Wang Xinian looked at her without saying a word.
“Do you know that if you run away, you become a criminal and can never come back? Shao Chen was wronged, and so was I. We can’t leave. If we leave, we’ll be betraying our country.” Shen Mingzhi knew very well that not only could she not do it, but Shao Chen couldn’t either.
Wang Xinian burst into tears.
“Look at you… you didn’t even bring an umbrella when you came, and we don’t have any warm clothes here.” Shen Mingzhi looked at his face, which was pale from the cold, and said with red eyes, “Go to the cafeteria first, I’ll see if they’ve lit a fire, and you can dry your clothes before going back. You’ll freeze to death like this.”
“Sister…” Wang Xinian was very afraid that she would go to jail.
If she also goes to jail, this will be the last time she cares about herself.
Shen Mingzhi took him to the factory canteen, where a fire had already been lit. She handed Wang Xinian over to the cooks and then planned to leave the canteen.
“Sister, I’m not cold.” Wang Xinian took two steps forward and grabbed her hand.
“Getting sick costs a lot of money, and I don’t have that much. You still have to go to school, and money is needed everywhere. You should take better care of yourself.” Shen Mingzhi pushed him back to the stove door.
The blazing fire warmed Wang Xinian's body and even brought some warmth to his frozen face.
Shen Mingzhi glanced at him, then turned and left.
Wang Xinian stood up, wanting to follow, but was stopped by the cook.
"Your sister is right, you should dry your clothes properly first!"
Wang Xinian was forced to sit down, and he looked at the fire in the stove, his heart filled with worry.
He didn't know how long he had been grilling. The chefs asked him to take off his clothes and pants so they could grill them for him.
The cooks in the cafeteria were all very nice; they chatted with him while cooking.
“Your sister is really capable, you should listen to her. Studying is good. My child was born into a poor family... My family's background is not good. Although he passed the exam, he missed it because he failed the political review. He even blamed me at the time.”
"That's right, you've caught a good time. The college entrance exam was only reinstated a couple of years ago. Before that, a lot of people could only go to vocational schools. I heard they're going to send you abroad. It's a developed Western country, and they say it's very wealthy."
"The equipment is all very advanced, you'll definitely learn something there. If you ask me, your sister was born too early; if she had come later, she would have been even more amazing."
"Without your sister, we wouldn't have made any money last year. The factory went bankrupt, and we didn't have enough to eat or wear. She single-handedly supported our family of hundreds of people."
As Wang Xinian listened to their casual conversation, his hands, which were at his sides, slowly clenched into fists.
He said back then... that after he finished his college entrance exams, he would go to the army to help Shen Mingzhi.
If you don't go to university, you won't have that opportunity.
Around noon, Director Sun arrived at the canteen. When he saw Wang Xinian, he walked towards him with a serious expression and said, "Put your clothes back on and go home."
"Where is my sister?" Wang Xinian asked.
Factory Director Sun did not answer, but went to get his clothes.
After Wang Xinian finished dressing and followed Director Sun out of the canteen, he heard him say, "A few policemen came and took her away. They were shouting that she committed adultery..."
"Then I'll go to the police station!" Wang Xinian said, and immediately turned to leave!
"Why go to the police station! Don't cause trouble, or your application to go abroad will be rejected immediately! Your sister, your brother-in-law, and the Jiang family spent so much effort to get your application approved. If you cause trouble again, the neighborhood committee and other places will just add a clause to your application, and you'll be completely finished!" Director Sun said angrily with a stern face.
For the first time, Wang Xinian realized that he was completely helpless in these situations.
Just like last time when he watched Shen Mingzhi get beaten up and slapped so many times... he was just as useless.
“Guofu called me and said the policy for going abroad will be released soon. He’s already heard about it. Just wait another week or two. I’ve also spoken to your chemical factory. They’re keeping it a secret for you. The Song family’s attention is all on your sister and brother-in-law right now. It’ll be easier for you to go abroad now since no one is watching you,” Factory Director Sun reassured him.
Wang Xinian rubbed his eyes and gave a muffled "hmm".
His nose stung with tears... and he couldn't say a word.
“I’ll take you back. I heard from your sister that you’re afraid to go abroad. It’s your first time being so far from home, so it’s understandable to be scared. But foreign countries are so great, everything is so advanced. You need to go out and broaden your horizons, and come back to create value for our country. It’s so difficult to go abroad these days. Those who go abroad on government scholarships have their applications reviewed again and again. The biggest concern is that they might be people from the military who see how great things are abroad and then decide not to come back,” Director Sun told him.
The more he spoke, the harder Wang Xinian cried.
They said it would take one or two weeks.
But in fact, the policy changed three days later.
The conditions for going abroad at one's own expense were exactly as Shen Mingzhi had predicted.
All the reviewed materials were matched up one by one.
Wang Xinian did not see Shen Mingzhi again after boarding the ship.
Jiang Guofu escorted him to the port.
Wang's wife stood to the side, wanting to speak but unable to, her eyes red as she silently wept.
Jiang Guofu also looked reluctant to part with her.
“Go there and study hard, and remember to call back often… Your sister and brother-in-law are relieved to receive your calls.” Jiang Guofu told him.
Wang Xinian nodded.
He hugged Jiang Guofu, then hugged Wang Sao, and took two steps back.
The person he most wanted to hug was Shen Mingzhi... This summer, he wouldn't even see what she looked like wearing the dress he bought for her.
When she came out today, she heard her neighbors in the courtyard saying that once someone is convicted of adultery, they will be executed.
But if it was Jiang Shaozhen who raped a woman, he should be shot.
He left, and four years later he came back. Will he really be able to see them again?
"Uncle Jiang, the Jiang family... will be alright?" he asked.
Jiang Guofu didn't know either, but sighed sadly, "You still have enough money for school. If not, I'll borrow from Lao Sun. Those products your sister had developed can still sell for a long time."
The light in Wang Xinian's eyes disappeared.
He turned and boarded the ship, carrying his suitcase, and slowly squeezed into the crowd.
Jiang Guofu and Wang Sao could no longer see him; they were still standing in the same spot.
After returning to the Jiang family home, Jiang Guofu sat in the main room for a long time before Jiang Qing returned from the police station.
“I can’t see them. I’ve begged everyone, but they all say their crimes are serious and they won’t let me see them. They won’t even let me bring them food or drink.” She sat on the sofa, holding her breath as she finished speaking, then burst into tears. “I just don’t understand, what did Shao Chen do wrong? Who did he get the injection for? He was used as a lab rat, isn’t he unlucky? After being unlucky, he still has to go to jail, and then he’ll be executed. He’s my only son!”
After she finished speaking, she burst into tears.
Jiang Qing, who is usually patient and values her reputation, couldn't hold back any longer.
Her two sons, one has been killed in action, and the other is about to be executed by the person she is loyal to. What should she do? Maybe she should die with them!
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