By the time the evening came, she woke up and smelled food in the compartment, her stomach churned, it was really nauseating.
She pulled out the lunch box and tea canister from her bag and went to the dining car.
She brewed herself a cup of malted milk and ordered a palm-sized sweet pastry, sitting there to eat.
On the third of April in the lunar calendar, she got off the train.
During these few days on the train, she had calmed down. Wei Kaiyun had repeatedly mentioned that their relationship couldn't be known by others, so she couldn't ask directly.
Thus she went home, deciding to probe and ask tomorrow.
It wasn't until evening that her home was finally tidy. She made porridge for herself, eating it felt quite comforting, at least not feeling choked or nauseated.
Lying on the brick bed, she analyzed the situation. Wei Kaiyun's life should not be in danger; otherwise, they wouldn't have kept him for a month.
But where exactly is he? If she could really know where he is, she'd still go. No need to think, he must be having a hard time, and she could take care of him a bit.
After waking up the next day, she washed her face and looked at herself in the mirror, "I've lost weight again!"
To make herself look refreshed, she wore a trench coat. Tied her hair up and even cut bangs for herself.
The guard saw Jiang Xinyu and warmly greeted her, "Director Jiang, you're back from your break at home?"
"Yes, good morning, Xiao Liu."
She went straight to her office, tidying it up, and waited for the work bell to ring before heading to Qian Jun's office.
"Director Jiang, you're back?"
"Yes, I'm back, how are you, Secretary Song?"
"Director Jiang, I'm doing well."
Qian Jun came in and saw Jiang Xinyu, frowning, "Director Jiang, back from your break?"
"Yes." Jiang Xinyu replied with a cheerful smile.
"People usually gain weight during breaks, why have you lost weight again?"
Jiang Xinyu simply giggled, unwilling to lie, she just muddled through.
Following Qian Jun into the office, they discussed some factory issues, and then she walked out puzzled.
Why is Qian Jun not worried? They should be people from the same side; could it be that Wei Kaiyun's incident is not as she thought?
This leaves her feeling even less certain. But she didn't dare to show it.
During lunch at the cafeteria, she saw the pregnant Wang Ailing.
"Sis, why don't you take leave for the birth?"
"What are you talking about? You only take leave just before giving birth and then return to work when the baby is a month old."
Xinyu, why have you lost so much weight?"
"It's nothing, just tired."
"You, come to my house for dinner tonight."
"No, I'm too tired from the train ride, I'd rather rest at home for a few days."
"Alright, my dad brought you three pounds of meat. You never come back, and the weather's warm now, I ate it."
"If you ate it, then it's fine, I don't feel like eating it either."
"Xinyu, you're back? You've been gone for two months this time, right?"
"Yes, Kong Mengjie, I find you getting prettier."
"Haha, you're really getting better at talking. I need to go feed the kid." Kong Mengjie hurried away.
"Didn't she say she'd send the baby to her mom's place? What's going on?"
"Her mom can't manage it now, Kong Demin's wife is pregnant, she's not feeling well, her mom has to take care of her."
"Is his wife in the village?"
"Yes, my mom said his wife is pregnant yet still so thin. It's frightening to see."
"That Kong Mengjie is really having a tough time, the baby must be almost six months old now, right?"
"Yes, the other day I saw Huang Hongwei running into the clinic with the baby who'd bumped its forehead."
Jiang Xinyu lay on the bed, unable to sleep, thinking about how to subtly ask Qian Jun if he knows anything about Wei Kaiyun.
Hearing a knock on the door, she went out to open it. It was Qian Jun.
"Director Jiang, invite me for dinner tonight." He didn't come in, standing at the door.
"Sure, but there's nothing special at home, I soaked some seafood, how about dumplings?"
"That sounds great. I'll probably arrive around seven-thirty."
"Alright." This is an opportunity. Qian Jun wouldn't come over for dinner without reason.
After work, she hurried home to mix the dough and stuffing for dumplings.
The dishes were canned peaches, a seaweed salad, and fried peanuts.
Everything was prepared by seven-twenty, she started boiling water.
Qian Jun arrived right on time at seven-thirty. "Director Jiang, this is really a feast, always good food when eating with you."
"As long as you're satisfied, Mr. Qian. The dumplings will be ready soon."
They ate in silence, sitting face to face. Qian Jun ate all the dumplings.
Finally holding a bowl of canned soup, he slowly drank. "Director Jiang, where did you go?"
Jiang Xinyu looked up at him, puzzled.
"Jiang Xinyu, did you know? Wei Kaiyun has been arrested?"
"What? When did this happen? What's going on?"
Jiang Xinyu shook her head. "Mr. Qian, what's happening exactly, I know a bit about what kind of person Director Wei is, what's the situation?"
"Jiang Xinyu, I don't know why Wei Kaiyun was caught either."
Jiang Xinyu frowned, "You don't know what's going on either?"
"Knowing would be useless for you. It's just matters from above."
"Oh. So what is Director Wei accused of?"
"Why are you so eager to know?"
"It's just that if anything bad happens to anyone around me, I'd definitely inquire. By the way, Mr. Qian, do you know where Director Wei is held? He must be suffering, right? We've known each other for quite a while, I was kind of brought up by him.
I can't forget the kindness, if I knew where he is, I'd think of sending some food and necessities. I wonder if he lacks money?"
Qian Jun looked at Jiang Xinyu's face, showing only worry, without any other expression.
"I really don't know, but I presume it's a very remote place. He's implicated, life would certainly be hard."
"Will he be beaten or something?"
"Probably not, someone like him wouldn't be treated like a criminal at a labor camp."
"It's at a national labor camp now, how many labor camps do we have in the country?"
"I don't know, I advise you not to conspicuously try to find him, this way you might also get implicated.
I was also detained for a few days. But Director Wei left over two years ago, so I was released."
"They also found you."
"Revolutionary Committee."
"Then should I go and see?"
Qian Jun shook his head, "No need, if they come for you, just go, if they don't, forget it."
"Got it. But I still want to help Director Wei."
"Alright, if there's a chance, I'll help you ask."
"Mr. Qian, you must find a way to ask, or else I'll never be at peace.
What kind of situation is this? Just a regular factory director, there's something above, what does it have to do with him?"