Huang Ya Nan laughed. "Oh, I think you’re just confused from the heat. You’re the one who believes in Granny Zhao the least. She’s just an old compounding worker from the factory who turned into a barefoot doctor in her old age."
The afternoon passed with Huang Ya Nan talking and Nan Yue listening.
As dinner time approached, Nan Yue went to the corridor to make egg fried rice. Huang Ya Nan helped her, praising her so much for just cracking an egg that it felt like she was describing a blooming flower.
When the food was almost ready, Huang Ya Nan yelled at the top of her lungs, "Zhang Xiaotian! Come home for dinner!"
Nan Yue’s ears nearly went deaf from the shout.
In such a massive factory, with no idea where the child was, could he even hear her?
To her surprise, just as they finished pushing the tables together, a five- or six-year-old boy with a runny nose came running in.
"You’re filthy. Wash your hands," Huang Ya Nan barked.
The boy wiped his nose and went to wash his hands.
The three of them ate dinner together. Zhang Xiaotian was a boy of few words. He didn’t even greet Nan Yue when he saw her; it was only after Huang Ya Nan pulled his ear that he managed to squeeze out, "Auntie Hui."
Nan Yue noticed that while they were eating, Zhang Xiaotian’s slightly drooping eyes were constantly fixed on her, as if he were very curious.
Since the child was introverted and Huang Ya Nan was right there, Nan Yue said nothing. She ate quietly, listening to Huang Ya Nan scold her son.
"Go deliver food to your father once you’re done eating. All you know how to do is play all day; you never think to help out around the house."
Zhang Xiaotian shoveled the last of the rice into his mouth, wiped his face with the back of his hand, and ran off clutching the stainless steel bucket.
Clang, clang, clang. The lunchbox swung at his side as he ran. Huang Ya Nan cursed a few more times, but Zhang Xiaotian was already far away.
After dinner, the two women carried two bamboo stools downstairs to enjoy the cool evening air. Workers who had just finished their shifts were heading home, wiping away sweat. The dormitory building behind them became lively, filled with the sounds of cooking and chatter.
Nan Yue had never experienced this kind of life before, and she found the bustle quite pleasant.
Everyone cooked in the corridor; if one family lacked vinegar, they’d borrow some from another, and a handful of freshly picked vegetables might be shared with a neighbor.
"So, are those unlucky neighbors of yours still being light-fingered?"
Huang Ya Nan fanned herself rhythmically. She was still hot, with a ring of sweat around her collar.
Nan Yue’s fanning motion paused slightly. "Sigh."
She let out a sigh but said nothing more.
Huang Ya Nan understood immediately. "If you ask me, they’re just taking advantage of the fact that Brother Guang is often away on business to bully you. You’re just too nice."
"I’ve put all my things away."
This was true. Nan Yue had noticed that Li Hui’s family was the only one in the corridor that didn’t leave their seasonings outside. She had previously thought Li Hui was just being tidy, but now she realized it was because the neighbor liked to help themselves to things.
There were two neighbors: one was messy, and the other didn’t seem to have anything special about them.
Which one was the thief?
"Hmph, Yang Hua just loves taking things. It’s famous throughout the factory. Last time I brought you those plums, I clearly counted thirteen of them. In the short time I left them in the corridor to dry, there were only twelve left. It was definitely her."
Nan Yue listened intently to the trivial neighborhood gossip, unsure if it would be useful, but she didn't offer any opinions.
"I think everything about your life is great, except for those lousy neighbors. Neither Yang Hua nor Zhao Dayong are the helpful types."
"And look at Zhao Dayong. How old is he now and still hasn't found a partner? It’s so strange for a rough man to live all by himself."
It seemed the neighbor on the right was Zhao Dayong, a man who didn't care much for appearances.
The other one, the cleaner one, was Yang Hua.
Nan Yue lightly patted Huang Ya Nan’s hand with her fan, reminding her not to gossip about their comrades in public.
Huang Ya Nan lowered her voice, though she still managed a few more complaints.
"That Zhao Dayong is even more useless than my husband. You couldn't squeeze a word out of him if his life depended on it. I’ve hardly ever seen him talk to anyone. It would be a miracle if a personality like that could find a wife."
"Sigh, given Brother Guang’s standing with the factory director, I don't know how he ended up with two neighbors like that."
One was a petty thief with a bad reputation.
The other was antisocial, appearing exceptionally detached in the large family of the factory, living his life behind closed doors.
Was it strange?
Perhaps a little.
But people of all kinds existed; the factory was a miniature society, and such variations were normal.
Nan Yue reached no conclusions, but she made sure to remember the names.
More and more people came out to enjoy the breeze. The weather was hot, and none of the homes had electric fans. In the entire factory, only two or three families owned a television.
With nothing to do at night, everyone came out to the courtyard to play cards, gossip, or play chess.
Children screamed as they ran and played, and someone was loudly reciting poetry.
Nan Yue spotted Gu Xiang Kai, and Jiang Siyan was there too. His persona was clearly unusual, as he was constantly surrounded by people.
Gu Xiang Kai also had two people around him, but they looked unfriendly, clearly lackeys.
The one reciting poetry was a tall, thin man. After every poem, he would ask for Jiang Siyan’s opinion. Even if Jiang Siyan gave a dismissive two-word response, the man treated it like a precious treasure.
Nan Yue still hadn't seen Wen Xiang Yuan.
She had discovered five other Scavengers, though there might be more. Some might be working their shifts in the factory, or they might be away on business like Xiang Guang.
When Scavengers were scattered on a mission like this, the less experienced ones would have an obvious look in their eyes as they searched for their own kind.
Three of them were like that.
The other two were much more subtle. When their eyes met Nan Yue’s, their gazes sharpened slightly, and they gave a faint nod as a form of confirmation.
Of the three less experienced Scavengers, one was a woman sitting not far from Nan Yue. Her posture was stiff, likely nervous because of the crowd.
"Song Chunhua, why aren't you stitching shoe pads today? I’m still waiting in line for mine, you know."
An older woman leaned over to talk to her. The girl with straight bangs jumped in surprise, her lips trembling as she struggled to find words.
"I..."
"Auntie Zhou, just let Chunhua rest for one night. Her stitching insoles for you is a favor, but you haven't paid her a cent and you're already acting like a foreman."
The surrounding people burst into laughter. A look of discomfort crossed Auntie Zhou’s face. "I was just asking, not rushing her."
Song Chunhua let out a sigh of relief.
"Hey, I’m heading back now."
Nan Yue nudged Huang Ya Nan. It was past eight o'clock, and many people were starting to leave.
Huang Ya Nan nodded. "Leave the stools here, I’ll take them. You go on ahead."
She still had to wait for her little monkey of a son, who hadn't returned since delivering the food, and her husband hadn't finished his shift yet.
But it wouldn't be long.
On her way back, Nan Yue ran into Zhu Xi Ning, who was coming out to use the restroom.
The dormitory buildings had no bathrooms. The toilets were in a public latrine made of earthen walls, located under a large locust tree across from the building.
If they wanted to bathe, they had to go to the bathhouse down the slope. In the summer, their hair would be dry by the time they walked back after a bath.
In front of others, their relationship was poor, but there was no one around now.
Nan Yue took the opportunity to tell Zhu Xi Ning about Zhao Mingming’s facial injury.
Zhu Xi Ning, in turn, told Nan Yue that the injury seemed to be man-made.
"As soon as I got home, Zhao Mingming’s mother started advising me to be kinder to people at the factory. She said I’m paranoid all day, suspecting this person and that person, and that I’ve ruined my relationships with my comrades."
"Also, I think I saw Wenwen."
To be precise, when Zhu Xi Ning was coming back with the desk fan, she saw someone flash past in the woods. The figure looked exactly like Wen Xiang Yuan.
Rate on N.U.
