Chapter 78: Repayment

Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Repayment

Su Wan waited for him to change his clothes, then led him to the washbasins. As Liu Shu began to wash, streaks of black grime ran from his hands.

It was a mix of dirt and the stench of sweat.

Su Wan used a towel to wipe his exposed arms and face clean. Liu Shu, embarrassed, took the towel and insisted on wiping the rest of himself.

Though only eight years old, he put on a mature act; even at his young age, he knew enough to be embarrassed.

After hastily wiping himself down, he discreetly sniffed his arm. Only when he was sure the bad smell was gone did he relax.

"Sister, I’m all clean now," Liu Shu said happily, running up to Su Wan.

Su Wan noticed he was wearing sandals, which could be worn again after a quick rinse, so he didn’t need to change them.

The fact that he could afford sandals, coupled with his sturdy arms and calves and the healthy, rosy complexion revealed once he was clean, made it clear why Xu Jianjun and his gang had targeted him. The Liu Family was obviously well-off.

"Good, you look great. Let’s go get some food," Su Wan said, taking his hand and leading him toward the station’s cafeteria.

When they arrived, everyone at the station, aside from the officers on duty, was already in the cafeteria getting their meals.

"Sister-in-law, over here!"

"Comrade Su, right here! I grabbed you two bowls and some chopsticks. Go see what you’d like to get."

The female officer, Qin Yao, and the precinct’s captain, Zhao Cong, saw her and walked over warmly.

Zhao Cong had been Lu Zhengchuan’s comrade-in-arms and had transferred to the police department. On top of that, Lu Zhengchuan was now technically his superior, making him a valuable connection. Naturally, he was eager to be a good host to Su Wan.

"Thank you, Comrade Qin Yao."

"Captain Zhao, please, go eat. I can get some food for myself."

"I can’t do that, Sister-in-law. Before Battalion Commander Lu left, he specifically told me to take good care of you. Besides, you’re pregnant."

"I’ll have Old Song whip something up for you separately."

Zhao Cong’s enthusiasm was overwhelming, but Su Wan disliked the idea of putting him to such trouble and expense. Her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Zhao Cong didn’t notice, but Qin Yao saw it clearly. She straightened her back, shot a look at her captain, and said coolly, "Captain, can’t you see this boy, Liu Shu, is starving? By the time Old Song cooks something special, it’ll be too late."

"Besides, Comrade Su is pregnant. There are a lot of things she shouldn’t eat. Don’t make things more complicated."

Though Qin Yao’s tone was cool, she managed to say it without embarrassing Captain Zhao.

Only then did Zhao Cong notice Su Wan smiling, and he instantly understood that Qin Yao was speaking on her behalf. His heart skipped a beat; he had almost put his foot in it.

"Qin Yao’s right. Sister-in-law, come on, let’s get our food."

Su Wan nodded this time and walked over to the serving line. There was a wide selection of dishes today: braised pork with potatoes, rice with sweet potatoes, steamed corn buns, stir-fried green beans, cucumber and egg soup, stir-fried luffa, and stir-fried snake gourd.

"Little Shu, what do you want to eat?"

Liu Shu’s mouth watered at the sight of the braised pork, but he acted sensibly and pointed to a couple of the vegetable dishes. "I’ll just have the stir-fried luffa and snake gourd, please."

Su Wan nodded and said to the cook, "Please give us a serving of the braised pork with potatoes, the stir-fried green beans, the cucumber and egg soup, the stir-fried luffa, the stir-fried snake gourd, and four portions of rice."

"Captain Zhao, Comrade Qin Yao, don’t get your own plates. Let’s all eat together."

"I wanted to try a little of everything, so I’ll have to trouble you both to help me finish it all." Su Wan’s excuse for inviting them was quite tactful.

Qin Yao hadn’t expected Su Wan to be like this. She instinctively glanced at Zhao Cong.

Flushing, Zhao Cong tried to pull out his money and ration tickets to pay.

Su Wan wouldn’t allow it and instead handed the trays of food to Zhao Cong.

"Captain Zhao, would you mind helping me carry this to a table?"

"Of course, of course," Zhao Cong said, feeling quite sheepish. He quickly busied himself with the task.

Qin Yao was still standing there, stunned. Su Wan smiled and took her by the arm. "Come on, Comrade Qin Yao. Don’t say no. It’s a perfect time to discuss Little Shu’s situation while we eat."

Qin Yao, of course, knew this was just another tactful excuse for Su Wan to treat her to a meal.

"In that case, thank you for the meal."

Qin Yao nodded in agreement. It wasn’t really because she wanted to discuss official business; she was simply worried her captain, Zhao Cong, would somehow manage to offend Comrade Su again. After all, this was the battalion commander’s wife.

If they ever needed help from the military for official matters in the future, Battalion Commander Lu would be an invaluable contact.

Once the four of them were seated, Su Wan picked up a piece of braised pork with her chopsticks and placed it in Liu Shu’s bowl. "Go ahead and eat. But make sure to chew slowly. Eating too fast isn’t good for your stomach."

"Okay, Sister." Liu Shu was content now that he had some meat, and his fondness for Su Wan grew.

Su Wan spoke with Zhao Cong and Qin Yao while eating.

She didn’t have a large appetite—a delicate one, typical of southerners—so after eating just a little, she was nearly full.

"Sister, aren’t you going to eat the meat?" Liu Shu asked.

Su Wan smiled and ruffled his hair. "You eat it. I’m pregnant, and I haven’t had much of an appetite for meat lately. It makes me feel nauseous."

This wasn’t just an excuse; it was the truth.

But to Liu Shu’s ears, it sounded like she had ordered the braised pork especially for him.

He was so moved his eyes welled up with tears.

He clenched his small fists, making a silent vow. ’When they rescue Dad, I have to thank Sister Su Wan properly.’

Su Wan was unaware of his private thoughts.

She turned to Zhao Cong and Qin Yao. "Captain Zhao, is there a market for pottery bowls in the county town?"

Before she left, Zhang Yun had fired a batch of pottery bowls in the family compound. They weren’t as well-made as Su Wan’s, but they were still good enough to sell. It would be a waste not to.

"Pottery bowls? You mean like the ones at the co-op?" Zhao Cong asked, intrigued.

"Yes." Su Wan nodded. She was fairly confident that the bowls Zhang Yun had made under her instruction were just as good as the ones sold at the co-op.

Hearing her confirmation, Zhao Cong slapped his forehead. "Oh, that’s simple! You can just go sell them on Songshan Road."

"Oh?" Su Wan knew that asking a local—especially a comrade from the police station—was the best way to get information.

And just like that, her problem was solved.

"The country is promoting the Reform and Opening-Up policy, right? Our county is actively participating. They’ve set up a public market area over on Songshan Road. As long as you have a sole proprietor’s license, you can set up a stall and sell things there."

Su Wan had a business license. Lu Zhengchuan had helped her get it a while back.

"It’s just... a lot of people look down on private business owners," Zhao Cong said carefully. "Sister-in-law, if you want to sell them, maybe you could hire someone to do it for you?"

Su Wan didn’t share those sensibilities. To her, earning money was a skill, period. The government supported it, so there was no real difference between an "iron rice bowl" and being a private business owner. She certainly didn’t care if strangers scoffed at her.

"It’s no problem. I sell things in the family compound all the time."

Zhao Cong couldn’t resist giving her a thumbs-up. ’She’s really something else.’

Qin Yao also found herself looking at Su Wan with renewed curiosity.

That afternoon, Lu Zhengchuan returned, bringing the pottery bowls from the trunk of his car. When Su Wan prepared to go set up her stall on Songshan Road, Qin Yao offered to come along and help.

She happened to have the afternoon off.

Zhao Cong had to take Liu Shu to handle matters related to his father, Liu Guosen, who had just been rescued.

Lu Zhengchuan had to get involved as well. The investigation into Liu Guosen’s situation had uncovered links to other cases: a roadside robbery and an incident of illegal logging that led to a landslide.

"You go on," Su Wan said, seeing Lu Zhengchuan’s worried expression. She reached out and caressed his cheek. "After I sell the bowls, if I get tired, I’ll go rest at the guesthouse."