"How about this, I'll pick you up tomorrow morning, and pick someone up along the way."
Xie Yan agreed and said, "Where should I wait for you?"
"Wait for me outside the small shop next to Gongti around eight o'clock."
"Yes, I understand."
The next morning, it was drizzling. Chang Cheng drove the Lexus and Wen Liang sat in the passenger seat. There was a slight traffic jam on the road, and it was already 8:15 when they arrived at Gongti. From a distance, they saw Xie Yan standing at the door of the store. He was wearing an ordinary shirt with white stripes and washed jeans. Although they were not expensive, they were clean and fit him well, just like a tall little poplar. His refreshing appearance attracted many passers-by to look back.
The car slowly stopped, Wen Liang opened the window, and said with a smile: "You must be waiting impatiently, come in and sit in the back seat."
"No, I just got here too." Xie Yan got in the car and first greeted Chang Cheng politely, then asked Wen Liang, "Where are we going?"
"Go to jail!"
"Ah?" Xie Yan was surprised and asked, "Prison?"
"I'm going to pick up a friend who's going to be released from prison today." Wen Liang said leisurely, "You've met her before, but I don't know if you still remember her."
Qingzhou Women's Prison is located in Yangshilibao Village, more than 30 kilometers away from Qingzhou City. The name of this village is quite interesting. During the Anti-Japanese War, it was an abandoned barren mountain with the remains of the garrison during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. At that time, a unit of the National Army retreated from the front line. It was dark and lost, and was about to be caught up and annihilated by the enemy. Suddenly, a white sheep appeared, and then led the troops all the way here, avoiding a massacre. Later, it was named Yangshilibao Village, and slowly gathered a lot of people. After several population migrations after the founding of the People's Republic of China, the women's prison was also located here. It was no longer the old appearance, but became prosperous.
Chang Cheng parked the Lexus on the side of the road directly opposite the prison's iron gate entrance, pointed at a black Audi on the other side of the road, and said with a smile: "Hey, what day is today? How come someone came earlier than us?"
Wen Liang looked in the direction of his hand and saw a black Audi with a Qingzhou license plate, but he didn't know who the person was. At this moment, the car door opened and a man got out holding an umbrella. He leaned against the front of the car and looked at the prison gate. It was Mu Zechen with a frown on his face.
"He's here too..." Wen Liang sighed. Although he hadn't expected this, it was reasonable for him to do so. He said, "It seems that it won't be that easy for us to get this person today."
Xie Yan was curious all the way, but since Wen Liang didn't say anything, she was too embarrassed to ask. Chang Cheng seemed to have telepathy and turned his head and said, "You're curious, right?"
Xie Yan was nervous and shy except when facing Wen Liang. He was calm and confident with other people. He nodded and smiled, "Yes, a little..."
Chang Cheng followed Wen Liang not too long ago, but he also made up for the past struggles and was familiar with many things. He said, "The woman I met today is a very powerful one. She used to be an enemy of the boss. They fought to the death, but the boss always cherishes women and wanted to recruit her. But who would have thought that not everyone is as discerning as me, Chang. She just didn't agree and stayed in prison for a year or two. Today is the day she is released from prison, and the boss came to show his courtesy..."
If it wasn't inconvenient in the car, Wen Liang would have kicked him. How come such a civilized thing sounded so vulgar when it came out of Chang Cheng's mouth
"Don't you want this month's salary?"
Chang Cheng curled his lips, winked at Xie Yan, and lip-synced with the words "Wen Baopi". Then he said awkwardly, "Isn't this what classmate Xie asked? I was just explaining..."
Xie Yan thought Chang Cheng was quite funny. Although his appearance gave people a sense of oppression full of power, his words were very interesting. He covered his mouth and smiled, "Yes, thank you, Brother Chang."
As he was speaking, the iron gate of the prison opened with a crash, and a woman still wearing spring clothes stepped over the threshold and walked out slowly towards the raindrops falling from the sky.
Eyes are bright and moist like autumn water, eyebrows are painted like distant green mountains,
For many women, a year is just a simple passing of time, but for her, it is like a rebirth!
Xie Yan was slightly shocked because she recognized who the woman was. Her thoughts seemed to go back to that year and that night. In the private room of Yuxiangyuan, she knelt on the ground, being gently protected by Wen Liang behind her. And among that group of high-ranking people, there was such a woman!
No wonder Wen Liang said just now that he had seen her once, it turns out he was talking about her!
Chang Cheng opened his mouth wide and asked, "Boss, she is Qi Shu?"
Wen Liang nodded and looked through the window. This woman who was once famous in Qingzhou had now washed away all her makeup and no longer had her former charm. However, even so, her every move still showed her beauty that could captivate everyone.
Mu Zechen looked delighted, walked over quickly, put the umbrella over Qi Shu's head, and said, "Be careful, don't get wet in the rain."
Qi Shu smiled and said, "Zechen, why are you here?"
Mu Zechen looked at her carefully and said, "What are you talking about? How can I not come on the day you are released from prison? Let's go, take a shower, change clothes, and then have something to eat. It's been so long, you should have forgotten what the Dezhi Yuanyangtong from Ruxiangzhai tastes like, right?"
"The food in prison is okay. It doesn't matter whether you eat these things or not." Qi Shu said calmly, "Zechen, thank you for your kindness!"
Mu Zechen was stunned for a moment, then whispered, "Xiao Shu, when I came here today, Mr. Gu told me that he...he wants to see you."
Qi Shu didn't say anything, but just stretched out his hand, letting the raindrops fall on his palm, closing his eyes and feeling the taste of freedom. After a long while, he turned his head and said softly to Mu Zechen: "Today is the first day I am released from prison. I want to be alone. I will call you another day, and then we can get together again, okay?"
"Xiao Shu, you... wait!"
Qi Shu didn't look back and walked to the side of the road. Mu Zechen looked heavy, and the umbrella in his hand seemed to weigh a thousand gold. Although he knew that Qi Shu was completely disappointed with Gu Shitong because of the past, he always thought that with this year's buffer, maybe the resentment would fade. After all, Mr. Gu was trapped by Wen Huaiming at that time, and he had no choice but to face difficulties.
Just looking at the current situation, Qi Shu actually had no intention of returning to Minghua Group. Mu Zechen didn't want to push her too hard, so he chased after her with an umbrella, and no longer mentioned the meeting with Gu Shitong, saying: "Even if you don't meet Mr. Gu, at least give me a favor and help you arrange a place to stay. Besides, this place is too remote, and it's not easy to take a taxi to Qingzhou..."
Qi Shu stopped, stared at Mu Zechen, and said quietly: "Zechen, are you going to force me too?"
Mu Zechen was speechless for a long time. Thinking about the friendship they had had for so many years, he couldn't say anything more. He stuffed the umbrella into Qi Shu's hand and said in a deep voice, "Okay, I won't bother you today. You can go around and relax. I'll talk to Mr. Gu, but if you encounter any difficulties, you must call me."
Qi Shu nodded, and Mu Zechen turned around and got in the car. When he started the car, he looked through the front window at the thin body of the woman in front of him. A trace of boredom flashed across his eyes, and then he stepped on the accelerator and sped away.
"Follow slowly."
Wen Liang witnessed the scene and knew that Qi Shu didn't want to see any old friends at all, so he told Chang Cheng to follow behind him, but didn't go up to talk. Qi Shu walked around the small Yangshilibao alone with an umbrella. He drank a bowl of porridge in a small restaurant and asked the boss, "Is there a car to Qingzhou?"
"This is unfortunate. There are only two buses to Qingzhou a day. One is at six in the morning, and it's already past that time. The other one is at three in the afternoon, so it's still early."
"Is that so?" Qi Shu was not in a hurry to go back to Qingzhou, but it was boring to sit there and wait until the afternoon, so he said, "Is there a car going to Qingzhou? I can pay double the fare..."
Before he finished speaking, a voice sounded behind him, saying, "I've done this deal. It'll cost you ten yuan to go to Qingzhou. But I'll be honest. Pay the bill first and then get in the car."
A faint smile appeared on Qi Shu's pretty face, and she said, "Mr. Wen, long time no see!" (To be continued)