During the journey to the construction site, Ning Zhi had already finished reading the investigation information sent by Yao Jing. Combined with the recent behavior of Hu Fei and Hu Mu, she had a clearer understanding.
Ning Zhi declined the company of Lu Ping and the others and walked alone to the tent where the mother and son were staying.
"May we have a chat?" Ning Zhi entered the tent and saw the pitiful living conditions inside.
There was a barely windproof tent, a discolored blanket, an electric stove with a random power source, and the pot that Hu Mu had used to fetch water. These were all the belongings of the mother and son.
Ning Zhi couldn't believe how they managed to live in such poor conditions.
"There's nothing to talk about."
Hu Fei turned her head, refusing any interaction with Ning Zhi. However, due to the limited space inside the tent, Hu Fei had no choice but to turn around with Hu Mu and avoid looking at Ning Zhi.
"You don't have to be afraid of us. In the end, we still need your cooperation," Ning Zhi said. "I would like to talk to you privately."
After a few minutes of hesitation, Hu Fei, feeling trapped, reluctantly agreed.
She asked Hu Mu to leave the tent and then looked at Ning Zhi.
"Hello, I'm Ning Zhi."
After the child left, Ning Zhi introduced herself to Hu Fei and then sat together with her on the discolored blanket.
The ground was rough, and Ning Zhi could already feel the stones underneath.
Hu Fei remained cold and indifferent. "Miss Ning, what do you want to talk to me about? If it's about compensation, there's no need to discuss it."
Ning Zhi didn't mind her attitude. "How old is Hu Mu?"
Hu Fei didn't expect her to ask this and answered instinctively, "He's seven and a half years old."
Ning Zhi thought about the small and frail figure, not like a typical seven-year-old child, and asked, "That's the age to attend elementary school, right?"
Ning Zhi continued, "Why didn't he go to school?"
"That's my family matter, it's none of your business," Hu Fei replied uneasily. Her train of thought had been disrupted by Ning Zhi.
"What about the child in your belly? How many months?" Ning Zhi asked patiently as if she were conducting a census.
"It's already eight months," Hu Fei's impatience was evident. "Miss Ning, are you checking the household census now?"
This time, Ning Zhi remained silent. Her hand tapped on the tattered table, causing Hu Fei's heartbeat to accelerate.
It was not until Hu Fei felt that her heart was about to jump out of her throat that Ning Zhi slowly asked, "Where's the child's father?"
This was followed by a long silence from Hu Fei.
"Divorced." Hu Fei chuckled self-deprecatingly. "I only discovered I was pregnant after the divorce."
She gently touched her belly.
Watching Hu Fei's gesture, Ning Zhi suddenly thought of her child in her belly. In a few months, her child would also come into this world. She had to expedite her departure from Li Yan.
"Is it worth it?" Ning Zhi spoke, and these words seemed to strike a chord with Hu Fei.
"What's worth it or not? It's all for the sake of the child," Hu Fei said with a faint smile on her face, a mixture of bitterness and happiness.
"Then take a look at this." Ning Zhi took out her phone and showed Hu Fei a photo of Li Mu and a curvaceous beauty in an intimate embrace.
Hu Fei's gaze visibly froze when she saw the photo.
Ning Zhi knew that Yao Jing would never let her down.
"What do you mean, Miss Ning?" Hu Fei's words became incoherent. She pushed the phone back to Ning Zhi. "I don't understand what you're trying to say."
"You and Li Mu are married, right? And Hu Mu is Li Mu's child. He shouldn't bear the surname Hu; his surname should be Li, isn't that right?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Hu Fei continued to feign ignorance, but her reddened eyes and tightly clenched hands betrayed her.
"From what I know, you and Li Mu divorced shortly after he was transferred to He Ling. He probably tempted you with double the compensation, right?"
Seeing that Hu Fei didn't react or respond, Ning Zhi continued, "The two of you have been together since college. For him, you even gave up the opportunity to pursue further studies. But now? You're living in this tiny tent, struggling to make ends meet every day. What kind of life is your child living? And as for Li Mu?"
"From what I know, women like you are not the only ones around Li Mu." Ning Zhi spoke calmly, but Hu Fei was on the verge of a breakdown.