Chapter 899 - 877: Top Student in the 1980s (Part 5)

Chapter 899: Chapter 877: Top Student in the 1980s (Part 5)

With the matters of Zhang Fugui and Zhang Erzhu’s family, the villagers of Tuliang Village have started to pay more attention.

No family dares to trade children anymore; they won’t even think about it.

Many families’ Old Madam also started treating their granddaughters better, afraid that if they are negligent, they could be reported by their daughters-in-law.

Of course, Anning won’t be concerned with this.

She only knows that Zhang Fugui has been arrested.

That night, Anning had a good night’s sleep.

That night, Hong Mei waited for Anning to fall asleep before going back home.

She returned late, and as soon as she entered the door, her mother asked: "Why did you come back so late? Did something happen?"

As soon as she entered, Hong Mei pretended to act spoiled with her mom: "Mom, I’m starving, is there anything to eat at home? Please prepare something for me."

Hong Mei’s mother went to the kitchen, heated some food, and brought it out: "Hurry up and eat."

While Hong Mei ate, her mother asked: "Don’t always focus on work, it’s time to think about finding a partner. Your aunt said she’d introduce someone, will you meet them?"

Hong Mei waved her hand: "I really don’t have time these days, people from the newspaper are coming tomorrow, I still need to take care of receptions, plus I need to look after a young girl these few days, when do I have time to meet? Maybe after this period."

"What is the newspaper reporter coming to your office for?"

Hong Mei’s mom asked.

Anning’s situation isn’t something to hide, Hong Mei told her mom: "The newspaper knows about this thing, they sent reporters for interviews, they might want to see Anning, I need to be there with her."

Hong Mei’s mom, being a teacher, felt heartbroken hearing this: "This is all unfortunate, her biological parents are irresponsible, if they can’t raise the child, they shouldn’t have born her. Now that society is improving, and anyone willing to work hard can find a way to feed themselves, why would they sell their child? Aren’t they afraid of retribution in the future?"

Hong Mei nodded.

Hong Mei’s mom sighed: "All kinds of people exist in the world. In the past, your grandmother was starving almost to death, but she never thought of selling her children. Didn’t she survive? Now that we’re in a new society and people are selling sons and daughters, it’s really..."

Hong Mei finished eating and washed the dishes while talking to her mom: "Mom, you don’t know, the little girl is really smart. She’s seven years old, listening outside the classroom learned pinyin alphabets, she has dedication and perseverance, and memorized an entire dictionary, at such a young age she self-studied from first to sixth-grade courses, it’s said that there’s only primary school in the village, if there were a middle school, she would have finished those courses too."

Hong Mei’s mom was amazed: "Is she really that outstanding?"

Hong Mei puffed out her chest with pride: "Of course! I didn’t believe it initially, took a dictionary to test her, no matter which page I asked, she recited word for word."

"This child is a genius, thankfully she was smart enough to report, or else her life would have been ruined."

Hong Mei’s mom sighed.

Hong Mei also sighed: "Indeed."

Hong Mei’s mom walked to Hong Mei: "How do you plan to handle this situation?"

Hong Mei tilted her head thinking: "We’re worried about this too, not only did she report her foster parents, she also reported her biological ones. Where should such a small child go? It’s easy to sentence adults, but what about a child? She definitely won’t return to her foster family, likely not to her biological parents either. She’s firm in her decision and keen in her thoughts, she knows there won’t be happiness if she returns, she told me she’d rather beg than go back."

Hong Mei’s mom was also worried: "This is complicated, such a young child can’t be left unattended. There are her biological parents, but it’s not feasible to send her to an orphanage. Besides, you know orphanage conditions, definitely not very caring. Given she’s smart, if there’s no normal family, I estimate..."

At this point, Hong Mei’s mom suddenly thought of something.

"Right, do you think we should find Director Zhang? Director Zhang and Secretary An are good people, just unfortunate in life..."

Hong Mei’s father, Ge Dazhuang, is the factory director at the steel plant, and Zhang Heping, the office director at the steel plant, is quite old but has no children.

Zhang Heping and An, the secretary of the cotton factory, are a couple, having gone through war times, they didn’t have children for the revolution. Later, near liberation, An was pregnant and had a daughter. During that time, as the war wasn’t over, An couldn’t take the child along so they fostered the child with a fellow villager, planning to retrieve the child post-liberation.

But when liberation came and they went to retrieve the child, the villager’s house was gone, they searched extensively, but didn’t know where the child went.

Afterwards, due to work and the unstable initial phase of the nation post-foundation, they had to give up.

Over the years, they’ve relocated multiple times, and a few years ago, they came to Y County, Zhang Heping joined the steel plant, An became secretary at the cotton factory, they’ve been genuinely good. The couple is sincere, helping anyone facing difficulties.

However, they haven’t had children all along.

Hong Mei is aware of Zhang Heping’s circumstances, but hadn’t thought of it immediately. Hearing her mom’s mention, she quickly said: "Mom, tomorrow go to Uncle Zhang’s house and ask what they think. The child is truly wonderful, I’m reluctant to see her wasted, if Uncle Zhang is willing to adopt, it’d be beneficial for both Uncle Zhang, Aunt An, and the child."

Hong Mei’s mom nodded: "I’ve thought the same, I’ll go inquire at the Zhang family tomorrow morning, but the child has biological parents, will adoption be feasible?"

Hong Mei thought: "If Uncle Zhang is willing to adopt, surely a method can be found. Besides, Anning was sold by her biological parents, not returning to them is reasonable."

The mother and daughter discussed for a while before going to sleep.

Early the next morning, Hong Mei’s mom went to the Zhang family.

Hong Mei hastily ate breakfast and went to the police station.

Anning woke up at this time, washed her face, then went to the cafeteria to find food.

The chef at the cafeteria knew Anning, seeing her come, smiled and served her a meal.

Just as Anning got the served meal, Hong Mei came over.

She pulled Anning into the room: "How did you sleep last night? If you need anything, just let your sister know."

Anning smiled: "Thank you, sister, I slept well. As long as I have something to eat, there’s no need for trouble with anything else."

Hong Mei smiled, touching Anning’s head: "Then go eat quickly, after eating, I’ll have something to discuss with you."

Anning looked down to eat.

The breakfast was rice porridge with steamed buns and pickles. The chef gave Anning an egg too.

Anning ate the egg first, then drank half a bowl of rice porridge, and ate a bun with pickles, slowly drinking the remaining porridge.

After finishing, she washed the bowl and returned it to the cafeteria, then went to speak with Hong Mei.