"The marriage was arranged by our elders, I haven't met him yet. You know my situation, he might be the only person in this world who has a connection with me, so I plan to look for him," she explained.
Of course, it was not just because of the engagement. It was definitely because of her fifty thousand yuan!
"If you're planning to go to the countryside, it's not that easy. My dad mentioned that the train stations are tightly controlled lately, and you need a certificate to travel. The train schedules are limited, and the travel time is quite long, usually between five to seven hours," Chu Ying pondered for a moment, thinking about asking her dad for more information when she got home.
"Such a long time! Looks like I need to prepare in advance," Xiang Wan was taken aback by how long the train journey would be.
As for the certificate, that shouldn't be a big issue. She could go ask Old Zhang for information and if all else fails, Uncle Yang could help!
She wanted to find someone to go to the train station to ask about the situation first, then find out how to get the certificate. After chatting with Chu Ying for a while, she bid farewell and left.
She went out and called for a rickshaw.
"Driver, do you know where Qiu Yang Lane is? I want to go there to find someone," Xiang Wan asked.
'You're talking about that alley near the pier!' said the driver.
"Yes! That's where I want to go. Thank you!" Xiang Wan got into the cab.
Hearing Xiang Wan's polite manners, the driver felt energized. She looked like a wealthy young lady, and he had noticed her as soon as she came out of the house. He didn't expect her to be so courteous, which pleasantly surprised him.
The pier wasn't far from the newspaper office, and coupled with the driver's enthusiasm, they arrived quickly.
"Miss, we're here. Go through the alley on the left. That's Qiu Yang Lane. As for the fare, just give me 30 cents." The driver pointed her in the direction.
"Thank you." She gave him 50 cents. After understanding the prices of goods, she finally understood how cheap labor was in this era.
Giving 5 yuan directly like before was truly like winning the lottery.
She didn't want to attract unnecessary attention with her extravagant spending. As for why she gave 50 cents, it was simply because she didn't want to deal with change, and she didn't have any coins on her.
Xiang Wan walked into the alley, and it opened up to a more spacious area. A few women were sitting under a big locust tree, chatting about everyday life, while children played around.
"Excuse me, is Liu Gang's house around here?" She inquired from them.
The women turned their attention to the source of the voice. A stunning beauty stood before them, and even the children paused their activities as if the world had hit the pause button.
"Is Liu Gang's house around here?" She repeated.
"Wow, it's a fairy! The fairy has descended to the mortal world!"
"Is fairy sister here to look for Uncle Liu?"
"Fairy sister is so pretty! I want to marry someone this pretty when I grow up!"
Before the adults could speak, several children surrounded them, chattering away.
Among the women was Li Jia, seeing Xiang Wan, who looked almost like a fairy being described by her husband, she asked with a trembling voice, "Is it Miss Xiang?"
Xiang Wan didn't expect anyone to recognize her, "Yes, I'm Xiang Wan."
"It is Miss Xiang! I'm Liu Gang's wife," Li Jia said excitedly, standing up and moving the children aside to introduce herself.
"That's great. I'm here to find Brother Liu. There's something I need his help with," Xiang Wan explained.
Upon hearing that she had a job for her husband, Li Jia was thrilled. "Please wait a moment, Miss Xiang. I'll go home and call Liu Gang over. He's repairing the wall at home!"
The last time this young lady came to find Liu Gang, she left a deep impression. Her generous gestures had Liu Gang talking about money falling from the sky for a few days. Her extraordinary beauty was unforgettable too. This time, Liu Gang was sure to earn a hefty sum again.
"No need to trouble yourself. I'll go with you," Xiang Wan quickly stopped her.
"Ah… ah? Our home is too small. How can we let you go there? That's not right," Li Jia vehemently refused.
"It's alright, take me there." Xiang Wan insisted.
"Alright then! Come with me." Seeing that she was very insistent, Li Jia did not dare to refuse. She was afraid of displeasing the wealthy employer and losing out on future jobs.
"Um… Miss, what kind of work are you looking for someone to do? My son can do anything!" A middle-aged woman nearby, having finally figured out that Xiang Wan was here to find help. Moreover, Xiang Wan dressed up like a rich person so the woman stepped forward and tried to promote her son.
"I'll go look for Liu Gang first. I'll think about it after I find him." She rejected tactfully and followed Li Jia deeper into the alley.
The disappointed woman sat back under the locust tree, annoyed at her earlier impoliteness. She feared that the employer might not consider her son now.