Zhang Xiaoshan’s heart jolted, it was clear that Bai Shutong was trying to catch him off-guard and fish for information.
Fortunately, Zhang Xiaoshan’s mind had become much stronger after practicing the Dragon Spirit Refining God Skill, and he immediately sensed something was amiss.
He said in a somewhat astonished and flustered manner.
"Journalist Bai, don’t talk nonsense. I’m just a little village doctor, how could I possibly be a match for Sister Man?"
"We’re just friends who know each other pretty well."
Jiang Man’s earlier response to Bai Shutong had made it clear that it was not the right time to expose their relationship, and Zhang Xiaoshan and Jiang Man had already agreed on this point, let alone the fact that Bai Shutong was a reporter.
Bai Shutong obviously felt disappointed with this answer.
"Then, how did you meet my senior sister?"
She continued to probe for clues.
Zhang Xiaoshan half truthfully replied.
"It was when she was on an undercover visit alone. Her car broke down on the road, and I gave her a hand. After that, we got to know each other, and later..."
He roughly explained to Bai Shutong how he participated in the exam, as well as how he dealt with the illegal clinics.
Since these events were actually true and made sense, Bai Shutong did not suspect anything.
"Right, you just said you were a village doctor. Has your county’s welfare become so good that they gave you a Land Rover? Just now, you were even willing to pay out of your own pocket to build a school. It looks like you’re in pretty good financial shape?"
As a journalist, Bai Shutong was quite talkative and had the spirit of digging to the bottom of things.
"The county’s welfare is good, but they wouldn’t give us Land Rovers. Besides being a village doctor, I also partner with friends to do some agricultural trade on the side, so I can earn a little extra..."
"Journalist Bai, is being a reporter fun?"
The two of them chatted back and forth in this manner.
The trip was quite harmonious.
Around five in the afternoon, they returned to White Dragon Village.
The car stopped at the ferry dock.
"We have to take a boat to get across."
Zhang Xiaoshan explained to Bai Shutong while taking down her luggage along with his own large suitcase, which contained a car inner tube.
After the bumpy mountain roads, Bai Shutong had not expected that there was even no road into the village.
Zhang Xiaoshan explained.
"The span of the White Dragon River is very wide, and even if we were to build a simple bridge, it would cost tens of millions. Plus, if we were to widen the mountain roads, it would be thirty to forty million. How could a poor mountainous area like ours come up with so much money?"
"Doesn’t the county care?"
"We can’t even come up with a few million to build a school, let alone thirty or forty million."
"By the way, Mr. Bai, when the boatman comes to pick us up, could you say this suitcase is yours?"
"Why should I say it’s mine?"
Bai Shutong felt something was off.
Zhang Xiaoshan said nonchalantly.
"Because I want to do a good deed anonymously. Just help me out."
Bai Shutong had a fairly good impression of Zhang Xiaoshan, especially since he had helped her out in the little restaurant before; she was definitely going to help with this favor.
While they were talking, Wan GouDan from the opposite shore had already started to approach with the ferry.
"Wow, a beautiful woman. Little Shan, is this bride you found?"
Wang Goudan ogled Bai Shutong, his eyes wide.
His lecherous gaze wandered all over her, almost drooling.
"Don’t talk nonsense; she’s a major journalist sent from the county to interview our village."
Zhang Xiaoshan scolded Wang Goudan.
Hearing this, Wang Goudan became wary.
"Why would a journalist come to our village? Little Shan, you know we can’t just let outsiders come into our village easily."
The secret of the women of White Dragon Village could not be discovered. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭⚑𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⚑𝕟𝕖𝕥
The profession of journalist was extremely sensitive.
Despite being somewhat frivolous, Wang Goudan was extremely loyal to the village.
"Goudan brother, she’s here from the county to help our village school fundraise and promote it. How about this, go inform the village chief, and we’ll wait here."
"Okay, I’ll go ask the village chief. You guys wait."
Wang Goudan hurried back to relay the message.
"Why is your village so wary of outsiders? Is there something shady going on?"
Bai Shutong keenly sensed something was not right.
Zhang Xiaoshan explained with a laugh.
"What kind of secrets could a little mountain village have? In a backward village , there are just a lot of old rules. Please be understanding, Journalist Bai. Just wait a little."
Bai Shutong didn’t speak further.
It took more than forty minutes before Wang Goudan returned.
"Little Shan, the village chief isn’t home. How about you ask the journalist to go back to the county for now, and we’ll talk when the village chief returns."
Zhang Xiaoshan was a bit stunned.
Although Wu Damming had lost face in the village, he was still the head of the village. Surely, he wouldn’t just abandon his duties.
Bai Shutong’s expression clearly showed displeasure.
"I’m in a hurry. If I can’t go in, then I won’t delay any longer. I’ll head back to the provincial city now and will visit some other time."
Zhang Xiaoshan quickly held onto Bai Shutong.
"Journalist Bai, don’t be in a rush. Wait a moment, let me have a word with him."
Bai Shutong didn’t speak, which was taken as an agreement.
Zhang Xiaoshan jumped onto the boat, wrapped his arm around Wang Goudan’s neck, and walked arm in arm to the stern of the boat.