Rebirth of Wu Tong

Chapter two

In the desolate and barren Loess Plateau, especially in these times of extreme scarcity of daily necessities, enjoying a good meal is quite challenging. Even a few eggs are considered excellent nutritional supplements. If it weren't for Wu Tong's illness and weakened body, Yuan Dama, despite her affection, wouldn't easily offer a dozen eggs at once. This is partly because she comes from a big city, and in the eyes of these simple villagers, she is naturally considered more delicate and precious. Children born and raised in the mountain villages wouldn't receive such treatment. If someone has a fever, enduring it is the norm; only when it becomes severe do they seek the barefoot village doctor from a neighboring village. As for post-illness nutritional supplementation, it's a concept they don't entertain. Once recovered, they go back to working in the mountains and fields. Life is already tight, and they don't have the luxury of taking time to nurture their bodies.

During dinner, thanks to Wu Tong's condition, the two still young girls enjoyed the most sumptuous meal since their voluntary journey to the countryside. Although it was a makeshift combination of a few eggs and half a cabbage from the simple villagers, the two young girls, who hadn't had a decent meal in a long time, savored every bite, filling their flat bellies until they could eat no more.

After dinner, the two chatted for a while. Chu Qing, concerned about Wu Tong's recently recovered health, bid her good night early to rest. These days, she had been running around, bearing immense pressure. Now, seeing Wu Tong safe and sound, she felt an overwhelming sense of fatigue. After wishing Wu Tong good night, she returned to her room next door and soon fell into a deep sleep.

Wu Tong, however, couldn't sleep so early. While she grasped the general idea that she might have miraculously returned more than twenty years into the past, an uneasy feeling lingered. There was a fear that this might be an extraordinarily vivid dream, and upon closing her eyes, she would wake up to the cold, despairing reality of a hospital room. She hesitated to sleep, yearning for someone to confirm the authenticity of her situation. Yet, she was destined to be alone, bearing the weight of this extraordinary secret that couldn't be easily shared. Lying on the hard wooden bed, Wu Tong gazed into the darkness, allowing her thoughts to drift, recalling the distant days of her youth, filled with mixed emotions of love and hatred.

In the depths of Wu Tong's memories, the events of the winter of 1976 were particularly vivid. That winter, fueled by the enthusiasm, passion, and naivety typical of youth, she made a decision that perhaps would influence her entire life. Whenever she thought back on it, she marveled at her youthful courage and innocence. Wu Tong's memories skipped the events before the age of eight, as her so-called "parents" claimed that she had suffered a head injury in her early childhood, resulting in the loss of those memories. Young and trusting, she never doubted this explanation. She didn't even question why her "mother" would occasionally inquire about strange addresses or numbers. At that time, she simply shook her head in confusion, gazing at her "mother," who had always been gentle and never uttered harsh words. Each time, her "mother" would show obvious disappointment on her face, suppressing any sudden anger and continuing to care for her tenderly. Wu Tong wasn't foolish; she had wondered why her "mother" treated her with such indulgence, unlike the mothers of her neighbors who scolded and disciplined their children. Though she disliked being scolded, those mothers seemed more genuine! Her older siblings, however, were treated differently from her, and even the young Wu Tong could sense the genuine affection her "mother" had for them.

The year 1976 was tumultuous, painted in shades of red in Wu Tong's memories. The streets of the capital were covered in red paint, adorned with Mao's quotations. Red flags, red copies of quotations, red armbands—red dominated everything, instilling hope in every heart. Wu Tong, brimming with such hope, boarded the train to the countryside amid the seemingly joyful faces of her "parents" and siblings. She was too absorbed in the approval and praise of her "parents" and siblings to notice the hidden expressions of joy and schadenfreude on their faces—joy that seemed too forced and impure.

It wasn't until more than a decade later, when Wu Tong, battered by the revelations from her so-called relatives, suddenly recovered her childhood memories, that she understood the origins of everything. She was never the blood relative of that family. Their apparent kindness was merely to secure the property hidden by her ancestors! Wu Tong's ancestors were from a prominent family engaged in the antique business. Due to declining family members and the turbulent times, they had hidden their accumulated treasures and leased out most of their shops. The property deeds were cunningly kept by the clever tenants, safeguarding the foundation of the Wu family before the chaos of those times even began. Wu Tong's father, Wu Zhen, was shrewd and capable, but unfortunately, his life was cut short. If he had survived, the Wu family would have one day regained its former glory. However, Wu Tong's mother, always frail since childhood, suffered greatly after her husband's sudden death and soon couldn't bear it any longer. Young Wu Tong, unable to cope with the consecutive loss of her parents, fell from upstairs in a daze, hitting her head and losing the memories she preferred to forget.

The so-called "father" afterward was merely a steward under Wu Tong's father. With the watchful eyes of Wu Zhen's influential friends, he didn't dare mistreat Wu Tong or take over the properties left to her openly. Although he had his own troubles at the time, dealing with a common civilian was a simple matter. The reason they didn't bring Wu Tong into the family or reveal the truth was twofold. Firstly, their family faced internal conflicts, compounded by the chaotic times. Staying in his house would be more dangerous. Secondly, that person was afraid that a child, once knowing the truth, would suffer greater emotional distress, leading to unintended consequences. Due to these complex factors, the innocent Wu Tong was deceived so thoroughly.

Recalling the agonizing pain when she learned the truth, Wu Tong abruptly snapped out of her reverie. She reassured herself with a smile. She had returned, back to a time before everything happened. She should be happy and carefree. Laughing silently in the darkness, Wu Tong's tears flowed. Now, more than ever, she felt joy. Indeed, releasing the shackles in one's heart leads to a lighter and happier life. Wu Tong, always an open-minded person, believed that living happily was the purpose of life. Why bother tormenting oneself for those unworthy individuals? Just face challenges head-on, and when troubles arise, deal with them—no need to unnecessarily disturb one's peace of mind.

Gleefully embracing the blanket, Wu Tong laughed for a while. Suddenly remembering the strange pattern on her chest from before dinner, she slowly moved to the paper-covered window, opened a c***k, and observed it by the cold and bright moonlight. The environment hadn't been heavily polluted yet, and the moonlight was clear, with numerous stars shining. After several consecutive days

of rain, the weather had finally cleared. Wu Tong, bending down, examined the peculiar pattern about an inch above her chest. The colors were a mix of blue and gray, intricate and seemingly woven with countless lines, giving it an eerie appearance. Unconsciously, Wu Tong reached out to touch the pattern. After a moment of dizziness, the figure of the slender and beautiful Yuan Dama was gone from the bedside.

Experiencing the inexplicable event of rebirth, even someone with the incredibly resilient nerves of Wu Tong couldn't help but panic upon finding herself in this mysterious space. The place was filled with thick white fog, and except for the dark soil, there was nothing else in sight. Wu Tong shouted in fear, asking if anyone was there, but there was no response. Wu Tong, who believed in cause and effect, realized that her sudden appearance in this strange place must have a reason. In an instant, she remembered the mysterious pattern. Apparently, it was touching that pattern that brought her to this place. Now that she had a direction, Wu Tong felt more composed. Tentatively touching the pattern again, she blinked and found herself back in her familiar, cozy little house.

Patting herself lightly on the chest, relieved to be back in a familiar place, Wu Tong felt a sense of peace. However, her adventurous and restless nature resurfaced. Gathering courage, she touched the strange pattern on her chest again. As expected, upon opening her eyes, she found herself standing alone on the dark soil surrounded by white fog. Knowing how to get out, Wu Tong no longer panicked. Instead, she began exploring, walking in a random direction, wanting to understand what this place was that she could enter and exit freely. Unfortunately, to her disappointment, no matter which way she walked, it was the same white fog and dark soil. Gradually fatigued, Wu Tong couldn't discern any clues. Temporarily giving up, she returned to her warm and dilapidated little house. After wiping the dirt off her feet with a clean towel, she crawled into bed and fell into a deep sleep.