Gu Junming thought about the past, and indeed felt a bit nervous. If it weren’t for Peng’s intervention, something might have really gone wrong. He nodded and went upstairs to make a call. Until Su Miao’s issue was resolved, he couldn’t put his mind at ease.
Though Su Miao was somewhat rude, she wasn’t a malicious person. If something really happened to her, it wouldn’t be good. Besides, the baby is so innocent; nothing should happen to them.
Gu Junming provided some clues, and the police in Feng City began their investigation.
Coincidentally, it was a time of a crackdown, focusing on various crimes like child trafficking, so Su Miao and the baby’s case was treated as a major one.
Sun Chan merely listened without getting involved, realizing she couldn’t help anyway. Gu Junming was quite busy, and the police wouldn’t let them participate in the case, so all they could do was assist. Therefore, she decided to return to the army.
Gu Junming told Sun Chan that he’d take her to the town next weekend; Wang Shufen had been managing the stall by herself for over half a month, and they didn’t know how it was going.
Sun Chan agreed, planning to go back and take a look.
There hadn’t been any news from Han Dong, who was said to be in the south discussing some business. It wasn’t convenient to go there.
That day, as Sun Chan was waiting for Gu Junming to pick her up, someone came in, and upon seeing them, Sun Chan was visibly startled.
It was Zhao Jieyun, who had come on her own.
Sun Chan stood up and smiled, "Welcome, are you here to buy some fruit?"
"I want to talk to you," Zhao Jieyun said, smiling as she sat down in front of Sun Chan. The place wasn’t large, but there were two chairs, which Sun Chan had prepared for Gu Junming.
Zhao Jieyun laughed and said, "My daughter is too unruly. When I got back last time, I gave her a good talking-to." As she spoke, she scrutinized the girl in front of her, her heart racing. Ever since their last meeting, she felt this girl looked very much like her. These past few days, Sun Chan’s face had been in her mind, and she felt she might be the daughter she lost long ago!
So today, she made time to come see her.
"I’ve been wondering if Yang Yun would come back, always on guard," Sun Chan laughed.
"My daughter won’t come again, don’t worry." Her throat was dry, and she felt her voice changed. This girl’s smile was so much like her own.
It was true; after the incident at the fruit store, Zhao Jieyun had severely reprimanded Yang Yun, telling her if she dared to use the Yang Family’s name to bully others again, she’d cut her off financially and she’d have to ask her father or grandfather for money.
Yang Yun naturally resisted, crying loudly, "I’m a Yang Family member! How can I be bullied by a mere villager, mom? Can’t you see how detestable she is?"
Zhao Jieyun sneered, "I didn’t realize you were so capable, thinking you’re better than everyone. Where does your arrogance come from? You’re not outstanding in studies, and without a proper career at your age, yet you still make all this trouble? How do you have the nerve to complain? I can’t educate you. You’re over twenty, needing pocket money? If you go after Sun Chan again, you won’t get a dime, ask your father or grandfather instead!"
"Mom!" Zhao Jieyun naturally didn’t dare. Father Yang, being like an injured lion, silent and fierce, would slap her if she bothered him, so she dared not cause trouble.
Yang Xiong already knew about the situation. Though he hadn’t returned, he’d thoroughly scolded his granddaughter over the phone, leaving Yang Yun dumbfounded and afraid to go stir trouble for Sun Chan, despite her grievances.
Zhao Jieyun hesitated and asked Sun Chan, "Who are your parents?"
"They’re gone," Sun Chan was unwilling to elaborate.
"But I heard someone saying your mother caused you trouble before." Zhao Jieyun, with a thing on her mind, had inquired beforehand and learned that Zhao Xiuxia had made a fuss, trying to make Sun Chan return to the village to get married, with rumors abound.
Some said she abandoned her fiancé for a better prospect, others that Zhao Xiuxia wanted a dowry in exchange for her.
Sun Chan disliked Yang Yun, thus wasn’t warm towards Zhao Jieyun either, and didn’t want to dwell on unpleasant past matters. She simply said, "She was my adoptive mother, wanting a dowry in exchange for me, but it’s all in the past. My household registration has been moved out."
Zhao Xiuxia was stunned, "What did you say? Adoptive mother? Are you an orphan?"
Zhao Jieyun grabbed her hand urgently, "When were you born?"
Sun Chan shook her head, "I don’t know. I was picked up by my adoptive mother at the well platform."
"The well platform... The well platform. Which village are you from?"
Crash! Zhao Jieyun’s body bumped into and knocked over a lunchbox on a small table.
Curious, Sun Chan asked, "What happened?"
Zhao Jieyun waved her hand, hurriedly picking it up, realizing she was too rude. She forced a smile, "Nothing. I just thought of the past and got a little emotional. I’ll leave for now and come see you another day." With that, she rushed out.
Sun Chan watched her leave, puzzled: What was going on?
Zhao Jieyun stumbled out, practically running all the way home; Xiangyang Village was where they had been sent long ago with her husband! With a child, she’d been inconveniently sent to Tibet for labor reform, entrusting an acquaintance who had connections in Beijing. She’d seen him board the train with the child, so could something have happened in between?
Zhao Jieyun’s heart was pounding, her face pale. Upon returning, Father Yang was reading the newspaper at home.
Seeing his wife hurriedly gulping down water, Father Yang asked, "What’s wrong with you?"
"We need to go to Xiangyang Village!" Zhao Jieyun grabbed Father Yang, "That child looks so much like me when I was young."
Father Yang was startled, then said, "I had the same thought when I saw the picture taken with Yang Zhen, but we saw her board the train with our own eyes back then..."
They didn’t name the person, but clearly, both had the same idea.
Zhao Jieyun said, "It’s no good just guessing here, I’ll take leave, we will go there, investigate, it’s not even twenty years yet, someone should know about it."
"Alright, that child, we owe her. Just hoping, if we find her, she can forgive us."