Reborn as a Superpower Girl in the 80s
Chapter 1016: Gathering Information

Chapter 1016: Chapter 1016: Gathering Information

The two returned to the village and headed for the Gao Family’s home.

Gao Jiefang had heard rumors about Ning Ziping’s return, and just awhile ago had overheard others discussing Ning Ziping’s visit to Zhang Dezheng’s home. He guessed that nobody had told him about the village’s recent events and assumed Zhang Dezheng was still the village secretary.

He shook his head and walked towards his house.

But soon after he arrived home, he heard someone outside the gate shouting, "Is the secretary in?"

Gao Jiefang saw the person standing at the door: "Ziping, you’re back. Come in and have a seat."

Ning Ziping placed his belongings on the table in the courtyard: "Uncle, I’ve come back for a visit. This is a little something from me."

Gao Jiefang laughed to himself, thinking about what he had heard before. What was he being taken for? "If you have something to say, just speak up. I’ll definitely help if I can, but I can’t accept this."

He gestured for them to sit down.

Having spent so many years in the village, Ning Ziping understood Gao Jiefang well: "Uncle, my main reason for coming back this time is to take Stone back to the city, but Stone is no longer with the Sun Family.

I’m trying to find out about the family who adopted Stone. It wasn’t convenient for us to take him back before because of family issues, but now that our circumstances have improved, I want to bring Stone back to the Capital and raise him there. Please help me."

Gao Jiefang sighed. "Ziping, when the village called you that year, you and your family were adamant that the child would have nothing to do with you in the future. The Sun Family didn’t care either, and it was Lu Yichen who took over. After all these years, you’ve come back wanting to acknowledge the child. This really isn’t honorable.

Besides, I really don’t know where Stone is now. They didn’t stay in the village long before they left, and all I know is that they moved into the city. I don’t know anything beyond that."

Ning Ziping felt dejected upon hearing this and after a long pause said, "Secretary, do you know which unit he works for in the city? Even if Stone doesn’t acknowledge us, I still want to see him. Secretary, please help me."

Gao Jiefang shook his head: "I really don’t know the specifics. You might have heard from the villagers that Lu Yichen’s hukou wasn’t in the village. He was at the commune’s agricultural machinery station before, so where he transferred to, I really don’t know."

Seeing that Ning Ziping wasn’t getting anywhere and it was getting late, he got up to leave. Gao Jiefang picked up the things he brought and handed them back to Ning Ziping: "I really can’t accept these."

Ning Ziping, feeling downhearted, didn’t refuse and carried his items out of the Gao Family’s home. As he walked towards the outskirts of the village, feeling depressed and uncertain of what to do next, he heard someone nearby speaking to him: "Ziping, you’re Ning Ziping."

Gao Shunyi had gone to deliver some items to Taohua and just crossed the small bridge when he saw two well-dressed people walking towards him. He immediately recognized Ning Ziping.

As soon as Ning Ziping saw it was Gao Shunyi, he asked, "Uncle Gao, are you on your way out of the village on an errand?"

"Ah. Are you back to see your son?"

"Yes, but unfortunately, I didn’t get to meet him."

"Come on, let’s go to my place. It’s not often you come back for a visit."

Of course, Gao Shunyi had his own motives. He had heard that Ning Ziping’s family was well off, and thought if he could get his son a place in the city, that would be great; even if not, judging by the things Ning Ziping had in hand, he was calculating his gain.

Ning Ziping also wanted to find out more about Stone, so he and Wang Hailan went with Gao Shunyi to the Gao Family’s home.

As soon as Li Xiulan saw the people Gao Shunyi brought back, her face changed: "Old man, why did you bring them here?"

Gao Shunyi hinted at Li Xiulan with his eyes: "Although Ziping has cut ties with the village, he has lived here before. It’s only right for us to lend a hand when he’s in trouble. Go make some noodles for them to eat."

Even though Li Xiulan didn’t care for Ning Ziping, she had to comply when Gao Shunyi spoke up: "Alright, you all sit down, I’ll go make some noodles for you."

Ning Ziping turned to Li Xiulan: "That’ll be troublesome for you, Auntie."

Gao Shunyi asked, "Did you come back this time to see Stone, or to take him back to the Capital?"

Ning Ziping replied, "It’s no use thinking about it now; we still don’t know where Stone is."

Gao Shunyi picked up a jar of water on the table and drank from it deeply, only to realize afterward, "I forgot to pour some water for you."

He turned and shouted out the door, "Xiulan, bring some water in for Ziping and his friend."

Li Xiulan responded from outside, and soon brought in two bowls of water: "Here’s the water."

Wang Hailan eyed the ring of grime on the cup’s rim, thanked Li Xiulan without touching the bowl of water, signaling Ning Ziping with her eyes that they should leave soon.

Gao Shunyi, seeing that Ning Ziping was getting impatient, said, "It shouldn’t be difficult to find him."

Hearing this, Ning Ziping’s eyes lit up: "Uncle Gao, do you know something?"

Gao Shunyi just smiled at Ning Ziping and kept silent, prompting Ning Ziping to pull out a Big Unity bill from his pocket: "Uncle Gao, I didn’t bring much money today. Take this, buy yourself a pack of cigarettes."

Wang Hailan watched Ning Ziping forcefully put the money into Gao Shunyi’s hand, feeling frustrated. They were already short on cash; after giving it away, how would they buy tickets to return to Capital City?

She was really about to explode with anger.

Gao Shunyi pocketed the money, smiling contentedly: "The person who adopted Stone is named Lu Yichen. He used to work at the commune’s agricultural machinery station. If you ask around there, you’ll surely find out which unit he works for in the city."

Ning Ziping nearly rolled his eyes at the reply: "We’ve been there. Couldn’t find out; only knew he went to the city, but not which specific unit."

Upon hearing this, Gao Shunyi was taken aback: "The station chief doesn’t know? That’s not possible. Transfers have procedures that have to be followed. It makes sense if others don’t know, but how could the station chief not know?"

Ning Ziping felt a bit dispirited and looked downcast.

Gao Shunyi spoke up: "After Lu Yichen transferred to the city, he came back a few times. Once, he was wearing a police uniform—I think he might work in the public security system. You could try asking around in the city."

Ning Ziping became excited: "Really? Are you sure you’re not mistaken?"

Gao Shunyi reached for his tobacco pipe, his hands busy working: "How could I be mistaken? That day, he was helping Doctor Gao with some things. I even thought at the time that the basket shouldn’t get his brand new police uniform dirty. I’m definitely not wrong."