"Talk, talk about what?"
The woman’s eyes dodged, her words vague.
Zhang Xiaoshan was not surprised by this. The most update n0vels are published on 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✶𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮✶𝓷𝓮𝓽
"Don’t worry, if I wanted to snitch, would I still be here talking so much with you?"
"To be honest, are you thinking of running away?"
The woman wanted to deny it, but as she saw Zhang Xiaoshan’s face growing colder, she thought that at this point, there seemed to be no need to keep hiding the truth.
"Alright, I admit it, I do want to run."
"There you go, don’t worry, I’ve seen plenty of women with the same experiences as you, I’m used to it."
"Are there other women in the village with origins like mine?"
With this, the woman got excited.
"There are at least a dozen in the village just like you, didn’t you know? You must be new to the village, how come I have never seen you before?" Zhang Xiaoshan asked her.
Now the woman was much more forthcoming.
She nodded and explained.
"I came to Zhang Ercai’s house just half a month ago."
"Zhang Ercai, that guy is an old widower, he must be forty years old by now, about the same age as your dad, I guess. That must’ve been tough for you," said Zhang Xiaoshan offhandedly.
This hit the woman in a sore spot.
Tears the size of beans welled up in her eyes.
"Wh-wh-why, I’m really fed up with that old man, you seem like an educated person, do you have a way to help me leave?"
"I might be able to help you, but first you have to tell me everything clearly. Your accent doesn’t sound like it’s from around here, does it?" Zhang Xiaoshan said, gently probing.
The woman was overjoyed when she heard Zhang Xiaoshan say he was willing to help her.
"I’m indeed not from around here, my name is Luo Yu, I’m from Sichuan. I’m a fitness coach. Not long ago, while climbing a mountain, I ran into two hikers, drank some water they offered, and the next thing I knew, I was here."
"Fitness coach, a Sichuan girl?"
Luo Yu’s self-introduction piqued Zhang Xiaoshan’s interest even more.
With Luo Yu’s physical condition, she should manage for two hours, right?
"Then why did you run out here with nothing on?"
"I took the opportunity when Zhang Ercai fell asleep, slipped out to use the toilet as an excuse, and I didn’t dare to put on clothes to ensure he felt secure," Luo Yu said, her face turning red as she hung her head in shame.
"Alright, I’ve told you everything about me, it’s your turn to help me, isn’t it?"
"When did I ever say that I would help you?"
Zhang Xiaoshan appeared confused.
Luo Yu immediately became anxious.
"You, you liar, you clearly said you’d help me just now."
"What I said was I’d consider it, not that I would definitely help you."
"Besides, although I don’t know Zhang Ercai well, we are after all from the same village, and you are a stranger from outside. We have no relationship, no connections, why should I offend my own fellow villagers for you, an outsider?"
Luo Yu immediately became agitated.
Just as she was about to scold Zhang Xiaoshan, she held back her words.
After all, she was an old hand at social encounters, having been around for several years. She had seen all sorts of characters at the gym where she worked.
She quickly calmed down.
Fearing it might provoke Zhang Xiaoshan to snitch, she realized that if that happened, not only would she not be able to leave tonight, but she might never have the chance again.
"Hehe, little brother, since you’ve talked so much with me, you surely won’t just leave me hanging, right?"
"You can make your conditions," she said.
"I know the economy here is very poor, so how about this: I give you ten thousand yuan, can you help me? When I get back home, I’ll transfer another fifty thousand to you, how does that sound?"
Luo Yu looked at Zhang Xiaoshan with smiling eyes, launching a monetary attack on him.
Unfortunately, that amount of money was of little concern to Zhang Xiaoshan.
He laughed at Luo Yu.
"You yourself said our place is remote and backward, even if you give me money, where would I spend it? Isn’t it the same as worthless paper? And besides, if you go back home, where am I going to find you if you don’t keep your word?"
"I, I’ll definitely keep my promise, believe me," Luo Yu said, grasping Zhang Xiaoshan’s arm in agitation.
Zhang Xiaoshan looked at Luo Yu and smiled.
"I don’t trust those invisible, intangible bunch of bullshit promises. Let’s get real, shall we?"
"Real?" Luo Yu was a bit baffled.
At that moment, Zhang Xiaoshan’s hand was already touching Luo Yu’s behind.