Chapter 99: It's all an illusion

"Sister!"

"Sister!!"

Lin Zhao was asking Li Fen about the defective products, when she heard a hysterical howl.

"?"

She was slightly embarrassed.

Just as she was about to say something, she saw Song Yunjin rush in with a panicked expression.

In three steps, he approached Lin Zhao's counter. Seeing his sister was fine, his heart dropped back to its original place, and he breathed heavily.

Lin Zhao handed her enamel mug to him, "Drink some water, why did you run so urgently!"

She glanced at her wristwatch; it wasn't time for delivering food yet.

"Why are you here now?" She wondered if something had happened at home, worry appearing on her face, "Is everything okay at home?"

"Everything is fine!" Song Yunjin didn't stand on ceremony, took the enamel mug, gulped down the water, and after quenching his thirst, put down the mug, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and then said: "Sister, I heard someone was taken away from the supply and marketing cooperative, and I even heard your name. I was scared to death, didn't even have time to tell my mom, and rushed to find you."

Lin Zhao's brows relaxed, a warm current surging in her heart, and she said with a smile: "I'm fine."

Song Yunjin didn't believe it, "I heard it, there must be something about you in it. Sister, what exactly happened?"

"It's not a big deal, I was reported..." Lin Zhao only said one sentence before Song Yunjin exploded, his short, neat hair almost standing up, feeling like he was furious.

"Who?"

The moment the words left his mouth, his black eyes, carrying anger, swept across every counter.

One counter was empty.

Someone was missing.

That salesperson who looked at people with her nose not like a nose and eyes not like eyes.

"Is it that sturdy salesperson?" Song Yunjin asked, his face dark and gloomy with anger, his chest heaving violently, incredibly angry.

"Right, it doesn't matter, she sent herself in." Lin Zhao patted her younger brother's head to soothe his emotions.

Her eyes curved, her smile bright, "With such a person gone from the supply and marketing cooperative, even the air has become better!"

Her sister's comfort didn't comfort Song Yunjin.

"What did she report you for?" He still asked, pursuing the matter.

Lin Zhao's eyes flashed with helplessness, knowing her little cousin was the type to get to the bottom of things, so she could only say: "Said I lined my own pockets and harmed the interests of the masses."

"Bullshit!" Song Yunjin exploded with anger, his words fierce.

"Sister, you don't even care about that little bit! If you were really short of money, just tell my dad and the others; there are plenty of people who would pool money for you, so you don't need to go to this trouble. Who does she think she is!"

Reporting his sister for embezzlement was even more ridiculous than reporting his sister and Song Yuncheng for having an illicit affair!

Lin Zhao took out an apple for her little cousin, "You eat it too. I promised to bring it to you, and you, Uncle, Aunt, and Yuncheng all get one."

Song Yunjin listened, and since everyone else at home had one, he didn't stand on ceremony and took a bite, *crunch*.

The apple was very crisp, sweet, and juicy, and it was actually quite delicious.

"Delicious, it's not from the mountain, is it?"

Lin Zhao said: "Just eat it, don't ask so much."

Song Yunjin guessed his sister bought it on the black market, and the apple in his hand didn't seem as fragrant anymore.

"Sister..."

He was really afraid his sister would be caught!

Because his sister was truly fearless.

With the friendship of growing up together, Lin Zhao only needed one glance to see through his thoughts.

"We went to see a movie together, how did I get the movie tickets?"

Song Yunjin was slightly stunned, "Bought them."

"The apples are the same." She earned points by doing tasks and drew them.

Lin Zhao was righteous and didn't feel guilty at all.

A smile rippled in the youth's eyes, and his joy was overflowing.

"That's good." He pursed his lips, "You scared me to death just now!"

Lin Zhao's smile rippled at the corners of her mouth, her voice tinged with laughter, "I can tell, panting like that, your voice even cracked!"

"Sister!" Song Yunjin lowered his eyes, his ears burning.

Even if he was embarrassed, he didn't forget to crunch on the apple, *crunch, crunch, crunch* without stopping.

"Sister, it's really delicious."

Lin Zhao smiled: "If you like it, I'll bring you more when I get them."

"Sister, do you have any?" Even though he knew his sister wasn't the type... to be a self-sacrificing person who left all the good things for others, Song Yunjin still worried his sister didn't have any to eat.

No way, it was a good habit formed since childhood.

"I do. Do you think I would treat myself poorly?" Lin Zhao always felt that people who were stingy with themselves had something wrong with their brains.

"That wouldn't happen." Song Yunjin was happy, wiped his hands with the toilet paper Lin Zhao handed him, and said: "Sister, I'm going back, and I'll bring the news to my mom. If my mom hears, she'll definitely be scared to death."

Lin Zhao gave him the remaining apples, "Take them back."

Song Yunjin sighed sweetly, "Sister, ever since you started working, I've had good things to eat every day. Is this the happiness of having a job!"

Lin Zhao smiled without saying a word.

A job itself doesn't bring happiness.

She wouldn't say this, leaving it for Yunjin to experience later.

"Hmm, so you work hard."

Song Yunjin's face collapsed.

He wanted to work hard, but unfortunately, he had strength but nowhere to use it, and he didn't know if his junior high school graduation certificate could still be obtained.

So annoying.

"Sister, I'm leaving."

Wang Ju said softly: "You can ride my bicycle."

She offered to lend it, and Lin Zhao didn't stand on ceremony with her, smiling: "Thank you, A-Ju, I'll bring you something to eat another day."

Wang Ju looked up at him, then lowered her head quickly, her voice small, "... That's fine."

"Good."

Lin Zhao discovered a small pattern: the fewer people there were, the more nervous Comrade Wang Ju became.

So many people from the investigation team came, and she was fine.

Truly magical.

Speaking of buying ice cream, Lin Zhao couldn't help but associate it with South Street, and thus naturally thought of what she had drawn a few days ago—the Land and Property Ownership Certificate.

She pondered for a moment, then suddenly opened her mouth: "Yunjin, do me a favor."

The weather was stuffy, and with nothing to do, Song Yunjin was almost nodding off. As soon as his sister spoke, he instantly became spirited.

"What favor?"

Lin Zhao beckoned to him.

The youth *whoosh*ed closer to the counter, tilted his head, sent his right ear over, his eyes bright.

"Help me go to East Street and see what's going on with the courtyard on the far right," Lin Zhao said, "If no one lives in that courtyard, help me go to the neighborhood committee and ask who the owner of that courtyard is."

Song Yunjin's eyes were full of confusion, "Sister, why are you asking about a courtyard? You don't want to buy it, do you? I heard some houses have been confiscated."

"Don't worry about it for now, help me ask. I'll tell you when I'm sure." Lin Zhao had also heard about houses being confiscated, which made her realize she couldn't delay any longer.

"Good, then I'll go." Song Yunjin didn't ask any more questions.

Just as he was about to leave, Lin Zhao stopped him and stuffed a bag of candy into his hand, "For business."

Song Yunjin originally planned to rely on his face and mouth to ask for news. With the candy his sister gave him, it was truly easy.

"With this candy, I can find out anything!"

The departing back was quite confident. ===== CHAPTER 100 =====

"What's your sister's situation right now?"

Her questions came one after another.

Song Yunjin couldn't get a word in, and on top of that, he was being looked down upon.

An Iron Sand Palm strike landed on his back.

The young man bared his teeth and grimaced.

"Are you mute? Speak up, what's your sister's situation?"

"If something has happened, hurry up and borrow a bike to find your dad, let him think of a way."

She had heard people say that quite a few people had been locked up in that building where the investigation team was, all crowded into one room; Zhaozhao was a young girl, she absolutely could not be taken there.

Song Yunjin hurriedly said: "It's fine, it's fine, the one who was taken away wasn't my sister, it was the person who reported my sister, oh right, and the accountant from the supply and marketing cooperative; that accountant is the cousin of the person who reported my sister."

Hearing that Zhaozhao was fine, Aunt Song felt her heart drop back into place, but she couldn't stop cursing: "They're all colleagues, reporting people at the drop of a hat, they must be so bored they're farting!"

"Luckily your sister is lucky; if she had been taken away, your little aunt would have turned that building upside down."

Her little sister-in-law had great strength and an explosive temper, even if she looked very gentle now that she was being led by her husband.

Hah, it was all an illusion.

If she knew that Zhaozhao had been reported by someone, she would definitely storm over to their door.

Ximei was kind-hearted, but also courageous and spirited; she had saved quite a few people back in the day, and it was said that many of them now held high positions.

In Aunt Song's view, her little sister-in-law's connections were even broader than her husband's, but Ximei wasn't the type to hold favors over people's heads; she never mentioned those past events, and it was likely that even Zhaozhao and her siblings didn't know.

"There's also my brother-in-law." Song Yunjin clicked his tongue, reminding her slowly.

That movie had completely overturned his impression of Gu Chenghuai.

Before, he only felt that his cousin-in-law looked like a cold-faced Yama, silent and reticent, whose gaze could freeze a person to death.

But that day, when they went to watch a movie, he took care of the children and didn't let his sister lift a finger; that wasn't all, he also kept an eye on his sister's movements at all times. When his sister stumbled, that man hurriedly caught her, and after that, he held her hand the entire time until they left the cinema.

At that moment, Song Yunjin realized—

Some people aren't incapable of tenderness; it's just that all their softness is reserved for one person.

"Right, your brother-in-law is there too; he's a capable man, he definitely won't let people wrong your sister like this!" Aunt Song truly felt that the person who reported Zhaozhao had lived out their good days.

"Yunjin, you eat first, I'll go brew some chrysanthemum tea for your sister, so she doesn't get overheated."

Watching his mother's hurried figure, Song Yunjin raised his voice: "Mom, my sister doesn't like drinking chrysanthemum tea!!"

"I'll put in less chrysanthemum and more rock sugar, your sister will definitely love it," Aunt Song said confidently.

This was a recipe she had newly researched; Zhaozhao would definitely like it.

Song Yunjin was half-believing and half-doubting.

He didn't really believe it.

He couldn't talk his mother out of it, but it was fine; if his sister didn't like it, he would gulp it down and just say his sister drank it.

As for pouring it out, that was impossible; chrysanthemum didn't cost money, but rock sugar was hard to come by.

Aunt Song quickly brewed the tea, cooled it down rapidly, poured it into a canned food jar, and packed it into the cloth bag containing the lunch box.

"Eat quickly, and once you're done, hurry and deliver it to your sister. Keep an eye on her; if your sister is scared, stay a while longer, stay until she gets off work if you have to. Don't be in a rush to come back; you don't have any real work to do anyway."

Song Yunjin: He wanted to do real work, but did he have the chance?

The rice in his mouth didn't even taste good anymore!

(-ι_-｀)

Aunt Song didn't notice her son's thoughts and fished a one-yuan bill out of her wallet for him.

"If your sister is really angry, buy her an ice cream to eat, to help her cool off."

One yuan was quite a lot; it could buy a lot of ice cream.

Song Yunjin beamed: "Is there a share for me?"

In the middle of summer, he wanted to eat ice cream too!

"Yes, but don't you two eat it too fast, be careful of getting a stomachache," Aunt Song cautioned.

"Got it!"

Song Yunjin finished his rice in a few bites, took the cloth bag, and went to the supply and marketing cooperative to deliver the food.

……

Seeing the meat slices in the aluminum lunch box, Lin Zhao said: "Why is there meat? I told you that meat was for you all to eat; wouldn't it be fragrant to make red-braised pork? Uncle and Aunt could definitely eat an extra half-bowl of rice."

"My mom was afraid of eating too much rice, so she didn't make it," Song Yunjin said half-jokingly.

Lin Zhao ate a slice of meat; the surface was charred yellow and a bit crispy, not oily at all, which suited her taste perfectly.

She raised her eyes: "Is the grain at home running low?"

"If it's not enough, I can help buy some at the brigade."

When it came to buying grain, it was easier to buy in the countryside than in the city; the countryside would be distributing grain soon, and every household would be a bit better off.

Even if she couldn't buy any, there was still plenty in her storage ring.

"We just bought some," Song Yunjin replied. Hearing the meaning in Lin Zhao's words, his eyes lit up, and he lowered his voice: "Sister, can you buy some?"

"I can, it's a small matter. If you're short in the future, just come find me," Lin Zhao said, full of confidence.

"Alright, I'll come find you when we're short again," Song Yunjin agreed directly.

His parents definitely wouldn't let his sister suffer a loss.

"Sister, my mom was afraid you'd get overheated, so she brewed you some chrysanthemum tea. My mom said it's some new recipe; there isn't much chrysanthemum, but she added rock sugar. You try it first, and if you don't like it, I'll drink it for you."

The siblings had always done this kind of thing since they were little; they were very familiar with it.

Lin Zhao nodded, unscrewed the cap, took a small sip, and felt the taste was alright: "Not bad, thank Aunt for me, and tell her her new recipe is a success."

Song Yunjin was extremely happy, as if he himself had been praised.

"Mm."

After Lin Zhao finished her meal, seeing that her little cousin wasn't planning to leave, she looked over with a surprised expression.

Responding to her was the young man's sunny, clean smile.

"My mom told me to keep you company for a while."

"I'll go buy ice cream in a bit."

Lin Zhao's smile was warm: "Aunt is really good to me."

Song Yunjin felt it was only natural, his gaze bright and sincere: "Little Aunt is good to us too."

During those three years, at the most difficult time, the county's grain supply stopped, the grain jar hit the bottom, and there was nothing to eat at home. The whole family was so hungry they drank water frantically, and his dad even considered taking them back to the countryside to dig for wild vegetables to make a living.

At the critical moment, Little Aunt carried grain over and even brought a few pieces of wild game.

Seeing him so hungry his eyes were staring blankly, Little Aunt stuffed pancakes and dried meat into his hands.

He would never forget the taste of that dried meat for the rest of his life.

It was delicious!

Lin Zhao made a request: "I want red bean flavor."

"I know." Song Yunjin smiled mysteriously, the little person in his heart lifting its feet and swinging them, feeling very smug. He had discovered it long ago... his sister liked red bean flavor the most when eating ice cream.

He turned his head to look at Wang Ju, his voice carrying the clear, high-pitched tone unique to a young man.

"Sister Wang Ju, I need to borrow your bicycle in a bit. I'll buy you a popsicle as a thank-you gift. What flavor do you like?"

Wang Ju looked up at him, then quickly lowered her head, her voice tiny: "... Anything is fine."

"Alright." Then red bean it is.

Lin Zhao discovered a small pattern: the fewer people there were, the easier it was for Comrade Wang Ju to get nervous.

When so many people from the investigation team came, she was actually fine.

It was truly miraculous.

Speaking of buying ice cream, Lin Zhao couldn't help but associate it with South Street, and thus naturally thought of the Land and Property Ownership Certificate she had drawn a few days ago.

She pondered for a moment, then suddenly spoke: "Yunjin, do me a favor."

The weather was stuffy, and on top of having nothing to do, Song Yunjin was almost nodding off, but the moment his sister spoke, he instantly became spirited.

"What favor?"

Lin Zhao beckoned to him.

The young man zipped over to the counter, tilted his head, and offered his right ear, his eyes bright.

"Help me go to East Street and see what the situation is with that courtyard on the far right," Lin Zhao said. "If no one is living in that courtyard, help me ask around at the neighborhood committee to see who the owner of that courtyard is."

Song Yunjin's eyes were filled with confusion: "Sister, why are you asking about a courtyard? You don't want to buy it, do you? I heard some houses have been confiscated."

"Don't worry about that for now, just help me ask around, and I'll tell you once I'm sure." Lin Zhao had also heard about houses being confiscated, which made her realize she couldn't delay any longer.

The cubs' dad picked her up from work right on time, so she had no time to ask around and could only entrust Yunjin to make the trip.

"Alright, I'm going then." Song Yunjin didn't ask any more questions.

Just as he was about to leave, Lin Zhao called him back and stuffed a bag of candy into his hand: "For handling business."

Song Yunjin had originally planned to rely on his thick skin and glib tongue to get information, but with the candy his sister gave him, it would truly be a breeze.

"With this candy, I can find out anything!"

His departing back was quite confident.