Chapter 55 Jinjiang Exclusive: A Perfect Match
Su Ruyi was amused; she hadn't expected Lu Ting to be so sarcastic.
Xu Lili's stepmother was a very good actress. She pretended to care a lot about Xu Lili and made no mention of the fact that she had locked her up.
The reason I asked was that I didn't know you were inside, and I was in a hurry to buy groceries, cook, and do laundry for you.
Then she started talking about how hard it was for her to be a stepmother, how good she was to Xu Lili, and how difficult it had been for her all these years.
Because Xu Lili was confined to the house doing housework and taking care of her stepmother's child, she was unable to go out to work. It was said that Xu Lili couldn't find a job and relied entirely on her stepmother to work to support her.
Xu Lili's stepmother knew Lu Ting's identity and tried various roundabout ways to ask Lu Ting for the 500 yuan bonus.
Because Xu Lili fainted on the field, she did not have time to receive her award, and the prize money could not be paid out in time either.
"You've got some nerve," Su Ruyi scoffed. "Xu Lili's father didn't come?"
"No trace of him."
Su Ruyi rolled her eyes. Some people just don't deserve to be parents.
"If the bonus goes to Xu Lili, I don't know if she'll be able to keep it."
"She will stay in the hospital for the next few days and won't be going home. The fact that Xu Lili's stepmother is good at acting shows that she still has some shame and won't actually try to take it from her."
Su Ruyi asked in surprise, "Is the situation that serious? Is she awake now?"
"She's just being observed in the hospital. She collapsed because of severe malnutrition and because she hadn't eaten breakfast and had run all the way here, which caused her to become exhausted."
Unlike before when resources were scarce, everyone's lives have improved, especially for those living in cities, where severe malnutrition is now rare.
Su Ruyi laughed directly: "She has the nerve to say she treats her stepdaughter well?"
"So I didn't even have to say anything, the aunties in the same ward started complaining, saying that it was good for the child but it resulted in severe malnutrition, and that 500 yuan wasn't even enough to buy supplements."
Su Ruyi laughed heartily, "This auntie is really a nice person."
"The eyes of the people are discerning."
"Xu Lili is really amazing. She managed to get third place even like this," Su Ruyi exclaimed.
At that time, Xu Lili must have had tremendous willpower to persevere in the competition. Su Ruyi always had a good impression of people who actively fought against fate.
“I already have the results from the other regions. If she performs consistently in the finals, she has a good chance of placing. At that point, she won’t be burdened by family matters anymore.”
Su Ruyi raised an eyebrow, "What else do you want to do?"
Money can solve many problems, but Xu Lili's family situation is not so simple.
Perhaps Xu Lili will end up as a blood donation bag, with her family morally blackmailing her and taking away her prize money.
People nowadays still value filial piety. Even if they have their own thoughts, if this kind of thing gets out, the children will always suffer.
Lu Ting smiled and said, "I've already made arrangements with reporters, and we'll definitely be reporting on it. Uncovering the stories behind the contestants is also an important part of our publicity."
Su Ruyi understood that although the hula hoop competition was a lively event, its influence was still limited.
If you add a bit of the winner's inspirational story, the competition will still generate discussion after it ends.
This is also an opportunity for Xu Lili, allowing her to truly have her own reward.
Having such a stepmother was Xu Lili's misfortune, but at that time it was actually a kind of luck.
If they are your biological parents, people will always say that no matter what, they are still your parents. But stepmothers are different; they are 'outsiders,' and their malice is accepted by the world's values.
The father, who also indulged his stepmother, was condemned far less, but he couldn't be controlled too severely either.
Su Ruyi couldn't help but sigh, "It's really not easy being a person."
What should be a simple matter becomes extremely complicated due to various interpersonal relationships, making it difficult to live a carefree life.
Su Ruyi felt very lucky, as she had never been bound by anyone in either of her two lifetimes.
Actually, there are some, but they are all distant relatives. And her grandmother is usually indifferent to her because she is a girl, but when it comes to interests, she will still take her son's only daughter into consideration and stand on her side.
This saved Su Ruyi a lot of trouble, and she received her demolition compensation without much controversy.
The interests of rural women are often difficult to protect; anyone can take a bite out of them.
Early the next morning, Su Ruyi, along with Tong Yunyun, left Zhaoguang City carrying a large pile of things.
Lu Ting drove them to the bus station and prepared many gifts for her, which meant that Su Ruyi had to buy an extra ticket.
"Does your plastics factory still have a large vacant lot?" Su Ruyi suddenly asked before getting into the car.
Lu Ting was puzzled, but still replied, "Yes, although several factories have been expanded, there is still a lot of open space."
These land parcels were originally sold as a package deal, so the area was very large, and now less than half of it has been used.
"Do all the families of the workers at your plastics factory live at the factory?"
"Yes, many of the factory's employees are from other places, so they all came here. As long as you work at the factory for a year and get an excellent performance rating, you can be allocated a family apartment."
Su Ruyi sighed, thinking how many college students would be attracted to such a good job if it were available decades from now.
"Okay, I understand."
"Huh?" Lu Ting was completely confused, not understanding what Su Ruyi was up to.
"Things haven't made any progress yet, we'll talk about it later."
"OK."
Lu Ting was not only not angry, but also very happy, which means that the two will definitely have more interactions in the future.
As soon as she got home, Tong Yunyun ran out to play before she could even sit down properly.
She made it to the finals and won an award, so she had to show off to everyone, without feeling tired at all.
In contrast, Su Ruyi felt completely drained after just a few hours in the car and slumped in her chair, unable to move.
"Are kids perpetual motion machines? How can they have so much energy?" Su Ruyi couldn't help but complain.
However, she didn't rest for long before going to check on the storefront.
I've been away for a week, so I don't know how it's running.
When Su Ruyi left, she granted Li Guangqian a great deal of authority.
He can directly contact the plastics factory to ship the goods, and they will keep all the accounts and settle the accounts every six months.
Although the amount was limited, it still involved tens of thousands of yuan in payments.
If Li Guangqian had ulterior motives, he could have absconded with goods worth tens of thousands of yuan.
Since banks are not connected online, Su Ruyi has no idea how much money has been deposited into her savings account.
"Sis! You're back!"
When Li Guangqian saw Su Ruyi, he happily ran up to her.
"Sister, sales have been booming these past few days! Our sales were down a bit because some people in the county were sourcing from other channels, but now they're skyrocketing again!"
As the competition officially began, the reputation of Hongxing Plastics Factory grew, and many people came to place orders.
Although hula hoops are inconspicuous little gadgets, this competition has made people realize that they can be branded.
Especially when the children are playing, they like to say, "My hula hoop is a Red Star brand, the one used in competitions."
It's so prestigious to say that. If I bought another brand, I would feel inferior. Even if it's a few cents cheaper, I would feel embarrassed.
Comparison is a natural phenomenon, affecting both adults and children to varying degrees.
Su Ruyi smiled and said, "To celebrate, let's go out for a big meal today. Invite your family along, and I'll give you a bonus at the end of the month!"
Li Guangqian became even more excited after hearing this: "Sister, you really are my sister!"
Li Guangqian now dreams of smiling every night, feeling extremely fortunate that he came to find Su Ruyi in the first place.
Now he not only has a job, but his grandmother and sister can also sell hula hoops around, earning at least four or five yuan a day.
The neighbors used to say he was a good-for-nothing, that he would never amount to anything and would get shot sooner or later.
Nobody says that anymore. Everyone says he's great and will definitely do well in the future.
Li Guangqian wasn't just happy; he also handed over the account books and work logs from the past few days to Su Ruyi.
Li Guangqian's calligraphy is very beautiful, with a flowing and elegant style, yet it is clear and easy to recognize.
He meticulously recorded the daily transactions and events that occurred each day, exactly as Su Ruyi had requested.
Even without Su Ruyi, he could clearly know what had happened in the past few days.
"These are the payment receipts and deposit slips. Sister, please go to the bank to check your balance later."
Many people also pay directly at the store, because they are worried about the safety of having too much money in their hands, so they deposit their daily income into the bank before the bank closes for the day.
"Is someone coming to cause trouble?"
"No," Li Guangqian replied hesitantly.
Su Ruyi raised her eyebrows and looked at him: "I don't like people lying to me."
Li Guangqian could only honestly reply, "Some people came over trying to cause trouble, but I turned them all away."
"They asked you for money?"
Li Guangqian lowered his head and said, "I didn't give it to him, really."
The other party not only wanted money, but also goods.
The popularity of hula hoops has made everyone realize the huge profits involved.
"You got beaten up?"
Li Guangqian shook his head and then nodded: "I wasn't beaten up much before the police arrived."
"What kind of people are they?"
"sister……"
"If you call me 'sister,' then you'd better tell me the truth. If I get bullied and do nothing, then you'll just keep eyeing us like a piece of fat meat."
Li Guangqian: "Two groups of people came; they were all thugs from West Street."
"Have those people you messed with before come?"
“When you made your move, they all knew you were not someone to be trifled with, so none of them provoked you.”
Su Ruyi's reputation as a qigong master still intimidated many people.
Those big-time thugs who had their own businesses, although they coveted Su Ruyi's business, were more cautious and would not provoke her.
On the contrary, those thugs wanted to take advantage of Su Ruyi's absence to rob her.
However, this could also be a case of someone instigating and planning behind the scenes, sending a group of petty thieves to test the waters.
"There really was no loss?"
Li Guangqian quickly shook his head: "No, I have many brothers to help me too."
Su Ruyi not only took Li Guangqian as a concubine, but also others.
When they heard about the trouble here, they came immediately.
In the past, this group of people acted more impulsively, but now that they can make money through Su Ruyi, and it's clean money, they are unwilling to lose their jobs.
Because of the event, many people can earn up to 100 yuan a day, an income they never dared to dream of before.
Cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents.
Moreover, the children have worked so hard to learn, how can we let them go back to their old ways?
This has brought everyone closer together, and not only them, but their families have also stepped in to help them keep their jobs.
Driven by shared interests, everyone united and acted bravely, which also made those petty thugs wary.
“Gao Zongming’s father also used his connections at the local police station and kept an eye on things.”
Among Li Guangqian and Fang Yongnian's group, many came from relatively well-off families; they just indulged in a bit of teenage angst and followed along.
Now that this group of people is on the right track, the parents are very happy and are more willing to help.
Therefore, apart from the first day when he was caught off guard and Li Guangqian was beaten, there was no further incident like that.
Every day, someone would accompany Li Guang to deposit money, so even if you wanted to, you couldn't steal any.
The security situation in Liulin County is not so bad that it is beyond the control of the authorities; it is relatively safe.
Cases that usually occur are theft-related, while robbery and murder are rare.
"Take me to them tomorrow."
Regardless of the current situation, Su Ruyi cannot do nothing.
If she wants comfort, she needs it; don't let just anyone provoke her.
"Okay." Li Guangqian understood this as well and readily agreed.
Su Ruyi was no ordinary woman, and he wasn't worried about her safety at all.
Besides, he can't go alone tomorrow; he'll have to call his brothers to come and support him.
Although there were quite a few of them before, most of them were students and were not taken seriously. But things are different now.
"How about this, I'll treat everyone to a meal tomorrow. You can count how many people there are, then book a table at a restaurant. We can get together, firstly to treat everyone, and secondly to go over the rules."
Su Ruyi hadn't paid much attention to these people before, as she didn't know them well.
But after observing them for a while, she found them to be quite nice, so she wouldn't mind taking them under her wing and having them become her helpers.
However, she needed to establish rules; she didn't want to actually become a gang leader.
"Great!" Li Guangqian was very excited.
Although he had been following Su Ruyi, he could sense her attitude, which meant she had truly accepted them.
"Don't forget today's feast."
Li Guangqian said somewhat embarrassedly, "No need, my grandma and sister don't need to come, right?"
“This isn’t a business dinner…” Su Ruyi said halfway through, then remembered that employees hate work dinners, so she added, “If they don’t like these kinds of gatherings, then we can buy the food and let them eat it at home.”
"No, no, no, they like it!"
“Then come over together. I brought a lot of things made by your grandma, but we haven’t met yet.”
Grandma Li Guangqian was very grateful to Su Ruyi, who not only guided her grandson onto the right path but also gave him such a good job, from which they also benefited.
Therefore, he did his best, either sewing insoles or sending out homemade snacks.
At first, Li Guangqian was embarrassed to send them over, as they weren't valuable items he had with him, worried that Su Ruyi wouldn't like them. But when he saw that Su Ruyi was very happy, he became much more enthusiastic.
Li Guangqian nodded in agreement.
After taking care of some things at the shop, Su Ruyi went to Old Li's house.
Li Xiaobao was the only one at home; Old Li and Grandma Sun had gone to sell hula hoops.
Li Xiaobao is in much better condition than before, and his complexion is not as pale as it used to be.
There were always people outside, so the elderly couple went out to earn money.
Li Xiaobao was reading under the eaves when he saw Su Ruyi, and he was very happy.
"Sister Ruyi, you're back!"
Su Ruyi smiled and stepped forward, handing over a stack of things in her hand.
"Xiao Bao, look what I bought for you."
Li Xiaobao was very happy, but dared not accept the gift.
"You don't need to buy me a gift."
“Just take it. I don’t like this back and forth. Don’t worry, your grandparents won’t say anything.”
Li Xiaobao: "Thank you, sister."
"Quickly open it and see what it is." After saying that, Su Ruyi was worried that Li Xiaobao's emotions would fluctuate too much, so she directly revealed the answer.
“I bought a lot of books in the city, books that aren’t available in the county. You can read them after you finish your homework. But remember to protect your eyes; don’t stare at the book for too long, and look into the distance after a while.”
Li Xiaobao's eyes lit up, and he was very happy.
He tore open the outer kraft paper and saw many books.
Wow, so many books!
Su Ruyi patted his head: "Take your time. There are many classic works inside that are worth reading repeatedly."
Su Ruyi bought a wide variety of books, including classics, popular science books, and interesting children's storybooks.
She delivered all the books she bought; if Tong Yunyun wants to read them, she can come and pick them up herself.
The two children are about the same age, but Tong Yunyun has too many things in her life, so she doesn't have much time for reading. She can read a book for a long time, unlike Li Xiaobao, who has very limited physical abilities and can do very few things. Reading is one of the few things he can do.
"Sister Ruyi, thank you so much."
As Li Xiaobao spoke, his eyes reddened.
"What's a man like you crying for? Don't make me laugh at you."
Li Xiaobao smiled brightly, "Okay."
As bright as sunshine, it brought life to her thin face.
It's a pity that he is always shrouded in gloom, and he is under great psychological pressure at such a young age.
Su Ruyi didn't know how Lu Ting's investigation was going; there was still no news when the two parted ways.
Although there is a specific village, it is unknown which hamlet they are from.
Locals are generally protective of their own people, and they won't easily talk about such things if they know about them. It will take some time to investigate.
Su Ruyi did not mention this information to Old Li or Grandma Sun.
After all, Yao Simei was ill at the time, and it's possible she made a mistake. Besides, we don't know what the situation is now. If it really is Niannian, who was seriously ill back then and the old lady refused to treat him, I wonder how he is now.
Children have weak bodies, and if they are not treated in time, they are prone to developing other illnesses.
For example, my cousin's older cousin doesn't get seriously injured from a fever, but it can cause other symptoms, resulting in his mental age being stuck at the level of a seven or eight-year-old child.
If such a thing really happens, we need to carefully consider how to tell the two elders.
This home could no longer withstand further destruction. Although the situation has improved, it is still broken and cannot withstand the slightest storm.
Grandma Sun rushed back before dinner and was very excited to see Su Ruyi. She held Su Ruyi's hand and couldn't speak for a long time.
"Grandma Sun, what's wrong? I haven't been gone for long."
Su Ruyi was completely bewildered, not understanding why Grandma Sun was so agitated; her eyes were even red.
"Ruyi, thank you so much, thank you so much." Grandma Sun burst into tears.
"Grandma Sun, please don't do this."
It took Su Ruyi quite a while to find out the reason.
Grandma Sun had already heard that there were missing person notices for Li Niannian and Li Yunyao posted at the entrance of the competition venue. Today, she was selling hula hoops on the street and even saw their missing person notices posted in the plastic basins sold at the general store.
At the time, some people came up to her and asked if these were her daughter and grandson.
Grandma Sun was extremely excited at the time. They gave the photos to Lu Ting, but they didn't really have any hope.
They knew very well that in such a vast sea of people, the probability of finding someone was extremely small.
Even if the person is still in Qing Province, it is very difficult to find them, let alone the fact that many human traffickers sell people to other provinces.
The country is so big, where are they supposed to look for people?
I never expected there to be such a method. It's much more efficient than searching for people one place at a time. How could anyone not be excited?
She had just run into police officers from the local police station. They knew a lot about her family's situation and said that there was still a good chance of finding the person using this method. They were amazed that they had met such kind people.
"Ruyi, no wonder you have this name, you're here to bring people good fortune," Grandma Sun said excitedly.
Su Ruyi never expected that her name could be interpreted in this way. While she found it interesting, she was also a little worried.
"Grandma Sun, don't hug too much... Take care of yourself, maybe you'll find it someday."
Su Ruyi originally didn't want Grandma Sun to have too much hope, lest she be even more disappointed in the end.
But the words were swallowed back down, leaving the other person with hope and the motivation to live.
During this period, Lu Ting received many calls offering information, but many of them were just trying to scam money. Some of these scams were verified to be false, while others are still being tracked down.
It's rare to find someone as detailed as Yao Simei; most information is vague and ineffective.
Finding abducted women and children is never easy, especially in this day and age when technology is limited, and many children and women are not found until decades later.
Grandma Sun smiled and said, "This is already very good. So many people are willing to help, it's already very good."
They were excited, feeling that their daughter and grandson would be back soon.
After the initial excitement, they calmed down and reminded each other to have hope, but not to be too demanding, to try to maintain a normal attitude, and to keep life going as usual.
They are not young anymore, and too much emotional fluctuation is not good for them; they can only comfort themselves in this way.
Su Ruyi originally planned to invite everyone to a restaurant for dinner, but was firmly refused.
Li Mei and Grandma Sun went to buy more groceries, planning to cook at Li's house.
These days, people in small towns are still not used to eating out; they feel that eating at home is the best option.
Grandma Sun: "Only when we eat at home can we feel alive and have a good life."
Li Guangqian's grandmother and sister also came. Tong Yunyun, the local bully, quickly made new friends and started bragging about what she had seen and heard in the city.
Although she was showing off, she wasn't annoying. She knew what to say and what not to say. For example, she wouldn't dare to flaunt her shoes indiscriminately.
Tong Yunyun is also very generous. Knowing beforehand that a girl of similar age was coming, she brought her a gift as well.
That day, Su Ruyi took Tong Yunyun to buy shoes. The two of them also paid for a lot of things, including clothes and various supplies for themselves, and gifts for everyone.
Grandma Li Guangqian held Su Ruyi's hand tightly, thanking her repeatedly, and recounted all of Li Guangqian's life stories from childhood to adulthood.
Li Guangqian blushed deeply and said helplessly, "Grandma, why are you even talking about how I wet the bed in fifth grade?!"
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