After returning home, Feng Wan tucked Shen Mingzhu’s quilt in and entered the Spatial Dimension. She sorted through the items from the Shen family and the logistics director’s household, setting aside the usable ones on one side and the broken pots, shattered tiles, worn-out underpants, and smelly socks on the other.
Two hours later, Feng Wan looked at the wooden box of gold bars, three bankbooks, over five thousand yuan, and some vouchers in front of her, grinning slyly.
The logistics director’s household was indeed not clean.
In these times, bankbooks didn’t have many protective mechanisms. She had to figure out a way to withdraw all the money, as it would be useless across provinces. As for the other items, she planned to keep them for now and exchange them with the locals in the countryside. As for that pile of junk…
After sneaking around to collect and organize things all night, she finally came out to rest as dawn broke. When Shen Mingzhu woke up, she couldn’t rouse Feng Wan at all.
Outside, Grandma Liu had already gotten up and gone out to visit neighbors. Since the kitchen was previously agreed to be usable, Shen Mingzhu scooped some millet from a bag and went to the kitchen to cook porridge, turning off the heat when it was almost done.
After much thought, she decided to go out and buy two meat buns for Feng Wan. Wrapping herself tightly in a brand-new headscarf so that no one would recognize her, she left the house.
Many people on the road were whispering and gossiping. Shen Mingzhu was extremely cautious. Since the area was near the textile factory, she saw many familiar faces along the way. While buying the buns, she overheard that the Shen family and the logistics director’s household had lost all their belongings in the blink of an eye. Such an incident, no matter when it happened, was utterly shocking.
In the textile factory’s residential compound, it was rumored that these two families had committed too many sins, and the heavens could no longer stand by, so they had come to punish them.
Of course, such talk was only whispered in small circles. Everyone had a responsibility to eradicate feudal superstitions, so no one dared to say it openly.
After hearing this, Shen Mingzhu didn’t feel elated; instead, she grew even more anxious. With the Shen family in such a state, they would surely be even more desperate to marry her off to the logistics director’s household.
She almost sprinted back to Grandma Liu’s house, rushing into the room to wake Feng Wan, but stopped at the bedside.
Sister must have been exhausted from buying so many things yesterday. She didn’t let me go along, all for my sake. I should let her sleep a little longer.
It was almost noon when Feng Wan finally woke up. After having a simple meal, she noticed Shen Mingzhu looking at her with something left unsaid.
“What’s wrong?”
“I… Sister, have you heard? Something happened to the Shen family. I think we need to leave quickly.”
Feng Wan blinked, pretending not to know, and asked again. Shen Mingzhu was truly frightened, her voice trembling as she spoke.
“It’s fine. We’ll leave tomorrow. The Shen family’s affairs have nothing to do with us. I’m going out for a bit. You stay home and pack our things. Don’t go outside.”
Shen Mingzhu felt a bit scared and, as Feng Wan was about to leave, reached out to tug at her sleeve. “Sister, can I go with you?”
“It’s not safe outside. We’re staying at Grandma Liu’s, so we should keep things simple.”
Shen Mingzhu knew this was for her own good, but she still felt somewhat useless, unable to help her sister with anything, as if she had grown a brain for nothing.
Feng Wan seemed to see through her thoughts. As she left, she ruffled her head and pulled a White Rabbit Creamy Candy from her pocket, placing it in her hand.
“Take care. When we go to the countryside, I’ll be counting on you to help me with the work!”
“Alright, I got it, sis.”
Shen Mingzhu replied brightly, her eyes sparkling.
After leaving, Feng Wan went straight to the Educated Youth Office and registered both Jia Renyi and Wang Xiulan’s youngest son, Shen Yaozu.
“Comrade, here are the documents. My brother and younger brother both have high political consciousness. Just send them to the most challenging places.”
“Good, very good! They’re both fine comrades. Here’s the educated youth subsidy. Take it.”
The staff at the Educated Youth Office were overjoyed. Whatever the reason, as long as someone registered, they had fulfilled their task.
After receiving four hundred and sixty yuan, Feng Wan tucked it into her sleeve and, with a swift motion, tossed it into her Spatial Dimension. Then, riding Jia Renyi’s bicycle, she headed to the Grain Bureau.
She took out the grain ration books and non-staple food coupons for both the Shen family and the logistics director’s family, collecting a month’s worth of rations. Nearly three hundred pounds of grain were strapped to the bicycle. When she reached a secluded spot, she stored it all in her Spatial Dimension.
After finishing this, she carried two cans of preserved fruit and went straight to the office of the Finance Section Chief. He was an old friend of the original host’s mother, and she wanted to say goodbye before leaving.
“Uncle Wang, busy at work?”
“Oh, Xiao Wan is here!” he greeted cheerfully, ushering Feng Wan inside. After closing the door, his expression turned serious.
“Xiao Wan, I’ve heard about what happened in your family. My wife’s nephew is a good man and of the right age. How about I arrange a match for you? Once you’re married, you won’t have to go to the countryside.”
“No need, Uncle Wang. I’m leaving tomorrow. I just wanted to see you before I go!”
Wang Defa sighed, pointed at Feng Wan, and strode back to his desk. From the drawer, he took out thirty yuan—his own private savings.
“Xiao Wan, there’s not much I can do to help. Take this money. If you ever run into difficulties, write to me, alright?”
Feng Wan felt a warmth in her heart. Section Chief Wang had helped her a lot since she returned. Even an outsider showed such kindness, while Shen Baoguo, her own father, was truly worse than an animal.
“Thank you, Uncle Wang. Actually, I came here for another reason. When my mother passed away suddenly, the factory promised me a job placement. But later, Shen Mingzhu gave that position to Jia Renyi. She’s not my mother’s biological daughter, so technically, shouldn’t that job still belong to me?”
Wang Defa was taken aback. According to Feng Wan’s reasoning, that was indeed the case.