26. Tailing

She slept without dreams, and though she had worried that staying with her grandmother would disturb her rest, she slept soundly until morning. This was a great relief to Old Mrs. Liu, who had barely closed her eyes all night.

As long as the girl didn't have nightmares, the grandmother was satisfied. She had been truly terrified that without the protection of the jade gourd, her granddaughter would be plagued by those terrors once again. She immediately resolved to sleep by her side every night until the jade gourd was recovered.

After breakfast, she instructed her eldest daughter-in-law to watch over their precious granddaughter at home, and the rest of the family hurried off to the fields. It was only halfway there that Old Mrs. Liu realized her eldest granddaughter was missing.

"Number Two, where is Dani?"

Jiang the Second looked confused, glancing behind him. "Didn't she come with us?" He clearly remembered seeing his daughter leave with them. He looked at his wife, stunned. "Dani’s mother, where is she?"

Li Cuihua was equally bewildered; her mind had been entirely preoccupied with the toil of fieldwork, and she hadn't spared a thought for her daughter. "Could she have gone to the latrine?" Li Cuihua mused.

"Lazy people always have so many excuses!" Old Mrs. Liu snapped, glaring at her son and daughter-in-law before marching ahead.

The girl they were criticizing, Dani, was currently rushing toward town with a frantic heart, her mind entirely consumed by the news of the paper mill’s recruitment. She prayed silently, hoping she wouldn't be too late. Unfortunately, with the autumn harvest approaching, everyone’s attention was fixed on the fields, and Old Li, who usually drove the cart, wasn't offering rides, or she could have traveled much faster. As for the bicycle, she had snuck out and dared not ride it—nor could she, as she didn't have the key.

A trace of jealousy flickered in her eyes at the thought. There were only three keys to the bicycle, yet Jiang Ruo possessed one, with the others held by her grandmother and uncle. Hmph! Just wait, she told herself; one day she would have a bicycle of her own. With this burst of determination, her jealousy ebbed, and she felt a little better. Only now did Dani realize how narrow her horizons had been before. Her mind felt clearer, and her pace quickened. Living a better life was the only thing that mattered now.

...

Jiang Ruo had originally intended to return to her room, but remembering the need to dry the seeds, she spoke to her aunt and stepped out under the pretense of looking for Shanyao.

Shanyao was the village head’s daughter. Knowing it was Shanyao she was meeting, Wang Xiaocao waved her off, satisfied. With a yawn, she decided there was still time to return to her room for a nap, as she and her husband had hardly slept the night before due to the trouble with her niece’s jade gourd.

Once outside, Jiang Ruo headed toward a spot she had been eyeing: an abandoned house in the northwest corner of the village that had belonged to a lonely old man who had passed away.

Just as she was about to turn toward the west end of the village, a familiar figure caught her eye, causing her to duck quickly behind a large tree. Dani? Wasn't she supposed to be in the fields with their grandparents? Why was she heading toward the village entrance? Recalling the malice her elder cousin held toward her, Jiang Ruo decided to follow.

She trailed her all the way to the main road leading out of the village. Was she going to town? Jiang Ruo thought for a moment and decided to put her own plans on hold. Her intuition told her Dani was up to something.

Halfway there, she almost gave up. Walking on foot was exhausting, and she had to constantly be on guard to avoid being spotted, keeping a distance that made the journey a real ordeal. By the time they reached the town, she was famished, her stomach growling loudly.

Dani kept walking, not sparing a single glance at the shops along the street, which only piqued Jiang Ruo’s interest further. She followed her until they reached the paper mill on the northwest side of town. Jiang Ruo watched thoughtfully as Dani went inside after a bit of effort, and then she made her own move.

"Hello, big brother..." She approached with a sweet smile, pressing a handful of fruit candies into the hands of the gatekeeper. The gesture forced a reluctant smile onto his dissatisfied face.

"What 'big brother'? My daughter is about your age, you little girl really know how to talk."

"What?" Jiang Ruo feigned shock. "No way! You don't look like you have a child that old at all. How do you maintain your youth? You look so young!"

The earnest expression on the young girl’s face successfully pleased the guard. No one dislikes being told they look young, even a grown man. His smile widened until his eyes became mere slits, and he waved his hand modestly. "I don't do anything special."

"It must be natural, then..." Jiang Ruo nodded with such conviction that it was hard not to believe her. The guard was absolutely delighted, his tone warming significantly as he grinned at the candies in his hand. "Little girl, what is it you want?"

"Nothing much, I just think you have a kind face, you look a bit like a brother of mine..." Jiang Ruo said sweetly.

The guard wasn't stupid; he knew she had an agenda. But he was in a good mood, and with the candies in his hand, he didn't mind doing a favor. "Did you hear about the recruitment at the paper mill?" he whispered, looking around.

Jiang Ruo played along, showing just the right amount of surprise, as if she were in awe of his expertise. "Nothing escapes you, big brother. So, is the news true?" She gestured toward the factory.

"You're a sharp girl, and you talk well. I'll tell you the truth: the mill is indeed hiring. Not just in the factory, but in the office as well. Office positions require a middle school diploma. If you're interested, go register immediately—today is the last day."

So it was true. But how did Dani know? She had been at home the last few days. Despite her questions, Jiang Ruo’s face lit up with a grateful smile. "Thank you so much, big brother. I’ll go prepare right away."

"Here, please take this to buy a bottle of wine. If I get the position, I’ll be sure to thank you properly again..." Jiang Ruo took out five yuan and pressed it into his hand.

The guard’s hand trembled. This was too much—five yuan was nearly a third of his monthly salary, enough to support a rural family for a month. If his family found out... "No, I can't, I’ve already taken your candy..."

The guard felt a rare moment of softness for such a well-behaved girl.

"Please, just take it. I actually feel like it’s not enough," Jiang Ruo insisted. For the news of this recruitment—a chance at a lifelong "iron rice bowl" that could change her entire family’s fortune—this price was a bargain.

Seeing that the girl truly didn't regret the expense, the guard finally relented and gripped the money in his palm. "Alright. When you come to register in a bit, mention my name. Tell them Liu Daqiang sent you."