Siheyuan: The Era of Struggle

Chapter 446 Closing the Case

"Lingling, what did you say? Change cities? Which city?"

Zhu Yonggui released Wan Lingling from his arms, stared at her intently, and said with a look of shock on his face.

It's no wonder Zhu Yonggui was shocked. This is not the time when everything is convenient like in later years. Right now, it's extremely difficult for individuals to even take a long trip, let alone change cities.

Wan Lingling seemed to have planned this all along. Upon hearing Zhu Yonggui's question, she replied without hesitation:
"Let's go to Guangzhou first, and then we'll figure out how to get to Hong Kong."

Zhu Yonggui seemed to think he had misheard. As soon as Wan Lingling finished speaking, he couldn't help but raise his voice to confirm, "Hong Kong? You said you want to go to Hong Kong?"

"Brother Zhu, please keep your voice down."

Wan Lingling rolled her eyes at Zhu Yonggui, then glanced out the window a few times to make sure no one was outside before turning her head and whispering, "Yes, let's go to Hong Kong and start our lives anew."

Having received a definite answer, Zhu Yonggui was momentarily dazed. He stared at Wan Lingling in front of him, feeling both familiar and unfamiliar.

The prostitutes from Yixiangyuan in the Eight Great Hutongs ran away to Hong Kong.

To be honest, these two events tonight were more shocking to Zhu Yonggui than the last. He could understand that Wan Lingling was sold into prostitution when she was young and powerless to resist, but he found it hard to accept that she was going to Hong Kong.

Putting aside whether they could even make it across, even if they safely reached Hong Kong, they had neither education nor any skills, and they were completely unfamiliar with the place and its people. How were they supposed to survive?

Seeing Zhu Yonggui staring blankly at her without saying a word for a long time, Wan Lingling knew he had concerns, so she began to describe the wonderful life she had experienced after going to Hong Kong.

Zhu Yonggui wasn't a child. It was true that he liked Wan Lingling, but he wouldn't just agree to go to Hong Kong on a whim without thinking. Putting aside the long distance, how to solve the problems of food, drink, and sanitation once he got to Hong Kong would be a major issue.

After talking for a while, seeing that Zhu Yonggui still remained silent, Wan Lingling was somewhat displeased, but on her face she put on a cautious expression and said:

"Brother Zhu, do you regret choosing to be with me, or do you not want to go to Hong Kong? If you regret being with me, I won't blame you... I..."

At this point, Wan Lingling stopped talking, picked up the towel on the bed, covered her face, and began to sob softly again.

Zhu Yonggui was in a state of confusion and didn't know what to do. Seeing Wan Lingling wiping away tears again, he quickly comforted her:
"Lingling, don't overthink it. I don't regret being with you, nor do I not want to go to Hong Kong with you. I'm just wondering how we're going to get there, and how we'll live in a place where we don't know anyone."

After hearing Zhu Yonggui's words, Wan Lingling put down the towel in her hand and said pitifully:
“Brother Zhu, I’ve already found out. We’ll find someone to make two fake letters of introduction to go to Guangzhou first. Once we get there, we’ll pay someone to take us there.”

Zhu Yonggui originally thought that Wan Lingling's idea of ​​going to Hong Kong was a spur-of-the-moment decision, but he never expected that she had already made full preparations. He guessed that she had probably even arranged the most important thing for going out, the letter of introduction.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yonggui also considered going to Hong Kong to try his luck and see what it was like, so he couldn't help but tentatively ask:
"Where do we get fake letters of introduction? Once we get to Guangzhou, where do we find someone to take us to Hong Kong?"

When Wan Lingling saw that Zhu Yonggui had relented, a look of joy instantly appeared on her face.

"Brother Zhu, don't worry, I've already found out all that. I can get the letter of introduction from someone at Xiaoshi near Tianqiao. As for the people in Guangzhou who run errands to Hong Kong, I also have their addresses."

Is that person who runs a courier service in Hong Kong reliable? How did you meet him?

Although Zhu Yonggui's words were full of doubt, Wan Lingling was not angry at all. Instead, she patiently explained:
"It's quite a coincidence. Two years ago, one of my friends ran away to Hong Kong with someone. A couple of days ago, she asked someone to send me a letter. It was after reading the letter that I had the idea of ​​going to Hong Kong to start over."

After saying that, as if afraid that Zhu Yonggui wouldn't believe him, he immediately got up and took out a letter from the drawer of the desk by the window. Zhu Yonggui wasn't highly educated, but he had learned some characters through the factory's literacy class, so reading a letter quickly wasn't a problem for him.

He took the letter from Wan Lingling, glanced at the address on the envelope, and seeing that it was mailed from Guangzhou, opened the envelope and took out the letter inside to read.

The letter contained little content; aside from describing the beauty of Hong Kong, the rest expressed the hope that Wan Lingling could go there and live with them.

Although Kyoto is currently the capital city and the economic and political center, it still lags behind Hong Kong in terms of quality of life and level of development.

After reading the letter, Zhu Yonggui thought about the lives of the people in Hong Kong described in the letter, and his determination to sneak away there became even stronger.

After Zhu Yonggui and Wan Lingling reached a consensus to sneak away to Hong Kong, they began to discuss their life plans there.

Although Wan Lingling and her sister described Hong Kong as exceptionally beautiful in their letter, Zhu Yonggui and Wan Lingling were not three-year-olds; they knew that money was essential no matter where one lived.

The two of them took out all their money, which came to more than 3,400 yuan. It seemed like a lot, but after deducting the travel expenses and smuggling fees, there was hardly anything left.

After Zhu Yonggui and Wan Lingling finished calculating the accounts, their faces showed serious expressions. Although they had never been to Hong Kong, they knew that it was impossible to live in an unfamiliar place without money. Not to mention buying a house or land, just the daily expenses for food, drink and sanitation would cost a lot.

If they can't find work quickly after they get there, the two of them might end up sleeping on the streets and starving.

After considering all the options, no matter how they calculated it, the money was still not enough. Zhu Yonggui gritted his teeth and took the lead in expressing his thoughts.

"If all else fails, I'll just tinker with the things at home and sell whatever I can."

Upon hearing this, Wan Lingling pondered for a moment, then frowned and said, "Brother Zhu, I think it's best not to sell our family's things. That would be too much of a commotion, and it would be troublesome if it aroused suspicion."

"What should we do then? If we don't sell our belongings, where will we find the money in the short term?"

Upon hearing Wan Lingling deny his idea, Zhu Yonggui raised his hand and vigorously rubbed his face.

"I still have some jewelry hidden away. If I really can't raise the money, I'll take it out and sell it. Anyway, no matter what, I must go to Hong Kong."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yonggui felt as if his heart had been squeezed tightly. Although he didn't say anything, he was determined to find a way to get the money and absolutely not let Wan Lingling sell those jewelry pieces.

Ever since they made their decision that night, Wan Lingling and Zhu Yonggui have been preparing to go to Hong Kong while also trying to raise money from all sorts of sources.

Zhu Yonggui, an ordinary citizen, had no way to make money. After thinking it over and over again, he had no other choice but to focus his attention on the parts and metal raw materials in the factory.

After listening to Zhu Yonggui's story, He Yuanchao, Li Jiefang, and Ding Liangcai all felt some sympathy for him and Wan Lingling, but the theft of factory property and the writing of threatening letters still had to be dealt with.

With things starting to look promising, He Yuanchao didn't rush to ask any more questions. After all, Zhu Yonggui was from the First Factory, and it was better to let his own people handle this matter.

Ding Liangcai understood the look in He Yuanchao's eyes, nodded gratefully, and spoke first.

(End of this chapter)