The weather in Huanshi has been unpredictable lately, with heavy rain coming from time to time. Xu Mengyao's mood is just like the weather, sometimes sunny, sometimes cloudy.
During this period, she returned home twice, worried about Zhang Xiaomei's future and the potential trouble she might bring to her family. Fortunately, Zhang Xiaomei's father was unaware that his daughter's hiding was connected to the Huang family and remained immersed in his own world, drinking and abusing day after day.
"He's still the same, drinking all day long. When he's drunk he'll curse Xiaomei and her mother at the alley."
Huang Nai shook her head helplessly as she picked at the vegetables in her hand. "The woman he lives with can't stand his harassment anymore. Now she stays at Old Ge's house all day playing mahjong and doesn't even go home."
Xu Mengyao felt a mixture of emotions after hearing this. As the start of school approached, and she still hadn't come up with a good solution, her anxiety grew. Zhang Xiaomei's future seemed like a foggy unknown, leaving her feeling unprecedented pressure.
"Wenjuan, what do you think we should do? Xiaomei can't stay in the city forever and not come back to school." Huang Wenrong asked anxiously.
Xu Mengyao also sighed: "Yeah, I've been thinking about this too. We can find her a place to live, but his father is a devil. If he goes to school to look for Xiaomei, the consequences will be disastrous."
Holding onto the last glimmer of hope, Xu Mengyao stepped into the gate of the Huayuan Police Station and found the familiar Officer Zheng. She told him in detail about Zhang Xiaomei's predicament and her worries about what might happen in the future.
However, Officer Zheng's answer made her feel helpless and disappointed:
"Miss, I know you mean well, but this is truly a family matter, and it's difficult for us police to intervene directly. Unless something truly serious happens, by then it's often too late. Furthermore, your mining district has limited police resources, so I'm guessing they'll still rely on persuasion in the end. We cover different areas, and oftentimes we're willing but unable to."
After coming out of the police station, Xu Mengyao's mood fell to the bottom.
Just when everything was at a loss, on August 20th, Grandpa Qi, as usual, was sitting in the yard, holding a copy of the People's Daily. Suddenly, he burst into laughter. His face was filled with a huge smile, and his voice trembled with excitement:
"Great, great! China finally has a highway! What a joyful occasion!"
He quickly called everyone in the yard to gather around him and pointed at the headline in the newspaper, his eyes gleaming with pride and hope:
"Look, the Shenda Expressway has opened to traffic on a trial basis! At 375 kilometers long, it's our country's first expressway! It's a golden channel connecting economic revitalization and opening up to the outside world! The hard work and perseverance behind this are something the entire nation should be proud of!"
As he spoke, Grandpa Qi's eyes fell gently on Zhang Xiaomei. He slowly walked up to her and said earnestly:
"My child, our country has built such an amazing road despite all the difficulties. What difficulties can't we overcome? Remember, no matter how bumpy the road ahead, as long as you have light in your heart, there will be a way under your feet. You will definitely be able to forge a path of your own, as glorious as the First Road of China!"
Zhang Xiaomei's eyes moistened as she listened to Grandpa Qi's words. She nodded heavily, and Grandpa Qi smiled even brighter upon seeing this. He shouted:
"Bastard, go find your Grandma Qi and ask her for some money. Let's go to the department store and buy a bottle of good wine! Today is a good day, we need to celebrate!"
Xu Mengyao suddenly thought of something. She turned to Zhang Xiaomei and asked, "Xiaomei, does your dad drink every day? How much does he usually drink?"
Zhang Xiaomei's eyes darkened, and she replied softly, "I used to drink occasionally, but now I drink almost every day, at least a bottle of baijiu a day. Why are you asking this?"
Xu Mengyao didn't answer directly, but paced back and forth in the yard, her brow furrowed. She thought to herself that Zhang Xiaomei's father was just an ordinary coal miner, his income couldn't possibly be higher than Huang's father's, and he also had to support herself and that woman, as well as cover daily expenses.
Not only was the woman unemployed, she was also known in the hospital for her love of dressing up and playing mahjong, so her expenses must have been quite high. For her to still be able to buy alcohol every day under such financial pressure clearly meant that her source of income was a major issue.
Thinking of this, Xu Mengyao's eyes suddenly lit up. She finally found a key breakthrough. She immediately said goodbye to Grandpa Qi and Zhang Xiaomei and hurried back home.
As soon as she entered the door, she couldn't wait to tell Huang's father about her discovery. Huang's father also looked solemn after hearing it:
"The average worker in his company only makes 80 or 90 yuan a month. I've seen him drink Bamboo Leaf Green, a fine wine, and it costs 17 yuan a bottle. If he really drinks a bottle a day, how does he get the money? He's not in business, so there must be something fishy going on."
Xu Mengyao nodded in agreement and decided to investigate the matter further. So she found Hu Zi and explained her plan in detail.
After hearing this, Hu Zi patted his chest and promised, "Don't worry, I'll take care of this. I'll keep a close eye on him and see if he has any tricks up his sleeve."
That afternoon, Hu Zi began his tracking mission. However, after several days of no success, he finally saw the drunkard push a cart out of the mine one evening. The top layer of the cart was bulging with cardboard.
The occasional clanging sound from the distant rails broke the tranquility of the night. Hu Zi hid in the shadows, his eyes fixed on a scene not far away - Zhang Xiaomei's father was talking closely with a man.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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