Annette was still sitting at the small dining table, holding a bowl of hot water. She was startled when an envelope suddenly appeared before her. She reached out to take it, but then thought of the original Annette's personality and snorted coldly, lowering her eyes to continue drinking, not intending to respond to Stuart.
Stuart sat down opposite her, placed the envelope on the table, and nudged it closer to her. "Here are some ration tickets and some money. I was too anxious earlier — sorry about that."
Annette was somewhat surprised. They said in this era, especially in the Northwest, male chauvinism was very serious. For Stuart to apologize voluntarily was rare. She replied flatly, keeping a stiff expression, "I just can't stand to see children suffer. If it were adults, who would care if they lived or died?"
She wanted to proudly say, "Take the money and ration tickets back, I don't want them."
But thinking of the original Annette, who had only a few coins and ten jin of province-wide ration tickets left, she swallowed the words. To survive well in this era, both money and ration tickets were necessary!
Seeing that Annette did not refuse, Stuart thanked her quietly and started clearing the tableware to wash.
Only after Stuart left for work did Annette pick up the envelope and dump out the contents: twenty-five yuan, fifty jin of ration tickets, and a thin little booklet.
Annette studied the booklet carefully; it seemed to be Stuart's ration book. With it, one could go to designated stores to collect white flour and cooking oil, although the supply was limited monthly.
She was excited to see that twenty-five jin of white flour had not yet been collected this month. If she could get the flour, maybe she could finally eat steamed white bread!
Annette examined the unfamiliar ration tickets and old-style money cautiously, then put them away carefully. Once she saved enough money, she planned to divorce Stuart and leave.
Though using Stuart was somewhat shameful, she thought she'd give him half of what she earned. Two people without feelings tying themselves together for life would only hold Stuart back.
With that excuse for her own shame, she got up without guilt and went to her room to sort through the original Annette's belongings.
The original family's conditions were decent — she seemed never to have suffered hardship. She didn't like studying but had a romantic streak. There was even a diary with childish handwriting like that of a schoolgirl, recording a love affair with a boy.
The last page read: Cheng Gang, wait for me. You are the one I want to spend my life with.
Annette felt a headache coming after reading a few pages and stuffed the diary into a box. She tidied up the room simply. The only positive thing about the original Annette was that she was very neat and tidy.
After finishing, Annette put on a red cotton jacket and prepared to go to the ration station to collect white flour, planning also to familiarize herself with the surroundings.
She wanted to see if she could find a way to make money. If conditions allowed, she still hoped to study and do what she liked.
Wrapped in a white long wool scarf, she stepped outside. Not far off, a few women were chatting by the roadside. Seeing Annette come out, they immediately stopped talking and stared.
Annette knew these idle women would gossip about her. She didn't plan to greet them. Too much change might arouse suspicion.
She pulled her scarf tighter to cover her nose and mouth, expressionless, and passed by the group.
As soon as she walked away, the women huddled and whispered.
"I heard that at noon, Annette saved Shan Zi?"
"Yes, I saw it from the window."
"She capable of kindness? She used to look down on everyone. Is she just trying to make trouble with Captain Stuart again?"
"Captain Stuart shouldn't have married that woman. Marrying Dr. Charlotte would've been better. Look how well Dr. Charlotte and Stuart match."
"That's true. My husband said Captain Stuart had a girlfriend before. He married Annette to repay some favor."
"I heard the two are from the same village and were very close. That girl sent shoes and sweaters to the captain every year."
Annette had walked a bit farther when she remembered she needed a flour bag to carry the flour. She turned back and overheard the last remark, unable to resist replying, "So, Stuart's just a Chen Shimei, isn't he?"
The women were so engrossed in gossip, they didn't notice Annette returning. Suddenly hearing her voice, they all jumped and turned to see Annette smiling behind them, instantly awkward.
Annette looked them over deeply, then took the flour bag and left again.
She was truly amazed by these women's ability to gossip — after all, they would be the main source of information at the village or housing compound entrances in the future.
The housing compound was not too far from the town — about a half-hour walk.
Annette looked at the fields where the snow hadn't yet melted and the bleak hills in the distance. Apart from the cold air, the landscape was desolate.
Her heart grew desolate too. Sighing, she walked toward the town.
The town was livelier than Annette had imagined. The afternoon sun was warm, and the streets were busy. Vendors pushed carts selling goods.
Annette took a look around. The town was small — only one state-run restaurant. Street vendors sold noodles and sesame cakes, but business was poor. The owner dozed in front of his stall.
There were no snack shops; only carts selling melon seeds, candies, and treats that looked old and stale.
Next to the post office was a bus station with buses to the city and county seat. The bus to the county ran once a day, leaving in the morning and returning in the afternoon. The bus to the city ran once every three days.
After observing everything, Annette felt even colder inside. In such an environment, how much power did she have to change her life?
Feeling depressed, she carried the flour bag to the ration station to collect flour. Afraid she couldn't carry all twenty-five jin, she took only ten jin for now.
As she left the ration station with ten jin of flour, she pondered how to make a trip to the county.
Unaware, someone bumped her shoulder. Annette frowned, took a few steps, felt uneasy, and hurriedly checked her pockets.
Her ration book and five yuan were gone!
Annette instantly became furious. She was already so poor, yet someone dared to steal her money. Carrying the flour bag, she chased after the person who had bumped her.
She remembered it was a young man wearing a gray hat and dark blue jacket who had bumped her.
The thief, seeing someone chasing, panicked and ran.
Annette had been unsure at first, but seeing the panicked figure, she was certain this was the thief.
Thinking of the five yuan, she ran faster, full of energy.
"Captain, isn't that your wife?"
Stuart and Greg were at the post office collecting supplies for work. As they stepped out the door, they saw a flash of red streak past.
Without being told, Stuart recognized it was Annette.
He just couldn't believe it — the woman carrying a flour bag and running like the wind was really Annette?