CHAPTER 40: CHAPTER 40: IDENTITY CONFIRMATION

The two saw this and had no choice but to pass the situation on to the Security Section Director.

"Director, it’s not that we don’t want to drive her away, but she insists on seeing the principal. It’s been more than a month. When we ask her why she wants to see the principal, she won’t say. Just now, when we tried to force her to leave, she cried and even knelt down to kowtow to us. She looks about the same age as the school students; maybe there’s something she’s hiding. Should you ask for the principal’s instructions?"

They’re just ordinary security guards, and the other party is a girl. If anything happens, they couldn’t bear the responsibility.

The Security Section Director’s brow instantly furrowed, "Useless!"

Saying this, he strode out of the school, came to Fang Yin’s side, and saw her covered in dirt, her face full of tears, finally understanding the helplessness of the two security guards. This girl indeed looked pitiful.

The Security Section Director asked patiently, "Classmate, what exactly do you want from our principal? If you have any difficulties, you can tell me! I’ll solve it for you!"

Fang Yin held back her tears, looking at him pitifully, and after a long time timidly said, "Are... you a good person?"

Zhao Gaojie laughed, pointing at himself gruffly, "Me! Zhao Gaojie! Survived gunfire on the battlefield, a room full of medals, and you ask if I’m a good person?"

Fang Yin, hearing this, seemed to have found a savior. Her hands, like withered chicken claws, tightly grasped Zhao Gaojie’s sleeve and cried, "I want to verify a student named Fang Yin in your school. I want to know if she is me."

Zhao Gaojie was baffled, and the two security guards behind him were stunned.

"Does this girl have a problem with her brain? I can’t understand a word she’s saying."

Zhao Gaojie frowned, sizing up Fang Yin, "Come with me to the Security Section, wash up, and sit down to explain clearly."

Fang Yin obediently followed Zhao Gaojie, listened to him, and cleaned her face and hands, but her hair, being messy, couldn’t be dealt with.

After calming down, she handed her household registration book to Zhao Gaojie, "My name is Fang Yin, from Fangshan Village, Xiawei Town, An City. I took the college entrance exam two years ago and didn’t pass. In our village, all who took the exam at the same time, didn’t make it either. I’ve accepted it.

But over a month ago, someone told me that there was someone named Fang Yin from Fangshan Village who got into your school and is studying in the provincial capital.

In our place, I’m the only one named Fang Yin; there’s no second person. So I want to ask who is this Fang Yin studying here. Can you help me?"

Zhao Gaojie knew instantly that this was no simple matter. He immediately had the security guards keep an eye on Fang Yin, "I’ll go to the admissions office. What year did you take the college entrance exam?"

"Two years ago," Fang Yin answered anxiously.

Zhao Gaojie, holding her household registration book, quickly headed to the admissions office.

The admissions director was a middle-aged man with a receding hairline, who seemed to have a good temper.

Zhao Gaojie approached, looking serious, "Old Zhang, quickly take out the list of students admitted to our school two years ago. Find a student named Fang Yin and retrieve her information. I need to have a look."

"What’s the situation?" Old Zhang was a bit confused.

Zhao Gaojie, however, shook his head, "It’s fine. I have a matter that needs handling, and I need to verify this student’s information."

Old Zhang had no doubts, immediately retrieving a folder and handing it to Zhao Gaojie, "The admissions records from two years ago are all here. These are the basic details. See if they suffice; for a detailed file, you’ll have to go to the archives, which requires the principal’s approval."

Zhao Gaojie thanked Old Zhang, took the materials, and checked them aside. Upon checking, he found that all the personal information about Fang Yin on the admissions documents matched exactly with what the girl in the Security Room said!

"Oh no! Old Zhang! Something’s wrong!" Zhao Gaojie suddenly stood up, his face pale.

That startled Old Zhang.

After carefully explaining the situation, Old Zhang hurried along with Zhao Gaojie to the Security Section to see Fang Yin.

Under their questioning, Fang Yin answered everything except her ancestors up to the eighteenth generation; all her details were laid bare.

The more Old Zhang and Zhao Gaojie understood, the colder their hearts grew. Realizing the seriousness of the issue, they hurriedly brought Fang Yin to see the principal.

After the principal listened to Fang Yin’s account, he angrily slammed the table and chose to call the police immediately.

Although everyone present believed what Fang Yin said, the police still needed to verify the identity of the Fang Yin before them. For this, they especially had Fang Yin take a bath, clean up, and took a photo of her.

Meanwhile, they obtained a photo of the fake Fang Yin from her roommates and conducted a survey and investigation.

The process would take time.

Zhao Gaojie sympathized with Fang Yin’s situation, knowing she had nowhere to go. He pleaded with the principal on her behalf to arrange a single dorm room for her and helped her get some daily necessities.

"Do you still have any money?" Zhao Gaojie asked.

Fang Yin nodded, taking out eighteen yuan from her pocket, "I ran away from home to escape a forced marriage. A kind person gave me fifty yuan. After buying a ticket to the provincial capital, I didn’t dare spend money recklessly, eating only one steamed bun and a bottle of water each day. I have this much left."

Zhao Gaojie’s pupils trembled, furrowing his brow, "Where do you stay at night?"

I go to the guesthouse in the evening, pleading with the landlady. I help her with work for a few hours, and she lets me sleep in the hall corner.

Now that it’s hot, I get by somehow.

Zhao Gaojie knew the girl before him had it tough, but he didn’t expect it to be even harder than he imagined.

He didn’t say anything, bought Fang Yin the necessary living items, and turned back to give her twenty yuan.

Fang Yin refused.

Zhao Gaojie insisted, "Take it! The school doesn’t provide food, and it will take some time until the results are out. You can’t rely on the wind. If you feel guilty, you can work part-time in the cafeteria, help serve meals at meal times."

"Thank you, Director Zhao, thank you, Director Zhao!" Fang Yin kept bowing.

Zhao Gaojie waved it off, walking away without much thought.

With Zhao Gaojie’s help, Fang Yin found a spot in the school. During the day, she sat in classrooms, listening to lectures. Although she had no books, kind people often lent her theirs.

At noon, she rushed to serve meals at the windows before everyone finished.

The principal and several leaders observed quietly. Seeing Fang Yin’s diligence and earnestness, their impressions of her improved.

A week later, the police returned to the school to meet with the principal.

Zhao Gaojie and Old Zhang both accompanied them.

The police, looking serious, shared their findings, "Based on the list of teachers and students provided by Comrade Fang Yin, we avoided those familiar with her in Fangshan Village. After investigation, we verified that the reporter of the case is indeed Fang Yin, while the girl studying at your school is called Fang Meixiang, the daughter of the village chief of Fangshan Village.

The matter is clear. Fang Meixiang impersonated someone else to attend university while the victim Fang Yin was unaware. We have already contacted the An County police station to arrest Fang Meixiang, and we suspect this is not an isolated case. We recommend the school files a report to initiate an investigation."