Chapter 46: Meeting the Kind-hearted Sister Huang Again

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Meeting the Kind-hearted Sister Huang Again

Huang Li’s heart skipped a beat. "I’m Huang Li. Did something happen to Yun Zhen?"

Her only connection to Sister Zhang’s charity organization was introducing a homeless scavenger girl to them. If the organization was contacting her, it was absolutely about Yun Zhen. She felt a surge of worry.

Lin concisely explained the purpose of her call. "Yun Zhen won two hundred catties of pork in a lottery at a newly opened supermarket. She saved two catties for you and wants to give it to you in person. Do you have time? She says she’s going to wait for you at the usual place."

"Oh my!" Huang Li exclaimed. "Two hundred catties of pork? That must be a first or second prize! Yun Zhen is so lucky! I won’t take the meat; tell her to eat it herself. If she can’t finish it, she can sell it and buy herself some new clothes."

How could she have the nerve to take Yun Zhen’s pork?

Since Huang Li had no intention of taking the pork, Lin helplessly handed the phone to Yun Zhen. Yun Zhen placed the phone against her ear. "Hello, Sister Huang. It’s Yun Zhen."

Huang Li asked happily, "Yun Zhen, it’s been a while. How have you been these past few days? Are you getting used to things?"

Yun Zhen’s tone was cheerful. "I’m used to it. Living in the dormitory is simply too comfortable. Thank you so much for helping me find such a good place to stay."

Huang Li was full of concern. "As long as you’re used to it. I heard from the staff that you won the grand prize at the supermarket—a whole two hundred catties of pork! Congratulations, your luck is really good. What did you do with all that meat?"

Yun Zhen repeated the same story she had told Brother Zhao and Sister Lin. "I kept twenty-four catties to share with the kind people who helped me. I sold the remaining one hundred and seventy-six catties of pork to a passerby for eighteen yuan a catty. I made three thousand, one hundred and sixty-eight yuan."

Huang Li patted her chest, letting her heart settle back into place. It seemed Yun Zhen hadn’t been bullied or deceived.

Yun Zhen continued, "Sister Huang, I saved two catties of meat for you. It’s not much, but it’s a token of my appreciation. You gave me clothes and quilts, and even helped me find a good place to stay. If you’re not busy, could you go to our usual place? I want to hand the meat to you myself."

What a good, grateful child!

Sister Huang and Lin, who was listening nearby, were both moved by her words.

Huang Li sighed. Since Yun Zhen had put it like that, it was hard to refuse. "Alright! I’ll head over right now."

She got dressed and brought along the things she had packed earlier. These were her daughter’s old clothes and shoes, which had only been worn two or three times and could be given to Yun Zhen. She went downstairs, bought some snacks and milk, and just like their first meeting, she carried the snacks and milk to see Yun Zhen.

Yun Zhen, carrying the pork, met Huang Li at their usual spot.

"Sister Huang!" she called out, looking at the familiar figure. Huang Li was wearing a ginger windbreaker and riding an electric tricycle.

"Yun Zhen!" Huang Li walked over, carrying the snacks, milk, clothes, and shoes. "It’s been a while!" She looked Yun Zhen up and down with pleasant surprise. "You look a bit plumper than a few days ago. That’s good, you look healthy."

She couldn’t wait to ask about Yun Zhen’s recent life. "Yun Zhen, what do you do every day now? Have you been learning any trade at the organization?"

Yun Zhen answered truthfully, "Sister Huang, I found two jobs nearby. When I don’t have work in the morning, I go to a teacher to learn how to read. I haven’t been learning a trade."

"Learning to read is good. Knowing how to read means you won’t be easily deceived out in society. But you’ve started working so early? You’d be better off learning a trade at the organization and looking for a job when you’re an adult." Hearing that Yun Zhen had found two jobs, Huang Li felt it wasn’t very worthwhile. As a minor, she couldn’t get a stable full-time job and could only do part-time work.

Yun Zhen had her own difficulties; she had a whole village to feed. "I want to start earning money a bit earlier. Besides, I have a good memory. Maybe after I learn to read, I’ll learn a trade."

Huang Li sighed inwardly. She understood that the child in front of her had suffered, so it made sense for her to place a heavy emphasis on money. "As long as you have your own plans, that’s fine."

Yun Zhen handed her a bag of meat. "Sister Huang, this is the pork I saved specifically for you. I heard them call it local pork. You can take it back and stir-fry it."

Huang Li revealed a delighted smile and took the meat. "Thank you. You really are a good girl!" She then gave the milk and snacks she had bought to Yun Zhen. "I bought a box of milk and some snacks on my way here. Take them and eat them. Also, my daughter only wore these clothes two or three times before she stopped wearing them. She’s a bit plumper than you, so they’ll definitely fit you."

Yun Zhen hastily shook her head. "Sister Huang, I’ve already received so many favors from you. How can I take your things again?"

Huang Li forcefully stuffed the items into her hands. "Don’t be so polite! We’re practically acquaintances now. Since you call me ’Sister,’ you are my younger sister. Isn’t it perfectly normal for an older sister to buy some snacks for her younger sister?" Her attitude was firm. "Hurry up and take it, or else I won’t accept your pork either!"

Helpless, Yun Zhen could only accept them.

Huang Li smiled. "That’s more like it. The ways of the world are all about giving and taking. Now that you have money, don’t be too frugal. Buy more nutritious food and nourish your body. You’re only seventeen—in the prime of your youth. Don’t let malnutrition hinder your future growth.

"Sister is going to give you some heart-to-heart advice," she repeatedly urged. "You must hide your money well and don’t tell anyone. If someone asks to borrow money, don’t lend it. If you have any problems, seek out the organization’s staff for help. If you can contact me, let me know, and I’ll find a way to help you."

Yun Zhen was deeply touched. "Okay, I’ll remember that, Sister Huang." She added, "If there’s nothing else, I’ll go to work now."

Huang Li nodded. "Alright, I’m heading home too."

Yun Zhen waved her hand and turned to leave.

"Yun Zhen!" Huang Li called out to stop her.

Yun Zhen turned back. "What’s wrong, Sister Huang?"

Huang Li said, "I still have a few sets of bedding and some Raschel blankets at home. If you need them, I can bring them over to you this afternoon. There’s a flea market near your neighborhood. A set of bedding that costs hundreds or thousands can be exchanged for fifty or sixty yuan at the flea market."

Anyone could tell that Yun Zhen was very short on money. Huang Li had noticed this as well, which was why she suggested selling the items at the flea market for cash. Firstly, she wasn’t short on money herself, and secondly, she found it too troublesome to sell them. Otherwise, all those blankets and bedding could be exchanged for several hundred yuan. She didn’t need them, but Yun Zhen certainly did! The girl seemed to have an obsession with making money.

Bedding? Blankets?

Of course Yun Zhen needed them! The village was currently in dire need of these things.

She said with immense joy, "Sister Huang, I want them. Please give me all the unused bedding and blankets from your home."

Sister Huang replied, "No problem. What time do you get off work? I’ll wait for you here."

"Six o’clock," Yun Zhen said.

"I’ll wait for you here right at six," Sister Huang confirmed.

Carrying boundless joy, Yun Zhen headed to the restaurant for work.

After finishing her shift, while eating lunch, she brought out the meat and gave it to her boss, Brother Yang. Brother Yang was moved to tears and wanted to give her a fifty-yuan red envelope on the spot, but Yun Zhen politely declined.

What a joke. She was doing this to repay her benefactors; how could she accept their money again?

However, she also felt quite ashamed. Mr. Gao had accepted the pork but gave her three books in return. Sister Huang had accepted the pork but not only bought her milk and snacks, she also promised to bring over her extra bedding and blankets. She hadn’t managed to simply give without receiving anything in return, as she had originally intended.

These kind-hearted people were simply too warm and generous!