Chapter 54: Dreaming and Departure

In the dream, Su Yue’s ears rang with the sound of clang, clang, clang, like the old-fashioned steam trains she had once seen on television.

The scene shifted. She was in a train carriage, sitting beside Han Aiguo on a narrow berth covered in green leather. The two of them held steamed buns in their hands, sipping hot water as they ate and chatted.

Across from them sat a middle-aged couple. The man looked unwell, lying on the bunk with furrowed brows, unable to finish even his dry food. The woman sat stiffly at the edge of the lower berth, her face clouded with sorrow. Nervousness clung to her like a shadow. She clutched a worn-out bag tightly to her chest, as though terrified someone might snatch it away.

Night gradually fell, darkness cloaking the world outside. The noise in the carriage quieted. Drowsiness overtook the passengers, and one by one they lay down to sleep.

Han Aiguo had given Su Yue the upper bunk while he took the lower, placing their luggage beside his pillow to guard it. The middle-aged woman eventually lay down as well, but even in her exhaustion she curled protectively around her bag, her body tense and defensive.

Su Yue thought, There must be something valuable in there most probably money. But it wasn’t her business. She closed her eyes, tossing and turning before finally slipping into a restless doze.

Around three in the morning, two shadowy figures crept into their section. The men lingered silently, watching, confirming that all four passengers appeared to be asleep. The leader gestured, and they moved toward the middle-aged woman. One thief pulled a gleaming knife from his pocket and, with practiced ease, sliced open the worn bag clutched to her chest, without disturbing her in the slightest. His movements were quick, deft, professional.

He slipped out a wad of money, stuffed it into his pocket, and prepared to leave. But his gaze fell on Han Aiguo, seemingly asleep below, and the bag by his pillow. The thief hesitated. Those who could afford a sleeper ticket weren’t ordinary folk; surely there would be money worth taking.

Greed won out. He pulled his knife again, lowering it toward Han Aiguo’s bag…..

But before the blade could touch, Han Aiguo’s eyes snapped open. His hand shot out like lightning, seizing the thief’s wrist. With a sharp click, the wrist dislocated. The thief screamed in agony.

The accomplice panicked and tried to flee, but Han Aiguo’s leg lashed out, kicking him hard to the floor. The man collapsed with a shriek, unable to rise.

The commotion woke the other passengers. Realizing the men were thieves, they shouted angrily, checking their own belongings in alarm.

Han Aiguo asked a young man to fetch the train attendant. When the police were called and the thieves interrogated, the truth emerged: they had once learned professional stealing techniques before Liberation, but had lain low when the revolution tightened. In recent years, as life grew easier, they had returned to their old ways. With such practiced skill, they almost never failed.

This time they had targeted the middle-aged couple. The man was ill and bound for the provincial hospital, and the brigade had taken pity, collecting money for them and even helping buy sleeper tickets. But the woman, inexperienced with carrying so much cash, had betrayed herself through nervousness. The thieves had followed them all along, waiting for night to strike.

They hadn’t expected to run into Han Aiguo.

The police dragged the thieves off at the next stop. The grateful couple thanked Han Aiguo again and again until they parted ways at the station.

Afterward, Su Yue and Han Aiguo traveled several more hours by bus before reaching another station. From there, they began walking toward the bus stop that would take them to his military unit. The road was quiet, almost deserted.

A friendly-looking man approached, asking Han Aiguo for directions. Since he knew the way, Han Aiguo stopped to explain, while Su Yue waited nearby.

Suddenly, several figures appeared from a diagonal path. One man lunged at her with a gleaming knife. The attack came so abruptly she barely had time to scream, terror clogged her throat.

But before the blade reached her, Han Aiguo rushed forward, shielding her with his body.

Two knives sank into him at once. Puff, puff and in the next moment, a spray of hot blood splattered her face.

The attackers wore hats pulled low, their faces obscured. In harsh voices they spat, “Next life, don’t meddle in other people’s business or you’ll end up like this!” Then they fled into the night.

Su Yue stood frozen, trembling, staring at Han Aiguo as blood poured from his body, soaking her hands.

“Help!” she screamed, desperate. But the place was empty and deliberately chosen by the attackers, so no one came. The blood kept flowing, unstoppable.

“Ah!”

Su Yue jolted awake with a scream. Her body shook, drenched in cold sweat, her mind still filled with blood.

Han Aiguo, startled awake, quickly gathered her in his arms. His big hand wiped at her tears. “What’s wrong? A nightmare?”

She stared at him blankly, her vision blurred with tears. He was here, alive, unhurt. But the sorrow surged so strongly it felt like she couldn’t breathe.

Han Aiguo had never seen her so distraught. His chest ached at the sight. He kissed her wet eyes softly and murmured, “Yue’er, it’s alright. Dreams are false. Don’t cry.”

She wanted to shake her head, to tell him no, it wasn’t false. It was going to happen. She had seen it: the knives, the blood and him collapsing into her arms.

But how could she say it aloud?

Her throat locked. She couldn’t.

Tears still slipped silently down her cheeks. It’s okay, she told herself desperately. It hasn’t happened yet. I’ve seen it in advance. I’ll stop it. He’ll be fine. He has to be fine.

Repeating the thought over and over, her panic slowly ebbed. She reached up to touch his worried face and forced her voice calm. “I’m fine, it’s just a nightmare. I can’t even remember what I dreamed now. Don’t worry. It’s so late, let’s sleep.”

“Really?” Han Aiguo searched her eyes.

She forced a smile and nodded. “Really. I’m just sleepy.” Curling back into his arms, she shut her eyes tightly.

He watched her for a long moment before finally relaxing. He kissed her forehead and held her close until he too drifted off.

Only then did Su Yue open her eyes again. She gazed at him blankly, then turned to the window where snowflakes danced in the night. In her heart, she whispered:

“System, I just had a dream.”

The system’s voice echoed in her mind: “Host, that dream was a warning. It will happen in the near future.”

Su Yue’s voice was barely more than a murmur, as though confiding a secret. “I know. It must happen on our way to the army. That group… they weren’t just two people. They were a gang. We only thought there were two, but the others were waiting in the shadows, looking for a chance to strike back. If only I had realized there were more of them, he wouldn’t have ended up like that…”

Tears spilled from her eyes as she spoke, soaking her pillow.

The system’s tone remained steady, almost detached. “Host, this is not your fault.”

But Su Yue clutched at her chest, trembling, her voice breaking. “Why him? Why did he have to suffer like this? Isn’t it enough already? His body is covered with scars, his leg… hasn’t he endured enough? When will it end?”

She could hardly breathe under the weight of despair. The image of Han Aiguo covered in blood burned into her mind, leaving her gasping with pain. Why him? Such tragedies only happened in television dramas, why must they happen to him?

What had he ever done wrong?

The system answered calmly, though with a faint heaviness: “Host, calm yourself. You must remember, his luck was spent in your previous life. In this one, he is a man abandoned by fortune. Misfortune clings to him. That is why you were sent here. You alone can alter his destiny. If you falter, if you give in to despair, then he truly will have no hope.”

It paused briefly, as though choosing its words.

“His destined fate is an early death. To change that path, you must protect him again and again. Only after countless trials will his fate finally shift.”

Su Yue’s tears slowed. She stared blankly before whispering, “You mean… if I keep fighting for him, his destiny can truly change?”

“Exactly,” the system replied. “Think about it. Because of you, he is no longer disabled. He can return to the army. His future may be bright. This is the change you have already brought him.”

Hope stirred in her chest like a spark. She drew in a deep breath and straightened. Yes, the system was right. She was here to protect him. She had already saved him three times. She could save him again. She could save him as many times as needed.

She would protect him until she was too old to walk, until her hair turned white, until the day she could grow old by his side.

—-

The next morning, Su Yue’s spirit was inevitably affected. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, and her expression carried a trace of gloom.

Old Lady Han assumed she had simply not slept well. She sent Su Yue back to her room to rest, while she and the second daughter-in-law prepared lunch together.

Su Yue did not insist on staying up. She returned to her room and began packing the luggage for their departure, all the while turning over countermeasures in her mind.

The train tickets had already been bought, and the military was urging Han Aiguo to return. Refunding or changing tickets was out of the question as they would have to take this train.

And if they avoided it altogether, then the middle-aged couple would almost certainly lose their money, perhaps even their chance at life. The man’s treatment depended on that money. Su Yue could not bear the thought of changing things only to doom someone else. That would stain Han Aiguo with unnecessary guilt, which she would never allow.

No, she should do more good deeds, accumulate blessings for him. Perhaps Heaven would look kindly upon him then.

Since she couldn’t avoid it, she would face it. She decided: before the thieves struck, she would warn the couple and call the police. This way, the entire gang could be caught in one net, never to harm others again.

With that plan settled, her heart finally eased. She could turn her mind to the remaining matters before their departure.

The first was Han Aimin and Hehua’s studies. Originally, she had intended to stay until the fifteenth day of the new year, giving her time to teach them the fourth-grade curriculum. Now, leaving earlier, she had to arrange their schooling in advance.

She and Han Aiguo went to meet the principal and teacher at the brigade primary school.

Su Yue explained Han Aimin’s situation. Though the principal, Han Ping’an, was not highly educated, he was fair-minded. After reviewing the final exam paper Su Yue had brought, he praised Han Aimin’s ability. “His level is already comparable to a fourth-grade student.”

Su Yue smiled in delight. “Then can he skip directly to the fifth grade? If he studies one more year, he could graduate and continue on to junior high in the commune.”

Han Ping’an agreed readily, approving Han Aimin’s transfer to fifth grade in the new term.

When Old Lady Han heard, she was overjoyed. Her only regret was that her second daughter-in-law refused to let Hehua study as well. She dismissed schooling as a waste of time and insisted Hehua remain at home to watch the younger children, do chores, and earn work points. No persuasion could change her mind.

Helpless, Su Yue told Han Aimin to study hard at school and share what he learned with Hehua when he came home. That way, Hehua could continue to learn.

Han Aimin promised readily, and Hehua’s face lit up with joy.

By the time these arrangements were made, the eighth day of the new year had arrived and the day of their departure.

Before dawn, Su Yue and Han Aiguo rose. Old Lady Han and Han Aimin rose as well. Han Aimin’s eyes were red from crying, and he clung to his brother silently, like a child unwilling to let go.

Han Aiguo ruffled his hair. “When eldest brother isn’t here, you’re the pillar of the family. Take care of Mother, take care of home. If anything happens, write to me or send a telegram, understand?”

Han Aimin sniffled and nodded. “I know. Brother, don’t worry about the family. Just do your duty in the army.”

Meanwhile, Old Lady Han bustled in the kitchen, preparing food for their journey. “The trip is more than ten hours. The food on the train is bad and costly. I’ll steam some buns for you. In this weather, they’ll be good. I’ll also pack a jar of sauce you made, it will taste good with the buns.”

Su Yue nodded gratefully. When the old lady finished, she added softly, “Mom, when I’m gone, don’t work too hard. Don’t overdo the pastries. We’ll have Aiguo’s subsidy now, and our family won’t lack money. Don’t tire yourself.”

Old Lady Han waved her hand. “Don’t worry, I know my limits. There’s the vegetable patch, the chickens so I won’t have time for much else. I won’t exhaust myself.”

Once the steamed buns were ready, it was time to leave.

Han Lao-er, Han Lao-san, and Hehua all came to see them off. Hehua clung to Su Yue’s hand, tears streaming. “Auntie, please come back to see us when you can.”

In her young heart, her aunt was dearer to her than her own mother. Aside from her grandmother, her aunt had treated her best. The thought of parting with her was unbearable.

Su Yue stroked her head gently. “I’ll come back as soon as I can. You must be good at home and study hard. Even if it doesn’t seem useful now, one day it will change your life. Do you remember?”

Hehua nodded firmly. “I remember! I’ll learn from Uncle at school, and later I’ll learn from you too. I want to go to junior high like Uncle.”

Su Yue smiled in encouragement. “Good. You can study even better than your uncle. One day, you’ll surpass him.”

Hehua’s eyes shone with determination. If her aunt said she could become strong, then she must.

—

Old Lady Han did not go to the station as her legs were too weak. Han Lao-er and Han Lao-san escorted them as far as the commune before returning.

Han Aimin, however, refused to leave. He pushed the bicycle all the way, their luggage strapped to it, and accompanied them to the county train station. Only when he saw them board the train, the whistle blowing as it pulled away, did he reluctantly turn back.