Tomorrow is a day off, so everyone usually collects their wages the day before. Many people, hearing the commotion, turned to look. Liu Meili clutched her chest and wailed, “Are you mistaken? We haven’t received our wages!”
The accountant adjusted her glasses and checked the ledger twice.
“Isn’t this correct? Pharmacy—Sang Jiqing: October wages 51 yuan, one pound of meat ration, five liang of oil, one industrial coupon. Logistics—Liu Meili: wages 32 yuan…”
“Not only have you received this month’s wages, but the next three months’ wages have also been advanced.”
“What?!” Liu Meili was stunned, frozen in place.
“It was your niece who approached the leadership, explaining your family difficulties and even showing proof from the factory hospital about malnutrition. She had your next three months’ wages advanced. Comrade Liu, if you have difficulties, you should report them to the factory. Your child is already malnourished—this is unacceptable…”
After that, whatever was said went in one ear and out the other for Liu Meili. Her mind was filled with the thought: It’s over. It’s over. She left in a daze, but the topic of her family didn’t stop circulating.
“Did you hear? Her son got into trouble and was sent to the police by the factory…”
“I heard both father and son aren’t exactly good people.”
“The father says he didn’t know what his son did. I wouldn’t doubt it—a mere apprentice wouldn’t dare that much…”
“Shh, it’s our turn. Stop talking.”
The weather was beautiful today, but Liu Meili felt incredibly cold. She walked on absentmindedly, not even noticing her scruffy husband approaching. Sang Jiqing, however, stopped her.
“I’ve been suspended. Whether I can work depends on notification. Jianshe was caught red-handed and will go to jail. Before that, he has to compensate the hospital. You’ve already paid, right? Give me the money.”
Liu Meili’s mind went completely blank: it’s over, it’s over. Her eldest son lost his job, will go to jail, and for years, who would want a good daughter to marry him? And now they have to compensate for losses, with halted production… the family’s savings are gone, and they still owe three months’ wages to the company. She suddenly collapsed onto the ground, crying hysterically like a madwoman.
“Heaven! There’s no way out! There’s really no way out!”
By rights, after all this commotion, Sang Zhi should have left. But she didn’t. With money in hand, she bought herself fine clothes and ate meat at every meal. The rest of the Sang family, who could only eat coarse food, could only watch in frustration.
Sang Jiqing was a notable figure—every day he was summoned by investigators, looking more disheveled and thin by the day. Yet he never revealed a single clue. Even with Sang Zhi, he maintained a facade of harmony—greeting her when she entered, or speaking a few caring words in public in his capacity as an elder.
Liu Meili, on the other hand, was busy these past two days, leaving early and returning late, unable to find anyone. Sang Zhi was happy to play along, feigning appearances. In the meantime, the neighbors were confused.
Su Xia was one of the few who cared about Sang Zhi. She sensed something strange about her uncle and wanted Sang Zhi to move out. But Sang Zhi refused. Though she grew up without parents, being adopted and pampered, she would never suffer losses. Losing wages, money, or having her grain taken away—this was only the beginning. Everything she did had a purpose. Expressions and words could lie, but hunger could not. These days, she had heard the family starving everywhere. Pushed to this point, whatever they were hiding, they had to reveal. Since she had become Sang Zhi, whatever was taken from her had to be returned, down to the last cent.
In the book, her uncle lived in a military compound. She knew every household there, but entry and exit were all registered, so she just needed to ask the guards. Sang Yun hadn’t returned home these past two days, so she must have already secured her place there. Now it was Sang Zhi’s turn to “seek refuge.”
Unlike her cousin, who always dressed up extravagantly, this time she deliberately wore the original owner’s thin early-autumn clothes. At first, she bought Maotai to show respect to the elderly man, but then reconsidered—this didn’t fit the “innocent girl” image. She replaced it with cornmeal and sorghum.
The guards were a bit puzzled. They couldn’t imagine the usually solitary Captain Cai having so many visitors today. They called the Cai household, got no answer, and since it was a shift change, decided to do a good deed and let her in.
Previously, she hadn’t understood why Sang Yun would risk so much, but now she did. The street was lined with tall, dense plane trees, creating a quiet and mysterious atmosphere. There were barber shops, kindergartens, prestigious schools, and playgrounds all around.
Perhaps because she appeared approachable, the young guard even pointed to two auditoriums and explained, “One is the General Staff Auditorium, the other the PLA Political Academy Auditorium. They usually show movies inside—it’s quite lively.”
“Wow, being able to work here is a testament to your ability,” Sang Zhi said, easily giving the young guard a flattering remark that made his face flush.
Sang Yun had just returned from buying soy sauce with Feng Xiangdong. She saw a familiar back, but the person was too raggedly dressed, so she didn’t think it was Sang Zhi. Thinking of the man she saw earlier, her heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t expected to see Jiang Yan, yet today she encountered him again at Captain Cai’s house.
It turned out that Captain Cai was Jiang Yan’s former superior, and he had come specifically to celebrate the senior officer’s birthday. Amidst the vast crowd, without any deliberate arrangement, they met twice—what else could it be but fate?
They chatted and laughed as they arrived at the entrance.
Sang Zhi heard the commotion and turned her head, smiling brightly and waving as if nothing had happened.
“Cousin…” Sang Yun’s smile froze when she saw her. Sang Zhi—she actually found me here? The lies she had told earlier… there was no way to run, and the familiar fear of being at Sang Zhi’s mercy returned.
Feng Xiangdong also noticed Sang Yun’s unease. On the way to buy things earlier, he had asked how the bruises on her face had happened. He already had a poor impression of this “overbearing cousin who steals others’ place.”
As the two faced off, Captain Cai returned from his walk. Sang Yun hurried forward to help him, wearing a completely submissive expression. Captain Cai was a lean, small old man, and his facial features faintly reflected those of Grandma Cai.
Perhaps due to the original owner’s emotional turmoil, Sang Yun’s eyes felt a bit warm. Grandma Cai had some disagreements with her younger brother when they were young, and after each started their own families, they never interacted again. Had it not been for concern for the original owner, Grandma Cai would not have entrusted him before passing away. In fact, Captain Cai didn’t even know what the girl coming to seek refuge would look like.
Once Sang Zhi introduced herself, things became interesting. The group entered the room, and while Sang Yun sat nervously, Sang Zhi produced Grandma Cai’s handwritten letter and a photo of the two of them.
“Uncle, when I first arrived in the city, my uncle and aunt detained me and took my luggage and letters. Cousin, how are you here?”
Feng Xiangdong, already predisposed against her, saw that the girl who saved the old leader looked pale with fright. He instinctively defended her.
“Comrade, it’s one thing to bully people at home, but coming here to show off your power—this is too much!”
Sang Yun, seeing someone supporting her, felt bolstered. Luckily, she had anticipated this day and had already prepared a reason over the past few days.
“Little sister, wasn’t it you who said you didn’t want to live with the elders because of their ‘old people smell,’ so you forced me to take them? I exchanged a quiet hospital job for the chance to care for the old hero, but no matter how much I retreated, you gave me no way out!”
Feng Xiangdong nodded. It was thanks to Comrade Sang Yun that the elder was cared for. A few nights ago, when the old leader suddenly fell ill at night, it was Sang Yun who got him to the hospital. If the person being tricked had been someone else, Sang Zhi would have applauded on the spot, praising her cousin for her cleverness—taking all adverse factors onto herself, maintaining dignity and principle. Truly impressive.
Just as she was about to explain, a familiar figure flashed past the window, followed by the sound of a door opening. Even in a brief glance, she recognized who it was. It was the man she had rescued at the station that day and who had mysteriously appeared in someone’s bed that night.
Remember, she had managed to kick someone in the groin and remain unharmed. But that relied on steadfast denial and lack of witnesses. If he recognized her from the station that day, and with Sang Yun stirring up trouble, she’d be in trouble. Plus, the “bed incident” couldn’t easily be explained.
Although unsure whether he would recognize her, she never took risky actions. Perfect timing—the atmosphere was charged. She threw down her things, her eyes watering, and ran off holding her face as if “in unbearable pain.”
As the two brushed past each other, Jiang Yan caught a familiar scent. Given his keen sensitivity, he turned around.
“Stop!”