Chapter 53: A Chance Encounter at the Post Office

Wen Yanyan began to sing without hesitation.

“The Honghu Lake water, oh so wavy, wave after wave, the banks of Honghu Lake, oh yes, it’s my hometown…Early in the morning, the boat goes out to cast its net, and returns in the evening with a full hold of fish, fish filling the hold, wild ducks and water caltrop everywhere, autumn harvest, the fragrance of rice in the fields…”

Her emotions were full, her performance vivid, her singing beautiful and moving. Her high notes were effortless, her low notes smooth and flowing, every note perfectly placed.

In the crowd of more than a hundred people, there was not a sound. All were deeply captivated by her beautiful singing, their hearts stirred by ripples as clear and beautiful as the Honghu Lake water.

They listened intently, so absorbed that they didn’t even notice when Ma Guihua secretly slipped away from the crowd.

Only Wen Yanyan saw her fleeing figure, but she had no time to pay attention.

At the end of the song, applause erupted.

“Thank you all for your support. I have to go home; I have something to do this afternoon.”

Wen Yanyan said, then walked out of the crowd. She had already shown her abilities; there was no need to say more.

Those who understood would understand; those who pretended to be asleep could not be awakened.

As soon as Wen Yanyan left, several army wives who had been gossiping about her under the big tree finally woke up from their reverie.

“Hey, where’s Ma Guihua? Where did she go? It’s all her fault.”

“She left a long time ago. She had no face to stay here.”

“That woman’s mouth is too bad. She talks nonsense, spreading rumors.”

“It turns out she resented Wen Yanyan because of Zhang Meimei. She shouldn’t have badmouthed her behind her back. What she said was really awful, no wonder Yanzi was angry.”

“Exactly. Yanzi’s singing is so beautiful. She got into the art troupe through her own ability. We can’t hang out with Ma Guihua anymore; she’s leading us down the wrong path.”

“She’s really terrible. She and Zhang Meimei are just alike, two peas in a pod. I’m done with her. One rotten fish spoils the whole pot of soup. Let’s go home.”

Gradually, the large crowd of onlookers dispersed, and peace returned to the area under the large locust tree.

…

Wen Yanyan returned home and took thirty yuan and a telegram from her drawer.

She was now going to the town to send money to Nan Fangjue’s family in the south, using the address on the telegram.

Ten yuan a month, thirty yuan for three months—this was a considerable sum of money in the countryside.

This time, she decided to run. Nan Fangjue wasn’t home anyway; even if he knew, he couldn’t stop her.

Even now, she didn’t understand why this man didn’t want her to run.

It was inexplicable.

Wen Yanyan was never an obedient girl. She was adaptable and wouldn’t clash head-on with Nan Fangjue; there was no need.

Half an hour.

This time, it only took her half an hour to reach the town. She was running faster and faster, feeling more and more relaxed.

Wen Yanyan thought that if she kept running for a few more months, she could become a professional long-distance runner.

She quickly found the town’s only post office, China Post, with its bright green characters hanging above the door, by asking passersby.

Wen Yanyan’s heart pounded. China Post was still famous in the new century.

She had actually seen the ancestor of China Post.

Wen Yanyan went into the post office, asked the staff for a remittance form, and sat down to fill it out.

But she suddenly noticed a middle-aged man in a baseball cap acting suspiciously inside the post office.

He wandered around, neither mailing letters nor sending money, and always liked to walk close to people, his gaze cold and calculating.

After noticing him, Wen Yanyan took another look.

His behavior was like a thief.

Until she saw his hand secretly reaching into an old man’s pocket.

Wen Yanyan put down her pen and grabbed his wrist.

“What are you doing?”

By this time, the man in the baseball cap had already succeeded, holding a ten-yuan bill in his hand.

He turned to look at Wen Yanyan, his eyes shooting a venomous glare. He said in a low voice,

“Little girl, don’t meddle in other people’s business.”

“I’m meddling. Sir, your money was stolen.”

Wen Yanyan reminded the old man whose money had been stolen.

Before the old man could react, the thief suddenly produced a gleaming silver knife with his other hand.

It aimed straight for Wen Yanyan’s face. She agilely dodged the sharp blade.

However, she was forced to release her grip on the thief’s hand.

The man in the baseball cap ran off.

Wen Yanyan calmly picked up a brick on the ground and threw it at him.

Unerringly, the brick hit his heel. The man in the baseball cap stumbled and fell to the ground.

Wen Yanyan quickly went over and pressed her knee firmly against his lower back, retrieving the ten yuan bill he had just stolen.

At this time, the post office staff also arrived. He glanced at the thief and angrily said,

“It’s you again, you thief! Take him to the police station!”

It turned out he was a repeat offender.

“Little girl, you’ll pay for this!”

The thief, his arms held by two staff members, turned and glared fiercely at her.

Wen Yanyan was unconcerned.

“You thief are quite arrogant. Do you think you’re right for stealing? Try to touch me, and I’ll knock your teeth out!”

She turned and returned the money to the old man.

“Sir, here’s your money.”

The old man, with gray hair at his temples and a wrinkled face, took the money with trembling hands.

“Girl, thank you. Thanks to you. This is the ten yuan my son sent me. I just got it, and then a thief targeted me.”

“It’s alright, sir. You’re welcome. This is what I should do. Please keep your money safe now. You should go home.”

“Thank you, girl.”

The old man repeatedly thanked her.

Wen Yanyan watched the old man leave and went back to fill out the remittance form.

“Miss, I didn’t expect to see you here again.”

Someone spoke to her.

She looked up, her eyes flashing with surprise. “It’s you? Manager Wen, aren’t you supposed to be selling books today?”

The person was none other than Wen Sihan, the owner of the Patriotic Bookstore.

He was still refined and cultured, now with a pair of gold-rimmed glasses on his nose.

“Someone is helping out at the bookstore. I came to the post office to buy commemorative stamps, and I happened to see you catch a thief. It was really eye-opening. You’re amazing, a heroine.”

He greatly admired Wen Yanyan’s act of bravery.

“You’re exaggerating. It was just a thief; it’s nothing.”

Wen Yanyan lowered her head and continued to fill out the remittance form.

Wen Sihan looked at her handwriting.

“Miss, your handwriting is beautiful, gentle yet firm. The saying ‘writing reflects the person’ is true in your case.”

Uh?

Was he complimenting her appearance?

But was she pretty?

She wasn’t pretty, so why did he say that?

Wen Yanyan was distracted, and one stroke of a character was crooked.

She felt embarrassed. She was so easily flustered! A blush appeared on her cheeks.

But Wen Sihan didn’t see the failed character; he only saw her porcelain-like ears turning slightly red.

He swallowed.

Wen Yanyan finished filling out the remittance form and went to the counter, handing the form and thirty yuan to the staff.

…

After a while, she received the remittance receipt and turned around to find Manager Wen standing behind her.