CHAPTER 70: CHAPTER 70: SEEKING THE PATH TO PROSPERITY

It has always been tough for the Dang people, but everyone is used to helping each other out. Even at the hardest times, I never heard of anyone starving to death. Now, when life is better, someone actually starved to death. It’s ironic to even say it.

Chen Yongding consoled, "Dad, it’s all Zheng Aqiang’s fault. Someone as good as Wenjun doesn’t want to deal with him; there’s nothing we can do. When we get to South Port, we can help him find out about his family’s whereabouts, but that’s all we can do."

Zhou Shuifang murmured, "Ever since Wenjun married that wife, he seems to have distanced himself from everyone. He used to be upset but never refused to help. This time he’s so resolute. Is he planning to break away from the Dang family?"

"That can’t be! He’s still fishing, isn’t he?" Chen Yongding thought Zhou Shuifang was overthinking.

Grandpa Chen waved his hand, "Forget it, we can’t help with other people’s matters. What’s the use of telling us? Let’s just go about our business."

Zhou Shuifang saw that Grandpa Chen was displeased and reluctantly closed her mouth.

After packing up at the market, Chen Wenjun immediately went to Guoxing Restaurant and finally delivered the remaining items to Lin Qin.

He mentioned Zheng Aqiang in passing.

Lin Qin was immensely satisfied after hearing it, "Serves him right! This time he broke his leg earlier than in the previous life. I wonder if he’ll meet his end sooner."

Chen Wenjun shook his head, "Ignore him. He can’t cause trouble now. We just need to live our lives. I just heard someone at the market mention the kids going back to school, and that reminded me that our two kids are old enough for elementary school. Do you think I should send Ping’an to school?"

It’s certain that Liu Yaya will go to school, but Chen Ping’an’s situation is more special. His intelligence is fine, but he has physical disabilities. In such a circumstance, going to school might lead to bullying.

Not sending him makes Chen Wenjun uneasy. He thinks his son is smart. In the previous life, he was too cowardly to take the first step, resulting in his child living a muddled life like him, even dying filled with inferiority and cowardice.

If the child goes to school, perhaps he could have a different future.

Lin Qin nodded immediately without a second thought, "We must send him! Even if we have to sell what we have, we must send him! We can earn money now, but even if we couldn’t, we’d figure it out. The children must be nurtured well."

"But I’m worried that no school would be willing to take Ping’an," Chen Wenjun frowned.

Lin Qin paused and patted his shoulder reassuringly, "No worries, there’s time before school starts. If nothing works, we can ask Boss Zheng, or go to the education bureau ourselves to inquire."

The biggest issue with the Dang people’s lack of a fixed abode is the lack of unified management. Villages have designated primary schools; different streets in the city allocate enough school spots. But only the Dang people have none.

Because there’s no land onshore and no schools built, the government can only divide as best as they can. However, Nanxi is too long, and the Dang people don’t live in one place for long, resulting in frequent population mobility. Sometimes a few children come this semester, but they don’t return the next because of the wandering fishing boats.

Over time, schools also have opinions and are less willing to accept the Dang family kids. Plus, Dang people are easily discriminated against and often bullied when studying with rural children, leading to frequent fights.

If they hurt the children from the village, the villagers would have issues. Every year there’s discontent due to such matters. Over time, fewer and fewer Dang family kids are willing to go to school.

Chen Ping’an’s situation is even more challenging. He not only needs a good school but one willing to accept him.

They have no power or influence, so they can’t achieve anything.

With this on his mind, Chen Wenjun didn’t seem as energetic as usual.

When Lin Qin finished her tasks, Chen Wenjun helped tidy up, and the two hurriedly returned to Nanxi.

As they approached their five-canopy boat, they noticed two unwelcome guests on board.

It was Gao Lei and that hooligan who struck Chen Ping’an the day before, seemingly named Wu Agui.

What are they doing here?

Chen Wenjun instinctively protected Lin Qin behind him, watching them vigilantly.

Wu Agui hurriedly got off the boat, stepped forward, and grabbed Chen Wenjun’s hand. With a sincere face, he said, "Brother Chen, it was my fault the other day. I acted without clarifying and made you take a hit for nothing. I’m sorry, truly sorry..."

Chen Wenjun looked as if he’d seen a ghost. Since when do thugs come to apologize voluntarily? Is he someone not to be offended?

Wu Agui also looked Chen Wenjun up and down. They’ve been debt collectors for many years, and injuries have happened before. His boss must’ve been in a strange mood to insist he come to apologize personally.

As they stared at each other in bewilderment, Gao Lei emerged behind Wu Agui, smacking him on the back of the head, arrogantly, "Move aside! You can’t even apologize properly, useless!"

After cursing him, he looked at Chen Wenjun with a smile he assumed was kind, "Care to go sit in your house for a while?"

Chen Wenjun was indecisive, but the situation was more significant than the individual. To avoid tension with the thugs, he agreed to Gao Lei’s unreasonable request.

The four of them boarded the fishing boat, and Lin Qin went inside the cabin consciously.

Chen Wenjun and the other two sat on the deck.

Beside them was a large bag of items, clearly brought by them.

Chen Wenjun was even more confused.

Gao Lei gazed at the vast river and the passing fishing boats before finally pulling his gaze back, "I heard Dang family people mainly make a living by transporting goods and passengers. Why aren’t you doing that?"

Chen Wenjun misunderstood, but he answered truthfully, "My son’s health isn’t good. I couldn’t do such work before to take care of him, so I could only fish and set up stalls to earn a bit of hard money."

Gao Lei raised an eyebrow, his mouth gradually turning down, "You can fish and still make enough to buy land and build a house? Who are you trying to fool?"

He detests being tricked the most in his life.

Seeing Gao Lei’s impending anger, Chen Wenjun hurriedly explained, "I’m telling the truth! Everyone knows on the water that I make money from fishing! I saved for years for that land, and the house is being built little by little. I don’t even know when we can move in!"

Gao Lei took a deep breath, feeling a bit frustrated. When he had beaten Zheng Aqiang, Zheng Aqiang swore up and down that Chen Wenjun had money and insisted that Chen Wenjun must have other ways to make money. Otherwise, how could he buy land, build a house, and marry a woman from the mainland?

Zheng Aqiang spoke so convincingly that he bought into it. He went through the trouble of bringing gifts to get information from Chen Wenjun, only to receive such an answer from him!

Wu Agui grew anxious, leaning in to remind him, "Chen Wenjun, our Lei here in An City has a solid background. If you dare deceive him, he can make you suffer!"