Chapter 11: Dealing with “Garbage”

Arriving at school, Liu Xinghe found one of the teachers, collected her high school diploma, bought a newspaper to keep, and then headed straight to a small private house next to the school and knocked on the door.

The one who opened it was Liu Xinghe’s classmate, Zhang Ruoruo, the first good friend she had made in the city. She and her older brother relied on each other and were orphans of a martyr.

“Xinghe, come in quickly! Feeling better today?”

Zhang Ruoruo cheerfully linked arms with Liu Xinghe and invited her inside.

“The way you looked a few days ago really scared me—your face had no color at all. That whole family is truly vicious! How could they treat you like that? I still have some brown sugar here; take it with you to help your body recover.”

“My health is much better. Look, I even have the energy to come see you today.” Liu Xinghe smiled faintly, then went straight to the point: “I came to see you and your brother for a bit of business. Is your brother home?”

“He’s tinkering with something in his room. Sit down, I’ll go call him.”

Zhang Ruoruo helped Liu Xinghe sit on a chair, poured her a cup of tea, and then went to fetch her brother, Zhang Xiaojun.

Officially, her brother was a truck driver, but secretly he dealt in the black market. Zhang Ruoruo worked at a textile factory but also helped her brother in private—he handled the outside work, she managed the inside.

Only Liu Xinghe, because of her close relationship with Zhang Ruoruo, knew the details. Others didn’t. Both siblings were people who valued loyalty.

So, Liu Xinghe didn’t want to roam the black market herself; coming to Zhang Xiaojun and his sister was the safest and most convenient choice.

When Zhang Xiaojun arrived, Liu Xinghe didn’t beat around the bush:

“I’m here to discuss business. You know my family’s situation—I’ll be sent to the countryside soon. I want to get rid of the things at home. For example, this watch that’s still in good condition—how much do you think it’s worth?”

Liu Xinghe took out the watch she had gotten from the police—snatched from Shen Qiang—and handed it to Zhang Xiaojun.

Zhang Xiaojun put on gloves, inspecting the mechanical watch with interest. “A Diamond-brand watch from Shanghai. No scratches, good quality. This is the one from Shen Qiang’s hand, right? I can give you 120 yuan for it.”

Liu Xinghe accepted the price, set down her teacup, and stood up:

“Alright, let’s go. I still have a lady’s watch that Shen Xi wore, some cosmetics, and other good items at home. You two can go see and take whatever you can sell. I promise it’ll be worth your while.”

“Great, let’s go! I’m looking forward to it. We’re turning trash into treasure, benefiting others, and squeezing the last bit of value out of those three bad people.”

Zhang Ruoruo immediately agreed, forcing a half-pound of brown sugar into Liu Xinghe’s arms as they walked out together.

Zhang Xiaojun smiled indulgently at his sister’s actions, closed the door, and the two siblings followed Liu Xinghe home.

These two siblings were easy to get along with.

Back at Liu Xinghe’s house, she opened the three people’s rooms and pointed to the packed bags and furniture:

“These are the things to be disposed of. Pick whatever you want.”

“Got it.”

Zhang Ruoruo and Zhang Xiaojun moved everything into the courtyard to sort through it.

Liu Xinghe brought a small table outside, poured tea for them, and sat nearby with her own cup, watching them choose.

“I’m really jealous of Shen Xi. So many good things…how can someone who stole eighteen years of your life still be so vicious? How can people be so bad?”

The more Zhang Ruoruo picked, the sadder she felt for her friend. Everything that should have belonged to Xinghe had been enjoyed by those freeloaders. She also related, recalling her own experiences with her brother.

When their parents died, they had also been stabbed in the back by so-called relatives, had their compensation taken, and their house seized. Fortunately, she and her brother fought to protect what was theirs.

So, she deeply empathized with Xinghe and supported everything she did.

“Who knows how their hearts were made?” Liu Xinghe said slowly, sipping tea. She had to take it slow—her throat still hurt, swallowing was painful.

“Human nature is complicated!” Zhang Xiaojun shook his head in sigh.

“Sigh, our sisters really are kindred spirits,” Zhang Ruoruo said, then lifted her head, smiling brightly at Liu Xinghe:

“Come on, no one can defeat us. The muddier and tougher the path, the more beautifully we can overcome it. We’ll live increasingly wonderful lives.”

Liu Xinghe smiled, agreeing. She knew Zhang Ruoruo’s family well. In the novels she had read, the sisters were the protagonists who defeated their villainous relatives, reclaimed what was rightfully theirs, and thrived—strong against the strong, vengeful yet determined, pursuing their own success afterward.

And Zhang Xiaojun was the protective brother.

So Liu Xinghe had to learn from them, becoming the protagonist of her own life, overcoming every obstacle.

“Alright, let’s work together, my good sister. Start picking. Whether I can enjoy some peace soon depends on how well you handle this pile of things. Those ungrateful Shen family wolves are still lurking outside.”

“Got it, sister. Don’t worry, we’ll make sure it’s perfect.”

Zhang Ruoruo got down to work.

After inspecting everything, Zhang Xiaojun said, “We can take all of this. Let’s count the money.”

“Okay.”

Item by item, they calculated the value. The watches from Shen Xi and Shen Qiang, plus the Shen family’s junk, totaled 500 yuan.

The transaction was completed on the spot, both sides smiling, each taking what they wanted.

Once the siblings had taken everything, Xinghe looked at the empty rooms—much more pleasing to the eye.

This recycling was really effective. Her small stash grew by 500 yuan. Adding her own savings of 1,150 yuan, she now had over 3,350 yuan.

After putting away the money, Liu Xinghe considered the courtyard. She needed to manage the house properly—selling wasn’t profitable, so renting was the option.

But renting required someone capable, upright, and able to deter those with bad intentions. She thought carefully, recalling people who might need a place and meet the conditions.

She finally settled on someone from the police station. She would ask Elder Zhang for information.

Time was tight; news of the four people being executed had just been made public. Without delay, she headed out again.

This time, she went to the steel factory next door.

Finding Elder Zhang, she chatted briefly with him and followed him inside the plant.

Guided by him, Liu Xinghe arrived at the office of Director Wu from the union, who had visited her before.

Director Wu stood up to greet her warmly and poured tea: “Little Sister Liu, come sit! Feeling well? Nothing wrong?”

“Thanks to the factory’s care, I’m much better. I appreciate your concern,” Liu Xinghe said, bowing slightly to take the tea.

“That’s good. Sit, let’s chat.”

Director Wu had been looking forward to Liu Xinghe’s visit. The things she had said before were meant for this day. Seeing her relieved her mind, and she asked:

“Xiao Sister Liu, did you come to see me for something? Any difficulties or needs, just tell me. I was friends with your mother too, and I’ll help as much as I can.”

Liu Xinghe knew her intentions already—she wanted that job position, which many eyes were on. Weighing pros and cons, she decided to approach Director Wu.

Director Wu had a bit of power and money, some ambition, and a family with one child still unemployed, on the edge of being sent to the countryside. She was a perfect candidate.

Liu Xinghe smiled faintly:

“Auntie, I didn’t come for help today. I actually have some good news to ask you about.”

“Go ahead, Auntie’s listening.”

Hearing this, Director Wu was overjoyed, already guessing it was about the job. She even started thinking about the right amount to report.