Chapter 27

Although Shen Jianzhen was still underage, she had plenty of guts.

Zhang Hongying found it difficult, but in her opinion, it was no big deal: “If you don’t know what to do, just go find her parents!”

“How do I find her parents?” Zhang Hongying looked at Shen Jianzhen, troubled.

Shen Jianzhen looked at Zhang Hongying speechlessly: “Li Moli is such a famous person. She started hosting shows on stage when she was eight years old. You know her, I know her, and practically the whole commune knows her. Anyone who went to school and doesn’t know her is rare.

She’s so well known. Even if our parents don’t know her parents personally, someone’s parents definitely do.

Her dad used to work in the village. He was a live-in son-in-law. Later, he was transferred to work in town.

You can ask about Li Moli in Lijia Village or go to town and ask about her father—you’ll definitely find him.

What’s so hard about that?”

Zhang Hongying: “How do you know her dad married into Lijia Village and then got transferred to town? You’re usually so quiet.”

Shen Jianzhen laughed: “After dinner, the adults start bragging, each one louder than the last. You don’t need a loudspeaker, and you can hear them from far away.

I may not talk much, but I still listen. Just because I don’t speak doesn’t mean I don’t hear. I hear everything people say.

There are about 1,500 people in the village. Anyone with any sort of story—I know it.

I even know how the Japanese invaded the village, who got killed, where they’re buried, who had how many affairs, and what they said to their lovers. As long as someone knows, I know too.

Some I know by face, some just by name.”

Zhang Hongying: …So who’s the one that’s lived 50 years, you or me?

That’s just how it is in the village. Any bit of gossip spreads like wildfire.

But Zhang Hongying had a bad memory. She listened with great interest every time, but by the next time the story came up, she’d already forgotten it—and would listen again just as eagerly.

Shen Jianzhen kept secrets because she didn’t talk much and didn’t see the point of sharing them. Zhang Hongying kept secrets because she couldn’t remember the details.

Still, asking around about someone wasn’t something Zhang Hongying could do.

What if she asked, “Which family is Li Moli’s grandma from?”

And someone replied, “Why are you looking for her grandma?”—Zhang Hongying might not be able to keep her mouth shut and spill the real reason.

Zhang Hongying wasn’t good at lying or thinking on her feet—not even good at smiling without answering.

She grabbed Shen Jianzhen’s arm: “Can you help me find them, please?”

Shen Jianzhen tapped Zhang Hongying on the head: “If you really discover someone wants to harm Li Moli, and you tell her parents, that’s a good deed. Her parents will definitely be grateful.

Now you’re asking me to do it instead—that’s just handing the credit to me!”

Zhang Hongying shook her arm: “Come on, A-Zhen, please go for me. If I don’t go, I’ll feel guilty. But if I go, I’m scared I won’t be able to say it right, and I don’t know how to explain it clearly.”

Usually bold and upfront, Shen Jianzhen shook her head this time: “I’m about to go study out of town. Still in our county, but the commute is long—I’ll only be home once a month. When I’m not around, who are you going to rely on?

You have to go with me this time. If we really help someone, and her dad is a town official, then if you ever need help later, he’ll definitely return the favor.

Always timid, scared of this and that, afraid to talk to people—yet you say you want to go out into the world with me. What are you going to do in a big city?

There’s no harm in doing this. What are you so afraid of?”

Zhang Hongying didn’t really know what she was afraid of.

It just felt like, step by step, she had boxed herself in.

Originally, she had always been a bit introverted, silently working with Li Xiaofang every day.

But it was the repeated failures—getting held back again and again—that made her afraid of being laughed at.

She was afraid everyone would be like Li Hongxia, who once blurted, “Zhang Hongying? She got held back three times in elementary school—can’t even graduate primary school.”

There were dumber people in the village too, some who didn’t graduate primary school even at eighteen.

One girl had a relative in the city who promised her a job as long as she graduated. But she never did get that diploma.

Still, she managed to find a boyfriend and a job like it was nothing.

Who knows how her life turned out—but definitely better than mine.

“Okay, I’ll listen to you,” Zhang Hongying said, gritting her teeth. “But you have to teach me exactly what to do.”

Shen Jianzhen nodded: “Then let’s go to the government office to find him.

If we go asking around the countryside, the old ladies there will definitely start probing. One wrong word, and the truth could slip out.

Worse, the story could get twisted and become a big scandal. By then, even if nothing actually happened, the rumors alone would do damage.”

Now that Master Wang had shut down his old shop and moved into the market, fire hazards were no longer a worry. Naturally, Zhang Hongying supported the move.

During their lunch break, they told Master Wang they were stepping out and headed toward the town center.

Neither of them had ever been to the government office, but the town wasn’t big—they had a general idea where it was.

It wasn’t far, but on foot, it still took them nearly 20 minutes.

Zhang Hongying said happily: “Hey, Jianzhen, I think your health really has improved.

You used to get short of breath and drenched in sweat after walking this far.”

Shen Jianzhen wiped a little sweat from her nose and smiled: “Yeah, looks like my body needs a pound of meat a day to fully recover!”

“Heh, listen to you. What are you, some rich lady? A pound of meat every day?”

Someone passing by on a bicycle couldn’t help but throw in a jab.

Shen Jianzhen angrily picked up a clump of hard dirt and threw it: “What’s it got to do with you? Mind your own business!”

The guy heard her and shouted back, “If you say something on a public road, then it’s for the public to hear. If I hear it, I’ve got every right to comment!”

Shen Jianzhen was fuming and stomped her feet.

Zhang Hongying tried to calm her down: “It’s okay, it’s okay. Our Jianzhen is so amazing. In the future, forget a pound of meat per day—how about a pound per meal?

Forget meat—you’ll be eating rare delicacies from the mountains and sea!”

Shen Jianzhen swallowed hard: “I don’t need all that fancy stuff. Just give me some big, fatty pork. One bite and the oil just drips down your chin. Only pork smells that good—other meats just aren’t fat enough.”

Zhang Hongying started craving it too. These days, pigs were bred to be lean. She’d heard of stuff like lean meat enhancers, and honestly, there weren’t many chances left to enjoy good fatty pork.

They’d go get a big chunk of fatty meat tomorrow and make red-braised pork for lunch!

Although Shen Jianzhen always talked big, once they reached the government office gate, her legs turned a little weak.

“How’s it going—can you do this? Or should we go find Li Moli’s grandma instead?” Zhang Hongying asked.

“I can do this! What’s there to be scared of?” Shen Jianzhen held her head high, but her shoulders were slightly hunched, looking not very confident despite her words.

Zhang Hongying knew she couldn’t hide behind her forever. So she followed behind, thinking she looked fierce, but actually sneaking glances around nervously as they walked toward the gate.

“Hey hey hey—what do you want?”

Before they got far, a guard from the reception office called out.

Zhang Hongying, embarrassed, ducked behind Shen Jianzhen. Sorry, I chickened out again.

Shen Jianzhen stepped up boldly and asked straight out: “Do you know Li Moli? I want to find her dad!”

What kind of line was that? You ask if he knows Li Moli, and then say you want to see her dad? So do you even know who her dad is?

“What do you want with him?” the guard asked.

Zhang Hongying kept signaling her not to spill the truth.

Shen Jianzhen said, “I had a fight with her and accidentally broke her fountain pen. She said it was expensive and her dad bought it, so she wants me to pay for it.

I came to ask her dad how much the pen cost.

If it’s cheap, I’ll just pay for it. If it’s expensive, then I’ll get someone to beat her up. Beat her so bad she doesn’t dare ask me to pay!”

The guard was stunned by her brazenness. Who tells someone’s dad outright that you’re going to beat up their daughter?

Zhang Hongying was also shocked by the nonsense. Why are we beating people up now?!