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墨書 Inktalez
Song Pearl visited Wu Qiang again at the hospital, where he was still recovering. She didn't particularly enjoy socializing, but the thought of getting closer to him to find Song Zhenbao made her set aside her natural reserve.
Wu Qiang was recovering well and didn't look as haggard as most patients; although he appeared thin, he seemed quite spirited.
He happily invited Song Pearl to sit down and once again expressed his gratitude for her having brought him to the hospital.
This time, upon seeing Song Pearl, he maintained his composure and chatted amiably with her. When he learned that she was the daughter of Song Shiting, a look of realization crossed Wu Qiang's face.
"No wonder you look so much like her; you’re her niece?" he murmured.
Since Treasure had been taken away, Song Pearl had come to understand that she had an aunt, and that the taken-away Song Zhenbao was the daughter of that aunt whom she had never met.
It was obvious who had taken Song Zhenbao away.
"Do you know my aunt?" Song Pearl asked knowingly.
"Yes, I do. The year I took your sister away, she was my and her daughter. When I visited your home, neither you nor your dad were there. There were too many things going on, and I haven't had the time to see you all these years," Wu Qiang said with a hint of guilt on his face. "How are your parents?"
"They're doing well, but they haven't heard from Treasure in years; they miss her a lot!"
Song Pearl had her own calculations. Although she couldn't figure out what was going on, she wouldn't tell Wu Qiang that mentioning Song Zhenbao at home was a taboo.
"It was my oversight; I've been too eager for quick results these years. This year, due to company matters, I'll be staying here often. If you need any help, feel free to reach out; I'll do my best to assist," Wu Qiang offered.
Wu Qiang then reminisced about some trivial past events, his expression showing fatigue. Concerned that he might become too emotional recalling old memories, Song Pearl quickly excused herself and left.
Village Chief Song Jianguo returned to Team Headquarters and held a brief meeting with the village officials, urging them to convey that all children working at Hongqing Group should be called back for a collective strike against Hongqing's oppressive actions to drive them from their homes.
Leading by example, after the meeting, he called his son Daughter-in-law and daughter, insisting they return home immediately and quit their jobs at Hongqing. However, before he could finish speaking, his son was already reluctant to hang up. "Dad, what's wrong? I'm doing well here; I earn two or three thousand a month! You want me to strike and come home? Don't joke around! Anyway, we don't even live at home; if Hongqing compensates us for our broken new house, let them have it..."
Daughter-in-law and his daughter didn't take his words seriously either.
His daughter comforted him thoughtfully: "Dad, don’t worry. Once I get married, you and Mom can move in with me... You see, if I drop everything now to go home and farm, how will I find a good partner?"
Song Jianguo was so angry that he felt dizzy; at the critical moment, his children did not support him at all. How did he raise such two ingrates?
The news he received was similar; none of the villagers working outside were willing to return to defend the village, as they were all busy with work and could not leave.
Some even said, "Our poor village can just be torn down! Out with the old, in with the new. I never want to come back!"
"If this were during wartime, those who left our village would be traitors!" Song Jiantao said through gritted teeth. "After all, this is the place that raised them..."
"People always seek better opportunities," Song Jianguo sighed deeply. "Could it be that we were wrong? Shouldn't we hold on to these old houses that have been passed down for generations?"
"We are certainly not wrong. Look at the entrance," Song Jiantao pointed to many villagers standing silently at the door. "They are all waiting for you to make a decision! We can't just let them carry their luggage and sleep on the streets!"
"Sleeping on the streets is unlikely; didn't Hongqing Group provide us with a temporary shelter?" Song Jianguo wavered a bit. "How about we just endure it for a while?"
"A temporary shelter? It's not even as spacious as our pigsty! Don't joke around!" Song Jiantao scoffed. "Your son and daughter have been settled, and you two can manage, but what about most of the villagers? Those with elderly parents and young children—are we even worse off than Song Shiting's family? Do we lack the courage to resist?"
Song Jiantao became increasingly agitated, his face turning red.
"Alright, I'll go find Aunt Liu," Song Jianguo extinguished his cigarette and stood up.
"What do you need to find Aunt Liu for? Qing Yuansheng is her godson; can she side with us?"
"Let's give it a try!"
After Song Jianguo walked to the door, he assured the villagers that he would protect the village's houses. After dispersing the anxious villagers, he headed towards Aunt Liu's house.
When Song Pearl returned home, as expected, both Song Shiting and Liu Cuiying found it hard to accept. The happiest one was Song Fei, who hoped that Song Pearl would never leave again so that their family could always be together.
Song Pearl smiled; only when she was with Song Fei did she feel most relaxed because Song Fei's wishes were as simple and pure as hers.
Now, Song Pearl was no longer the same person; she easily calmed down the emotions of Song Shiting and his wife, making them accept her return home happily like Song Fei, focusing wholeheartedly on raising livestock and fish.
When Liu Cuiying returned from selling fish at the market, she bought a few rabbits and two sheep. She planned to raise rabbits for profit during her spare time because much of the land bought by Hongqing was still idle, overgrown with grass up to her waist, making it easy to feed rabbits and sheep.
Song Pearl returned and, as expected, no one asked her to work. The villagers were struggling with housing issues against the Hongqing Group. The saplings planted by Hongqing were destroyed shortly after, and the so-called Ecological Aquaculture Farm plan could not even be initiated. The framework set up today was dismantled by the next morning. The company sent a large number of workers, but they were of no use at all.
The relocation and construction were at a standstill.
After finishing her household chores, Song Pearl helped Liu Cuiying lift two tubs of fish onto the Tricycle. Song Shiting also got on. He was going to go to the market to sell fish with Liu Cuiying.
"Pearl is doing well at home, helping out with so much work!" Liu Cuiying praised contentedly.
Upon hearing this, Song Shiting shot a displeased glance at Liu Cuiying. Although he had accepted the fact that Song Pearl had returned to the village and no longer forced her, he still felt unhappy upon hearing those words.
"Pearl, why don't you go visit Grandma Liu?" Song Shiting suggested. "I heard she is quite ill and barely holding on. She helped call your soul back when you were younger; now that you've grown up, you should go see her."
That Aunt Liu, whose skin resembled old tree bark and whose eyes looked like a skeleton?
Although she was rarely encountered, Song Pearl still had a clear image of her in her mind.
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