Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Song Weiguo saw the doubt in Wang Xiangzhi's eyes and explained with a smile:

"You might not think much of her being a young girl, but her tracking skills are exceptional. In our entire Public Security Bureau, no one can match her when it comes to identifying and following tracks."

Wang Xiangzhi understood intellectually that the Public Security Bureau wouldn't joke about such matters, yet seeing Tang Qingqing's youthful face made it hard for him to trust her.

Wang Heizi was displeased. "Hey, what kind of look is that? Who would willingly go out in the cold to help you?"

Wang Xiangzhi realized his attitude was inappropriate. Regardless of whether this young girl had any skills, she was trying to help.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Wang Xiangzhi repeatedly apologized.

Tang Qingqing didn't feel too affected by his skepticism. After all, she did look very young, and arguing wouldn't change anything. Once she proved herself, he would naturally believe in her.

"Let's go track them down. The Public Security Bureau won't abandon its duties; consider us as enthusiastic volunteers helping out." Tang Qingqing remained composed.

Wang Heizi pouted. "Why aren't you getting angry?"

Seeing Tang Qingqing remain unperturbed despite his lack of respect, Wang Xiangzhi felt he had gone too far.

As Tang Qingqing said, she was only trying to help, so why was he being so picky?

Wang Xiangzhi wanted to say more but was interrupted by Zhai Hongyi.

"Tell us more about your sister. The more information we have, the better our chances of finding her."

Wang Xiangzhi glanced at Zhai Hongyi. Despite his imposing height, Zhai Hongyi didn't seem much older than himself.

Facing Zhai Hongyi, Wang Xiangzhi couldn't afford to be dismissive.

He sensed an unusual aura from Zhai Hongyi, indicating he wasn't from an ordinary background. His accent suggested he was likely a knowledge youth sent to the countryside.

Wang Xiangzhi set aside his scattered thoughts and focused on his sister's disappearance.

"My third sister is a well-behaved person, and our family is very close. It's inconceivable that she would do something immoral. Even if she had other interests, she would have told us."

Wang Xiangzhi frowned, visibly distressed.

"To be honest, our family isn't satisfied with her husband. Initially, we thought it was fine since my third sister liked him despite his poverty. But he's not trustworthy. He promised to let her visit us during holidays but often makes excuses."

On the second day of the New Year, Wang Xianghong didn't come home, which wasn't surprising given Cao Liang's behavior.

"Although my third sister always says she's happy, we've grown up together, and I can tell she's changed."

Wang Xiangzhi couldn't pinpoint how, but he sensed his third sister wasn't as happy as before. Her silence when faced with injustice further complicated matters.

This led the Wang family to insist that Cao Liang allow Wang Xianghong to visit regularly, reminding him that she has a family.

When Wang Xianghong didn't return this time, they decided to confront Cao Liang, hoping to make him understand their stance.

Instead, they found her missing, and Cao Liang claimed she had run off with another man.

"How could my sister do such a thing? She fought so hard to marry Cao Liang. How could she betray him now?"

"If she truly had other interests, she could just return home. Our whole family would support her. Why would she run away without taking anything? That's foolish!"

Wang Xiangzhi was furious, feeling this accusation was unjust.

"I suspect Cao Liang has hidden my sister to prevent her from contacting us, effectively cutting off communication between our families."

Zhai Hongyi asked, "How did Cao Liang and Wang Xianghong meet?"

"One of my third sister's friends married into Red Star Commune. Her husband works at the veterinary station. She attended the wedding and met Cao Liang there."

Zhai Hongyi looked at Song Weiguo, who said:

"We previously visited the friend. She hasn't seen Wang Xianghong in a long time and mentioned they haven't been in touch recently. The last time she saw Wang Xianghong was over a year ago."

Tang Qingqing was puzzled. "If they were close friends, why haven't they met in so long? Did they have a falling out?"

Wang Xianghong usually passed through the commune to catch a bus home during holidays. If they were close, she should have visited.

The veterinary station is near the bus station, so she had ample time to drop by.

"She said Wang Xianghong distanced herself. She even scolded Wang Xianghong about it. Wang Xianghong promised to visit whenever she came home, but she never did."

Wang Xiangzhi added, "Zheng Ying and my third sister grew up together. They were classmates. Zheng Ying also complained about my third sister not visiting. Zheng Ying is the closest person to her here, so they should have stayed in touch."

Zheng Ying and Wang Xianghong were classmates for five years and were very close.

Zhai Hongyi asked, "Did Wang Xianghong explain why she didn't visit Zheng Ying?"

"She said it was too far and inconvenient. During holidays, she was always in a rush and couldn't visit."

Zheng Ying's situation differed; she attended middle school and her husband's family was more capable.

She worked part-time at the veterinary station and had two children, making it difficult to visit Wang Xianghong.

After marriage, women often prioritize their new families. Close friendships from before marriage become harder to maintain, especially if they live far apart.

Zheng Ying rarely had time to visit her own family, so meeting up with Wang Xianghong became infrequent.

Zhai Hongyi asked some more questions about Wang Xianghong and then had Song Weiguo issue them a letter of introduction.

They needed some form of identification to get people to cooperate with their investigation.

Before the three of them set off, Song Weiguo still seemed worried.

"Are you three really sure? Do you need us to send someone along with you?"

Zhai Hongyi shook his head. "No need. If we haven't returned by tomorrow, you can send someone then."

Seeing that Zhai Hongyi was determined, Song Weiguo did not insist further. Instead, he informed the local police station in advance, telling them to contact the local public security officer if they needed help.

Zhai Hongyi nodded and then asked, "Uncle, do you know anyone who has relatives in Tiandong Brigade?"

Red Star Commune is not very large, but it is long and narrow, which makes some brigades quite far from the commune.

People working at the commune usually have relatives scattered across various villages.

After thinking for a moment, Song Weiguo said, "Actually, I do. I remember Chef Li has a relative in Tiandong Brigade."

Everyone knew Chef Li well. The three were heading to the canteen for dinner—Wang Heizi's status had been upgraded, so he was now eligible to join them. They could ask him about the situation.

It was past dinnertime, and only a few people remained in the canteen. Chef Li was relatively free.

Upon hearing that they were going to Tiandong Brigade for an investigation, Chef Li gave them a thumbs-up.

"Young heroes indeed! Fearless as calves."

Tang Qingqing laughed. "Uncle, you make it sound like we're going to fight."

"Not far off. It's quite remote there; it takes hours just to walk up the mountain. They say there are even bears on the mountain."

Wang Heizi perked up at this. "Bears? In my village, we only have wolves. I've never seen a bear before."

"What's wrong with you, kid? Aren't you scared at all?" Chef Li glared at him.

"If I'm already a 'bear kid,' why would I be afraid of a bear?"

Chef Li couldn't help but laugh. "If you go there, you should find me. My aunt married into that village. Though she's not my real aunt, our family has always been close.

I heard she was sick recently, but I haven't had a chance to visit her. If you go there, you can take something to her on my behalf."

When Chef Li learned that Song Weiguo was investigating in Tiandong Brigade, he had been thinking about this. However, since they were on official business, he didn't want to impose.

But these three young people were going undercover, which changed things.

Zhai Hongyi was delighted. "That's perfect."

"Qingqing, when you get there, you can say you're my daughter. Tell her I'm too busy and sent you instead. My aunt hasn't seen my daughter in years, so she won't suspect anything."

Chef Li does indeed have a daughter around Tang Qingqing's age, though she is much sturdier.

"Is it right to deceive her like this?"

Wang Heizi laughed. "Uncle, you have no idea how different you look. Qingqing doesn't look like your daughter at all!"

Several pairs of eyes glared at him, and Wang Heizi froze.

"How dare you! My daughter is just as beautiful!"

Chef Li slapped him on the back, making Wang Heizi yelp.

"Don't worry, the old lady just needs some comfort. Besides, you're practically my own daughter."

Tang Qingqing was pleased and didn't feel taken advantage of. She was grateful for Chef Li's care, despite knowing him for only a short time.

Wang Heizi asked, "What about us? What identities will we have?"

Chef Li looked at him disdainfully and reluctantly said, "You can be my son."

Wang Heizi stared, and Chef Li scoffed.

"I don't even want you as a son. My real son is much better behaved. He started helping me in the kitchen when he was barely taller than the stove. What can you do?"

Wang Heizi stuck out his tongue but didn't argue.

He was excited, feeling like an underground party member in a movie, infiltrating the enemy to uncover the truth.

Wang Heizi pointed at Zhai Hongyi. "What about Brother Yi? You can't say he's your son too. No one would believe that."

Chef Li sized up Zhai Hongyi, impressed with the educated youth.

"That's easy. He's my eldest daughter's fiancé."

"Hahahaha—"

Wang Heizi burst into uncontrollable laughter, pounding the table as if he had heard something hilarious.

"Uncle, what were you thinking? Pairing me with Tang Qingqing would be more believable than them! Hahahaha—"

Wang Heizi's laughter almost shook the rafters, revealing his throat. The public security officer eating nearby was startled, dropping the meat from his chopsticks.

Zhai Hongyi slapped him. "Knock it off!"

Wang Heizi clutched his stomach. "Brother Yi, don't you think it's funny? This is the funniest joke I've heard all year."

Though Tang Qingqing was also shocked by Chef Li's words, seeing Wang Heizi's antics made her roll her eyes.

While eating, Wang Heizi kept glancing between Tang Qingqing and Zhai Hongyi, laughing every time he looked, almost choking on his steamed bun.

Tang Qingqing was speechless. "Do you really need to laugh like that?"

"Absolutely."

"Where's the joke?"

"It's just funny, that's all."

Tang Qingqing gave up on him and didn't bother talking to him anymore. Zhai Hongyi didn't even give him a glance.

With Wang Heizi's antics, Tang Qingqing and Zhai Hongyi were completely unaffected by Chef Li's whimsical suggestion. They felt no awkwardness and continued to interact as they always had.

Chef Li had prepared only a few gifts, but they were good ones: a bottle of malted milk, two cans of fruit preserves, and a few blocks of brown sugar. These gifts were considered substantial even in the commune.

They took the gifts and headed first to the veterinary station to find Zheng Ying.

When Zheng Ying came out, she was quite surprised to see them.

She looked at Zhai Hongyi, the most mature of the three, and asked, "May I ask who you are?"

Zhai Hongyi took out the letter of introduction, which was a certificate from the Public Security Bureau.

Zheng Ying found it even more curious because it not only stated that Zhai Hongyi was an external staff member of the Public Security Bureau but also mentioned Wang Heizi and Tang Qingqing, the two children.

"What brings you here?"

Zhai Hongyi wasn't in a hurry. "Let's go somewhere quieter."

The veterinary hospital was noisy with many animals, and the smell wasn't pleasant.

Zheng Ying led them aside, and then Zhai Hongyi spoke. "We're here to investigate the disappearance of Wang Xianghong. You know her, right?"

"Yes, we've been friends for many years. Hasn't she been found yet?"

Mentioning Wang Xianghong, Zheng Ying's expression showed concern.

Zhai Hongyi shook his head, and Zheng Ying looked disappointed.

"You were close friends. Why did you drift apart?"

Zheng Ying sighed. "At first, I couldn't understand either. When she first got married, we were still fine. When my first child was born, my mother-in-law was sick and couldn't come from the countryside. Seeing that I had no one to take care of me, she even came to the commune to help me through my confinement period."

"But when my second child was born, I invited her to the full moon celebration, and she didn't come. Knowing it was inconvenient for her to travel, I even postponed the celebration to Mid-Autumn Festival."

"In the end, she passed through the commune without even stopping by. If it weren't for my two children, I would have gone to the countryside to ask what was going on."

"Later during the New Year, I went to her family home to ask why she hadn't visited. Even if she was in a rush to catch a train, she could have dropped by on her way back, stayed overnight, and left early the next day. Instead, she said she forgot because she was in a hurry."

Wang Heizi and Tang Qingqing: "What did she say?"

"She said she was in a hurry and forgot."

This excuse was too flimsy, making Zheng Ying very upset.

But Wang Xianghong apologized repeatedly, so Zheng Ying couldn't say much. She just told her to at least drop by if she passed through town.

That wasn't the worst part. Zheng Ying's husband was a veterinarian at the veterinary station. Once, he needed to visit Tiandong Brigade for work.

Zheng Ying left her children with neighbors and went along. But when Wang Xianghong entertained her, she was very cold.

Zheng Ying wanted to stay overnight to talk privately, but ended up leaving that night.

Her husband consoled her, saying Wang Xianghong's husband's family was poor and embarrassed to host guests. Zheng Ying felt slightly better.

"I still felt angry later. We were good friends, and I knew about her husband's family. How could I possibly look down on her?"

Zhai Hongyi: "What was your opinion when she decided to marry her current husband?"

"I won't hide anything from you. I was against it. I wanted to introduce her to someone from the commune, a hardworking temporary worker with a good family. But she insisted on marrying her current husband. As her friend, I couldn't say much. Marriage isn't just about conditions; it's also about compatibility."

"Did you mention this to her current husband?"

"My mind isn't addled. Why would I bring it up?"

Zheng Ying paused. "But I did tell Cao Liang at her wedding to treat Xianghong well, or I'd find her someone better."

Zheng Ying felt a bit uneasy. "Is it wrong to say such things? Many friends say similar things at weddings to make the groom value the bride more. At my own wedding, someone said the same to my husband."

Wang Heizi nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes. In our brigade, people say things like that too. When my sister got married, I told my brother-in-law that if he dared to mistreat her, I'd beat him to a pulp."

Hearing this, Zheng Ying felt slightly relieved but still uneasy.

Zhai Hongyi: "Do you now understand why she distanced herself from you?"

"She's been married for three years, and there's still no sign of a child. For a woman, especially in the countryside, that can be very stressful. I have two sons, and seeing them might make her feel uncomfortable."

Zheng Ying sighed deeply. "I never thought about it before. I assumed children would come eventually. But when I visited my in-laws recently, the neighbor's wife had four daughters, and their family treated us differently."

"Previously, my husband was close to that man, but last time we visited, everything changed. My mother-in-law said they even talked behind our backs, saying we were showing off because we had two sons."

Zheng Ying smiled bitterly. "It's ridiculous. It's a different era now, and having sons is still seen as a badge of honor."

But because of this, Zheng Ying wondered if Wang Xianghong's sudden distance was due to the same reason.

Otherwise, she really couldn't understand why Wang Xianghong would distance herself.

She had also considered whether she might have said something wrong that hurt her.

Wang Xianghong wasn't the type to express herself openly; she tended to keep things inside.

But after tossing and turning for a long time, she still couldn't figure out where she went wrong to make Wang Xianghong abandon their years of friendship.

Both of them were far from home in Red Star Commune, where they didn't have many fellow townspeople. It was unreasonable for them to be distant from each other.

"Did she suddenly change, or did she gradually distance herself from you?"

"It happened gradually. At first, whenever she visited her parents, she would stay with me for a night. When she returned from her parents' place, she would also stay with me. Later, it slowly turned into just dropping by for a moment. Initially, I thought she was busy, so I didn't mind. But eventually, she stopped coming altogether!"

"When did this start?"

"About a year after she got married."

"Was there any change in her during that time?"

Zheng Ying pursed her lips, hesitating whether to speak, especially seeing the bright eyes of Wang Heizi and Tang Qingqing. She felt it wasn't quite right to discuss these matters in front of children.

Tang Qingqing: "We're not being nosy; we want more information to help us investigate."

Tang Qingqing herself wasn't sure what use asking these questions would serve, but she trusted that Zhai Hongyi wouldn't engage in idle gossip.

Usually, when she gossiped with Wang Heizi, he showed little interest.

Only then did Zheng Ying speak: "I think her life hasn't been good since she got married."

Wang Heizi: "How so?"

"I can't pinpoint it, but she says everything is fine. However, a woman's well-being after marriage shows on her face. Especially since we are such close friends, how could I not notice? But she doesn't want to talk about it, so I don't push her.

Every family has its own troubles. Even if others think my life is good, every household has its issues. And poverty makes everything harder. Her husband's family is poor, so there must be even more problems."

Wang Xianghong was someone who valued face. She insisted on marrying Cao Liang despite objections, and now, even if she suffers, she keeps it to herself.

If she constantly complained, it would mean admitting she made a mistake.

In such a situation, she might not receive comfort but rather condescending criticism—

"See, we told you not to marry him. Now you regret it, don't you?"

Zheng Ying understood this feeling, so she didn't pry further.

Instead, she tried to find opportunities for Wang Xianghong or Cao Liang to work part-time during the off-season to improve their situation.

Eventually, she found a job that would earn nearly a hundred yuan by working a few months in winter. But Wang Xianghong refused.

She said her husband didn't want her to work too hard, so she didn't come.

Zheng Ying couldn't argue much. The job was indeed demanding, requiring full-time care for an elderly, immobile, and confused woman.

It involved cleaning up after her, which was dirty and exhausting work, though well-paid.

While many would fight for such a job, some might find it unpleasant.

Zhai Hongyi asked a few more questions before preparing to leave with Tang Qingqing and Wang Heizi.

Seeing the close relationship among the three, Zheng Ying felt a pang of sadness:

"Before, my relationship with Xianghong was even closer than yours. We used to hold hands and walk together everywhere. But soon after she got married, she didn't want to be close anymore."

People change as they grow up; they can't remain as innocent and carefree as they were in childhood.

The three caught the last bus back to their hometown, heading first to the town where Tiandong Brigade was located.

When boarding the bus, Zhai Hongyi and Tang Qingqing sat together, leaving Wang Heizi feeling left out.

"Brother Yi, shouldn't the two men sit together instead of you two?"

Zhai Hongyi glanced around the bus. Apart from families traveling together, there were no single women riding alone.

If Tang Qingqing were left alone, she would have to sit with a man.

But he didn't explain, only saying, "You're too noisy."

Tang Qingqing felt more at ease sitting next to Zhai Hongyi, knowing she could sleep soundly.

She no longer got motion sickness, but she always felt sleepy on buses.

On bumpy roads, her head would sway uncontrollably.

If she sat with a stranger, leaning on them would be awkward.

"Brother, did you ask those questions for a reason?"

"A person doesn't disappear without a trace. Whether she ran away or encountered something, there's always a reason. Understanding the reason will help us track down where she might have gone, making it easier to determine her whereabouts."

Tang Qingqing nodded. Although she had learned to track footprints and deduce events based on them, she didn't know how to proceed without physical evidence.

"Brother, do you have any suspicions?"

Sitting behind them, Wang Heizi leaned forward and asked, "Brother Yi, spill the beans already."

Zhai Hongyi looked around the crowded bus, indicating clearly that it wasn't the right environment to discuss such matters.

But he still spoke up: "Right now, it's all just one-sided accounts. It's hard to make a judgment. We'll have to go there and investigate to understand what really happened."

The Public Security Bureau has limited manpower. Although Song Weiguo did conduct some investigations before, with such a short time to both find people and interview them, the current investigation is still quite rough.

Zhai Hongyi had reviewed the records, and many details were not thoroughly investigated or verified.

When they arrived in the town, it was already dark.

The three of them went to the local police station to meet the old chief, who had received a call beforehand and knew they were coming. He had arranged accommodation for them and even invited them to his home for dinner.

The three of them were entitled to meal allowances, but Song Weiguo had to bend the rules to secure an extra allowance for Wang Heizi.

The old chief initially declined but eventually accepted the money and tickets.

Life is tough for everyone, and the old chief's family didn't have any surplus food either.

Compared to the meals at the Public Security Bureau canteen, the food at the old chief's home was much simpler, similar to that of an ordinary peasant household, with little meat but enough to fill their bellies.

The three of them weren't picky and ate heartily.

During the meal, they inquired about the situation in Tiandong Brigade and asked for directions.

The old chief said, "Tiandong Brigade is the farthest brigade from our township. It's very poor, and no girls used to want to marry into that place. Those who did often ran away because they couldn't bear the poverty. However, since the train station was built on the other side of the mountain, things have improved significantly."

In fact, the train station is quite far from Tiandong Brigade, requiring several hours of travel over mountains and valleys, though there are tracks nearby.

"The roads there are difficult to navigate, so when the trains pass through, they slow down. Some people take advantage of this to steal goods, which has made a few people wealthy."

The railway not only transports passengers but also goods and coal.

To catch those who steal from the trains, the old chief frequently patrolled the area. With already insufficient manpower, this made their work even busier.

Apart from theft, some people sell goods at the station.

Usually, these are wild products from the mountains or homemade bread and boiled eggs.

Some long-distance travelers would come down to buy food.

Although this behavior isn't appropriate, everyone turns a blind eye, making life a bit easier for each other, which has helped the people of Tiandong Brigade become somewhat better off than before.

Overall, however, Tiandong Brigade remains very poor.

And due to deeply ingrained beliefs, local girls still don't want to marry into that place.

If someone does marry into Tiandong Brigade, they must offer a higher dowry than elsewhere.

For Cao Liang to marry a girl from another commune, who comes from a decent family and is good-looking, is unprecedented for Tiandong Brigade.

The old chief, who often visits the brigades, has heard about this.

After all, there aren't many brides from outside, and the old chief frequently visits Tiandong Brigade, so he is familiar with the situation.

"I do remember Cao Liang. The young man looks energetic and works hard, so it's no wonder he could marry such a wife."

Wang Heizi was surprised: "Old Chief, do you think Cao Liang is a good person?"

Hearing this, the old chief couldn't help but laugh:

"As public security officers, we can't immediately label someone as good or bad. That's how mistakes are made."

Wang Heizi scratched his head: "Why not?"

"What do you mean by a good person or a bad person?"

Wang Heizi stared: "If he does good deeds, he's a good person; if he does bad deeds, he's a bad person."

"But what if he's kind and helpful to others outside but domineering at home? Or vice versa, cruel outside but loving to his family inside? What if someone was good before but suddenly turned bad? How would you categorize them then?"

Wang Heizi opened his mouth wide, unable to respond.

"Young man, you still have a lot to learn."

"Why is it so complicated? Can't it be simpler?"

"You'll understand when you grow up."

Wang Heizi hated hearing this and stood up, indicating: "I'm already grown up!"

He had grown taller during the winter, and although Tang Qingqing had also grown, she still wasn't as tall as Wang Heizi.

The old chief smiled without saying anything.

Zhai Hongyi and Tang Qingqing felt embarrassed and silently continued eating without speaking.

The next morning, the three of them set out for Tiandong Brigade.

Although Tiandong Brigade is far, there are no major detours, so they could find their way without a guide.

The mountains here are steeper and rockier than those in Rongshan Brigade, making it difficult for crops to grow.

Now that Tang Qingqing's health had improved, she could walk for a few hours, feeling tired but still able to keep going.

When they reached Tiandong Brigade, some villagers approached them and asked where they were from.

Wang Heizi replied: "We're here to visit my aunt. My aunt's eldest son is named Wang Dashan. Could you show us the way?"

"Oh, you're from the Dashan family? Their house is at the eastern entrance of the village. Just go straight ahead, and you'll see it."

The villager pointed the way enthusiastically and asked curiously, "I haven't seen you around before, have I?"

"Before, my dad came here. He's the one who works as a chef at the commune. When he heard that Auntie was sick, he couldn't come because of work, but we had to visit her, so he sent us over."

Hearing this, the enthusiastic villager immediately knew who they were talking about.

Especially when they saw the gifts Zhai Hongyi was carrying in a mesh bag, their envy grew even more.

"Being a chef is good; you never go hungry no matter what year it is."

The villager then looked at Zhai Hongyi. "And who is this?"

"He's my cousin. Since we're still young, my dad wasn't comfortable, so he asked my cousin to escort us here. My cousin comes from a big city, see how different he is from ordinary people!"

Wang Heizi lied smoothly, without any hesitation or guilt, and spoke with such confidence that no one would doubt his identity.

Approaching the house, he didn't forget to greet warmly, "Auntie, I'll come by your place later!"

Hearing the commotion at the door, someone came out of the house.

Wang Dashan looked at the unfamiliar group of two adults and a child. "Who are you?"

Before Wang Heizi could introduce himself, the enthusiastic aunt explained their identities.

Wang Heizi took the gift from Zhai Hongyi and handed it to Wang Dashan:

"We heard that Auntie was ill, and my dad was very worried. But since he couldn't come due to work, he sent us over to check on her."

Seeing such a heavy gift, Wang Dashan instinctively tried to refuse it.

Wang Heizi, however, was well-versed in this etiquette and pushed it into Wang Dashan's arms.

"Uncle, we plan to stay for a few nights. If you don't accept this, we wouldn't feel right staying at your place. Are you trying to make us leave?"

Hearing this, Wang Dashan dared not refuse anymore.

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking that children raised in the city were indeed different, speaking so eloquently.

Auntie's condition was better than what Chef Li knew; she could eat, sleep, and walk, though her mind was a bit muddled.

As soon as Wang Dashan introduced them, he forgot again in an instant.

This situation was already quite good in the countryside; if she were paralyzed, it would be much worse.

Wang Dashan had a son and a daughter, both around the same age as Tang Qingqing, with his daughter being eleven years old.

Initially, the two children felt a bit distant from the visitors, especially towards Zhai Hongyi, not daring to look him in the eye.

But under the lure of candy, they quickly warmed up and started playing together.

Wang Dashan's daughter, Wang Tiantian, particularly liked Tang Qingqing and followed her closely.

Wang Dashan's son, Wang Xiaotie, became close friends with Wang Heizi, slinging his arm around him.

Zhai Hongyi, silent and watchful, followed behind like a guardian, observing without participating.

Wang Tiantian and Wang Xiaotie soon got used to his presence, although they didn't talk to him directly, they weren't afraid of him anymore.

Despite having traveled for half a day, the three rested briefly before insisting on going out to play.

Wang Dashan didn't suspect anything and was even pleased, thinking the children liked his home and didn't mind its simplicity.

Wang Heizi, known for his love of chatting, asked all sorts of questions along the way.

He was particularly interested in gossip about various families, and Wang Xiaotie shared everything he knew.

Wang Heizi also shared some gossip he knew, cleverly attributing village affairs to the commune.

Wang Xiaotie and Wang Tiantian had never been to the commune and didn't know about various units, so they didn't suspect anything.

The village was small, and everyone knew what happened in each household.

There were no entertainment options in the village, so gossip was a common pastime.

Although the children preferred playing outside, they often heard the same stories repeated at home and couldn't help but learn them.

Especially Wang Tiantian, being a girl and quieter, often helped her mother with chores and listened to adult conversations, becoming a source of information.

Soon, the two children mentioned Cao Liang's family.

Cao Liang's family had just experienced a significant event, making them a hot topic in the village.

Wang Tiantian still had a vivid impression of Wang Xianghong. "Auntie Xianghong was so beautiful when she first married in; we all stared in awe!"

"I remember thinking, if only I could marry someone as pretty as her when I grow up, and she wouldn't ask for much dowry," Wang Xiaotie sighed.

Although the Wang family initially disagreed with Wang Xianghong marrying Cao Liang, she was determined, and they didn't ask for much dowry since Cao Liang couldn't afford it.

Moreover, unlike some families, they didn't keep the dowry but returned it all and added more.

Beautiful and bringing her own dowry, she was a rare find.

Wang Xiaotie: "But now it seems that beautiful women aren't reliable; they might run away."

"Did she really run off with someone?" Wang Heizi asked.

Wang Tiantian: "Where else could she have gone? She hasn't been settled since she married in."

Tang Qingqing and Wang Heizi exchanged a glance. "How do you know?"

"Everyone says so, and some even claim to have seen her flirting with men."

Wang Heizi stared in disbelief: "Really? Is she that kind of person?"

Wang Tiantian: "I didn't believe it at first either. I thought Aunt Hong was such a nice person. But one of my friends said she saw her tussling with a man."

Wang Xiaotie: "Her reputation in the village isn't very good. A friend of mine's parents even got into a fight over Aunt Hong."

Wang Heizi’s mouth gaped open; this completely overturned his impression of Wang Xianghong.

No one in the Tiandong Brigade was surprised by Wang Xianghong running away.

Zhai Hongyi, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up: "What kind of person is her husband?"

Wang Tiantian and Wang Xiaotie were startled by his voice, feeling a bit unaccustomed to hearing him speak.

But they quickly calmed down, no longer as afraid of him as they were at first.

Wang Xiaotie: "Uncle Liang is such a nice guy. Every time he goes to the commune, he brings us candy."

Wang Heizi snorted: "Giving you candy makes him a good person?"

Wang Xiaotie blushed: "Of course not just because of that. He works efficiently and diligently, and he has a really kind heart. Everyone likes him."

Wang Tiantian: "Our family even considered marrying our younger aunt to him. If he wasn't good, we wouldn't have thought about it.

But unexpectedly, Cao Liang found someone else outside, and she was even better suited for him. It made everyone envious.

However, later on, no one envied him anymore. Having such an unfaithful wife is worse than having a less desirable one, at least you don't get cheated on.

Now she's run away, leaving him with nothing.

I can't believe Aunt Hong is that kind of person. Uncle Liang treats her so well. Other women have to work in the fields, but she doesn't. Uncle Liang manages everything inside and outside the home. What more could she want?"

"You don't know, many of the aunts and sisters-in-law in the village envy Aunt Hong. Now that she's run away, some are already planning to marry their daughters to Uncle Liang."

Tang Qingqing was shocked: "Are you serious? His wife just disappeared! She might come back in a few days. Isn't that too quick?"

"It's just talk, it won't happen that fast. Uncle Liang isn't getting any younger, and not having children is a problem. He loves kids so much."

Wang Tiantian remembered something and looked around before whispering:

"There's another thing I know that most people in the village don't. I overheard it by accident."