Chapter 20

Jiang Ze radiated a terrifying aura.
“You know Wang Zhaodi and Jiang Wenqiang only ‘showed me kindness,’ right? But what if they’re actually traffickers who kidnapped me from my real parents?”

As soon as he could walk, he had to help with chores at home.

Before that, Wang Zhaodi, who strongly favored boys over girls, used to make Jiang Daxue and Jiang Xiaoxue do housework.

But once he could walk, all those chores were dumped on him. Even in the dead of winter, he wasn’t allowed to use hot water.

Yet all the firewood at home was gathered by him. He wasn’t allowed to attend school either.

Grandpa Jiang and Grandma Jiang didn’t care. The Jiang family had already split up. The old couple probably knew what kind of people Jiang Wenqiang and Wang Zhaodi were, and figured the less trouble, the better.

As he grew older and more sensible, he realized something: Wang Zhaodi and Jiang Wenqiang could dote on children. Just not on him. He was an outsider who never received family affection.

Jiang Dazhuang argued,
“Impossible. Dad and Mom wouldn’t lie. They said our youngest brother died, and on the way back they saw you by the roadside and brought you home. Don’t slander them.”

No way!

If it were true, then all these years… had he been helping the wrong side?

Jiang Ze sneered,
“Not convinced? Go ask Wang Zhaodi and Jiang Wenqiang. Didn’t they call me a bastard? Did they ever call you that?”

Bastard, spawn, mutt—he’d heard them so many times they lost meaning. Jiang Ze was the only name he liked.

Jiang Dazhuang hesitated.
“You just wait. I’ll tell Dad and Mom. And you—calling them by their names! You’re done for.”

Song Wanyue’s heart clenched.

No family to protect or care for him… living only with loneliness.

When Jiang Dazhuang left, Song Wanyue quickly sent Li Jiaojiao away too.

If she helped Jiang Ze now, and he later returned the favor, wouldn’t that be worthwhile?

The Jiang family in the capital had many in politics and the military. One more friend meant one more path forward.

She wanted to do business—connections with powerful people were essential. And wasn’t Jiang Ze just such a connection?

Song Wanyue put on her brightest smile.

“Comrade Jiang Ze, do you need help? You must have already checked—hasn’t the Jiang family from the capital been to our county before?”

It had been three or four days since she’d given him the address. Surely he had some clues by now.

Jiang Ze was startled.
“What help could you give me? I did check. That family indeed came here with the army. Even Jiang Chaoyang was born the same day as me, and his mother shared a hospital room with Wang Zhaodi. No accident—I really am their child. I should thank you. Why don’t I treat you to a meal?”

She was a benefactor. Just giving money wasn’t enough to ease his conscience.

Song Wanyue leaned closer and whispered,
“I know you hate the Jiang family. Don’t you want to stir up chaos in their home before you reunite with your real parents? I can help you. In return, I’ll need your help.”

She happened to need an ally in the village anyway.

The enemy of her enemy could be her friend.

“Take Jiang Dazhuang, always gambling and playing cards. Or Jiang Wenqiang—slipping into Zhou Lanhua’s bed. Zhou Lanhua’s partner isn’t only Gu Weimin. I once saw her with Jiang Wenqiang, in, well… the cornfield by the river.”

Cornfields were perfect for affairs—hidden from view, adding to the thrill.

The original Wanyue, with diarrhea one time, had stumbled onto them and run away in fright.

Jiang Ze mused,
“Alright, let’s cooperate. What do you need me to do? Wait—are you targeting Gu Weimin? Did he offend you?”

He couldn’t think of another reason.

Song Wanyue nodded.
“Yes. And if there’s anyone you want to deal with, tell me. I can help with ideas. We can be friends. I mean it—we’re both going back to the capital. The college entrance exam is in just a month. Do you have plans?”

Surely he had studied some—otherwise, how could he run such successful businesses without being swindled?

Jiang Ze nodded.
“Fine. I’ll take you as my friend. You’re bold. Zhou Shanshan and the others—was that your counterattack? It’s too coincidental for the whole Gu family to have accidents at once. You look very suspicious.”

Exactly. The more suspicious she looked, the more she needed backup.

She couldn’t always rely on Aunt Cui to vouch for her, or it would be too obvious.

Song Wanyue admitted,
“I want to pair up Zhou Shanshan with Chen Jiefang.”

If Yang Liu still wouldn’t give up on Chen Jiefang after that, she’d drop the matter. Some people just had to learn the hard way.

Jiang Ze smirked.
“I want to pair up Jiang Wenqiang with Zhou Lanhua. Let’s see if Wang Zhaodi will weep and wail then. To me, those two seemed to have a decent marriage. They never fought, maybe just quarreled a few times.”

“As for the exam—I’ll take it. Next year’s, though. My teacher was Zhang Jianhua, who was locked in the cowshed. He got released in March. Before leaving, he told me to keep studying, because the college entrance exam would surely return. I never gave up.”

Song Wanyue asked,
“Do you have close friends in the village? Wouldn’t it be better if they handled the catching? I can pay—five yuan. As for Zhou Shanshan and Chen Jiefang, these next two days are best. Chen Jiefang keeps hovering around her. Zhou Shanshan’s grades are worse than his. Gu Dahai must be furious, but helpless. Likely he still wants to go back to the capital with her.”

She wanted to block Zhou Shanshan’s path home, starting with the exam. That woman caused too much trouble.

If Zhou Shanshan got tangled between Gu Dahai and Chen Jiefang, what would she do?

Good at exploiting everything around her—if Zhou lived in later years, she’d probably excel in sales, maybe even become a top seller.

Thinking it through, Song Wanyue pulled out an aphrodisiac.

“Comrade Jiang, a gift of friendship. Don’t be shy. If you can use it, use it.”

Jiang Ze:
“Alright. Come closer. Here’s what we’ll do…”

Song Wanyue listened intently. Jiang Ze felt embarrassed—this was the first time he’d been so near a girl.

Her dazzling smile lingered before his eyes, and he caught her delicate scent.

“I’m heading back. Goodbye, Comrade Jiang. To our partnership.”

“To our partnership, Comrade Song.”

After she left, Jiang Ze stood frozen, heart pounding, ears tinged pink. For the first time, he saw a clear future.

He wanted to be with Wanyue. To have a family with her. A cute child—hopefully a girl—who resembled Wanyue, surely beautiful.

The three of them living happily together.

For that, he had to work harder, make more money. First, he’d handle these messy matters.

Before, he thought having no degree didn’t matter. But if he wanted to marry Wanyue, wouldn’t her family object if he had no education?

—

At the educated youth camp, Song Wanyue arrived just in time for dinner.

Yang Liu was reciting a Chinese text, but looked up to ask,
“Wanyue, why are you back so late? Were you out playing?”

Just a few more days of work, and they could all stay indoors to study. But Yang Liu was still anxious.

Especially since Jiefang kept circling Zhou Shanshan, which infuriated her.

Song Wanyue poured a glass of water and replied,
“Ah, just went to the latrine. The big one. Where’s Chen Jiefang? With Zhou Shanshan again? Don’t tell me you still like him?”

Some people just couldn’t be persuaded.

All the other girls were focused on studying, yet Yang Liu’s eyes stayed glued to Chen Jiefang.

As if bewitched.

Yang Liu lowered her head sadly.
“Of course. Zhou Shanshan mentioned she didn’t have math review materials, and Jiefang ran right over to her, all eager. He even gave her the ones I bought for him—with my own money. They cost a fortune.”

As she spoke, tears rolled down her face in big drops.

Flustered, Song Wanyue tried to wipe them away, but the more she wiped, the more fell.

“Don’t cry. The world’s not out of men, is it? Look around. Why cry over a scumbag?”

She couldn’t stand to see girls cry. Girls should be soft and smiling—much prettier that way.