Before she could speak Zheng Shaohuai said with some difficulty Wanning you know we have important missions right now so that is not possible. As for Brother Jiang there is simply no suitable position for him in Yuanshan Town. But it is alright Lin Fang’s eldest daughter has just been transferred to work at the hospital there. We can ask her to look after Mianmian temporarily until our mission is finished.
Meng Wanning’s eyes lit up immediately You mean Xuezhu? Yes she is a reliable good child that will work perfectly.
Song Mianmian said nothing.
Just then the people from the Educated Youth Office who had come to help Song Mianmian arrived. They did not know Zhao Xinde had been detained and were preparing to proceed as planned. But the acquaintance of Jiang Zheng had also come. He greeted Jiang Zheng and they spoke briefly about Zhao Xinde. In the end everyone agreed to handle the house transfer matters together.
Song Mianmian had assumed Zhao Xinde would not have the property deeds ready so soon but he had handed them all over to Jiang Zheng late the previous night. Could there be more hiding places besides the secret room? Song Mianmian felt as though she had seen a ghost and quickly checked her space. She had been too busy these past days to verify them. Yet as unexpected as it was there were indeed no deeds for the five houses in her possession. She could not understand why. Then it made sense she had discovered the secret room three months later in her past life it was only natural that things were different now. But did that mean Zhao Xinde had hidden valuables elsewhere too? Of course he would a man like Zhao Xinde would never have targeted only her family. He had likely taken advantage of many others. Eager to explore the house for hidden treasures Song Mianmian spoke after the formalities transferring ten years of management rights to the office I would like to see where my family’s houses are.
Meng Wanning and the others wanted to see them as well so they went together. The finest of the five houses a small western style building was where Zhao Xinde had arranged for Cao Huiping to stay. Everyone wanted to look closely when they arrived. In her past life Du Qinghui had never come here so Song Mianmian was unfamiliar with the place. Duobao had no special treasure finding ability. But Song Mianmian had spent over fifty years as a ghost before being reborn she knew how to find things. Within fifteen minutes she had located three hidden cabinets in the house. Quietly she emptied them all more than twenty thousand yuan in cash twenty gold bars jewellery various vouchers and notes and a small collection of antiques. She could not be certain she had found everything Zhao Xinde and Cao Huiping had hidden but it felt deeply satisfying.
After viewing the houses Meng Wanning and the others took Song Mianmian shopping at the supply and marketing cooperative. They bought her the latest fashionable Shanghai ladies watch two complete sets of the best winter clothing and footwear and brand new bedding. Mianmian we will buy these for now so you do not have too much to carry Meng Wanning said and anything else you need we will send from Jin City tomorrow morning.
Song Mianmian wanted to decline their kindness she had money and coupons of her own. But she knew refusing would only worry them so she accepted happily planning to give them fine items from her space when the chance arose. They shared a hearty lunch at the state run restaurant. Meng Wanning drew her aside and asked quietly The Zhao family have all asked to see you. Do you want to meet them? She was testing her half fearing Song Mianmian still held feelings for Zhao Zilin.
Song Mianmian did not suspect her true intention but she had no wish to see any of them. She shook her head firmly I do not want to see any of them.
Meng Wanning felt both relieved and sad relieved that she was not blinded by affection yet sad that she had been hurt so deeply by that family.
Later everyone helped pack her things at the guest house. Jiang Zheng returned in the late afternoon carrying a large bulging bag. Song Mianmian expected clothes but it was full of money. Jiang Zheng looked somewhat troubled as he said This is what Zhao Xinde returned to you. Withdrawn from his passbook the total is forty thousand yuan. I could have opened an account for you but I thought it best to do it together. What do you think?
Had they replaced the money she had donated? Touched she hesitated before saying Keeping all of it in my name is too dangerous when I am leaving for the countryside. How about this Uncle Auntie I will keep ten thousand yuan under my name and each of you hold the rest for me.
Her reasoning was sound and as each already had wills filed with their departments they could simply add the arrangement so they agreed. They went straight to the bank to open her account. Jiang Zheng returned to Jin City that evening on urgent business. Zheng Shaohuai and Meng Wanning despite their own busy schedules stayed overnight and only left after seeing her board the train the next morning.
The journey to Yuanshan Town in Heilongjiang took eight hours. She departed at half past seven and arrived shortly after three in the afternoon. Her ticket had been for standard hard seat but Zheng Shaohuai and Meng Wanning had paid extra to upgrade her to a sleeper. The carriage was quiet and comfortable. It was only as she stepped onto the platform and joined the crowd of young people carrying heavy bundles that she truly felt the solemnity of leaving home for the countryside.
Each village had sent donkey or ox carts to meet the new arrivals each marked with its name. Duobao spotted Redstone Village immediately and pointed it out. Song Mianmian had read many stories about life in the countryside she knew often the carts carried luggage but not passengers and latecomers lost their places entirely. The sun was bright but the wind cut sharply like a knife. Unwilling to suffer needlessly she walked over with her two large bags and said politely Good morning Uncle I am the new educated youth assigned to Redstone Village my surname is Song. Thank you so much for coming to meet us you have worked hard. Shielded by her luggage she slipped a brand new pack of Red Double Happiness cigarettes to the driver.