Outside the door, wearing jeans and a hoodie, Bai Shutong stood with her arms crossed, observing Zhang Xiaoshan, who sat on the bed with a cryptic smile on her lips.
A popular term nowadays is "small-town striver."
It refers to "soone born in a small place, who buries themselves in study, excels at exams, but ultimately becos a corporate drone, working 996 hours, unable to return to their hotown or settle in the city, leading a diocre life, and living in constant anxiety under imnse social pressure."
However, there are also a few "small-town strivers" who don’t dwell on lanting their unlucky fate; they actively analyze and sort through their past to seek a way out.
She was a journalist, even a renowned "golden pen," and had always wanted to do an interview report on a similar topic.
Zhang Xiaoshan before her, wasn’t he an excellent choice?
He was born in a small mountain village, attended a prestigious dical school, returned to the village for his beloved, but was betrayed over a dowry of tens of thousands of yuan, and eventually succeeded in becoming a civil servant and even started his own business, living a more comfortable life than many his age.
She keenly sensed that there was much to explore in Zhang Xiaoshan’s story.
Maybe the biggest gain from her trip was the still drowsy Zhang Xiaoshan before her.
"So early in the morning, are you sick or sothing?"
Zhang Xiaoshan yawned and cursed at Bai Shutong as he sat up in bed.
After what happened yesterday morning, their relationship had grown much closer, and the way they spoke to each other had changed.
"I’m going back today. Pack up a little and see off, we leave this afternoon."
"Oh, alright, but why only leave in the afternoon?"
Zhang Xiaoshan was a bit confused.
"Aren’t you in a hurry? Otherwise, I can just take you now."
"Aren’t you tired? Go back to sleep," she said.
With that, Bai Shutong left.
Zhang Xiaoshan was baffled. Since when had the decisive Journalist Bai beco so easy-going?
Without too much thought, he went back to sleep again.
anwhile, Bai Shutong took her interview equipnt to Wu Xiaoru’s house.
At ho, there was only Wu Xiaoru herself.
She was standing in the courtyard hanging up freshly washed bed sheets.
After all, Wu Xiaoru was a village girl, dressed simply and plainly, though her facial features were delicate.
Bai Shutong observed Wu Xiaoru, pondering silently.
"This girl has good looks. It’s no wonder Xu Jing said Zhang Xiaoshan was so devoted to her back then."
"But, Zhang Xiaoshan doesn’t seem like a simple, honest man. Could there be another reason for the Wu family’s cancelled engagent?"
"You, who are you?"
Wu Xiaoru, who was about to go in and take a nap after hanging the bed sheets, suddenly noticed a beautiful stranger staring at her at the door, which made her sowhat flustered.
"Hello, I am a friend of Zhang Xiaoshan," Bai Shutong moved into the courtyard and introduced herself.
"His friend?"
Wu Xiaoru was taken aback.
"Then, why are you at my house?"
"Hehe, don’t be nervous. I am a journalist, and I want to interview you about your story with Zhang Xiaoshan."
"Ah, an interview, interview?"
Wu Xiaoru suddenly beca frantic.
Waving her hands repeatedly.
"No, no, I, I..."
Bai Shutong had already prepared for this before she ca.
"Don’t worry, I won’t take your picture, we won’t record any video, just a spoken conversation."
"When I report it, I will use a pseudonym. I won’t expose any of your personal information."
"Then?"
Wu Xiaoru hesitated for a mont.
Bai Shutong feigned empathy as she spoke.
"Don’t worry, I’ve only just t Zhang Xiaoshan myself. I won’t take his side; I only respect facts. Moreover, many people out there are actually very open-minded. Perhaps, if you had chosen to break up with Zhang Xiaoshan from the beginning, a lot of people would stand by your side. You can boldly speak out your mind. It doesn’t necessarily an that you are in the wrong. Everyone has their independent thinking."
"If you have been wronged, I can help you get justice."
Upon hearing this, Wu Xiaoru stood in place, hesitating.
Her heart, too, was struggling.
Yes, she wanted to pursue a better life; what was wrong with that? Maybe her values would be accepted by others as well.
By then, Zhang Xiaoshan might just be criticized harshly.
Everyone wants recognition, and Wu Xiaoru was no exception.
"Well, okay then."
She led Bai Shutong into the house.
After pouring Bai Shutong a glass of water, the two of them sat down.
"Could you tell in detail about your story with Zhang Xiaoshan?"
Bai Shutong took out a recording pen.
Wu Xiaoru had been feeling repressed these days, so she just poured out the whole history of her relationship with Zhang Xiaoshan in one go.
Bai Shutong beca more and more engrossed as she listened.
Wasn’t Zhang Xiaoshan just like herself during her university years?
.....
Wu Damming and Zhang Yulian had been tossing and turning all night.
By nearly noon, they were still wrapped in each other’s arms.
"Yulian, you’re really sothing. It’s so comfortable being with you. When we get back to the village, let’s do this a couple more tis," Wu Damming said, sowhat excitedly.
Last night, he had managed to perform impressively, although he couldn’t compare to his younger days, he had been a real man twice.
Maybe it was because of Jia Lanhua’s high demands that caused him pressure, always making it hard to perform, or maybe it was the special relationship with Zhang Yulian that gave him ntal support. In any case, he was very satisfied with last night.
Zhang Yulian seed like a wheat seedling that had drunk its fill of water.
Today she was exceptionally radiant and her complexion was excellent.
Her words, too, had beco shaless.
"You old devil, dreaming pretty dreams, aren’t you? Aren’t you afraid of being discovered by Da Qiang? He’ll fight you to the death," she said.
"Heh, what’s there to be afraid of? He only cos back once or twice a year; we just have to be careful, right?"
"Heh heh, I’m feeling it again. Let’s do it one more ti," said Wu Damming, beginning to make his move again.
Zhang Yulian tried hard to go along with it.
Midway through their struggle,
"Thump thump thump..."
The door to their room suddenly was pounded forcefully.
At the sa ti, Wu Yong’s anxious shouting ca from outside.
"Mom, hurry down here."
Zhang Yulian was scared out of her wits and pushed Wu Damming away.
Wu Damming also deflated.
"Why, why does he choose neither earlier nor later to co? What a killjoy."
"You old devil, think of sothing quick. If Little Yong catches us like this, how can I show my face to anyone?"
Zhang Yulian was so ashad she wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
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