Transmigration: Flirted with My Childhood Sweetheart
Chapter 317 - 316: The Same Place, The Same IQ

Chapter 317: Chapter 316: The Same Place, The Same IQ

"Why did I have to provoke Lin Nianhe?" Wen Lan and Wang Shumei argued for ten minutes, ending with Wen Lan pondering alone "why she had to provoke both Lin Nianhe and Wang Shumei," thereby putting a period to the debate.

They returned to their room for a short rest before planning to go have dumplings—Sister Lan was treating them.

Before leaving the guesthouse, Lin Nianhe asked her "acquaintance" to borrow a phone.

"Uncle Team Leader, we’ve arrived... Yes, everything went smoothly on the way. We came by the battalion’s vehicle, and the comrades took good care of us... Don’t worry, we will do our best to complete the task you entrusted to us... Alright, we’re staying at the railway guesthouse. Please note down the phone number, and if there’s anything, you can call me..."

After hanging up, Lin Nianhe turned to the acquainted waitress with a radiant smile: "Thank you, sorry for the trouble."

The waitress, having heard her phone conversation, couldn’t help but think more about it.

Her smile grew even more sincere, and she waved her hands repeatedly: "It’s no problem at all, later I’ll just tell my colleagues. If someone calls for you, we will definitely take a message."

"I am so grateful, I will definitely write a commendation letter for you!"

The waitress was overjoyed, almost dragging Lin Nianhe into a sworn sisterhood.

The three of them had a meal of dumplings at the State-Owned Restaurant. Now that Wen Lan had money, she didn’t fret about the expense for too long.

But she kept muttering as she ate: "In the future, don’t be a busybody... In the future, don’t be a busybody..."

She made a decision then and there, to never be a busybody again and use her hands rather than bicker.

After dinner, Wang Shumei asked, "Nianhe, shall we go find Sister Lirong first?"

"Yeah, you two go back and rest. I can go by myself," Lin Nianhe said.

"How can we let you go alone with your timid nature? Another person might deceive you again," Wen Lan was the first to object.

Wang Shumei also said, "It’s too dangerous for you to go to the black market by yourself. What if you run into that fatty again... It’s better if we all go together."

"No, really, there’s no need," Lin Nianhe shook her head, "It’s less conspicuous if I go alone. Their black market is just opposite the guesthouse, very close. Moreover, even if something does happen, with my wall-climbing skills, I can escape if I can’t win the fight."

Lin Nianhe was determined to go alone and would not allow them to follow.

Wang Shumei and Wen Lan didn’t return to the guesthouse either but waited at the junction leading to the black market. Both were all ears for any disturbance, ready to dash in at the slightest sign of trouble.

Lin Nianhe took the familiar path around the alley and saw two doorkeeping guys.

Unconsciously, she thought of Wu Genmao and Cao Shijian.

Tsk, she first met them here.

And then she lured them onto a... oh no, a luxury yacht.

The doorkeeping guys, seeing Lin Nianhe approach, asked in a low voice, "Buying or selling?"

Lin Nianhe: "..."

She looked at her empty hands and sighed deeply.

As expected of someone who frequents the black market, the intelligence was all the same.

She wasn’t in the mood to jest with them and said directly: "My name is Lin Nianhe, I am looking for Zheng Lirong."

The guy hesitated for a moment, sizing her up with furrowed brows: "Our big sister-in-law isn’t someone you can just ask to see."

Lin Nianhe pressed on her temples: "Then why don’t you go ask? Maybe she wants to see me as well?"

The guy thought Lin Nianhe made sense.

The two exchanged glances, one stayed to keep watch, while the other ran inside.

About ten minutes later, Zheng Lirong came out directly, followed by the guy who had gone to inform her.

Zheng Lirong had lost a lot of weight, and her eyes were no longer as clear as when they first met.

She grabbed Lin Nianhe’s hand and whispered, "Quick, go inside first... Look at you, if something comes up, just give me a call, and it’ll be sorted. Coming here only brought you trouble..."

She nattered on as she dragged Lin Nianhe inside.

Lin Nianhe spoke in a low voice, "It’s urgent, and it just so happens I had business in the provincial city, so I came to find you directly."

Zheng Lirong became anxious and asked first, "Did something happen to Shanshan and Xiao Jun?"

Lin Nianhe shook his head, "No, they’re both fine. It’s just that lately, during the autumn harvest, the two kids have been working quite a bit and have gotten a bit thinner."

Hearing that it wasn’t about the kids, Zheng Lirong breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as the kids are fine, nothing else is a big deal.

"Let’s go home and talk," Zheng Lirong said, leading Lin Nianhe toward the black market.

After several months, the black market had changed considerably.

The conspicuously large coal heap had disappeared, replaced by many scattered sellers with carrying baskets or bamboo baskets on their backs.

There were also more customers than before, many of them dressed plainly or even in patched clothing.

Lin Nianhe noticed this and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curled up.

That the poor could shop here meant Zheng Lirong’s pricing was very appropriate.

She didn’t say much, nor did she ask about the prices. She followed Zheng Lirong to the small courtyard.

Zheng Lirong brewed her a cup of sweetened water, and then asked, "Sis, what’s up?"

Lin Nianhe took a sip and related the incident with Zhang Changjiang coming to find her.

Listening, Zheng Lirong’s fists clenched tightly on her knees.

Lin Nianhe asked, "Sister Lirong, has he been targeting you all this time?"

"Quite a few incidents, big and small," Zheng Lirong spoke, "He thinks a woman like me can’t keep such a big stall going and hasn’t stopped making trouble for me, covertly and overtly... That’s all bearable, but what I didn’t expect is that he’d set his sights on you."

Lin Nianhe asked, "Did some of the people who used to work with you go to him?"

"Yes."

Lin Nianhe nodded in understanding.

That explained it. She had direct contact with Bai Bo back then, and it must have been enquirers who learned her name and identity to use as a gambit, informing Zhang Changjiang.

Zheng Lirong licked her lips and looked at Lin Nianhe, asking, "Sis, what are you thinking?"

Lin Nianhe smiled and said, "Shanshan’s been a bit better lately. Although she still hasn’t started speaking, her body language has become more animated. Xiao Jun is also quite clever; despite his young age, he learns quickly."

Mention of the children brought a touch of tenderness to Zheng Lirong’s eyes, dissipating the stress and tension brought on by Zhang Changjiang.

"I was quite worried about them before the autumn harvest. I was afraid the hardship might be too much and they’d cry, but both kids behaved exceptionally well."

"Sister Lirong, what I mean is— I really like them, and I don’t want their lives ruined by a scumbag."

Zheng Lirong was initially puzzled why Lin Nianhe brought up the kids, but upon hearing her last words, her eyes inevitably reddened.

She took Lin Nianhe’s hand seriously and said, "Sis, rest assured, I absolutely will not lose to Fatty Zhang."

"I know," Lin Nianhe patted the back of her hand, then said, "However, I don’t recommend you take him on directly. That man... it’s not worth it to clash with him head-on."

Zheng Lirong slightly furrowed her brow, let out a sigh, and then said, "I don’t want to fight head-on either. These brothers have been loyal to me, and it would hurt to see any of them get injured. But honestly, apart from fighting head-on, there really isn’t much of a solution."

After saying this, she saw Lin Nianhe smiling, holding her teacup, and sipping her drink.

That look, it was just like that of a little fox wagging its