Chapter 18

To Lu Zheng's surprise, when he arrived at the fertilizer plant's residential area, he didn't see Ma Cuihong. Lu Guobin was even colder towards him, ignoring him completely.

It was actually Old Man Xia who called Lu Zheng to his room for a drink. He said it was a drink, but there was only a plate of peanuts and half a catty of old white liquor.

But the old and the young both savored it with great enjoyment, especially Old Man Xia, who was in a very good mood after learning that the case from many years ago had been solved.

It was only after Old Man Xia mentioned it that Lu Zheng learned that Aunt Cuihong and Lu Guobin had had a big argument, and it was all because of him. That day, after he appeared and then disappeared, Ma Cuihong felt it was all because of Lu Guobin. After so many years of not seeing each other, Lu Guobin still didn't treat this poor child well, and any child with a bit of self-respect couldn't bear it.

So, the long-oppressed Ma Cuihong had a fit that day and had a huge argument with Lu Guobin. Lu Guobin slapped her, and the next day, Ma Cuihong left, reportedly to visit her eldest son in Qinglong, vowing never to return to this home.

Old Man Xia chuckled, "Lu Guobin deserves it. I think he won't be able to resolve this. His eldest son is on Ma Cuihong's side."

Lu Zheng smiled, noticing that Old Man Xia's long-held grudge had been somewhat alleviated, and he seemed more cheerful.

Taking a sip of wine, Old Man Xia wiped his mouth and said, "You know, though our courtyard is small, every family has a story. Take your neighbor, for example. No matter how solid their backing was, it could still fall apart."

Lu Zheng was taken aback and asked, "Who fell apart?" The neighbor must be Tong Susu's cousin's family.

Old Man Xia shook his head and said, "Tong Susu's father, he's down. The province and city are currently rectifying the party, and he was caught for corruption. Moreover, it's said that when arranging Tong Susu's job, the procedures weren't followed. The little girl was fired from the city TV station and has been back for several days, but I haven't seen her much. She's probably hiding and crying every day."

Old Man Xia burped and shook his head, "No matter how high an official is, what's the use? They can still fall from power. So, it's better to enjoy a half-day of leisure and be content as a commoner!"

Although Old Man Xia was sighing, Lu Zheng could tell that he was somewhat gloating. The high-ranking official in the city, who had some connection to them, had also fallen, which must have made Old Man Xia feel more balanced.

Chewing on peanuts, Xia Tianxing sighed again, "But to be honest, Susu is quite pitiful. She used to be everyone's darling, but now she's lost her job, her home has been raided, and her parents are in custody. She's like a homeless child. And her cousin and cousin-in-law, who used to treat her like a princess, now fear being implicated and speak to her coldly. I can't bear to see it!"

Lu Zheng was stunned for a long time, not expecting so much to have happened in just half a month.

After some thought, Lu Zheng put down his wine glass and said, "Uncle Xia, I'll go see her." He originally came to give the money she left him to Aunt Cuihong, who would then pass it on to her. Now that her family was in such trouble, it was only right to go and see her.

Xia Tianxing was surprised, not thinking Lu Zheng had any particular relationship with her, but Lu Zheng had already gotten up and left.

Tong Susu's cousin, Zhou Dawei, lived in a two-and-a-half-room house. The half-room outside had a stove, serving as both a kitchen and a dining room. The two inner rooms were bedrooms, one for her cousin and cousin-in-law, and the other was specially prepared for her.

Zhou Dawei wasn't home, and his wife, Liu Shuna, was busy in the kitchen. When she saw Lu Zheng come in to see Tong Susu, she coldly ignored him, clearly showing that Tong Susu had fallen from grace and was no longer welcome.

Lu Zheng knocked on the door of Tong Susu's bedroom. After a while, he heard footsteps, and the door opened, revealing Tong Susu's slightly gaunt face. Her neatly trimmed bangs framed her red-rimmed eyes, making her look pitiful and heart-wrenching. She was wearing a blue and white floral pajama set, exuding a unique charm.

Clearly not expecting Lu Zheng, Tong Susu was taken aback and tried to close the door, but Lu Zheng pushed his way in without hesitation.

The room was elegant and tidy, with a faint fragrance. On the wall, there were posters of handsome men and beautiful women from abroad, giving it a fashionable touch.

Tong Susu closed the door and silently sat at her vanity.

Lu Zheng took out an envelope from his pocket and placed it on Tong Susu's bed.

Tong Susu remained silent, sitting quietly.

Seeing her state, Lu Zheng felt a pang of sympathy. This kind and nostalgic girl had suddenly faced a tremendous upheaval. If she didn't have some strength, she would have been crushed long ago.

"Landlady, are you okay?" Lu Zheng, finding no other seat, sat on the bed and asked softly.

Hearing the nickname "landlady," Tong Susu's shoulders trembled, and she shook her head lightly.

Lu Zheng continued slowly, "Life is a struggle, and tears only represent weakness. Do you still remember this? It still holds true, doesn't it?" This was something Lu Zheng had told her when she was young, though he had long forgotten it. It was Tong Susu who mentioned it during their last meeting.

Tong Susu bit her lip but remained silent.

Lu Zheng sighed, not knowing how to help her.

If he were to intervene in Tong Susu's father's case through family connections, it would be impossible. Although there were certainly powerful figures in the provincial leadership who were close to the Lu family, the political arena was deep and complex. The struggle at the city level, especially in a developed coastal city like Wushan, was intertwined with many interests. It wasn't something that could be resolved by anyone stepping in, especially since the case had already been settled. No one would rashly intervene.

Lu Zheng wouldn't even consider asking his father for help. Even if he did, he would only receive a scolding. Moreover, Lu Zheng wouldn't have such thoughts.

What Lu Zheng wanted to do was to help her within his capabilities, doing what he could.

After all, Tong Susu was kind and remembered old kindnesses. She didn't look down on him even when he was in a difficult situation and even helped him financially. This was truly rare. If he could help her, he would.

After his rebirth, Lu Zheng felt that his previous life had been too extreme, so he now cherished these connections.

Outside, Liu Shuna's nagging voice grew louder, as if she was scolding a chicken: "You're in the coop, but you don't lay eggs? We're just feeding you for nothing?!" Then came the sound of the chicken being chased.

Tong Susu's face changed, and she suddenly turned to Lu Zheng and said, "Zhengzi, wait for me outside for a moment. I'll change clothes."

Lu Zheng nodded and walked out, only to see Liu Shuna chasing chickens and scolding dogs, busy as a bee.

A short while later, Tong Susu came out. She was wearing a white short-sleeved tight shirt and a beige knee-length skirt. Her tender white arms were exposed from the sleeves, and a pair of milky white high heels accentuated her slender, shapely legs, revealing her tall and sexy figure.

"Zhengzi, let's go," Tong Susu said, not even greeting her cousin-in-law, and walked ahead. Lu Zheng had no choice but to follow.

At the gate, seeing Lu Zheng's slightly old water pipe bicycle, Tong Susu smiled lightly and said, "Commander, is this your ride?" Her mood improved significantly after leaving the house, especially when she saw Lu Zheng awkwardly unlocking the bicycle. It seemed so out of place, as if the bicycle and Lu Zheng belonged to different worlds, now awkwardly combined, creating a comical and strange scene.

Lu Zheng got on the bicycle, and the back seat moved slightly, a fragrant scent wafting over. Tong Susu must have sat down. Despite her tall and slender figure, she was very light, and he barely felt her weight, as if a feather had lightly landed on the back seat.

"Where are we going?" Lu Zheng pedaled the bicycle, feeling helpless. Actually, Little Du had bought him a brand new Phoenix bicycle, which was very light, but Little Du insisted on riding the old water pipe bicycle, refusing to switch no matter what. So, Lu Zheng decided to use Little Du's bicycle every time he went out, to see how long he could last before buying a new one for himself.

"Let's just wander around," Tong Susu said, lightly holding onto Lu Zheng's shirt to avoid falling off due to the bumpy ride.

Feeling helpless, Lu Zheng pedaled the heavy water pipe bicycle around the county, with Tong Susu suggesting they go to the cinema, but there were no shows. Then she suggested they go to the city square to play outdoor billiards, but they found that the outdoor billiards had been cleared, likely due to gambling.

Tong Susu gritted her teeth, especially when Lu Zheng teased her about her bad luck, and she slapped his back, saying, "If you say that again, I'll cry!"

However, being teased by Lu Zheng made her feel more relaxed, a stark contrast to the gossip she heard from her cousin-in-law at home.

Up ahead, they heard melodious music. It was from the open space in front of the Workers' Club, where an outdoor dance was being held.

Tong Susu, attracted by the music, leaned out to look and said, "Let's go dance."

Lu Zheng laughed, "Can you dance?"

Tong Susu replied, "Even if I can't dance, can't I just watch?" Her mind was in a mess, and she just wanted to be in a crowded place to forget everything that had happened.

A wire extended from the Workers' Club, and a dual-cassette recorder was placed on a chair nearby, playing the music. The venue, though somewhat simple, was a novelty. The dual-cassette recorder belonged to the union, and the dance was organized by the union.

A dozen couples were dancing on the small square, including elderly couples and young couples in their twenties. There were no young unmarried girls, probably because they were all married couples.

The small square was surrounded by many people, especially near the dual-cassette recorder, where vendors sold sunflower seeds and ice lollies, creating a lively scene like a rural outdoor movie.

Lu Zheng parked the bicycle at the edge of the square and joined Tong Susu to watch. They bought two "Big Building" ice creams, one each, and enjoyed them while watching.

"Zhengzi, can you dance?" Tong Susu suddenly asked.

Lu Zheng shook his head. He was actually a good dancer, but logically, he shouldn't know how to dance.

Tong Susu nodded, "Neither can I." She sighed, "I really want to dance."

Lu Zheng understood her feelings. The current Tong Susu didn't care about the negative impact of a young unmarried girl dancing. She just wanted to forget everything in the music.

Moreover, she used to be a pampered princess, the focus of everyone's admiration. Now, in such a fallen state, dancing might help her regain that long-lost feeling.

Just as Lu Zheng was about to speak, a loud whistle came from nearby, and someone said in a light-hearted tone, "Lady, I'll dance with you!"