Cheng Jin Nian's father, an Educated Youth sent to Dagou Village during the Down to the Countryside Movement in 1970. He married Du Hongxia and lived with her in the village. In 1986, during the wave of Educated Youth returning to cities, he left for Zhushi to settle his job and promised to return for his wife and child, but never did. He became increasingly unreachable—letters went unanswered and calls revealed 'no such person.' Song Hao resents him for his lack of responsibility.
