80s Transmigration: The Young Widow's Hustle to Riches

Wu Chunsheng said, "Zou Chunhong, how can you act like this? Wen Hui’s aunt and her family helped us out of the kindness of their hearts and treated us to a wonderful meal. What do you think you’re doing?"

Zou Chunhong wailed, "Uncle Wu, they’re going to sell me if I go back... WAHHH..."

Wu Chunsheng frowned at her. "But you can’t just cause trouble for Wen Hui’s aunt, can you? It’s not like she owes you anything. Even if you want to become an apprentice or something, you need to go back and sort it out with your parents!"

"Exactly! Who would dare to take you in when you’re acting like this?" Wu Chunyu said, then turned to Wu Xiaoying. "Hurry up and pack your things. The sooner we leave, the better. Let’s not cause any more trouble for Second Aunt’s family."

"Okay!" The other girls pulled Zou Chunhong into the room to grab their bags.

Wu Chunsheng and his brother awkwardly apologized to Wu Shufen and her husband. "We’re so sorry, Second Sister, Second Brother-in-law!"

Lin Changyou waved it off, then lowered his voice and instructed them, "It’s nothing. Just keep a close eye on her on the way back. Make sure you hand her over to her parents. If anything were to happen to her, you’d be in a lot of trouble."

Wu Chunsheng nodded. "As soon as they’re out, we’ll head straight to the police station to get things sorted. Then we’ll take Chunhong right back home to her parents. If anything happens, we’ll be the ones held responsible!"

Wu Shufen handed a basket to Wu Jiafu. "Your brother-in-law bought these steamed buns. Take them with you for the road."

Wu Jiafu quickly accepted it. "Thank you, Second Brother-in-law. Thank you, Second Sister."

When Wu Wenhui and the girls came out, Lin Changyou wheeled out his bicycle and led them out the door, heading for the police station.

When they reached the entrance of the police station, Lin Changyou checked the time. "Let’s wait a minute. Ding Bang will come out to get us."

"Okay," Wu Jiafu replied.

The group stood by the main gate. A little while later, Yang Dingbang came out from inside. Lin Changyou went up to meet him. "Ding Bang, the four girls are all awake."

Yang Dingbang glanced at Wu Xiaoqing and the other girls. "Good. Follow me."

As the group followed him inside, Lin Changyou whispered, "Ding Bang, has that woman confessed yet?"

Yang Dingbang replied, "It’s still under investigation. What we know so far is that Ge Hongyu isn’t a tailor and doesn’t own a shop. She only knows a little bit of massage therapy, which she learned from her husband. After he died from an illness, the massage business went downhill, so she started mixing with some shady characters."

Hearing this, Wu Wenhui and the other girls exchanged glances, their faces showing their relief.

Yang Dingbang took Wu Xiaoqing and the other girls to give their statements. Lin Changyou and the men waited outside for over an hour before the four girls finally came out with Yang Dingbang.

"Uncle Lin, they can go home now."

Lin Changyou said, "Good. I need to take them to the bus station. The rice harvest has just started back in the mountains, and they have to get back to work."

Wu Jiafu and the others had Wu Xiaoqing and the three other girls thank Yang Dingbang one more time before following Lin Changyou to the bus station.

****

Wu Shufang arrived at Lin Lan’s house carrying some griddle cakes. Seeing Wu Shufen sun-drying grain in the yard, she asked, "Where are Jiafu and the others?"

Wu Shufen replied, "They went to the police station. They took Little Qing and the girls to be questioned."

Wu Shufang set her bamboo basket on a small square table and picked up a grain rake to help. "Are they coming back here? I made some griddle cakes for Jiafu to take on the road."

"They aren’t." Wu Shufen emptied a large basket of grain onto the ground and stood up to face her. "That girl from the Zou family..."

"Sigh." Wu Shufang let out a long breath. "It’s her parents’ fault, really. They don’t even treat their own daughter like a human being. Since they’ve already left, I’ll just leave the griddle cakes here for Little Hong and the kids."

Wu Shufen pointed to the vegetable garden. "I picked a basket of long beans and autumn eggplants. I’m blanching and drying the long beans to pickle them, and I had Little Hong and the kids take the eggplants over to Little Lan."

"The chili peppers are all red. Are you going to make chili bean paste?" Wu Shufang asked.

"Yes, I stayed home today specifically to make it. I’ve already finished fermenting the broad beans. As soon as this grain is laid out to dry, I’m going to pick the peppers." Wu Shufen looked at her. "There are still a few rows of peppers in the private plot out back. If you want to make some too, feel free to pick what you need."

"I do," Wu Shufang said. She hesitated for a moment, then looked at her sister. "Shufen, I was thinking... I want to look for a house to rent. It’s getting a bit inconvenient for two families to live together long-term."

Wu Shufen looked at her in surprise. "Did you get into a fight?"

Wu Shufang shook her head. "The four older kids are still perfectly polite to each other. It’s the little ones who are always fighting over toys. I think a little distance would be for the best."

"That’s true. Familiarity breeds contempt," Wu Shufen said, looking at her. "Are you thinking of renting in Lexing, or in the city?"

Wu Shufang replied, "The rent in Lexing is cheaper, but it’s just too far. It’s not at all convenient for running the stall in town. I’d like to see if there’s anything suitable in the city."

Wu Shufen thought for a moment. "How about this? Why don’t you ask Little Lan if that house they used to use for their black market business is livable?"

Wu Shufang’s face lit up as she nodded. "That’s a great idea! But let’s be clear—if it’s livable, I’m paying rent, fair and square."

Wu Shufen laughed. "That’s not up to me. You’ll have to talk to Little Lan about it."

"I’ll go find Little Lan as soon as I’m done helping you here. And I’ll have a word with that girl Qiaohui, too." Wu Shufang paused, then sighed. "Can you believe it? Something as big as her getting a boyfriend, and I had to hear it from you."

Wu Shufen comforted her, "Don’t worry. Both of them are sensible kids. They won’t do anything reckless."

Wu Shufang nodded with a smile. "I know. It’s just... thinking about it makes me a little wistful. It feels like my little girl is all grown up and not as close to her parents anymore."

Wu Shufen chuckled. "You know how it is. There are sayings for a reason: a grown daughter will leave the nest, a grown son won’t listen to his mother, and you have to be a little deaf and a little mute to be a good elder. We’re getting older. We should worry less and not meddle so much, otherwise we’ll just make ourselves a nuisance."

"You’re awfully clear-headed when you’re giving me advice," Wu Shufang said, giving her sister a playful glare. "But weren’t you the one losing sleep all night worrying about Guozhu?"

Wu Shufen realized she had a point. The two sisters exchanged a look and burst out laughing.

After helping Wu Shufen finish spreading the grain to dry, Wu Shufang said her goodbyes. She went home, washed her face, then walked over to the bus stop by the vehicle factory and took a bus to the South City Market.

Arriving at the shop, she saw Lin Lan inside weighing pastries for a customer. She walked in with a smile. "Little Lan, busy as ever!"

"Not too busy." Lin Lan turned her head and smiled. "Auntie, are you here to see Qiaohui?"

Wu Shufang beamed at her. "I’m here to see her, and to see you. You finish up with your customer first. I’ll go have a word with Qiaohui."

She had barely finished speaking when Qiaohui herself walked in, carrying a baking sheet. She blushed upon seeing her mother. "Mom, you’re here!"

"I am," Wu Shufang replied curtly.

Lin Lan shot Qiaohui a look, then smiled. "Go on. Go inside with your aunt and apologize properly."

"Okay." Qiaohui set down the baking sheet and followed Wu Shufang toward the back room.

Tong Xinglan and Lin Yuezhen both smiled and greeted her as she passed.

Qiaohui led her into the break room, her head hanging low. "Mom... you know, don’t you?"

Wu Shufang gave her a light, chiding tap. "You silly girl. Instead of coming home to tell me yourself, you had your aunt act as your messenger."