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Chap 3 Escape

At sunset, the last glimmer of light hid in the shade of the trees.

The sky is gloomily dark.

The street lights on the worn-out streets spread to afar. The girl’s running footsteps could be heard. Every step on the sewage left countless mud spots splattered on the red dress.

Even so, she had no intentions of stopping in her tracks, as if a prisoner being chased– running desperately.

Her name is Lin Zhinan.

The daughter of Lin Yao- a street ho*ker. She lived in the dirt from birth.

There are tons of people living an extravagant life in the world, but more than that, are the people who live day to day aimlessly like ants.

Lin Zhinan was like the trash bags that were seen thrown everywhere, floating into an unknown small county town in East Zhejiang Province.

There, humid weather all-year-round was the norm, where the numerous alleys are full of Sycamore trees that provided shade and plastered all over with advertisements for curing syphil*s.

Women with heavy makeup and short skirts stood before small black houses and walked along the long alleys.

Those who know will naturally understand.

The men after a full and satisfying meal would take their time picking, often going back and forth several times before pushing a satisfactory one into the house. They would pull down their pants and stuff their c*ck into a p*ssy that’s been used for an unknown number of times.

The wooden bedframe would creak repeatedly. Once the deed is done, they’d wipe their dicks and throw two-dollar bills.

Street ho*kers are d*mn cheap, they only cost 30 yuan dollars for a job. 

The worn-down apartment* where Zhinan lived, was situated just above the small black house where her mother worked.

Along the crevice of the year-round gloomy corridors, an innocent eye would lookout– watching the world curiously.

But there was nothing. All she saw were men of all kinds pushing Lin Yao into the black house, old ones, ugly ones, and even those bald with a big belly. They all sported a lewd smile and were full of dirty talk.

At that time, Zhinan didn’t understand what she saw, let alone the meaning of a “prost*tute’s child”. The young Lin Zhinan who was just a few years old, looked up at the adult thinking they were reprimanding her for being a naughty child.

No one taught her.

For she was but an accident that Lin Yao had at 35 years old; a burden that could not be thrown away. Only when it was time for compulsory education, Lin Yao threw the child into school.

Later, Zhinan finally understood. From the paper-based education she gotten, she understood that “prost*tutes” were the lowest class in society that were imprisoned on the cross to be spit on and cursed by people.

The same goes for the daughter of a prost*tute.

And the nightmare starts from birth.

“Life is like walking in a long and endless alleyway, dark and dull. Every pair of helping hands has ill intentions to pull me into the swamp.”

“But I am not resigned yet, I will never resign to this fate!”

When she dropped out of school at the age of seventeen, Zhinan wrote in her journal, every stroke of her pen powerful with her indignation.

She was indignant, so in the two years of her mother’s illness, she refused countless pairs of ‘helping’ hands and instead chose to rack up a huge debt.

She was not resigned to the envious eyes of others.

“Look how great Lian Sheng is, helping you to pay off your debts, and even let your mother be buried honorably. Hard to find such a catch even with great luck. I heard he’s really successful now. Serving below Zhao Qin from Puxi District, East Zhejiang Province that has a government background. His future is limitless.”

“Zhinan, it’s not that I like to nag. but with your eligibility, it is your blessing that Lian Sheng likes you. After two years you’d be old and wilted and he would long have forgotten of your existence.”

…

  

Why should I? I, Lin Zhinan will never let others choose me like cabbages in the market!

  

Zhinan ran frantically, the bungalow was situated only five to six kilometers away from the county railway station. The countless street lamps in her path illuminated the desperate figure.

This is my only opportunity.

Lian Sheng may wake up at any time. I stepped on the roses outside the wall on my way out. If people passing by were to have spotted my tracks and kindly reminded the gatekeeper…

Any kind of possibility would cut off her lifeline.

So she never stopped, her eyes were eager, with the thin line between life and death.

Soon! Very soon! The train station is just ahead.

Suddenly, she was caught by the wrist at the last intersection. Lin Zhinan was utterly horrified. Through the dim street lamplight, she turned around to see her high school classmate.

“Qingqing, why are you here?”

“I couldn’t see you while waiting at the train station, so I thought to walk outside.” Ye Qing handed her the luggage and a few train tickets and said that she wasn’t sure when she would arrive, so she bought all the train tickets for tonight.

The railway station in the small county has relaxed security, especially at night, those people in uniforms don’t bother to check one by one. Anyone can get on the train with a ticket.

“After you enter the station, pick the nearest one and go immediately.” Ye Qing said, “As long as you leave East Zhejiang, Lian Sheng won’t be able to find you anymore.”

Lin Zhinan’s eyes were teary immediately, the only warmth she received in her life was from Ye Qing.

The spring breeze blew gently, and the days of holding books reciting together were as if it happened in the last century.

She whispered, “Thank you Qingqing.”

Her shoulders were hugged, and muffled choking sounds of tears travelled from the head by her neck, “Zhinan take care!”

 
“…….Okay”

Both of them know that with how big the world is, this farewell would not only be between her and Lian Sheng, but also a complete farewell to everyone and everything.

Time is running out. Ye Qing lets go of her, “Go!”

“The last train to West Sichuan is 15 minutes later, you still have time to run over.”

Lin Zhinan held back the tears in her eyes, and asked, “Is your admission notice here?”

“Yes, it arrived today, LiDu University.”

Zhinan smiled and said, “Is it the School of Chinese Language?”

“Yes!”

Three years ago, the two agreed on applying to LiDu University. Ye Qing, who loves modern literature, wanted to go to the Chinese Department. Zhinan, who was eager to make money, only wanted to study finance.

But her dreams were shattered after dropping out of school, and countless hands pulled her back into the abyss.

At the age of seventeen, she can’t escape the county town, but she can do it at the age of eighteen!

Lin Zhinan waved to her with tears, and the two silhouettes got farther and farther apart. Ye Qing watched as the tinge of red was covered by golden light, slowly becoming nothingness.

“Qingqing!”

With tears in her eyes, Ye Qing heard Lin Zhinan calling her.

In the ten miles long street, the voice of the girl is like a sharp sword cutting through the boundless darkness.

“I will definitely find a way to continue schooling!” I’ll never, ever leave my fate in the hands of others.

Looking across the street, Lin Zhinan could no longer see that face, she choked up, “You have to live well, my only friend.”

After Zhinan finished speaking, she turned and ran frantically, the red dress dancing in the wind.

After entering the train station, the person in uniform could be heard through the horn reporting, “Doors of the car heading for western Sichuan will automatically close in five minutes, those who have not checked your tickets please hurry forward.”

The crowd piled up before the ticket gate, obviously waiting for the next train.

Lin Zhinan put on her hat and squeezed forward. The next train was half an hour away. She didn’t dare to take any chances. She’s only safe when she has boarded the train.

The person checking the ticket was a man in his twenties. After he got the ticket, his eyes were fixated on her.

Lin Zhinan smiled and the latter handed the ticket back stupidly.

She breathed a sigh of relief, and was about to carry her backpack to go downstairs, a hoarse cry sounded through the hall.

“Lin Zhinan!!!”

The familiar voice made Zhinan’s back stiffen. She turned her head abruptly, and the man who had just entered the hall ran desperately towards her, his somber gaze and bloody forehead made him appear even more horrifying.

It’s over! I’m dead! He’s here!

Zhinan’s brain exploded with a bang.

Almost everyone was watching the figure of the man whisking through the hall several sturdy men were running tens of meters behind him. They were his men also here to catch her.

Hundreds of people’s gazes shuttled back and forth between the dazed girl and the man. Trying to register the connection between them.

Only to see the girl in the red dress pulling out a bundle of money bills, throwing it into the sky.

Instantly, countless monies descended one after another like confetti.

“The money is real!!!”

It was not known who screamed, but the crowd immediately turned their attention to the sky. The crowd running towards the money was like tidal waves gushing towards the shore.

Lian Sheng cursed in a low voice, finally squeezing through a path in the crowd with great difficulty, and jumped over the railing.

When he had run into the passage, the red silhouette had just tripped and fallen down, on the stairs, no more than a hundred meters away.

His pupils constricted, “Lin Zhinan, you f*cing dare to run!”

Of course, why do I not dare to.

In order to be free, she dared to do anything. She doesn’t want to be the child of a wh*re anymore!

Hence, she struggled to get up, stumbling down the stairs with a sprained ankle, taking three steps as one.

The distance between the two of them grew nearer and nearer. Lin Zhinan could even hear the pants and footsteps behind her.

Closer and closer.

Several tens of meters apart, Lian Sheng started to relax in his pursuit. He walked down step after step with cold eyes.

“Lin Zhinan, go back with me.

“Do you think you can escape? I will catch you even if you’ve gotten on the train.

“Isn’t it a pity you didn’t kill me? If you were bolder, you should’ve killed me then with a single blow.”

The man’s tone of sarcasm was his rage after her betrayal.

“Stop now and I will pretend none of these happened tonight.

“Otherwise, you know the consequences.” Lian Sheng sneered, “I’ll f*cing tie you up and f*c you till your c*nt swells!”

The dirty words escaped his mouth one after another, threatening and inducing her simultaneously, tempt*ng her to go back.

But she can’t!

This is her only way to stay alive!

As soon as she ran down the stairs, beep beep beep the reminder sound of the train doors closing could be heard.

The door is about to close!!

The sound stunned both of them. Lian Sheng didn’t check the train schedule as he was in a hurry to catch her.

In this stunned second, Zhinan rushed to get past the closing train doors with her backpack.

“Lin Zhinan!!!”

Lin Zhinan completely ignored the angered huge roar behind her, she hastily ran without holding back through the bullet rain.

One second before the door was fully closed, her silhouette entered the train, her speed so fast her skirt fluttered behind her.

The bird with tied wings finally broke free to fly freely.

Click, the door closed.

Then there was a deafening sound of slamming on the door, again and again. bang bang bang.

His eyes glared right at her through the glass.

He gritted his teeth and said something, cursing, swearing that he would find her.

But Lin Zhinan didn’t want to listen, she smiled at him– a smile of success. 

The only smile in eighteen years; extremely sad yet heartbreakingly beautiful.

It stunned Lian Sheng. The criss-cross lights in the train cabin flashed past her tear-stained cheeks.

It only flashed for a short second but left behind the scene of soul-shaking beauty deeply ingrained in his heart.

  

Her lip language followed.

——”Farewell, Lian Sheng.”

The train moved quickly and left the station.

---

Apartment Zhinan lived called 筒子楼(Tǒngzilóu)

[Image by mmmwww on https://bbs.wenxuecity.com/mychina/878105.html]

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