Chapter 6: Someone Reported Shen Anan

Shen Yaozu, Shen Anan’s younger brother, whether out of jealousy or mischief, tore up her junior college acceptance letter. The school only recognized the acceptance letter; after all, too many people tried to cheat their way into junior college. Guaranteed job assignments after graduation were highly sought after. “You say your acceptance letter was torn up?” Who would believe that?

Shen Anan cried all day, thinking her parents would help her, but they scolded her for not keeping the letter safe and told her to go to the countryside if she couldn’t get into junior college. Luckily, her junior high school teacher, pitying her situation, took her entrance exam certificate to Hecheng No. 2 High School, along with her transcript, and got her into high school.

She happily went home with the good news, but no one was happy for her. High school graduates didn’t get guaranteed jobs; to find work, she’d have to take exams, and they wouldn’t pay for her education. Who knew if she could even find a job after graduation?

Fortunately, her grandmother secretly paid for her three years of tuition, allowing her to graduate. After graduation, she got a job at Luobo Gang, thinking she’d have a stable job, get married, and have children. But everything changed. She wasn’t their biological daughter, and her job was given to her biological sister, Shen Xiuxiu. That home was no longer a place for her.

What could she say? She could only blame her bad luck. If she’d known, she would have made a birthday wish for herself instead of her parents and brother. They say birthday wishes made at eighteen are especially powerful.

Seeing her distress, Huo Rufeng didn’t pry. That night, he organized his medical books and placed them in a prominent spot, working until the middle of the night before sleeping.

The next day, Shen Anan cooked and did laundry, as usual, watching over Huo Rufeng. Her gaze fell on a stack of medical books. Shocked! When did those books appear? She cautiously glanced at Huo Rufeng. He was aloof and cold, ignoring her. He didn’t organize them? Could it have been Uncle Huo? She wondered.

In Chengnan, at the supply and marketing cooperative:

“Hello, can I have two bars of soap?”

Shen Xiuxiu glanced at the customer, whose clothes were patched. She rolled her eyes. “Two bars of soap, that’s 74 cents!” She reached for the soap.

The customer frowned. “One bar of soap costs 37 cents? Last month it was 36 cents. It went up a cent?”

Shen Xiuxiu put the soap back. “Take it or leave it, there’s a long line behind you!” She was busy and annoyed with all the poor people. She inwardly regretted not waiting a few years to claim her family ties if she’d known the Shen family wasn’t wealthy yet. She wouldn’t have to work here.

“Hey, I… I’ll buy it! I’ll buy it!” the customer said anxiously.

But Shen Xiuxiu ignored her and served the next customer, a well-dressed woman, a doctor from the hospital. Shen Xiuxiu needed to cultivate relationships with such people, not the poor.

“Doctor Zhang, what can I get for you today? I have two new pieces of fabric, no tickets needed, I’ll save them for you!” Shen Xiuxiu said sweetly.

Doctor Zhang was delighted, bought a towel, and agreed to meet after work.

After work, Shen Xiuxiu met Doctor Zhang in an alley across from the supply and marketing cooperative. Secretly, she pulled out two slightly damaged pieces of fabric, usually given to internal employees. A male colleague had given them to her. She’d wanted to keep them, but she learned Doctor Zhang’s husband was in charge of registering people for relocation to the countryside, so she had to act.

She’d considered reporting Shen Anan, but she feared it would reveal she’d taken her job. So she sought connections.

“Doctor Zhang, the fabric is a gift. I need a favor…” Shen Xiuxiu said with a smile.

Doctor Zhang paused, her eyes wary. “What is it?”

That evening, at the Huo family home in Chengnan:

Huo Aihua felt uneasy while eating and stopped after a few bites.

“Uncle Huo, is the food not to your liking?” Shen Anan asked anxiously.

“No, I just don’t have much of an appetite. It’s not your cooking,” Huo Aihua explained.

A knock came. Shen Anan opened the door. The visitor frowned upon seeing her.

“Aihua, come out for a moment!”

Huo Aihua came out quickly. Shen Anan was about to leave, but the man stopped her.

“You’re Shen Anan, right?”

Shen Anan froze, sensing trouble. Her heart pounded. Fear.

“What’s wrong, Lao Zhou?” Huo Aihua asked nervously.

Lao Zhou was in charge of relocating people to the countryside. His unexpected visit and mention of Shen Anan’s name meant…

“Aihua, someone reported Shen Anan. I checked, no one in her family was relocated, and she’s graduated and unemployed. She should be sent to the countryside. I wouldn’t have known she was here if I hadn’t seen her at your house. They’ll be investigating soon. Consider hiring another live-in housekeeper for Rufeng…”

Lao Zhou sighed, glancing at Shen Anan. “I don’t know who you offended, but they not only reported you, but they want you sent to the Northwest! With your small frame, you’ll die there! They usually send men!”

Lao Zhou left as it started to rain. Shen Anan’s hands trembled. Report. Relocation. Northwest. Who? Why would anyone want her dead? She clenched her jaw. Her vision blurred with tears. Then, she saw Huo Rufeng.

“I’ll report to my superiors to see if we can keep you here.” He looked at her deeply. Though in a wheelchair, he seemed taller, protecting her.

Huo Rufeng left. Huo Aihua and Yang Qiuju were frantic, unable to speak to Shen Anan. Her life was so hard!

The rain intensified. Shen Anan stared at the rain, choked up, unable to cry. She was sad, but sadness wouldn’t help. She had to find out who reported her.