“What happened then?”

Xia Xiaolan discovered that Ge Jian had quite a talent for storytelling.

“The envelope probably contained money, but Xia Hongxia seemed afraid to take it. She chased after the person with the envelope and returned it.”

Oh?

Refusing money!

The people seeking out Xia Hongxia’s family must have made some demands that they dared not accept.

Surprisingly, Xia Hongxia had grown somewhat shrewd, not accepting just any money, able to judge situations now.

It was truly the “school of society” that shaped people. Xia Xiaolan’s impression of Xia Hongxia had been that of a fool who could be manipulated by anyone, but after experiencing the world, Xia Hongxia had improved considerably.

Two or three years ago, Xia Hongxia wouldn’t have considered the pros and cons. Lazy but wanting a good life, if someone offered money, she would have taken it without hesitation.

Xia Xiaolan pondered, “Can you tell what they wanted from Xia Hongxia’s family?”

Ge Jian shook his head, “They seemed suspicious, but I haven’t uncovered anything yet. I didn’t want to alert them.”

Ge Jian wanted to know who sent these people.

They hadn’t identified the mastermind yet, and if they arrested the messenger, they’d lose this lead.

Xia Xiaolan agreed with his approach. Since Xia Hongxia hadn’t accepted the money, no agreement had been reached, and the messenger would need to report back to their employer about failing the task.

“Keep watching, I’m curious too.”

It would be better if they knew what they wanted from Xia Hongxia.

It was good enough that Ge Jian could monitor Xia Hongxia’s family’s movements; he couldn’t possibly know their private conversations. They weren’t important enough to warrant surveillance equipment.

That would be like killing a chicken with a cattle knife.

Xia Xiaolan always handled things directly and forcefully – rather than endless speculation, why not just ask Xia Hongxia directly?

She ruled out Xia Hongbing and Wang Jingui. Even though they’d left their hometown for Pengcheng, at their age, their mindsets had become fixed – they might not be as clear-headed as Xia Hongxia.

But Xia Hongxia was worth meeting.

If others went to see her, Xia Hongxia might still say nothing. Someone who wouldn’t even take money wouldn’t be easily swayed.

Xia Xiaolan decided to meet her personally.

The opportunity wasn’t hard to find. Xia Hongxia sold boxed meals to small vendors, manual laborers, and many construction workers.

Her stall had no fixed location – she could go anywhere in Pengcheng. As a mobile vendor, she had to keep moving, playing cat and mouse with the industrial, commercial, and sanitation authorities.

Various construction sites, People’s Bridge Small Goods Market, and produce markets were all her territory.

Indeed, Xia Hongxia often sold boxed meals at People’s Bridge Small Goods Market.

But Xia Xiaolan had studied abroad for a year and barely managed the building materials store. Liu Yong was also busy, so they hadn’t run into Xia Hongxia there.

Wanting to meet her but afraid of alerting anyone, Xia Xiaolan chose the small goods market.

Today, after Xia Hongxia had sold most of her food, a salesperson from Anjia Building Materials Store approached:

“Any boxed meals left? Send a few to our store!”

“Yes, yes, you can choose your dishes.”

The salesperson bought over a dozen boxed meals, making Xia Hongxia beam with joy. When they said it was too much to carry, of course, she offered to help deliver.

She wanted her mother Wang Jingui to deliver them, but Wang Jingui was trying to slack off after working for a while, dawdling reluctantly.

With the customer’s urging, Xia Hongxia couldn’t argue with her mother in public, so she had to carry the meals herself with a forced smile.

This was why those with regular jobs looked down on individual vendors – how could you make money running a small stall without putting on a pleasant face? Xia Hongxia didn’t understand at first, but after being a vendor for so long, she’d naturally learned.

The salesperson led her to the building materials store and pointed upstairs:

“Most go downstairs, take two boxes up.”

“Ah, alright!”

Though it was a building materials store, there wasn’t a speck of dust. The floor tiles below shone like mirrors, making Xia Hongxia feel self-conscious.

She carried the meals upstairs, where a group of salespeople had gathered to listen to someone lecture.

That person… was none other than Xia Xiaolan.

Xia Hongxia wanted to flee, but her feet seemed glued to the spot.

She was terrified!

Remembering seeing Xia Xiaolan at the police station, her legs went weak.

When Xia Xiaolan glanced at her, Xia Hongxia felt even more paralyzed.

“Alright, everyone go down for lunch. We’ll continue another time.”

Xia Xiaolan clapped her hands. The salespeople were reluctant – it was rare to have Director Xia teach personally.

But being salespeople, they had good intuition. When Xia Xiaolan told them to leave, how could they stay?

Xia Hongxia wanted to run too, but Xia Xiaolan hadn’t dismissed her.

Instead, Xia Xiaolan sat down, “Long time no see, please sit!”

Xia Hongxia trembled, thinking Xia Xiaolan had seen her selling boxed meals and deliberately called her here to humiliate and mock her!

She wanted to throw the boxed meal in Xia Xiaolan’s face.

But she only dared think it, hesitantly sitting down.

Only half her bottom touched the chair, ready to flee at any moment.

Xia Xiaolan opened the boxed meal and started eating.

Street vendor meals used coarse rice, and roughly cut vegetables, without concern for presentation. Heavy on salt and oil – just what manual laborers who bought boxed meals preferred.

Of course, the portions were generous.

Xia Xiaolan ate while evaluating.

Xia Hongxia stared in disbelief, never expecting Xia Xiaolan to eat the boxed meal.

Was this Xia Xiaolan?

How rich must Xia Xiaolan be now – even the store staff obeyed her, perhaps she owned this big store too.

Such a big store… if she had Xia Xiaolan’s money, why eat street vendor boxed meals? She’d surely feast on delicacies every day.

“You—”

Xia Hongxia couldn’t help but want to ask what Xia Xiaolan was up to.

But Xia Xiaolan pushed another boxed meal toward her:

“Aren’t you eating? I see you haven’t had lunch yet. I’ve already paid for this meal, let me treat you.”

Most people wouldn’t be able to eat in this situation.

But who was Xia Hongxia? She used to argue with Xia Xiaolan all the time.

True, Xia Xiaolan had paid for it – why shouldn’t she eat?

Eating more would be taking advantage of Xia Xiaolan!

Xia Hongxia fiercely shoveled rice into her mouth – even if Xia Xiaolan meant to kill her, she’d die with a full stomach!

Xia Xiaolan barely held back her laughter.

“Don’t choke yourself. Relax, I didn’t call you here to humiliate you, nor do I plan to make things difficult for you. Xia Hongxia, think carefully – we don’t have any major grievances, do we?”

It wasn’t Xia Hongxia who stole her boyfriend.

It wasn’t Xia Hongxia who prevented her from taking the college entrance exam.

And naturally, it wasn’t Xia Hongxia who forced “Xia Xiaolan’s” death.

Among cousins in the same family, some were very close, others never got along. Xia Hongxia and the former “Xia Xiaolan” were the latter.

Kicking someone when they’re down, speaking sour words, being used as a pawn – these were things Xia Hongxia had done.

But beyond that, no matter how envious Xia Hongxia felt, she didn’t have the wit to plot against Xia Xiaolan.

Those past matters hardly counted as major grievances. Even with the former “Xia Xiaolan,” Xia Hongxia hadn’t gained any real advantage.

Not to mention that before Director Xia, whenever this fool tried anything, she immediately suffered for it.