CHAPTER 358: CHAPTER 351: GOING OUT TO SKETCH FROM LIFE

Tian Xinhua went to work at a posh office building, following Mr. Yun’s teachings, becoming a low-level secretary. It was quite a relaxed job, clocking in and out on time every day, not a minute more, not a minute less.

Lei Gang, on the other hand, was assigned to a different department where Tian Xinhua was responsible for external affairs, while Lei Gang’s work involved the military; their departments had different scopes of authority.

Sisi was now into her sophomore year of university. The students became more familiar with each other. However, because Sisi didn’t live on campus, her interactions were mostly limited to Shangguan, Mo Liu, and Zhu Yunxiu. To outsiders, Sisi seemed somewhat aloof from the group.

Song Mengshi became much quieter this term and stopped performing double acts with Liu Xuelian. According to Zhu Yunxiu, Song Mengshi might be dating someone, as she was seen smiling foolishly to herself in the dorm room on several occasions.

As for who Song Mengshi’s partner was, nobody knew.

"It’s definitely not a student from our school. It must be someone from another school," Zhu Yunxiu asserted confidently.

Sisi really didn’t care who Song Mengshi’s boyfriend was. What’s it to her?

Right now, she was busy preparing for an outdoor sketching trip. In a few days, her class would head to Anping Town in the southern H City (fictional) to draw. The place was a famous tourist destination in a past life, with enchanting scenery and a bold local culture.

In her previous life, she traveled there with a tour group, and the guide repeatedly warned them not to provoke the locals. He advised either not to shop or, if they did buy something, not to haggle over the price, as he could not take responsibility for resulting troubles.

Eventually, due to severe public disturbances, the government stepped in after the locals offended someone they shouldn’t have. Under pressure, the local government had to suppress the unrest. Sisi also suspected that the local government decided to intervene because the excessive disturbances were scaring tourists away, leading to reduced government revenue.

The local government handled the situation ruthlessly, deploying even armed police and detaining many people. From then on, the local customs improved greatly, and the number of visitors increased, but still, no one dared to provoke the locals.

Sisi was uncertain why the school would choose such a location. However, even she had to admit that the scenery was truly beautiful and particularly suitable for sketching—equally appealing in serenity and vigor.

She hoped that at this time, the local customs of Anping Town might be more peaceful.

Yet Sisi knew this wish was likely in vain. According to the tour guide from her past life, the robust spirit of Anping Town had centuries of history; the townsfolk’s primary occupation used to be banditry—there was a time when everyone in the town was a bandit!

Sisi did consider asking the teachers to change the location of the sketching trip, but ultimately she did not. Hadn’t Tian Xinhua told her not to meddle? It was better for her to stay out of it, and as a student, she couldn’t change the school’s decision anyway.

Tian Xinhua sneered: Is that what I meant when I told you not to meddle?

Perhaps, in this life, Anping Town is a peaceful and beautiful village. According to the teachers, some students had been there before for sketching without any incidents. Maybe she was just overthinking it.

In reality, Sisi wasn’t overthinking; the last trip to the location happened four or five years ago, during times of social activism when no one paid any attention to students or teachers.

But now it was different. The unrest was over. In Anping Town, educated youths with backgrounds had returned to the cities, those with talents had gone to university, and those good at wooing had stayed as sons-in-law. Those who were left felt disgruntled and were eager to stir up trouble.

Local villagers also didn’t dare to provoke those who were left over from the rice-frying business, because the barefooted are not afraid of the shod; they have families to feed, while these people have nothing to lose. In case they are pushed to the extreme, an entire family can’t afford the consequences.

And these cultured bandits have joined with some of the local bandit villagers to form an extremely organized group, which could be considered the embryonic form of a gang. They are quite famous in the area.

This organization does everything. They block trucks on the road to rob money, and if drivers don’t pay up, they beat them up. It’s best when they come across passenger buses – more people, more money, and beautiful women to sleep with.

It would be even better if someone came for tourism; more money and more beautiful women to be had.

However, due to the underdeveloped information at the time and being in a remote southern area, plus many women who suffered did not speak out about their experiences, usually swallowing the bitter pill themselves, people in the north were not aware that things had become so chaotic here. In the teachers’ recollections, Anping Town was still the charming scenic spot with simple local customs it was five years ago!

Before leaving, Tian Xinhua reminded Sisi not to put herself in danger. Of course, if someone provoked her, she should not be afraid to fight back as he would have her back.

Tian Xinhua still couldn’t help worrying. Frowning, he said, "Ah Nan, H city is not very peaceful. I think you should not go on this sketching trip. Next time, I will take you to Huangshan for sketching."

"No, I’ve never been to H city," Sisi cooed, "Brother Xin Hua, don’t worry. There are more than twenty people in our class, plus the teachers leading us. What could possibly go wrong? And Feifei is with me too!"

"Then be careful, and don’t stray too far from Feifei, understand?"

Tian Xinhua could only keep reminding her, knowing well in his heart that he could not tie Ah Nan to his belt forever; she needed to go out and see the world eventually.

Thus, with Tian Xinhua’s incessant worries in her ear, Sisi and her classmates set off for H city, led by Professor Ma, who was over fifty, and Teacher Xiao Xu, who was in his thirties.

Professor Ma was in charge of the trip, with Teacher Xiao Xu assisting him. However, students generally turned to the always-smiling Teacher Xiao Xu for help, rather than the stern-faced Professor Ma.

The most famous place in Anping Town is a village called Lupan Gorge, named so because it has six naturally formed gorges and six majestic waterfalls.

Apart from the six gorges, the other scenery in the village is also very enchanting: high mountains, small bridges over flowing streams, old vines on dry trees, bucolic landscapes. It has always been a favorite place for artists to find inspiration.

Sisi and the 24 members of their group settled down in the homes of the local farmers in Lupan Gorge, renting out four households in total. The six girls stayed in one household, while the other three housed the boys and teachers.

These four households were closely connected and located near the public road at the entrance of the village. The male head of the household where Sisi and her friends stayed was named Chen Zhuzi, a man in his thirties. The female head of the household was called Sister-in-law Chen by everyone and was a very straightforward rural woman.

The other three households also had the surname Chen. According to Chen Zhuzi, those were his brothers, and the four brothers lived together. They shared meat when there was meat, drank together when there was liquor, and bore hardships collectively.

The four brothers of the Chen family were all tall and burly, with menacing faces, not seeming like kind folks. When deciding on where to stay, Professor Ma did hesitate for a long time, having been intimidated by the bandit-like appearances of the Chen family.

However, after considering all options, the Chen household was still the most suitable one. There was enough space, the house was relatively clean, and being by the road, it offered convenient transport access, so they ended up staying there.

After moving in, Professor Ma felt that the Chen family was quite hospitable, despite being a bit loud-voiced, blunt in their speech, and physically strong, but their nature was quite simple after all.