Zhou Yunwan couldn't see his expression clearly, but she could clearly feel his unsettled emotions. As time passed, she couldn't help but rub her fingertips twice and was the first to break the silence: "Let's just leave like this, is it appropriate?"
Shen Yanli noticed her little movement and realized his own gaffe. He glanced behind her. The two were very close, and a faint fragrance was blown to his nose by the wind.
Where the two of them touched, it felt like countless ants were crawling over, and an inexplicable itch was drilling into his bones inch by inch.
He narrowed his eyes, gently released her hand, and said in a softer tone, "Uncle Zheng and Secretary Tang will take care of it. Nothing will happen."
Although he looked calm as if nothing had happened, the tips of his ears hidden behind his hair slowly turned red. He had been around men for many years, and this was the first time he held a girl's hand. Her hand was soft and small, and slightly cool. He didn't know if she was a little cold or if it was due to her physical condition.
Zhou Yunwan didn't notice anything strange about him. They just held hands, so she didn't take it to heart. What she cared about most at the moment was that he just mentioned that he wanted to take her away from here.
Out of politeness, she shouldn't have mentioned it, but for some reason, he looked a little absent-minded. After thinking for a moment, in case he changed his mind, she asked tentatively: "Brother Shen, are you serious about taking me to Beijing City?"
The soft voice sounded in his ears again, and Shen Yanli came back to his senses and looked down at the girl in front of him.
She tilted her head back, her clear eyes full of water, like a young animal that had been hurt countless times and subconsciously put up a protective barrier. Facing the approach of outsiders, she was cautious and careful, but still held out a glimmer of hope.
...
...
Thinking of her previous experience, Shen Yanli's throat was dry and he was somewhat speechless. His Adam's apple rolled up and down twice. His expression gradually became extremely serious, and he said word by word: "Of course I am serious. I will not joke about such things."
After saying this, he suddenly thought of something, and a trace of apology flashed across his brows: "As I told you yesterday, it is our family that feels guilty towards you, and we should be responsible for you."
"If I just sit there and do nothing about you, my father will not let me go after he finds out, so don't worry about it."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunwan curved her cherry-red lips, and her heart instantly felt at ease. At the same time, she couldn't help but develop some affection for him.
Faced with her complicated family situation, many people would probably find it troublesome and just give her money to keep the matter quiet. Few people would be like him and take care of it to the end.
"Brother Shen, you don't need to apologize. Instead, I should thank you."
Zhou Yunwan showed a pitiful expression, tears welled up in her eyes, her red lips trembled, and she sobbed softly, "If you don't take me away, I won't have a place to stay."
Shen Yanli understood her pain, thought for a moment, and continued: “I will take you back to Zhou’s house to get some things later. We will live in the guesthouse in the county town for the next few days. When things are over, I will take you away from here and live in Jing City.”
"As for the household registration and letter of introduction, we can declare to the public that you are my parents' goddaughter. If you want to continue your studies, I can also help you arrange it."
Listening to his thoughtful and careful plan, Zhou Yunwan sniffed, raised her hand to pretend to wipe away her tears, and nodded slowly.
Since knowing Chen Yanli's identity, the Zhou family dared not act rashly anymore, not even daring to fart in front of him. Luo Xiangjuan and Zhou Qifeng, with two bruised and swollen faces, led the way home to unlock the door so that Zhou Yunwan could go get her things.
The place where the original owner lived was more like a storage room than a room. The lighting was very poor and there were no windows. The narrow space was filled with messy things and there was hardly any place to step.
There were curled-up old newspapers pasted on the wall, and a bed made of several wooden boards was filled with yellowed sheets and a thin quilt. There was no place to put the girl's clothes, so they could only fold them and pile them in the corner of the bed.
Tang Yunshan and others who came with them just took a look at the door and felt heartbroken. How could this be an environment for a girl to live in?
The room could only accommodate one person. Zhou Yunwan scanned the small space according to her memory. In fact, there was nothing worth taking away. The original owner had trouble even eating on weekdays, so how could he have money to buy other things?
After simply packing up her few clothes, she turned over the thin bed sheet and found a neatly preserved black-and-white photo on the innermost bed board.
The photo shows a kind-looking couple, wearing military uniforms and with bright smiles.
They are the original owner's biological parents.
Zhou Yunwan felt quite complicated. Perhaps they were good soldiers who performed their duties conscientiously, but the old idea of favoring sons over daughters had seriously clouded their brains, making them unable to become good and responsible parents.
To a certain extent, they are the culprits who caused the original owner's tragic fate.
It would be better not to have a child at all than to give birth to it and not take care of it. If they had paid a little more attention, the original owner would not have suffered so much and would not have died young.
Until her death, the original owner never waited for her beloved parents to come and pick her up, nor did she wait for the redemption she deserved. She just died in the cold night.
But the people are gone, and Zhou Yunwan didn't want to continue to pursue what mistakes they made as parents when they were alive. She quickly glanced at the photos and put them away.
After packing up her things, Zhou Yunwan looked back at the shabby house where the original owner had lived for more than ten years, and then looked at Zhou Qifeng's family who were in perfect condition and looking bright and beautiful not far away, and suddenly felt unwilling to give up.
She felt that she could still do something more and couldn't just let them get away with it.
At this moment, she happened to meet the eyes of Luo Xiangjuan, who was covering her face and grimacing in pain. She couldn't help but think of what Luo Xiangjuan had said when she had a dispute with the nurse at the entrance of the health center.
I'm going to the Public Security Bureau to sue you for human trafficking!
Yes, the Public Security Bureau!
No matter what era it is, ordinary people can ask comrades in the Public Security Bureau for help when they have difficulties.
Although the judicial procedures in the 1970s were not as perfect as those in later generations, the authorities have always attached great importance to the protection of soldiers and their families. The charge of long-term abuse of martyrs' orphans may really send Zhou Qifeng and his family to jail for life.
Thinking of this, Zhou Yunwan couldn't help but reveal an excited smile on her face, but Luo Xiangjuan, who looked at her, couldn't help but feel a chill on her back and a chill down her spine.
It was still early, and it was just past noon when they drove all the way to the county town. After Zhou Yunwan told Shen Yanli about her ideas, Shen Yanli did not find it troublesome, but said that he would fully support her and patiently accompanied her to the nearest public security bureau to report the case.
With the help of the public security comrades on duty, Zhou Yunwan went through the reporting process step by step.
However, due to the lack of modern information systems, the entire process relies more on manual operations and paper records, and the speed will be slower. But Zhou Yunwan is not in a hurry at all. As long as she thinks that she will soon get the justice she deserves for the original owner, she will be happier than anyone else.
On the way, Shen Yanli left for a while, and Zhou Yunwan didn't think much about it, and concentrated on taking notes.
After understanding the situation, the public security comrades attached great importance to it and immediately dispatched a large number of police forces to Dahe Village.
Later on, Zhou Yunwan only needed to cooperate with the public security investigation and keep the communication open. During this period, she did not need to stay in the Public Security Bureau all the time, but since she did not see Shen Yanli, she had to stay and wait temporarily.
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