Yan Sisi’s pen moved across the page as she recorded the details from the book: her cousin was the true heiress. The false heiress was named Xie Mei, a premature baby who had one older brother and one younger brother. Spoiled since childhood, she performed as a singer in the cultural troupe.
She also wrote down some events from her dreams, and at the very end, she heavily noted her guesses about the person responsible for her father’s injury. After finishing, she placed the notebook into a wooden box and stored it in her space.
With her recording complete, Yan Sisi looked at the textbook on the desk, untouched for a long time. She sat obediently in her chair and calmly began to study and memorize it carefully on her own.
Yan Sisi continued studying until past eleven at night before turning off the light to sleep. The next morning, she only spent a short time in her space tending to the vegetables and fruits. The rest of her free time was devoted to reading and doing exercises.
At noon, when she went to the hospital to deliver food to her father, she casually added some spirit spring water to the thermos. Seeing her father’s complexion brighten considerably, she felt much more at ease.
In the afternoon, another batch of vegetables and strawberries in her space ripened, and the earliest-planted corn was ready as well. Yan Sisi harvested everything, bundling the vegetables neatly at the bottom of the basket and gently placing the strawberries on top, preparing to sell some.
When Yan Sisi reached the area not far from the steel mill, she saw the workers starting to leave in small groups. Before she could approach, a large group of female workers ran toward her. Startled, she instinctively turned and tried to run away.
Finally spotting Xie Hong among them, she shouted hurriedly, “Don’t run! Young lady, we’re not here to catch you.”
After saying this, Xie Hong caught up to Yan Sisi, holding her breath, and lowered her voice: “We’re here to buy strawberries.”
Hearing this, Yan Sisi looked back carefully and noticed that none of them were wearing red cloth, and most of the faces were familiar. Since so many people came to buy things, anyone intending to catch her would have done it together. She slowed down, smiled awkwardly, and said, “With so many of you coming, I thought I’d been found out.”
Xie Hong, who had bought strawberries yesterday, caught her breath before explaining, “Your strawberries are just too delicious. That’s why everyone wants to buy some. Young lady, how many strawberries did you bring today? Start by giving me nine.”
The others who followed soon gathered around, chattering: “I want ten.”
“First come, first served. Young lady, give me six strawberries first.”
“Liu Aizhu, didn’t you think it was too expensive before?”
“These strawberries are so good. No matter the price, I’m willing to buy them.”
The crowd’s commotion gave Yan Sisi a headache. Seeing that they were all just here to buy strawberries, she rubbed her forehead in pain, looked at the chaotic group of female workers, and shouted, “One at a time!”
After speaking, she turned to Xie Hong, who had arrived first, and asked, “What do you want?”
“Nine strawberries and a bundle of vegetables.”
“Vegetables and spinach, a bundle weighs half a jin for two cents; ten chili peppers for four cents and a dime; strawberries, three for one dime without a coupon.” Yan Sisi, afraid that someone would complain about the price or refuse after buying, announced the prices in advance. Then she placed the basket on the ground and lifted the cloth on top to reveal the plump strawberries.
Some people had initially thought the strawberries were too expensive, but at the sight of them, and even smelling the faint fragrance as they leaned in, they immediately began arguing again, each wanting to buy first.
Calmly, Yan Sisi placed nine strawberries and a bundle of vegetables into the lunchbox the worker extended. Xie Hong handed over the money she had prepared in advance and immediately stepped aside to let the next person purchase.
One after another, the transactions continued, and before long, all the strawberries Yan Sisi had brought were sold out.
Those who came later, seeing there were no more strawberries, could only buy a few vegetables and leave.
Xie Hong, the first buyer, waited until everyone had finished before stepping forward and asking, “Young lady, do you still have any strawberries?”
Yan Sisi tidied up, lifted the basket, and looked at her, asking, “What’s up?”
Strawberries were selling best today, but the demand would likely decrease afterward. Right now, people were mainly buying for freshness, to eat occasionally; no one would want to buy them in large quantities for the long term.
“I want to buy some stock from you,” Xie Hong said nervously, looking at the young girl in front of her. She knew such strawberries would sell easily but wasn’t sure if Yan Sisi would agree.
This was the first time Yan Sisi encountered someone actively wanting to stock up. She couldn’t help thinking about it. Selling in public carried a certain risk. If she sold to just one person or a few, the risk would be much lower, but her profits would also be smaller.
Looking at the worker in front of her, whose clothes were faded from washing and who didn’t seem wealthy enough to afford fruits easily, Yan Sisi didn’t ask further. She only said, “Three cents each at purchase price.”
Xie Hong didn’t expect her to agree. Although the price was slightly higher than she had anticipated, she still gritted her teeth and said, “Take fifty first.”
Yan Sisi said, “Tomorrow at 6:30 p.m., in front of Guoxiang Restaurant. Cash on delivery.”
After speaking, they parted ways.
Walking home, Yan Sisi felt the thick stack of money in her pocket and couldn’t help but smile. She had brought more strawberries than yesterday, and her earnings looked pretty good.
After a while, Yan Sisi noticed a familiar figure outside a department store and couldn’t help staring. Wasn’t that Xu Weiming, who hadn’t appeared for several days? What was he doing here?
Curious, Yan Sisi secretly followed him, watching as he helped another young woman carry things and chatted with a big smile on his face.
Yan Sisi watched Xu Weiming, who seemed much more distant now. She didn’t know what he had said, but it had made the young woman with him smile softly, leaving her standing there, lost in thought.
So that’s why he hadn’t come to see her recently, he was with another girl?
It wasn’t until Xu Weiming shouted in surprise, “Sisi?” that Yan Sisi snapped out of her thoughts. She opened her eyes and looked ahead, realizing they were already in front of her, and she hadn’t even noticed.
Suppressing the thoughts in her mind, Yan Sisi forced a smile and asked, “Weiming, who is this?”
“Why are you here?” Xu Weiming said, carrying some things, but he didn’t answer his fiancée’s question. He positioned himself in front of Xia Yueling, afraid Yan Sisi would say something, and quickly grabbed her hand, saying, “Let me take you back!”
Yan Sisi coldly shook off his hand, her gaze indifferent as she asked, “Who is she?”
Xu Weiming lowered his voice and said, “Don’t make a scene. I’ll explain everything to you when we get back.”
“Everyone’s here already. Wouldn’t it be better to explain now instead of waiting until we go back?” Yan Sisi stubbornly stood her ground. She wanted to hear Xu Weiming say they had nothing going on, but seeing his nervous expression made her heart sink.
Xia Yueling noticed Xu Weiming acting strangely toward the suddenly appearing girl and felt a flash of unease in her heart.
She stepped forward, curious, and asked, “Yeah, Xu Weiming, I’m curious too. Who is she? Is she your sister?”
Although the possibility was slim, she couldn’t help but ask.
Hearing this, Xu Weiming had no choice but to grit his teeth and admit, “She’s a younger cousin from a distant relative’s family. Yueling, she’s just a little girl. Her family wouldn’t feel at ease if she came out alone. I was taking her back and then I’d come find you.”
If Yan Sisi had still held a glimmer of hope before, hearing this cleared her mind immediately. She shook off Xu Weiming’s hand, stepped in front of the other girl, and demanded, “I want to know who you are to Xu Weiming. You’ll tell me, won’t you?”
Xu Weiming followed behind her, veins bulging, ready to pull her away again. Xia Yueling blocked him with her bag, staring straight into his eyes, refusing to back down, and asked, “Xu Weiming, isn’t she your sister? Why not just tell her our relationship? Is there something you can’t say?”
Previously, they had “played dead” to save face for each other. Since the younger girl refused to go along with it, it was better to lay everything out openly. That way, the young girl wouldn’t hold any hope for such a scumbag.
The people passing through the department store couldn’t help staring at the man and two women standing in the middle, curiosity written all over their faces.
“What’s going on here?”
“You don’t know? Looks like the guy took a mistress, and the real partner found out.”
“This guy’s got some nerve! Right out in public, doesn’t he worry about getting caught?”
Listening to the crowd’s gossip, Xu Weiming felt sweat breaking out even in the cold. What on earth was happening? If he had known, he wouldn’t have listened to his mother and come out in the first place.
Although the past few years had seen looser enforcement on crimes involving scoundrels, it didn’t mean he could be publicly scrutinized like a monkey. If this got back to his workplace, it would be a problem of professional conduct.
Seeing the two girls refusing to move, Xu Weiming didn’t dare say anything that might provoke them. He could only lower his voice and say, “Sisi, Yueling, can we go outside to talk?”
Wu Fang, who had been following her son, saw him speaking humbly to Yan Sisi, someone she never trusted. She stepped forward, pulled her son’s hand away, and coldly addressed Yan Sisi: “What’s there to explain? Don’t you know your own family situation?”
“Mom, what are you doing here?” Xu Weiming groaned, feeling like his head was about to split in two. Something that could have been resolved quietly now risked turning into a disaster with his mother involved.
Seeing Yan Sisi standing alone, her eyes slightly glossy as if tears could spill any second, Xia Yueling couldn’t help but speak up: “Aunt Wu, I’d really like to know what this young lady’s relationship is with Xu Weiming.”
It looked like this blind date was going to be ruined again. She really wasn’t avoiding it, she just couldn’t seem to find the right match.
Yan Sisi blinked, looking at the woman standing in front of her. Something about the situation didn’t feel right. Wasn’t she supposed to be on Xu Weiming’s side?
Wu Fang immediately changed her attitude toward Xia Yueling, smiling as she said, “Yueling, what kind of relationship could there be? This young lady is just a distant relative of our patriarch. You’re already out shopping with Weiming, right? Go ahead and continue your stroll. I’ll just take our relative back.”