Chapter 101 Providing Evidence
After saying that, she took Lin Xiaoyuan's hand.
Fu Lan was left standing there alone, her face turning pale with anger.
"Wanyin, can we really start a side business this time?"
"I can't help but ask," Aunt Liu asked excitedly, her hands gripping the hem of her apron tightly.
"If you have any ideas, speak up! The faster the project is developed, the sooner it can be launched."
Wang Xiuying raised her hand and spoke.
"I can do embroidery. I even made money from it back in my hometown! I can do flowers, birds, insects and fish. When there are a lot of orders, I can earn more than ten yuan a month."
"I can weave bamboo baskets!"
Another woman then shouted.
“My father was a bamboo weaver. I watched him work since I was a child. His skills were excellent. He wove strong and beautiful bamboo.”
"My cooking is so delicious that my neighbors love to come over for a meal!"
Another middle-aged woman said with a smile, her eyes sparkling.
"If we could open a small kitchen and sell meals, I guarantee everyone would eat well."
"..."
Seeing everyone chatting enthusiastically, Qiao Wanyin felt much more at ease.
One after another, the people in the room offered suggestions.
Some suggested organizing training sessions, while others suggested securing long-term cooperative orders.
Some people also mentioned the process they had seen in factories in the city before.
Qiao Wanyin sat at the table, listening attentively to everyone's remarks, occasionally glancing down to jot down a few sentences.
She discovered that there were so many people around her who were willing to help, and the burden in her heart unknowingly lightened a lot.
Lin Xiaoyuan gently touched her arm and whispered, "Sister Wanyin, we've taken this first step steadily."
Qiao Wanyin turned to look at her and saw that her eyes were bright.
This sentiment also affected Qiao Wanyin.
She reached out and gently patted the back of Lin Xiaoyuan's hand in response.
Qiao Wanyin laughed out loud: "This is nothing! There are definitely many more challenges ahead!"
She said this in a relaxed tone.
But I know in my heart that the real difficulties may have just begun.
Currently, with everyone working together, the situation is relatively good.
However, whether they can continue to persevere once they encounter a conflict of interest or increased external pressure remains to be seen.
She gazed at the darkening sky outside the window, knowing that the road ahead would not be smooth.
Unexpectedly, a distressing incident occurred at the mutual aid center the very next day.
The gate had just opened this morning.
Several children ran in from the doorway, saying that someone outside was crying loudly.
Wang Xiuying immediately put down her work and rushed to check.
Hearing the commotion, Qiao Wanyin quickly put on her coat and went outside.
Her heart tightened, and she quickened her pace involuntarily.
Turning the corner of the courtyard wall, I saw a group of people gathered at the entrance.
She quickened her pace and rushed over, only to find Zhang Xiulan slumped on the ground, holding two little girls in her arms.
The two children had dust on their faces and their hair was a mess.
Zhang Xiulan's hands trembled, her face was deathly pale, her lips quivered, and she cried while muttering something.
Her clothes were torn, and she had lost one of her shoes.
"Don't cry, get up first, let's talk inside."
Qiao Wanyin squatted down, her tone calm but leaving no room for refusal.
She grabbed Zhang Xiulan's arm and tried to lift her up.
Zhang Xiulan initially resisted, shrinking back.
But upon hearing the familiar voice, he finally raised his head, his eyes filled with helplessness.
She comforted the person, helped them up, and led them into the mutual aid center.
Upon seeing this, Lin Xiaoyuan immediately cleared out a room, moved the tables and chairs aside, and made room for people to sit down.
Qiao Wanyin had Zhang Xiulan lean against the wall, while Wang Xiuying took the two children aside to look after them.
A stove was lit inside, and the temperature slowly rose.
But Zhang Xiulan's complexion was still not good.
Aunt Liu brought over hot water and towels, and Wang Xiuying quickly brought some snacks for the two children.
The hot water was steaming, and the towel was wrung out to the perfect dampness.
Aunt Liu placed a towel on Zhang Xiulan's forehead and whispered a few words of comfort.
The dessert was red bean buns that were steamed last night and were still warm.
Wang Xiuying broke off a small piece and gently put it into the child's mouth.
The little girl took the snack with her hands tucked in, then lowered her head and wolfed it down; she was clearly starving.
The smallest one was swallowed almost without chewing, its eyes fixed on the remaining half.
Qiao Wanyin felt sorry for her and asked Wang Xiuying to get two more.
The child ate too quickly and almost choked, so Wang Xiuying quickly patted her back.
The other child remained silent, simply clinging tightly to Zhang Xiulan's clothes.
Lin Xiaoyuan rushed in and whispered a few words in Qiao Wanyin's ear.
"Wang Erdan just got his marriage certificate with a nurse from the division hospital last month."
Upon hearing this, Qiao Wanyin's face immediately darkened.
She knew the name Wang Erdan.
But instead of a reunion, they received this kind of news.
Qiao Wanyin frowned.
The others in the room heard this and quieted down.
"That's the problem."
Lin Xiaoyuan shook his head, "He and Zhang Xiulan are not married."
Qiao Wanyin immediately understood.
These all became problems.
Back then, this was the case in many rural areas. Whether or not someone got married depended entirely on whether they had a wedding banquet; nobody cared much about that piece of paper.
Legally speaking, this relationship does not constitute marriage at all.
In some places, customs are so deeply ingrained that once a banquet is held and relatives are recognized, it's considered a marriage.
The matter of registration was neglected.
But times have changed, and regulations are now in place.
Situations like Zhang Xiulan's are actually quite common.
Qiao Wanyin recalled several similar cases she had heard during her previous visits.
Some women have lived with men for over ten years, and their children are already in elementary school.
As a result, once the man was transferred, there was no further news of him.
At this moment, Fu Lan walked over and looked at Zhang Xiulan.
"Sister, you're not married because you haven't registered your marriage."
Fu Lan spoke calmly.
Zhang Xiulan cried even harder.
"What about my daughter? She's Wang Erdan's biological daughter! He can't just disown his own child!"
Her voice trembled.
Fu Lan said coldly, "Then you'll have to provide evidence."
The room fell silent for a moment, with only Zhang Xiulan's sobs echoing in the air.
Qiao Wanyin stood up abruptly: "The purpose of the mutual aid center is to help everyone solve problems."
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