Two days have passed since Song Anmin left Heping Lane that day.
A friend of mine came to the factory to see Song Anmin, saying that they were preparing for Guo Quan's funeral, which was to be held tomorrow in his hometown in the countryside.
Since Song Anmin was off tomorrow, he nodded in agreement.
They escorted Guo Quan all the way back to his hometown, from where he used to live.
The next day, Song Anmin got up very early and went to the urban village, only to run into Chen Zhou on his way to work.
"Are you still staying at this hotel?"
Song Anmin watched as Chen Zhou came out from inside.
Chen Zhou's apple-shaped face wrinkled, and disappointment welled up in his almond-shaped eyes.
"I couldn't find a suitable place to live." Staying in a hotel wouldn't be enough for her wallet either.
After thinking about it, Song Anmin decided to consider it as doing a good deed.
"I know a place with empty houses, but it's a bit small and dilapidated, though the security is okay."
Chen Zhou's eyes lit up.
Where is it?
Song Anmin was caught off guard when he met Chen Zhou's bright eyes. He looked away and frowned awkwardly. "It's near Aimin Street, in Heping Lane. There's a guy named Lao Sun who has vacant rooms for rent. You can ask him when you go into the lane."
Chen Zhou's face lit up with joy. "Thank you! What's your name?"
Song Anmin: "...A kind person."
Song Anmin didn't want to be exposed. He just wanted to minimize his presence. If his parents remembered him again, things would get really bad.
Chen Zhou quickly stopped dwelling on the matter, thanked Song Anmin, and prepared to go to Heping Lane.
"By the way, is the rent very expensive?" Chen Zhou frowned.
Song Anmin touched his nose. "It's not expensive, is it? I don't know the exact price, you can ask around."
"Alright then."
Anyway, Aiguo Street is in the city center, and Heping Lane is not far away, so the security is definitely good. There's no need to worry about safety. Besides, Chen Zhou usually works in a teahouse, brewing tea for people, and only earns eighteen yuan a month.
She can only accept rent up to six yuan; she can't afford anything more.
Chen Zhou set off immediately. When he arrived at Heping Lane, he found Old Sun after asking around.
"Hey girl, are you renting a place?"
Chen Zhou was still carrying her schoolbag and looked like a student. She nodded and said, "It's my rented room."
Old Sun asked in confusion, "Just you? Where are your family members?"
Chen Zhou smiled sheepishly, "It's far from my workplace, so I'd like to rent one closer."
Old Sun nodded. "Alright, come with me."
Old Sun led Chen Zhou a few steps toward the alley entrance, pushed open the door, and pointed inside, saying, "Look, this is it. It's about right for you to live here by yourself."
Chen Zhou cautiously looked inside, then went in and found it wasn't bad at all, not as dilapidated as she had imagined.
"It has a kitchen, a bedroom, and even a toilet. It's small, but it has everything you need."
Having a toilet would be so convenient.
Chen Zhou has looked at a lot of houses these past two days, but they all have shared public toilets, which she can't stand.
"Look, is there anything missing? I'll get you some furniture later. The people in this alley are easy to get along with, and we can help each other out." Old Sun was very satisfied with Chen Zhou, a world apart from Song Guomin and his wife.
Chen Zhou looked around and asked in a low voice, "How much is the rent?"
Old Sun held up four fingers.
"Forty?" Chen Zhou's eyes widened.
Old Sun laughed heartily, "Four yuan!"
Originally, it was rented to Song Guomin for five yuan, but this girl will only pay four yuan. She doesn't seem to have as much trouble as Song Guomin and his wife.
Chen Zhou beamed, "Okay, okay, then."
"Okay, when are you moving, young lady?"
Chen Zhou frowned. "Can I stay here tonight? I have nowhere else to stay."
Chen Zhou was reluctant to stay in a hotel again tonight.
Old Sun: "There are no blankets here, and you don't even have any personal belongings."
Chen Zhou looked troubled. "I...I want to stay here tonight."
Old Sun frowned. "Girl, don't try to fool me. Why did you move here?"
Chen Zhou gripped her bag strap tightly. Being young, she couldn't withstand Lao Sun's questioning and told him about Guo Quan's murder.
“I…I dared not live in the urban village anymore, so I moved here.”
Old Sun was stunned after hearing this. "Young lady, you haven't been targeted by the murderer, have you?"
Chen Zhou was an honest man. He scratched his head and said, "I stayed at a nearby hotel for two days, and no one came looking for me. I don't think so."
Old Sun was speechless. "You wait here."
Old Sun went to the community office, and just then, Mr. and Mrs. Song Xinfu returned from their walk and came to the courtyard together.
One by one, they saw Chen Zhou standing honestly in the courtyard, looking like a pretty girl.
Old Sun gave Song Xinfu a wink.
Song Xinfu asked, "Young lady, who introduced you to this place?"
Chen Zhou gripped the strap of his backpack tightly. "It's a guy, quite good-looking, seems to be Guo Quan's friend."
Xu Guiying: "..."
Song Xinfu: "..."
Alright, now is there anything you don't understand?
The person introduced by the third brother came here.
That little bastard.
Xu Guiying then asked Chen Zhou where his family was from and why he had moved out.
Chen Zhou told everything in detail, including the family's preference for sons over daughters.
After listening, everyone fell silent for a few seconds. The little girl, who was so close to the murder case, had a tough life at such a young age.
They all nodded at the same time.
Xu Guiying looked at Chen Zhou: "Let's stay here tonight, we'll talk about the details tomorrow."
Old Sun: "Sigh, stay here. I even accepted Song Guomin, so you're just a young girl, it shouldn't be a problem."
Community worker Sister Xu and the security guard sighed.
"It wasn't easy either."
Chen Zhou was extremely grateful and kept bowing to everyone in thanks.
Xu Guiying and the others left quickly. Old Sun even brought dinner to Chen Zhou, saying, "Eat up."
"Okay, thank you, Grandpa Sun."
Old Sun, who's only sixty: ...
Grandpa it is.
Chen Zhou slept fully clothed that night.
Old Sun went to find Song Xinfu and the others that very night.
"This girl is pitiful, but I'm also worried that she might be targeted by the murderer and put us in danger."
This is exactly what Xu Guiying is worried about.
Song Jianmin said casually, "Then let her go back to her own home, or we can rent a new place."
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