Su Miao Miao left the house, taking nothing with her.
To onlookers, it seemed heartless, "What a cruel family, sending her away empty-handed," they whispered.
She booked a room at a guesthouse for three days. She had things to do and she needed to make plans.
After seeing her off, the Su family finally relaxed, relieved that no one had criticized them. They had feared judgment, but since the decision was "mutual," no one openly condemned them. Though many disapproved privately, they felt it wasn't their place to meddle in another family's affairs.
Only three Su members were left at home when Su Ran Ran asked about the job her parents had promised would be hers once Su Miao Miao left.
Her parents had forgotten about it but reassured her, "Don't worry. The job assignment hasn't come yet. Even though the results were released, it takes time before placements are confirmed. By the time that happens, she'll already be gone and it'll naturally go to you."
What they didn't know was that the placement had already been given to Su Miao Miao, as she was the top student. She had already planned to sell it to one of her classmate's families.
Her parents gave Su Ran Ran some spending money and told her to stay close to home while they went off to work.
Meanwhile, Su Miao Miao had other plans. She intended to sneak into the Su family house and steal their household registration card—to register *Su Ran Ran* for the countryside instead.
She had already learned the art of changing her appearance and it was time to put that skill to use.
At noon, she sneaked back into the Su family house. There was still quite some time before lunchtime.
Su Ran Ran was not at home. She had probably gone out. She entered the house; the key was kept where it was usually hidden.
Su Miao Miao didn't touch the key. She entered through the back window—the kitchen window—usually left open to air out the room.
She went to the study room and searched around. She didn't find the household registration.
Then, she went to her parents' room and found a safe. She tried a few combinations, and the birthday of Su Mother opened it.
There were a few documents and quite some money inside the safe. But there was no household registration.
She didn't read through any of them. She also didn't touch any money.
She continued searching and finally found the household registration under the quilt—hidden there in a rush, probably.
She looked at the room, which had turned slightly messy, so she cleaned it up and made sure it was as neat as when she'd started.
Then she hurried out of the house. She had to go to the educated youth office and register *Su Ran Ran* before lunchtime.
Usually, Su's parents didn't come home for lunch, but she didn't want to take any risks.
She went to a quiet alley and entered her space. Then she hurriedly changed into Su Ran Ran. She couldn't perfectly master the look, but anyone who wasn't very close to Su Ran Ran wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
She then went to the educated youth office. There was the same officer who had been there in the morning.
She greeted her, "Hello officer, I am here to sign up for the countryside. If you still remember, I came with my sister and family in the morning."
The officer looked at her, flabbergasted. Why would she willingly come to sign up for the countryside? There were families who would make scenes to avoid going, and this family was just… different.
Was their brain functioning fine? It wasn't easy to survive in the countryside. Not as easy as saying they'd "work hard for the country's sake."
Though the officer just stared, Su Miao Miao knew what was going on in her mind.
Su Miao Miao, now disguised as Su Ran Ran, replied, seemingly having read her thoughts. "Well, my parents wouldn't want both their daughters to sign up for the countryside. My sister volunteered to go, but I want to go too. I'm a patriotic person as well."
The officer nodded. "Well, your family is indeed patriotic. Everyone is self-aware and not afraid of trouble."
Saying so, the officer signed up Su Ran Ran for the countryside, asking her opinion. "Where do you want to go?"
"I also want to go to the northeast like my sister. Same brigade and village, if possible."
The officer flipped through the files. "The spots there are full this time. Do you have another place in mind? Or I can select one closer to home."
"No, I want to go to the northeast only. Where my sister is going. If there's no place this time, how about next? When's the next batch being sent?"
The officer found this *Su Ran Ran* comrade weird, but after flipping through more files, she said, "Not long after—just two weeks after this batch is sent."
"Then please sign me up for that. Also, can you not inform home until two days before we leave?"
The officer gave her a strange look.
*Su Ran Ran* hurriedly added, "It's just that my parents would be too heartbroken knowing both their daughters are going to the countryside."
The officer nodded, feigning understanding. He then handed her 200 yuan, advising her to prepare warm clothes. "Since your name is already signed up, even if you change your mind later, you won't be able to avoid going. If you try, you'll be detained first and maybe even sent to a reform farm."
*Su Ran Ran* took the money, thanked the officer, and hurried to the quiet alley. She entered her space, stored the money with the rest, took off her disguise, and rushed back to the Su family house to return the household registration.
She sighed in relief as she placed it back under the quilt.
But when she was about to leave, the Su family members returned unexpectedly.