"Sister Man called me over a dozen times, specifically to come here for this matter."
"Our newspaper has some advertisers and some educational fund resources. Sister Man wants me to do a special poverty-focused report on your village. This should draw the attention of those companies and funds, as well as the generous public. Raising a few million should not be a big issue."
Hearing this, Zhang Xiaoshan gratefully looked at Jiang Man.
"Sister Man, thank you."
With Jiang Man’s stubborn character, making over a dozen phone calls asking for help, it was clear she saw this matter as extremely important.
For Little Shan, she had been silently giving her all.
Jiang Man said with a flush on her face.
"I just made a few phone calls, the person you should thank is my Junior Sister Bai. Whether this can be successful still depends on her report."
"Then it all depends on Journalist Bai."
Zhang Xiaoshan said to Bai Shutong with a sycophantic smile.
Bai Shutong spoke seriously.
"I initially got into the Daily thanks to Sister Man finding the opportunity for me. Having a chance to repay you is to be expected, but you know my reporting style. I only speak the truth, and all news will be reported as it is. If the situation in the village isn’t as bad as you described on the phone, and my report doesn’t draw attention, don’t blame me, Sister Man."
"Of course, what I appreciate is exactly Junior Sister Bai’s fact-seeking style," Jiang Man agreed.
Zhang Xiaoshan added.
"Journalist Bai, you’ll see for yourself once you get there."
"Alright, there’s no time to waste. I have other reports to work on, and today I played hooky to come here, so I can’t linger too long. Can we head back to the village now, in two days’ time at the most?" Bai Shutong said decisively.
"Oh my, I left my phone inside; I’ll go get it," Jiang Man said hurriedly as she exited the door.
At the same time, she glanced at Zhang Xiaoshan.
Zhang Xiaoshan immediately understood.
"Then I’ll accompany you, Sister Man. I was about to use the restroom anyway."
The two went back into the tea restaurant.
As an experienced journalist, Bai Shutong was highly perceptive and could already smell the pheromones in the air but decided not to say it outright, smiling silently and waiting patiently by the car.
"You little rascal, the way you were looking at my Junior Sister Bai was not quite right. Your words were as sweet as honey, calling her ’Journalist’ this and ’Journalist’ that. How come I never see you so enthusiastic with me?" Jiang Man cornered Zhang Xiaoshan the minute they were in the corridor.
Zhang Xiaoshan was internally panicking.
"Sister Man, you’re wronging me. Isn’t she the guest you invited? I was merely polite out of respect for you. If not for you, I wouldn’t even know who she is."
"Besides, we’re still asking for her help, right?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Man’s expression eased somewhat.
"Well, that’s more like it."
"You turn into a sneaky devil upon seeing a pretty woman, can’t keep your eyes off. But let me warn you, my Junior Sister may seem poised but she’s been through a lot of pain. She has suffered serious heartache before. You better not mess with her. If you end up causing her to consider suicide, you’re done for."
"Heartache, suicide?"
Zhang Xiaoshan was utterly bewildered.
Bai Shutong appeared to be a sunny goddess; who would’ve thought there was such a story? Truly, one mustn’t judge a woman solely by her looks.
"Why, getting curious about her business now?" Jiang Man stared disapprovingly at Zhang Xiaoshan.
Zhang Xiaoshan hastily retorted.
"When have I been curious? Weren’t you the one who started talking and then stopped? Forget it, forget it, I don’t want to hear it."
"Let’s go." ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭⟡𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦⟡𝘯𝘦𝘵
Jiang Man gave Zhang Xiaoshan a kiss on the face, and they left the tea restaurant.
After eating, the three said goodbye.
Zhang Xiaoshan didn’t head straight out of the county town.
Instead, he made a round on the ring road.
He found a repair shop.
He spent over three hundred yuan and bought several old small van inner tubes.
Then he bought a suitcase, deflated the tubes, and managed to stuff in eight of them.
"That should be enough."
He also bought a small portable air compressor.
Once ready, he headed straight to White Dragon Village.
"What are you buying that stuff for?" asked Bai Shutong, the curious journalist born with a gossipy nature.
Zhang Xiaoshan gave a perfunctory reply.
"The school lacks entertainment facilities; I’m making a few swings for the kids to play with."
"You really do have a kind heart; no wonder Sister Man chose you as her boyfriend," Bai Shutong mused, her eyes circling like a cunning fox.