Back to 1984: Earning Money, Raising Kids, and Keeping the Household Busy

Chapter 40 Confirming Identity
Upon seeing this, the two had no choice but to inform the head of the security department.

“Director, it’s not that we don’t want to get rid of her, but she has been insisting on seeing the principal for over a month now. When we ask her what she wants to see the principal, she can’t say. Just now, when we tried to force her, she actually cried and knelt down to kowtow to us. She looks about the same age as the students at the school. Is there something going on? Perhaps you could ask the principal?”

They were just ordinary security guards, and the other party was a girl; they couldn't afford to take responsibility if something happened to her.

The head of the security department frowned instantly. "Useless!"

As he spoke, he strode out of the school and came to Fang Ying's side. Seeing that she was covered in dirt and her face was full of tears, he finally understood the helplessness of the two security guards. This girl really looked pitiful.

The head of security patiently asked, "Young man, what exactly do you want from our principal? If you have any difficulties, you can tell me! I'll help you solve them!"

Fang Ying held back her tears, looking at him pitifully, before finally speaking timidly, "Are you...a good person?"

Zhao Gaojie chuckled, pointed at himself, and said in a gruff voice, "Me! Zhao Gaojie! I survived the hail of bullets on the battlefield, I have a room full of medals, and you ask me if I'm a good person?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Ying felt as if she had found a savior. She gripped Zhao Gaojie's sleeve tightly with her claw-like hands and burst into tears, "I want to verify a student named Fang Ying at your school. I want to know if she is me?"

Zhao Gaojie was completely confused, and the two security guards behind him were also bewildered.

"Is this girl mentally unstable? I can't understand a single word she's saying?"

Zhao Gaojie frowned and looked Fang Ying up and down. "Come with me to the security office to wash up first, then sit down and explain things clearly."

Fang Ying obediently followed Zhao Gaojie and dutifully washed her face and hands, but her hair was a mess and she couldn't fix it.

After calming down, she handed her household registration booklet to Zhao Gaojie. "My name is Fang Ying. I come from Fangshan Village, Xiawei Town, Anshi City. I took the college entrance examination before, but I didn't pass. Everyone in my village who took the college entrance examination at the same time as me failed. I've already accepted my fate."

A little over a month ago, someone told me that a person named Fang Ying from our Fangshan community was admitted to your school and is studying at a junior college in the provincial capital.

I'm the only one named Fang Ying in our area; there's no one else like me. So I'd like to ask who this Fang Ying who is, and if you could help me.

Zhao Gaojie knew immediately that this was not a simple matter, and immediately instructed the security guards to keep an eye on Fang Ying. "I'm going to the admissions office. What year did you take the college entrance examination?"

"Two years ago," Fang Ying replied hastily.

Zhao Gaojie took her household registration booklet and quickly went to the admissions office.

The admissions director was a middle-aged man with a receding hairline, and he seemed to have a good temper.

Zhao Gaojie leaned closer and said with a serious expression, "Old Zhang, quickly take out the list of students admitted to our school two years ago and find a student named Fang Ying. Get her information and let me see it."

"What's going on?" Old Zhang was a little confused.

Zhao Gaojie shook his head. "It's nothing. I have something to take care of. I need to verify this student's information."

Old Zhang, unsuspecting, immediately found a folder and handed it to Zhao Gaojie. "The admission files from two years ago are all here. This contains basic information. Take a look and see if it's enough. If you need detailed files, you'll have to go to the archives to retrieve them, which requires the principal's approval."

Zhao Gaojie thanked Lao Zhang and took the things to the side to examine them. Upon looking at them, he discovered that all the personal information about Fang Ying on the enrollment information was exactly the same as what the girl in the security room had said!
"Oh no! Old Zhang! Something's happened!" Zhao Gaojie suddenly stood up, his face pale.

That startled Old Zhang.

After Zhao Gaojie explained the situation in detail, Lao Zhang hurriedly followed Zhao Gaojie to the security department to see Fang Ying.

Under their interrogation, Fang Ying barely left out the details, revealing almost everything about her family history. The more Lao Zhang and Zhao Gaojie learned, the more disheartened they became. Realizing the gravity of the situation, they quickly took Fang Ying to see the principal.

After listening to Fang Ying's account, the principal slammed his fist on the table in anger and immediately called the police.

Although everyone present believed Fang Ying's words, the police still needed to verify Fang Ying's identity. For this reason, they made Fang Ying take a shower, clean her up, and took a picture of her.

Meanwhile, they obtained photos of the fake Fang Ying from her roommate and conducted interviews and investigations.

This process takes time.

Zhao Gaojie sympathized with Fang Ying's plight and knew she had nowhere to go, so he pleaded with the principal on her behalf to arrange a single dormitory room for her at the school and also helped her buy some daily necessities.

"Do you have any money left?" Zhao Gaojie asked.

Fang Ying nodded and took out eighteen yuan from her pocket. "I ran away from my family's arranged marriage. A kind person gave me fifty yuan. After I bought a ticket to the provincial capital, I didn't dare to spend money recklessly. I ate one steamed bun and drank one bottle of water every day. This is what I have left."

Zhao Gaojie's pupils dilated, and his brows furrowed. "Then where will you stay tonight?"

I went to the guesthouse that night and begged the owner to let me sleep in the corner of the lobby if I did some work for her for a few hours.

It's hot now, so we'll just make do for now.

Zhao Gaojie knew that the girl in front of him had a tough time, but he didn't expect it to be even more difficult than he imagined.

He didn't say anything, and after helping Fang Ying buy daily necessities, he gave her another twenty yuan.

Fang Ying doesn't want to.

Zhao Gaojie insisted, "Take it! The school doesn't provide meals, and it will take some time to get the results. We can't starve. If you feel bad about it, you can work part-time in the cafeteria. Just go there during mealtimes to help get food."

"Thank you, Director Zhao! Thank you, Director Zhao!" Fang Ying kept bowing.

Zhao Gaojie waved his hand and walked away, seemingly unconcerned.

With Zhao Gaojie's help, Fang Ying was able to settle down at the school. During the day, she would go to the classroom to attend classes. Even if she didn't have any books, it didn't matter, as kind people would always lend them to her.

At noon, she would rush to the window to get food for everyone before get out of class ended.

The principal and several leaders had been secretly observing Fang Ying and, seeing her diligence, hard work, and down-to-earth nature, their impression of her grew better and better.

A week later, the police came to the school again to see the principal.

Zhao Gaojie and Lao Zhang both followed.

The police officer solemnly told everyone the results of the investigation: "Based on the list of teachers and students provided by Comrade Fang Ying, we deliberately avoided her acquaintances in Fangshan Village. After investigation, we confirmed that the person who reported the case was Fang Ying, and the girl studying at your school is named Fang Meixiang, who is the daughter of the village chief of Fangshan Village."

It's quite clear that Fang Meixiang impersonated Fang Ying to gain admission to university, and the victim, Fang Ying, was unaware of this. We have just contacted the local police station in An County to arrest Fang Meixiang. Furthermore, we suspect this is not an isolated case and suggest that the school report it to the police and launch an investigation.

(End of this chapter)