1966, early spring.
In the great Northwest, at the foot of the Qilian Mountains.
A military-green Liberation truck, carrying three women and two children, was heading in the Northwest direction.
"Achoo!"
The weather was bitterly cold. Lu Fangfang on the truck lifted her arm and wiped her nose.
Glancing at the oily floral sleeve on her arm, her little face was flushed red.
She wasn't blushing; she was freezing!
Not just her face, her nose also hurt from the constant friction.
"The great Northwest, it’s so cold."
Lu Fangfang tucked her hands away, curling up into a corner of the truck.
Lifting her eyes to the snow-capped mountains in the distance, she felt pretty good.
In her previous life, she had always lived by the sea. This was her first time in the great Northwest, seeing the white snow-capped mountains.
Yes, Lu Fangfang was a time-traveler!
She traveled from the 21st century to the 1960s, into the body of a person with the same name and surname.
Speaking of the original "Lu Fangfang", she had a hard life. Her hometown was hit by famine, and in the countryside, there was simply nothing to eat.
Her family could only obtain an introduction letter from the community, and she was sent on a two-thousand-kilometer journey to the Qilian Mountains to join her fiancé, who she was already betrothed to as a child.
The original host arrived at the county town in a daze on a horse-drawn carriage, and then took a bus to Zeng city.
She initially intended to take a train from Zeng city to Gansu province, but as soon as she arrived at the train station, the handkerchief that held her money and grain coupons was lost.
The original host was both angry and anxious, and was overwhelmed to the point of death.
When Lu Fangfang crossed over, she was confused for a while, and after a night of thinking, decided to continue to the Qilian Mountains.
The "movement" had just begun, and it was better to stay in the group than in the countryside.
But she had no money or tickets, and was afraid of being repatriated, she did not dare to seek help from the government, so she had to beg along the way.
Digging for wild vegetables, drinking river water, sheltering in the wilderness at night, luckily, Lu Fangfang had hiking and exploration experiences, and after a month, she finally arrived at the boundary of Gansu province.
Gansu province was too vast, and continuing westward meant facing desolation, and even wolves in the wilderness.
Upon reaching this point, Lu Fangfang did not dare to continue on her own. She went to the Wei County Armed Forces Department, and by showing a military photograph of her fiancé and the introduction letter, she managed to beg for a train ticket.
Yesterday, she finally arrived at Minle County by train.
Her fiancé's troop was stationed not far from the Qilian Mountains near Minle County.
She skillfully found her way to the Minle County Armed Forces Department, where Lu Fangfang was arranged to stay in a guesthouse for a night.
The next day, she and two military wives, took a car ride to the troop's station.
Reflecting on the past month's journey, Lu Fangfang wanted both to laugh and to cry.
From the east coast of her motherland to the vast Northwest, Lu Fangfang had gone through trials and tribulations, but she finally made it.
"I have no idea what kind of person he is. Once I'm here, all I can do is to play it by ear."
With parched lips slightly puckered, Lu Fangfang pulled out a black and white photograph from her bundle.
Gently rubbing the picture, she got somewhat lost in it.
In the picture, a man was sitting astride a horse, a look of steely resolve in his eyes. Behind him spread the vast prairies and towering snow-capped mountains.
This military uniform picture had proven itself very useful to Lu Fangfang during her journey.
Exaggeratedly speaking, holding this military photo made it even easier for her to beg for food.
This military picture could be said to have saved her life!
...
"Young girl, it's so cold, and you're not wearing enough. I have a thick coat here, you can use it to keep the wind off," a voice offered.
Lu Fangfang came back to her senses and instinctively waved her hand, "Not necessary, big sister, don't trouble yourself."
Sitting across was a woman in her thirties or forties, who was unpicking her bundle at the moment.
Hearing Lu Fangfang's response, she smiled and said "It's no trouble at all, as long as you're not bothered by my old coat."
Saying so, she pulled out a blue cloak from her bundle and passed it over.
"..."
Lu Fangfang was somewhat touched and accepted them with both hands.
The wind that blew down from the snow mountain was bone-chilling cold. She unfolded the coat and draped it over herself.
Rubbing her hands together, Lu Fangfang expressed her sincere gratitude, "Sister, thank you."
"No worries. Looking at you, I just feel like you're the little sister I have at home."
"By the way, my name is Wang Shufen. I'm on my way with my child to join up with my husband. Are you also accompanying the troops, little sister?"
Wang Shufen looked at her curiously.
To be honest, the girl in front of her appeared as though she was a refugee, not quite resembling a spouse of a soldier.
"Big sister, my name is Lu Fangfang. You can just call me Fangfang."
Lu Fangfang hesitated for a moment. She wasn't sure if she was really considered as one of the accompanying troops.
After a long silence, she shook her head and replied, "I'm on my way to find my fiancé."
Wang Shufen's eyes lit up. She extended her hand and pointed to another woman in the carriage, "Ah, that's a coincidence, Fangfang. Just like Hai Mei, you're both on your way to find your fiancés. It's truly a twist of fate."
"Hmm?"
Upon hearing Wang Shufen's words, Zhu Hai Mei, who was just nearby opened her eyes.
She scrutinized Lu Fangfang from head to toe.
An old-fashioned yellow headscarf, a worn-out red cotton jacket, patched-up black trousers, and worn-out cloth shoes that revealed her toes.
Her attire spoke volumes—she was clearly from the countryside.
Zhu Haimei shook her head before giving her face another glance. Hmm…
A pale and skinny body, topped by her towering height, she looked just like a bamboo pole.
A skinny yellow-haired girl - hardly worth mentioning.
But, her hands were surprisingly fair - how peculiar.
Lu Fangfang felt uncomfortable under her scrutiny.
She quickly tucked her exposed big toe after glancing down at herself.
"Are you Lu Fangfang? You know the army has regulations regarding wives. The men must be at least a regimental officer. Ordinary soldiers' families can't accompany the army. You weren't deceived by a man, were you?"
Lu Fangfang's face stiffened at the smug remark—it was truly distasteful.
She looked down at the photo in her hand, uncertain of her man's position within the ranks.
Nevertheless, it didn't matter. She wasn't here to follow the army but to survive.
"Hai Mei, why would you say something like that? What's wrong with being an ordinary soldier? My man started as an ordinary soldier, and now he's the political commissar of the regiment."
"Sister, I didn't mean you. I'm just worried this little girl got scammed."
Zhu Haimei raised an eyebrow, glancing at Wang Shufen, an idea suddenly occurring to her.
"By the way, older sister, my fiancé is the commander of a regiment."
"He stands at about 1.8 meters tall, and he's... quite handsome. Also, he's a war hero. Have your brother-in-law mentioned him?" As Zhu Haimi spoke, a blush suddenly suffused her face.
She had fallen for him at first glance after seeing the photo he sent. Her house was being destroyed daily, and she couldn't bear it anymore. She had packed up her things and traveled straight from the city of Hucheng to Northwest intending to find refuge with her man.
"Haimi, is your man a battalion commander?" Wang Shufen exclaimed excitedly, slapping her thigh.
"Uh-huh." Zhu Haimi nodded.
"Goodness, girl, we are truly fated. My man mentioned him before. The battalion commander is the most handsome one among the group. You’re so lucky!"
Zhu Haimi blushed deeper, looking triumphant as she glanced at the woman across her.
"Pfft!"
Lu Fangfang rolled her eyes. A man’s good looks weren’t edible after all.
Looking down at the photo in her hand, she suddenly realized her fiancé was also quite handsome.
"Why are you scoffing?" Zhu Haimi’s face fell.
After a moment of silence, she burst into an open smile, "Heh, Comrade Lu Fangfang, allow me to check if you've been deceived by this man."
As she spoke, she released her grip on the suitcase and quickly grabbed the photo from Lu Fangfang's hand with a swift motion.
Looking down, Zhu Haimei suddenly froze.
The man in the photo, why does he look so familiar?
"Click."
In a hurry, she opened her suitcase and pulled out a photo of her fiancé.
Holding in her hand and examining it carefully, Zhu Haimei found out that the person in the pictures was exactly the same man, the only difference being the location and time of the photos.
Feeling frustrated and anxious all at once, she quickly stood up,“Lu Fangfang! Why do you have a picture of my fiancé?!”
