Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space novel Chapter 930

Chapter 930: Chapter 803: Dead End

In a pit dug around a depression (earth pit), Lin Xuelin curled up in a corner of the large communal bed, looking up at the branches, covered with a layer of wheat straw and sprinkled with dry soil on the roof.

The large communal bed beneath her, which could accommodate forty or fifty people, was too cold to light a fire, feeling unusually chilly. A strong gust of wind blew through, lifting the burlap sack serving as the door, provoking a slew of curses from the other women on the kang.

These sounds repeated year after year, day after day. When she first arrived, she would echo a few words, but now she already felt the deep malice from heaven against her. Frozen to numbness, she rolled her eyes, returning to a state of dead silence.

An old woman holding a shepherd’s whip lifted the burlap sack, whipping the pit, "You can argue all you want, I’ll let you argue!"

"Captain, we didn’t dare."

The women quickly retreated to the wall, pleading for mercy, dozens of low-hanging eyes glinting with cold, itching to strangle the arrogant shrew before them. But no one dared; any movement would result in countless captains outside, ready with numerous means to punish them.

What is there to fear in death? Only fear dragging half a life along, unable to die even when desired.

The whistle for the work started outside, interrupting the scene unfolding before them.

As the slip-caller behind the shepherd-whip-wielding old woman started calling names, the women on the kang shrank their necks, hunched their waists, and got off. With each name called, one squatted outside the door, not long before their pit entrance was filled with female prisoners in numbered, tattered black clothes.

The prisoners here were many and varied, coming from the five lakes and four seas, and three mountains and five hills, covering all ages. The only common thread besides black clothes was the fierce sunburned faces from the plateau’s UV rays, making them look almost indiscernibly black.

After finishing the count and registration, each was shackled, picked up tools from the ground, and led by the old woman, escorted by four soldiers to work outside.

Unlike outside, production in the farm involved autumn plowing, spring planting, and harvesting in autumn and winter. Ordinary farmers hibernate in snowy days, but she did not have this privilege.

What is agricultural slack? Lin Xuelin never knew. After so long, she had done farming, fed pigs, herded horses, drove carts, built bricks, fired kiln, repaired canals, and many other tasks.

Differing from usual, they were once more shackled today; she understood that it was for distant water conservancy work, earth excavation. Thinking of the higher-ups worrying about them escaping, her lowered face showed a trace of mockery.

She had thought of running away. But seeing the surrounding flat terrain, vast view, desolate, with only a tea-colored road leading to the outside world. Then she realized; this was a natural prison. As long as this path was guarded, no one could escape the wilderness; even off guard, exhaustion or starvation awaited.

So she sought every means possible, hoping someone could help. But those so-called relatives abandoned her for their own prosperity. She refused to accept it! Why?

Thinking of this, Lin Xuelin looked somberly at the road. Should she one day walk out of here, those who wronged her would taste despair’s bitterness. Especially those parents who brought her here and then abandoned her!

"Meal’s ready."

After several whistle blows, baskets of red willow buns, some barrels of vegetables, and boiled water arrived at the site, where prisoners who had worked half-day used their small bowls or large enamel mugs to scoop food, sitting freely in the ground eating freezing cold dishes in the cold wind.

Lin Xuelin touched her bleeding foot, closed her eyes. How much longer could she endure such days? She didn’t want to die, not until she dragged a few more down; how could she accept collapse?

In the afternoon, another person fainted and was whipped several times for being uncooperative, tied up and frozen. Witnessing another familiar scene, Lin Xuelin knew she must leave; if not now, she couldn’t endure much longer.

In the dark snowy sky, a group was once more escorted back to the farm. Repeating previous processes, once again, with each name called, the women squatted and laid down their tools. When Lin Xuelin’s number was called, if not for the push from behind, she hadn’t come to herself.

"258694, someone came to visit."

The dazed Lin Xuelin’s head snapped up, incredulously looking at the captain.

"Hurry up!"

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