Chapter 32: Pulling Strings

Of course, Ma Lin had never doubted Zhang Yanli and her sister—they were her best friends.

Back in the cadre school, the revolutionary young guards hadn’t expected their first major action to fail so miserably, leading to the deaths of Xiao A’mi’s entire family.

Afterward, Xiao A’mi fled, and the nearby villagers turned against them, refusing to provide them with food or assistance. They were left to fend for themselves, unable to grow their own crops. Life became extremely difficult.

Ma Lin’s daughter had been the first child born in the cadre school, and in those hard times when food was scarce, she was everyone’s joy. Everyone loved that little girl—people even fought over who got to hold her. Who would want to harm her?

“Yanli and Aixia love children even more than I do. How could they possibly do such a thing?” Though she was internally frustrated, Ma Lin held back her anger. After all, she had once misunderstood Chen Yufeng, and her best friend had interfered in Zhou Yafang’s marriage. So, she swallowed her emotions and said instead, “I need to get to work now. Run your restaurant well. As long as you can guarantee the quality of your dishes, I can help arrange some official receptions for you. But the quality must be top-notch!”

“Don’t worry, I will do my best,” Chen Yufeng replied.

Ma Lin made a move to leave but hesitated, still standing outside the iron fence.

Chen Yufeng turned back and saw that after finishing their morning exercise, the children were taking a break. In the middle of the group, Mimi was playing happily by herself—one moment pretending to be a sunflower, the next pretending to be a little rooster. She was completely immersed in her own world.

Ma Lin smiled softly, watching for a long time before finally turning and walking away.

Now that she had officially taken over the restaurant, the most urgent task was renovation.

She plugged in the refrigerator for a test and was pleasantly surprised to find that it still worked.

Next, she needed to hire workers for renovations and come up with a name for the restaurant.

At that time, the home renovation industry was just starting to take off. In the city, under the overpass, groups of workers stood holding signs, waiting to be hired for remodeling work. Since Chen Yufeng had cash on hand, she took a bus into the city to hire workers.

Funnily enough, the last time she was in the city, she had run into a Hong Kong businessman sneaking into a hotel trying to steal a chicken and find a place to sleep. And today, while hiring workers under the overpass, she ran into him again.

The Hong Kong businessman was now huddled under the overpass, his pink dress shirt covered in grease stains. He stood with one of the workers holding a sign—apparently, he too was looking for a job.

When he saw her approaching, the others remained still, but he jumped up excitedly.

“Hello, Miss! Looking to hire workers? Choose us! Our boss is excellent at renovations!”

Chen Yufeng instinctively disliked him. She suspected he was a lecherous old man, so she kept walking, asking around instead.

Some workers offered to work for 3 yuan a day, while others said they were willing to work for 2 yuan, as long as they were paid daily. The Hong Kong businessman, however, quoted 4 yuan a day, including accommodation, but meals were self-provided, and wages were paid weekly.

Chen Yufeng wasn’t familiar with renovation labor costs, but given the chaotic nature of society at the time, the way some of the workers stared at her made her uncomfortable. She decided that even if it meant paying a higher price, she wouldn’t risk being taken advantage of just to save a little money.

Summoning her courage, she laid out her conditions to the Hong Kong businessman.

“My restaurant is inside the military compound. First, there must be no disturbances. Second, absolutely no stealing or touching things that don’t belong to you. Third, you must not leer at female workers—it makes them very uncomfortable.”

“Got it, got it! No looking!” The Hong Kong businessman replied immediately.

He wasn’t actually the boss. The real boss was a quiet but tough-looking man from the north. He didn’t speak, letting the Hong Kong businessman do all the talking.

“Then, can you start tomorrow morning?” Chen Yufeng asked.

But the Hong Kong businessman replied, “Can we go now?” Seeing her hesitation, he quickly added, “Miss, don’t worry, we’re really not bad people! The People’s Liberation Army is super strict—we wouldn’t dare do anything bad. We just have nowhere to stay tonight and need a place to sleep.”

His boss, the northern man, still remained silent, but his eyes looked fierce and sharp.

Some people might hesitate to hire someone with such a tough appearance.

But Chen Yufeng was married to a man with an equally intimidating presence, so she wasn’t particularly bothered by it.

She took the two workers back to the military compound and let them inspect the work.

From repainting doors and windows, repairing loose floorboards, and fixing the exterior’s crumbling brickwork, to disposing of kitchen waste, the boss held up five fingers.

The Hong Kong businessman translated, “We’ll finish everything in five days.”

“Then I’ll settle your wages after the job is done?” Chen Yufeng asked. Still feeling uneasy, she turned to the boss and said, “Can I see your ID?”

The boss had a fierce look, but he was quick and straightforward in pulling out his identification. What he took out was a military discharge certificate.

Chen Yufeng took a glance and immediately reacted with surprise, “You’re Dan Haichao from Anyang County?”

The man lifted his eyelids slightly. “You know me?”

Chen Yufeng had only heard of Dan Haichao’s name but had never met him in person. Like Han Chao, he had once been a notorious troublemaker. Later, he joined the army and, judging by the certificate, had now retired.

She wondered how he ended up working alongside the Hong Kong businessman.

Since he was a former soldier, Chen Yufeng felt more inclined to trust him.

The military district had a strict policy: all outsiders staying within the premises had to apply for a temporary entry pass.

So, after showing the two men around the restaurant, Chen Yufeng had to head to the logistics department to get their passes.

This was also the first time she met Zhang Yanli’s older sister, Zhang Aixia.

Zhang Songtao was the deputy director in charge of materials, while Zhang Aixia was the third in command, responsible for personnel access.

Zhang Aixia bore a strong resemblance to Zhang Yanli and appeared to be around forty-six or forty-seven years old. She was quite friendly and greeted her with a smile, “So you’re Yufeng? I’ve heard about you. You got the restaurant, and now you’re having it renovated?”

“Yes. These are my renovation workers. This one is a retired soldier and has his discharge certificate. Could you issue them temporary entry passes?” Chen Yufeng asked.

Zhang Aixia spread her hands and said, “We just ran out of temporary passes. Just let them stay. If the guards at the gate stop them, tell them to report my name.”

“I don’t think that would be appropriate. It would be better if you issued a pass,” Chen Yufeng insisted.

“We’re practically family; it’s fine. I trust you,” Zhang Aixia said with a laugh.

Chen Yufeng knew that the military district was a place with strict principles. She had never heard of a name alone being enough to bypass security. However, she said nothing further. From experience, she had learned that no matter how others might bend the rules, she had to uphold her own integrity.

So, she said, “In that case, please register them under a visitor’s pass for relatives. They can stay at my place.”

“That works, as long as it’s convenient for you,” Zhang Aixia agreed readily.

After getting the entry permits and taking the two men back, Dan Haichao immediately rolled up his sleeves and got to work as soon as he entered the restaurant’s back kitchen. By nightfall, Chen Yufeng made sure to send them away. She certainly wasn’t going to let them stay in her home.

The Hong Kong businessman was in his forties or fifties, and his leering gaze made her very uncomfortable.

She handed Dan Haichao two yuan and told them to find lodging outside. A bed at a hostel only cost one yuan per night.

As for her mother-in-law, Chen Yufeng had already decided—she would wait for her to arrive and then ask about the jade’s origins before making any final decisions. She still didn’t know how her mother-in-law had obtained the jade, and she didn’t want to hear the story from Ma Lin. Even though Ma Lin seemed impartial, bias could cloud judgment. What if she wasn’t telling the truth?

However, that night, just as she brought Mimi home, she suddenly heard the loudspeaker calling out, “Chen Yufeng, there’s a phone call for you.”

Who could be calling her? Could it be from Commander Xu’s family, asking her to cook for another gathering?

She hurried to the communication room with Mimi and picked up the phone, only to hear Wang Guoguo’s voice on the other end. “Feng’er, how are you feeling now?”

Chen Yufeng was instantly emotional. “Mom, it’s you! Are you calling from the county?”

“You’re so careless! A man’s work is like green hemp—it’s poisonous! You’re just a child; how could you touch that stuff? That could be deadly! How could you be so reckless?” Wang Guoguo scolded.

Chen Yufeng tightly covered the phone receiver, afraid the old man in the communication room would overhear their conversation.

She had lied to get her two mothers to come. She had told them she was pregnant.

It wasn’t meant to be deception, but neither Wang Guoguo nor Zhou Yafang was willing to leave home. However, her mother-in-law was against her having another child. If she heard that Chen Yufeng was pregnant, she would definitely try to persuade her to have an abortion and would come in person.

Zhou Yafang, on the other hand, wanted her to have the baby and would also come to ensure she didn’t have an abortion.

This was the only issue on which the two old women had completely opposing views.

Even Han Chao didn’t know about this lie, and for now, Chen Yufeng had to keep up the act.

She changed the topic. “Mom, why did you call?”

After a brief pause, Wang Guoguo said, “Han Chao asked me to send a telegram about where I got the jade I gave to Tiantian. I figured I might as well call. Have you found the jade’s owner?”

“Something like that,” Chen Yufeng replied. “Mom, you should come to the capital soon and take care of me.”

“We’ll come when the time is right. Tell Han Chao that someone lost that jade, and I picked it up in the mountains. I thought it was worthless. Since you’ve found its owner, return it. Tell Tiantian that Grandma will save something else for her as compensation.”

“Mom—” Chen Yufeng had just opened her mouth when Wang Guoguo interrupted her, “Take good care of your daughters. They are your most precious treasures. Don’t keep trying for a son. If you refuse to have an abortion, I’ll come and make sure you do.”

“I won’t have an abortion,” Chen Yufeng said quickly, covering the receiver tightly before her mother-in-law could hang up.

Luckily, the old man in the communication room was outside chatting with Mimi and hadn’t overheard.

There was always a difference in perspective between men and women.

Chen Yufeng had planned to wait for her mother-in-law to arrive and subtly ask about the jade to piece together the truth before explaining everything to Ma Lin.

But Han Chao chose a more direct approach—he asked outright.

Of course, both of them had the same goal: to clear Wang Guoguo of any suspicion regarding the child who went missing thirty years ago.

As for the jade’s origins, Chen Yufeng had guessed correctly.

With her mother-in-law’s upright character, there was no way she would have stolen it. Ma Lin must have lost it herself, and her mother-in-law, who had been in hiding at the time, simply found it and never returned it. That was why Ma Lin assumed she had stolen it.

Later, when the child was lost again, it was only natural that all the blame fell on her mother-in-law.

After all, Han Chao was her son. While he wasn’t particularly attentive to his mother in other aspects, he cared more than anyone about clearing her name. And since he was a man of action, he had likely sent a telegram to Wang Guoguo on Monday. Now it was Friday, and she had just received it.

Chen Yufeng, in turn, picked up the phone and called Han Chao.

The camp office had a telephone, but unless it was an emergency, family members were generally not allowed to use it.

When Han Chao answered, he was a bit puzzled. “Did Mom call you directly?”

“You’re such an idiot. How could you tell Mom about the jade so bluntly?” Chen Yufeng scolded.

“If I didn’t tell her, she’d continue to be misunderstood,” Han Chao replied.

This man—no wonder the book described him as a wooden block.

Even though Wang Guoguo had picked up the jade by chance, the way she cherished it suggested she had some sentimental attachment to its original owner. Xu Yongyi, Ma Lin—these people were all from Wang Guoguo’s past. They were also the ones who had caused her family’s ruin. There was no way she would want to see them again. If she knew that Commander Xu and the others were still in the military district, she might refuse to come.

But Chen Yufeng had already rented the restaurant and needed to coax her mother-in-law into helping.

If Han Chao had exposed the jade matter too soon, what if Wang Guoguo refused to come?

Fortunately, she still had the “pregnancy” card up her sleeve.

Han Chao said over the phone, “Let’s do it now. Bring the kids, I’ll leave from camp, and we’ll go to Director Ma’s house to talk about this.”

Holding the receiver, Chen Yufeng asked, “You mean to talk about the jade?”

“The child,” Han Chao said. “I think I know what happened to that child.”

Chen Yufeng couldn’t see him through the phone. She looked at the receiver and thought to herself: The child went missing thirty years ago. Her husband was born a year after that incident. How could he possibly know what happened?

“Brother…” she gripped the phone tighter. “What exactly happened to the child?”

She was curious—she wanted to know first.

But this stubborn man just said, “We’ll talk when we get there. For now, it’s just a guess.”

With a loud clang, the call was disconnected.

By now, Tiantian had finished her dance practice. Chen Yufeng took both girls, picked up Tiantian, and headed out to catch a bus to the officer’s family compound.

“Mom, we’re going to Grandma Ma’s house, right?” Mimi asked excitedly on the bus.

Chen Yufeng nodded. “Yes.” Then she asked, “Do you like her a lot?”

“Of course! She has four stars on her shoulders, and she always says she only follows the law—and she really means it,” Mimi said.

Taking children out meant holding them close. Chen Yufeng had both girls in her lap but took up only one seat.

It was already 7:30 PM. The bus wasn’t too crowded. Two women got on and sat in front of them.

As the bus drove on, one of them said, “I’ve been discharged from the military for half a month now, but my severance pay still hasn’t arrived. I went to the finance office today, and there are still over a hundred people ahead of me. Who knows when I’ll get my money?”

“Go find Ma Lin. If Director Ma speaks up at finance, you’ll get your money tomorrow,” the other woman suggested.

The first woman sighed. “Ma Lin? We worked in the same department before, but she’s extremely strict. She doesn’t help people pull strings.”

“You’re so naive! You don’t ask her directly. You go to Zhang Yanli instead. They’re best friends. Zhang Yanli will make up some excuse for you, like saying your family is in dire straits or someone at home is sick—just make something up.”

The other woman suddenly realized. “Zhang Yanli’s mouth is full of lies. Good reminder! I’m getting off right now to call her!”

“Hurry! The office is working overtime today, so Ma Lin probably hasn’t gone home yet.”

Mimi suddenly pouted and whispered, “Mom, Aunt Bao is also getting discharged. She said there are fifty people ahead of her, so she’ll have to wait at least half a month. She’s been counting heads every day!”

Everyone rushing to start their own businesses after leaving the military was desperate for money. If someone cut in line and got their pay early, those behind them would have to wait even longer.

Aunt Bao had borrowed money from her brother, but this was a commercial society now—loans came with interest. The longer she waited, the more interest she had to pay.

Chen Yufeng hugged her daughter. “Our Mimi is so smart. You noticed all that?”

Mimi lowered her voice. “In preschool, we aren’t allowed to cut in line when we get food. Grown-ups shouldn’t do it either. Cutting in line is wrong.”

The city lights flickered past the window. Chen Yufeng gazed at her daughter. Mimi leaned into her mother’s embrace and pouted. “If Grandma Ma helps someone cut in line, I won’t like her anymore.”

What the child admired was a fair and just Grandma Ma—not one who pulled strings for people.

If Ma Lin couldn’t uphold fairness, then Mimi wouldn’t like her.