As he neared the old neighborhood, Ji Yang remembered that they probably weren't at home.
A phone call was made to Qian Yongping.
Upon hearing Ji Yang had arrived in the county town, Qian Yongping responded enthusiastically, "Buddy, leave everything to me today, I'll take good care of you."
Listening to the still enthusiastic words over the phone, Ji Yang could only sigh inwardly. If it hadn't been for Chu Shuyuan, he wouldn't have noticed anything unusual.
This guy had always been so warm.
Now Ji Yang naturally had to brace himself, as this guy might be trying to probe him this time.
"We're so familiar with each other, there's no need to go out, I'm almost at your place." Ji Yang had always enjoyed visiting others at their homes.
"I've moved to the Jinyuan Residential Area. You won't be able to find it. Take a stroll first and wait for my call, I'll introduce you to my partner then."
"I didn't expect you'd gotten yourself a partner."
Qian Yongping replied proudly, "Did you forget who I am? I'll give you a surprise."
It had to be said that Qian Yongping was living quite comfortably these days, seeming to have found both career and love.
After a few words, Ji Yang glanced at the distillery, still thinking that Qian Yongping lived here.
The Qian family's situation was average at best. They had been employees at the county distillery. His father had died in a work accident, and his mother had passed away a few years ago. Having learned about his family's situation, Ji Yang hadn't hesitated to help him during their university days. Qian Yongping always stayed at Ji Yang's place whenever he came to the city.
"Yang!" Suddenly, a voice called out.
Ji Yang turned and saw it was Qian Yongping's older sister Qian Huizhen.
A silver-gray BMW stopped next to him.
"Sis, you've struck it rich!"
Ji Yang suddenly realized it had been a long time since he'd last contacted this family, who all seemed to have undergone significant changes.
"You're here for Yongping, right? He's moved to the new residential area. You've come to the wrong place."
"I just spoke to him on the phone."
"We've all moved; we're in the Jinyuan Residential Area now. I wouldn't have bumped into you if I hadn't come back to pick up some stuff. As it turns out, help me carry a few things."
Ji Yang looked at Qian Huizhen. She was naturally beautiful, and now adorned in jewelry, her clothes also seemed quite expensive.
Chu Shuyuan had mentioned that Qian Yongping's eldest sister Qian Huifang had become a leader's mistress. Unexpectedly, it seemed the second sister had prospered too, perhaps due to the same connection?
Ji Yang did not see anything unusual in Qian Huizhen's demeanor and didn't display any emotion, just smiled and said, "Sis, just give the order."
"Get in the car."
Once in the car, the whole vehicle was filled with a fragrant scent. Looking at the woman again, Ji Yang noticed she was wearing a short skirt with flesh-colored stockings that tightly shaped her legs.
"Sis, where have you made your fortune?"
"What fortune? I've just started a medicinal herb company to supply a pharmaceutical factory."
"That sounds pretty high-class."
Qian Huizhen just laughed and said, "Trying to make a living."
Previously, Ji Yang had only hung out with Qian Yongping and hadn't paid attention to his three older sisters, even being somewhat obtuse regarding matters of men and women, never really taking much interest in these women.
Now, after experiences with two women, Ji Yang seemed to have suddenly gained insight, developing a whole new perspective on women.
Looking at this woman now, he felt she exuded a strong attraction towards him.
What was her man's situation? Ji Yang was thinking about this at the time.
He recalled a memory when he remembered that it seemed like Qian Yongping mentioned once that his brother-in-law worked at a distillery.
"Sister, I still don't know what your husband does," Ji Yang asked.
Qian Huizhen's face darkened immediately, "Why bring him up?"
"What happened?"
"Don't mention him, we divorced!"
"Ah!"
Ji Yang was somewhat surprised.
At this time, the car had stopped in front of an old building.
After getting out of the car, Ji Yang noticed that this woman's complexion didn't look good, so he didn't ask any more questions and followed her into the building.
The apartment was a tube-shaped building crowded with many families. Walking required navigating staircases, and each family tended to pile miscellaneous items in the hallway, making it very cramped. Due to the dim light in the hallways, it was easy to kick items that other families had placed there.
Ji Yang kicked items twice.
When they reached the third floor, Qian Huizhen took out her keys and unlocked the door.
Once inside, Qian Huizhen said, "The things were packed up long ago; help me bundle them up and we'll take them down later."
"Okay."
When Ji Yang looked at the items, he noticed they were all old objects.
"They're all relics from my parents. The others didn't want them, and I didn't want to throw them away, so I took them in," explained Qian Huizhen.
Ji Yang knew Qian Yongping certainly wouldn't want these things. Since his eldest sister followed a leader somewhere, she probably wouldn't take these items back. His third sister, a civil servant, also wouldn't come here to pick up things; only Qian Huizhen would take them.
Seemingly aware of her own poor attitude, Qian Huizhen said, "Sister is not in a good mood, don't blame me."
"Is there something wrong? Tell me, and I will help you as much as I can," Ji Yang hurriedly said.
Shaking her head, Qian Huizhen sighed, "Some things can't be helped by speaking about them, never mind!"
No matter how Ji Yang asked, Qian Huizhen didn't explain any further.
After helping organize for a while, Ji Yang then carried several packages downstairs to the car.
When Qian Huizhen drove back to the Jinyuan Residential Area, Ji Yang realized her apartment was quite large and well-decorated.
"Just leave them for now. After sweating so much, I'll take a shower, check the TV, and you can take a shower later too."
As they were familiar with each other, Qian Huizhen spoke quite directly.
Even now, Ji Yang couldn't see any particular difference in Qian Huizhen's expression and wondered in his heart whether what Chu Shuyuan had told him was true.
"No need, I'm staying at a guest house, I can wash when I go back."
"Don't be a stranger, just take a shower here. By the way, Yongping said he wanted to treat you to a meal. Let me just call our elder sister and others together, let's gather. Never mind, I'll call them, we'll cook and eat here, the ingredients are all ready."
Qian Huizhen was clearly a decisive person, she decided immediately without allowing Ji Yang to retort, and even made several calls one after another.
Ji Yang didn't have anything else to do, so he turned on the television and started watching from the sofa.
Listening to the sound of rushing water, his mind filled with some unpleasant fantasies, Ji Yang tried hard to adjust his mood and seriously thought about Qian Yongping's affairs.
From the various situations of Qian Huizhen, it could be seen that this woman had no intention of harming him and still showed signs of closeness. So, what exactly had happened?