"Comrade Wanqing!"
Jiang Jianwei was so frightened that he almost collapsed to the ground. Just then, a voice came from the doorway. He turned around and saw Zheng Yuan's men. He immediately felt like he had seen a savior and hurriedly staggered over.
"Comrade Wang..."
His actions and words preceded his thoughts. Jiang Wanqing's eyes flickered slightly when she heard him address the man.
"You two are very close?" she sneered.
The man swallowed hard, glared at Jiang Jianwei, and thought to himself, "This idiot is really going to get me killed!"
"No... I'm not familiar with it. I just met it when I entered the village before and asked for directions."
"Is that so?"
Jiang Wanqing saw through it but didn't say anything. Jiang Xiu worked at Zheng Yuan's factory, and Jiang Jianwei also knew this man surnamed Wang.
Although she didn't want to assume the worst about people, she still didn't believe in such perfect coincidences.
Perhaps realizing he had said the wrong thing, Jiang Jianwei looked even more embarrassed.
In the strange atmosphere, Jiang Wanqing glanced at Comrade Wang.
"I've said everything I needed to say. Is there anything else?"
"I heard that you haven't bought all the materials needed for your house renovation yet, so I specially sent someone to deliver them to you today. There will be more than enough."
Hearing this, Jiang Wanqing frowned. Only she, Uncle Shuan, and a few workers knew about the material shortage. She was still trying to find a solution; how could he…?
After he finished speaking, he called out to the door, and people began to carry in materials, including perfect industrial timber and other finished products such as window glass.
She reached out to stop the movers from continuing inside: "Thank you for your kindness, but it's not necessary."
Jiang Jianwei's eyes darted around, and he immediately stepped forward with a fawning smile: "She doesn't want it, but we do! Comrade Wang, our house also caught fire yesterday, and we need it..."
Before he could finish speaking, the other person just stared at him coldly, showing no intention of responding.
"This is for Comrade Wanqing. If you need it, I can help you find a way."
Seeing the two pretending not to know each other when they clearly did, Jiang Wanqing sneered inwardly but did not expose them immediately.
"If Comrade Wang insists on making things difficult for me, then I have no choice but to burn all of these things."
"Comrade Wanqing, it wasn't me..."
"So Zheng Yuan wanted to embarrass me? He made you mislead our relationship in front of the villagers time and time again?"
She retorted without hesitation, and the other person's expression changed drastically. For a moment, he didn't know what to say, and he opened his mouth several times but couldn't utter a single word.
“If you don’t get rid of these things, I’ll go to the commune and call Zheng Yuan, and have him talk to you in person.”
"No need for that trouble, I... well, okay, I'll have them move out."
He eventually gave in, never expecting Jiang Wanqing to be so difficult; neither money nor gifts could sway her heart of stone.
He waved his hand and ordered the workers, "Go back the way you came!"
However, no sooner had he left than Jiang Jianwei and his wife followed him. Jiang Wanqing watched and quietly went after them.
After looking around to make sure no one else was there, Jiang Jianwei called out to the person in front of him.
"Comrade Wang, wait for me!"
Upon hearing his voice, the man surnamed Wang stopped and frowned impatiently.
"Are you looking for death?! Didn't I tell you to keep your distance?!"
"I'm sorry... I... we really have no other choice. We did everything you said. Now that bitch has evidence of our arson and wants to send me to jail. You can't just ignore this."
Jiang Jianwei looked distressed. It was Jiang Xiu who called from Beijing and asked him to find a way to cause trouble for Jiang Jianguo and stall Jiang Wanqing.
That's when he came up with the idea of setting the fire. Behind Jiang Xiu was Zheng Yuan, who was about to go to jail again. He clung to Comrade Wang like a last straw.
"I'm telling you this, even the dogs in the village hate my family now. If Director Zheng doesn't take care of me, I'll tell everyone what you've made me do, and then nobody will survive!" He had a "what's the use" attitude.
"Shut up!" The man surnamed Wang lowered his voice: "I'll tell Director Zheng about your situation and ask him to help you figure something out. Don't do anything for now."
They weren't speaking loudly enough for Jiang Wanqing to hear everything clearly, but judging from their expressions, she knew they were definitely colluding.
She was about to retreat back into the courtyard when she turned around and saw Uncle Shuan returning.
"Why is that person here again? Did he do anything to you?"
"No, he came to deliver building materials."
"Great! Aren't you short on materials for your house repairs?" Uncle Shuan clapped his hands. "Where are the things they delivered? Let me see, I'll find someone right away..."
“I told him to take it back.”
Jiang Wanqing returned to her own courtyard and told Uncle Shuan her thoughts truthfully.
"My relationship with that factory director Zheng isn't as good as everyone thinks. After this incident, we might not even be able to remain ordinary friends. I won't take anything from him."
Upon hearing her words, Uncle Shuan took out his pipe and stuffed it into his pipe to cover up his embarrassment and guilt.
"I'm sorry, Wanqing, I'm getting senile. I thought you and him were really having some kind of relationship... Never mind, it's best if nothing's going on. We should be upright and honest people, and single-minded."
"Mmm," she replied.
"So what are your plans now? The materials haven't arrived yet, and the room is uninhabitable. Your parents can't stay in the hospital forever."
His concerns were not unfounded. Jiang Wanqing had already thought it through, and although she showed no worry on her face, she was somewhat conflicted.
"I'm planning to have my parents rent a place in the city for a while. Uncle Shuan, could you please help with the repairs to the old house? I'll definitely pay enough. Is that alright with you?"
"That's great!" Uncle Shuan took a deep drag on his cigarette and nodded. "It'll be perfect for your parents to go to the city and enjoy a comfortable life."
"Thank you for your help."
"No trouble at all, I'm not doing this for free, hahaha..."
After agreeing to the terms and taking care of things at home, Jiang Wanqing felt relieved enough to return to Beijing after witnessing Jiang Jianwei being taken away by the police.
Her parents insisted on coming to see her off, but they hadn't fully recovered, so she declined.
Before she left, the man surnamed Wang approached her again, offering to drive her back to Beijing. In short, he was like a persistent ghost!
She ignored it and chose to take the train north to Beijing the next day.
Meanwhile, Jiang Jianwei was released from the police station after less than a week...
Outside the police station, the man surnamed Wang lit him a cigarette, his eyes filled with undisguised contempt.
"When you go back to the village, watch your mouth. You should know what you should and shouldn't say."
"Hehe, I know, I know. I'll definitely help Director Zheng get things done. Jiang Wanqing's reputation as a promiscuous woman is now firmly established!"
"No, Director Zheng called and said he wants to change the strategy."
"Huh? How do I change it?"
"You and Jiang Wanqing are relatives, after all. With their status, it wouldn't be difficult for you to use their connections to do something for yourself, right? Don't you also want to turn your life around?" the cunning man surnamed Wang reminded him.
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