Sister Called Bai Yun

The damage caused by the hailstorm was undoubtedly severe, but no matter what, as long as everyone pulled together, they could always overcome the difficulties.

After the higher-ups sent people to help the villagers repair their damaged homes, Zhao Hongjun and Zhao Gang led everyone in working overtime to turn over the soil and replant a season's crops.

During this time, Zhao Qiancheng returned to the production brigade once to oversee the work, then hurried away again. Shen Jianan learned from Li Shuqin that Old Master Zhao's surgery had been successful, but his recovery was not going very well.

He found it rather strange. After all, in the original plot, the old man had lived past ninety without illness or disaster, hadn't he? Still, whatever ending awaited him had nothing to do with Shen Jianan, so long as the man did not come harm the two of them.

However, something happened during this period that made him nervous for a while.

A few days after Zhao Qiancheng left, the postman came to the production brigade. After Jiang Hongmei received a letter, she immediately asked Zhao Gang for leave and went into the city.

Apparently, one of her relatives had been transferred here for work. Her parents had asked her to go take a look and see whether they needed any help.

Zhao Gang was easygoing. He wrote her a letter of introduction and let her leave, but Shen Jianan found it odd. The whole thing felt too coincidental. Her relative could have come early or late, so why had they arrived precisely when Old Master Zhao was hospitalized?

Besides, Gu Yu had said that Jiang Hongmei's family barely had any relatives. During all those years in Capital City, he had never seen many people visit the Jiang Household.

The moment Shen Jianan heard that, an inexplicable panic rose in his heart. He always felt there was some scheme afoot. It was not that he was overthinking things—the plot of this novel was simply too explosive. He did not want to die as cannon fodder.

After all, they had only just found the gold bars. He and Gu Yu had not even had the chance to exchange them for money and enjoy themselves yet. How unfair would it be if they were murdered now?

Hearing this, Gu Yu smiled and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, rubbing his palm over Shen Jianan's shoulder in comfort. "Don't worry. She won't be able to jump around for much longer. I've already asked someone to investigate her. We'll have results soon."

His voice paused slightly, and frost gradually spread through his eyes. "If I find out she had a hand in framing the Gu Household..."

Though he did not finish, Shen Jianan already understood what he meant. His heart jolted, and he abruptly looked up at him. "Brother Gu, you mean Jiang Hongmei..."

"Yes."

Gu Yu nodded and told the boy, "Back in Capital City, Jiang Hongmei's personality was much the same as it is now—boy-crazy and shameless—but she was not as brainless as she is now. On the contrary, she was very clever. Whatever she did, she would take one step and look three steps ahead.

"But look at the things she has done in the production brigade. Which one looks like something a smart person would do?"

At first, although he found it strange, he had not taken it too seriously. He thought perhaps rural life had been too bitter and had broken her mentality, which was why she had become like this.

But ever since Shen Jianan had confided in him that night and brought up his aunt, Gu Yu seemed to have suddenly seen the light.

Back then, given the Gu Household's status, they were not a family ordinary people could shake. Yet the truth was that overnight, they became rats crossing the street, hated and beaten by all.

If there had not been someone on the inside at work, the Gu Household could never have been brought down so quickly. Gu Yu pondered it all night, then sought advice from several elders, finally reaching a conclusion.

Jiang Hongmei's father, Jiang Jianhua, had joined forces with his uncle-in-law, Luo Tianming, to set up the Gu Household, and there was some powerful figure backing them from behind.

As for his aunt, Gu Lingwei, she had either participated in it or knew the truth but chose to play dumb for the sake of herself and her two children's future. In any case, she was not innocent either.

And Jiang Hongmei's decision to follow them to the countryside, to Red Flag Commune, looked on the surface like she had gone to the countryside for love. In truth, she had come as Luo Tianming's spy. Her purpose was to keep watch on him and thereby find his younger uncle, Gu Jun.

Because when Gu Jun fled back then, he had not only taken away a large amount of money, but had also transferred one-third of the Gu Household's valuable possessions overnight.

Even after Gu Yu, his grandparents, parents, younger brother, and his eldest uncle's family were sent down, those people had found no clues at all. So they could only start with him.

The reason was simple: Gu Yu and Gu Jun had been closest. Gu Jun was a full twelve years older than him, proud and unruly by nature, and loved freedom. Nearing thirty, he was still unmarried. In that large family with its strict rules and conventions, he was an utter oddity, yet no one in the family could control him.

But strangely enough, he listened to what this nephew said. He had even brought Gu Yu into many of his private businesses and publicly declared more than once that he would never marry, and that all his future property would be left to Gu Yu alone.

That was why those vermin hiding in the shadows and framing the Gu Household had Jiang Hongmei follow them to the countryside and torment Gu Yu in every possible way. They wanted to force him into a dead end. Then, in order to survive, he would surely contact Gu Jun or one of Gu Jun's people.

Given how much Gu Jun cherished Gu Yu, once he learned of his nephew's difficult situation, he would definitely return to the country at once to rescue him. Then they could capture him and force him to hand over those things.

But what they did not know was that neither Gu Yu nor the people Gu Jun had left in the country had any way to contact him. They did not even know where he had fled to take refuge.

It might sound exaggerated that these people would go to such lengths, sending someone down here to watch Gu Yu just for a bit of money and property.

But everyone close to the Gu Household knew that the family possessed astonishing wealth. If all their businesses were truly exposed, the Gu Household's power would certainly cause a stir in Capital City.

It was only because Gu Zhenting—Gu Yu's great-grandfather—had been farsighted and had always told the family's children to keep a low profile. Starting from Gu Yu's grandfather's generation, apart from Gu Jun, most of them never showed their abilities in public and appeared utterly ordinary.

Furthermore, only Gu Yu's eldest uncle, Gu Hongxin, and his father, Gu Zecheng, entered politics, and neither held much power. They both worked in quiet, unimportant offices, while everyone else was in business. That was why many people believed the Gu Household was merely an ordinarily wealthy family in Capital City.

But Luo Tianming and Jiang Jianhua knew their family's true strength very well. That was why the two of them had stirred up so much trouble—only to obtain that staggering fortune.

Upon hearing this, Shen Jianan instantly understood why Jiang Hongmei sometimes seemed so calculating, yet at other times acted like an idiot.

Her actions had indeed brought Gu Yu plenty of trouble. Fortunately, he was not foolish and was relatively rational. Though he had once developed feelings for her under the plot's control, which clouded his judgment and led him down some winding paths, luckily he had not made an irreversible mistake in the end.

Now that Gu Yu had awakened, and had Shen Jianan reminding him from the side, Jiang Hongmei and the novel's plot would no longer be able to sway his mind.

Thinking of this, he felt relieved. Turning to Gu Yu, he asked, "Then what exactly did you go out to do some time ago?"

"I went to the neighboring town to ask someone to contact my younger uncle's lover."

Gu Yu lowered his voice solemnly. "That person has considerable influence in Capital City. I asked him to help investigate Jiang Jianhua, Luo Tianming, and... my aunt, to find out whether she truly had a hand in framing the Gu Household.

"If she did, I want him to find a way to collect evidence for me and make things difficult for them while he is at it. If she did not, then we will investigate from another direction and find out who exactly harmed my Gu Household."

Shen Jianan nodded in agreement. "That is what we should do. Only by identifying the enemy can we protect ourselves effectively and strike back. Otherwise, we would be like headless flies crashing around, not even knowing how we died."

After thinking it over, he asked again, "Didn't you say your younger uncle would not get married? Also, do you contact that person through letters? Could someone be watching?"

"No."

Gu Yu said somewhat awkwardly, "My younger uncle's lover has a rather special identity, so... he chose not to marry."

"Oh!"

Shen Jianan nodded. Without realizing it, he spun one romantic tale after another in his head: a wealthy young master falling for a black widow, a business elite falling in love with the daughter of his political enemy, their love rejected by their families. Only someone with that kind of identity could have the ability to help their lover's nephew, right?

Gu Yu had no idea the boy's thoughts had gone completely off into the clouds. He merely assumed Shen Jianan was not interested in the matter and relaxed.

Then he continued with a light laugh, "Grandpa Lu helped me. He let me use the name and address he uses to contact an old friend. When the time comes, I just need to go there at the right time."

"That's good."

Shen Jianan sighed in relief, then smiled and reached out to tug at him. "Brother Gu, with so many people helping, the Gu Household will definitely get better again."

"Mm..."

By the time the busy farming season ended, it was already August. There was temporarily nothing much to do, and working would not earn many work points anyway. So aside from those in particularly difficult circumstances and certain special personnel, almost no one went to the fields.

Shen Jianan lacked neither food nor drink, so naturally he went even less. During this period, he had processed all the bags Cheng Hu had woven.

He had also made some fashionable hair ties, hair clips, and headbands with bold color combinations, as well as two solid-colored satin batwing tops—one with gathered cuffs and one with butterfly half-sleeves.

There were also four vintage-style sleeveless baby-doll tops, two floral shorts-skirts, one patchwork Bohemian dress, and two vintage Hong Kong-style short-sleeved shirts with suit collars.

Looking at the finished products covering the bed, he and Gu Yu decided to take a few bags and clothes into town first, give them to Bai Yun and Gao Xiaofen as samples, and pick up some more fabric while they were at it.

Gu Yu reached out and flipped through the clothes lying on the bed. "Which ones are you planning to take?"

"Mm..."

Shen Jianan rubbed his chin and pondered for a moment. Then he pulled the Bohemian dress, a light-green satin batwing top with gathered cuffs, and a beige bucket bag to one side. "These are for Sister Bai Yun. Her skin is fair and she has a good temperament. These will suit her."

Then he placed a walnut-colored woven rattan bag together with a floral shirt with a suit collar. "These are for Sister Xiaofen. The pattern is understated, it makes her look elegant, hides the flesh, and matches everything. She'll definitely like them."

"Mm!"

Gu Yu curled his lips and nodded. "I haven't met them, but I trust your eye. If you say they suit them, then they definitely do."

Shen Jianan's face grew a little hot at his words. He hurriedly pretended to organize the things. "Well, I'll go borrow a vehicle from the brigade leader and get a letter of introduction in a bit. You... you stay home. Once I buy the accessories in town and come back, I'll make bags and denim clothes for you."

"Alright."

Gu Yu looked at him, the smile in his eyes deepening. "Be careful. Go early and come back early. I'll wait for you at home."

Listen to that. Why did it sound so much like a wife waiting for her husband to return from going out?

Shen Jianan grumbled inwardly, but he was delighted all the same. He felt like he had gone mad—like something was wrong with him!

Feeling guilty, the boy patted his face and forced himself to calm down. Then he quickly gathered up everything he needed to bring, wrapped it in kraft paper, stuffed it into a large canvas backpack, and rushed out of the Cheng Household without even saying goodbye to Gu Yu. He went to borrow a vehicle from Zhao Gang and get a letter of introduction.

Afterward, he hurried without stopping to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative in town. When he arrived, a wave of customers had just left. Gao Xiaofen was very happy to see him. Earlier, her cousin had told her that Shen Jianan had bought a pile of fabric at the Garment Factory, and Wang Hong had given her a fifty-cent rebate.

But Bai Yun had not taken it, instead handing it over to her cousin. "You were the one who introduced him. This money is for you."

Gao Xiaofen knew her cousin did not care about such a small sum, but she accepted it because Bai Yun wanted to use it to help support her. She was deeply grateful.

At the same time, she had begun to expect more from Shen Jianan, hoping he would buy fabric several more times so she could earn a few more yuan.

Though the thought was somewhat shameless, her family was in hardship and she had no choice. But if he did not buy anything, she would not say a word.

After all, those fifty cents and the one yuan from before had both been extra income. If he had not appeared, no one would have given her money for nothing. It was better to be content.

So when she saw Shen Jianan now, she was genuinely delighted. "Haven't seen you in a while. How have you been lately?"

"Pretty good."

Shen Jianan smiled and nodded. Then he handed her the gift he had prepared. "Sister, I made these just for fun. I brought a set for you. Take them."

"What are these?"

Gao Xiaofen looked at the two kraft-paper parcels before her. They felt rather light, so she did not think much of them and casually set them on the counter before opening them.

But the two items instantly drew the attention of her and everyone in the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, and cries of admiration rose all around.

"So pretty!"

"The style of this bag and these clothes looks so nice. Our Supply and Marketing Cooperative doesn't even sell things like these!"

"More than that! I haven't seen them even in the city. Look at that top—white with yellow flowers, lightweight fabric, and it even has a belt tied at the side of the waist. It's so special!"

"I really like that bag. The color is pretty and dirt-resistant, and with that bow on it, it's gorgeous. I want to buy one so badly."

"Stop dreaming. Where would you buy it? Didn't that young educated youth say he made it himself?"

The envious looks and conversation gradually brought Gao Xiaofen back to her senses. She immediately straightened her back proudly, and the resentment she had accumulated from being mocked by everyone before instantly vanished like smoke.

She smiled at the picturesque young man, her eyes full of gratitude. "Thank you! I really like them."

Gao Xiaofen lovingly stroked the bag and clothes before her. "But these are too valuable. I can't take them for nothing. Tell me how much they cost, and I'll pay you in cash."

She knew Shen Jianan had spent money on the fabric, then gone through the trouble of carrying it back and slowly cutting and sewing it himself. From what she knew about such things, given his skill and the style and materials of these clothes, they would cost at least several dozen yuan in a department store in a big city.

But Shen Jianan had bought defective fabric. Even at half price, twenty yuan should be enough, right? Gao Xiaofen suddenly felt a pang of pain. Twenty yuan was more than half her monthly wages, and that did not even include the bag!

But she truly loved these clothes and the bag. She had not bought new clothes for six or seven years. Even the socks on her feet had been patched and worn for years. It was almost embarrassing to say that aside from her underwear, everything she wore had been given to her by her cousin.

So now that she saw something she liked, she could not help feeling a great deal. She desperately wanted to buy one or two things she truly liked as a reward for herself.

How could Shen Jianan not understand what she was thinking? He had grown up in the twenty-first century and, having been tempered by the internet and social interactions, could better empathize with women's hardships.

Therefore, when Gao Xiaofen said that, he thought even more highly of her. She might love beauty and like taking small advantages, but her values were upright. She was unlike some people who, after doing someone a tiny favor, would hold it over their head forever, wanting to scrape even the marrow from their bones.

So Shen Jianan decisively refused her offer of payment. He only said it was a younger brother's token of affection for his elder sister, and that if she refused it, he would never associate with her again.

Besides, he had never intended to earn a trifling sum from her. Rather, he wanted to use her to advertise in the residential compound.

After all, except for a very few families as poor as Gao Xiaofen's, most households with two working adults were not short of money. They would not spend extravagantly, but they could still afford a few clothes and bags.

If Gao Xiaofen wore clothes he had made and carried his little bag home, those eye-catching styles would have no trouble drawing customers.

When people came to him to make clothes, he could bring his business into the open without worrying about being reported. After all, although private business was not allowed in this era, craftsmen could take on jobs.

Seeing his firm attitude, Gao Xiaofen stopped refusing. Smiling broadly, she accepted the clothes and bag. "If you need anything in the future, just come find me. I'll make sure it gets handled properly."

"Alright, I'll definitely come to you in the future."

Shen Jianan smiled and waved goodbye. Then he slung on his backpack, quickly left the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, got on his bicycle, and went to the State-Run Restaurant to eat.

It was already past one o'clock. The workers had gotten off work, and he did not know where Bai Yun lived, so he decided to eat first before returning.

When he arrived, the same female server from last time received him. But Shen Jianan did not recognize her. After all, he had selective face blindness; he never remembered people who had nothing to do with him.

So when she bashfully brought over his food, blinking her large watery eyes and rambling about how her family conditions were good and she was preparing to find someone she liked to marry, he snapped at her for quite a while. "Put the dishes down already. Your nails are practically reaching into my food. How am I supposed to eat?"

Though the girl was older than him, she had been spoiled by her family since childhood and had never suffered much anger. She had rarely taken a liking to someone, only for him not to appreciate romance and to criticize her in public. She could not bear it. Covering her little mouth, she cried and ran into the back kitchen, calling out her own older brother, the restaurant's head chef.

Unexpectedly, the boy was quite clever. Seeing that the man was broad-shouldered and thick-waisted and carried a kitchen knife, he said nothing. He simply let the man shove and curse at him. When the man smashed his food, he deliberately stood still, not moving until oil was splashed all over him, only then retreating slightly.

Afterward, he waited until the man had calmed down before walking expressionlessly out of the restaurant. Pushing his bicycle, he went to the Public Security Bureau. Before reaching it, however, he made sure no one was watching, rolled around on the ground, slapped his face red, then rushed inside crying and shouted for help.

The public security officers inside were instantly startled. They hurried over to support him, only to see a beautiful child crying until his eyes were red, trembling all over. His white shirt was covered in dirt and oil stains, and his cheeks were flushed red, looking as if they had been swollen from a beating.

Everyone was immediately filled with fury. Who did not have children or younger relatives? If one of them were bullied into such a state, they would be heartbroken. So they brought him in to question him.

Holding the water the public security officers had poured for him, Shen Jianan pursed his lips and stammered, "I went to the State-Run Restaurant to eat. Th-that server kept hinting that she wanted me to marry her.

"I ignored her and told her not to stick her nails into my food. Then she cried and went to complain, and that chef came out and pushed me and cursed at me..."

"He only pushed you? He didn't hit you?"

Public Security Bureau officer Zhang Dayong pointed at the stains all over him and his slightly red face. The boy froze, lowered his head, and picked at his fingers. "N-no. I was too nervous when I ran out and fell down by myself."

Unfortunately, no one believed him. They only thought he was afraid, so they said they would take him to arrest the people. But Shen Jianan started crying again. "Can you not go? I'm afraid they'll take revenge on me. I need to find my sister. Once I give her the things, I'll leave."

When Zhang Dayong heard that he had family in town, he asked, "Who is your sister?"

Shen Jianan shook his head as he looked at him, tears pooled in his dark eyes. "Bai Yun. My sister is called Bai Yun. She's an accountant at the Garment Factory. I came to bring her... something."

"What?"

All the public security officers sprang to their feet and stared at him in shock. Shen Jianan trembled in fright. "N-no, she's not my real sister. We just know each other. I came to bring her something."

That was still close enough! Given the director's daughter's personality, not just anyone could catch her eye. This child must have a very good relationship with her. Everyone thought this silently, and at the same time made up their minds. They told him to wait there.

Then Zhang Dayong had a young officer ride to the Garment Factory to find Bai Yun, while he took several teammates to the State-Run Restaurant to arrest someone. Anyone who dared bully the younger brother of their bureau chief's daughter was finished.