TYH-DCI | Chapter 1: I’ve Transmigrated?

“Cuihua, the list of sent-down youths has already been finalized.

Your Jiang Lai has been assigned to Guangxi Province. She’ll be leaving in three days, so don’t forget.”

After delivering the notice to the Jiang family, Sister Zhang from the Educated Youth Office immediately left.

There were too many youths being sent to the countryside this round, and she still had many households to visit.

Wang Cuihua saw her out with a smile. The moment the door closed, however, her expression darkened.

The Jiang family lived in a cramped two-bedroom apartment in a workers’ housing block.

Both Wang Cuihua and her husband, Jiang Fuhai, worked at the textile factory.

At the moment, only Wang Cuihua and Jiang Lai were home.

The instant she stepped inside, Wang Cuihua snapped at the figure lying in bed.

“Enough pretending. The assignment has already been confirmed. In three days, even if you’re dying, I’ll carry you to the train station myself.”

Without waiting for a response, she stormed out, slamming doors and muttering curses under her breath.

Only after confirming that Wang Cuihua had left did Jiang Lai pull the blanket off her head.

She sprang upright in bed.

She had transmigrated here only thirty minutes ago.

Before that, she had simply been a passerby watching a young couple arguing on the street.

The argument escalated into a fight.

Neither of them wanted to hurt the other, however.

Instead, they somehow managed to hurt the innocent bystander.

A loose brick fell from above and smashed directly into Jiang Lai’s head.

The next thing she knew, she had woken up in this world.

After spending several minutes sorting through the original owner’s memories, Jiang Lai finally understood what had happened.

Wang Cuihua had secretly taken the household registration booklet and signed her up for the sent-down youth program behind her back.

Jiang Lai and Jiang Rou were twins.

Jiang Rou had been born first, while Jiang Lai had supposedly tormented Wang Cuihua in the womb for an additional two days before finally being delivered.

Because of that, Wang Cuihua had always disliked this daughter, believing she had been born to bring misfortune upon her.

By all rights, Jiang Rou should have been the one sent to the countryside.

But Jiang Rou was Wang Cuihua’s firstborn child. She was sweet-tongued, knew exactly how to flatter her mother, and had always been her favorite.

When news of the countryside assignment came, Jiang Rou immediately began a hunger strike.

She refused to eat day after day until she ended up in the hospital.

Heartbroken, Wang Cuihua made a painful decision.

She gave Jiang Rou her temporary position at the textile factory and registered Jiang Lai in the countryside instead.

Now that the list had been finalized, there was no avoiding it.

Clutching her head, Jiang Lai let out a miserable howl.

“Why is fate trying to kill me?!”

The next second, a cute, childish voice suddenly rang out in her mind.

[Ding! Era Sign-In System successfully activated.]

[Host, would you like to sign in now? Today’s sign-in is originally a standard sign-in, but since your adorable System feels sorry for you, this sign-in has been upgraded to a Special Sign-In! All material rewards will be doubled! Would you like to sign in?]

Without the slightest hesitation, Jiang Lai nodded frantically.

“Yes! Sign in! Sign in!”

[Ding! Sign-in successful: Jiang Family Bedroom.]

[Congratulations! You have obtained:

One 2-cubic-meter portable storage space (time inside is frozen; living creatures cannot be stored)

Ten sets of nationwide ration coupons

One bicycle voucher

500 yuan cash reward]

[Ding! Reward doubling activated.]

[Final rewards:

One 4-cubic-meter portable storage space

Twenty sets of nationwide ration coupons

Two bicycle vouchers

1,000 yuan cash reward]

After announcing the rewards, the system added encouragingly:

[Host may sign in once per day, but each sign-in must occur in a different location. Rewards may include supplies or cash. Don’t forget to check in every day! Keep going—you deserve a better life!]

With that, the system went offline.

Jiang Lai, meanwhile, was completely overwhelmed with joy.

Yet the system’s encouragement also left her feeling unexpectedly warm inside.

Recalling Sister Zhang’s mention of Guangxi Province, Jiang Lai immediately got out of bed, slipped on her shoes, slung her heavily patched shoulder bag over her shoulder, and headed out.

She made her way straight to the Educated Youth Office.

Coincidentally, Sister Zhang had just returned for a break.

The moment she saw Jiang Lai, she rubbed her temples in exasperation.

“Jiang Lai, the list has already been finalized. There’s really no way to change it now.”

Before Sister Zhang could continue, Jiang Lai stepped forward and interrupted her.

“Director Zhang, I know. I’m not here to make trouble for the Party or the state. I just wanted to ask if it’s possible to change my assigned location. I’d like to go to Heilongjiang Province instead. I heard people can actually eat their fill there.”

She gripped her cloth bag nervously, looking timid and embarrassed.

Seeing her like this, Sister Zhang’s heart softened.

After a moment’s thought, she sighed.

“Jiang Lai, I understand what you’re thinking. But Heilongjiang winters are brutally cold, and the farm work is much harder. Can you handle that?”

Jiang Lai nodded immediately.

“I can! I’m not afraid of hardship, exhaustion, or the cold. I just want enough food to eat.”

Sister Zhang knew her situation.

The Jiang family had two working parents.

While they weren’t wealthy, they certainly weren’t poor enough that their children should be wearing patched-over hand-me-downs.

And yet Jiang Lai looked like a walking skeleton.

While her three siblings were healthy and well-fed, she alone was painfully thin.

Everything she wore had once belonged to Jiang Rou.

After pondering for a moment, Sister Zhang beckoned her closer and lowered her voice.

“There’s another girl who’s been assigned to Heilongjiang. She doesn’t want to go. Since you’re asking, I’ll swap the two of you. Just don’t tell anyone.”

Jiang Lai’s eyes lit up.

“I understand, Director Zhang. Thank you. I won’t tell a soul.”

“Good. Also, train tickets are purchased collectively through the office. On departure day, I’ll be waiting outside the station with your ticket. Just bring your luggage and come directly.”

“Thank you so much.”

Sister Zhang nodded and sent her on her way.

Fortunately, the final paperwork hadn’t been submitted yet. Otherwise, even she wouldn’t have been able to help.

Just before Jiang Lai left, Sister Zhang suddenly remembered something.

“Oh, right. Sent-down youths receive a 200-yuan settlement allowance—100 yuan from here and another 100 yuan from the receiving commune. Don’t forget to buy yourself some warm clothing.”

Jiang Lai thanked her once again before leaving.

After departing the Educated Youth Office, she headed straight for the state-owned restaurant.

There, she ordered a serving of braised pork and a bowl of rice.

Thankfully, the system had given her food coupons.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to afford the meal.

The state-owned restaurant truly lived up to its reputation.

The braised pork was tender, rich, and melted in her mouth.

When she poured the savory sauce over the rice, the aroma was so irresistible that she nearly wanted to swallow the bowl itself.

The original owner hadn’t eaten properly in days.

She had tried using the same hunger-strike tactic as Jiang Rou, hoping to force Wang Cuihua into canceling her countryside assignment.

Unfortunately, Wang Cuihua might indulge Jiang Rou, but she had no such patience for Jiang Lai.

As for why Jiang Lai was determined to go north instead of south, the reason was simple.

Distance.

Guangxi wasn’t far enough away.

Given the Jiang family’s behavior, if anything happened back home, she would inevitably become the sacrificial lamb all over again.

Heilongjiang was different.

It was far away—far enough to escape their control.

The region was rich in forests and natural resources.

Combined with her system and storage space, there was no way her life could be worse than it was now.

The current year was July 1976.

If history followed its original course, the restoration of the college entrance examination would be announced around October of the following year.

She absolutely intended to take it.

In the meantime, she planned to save up as much money as possible.

Then she’d buy land in Shenzhen and houses in Shanghai and Beijing.

This time, she would finally fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a wealthy first-generation landlord.

After eating her fill, Jiang Lai returned to the Jiang household.

By the time she arrived, the family was already seated around the dinner table.

The moment Wang Cuihua saw her, she shot her a contemptuous glare.

“Where the hell have you been? Don’t you know you’re supposed to cook dinner? I work myself to the bone all day and still have to take care of everything in this house. I must owe the Jiang family a debt from a previous life! Why did I ever give birth to such a burden?”

Jiang Rou had already returned from the hospital.

Jiang Fuhai sat quietly eating, showing no reaction whatsoever.

As for the younger twins, Jiang Tianci and Jiang Ya, they acted as though Jiang Lai didn’t even exist.

Wang Cuihua continued coldly,

“Since you had enough energy to run around outside, you obviously aren’t hungry. Good thing we didn’t prepare any dinner for you. After we’re finished eating, wash all the dishes. I know exactly how much food is in this house, so if I catch you stealing even a bite, I’ll beat you senseless.”