Chapter 185: Not Found

Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Not Found

"Zhao Guofeng’s place? They live just ahead at number 216. Do you need me to take you there?"

"Thank you, Auntie. But I’m actually here to see Zhao Yuan. Is he home?"

Su Wan took the opportunity to gather some information.

"I’m not sure. For the past six months, that kid Zhao Yuan seemed to be away visiting relatives. He only just got back recently. I only saw him once a few days ago, so I don’t know if he’s home today."

"What do you need him for?"

"Actually, I’m the sister-in-law of Zhao Yuan’s girlfriend. My younger sister is dating him, and our family is worried. After all, it’s such a long distance—we’re from Yang Province. Even though we know Zhao Yuan, we don’t know what his elders are like, or if they’ll get along with my sister."

"You see, I’m the only one in my family who’s made it to university, and since I’m here in the Capital, I figured I should try to learn a little about his parents. We’re planning a formal visit in a couple of days, and I want to make sure we bring an appropriate gift. Our family might not be as well-off as folks in the Capital, but we care deeply for our girl. That’s why I’m here."

Su Wan’s explanation clearly pleased the Women’s Federation director.

She could see from Su Wan’s expression that she was genuinely concerned about her sister.

She hesitated for a moment, then offered a kind warning, "If you trust me, you should seriously reconsider this marriage."

"...Auntie, why?" Su Wan immediately looked uneasy.

The Women’s Federation director said, "I’m not one to gossip about the Zhao family, but plenty of people in the compound know about this."

"That kid, Zhao Yuan... he’s a bit too ambitious for his own good. He got a job as a warehouse guard at our factory, but he was so careless that someone stole goods from inside and sold them. Although he admitted his mistake and resigned, it doesn’t change the fact that he was negligent."

"And that’s not all. After he left the factory, he stopped staying home. He was always telling people he was going out of town to do business, as a private entrepreneur."

"But what kind of private entrepreneur? It was clearly... profiteering..."

"We tried to warn the Zhao family about this, but they wouldn’t listen. They said that since the state hadn’t arrested Zhao Yuan, it must be legal, and that we were just jealous of him."

"At first, I also thought what he was doing was legal. But then, someone from the compound saw that kid Zhao Yuan at the black market."

"Anyway... he’s not very reliable. But the choice is yours."

’Su Wan should have known that with the Zhao family’s way of doing things, they couldn’t possibly be very popular in the residential compound.’

Hearing what the Women’s Federation director said, she let out a soft sigh. "To be honest, I also have my doubts about this match. It’s just that kid from the Zhao family has my sister completely wrapped around his finger. We were originally thinking that as long as Zhao Yuan treats her well, we’d give a larger dowry. We hoped that for the sake of the dowry, he would continue to be good to her."

"But now that I’ve heard what you said, Auntie, I’m suddenly worried all over again."

"Auntie, I’d like to ask you for a favor, if it’s not too much trouble." As Su Wan spoke, she pressed a handful of White Rabbit candies into the woman’s hand. Lu Zhengchuan had insisted on buying them for her, worried she would get so absorbed in her experiments that she’d forget to eat. He said if she got hungry, a piece of candy could help tide her over.

"I was hoping you could go to the Zhao family’s home and call Zhao Yuan out for me. We really don’t want to disturb his elders, in case they get the wrong idea."

The Women’s Federation director tried to refuse, but Su Wan insisted she take them. "Auntie, I can’t let you help for free. After all, this is for my sister. I’m already so grateful that you’re willing to help."

Pleased, the Women’s Federation director nodded and accepted the candy. She led the two of them to a spot not far from the Zhao family’s home and told them to wait there while she went ahead.

Second Sister-in-law Su watched as the woman approached the Zhao’s home and knocked on the door. Someone came to open it, and she recognized the person at a glance: it was Mrs. Zhao.

"Wanwan, if we find Zhao Yuan, can we find Zhang Yun?"

"Whether we can or not, we have to try. Even if he doesn’t know where she is, he might be able to provide some useful information."

"That’s true."

After a little while, the Women’s Federation director returned.

She said to Su Wan, "Ms. Su, Zhao Yuan isn’t home. They said he went to see a friend and won’t be back tonight."

He actually wasn’t home.

This result was clearly unexpected for both Su Wan and Second Sister-in-law Su.

Su Wan forced herself to remain calm. "Auntie, do you know which friend Zhao Yuan went to see?"

"There’s no way I could get that out of them. Zhao Guofeng’s wife would never give us that kind of detail. She’s terrified we’ll say a single bad word about her son," the Women’s Federation director said with a pout.

Su Wan and Second Sister-in-law Su exchanged a look.

"Auntie, thank you for your trouble. You should get back to your business. We’ll be heading back now, too."

"Alright."

The Women’s Federation director left.

Su Wan frowned. "Second Sister-in-law, I’ll have to be the one to go and force the information out of Mrs. Zhao. Otherwise, we’ll never find Zhao Yuan, let alone figure out where to find Zhang Yun."

"I’m afraid that woman won’t cooperate."

Second Sister-in-law Su was a little worried.

"If she doesn’t cooperate, we’ll make a scene. We don’t live in this workers’ compound anyway. I’m here looking for someone, which is perfectly reasonable. Unless the Zhao family wants to completely burn their bridges with us, Lu Zhengchuan’s position should make them hesitate."

With that said, Su Wan immediately took action.

She went straight to the Zhao family’s home and knocked.

"Who is it?" Mrs. Zhao’s voice was laced with impatience. When she pulled the door open and saw Su Wan, her pupils contracted instantly, and she reflexively tried to slam it shut.

"Aunt Zhao, if you want me to make a scene at your door and let everyone know what your son Zhao Yuan has done, then by all means, shut the door on me."

Mrs. Zhao yanked the door open, her face displeased as she warned, "Su Wan, don’t you dare spout nonsense. What do you mean, ’what my son has done’? He’s a very good boy."

"Oh? If he’s such a good boy, then where is he? Where is he right now?"

"He’s not home. It’s no use looking for him here."

"If he’s not home, then where is he? Please take me to him. I need to see him."

"Who do you think you are? Demanding to see him just like that." Mrs. Zhao sneered.

Su Wan looked up at her. "My husband has been promoted. Are you sure you want to get on my bad side?"

’Su Wan had learned how to throw her weight around from Xu Rongrong, and her performance was utterly convincing.’

Mrs. Zhao’s face turned green with anger, but she had no choice but to put on a pleasant expression and try to placate her.

"Su Wan, I was just joking with you. Please don’t take it to heart."

"Um, so, you’re looking for Ah Yuan? He’s really not home. He went out to see a friend."

"Which friend? Take me there."

Mrs. Zhao was reluctant, but she truly didn’t dare to offend Su Wan, at least not openly.

"...Then wait here while I tell my family."

While Mrs. Zhao got ready, Su Wan had Second Sister-in-law Su ride her bike to a newsstand to call Second Brother Su.

’They needed a man with them now that they were going to find Zhao Yuan.’

However, before Second Brother Su arrived, they ran into an acquaintance.

"Ms. Su, what are you doing here?"

Hearing the voice, Su Wan turned and recognized the speaker. It was Zhang Qiao, dressed in civilian clothes.

"I’m looking for someone. Are you on leave, Mr. Zhang?"

"Yes, my family lives right here in the textile factory’s residential compound." Zhang Qiao hadn’t seen Su Wan in a long time, and he still found her as striking as ever.