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!"

"Thank you captain, thank you captain." Lin Xuelin, watching the raised shepherd’s whip, bent lowly in departure. Could it be her derelict father, finally daring to see her after receiving a letter?

Jiang Jiangyu, who had traveled all day, rubbed her hands to warm herself, no longer daring to look around. If she didn’t need the help from the leader’s family in the future, she would leave immediately.

What hellish place is this? Standing at the entrance, she was almost scared to death. Six or seven meters high, seven or eight meters thick dry earth walls, with four or five sentry posts. And not only was there one above on the gate, but also below.

What kind of serious offenders are they imprisoning here?

Nervous, Jiang Jiangyu secretly cursed the leader’s family, looking forward to seeing a person quickly to leave soon. After long waiting, just when she believed she wouldn’t see anyone and would leave, there was finally movement.

Turning her head, she saw a woman entered, her brows furrowed thinking who would be as unlucky as her to visit. Sitting in the rows of benches, she calmly turned her head.

"Sob sob sob, Little Aunt."

Hearing familiar voice, Jiang Jiangyu slowly turned her head, suspiciously watching the woman standing before her table, disbelief widened her eyes: "Xiao, Xiao Xiao Lin? You’re Xiao Lin?"

This blackened old woman left with only bones, how could she be her pretty, eye-slanted, fair niece?

"Sob sob sob, Little Aunt, it’s me, Xiao Lin. Take me away, I’m about to die; talk to my dad, please, I won’t dare again, I’ll be obedient, I won’t dare again."

Lin Xuelin thought she’d cried all her tears, but at this moment realized she still hoped someone cared, someone loved. "Little Aunt, I miss you, I miss mom, everyone at home. Where’s mom, why doesn’t she come to see me?"

"Sob sob sob, plead for me, let me out, I’ll repay your kindness for life. Little Aunt, please have mercy, I can’t stand it anymore."

Hearing her cries, Jiang Jiangyu felt troubled, then recalling the family children’s involvement, she diverted her gaze. After a while, she hardened herself, speaking, "You know we can’t save you, you chose this path yourself. Work hard on reforming."

Lin Xuelin didn’t wait for her words to finish, "Where’s dad, where’s mom?"

"Xiao Lin, it’s useless!"

"What about Xiao Hui? He doesn’t acknowledge me, his only sister anymore? Make him plead with parents, grandpa, okay? Little Aunt, look at me, look at me, have pity, beg them..."

Jiang Jiangyu worried she’d say outrageous words and quickly interrupted, "Enough! Xiao Lin, Lin Family raised you so much, enough already! Because of you, we’d not lived better lives; spare us."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xuelin immediately wiped her tears, staring at the thickly clad cold-faced woman, her eyes blazing, "Spare the nonsense! Just let me out, any condition you name."

Watching Lin Xuelin’s swift change, eyes filled with hatred, Jiang Jiangyu was taken aback, gazing at her, shaking her head repeatedly, "You’ve changed. Don’t hate me; you know my capabilities aren’t enough."

"Even your mom is more capable than me, let alone Xiao Hui now. Blame yourself, resent them; because of you, we can’t stay here; after seeing you, we’re leaving."

"Xiao Lin, see reality." After saying, Jiang Jiangyu stood up.

Sitting across the table, Lin Xuelin’s expression changed seeing her leave, "Explain before you go."

Taking two steps, Jiang Jiangyu turned head, giving a pitying gaze, "In truth, you know full well, don’t you?"

"Bitch, you’re all bitches, you won’t die well..."

Watching the soldiers restraining agitated niece cursing wildly behind her, Jiang Jiangyu sighed, hastened her departure. Everyone has their own fate, truly not her fault. Her parents were ruthless; what could she do?