Under the tearful persuasion of his niece, Yu Jianchuan wiped his face forcefully, sat on a rock, and hung his head as he told the whole story.
"At first, my buddy and I went to Huacheng, thinking we could make some money there. But we were targeted as soon as we got off the train. We were cheated... There's no turning back now. I was forced to start selling goods from Huacheng to Nan County. I came back to Nan County because I was noticed in Huacheng."
Hua Qingqing laughed out of anger. "You knew you were discovered but still rushed to keep doing this business. Aren't you just asking for death? Are you really that short of money?"
"I... I don't want to either!"
Yu Jianchuan suddenly got excited. He suddenly looked up, his eyes red as he stared at Hua Qingqing. After a moment, he ran his hands through his hair and roared helplessly, "I really have no other choice. They dragged me into this and gave me no way out. If I quit now, I'll only end up dead!"
Yu Linyun was startled.
Wasn't it just about not agreeing to sell those things? Why would it mean death?
Hua Qingqing remained calm and unmoved.
"So, you were scared, so you brought these people to Nan County and continued selling things here?"
"Don't you ever think about your family? It might not matter if you die alone, but if anything goes wrong with you guys, the Yu family will have to pay for your mistakes. Once you're caught by the police, they'll be laughed at because of you."
"That's not it!"
Yu Jianchuan quickly explained.
"I never meant it to be like this. I was just too stupid. I misjudged people. By the time I realized I was cheated, I had told them everything I had. They said that as long as I sold out this batch of goods, they'd let me go and I could live a quiet life from then on. I really had no other way."
Hua Qingqing let out a sigh. This uncle was really generous and had taken care of the original body. But he was really not very smart.
By now, she was too lazy to say anything.
It was never that easy to live a quiet life after just finishing this deal!
Those people clearly were just lying to him. Since they had tasted the sweetness from Yu Jianchuan and didn't need to sell the goods themselves, with a lower risk of being caught, they would surely squeeze him dry.
Hua Qingqing took two steps closer to Yu Jianchuan and said comfortingly, "Uncle, there's only one way to save you now. You should turn yourself in and atone for your crimes."
When Hua Qingqing had returned from the small business street with people earlier, she had noticed someone following them. But once they entered the Wuxing Production Team, those people left.
These people must be the ones threatening Yu Jianchuan. They knew about the Yu family, and once Yu Jianchuan made any move, they would surely take action.
These people who walked on the edge, doing dangerous things all year round, didn't value their lives. They despised the law and looked down on life.
It was understandable that Yu Jianchuan was scared. His mistake was being too naive.
Hua Qingqing sat down beside Yu Jianchuan.
"You don't need to go. I'll go. You just write down the whole criminal process. You're a victim, forced to commit a crime. Your spirit has been persecuted. You're different from them. Uncle, you'll be okay. Don't worry."
Yu Linyun, who had been too afraid to say a word, nodded vigorously.
"Yes, Hua Qingqing is right. Uncle, you should turn yourself in. Don't be afraid. You're atoning for your crimes! Everyone will understand!"
Yu Jianchuan didn't agree immediately. He just said he needed to think about it.
Hua Qingqing gave him the chance to think. Afraid of embarrassing him, she didn't tell the rest of the Yu family about this.
But unexpectedly.
Before dawn the next day, Yu Jianchuan ran away.
Hua Qingqing was furious. This was the first time she had been stood up.
Fine! Just great!
Yu Linyun was also stunned.
She never thought her uncle would just run away like that.
With a mournful face, she came to Hua Qingqing for a solution.
Hua Qingqing gave some money to the twins and asked them to get their schoolmates to look for places in the county where strangers might be staying recently.
Nan County was just a small county.
Its development was average. Apart from those visiting relatives or on business, few people would come here.
So it was quite easy to find strangers. Listening to their accents and looking at their appearances were good ways.
There were plenty of students in No. 2 Middle School who didn't like studying and just fool around. They probably knew every fun place in the county better than the knowledge points in the books.
They couldn't find Yu Jianchuan for the time being.
Hua Qingqing didn't want to bother anymore. She rode her bike to Dongxing Factory.
The weather was getting colder. The big tree branches by the roadside were bare and yellow.
Hua Qingqing put on the clothes her cheap mom had sent before. They were bright in color and warm. Her eyes got hot looking at them. If it weren't for the lack of funds, she would definitely open a clothing factory.
A call came from the capital, saying that the store had been rented, but before they could even set it up properly, most of the schoolbags had been sold.
The first batch of schoolbags sold at the street stall had made a good advertisement. Even though a long time had passed, there were still people going to the Children's Palace asking if there were any schoolbags for sale.
Guang Bai was extremely angry. "Some people copied our schoolbags and made fake products. They even sold them at the entrance of the Children's Palace like us, and their business was surprisingly good!"
"I'm so mad. Fortunately, they copied the first - generation schoolbags. Fortunately, the second - generation schoolbags came out quickly!"
The siblings worked non - stop. They took some schoolbags to set up a stall outside the Children's Palace and also put up a big Dongxing sign beside it.
Then all the customers came back to them. The person selling the fake schoolbags had their goods returned, and they couldn't continue their business. Later, seeing that their business was so good, they even came to pick a fight.
The incident got quite big, and the police even came.
"Qingqing, when we were at the police station, we met an aunt. She said her surname was Li. As soon as she saw the schoolbag in my hand, she asked me about it. She also said she knew you. Later, we were able to get out so quickly thanks to this Aunt Li."
Hua Qingqing never thought the atmosphere in the capital was so intense. Just selling a schoolbag could land them in the police station. She never thought Aunt Li would help them out.
She really had to thank this person properly.
When Zhou Cai's new products were ready, Aunt Li would surely get a share!
...
"Comrade Yu Linxiu, I'm quite satisfied with you. But I think women should stay at home, taking care of their husbands and children. Let us men support them. After we get married, you don't need to be the factory director anymore. When we have children, you can take good care of them at home. Give me your position. After all, I'm a high - school graduate. I'm more than qualified to be a factory director."
Yu Linxiu felt like she was dreaming.
Otherwise, how could she meet a crazy person in broad daylight who sized her up and rambled on to himself?
She took two steps back warily.
"Who are you?"
"Why haven't I seen you in the factory?"
Most of the workers in Dongxing Factory were women. There were no more than ten male workers. Some were security guards at the gate, and some were chefs in the kitchen.
But this man in front of her was not a male employee she was familiar with.
"Didn't you say you wanted to see me? I rushed here early in the morning just to meet you. And you say you don't know me?"
Yu Linxiu frowned and shouted, "There's no such employee in our factory. You'd better tell us how you got in. Otherwise, we'll send you to the police station according to the factory rules!"
The man got a bit anxious and even reached out to grab her.