She was afraid that if she didn’t agree, the girl would just stay at the station and refuse to leave.
If it weren’t for the suspicion that she had contact with spies, they wouldn’t have brought her back.
Wen Wan’s eyes instantly lit up. “I want to split from the family and cut off all ties with them.”
With the Wen family not around, she could finally say what she wanted.
She hadn’t mentioned it earlier because she wanted to catch them off guard tomorrow, so they wouldn’t have time to hide the valuable things.
However, she would still need Xu Chengan’s help tomorrow; otherwise, the neighborhood committee would definitely not agree.
“Cut off ties? Have you thought it through?”
It was hard to be stuck in a family like that, but even a grown man might not have the courage to sever ties, let alone a young girl.
“Yes, I want to cut ties. I want to move to the textile factory’s family housing compound.”
In the book, Wen Wan’s mother worked at the textile factory. After liberation, Wen Wan’s grandfather voluntarily handed over the textile factory and their small Western-style house to the state.
The textile factory was renamed a state-owned factory, and her grandfather was appointed as the factory director.
He was allocated a house in the factory’s family compound. Although it only had three rooms, it had a small courtyard and was the most spacious in the compound.
After getting married, Wen Wan’s mother moved into the steel factory’s family housing, but she still worked at the textile factory.
When Wen Wan was nine, a fire broke out in the textile factory warehouse. Her mother died while trying to put out the fire.
Her grandparents were deeply devastated and passed away not long after.
Because the Lu family had made great contributions to the textile factory—and the factory had originally belonged to them—the house was not taken back.
Not only was the house not reclaimed, but the factory also promised that Wen Wan could take over her mother’s job position once she came of age.
However, she was still young at the time, and after some maneuvering by Wen Qingfeng, the job was taken by Zhao Yan, who said she would return it after Wen Wan graduated from high school.
It had already been three months since Wen Wan graduated, and Zhao Yan had shown no intention of returning the job.
Not only that, they also wanted to take over the textile factory house.
Zhao Yan had more than once said that their current house was too small to accommodate a family of five.
However, Wen Wan had been very firm about the house and had never agreed.
In the book, after Wen Wan died, the female lead moved into the small courtyard.
It was only after moving into the courtyard that the female lead suddenly began to prosper.
Wen Wan remembered that her grandfather’s dying wish in the book was that the Wen family must not move into the courtyard, as it was left for her.
She suspected that Lin Zhenzhen’s rise to wealth might be related to that courtyard.
When Xu Chengan investigated Wen Wan’s background, he also found out about her connection to the textile factory. Although her ancestors were big capitalists, they had handed over their assets to the state, shared with the people, and had donated money and supplies during the war, so there was no issue with her background.
If there was a house at the textile factory, then after she split from the family, she wouldn’t have to worry about having nowhere to live.
“Will your parents agree?” That was the key point.
“I have a way to make them agree, but I’ll need Officer Xu to cooperate with me tomorrow and back me up.”
Xu Chengan raised an eyebrow. So she had already planned how to make use of him at the station, which was why she followed him back.
Seeing that he didn’t respond, Wen Wan scrunched up her face. “Officer Xu, you already agreed to help me. The Wen family is full of people scheming against me. You’re the only one helping me. Please.”
“I’ll go with you tomorrow,” he said.
“Officer Xu, can I make a call to the textile factory now? Director Liu there is my grandfather’s apprentice.”
In this era, not every place had a telephone, so making a call was more convenient than making a trip.
Not only did she want to split from the family, but she also wanted to reclaim her job at the textile factory.
That job was bought with her mother’s life; she couldn’t let Zhao Yan have it.
Xu Chengan let out a light laugh. She really knew how to push her advantage, but he still took her outside to make the call.
After receiving the call, Director Liu was furious. The Wen family had put on a good front, and Zhao Yan was eloquent, so he had always thought Wen Wan was living well.
Tomorrow, he would definitely help Wen Wan seek justice. After all, she was the only bloodline of the old factory director.
“Thank you, Officer Xu. You’re really a good person.”
Receiving the “good person” card, a faint smile curved on Xu Chengan’s lips. It was the first time someone had so straightforwardly praised him as a good person.
“If you have any difficulties in the future, you can come to me. But don’t run away from home again.”
He had looked at her documents. Not only were the procedures incomplete, but they were only valid for three days. Even if she reached Shanghai Station, she would be treated as a vagrant and sent back.
There were human traffickers on trains, and a pretty young girl like her would be an easy target.
Sometimes she was clever, and sometimes she was foolish, with no sense of caution.
“I can come to you in the future?” Wen Wan excitedly hugged his arm and shook it.
Having come to this unfamiliar place, surrounded by danger, she had no money and knew no one—it was almost impossible to get by.
From now on, Xu Chengan would be her first friend here.
Wen Wan’s smile was bright, and her whole presence was radiant.
When in trouble, going to the police really was the right choice.
Xu Chengan realized he found it hard to refuse this young girl.
He let her make do for the night in his temporary rest room and brought two kettles of hot water for her to wash up.
“Officer Xu, you’re such a good person. You’re practically my reborn parent.”
Xu Chengan rubbed his forehead. “I couldn’t possibly have a daughter as old as you.”
He was only twenty-six—hardly that old.
Wen Wan quickly explained, “I didn’t mean you’re old. I mean you feel like family. From the first moment I saw you, I felt an unusual sense of closeness. I think we must have known each other in a past life.”
Xu Chengan: …
That was a bit too enthusiastic—like sugar-coated bullets.
Wen Wan was a female comrade, and although this was the police station’s duty room, it wasn’t appropriate for Xu Chengan to stay too long.
Wen Wan looked at him reluctantly as he left and let out a sigh.
She had come here, but she didn’t know where the Wen Wan from the book had gone.
No matter what, Lin Zhenzhen had written her into such a miserable situation—this grudge, she would definitely settle.
Right now, the most important thing was to sign the document severing family ties and transfer her household registration out, so they couldn’t continue exploiting her.
Wen Wan thought she wouldn’t be able to adapt, but she fell asleep not long after lying down. In the morning, she was woken up by a knock on the door.
Still drowsy, she went to open it, wearing a pink silk nightgown.
It was her favorite.
As soon as she opened the door, Xu Chengan quickly shut it again from outside.
His face flushed, and with the lunchbox in hand, he didn’t know whether to leave or stay.
Her clothes really were, as always, rather minimal.
The light fabric outlined her graceful figure, her neck completely exposed, her arms as smooth as lotus roots.
He didn’t dare take a second look.
This girl really had no sense of caution.
“I’ve put breakfast at the door. Get ready, and I’ll take you home,” Xu Chengan said from outside.
Wen Wan was momentarily confused by him suddenly shutting the door.
She looked down at herself—her clothes seemed fine.
And since it wasn’t convenient outside, she had even worn undergarments.
The fabric might be light, but there was no risk of exposure.
Wen Wan shook her head.
So old-fashioned!
After washing up, to better fit the era, she deliberately styled her hair into a side braid.
She pulled out a few loose strands on both sides to make it look more voluminous and natural.
Lazy yet playful.
When she opened the door, she saw two lunchboxes outside—one with two large buns, the other with soy milk.
The buns smelled delicious, but Wen Wan’s appetite was small due to the nourishment of the spiritual spring.
Besides, the buns were too big. She barely managed to eat half of one, though she finished all the soy milk.
The soy milk was finely ground, carrying the fragrance of beans.
When Xu Chengan came in, his gaze fell on her clothes. She was still wearing a dress today—a sea-blue one with a white cardigan over it.
The cardigan was a bit small and couldn’t cover her slender waist.
Better than last night’s, but overall still quite revealing.
Xu Chengan discreetly averted his gaze and noticed the leftover bun in the lunchbox.
“Not to your taste?”