage is not much, but there are two trunks. Tomorrow I plan to go to town to call home and send some things home in advance. I rummaged in the trunk for a while and found a bag of crispy shrimp crackers and a dozen white milk candies. Wipe your tears, take snacks and go to the captain's house. As soon as I arrived at the gate, I saw the captain's wife sweeping the yard. I smiled and greeted: "Auntie, is the captain home?" The captain's wife was stunned for a moment, her tone cold: "What wind blew you here?" In my previous life, I always criticized the hard work of farming and found ways to avoid work. Towards the people in the village, my attitude was not good. But after I died, Luc Thanh Chau and Tang Uyen Uyen did not take any care of my body. It was the villagers who joined forces to carry me down from the mountain. Thanks to that, when my father and brother arrived, they were able to see my intact body. I said apologetically: "Auntie, I was wrong before. I hope you will be generous enough to forgive me.” Seeing my sincerity, she pointed to the main room: "Your uncle is in there." I walked up, holding out the oil paper bag in my hand.

“Auntie, this is a little gift I brought for Thiet Tru and Niu Tu.”

She looked at me suspiciously, then put down the broom: "Follow me." Inside the house, the captain was sitting at the table pensively writing something. Seeing me coming, his tone was not very friendly: "Intellectual Tham, have you come to ask for leave again?" I waved my hand repeatedly: "No no, captain, tomorrow is Sunday, the whole village has a day off. I want to ask permission to call home." The captain's wife pulled his hand: "It's not easy for a little girl to come here from far away Beijing, you just give her a day off." The captain glared at her.

"Okay, intellectual Tham, sending you girls to the countryside is to build the Fatherland, not to be lazy."

I nodded vigorously. Returning to the intellectual team, I began to pack my things. My father and brother were angry because I kept asking to follow Luc Thanh Chau to the countryside. They say, if you want to build the Fatherland, you don't have to choose something you're not good at. So they didn't prepare many things for me. They say, if you want to suffer, don't hang a goat's head and sell dog meat. Young intellectuals go to the countryside to contribute. Not for enjoyment. While I was busy, I heard a knock on the door. Opening the door, it was Luc Thanh Chau.

"Dong Dong, today Dong Xuyen and I caught two fish in the river. You like to eat fish the most, I told Uyen Uyen to make braised fish for you, come out and eat."

He smiled gently, just like before.

“Okay.”

Luc Thanh Chau took countless things from me because of Tang Uyen Uyen. Eating a fish from them means I still have a profit. Coming to the kitchen, Tang Uyen Uyen was facing the door. Hearing footsteps, she spoke softly: "Mr. Thanh Chau, is Ms. Dong Dong still angry with me and doesn't want to come eat?" Having finished speaking, she turned around. Seeing me and Luc Thanh Chau standing next to each other, her expression flashed a little awkwardly, but it quickly disappeared.

"Miss Dong, I thought you didn't want to come anymore, please sit down."

I sat down opposite Luc Thanh Chau. Zeng Uyen Uyen turned around to get the fish. Seeing the fish dish on the table, I couldn't help but frown. I hate the fishy smell of fish the most. I can only eat braised fish. But Zeng Uyen Uyen made steamed fish. Luc Thanh Chau was also not satisfied: "Uyen Uyen, I told you to make braised fish, right? You know Dong Dong doesn't eat steamed fish." Tang Uyen Uyen's eyes immediately turned red, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Sorry Ms. Dong, I thought you had fixed your picky eating habits."

I ignored her, just watched her act like she was watching a play to make the meal more delicious.