CHAPTER 73: CHAPTER 73: SAVING A LIFE

Zhou Shuifang was furious when she found out that Chen Yongding had gone to the crematorium alone, but didn’t dare to argue with Grandpa Chen, so she silently fumed.

When Chen Yongding returned, it was already dark.

Zhou Shuifang anxiously asked as soon as she saw him, "How much did you spend?"

Originally, everyone should have chipped in, but instead, Chen Yongding took care of it alone, making their family the scapegoat. Why should that be?

The more Zhou Shuifang thought about it, the more discontented she became.

Chen Yongding frowned, "Get me something to eat first, I’m starving."

Grandpa Chen was already getting things ready.

Chen Yongding took the opportunity to gulp down a large bowl of water, easing the smoky sensation in his throat, and plopped onto the deck. "Someone at the crematorium already paid the fees. I just had to put my fingerprint when I got there. They also took me to identify the body and asked if I wanted to pick another day for the cremation. The longer the body stayed, the more it would cost. I have no idea who paid or how much was paid. Worried about the money running out, I just let the crematorium handle it. It’s all settled now."

Zhou Shuifang was delighted, "You didn’t spend any money?"

Chen Yongding nodded, "The round trip bus fare cost two yuan, and I didn’t splurge on any food or drinks."

Compared to a dozen yuan, what’s two yuan! Zhou Shuifang was happy again and turned to head to the back cabin to sleep.

Once Zhou Shuifang was gone, Grandpa Chen said quietly, "Tomorrow, you should let everyone know what happened so they have an idea."

Chen Wenjun didn’t find out about this until two days later when he ran into Chen Yongding’s fishing boat while fishing in Nanxi.

Chen Yongding briefly explained the situation and wasn’t interested in Chen Wenjun’s thoughts. Instead, he asked, "Is your house finished?"

Lately, many of the Dang people had seen Chen Wenjun with rebar, red bricks, and cement. Many speculated that he was building a big house or a small villa.

Some even went to Nanyu to investigate, only to see an enclosed gap and tall courtyard walls, with no clue what was going on inside.

Because of the uncertainty, rumors spread wildly and even Chen Yongding couldn’t help but be curious.

Chen Wenjun smiled, "Not completely done yet. I’m planning to build two stories. The cement slab for the first floor is just finished. I’m saving up to finish the second floor. For now, it’s livable, but a bit shabby. We haven’t installed windows or the main door yet. Ah Qin and I are planning to save a little more to have everything done before the frost comes.

Uncle, feel free to visit when you have time. For now, we’re staying in a shack; it’s a bit simple."

Listening to this made Chen Yongding’s head hurt, so he shook his head and declined, "Grandpa and I need to go out with the boat tomorrow, so we need to work today. No time."

After their conversation, the two parted ways, each continuing their tasks.

Zheng Aqiang’s situation didn’t affect Chen Wenjun and Lin Qin’s lives at all. Initially, some of the Dang people talked behind their backs.

But when some debt collectors came for Zheng Aqiang and emptied his fishing boat, no one discussed Chen Wenjun anymore, instead, they completely understood him.

Getting involved with a gambler like Zheng Aqiang meant you’d be skinned alive, if not worse. Keeping distant was the wisest choice.

By the end of August.

The scorching sun baked the earth.

Lin Qin and Chen Wenjun’s new house had reached two floors, and all windows and doors were installed, though the funds were insufficient. Luckily, Zhang Yongquan was understanding and agreed to help them finish first and pay back later.

The house was now livable, but the interior was bare and dusty, without any decoration.

Even so, Lin Yi was very pleased.

All he wanted was for his daughter and granddaughter to have a house. Now, with this grand two-story building, he could walk proudly back in the village.

Compared to Lin Yi’s joy, Chen Wenjun and Lin Qin were deeply worried.

The school year was about to start, but the kids’ schooling hadn’t been settled.

Recently, Chen Wenjun had made several trips to the education bureau. Initially, they directed him to the nearest village primary school principal, but when Chen went, he didn’t even get to see the principal and faced rejection.

He went back to the education bureau only to find the staff he’d been dealing with was gone, replaced by someone new, requiring him to explain his situation all over again. They said they’d report it to the leadership and told him to wait for news.

Three days later, when he inquired, they said the leader was on a business trip and wouldn’t be back for a week.

A week passed, and yet another person was handling his case. This time he was frustrated, and the person started evasive tactics, suggesting this was something only the village primary school principal could resolve, saying the education bureau could only make a phone call to notify them.

Pushed around repeatedly, Chen Wenjun didn’t know whom to turn to anymore.

Now he was pondering whether he should ask Zheng Guoxing for help.

If he did, he’d owe a favor that would be hard to repay.

While he was lost in thought, Lin Qin pulled up a big fish and suggested, "How about we take a few fish to the school and make a scene if necessary? Just stand there until they listen. I don’t believe the teachers would just shoo us away."

With no better option, Chen Wenjun agreed.

To show their sincerity, they filled two large tubs on a trolley, one with big fish and the other with snails.

The trolley crossed the road and down a slope to Anshan Community territory, heading to see the principal of Anshan Society Primary School.

The village roads were rough, needing both to push the trolley smoothly.

At the fork in the road, looking out at endless rice fields and sugarcane, Chen Wenjun paused, "Going through the sugarcane takes ten minutes, but the trolley won’t pass easily. The main road takes about twenty minutes."

Lin Qin was about to suggest the main road when she glimpsed someone lying in the sugarcane field and screamed, "Ah!"

Her cry drew some villagers working in the fields.

A few rushed into the sugarcane field to carry the person out.

"Whose family is this? How did he end up beaten like this? Is he still breathing?"

"No idea. Seems unfamiliar!"

"Can you see clearly through all the blood?"

"Doesn’t matter if we can’t see; who in our village wears such a nice watch?"

At these words, everyone glanced at the watch and then assessed the person’s outfit on the ground.

Chen Wenjun hadn’t planned on getting involved, but the more he looked, the more uneasy he became. "Oh no! This person is Gao Lei!"

He had seen Gao Lei a few times, and that watch was unmistakable.

Once the villagers heard it was someone Chen Wenjun recognized and not from their village, they lost interest in helping.

Lin Qin was at a loss, "What do we do? Should we help?"

Chen Wenjun was equally indecisive, knowing in his mind that Gao Lei was a troublemaker who must have crossed powerful people to end up like this. It was not something to meddle in, but his conscience wouldn’t let him just ignore it.

After thinking it over, he gritted his teeth and said, "Take the water barrel down, I’ll use the trolley to get him to a hospital, and then I’ll call the police. That’s all I can do."

Paying to save him was out of the question, but exerting some effort wouldn’t weigh on his conscience.

Lin Qin quickly removed the water barrels and helped Chen Wenjun lift Gao Lei onto the trolley. The couple then managed to bring the trolley to the road.

Lin Qin watched Chen Wenjun leave before returning.

Realizing she couldn’t manage the two tubs alone, and since going to the school was out of the question, she decided to set up a stall by the roadside and sell them at a discount.