Mixed in 1980

Chapter 476 One Wave After Another

After the video was released, Zhou Jingshu gave a helpless, bitter smile.

He looked at Chen Yanche and said, "Once things are over here, I'll hide away for a while and I'll never show my face until I'm completely forgotten."

"Let's go farming together?" Chen Yanche raised an eyebrow.

Zhou Jingshu nodded and said, "No problem. Wherever you go, I'll go. We'll go to Hong Kong in a while. You'll take over the Chinatown supermarket, and I'll take over Starlight Investment."

"Then it's settled!" Chen Yanche nodded.

Looking at the old room, he said, "When we return to Beijing in a few days, we'll find a designer to come and tear this place down and rebuild it. Then your parents will have a place to stay when they go back to their hometown to visit relatives."

Zhou Jingshu nodded and said, "Alright, the place is quite big. It would be a waste to build only one floor. If we build three and a half floors, we might be able to get it demolished later."

After discussing the matter, the two went to bed early.

After settling down, the two naturally moved in together. However, they have a lot of things to do recently and plan to hold the wedding during the Spring Festival.

The next day, Niu Zhuang rode his motorcycle back, looking travel-worn.

From a distance, Zhou Jingshu took out her phone to take pictures, carefully capturing the motorcycle and the flag stuck on the back of it in the frame.

After introducing themselves and exchanging pleasantries, everyone went inside to chat. The topic they talked about most was Niu Zhuang's trip, during which he traveled all over Fujian before returning.

Unfortunately, there are still no clues.

"Son, if you haven't found someone yet, stop for now. I told you this last time in southern Fujian: settle down, get married first, and then look for someone later," Yang Fusheng comforted him.

Niu Zhuang took out a cigarette and lit it: "Uncle, we'll talk about it later. I really like this kind of life, traveling around and seeing different things. It's very fulfilling, really."

“You’re already twenty-seven. You can’t delay any longer. It will be harder to find a partner if you wait until you’re thirty,” Yang Fusheng said, frowning.

Niu Zhuang took a deep drag on his cigarette: "Uncle, I know, but if I don't go out and stay in one place, I feel empty and restless."

Zhou Jingshu held up her phone and filmed: "Brother Niu Zhuang, I'm filming it all. I'll post it online for you later and ask netizens to help us find it. Maybe we can find some clues."

"Jing Shu, thank you!"

"Don't be so polite, we're all family. Brother Niu Zhuang, please introduce yourself, share your childhood memories, and tell us about your search for your family."

"Okay!" Niu Zhuang stubbed out his cigarette.

After a moment of hesitation, she began to recount her background and memories before she was abducted, and then talked about her experiences at her adoptive parents' home.

“Things changed drastically after my adoptive parents had a younger brother. They treated me like trash. I was so afraid they would abandon me.”

"I was really abandoned when I was seven years old."

“My adoptive father took me to a completely unfamiliar place on his motorcycle and told me to find my biological parents myself. Then he rode away.”

"I was really scared at that time."

"I could only follow my memory and find my way back. It took me two whole days. I was exhausted and hungry, and my feet were covered in blisters."

"When I got home, it started raining heavily again."

“I called out from outside, but they wouldn’t open the door. So, in the pouring rain, I huddled under the eaves and endured the whole night.”

"Later, the neighbors couldn't stand it anymore."

“They told my adoptive parents, ‘You spent money to buy him, you’ve already spent all that money, you can’t let it go to waste, right? Keep him, he can help you take care of your child.’”

"When he grows up, he can work and earn money. Let's keep him. When he grows up, we can earn back the money we spent on him and give him a way to make a living."

"And so, I was left behind."

“From then on, they didn’t treat me like a human being. They treated me like a beast of burden, and if I offended them even slightly, they would beat me up.”

"When I grow up, it will be the same. Most of the money I earn will have to be handed over to my family."

"Until 2014."

“I met my uncle on the road. He told me that all parents look for their children, and my parents were no exception.”

"So, apart from a cell phone and a motorcycle, I didn't bring anything else. I just followed my uncle and we searched for our relatives together."

Three years have passed.

“We go out to search for half a year each year, doing odd jobs along the way, until we run out of money, then we come back to work, save up enough money to set off again.”

"Although I haven't found it yet, I always feel that I will definitely find it. Every time I'm on the road, I feel hopeful, fulfilled, and that it's very meaningful."

……

The video went viral quickly after it was released.

Zhou Jingshu's account already had a large following, and the topic of child trafficking was inherently sensational, resulting in numerous likes and comments from netizens, as well as reposts and comments from many bloggers.

"What a wonderful child, ruined by human traffickers." "His adoptive parents deserve to die even more; they couldn't treat the child well. What were they doing buying him?"

"Raise your hand if you support the principle of 'the same crime for both buying and selling'!"

“Severely punish the human traffickers, severely punish Niu Zhuang’s adoptive parents, and let me tell you something: I know Niu Zhuang and have already called the police on his behalf.”

The topic quickly gained traction.

Two days later, Zhou Jingshu released another video, in which Niu Zhuang rode a motorcycle and embarked on another journey to find his relatives.

"I wanted to invite Brother Niu Zhuang to live in Beijing with me, but he chose to continue searching for his relatives."

"He always said that only on the road can there be hope, and only then can one feel truly alive."

“Brother Niu Zhuang said he will travel from Leshan to Beijing, where we will meet. I hope everything goes well for him and that he finds his biological parents.”

"Brother Niu Zhuang has opened a Douyin account. If you have any good news, you can send him a private message or contact the police. Thank you!"

The visuals repeat, accompanied by the music "Blue Lotus".

Niu Zhuang's life is still on the road, while Zhou Jingshu's account has fallen silent. After settling her parents in Beijing, she went to the countryside with Chen Yanche.

They are no strangers to rural areas.

When they were children, Xu Jinqiu would take them to the countryside during summer vacation, especially Chen Yanche, who spent all three of his summer vacations in high school in the poorest mountainous areas.

"Fourth sister, I'm so bored!"

Xie Yun turned off the game and put down her phone: "How about we take down the couplets? With those things hanging there, no normal person would dare to come in."

Chen Yanyin crossed her legs and twirled her prayer beads: "No normal person would spend money to buy things in our shop. Didn't I say so earlier? We might not have made any business for three years, but once we do, we'll live off our profits for three years."

"The money you made on opening day is enough for you to live on for three years. You just need to keep an eye on the store, and there will always be some curious suckers who will come in."

Hearing this, Xie Yun rolled her eyes: "Fourth Sister, your mentality is wrong. They are customers, how come they are being taken advantage of by you? You are doing business sincerely."

"it's the same!"

Chen Yanyin stretched and got up to leave: "I'm going back. You can watch the shop. If you feel bored, you can leave early."

"I've never seen anyone like you."

Xie Yun was both amused and exasperated. She escorted Chen Yanyin to the door and was about to go inside when two unsuspecting customers—no, two clients—truly showed up at her door.

One person was holding a camera and taking pictures, while the other kept talking nonstop.

It's obvious that she's a live streamer.

She might even be an internet celebrity.

Xie Yun stopped them, took out the sign, and pointed to the words on it: "Excuse me, but photography is prohibited in our store."

"Why can't we film?" the female anchor asked curiously.

"Sorry, it's the boss's rule."

The female anchor then said, "Beautiful lady, can't you make an exception? My account has 800 million followers, and there are over 10 people watching my live stream."

"If we let you in to film, it will definitely bring you a lot of traffic."

"Sorry, it's the boss's rule that we don't need data. If you want to come in, please turn off your phones first," Xie Yun replied with a smile.

"Could I ask your boss?"

"No!" Xie Yun shook her head.

"That's it!"

The female anchor turned and walked away, but after a few steps she said, "Family members, we've been looked down upon. They refused a huge amount of traffic. They're really tough."

"I'm genuinely curious."

"Look at that couplet: 'Many pits in the rocks, we'll pit as many as we can; lazy people, few goods, we'll keep operating as long as we can.' Family members, aren't you curious?"

"The more you forbid me from taking pictures, the more I want to take them."

"Family members, please give this post a thumbs up. If we get more than 2000 million likes, we'll get our equipment on board and investigate for you to see just how much of a rip-off this store is."

In an instant, the screen was filled with likes.

Many people are sending gifts like crazy. People are naturally curious, especially about the words written on the couplets. No matter how you look at it, it doesn't seem like a legitimate business.

The number of likes quickly surpassed 2000 million. The female anchor said, "I'm going offline to switch devices first. Everyone, don't leave. Today I'll show you just how much of a rip-off this store is."

(End of this chapter)