Chapter 12: Number One in the World [12]

The insurance company was very efficient. The next morning, they delivered the repaired car.

After switching to the new car, Li Jianwei drove Shu Heng to the nearby vegetable market, ready to complete the task entrusted by Shu’s Mother—doing the big pre-year shopping.

The vegetable market on the twenty-ninth was very lively. After all, tomorrow was New Year’s Eve. If one wanted to cook a perfect New Year’s Eve dinner, they would have to stay busy from morning till night, leaving no time to buy ingredients on the day itself.

Li Jianwei had no experience buying vegetables in a place like this. After struggling to find a parking spot, she followed closely behind Shu Heng, watching as she skillfully bargained with the stall owners.

“Buy a live chicken?” Seeing the hen still flapping its wings, Li Jianwei took a step back and hid behind Shu Heng, peering down at it from half a head taller.

“Live ones are fresher. The boss will process it clean for us.” Shu Heng said smilingly. “Don’t worry, we won’t take it home alive.”

“Cough, I’m just worried about getting feathers on me. I’m not scared.” Li Jianwei tried to save face for herself. She had taken down countless competitors—how could she fear a mere hen?

Shu Heng did not expose the person clutching her clothes corner. She negotiated seriously with the vendor. “Big sis, I’ll pick it up later. Pluck the feathers nice and clean for me.”

“Sure thing. Remember, yours is the one with the red string.” The big sis agreed enthusiastically and swiftly slit the chicken’s throat to bleed it.

Li Jianwei frowned instinctively. She was not scared—she simply had never seen this before and was maintaining proper vigilance toward the unknown.

“Let’s go buy some meat.” Shu Heng said with a smile, taking the initiative for the first time to hold Li Jianwei’s hand.

Last night’s silent interactions seemed to give Shu Heng quite a bit of courage. At least for physical contact that did not exceed the bounds of friendship, she no longer blushed at the drop of a hat.

Of course, it was also possible that sharing a bed had made hand-holding seem like no big deal to Shu Heng.

“Shu Heng, you’re back home for the New Year. How has your mom been lately?”

“It’s great to stay working in the big city—you can earn big money and take your mom to enjoy life later.”

“Got a partner yet? If not, want me to introduce someone? My friend’s kid is a teacher—really good prospects…”

Shu Heng used to come here often, so vendors recognized her from time to time and greeted her warmly, asking about her recent situation.

From another angle, these were the elders who had watched her grow up, so she answered their questions patiently.

The county town, with a resident population of three hundred thousand, was not large. After buying pork and beef, Shu Heng ran into one of her high school classmates in the seafood section.

“Shu Heng, you’re really back. Hu Xuan mentioned you in the group chat yesterday.”

The grating name made the smile on Shu Heng’s face stiffen. Her grip on Li Jianwei’s hand tightened unconsciously.

“Mm, I’m home for the New Year.” Shu Heng sidestepped the topic of that person. “Have you finished shopping?”

“I just got here—still empty-handed.” The classmate had only brought it up casually. Her attention quickly shifted to Li Jianwei, amazement in her eyes. “Shu Heng, who’s this with you?”

“One of my big sisters. She’s staying with me at home for the New Year.” Shu Heng gave no further details. “You should hurry and buy your stuff before the good picks are gone.”

“Oh, right.” The classmate withdrew her admiring gaze. “By the way, we’re planning a New Year gathering. You coming? They’re inviting Teacher Gong too.”

Shu Heng: “Teacher Gong agreed?”

The classmate nodded. “Yeah, it’s Jiang Kun’s setup. He said he’s made some money from his business and wants to thank Teacher Gong for the guidance and all us classmates for the support. Wants as many people as possible—just bring your appetite. He’s treating.”

“I remember you and Jiang Kun got along well back then. He’d be thrilled if you came.”

“I’ll see—if I have time.” Shu Heng did not refuse outright, though she had no plans to go.

High school held little nostalgia for her. Better to visit Teacher Gong at home with gifts than attend such a gathering.

The classmate did not press, simply added Shu Heng on WeChat before rushing off to the vegetable section for her big shopping.

“Jiang Kun was one of those in class who didn’t like studying. Our homeroom teacher once started a one-on-one tutoring program. I got assigned to his group as his little tutor.”

Shu Heng explained proactively. “But a month later, the homeroom teacher canceled the program. After graduation, we basically lost touch.”

“The tutoring groups weren’t effective?” Li Jianwei asked.

Shu Heng recalled. “I think the homeroom teacher found out one of the pairs was dating.”

Li Jianwei got it right away. “If I’m not wrong, the top students were mostly girls.”

Shu Heng nodded. “Right. The homeroom teacher figured girls were more attentive, and the ones who hated studying were boys, so it was always one girl and one boy.”

Shu Heng did not linger on that classmate’s thoughts. Li Jianwei smoothly steered the conversation to what New Year goods they needed to buy next.

But some things came calling the harder you tried to avoid them.

After finishing the shopping and returning downstairs to the residential complex, they spotted Hu Xuan pacing at the entrance. When he saw the familiar car model, he strode right into the middle of the road.

“Shu Heng, what’s your deal? Got rich and forgotten your old classmates?” Hu Xuan’s face showed clear displeasure. Seeing the car slow, he moved as if to knock on the window.

This suffocated Shu Heng inside the car. Why had Hu Xuan found their home? She had clearly cut off all contact with him!

Li Jianwei frowned, honked the horn, then floored the accelerator without any thought of swerving.

This startled Hu Xuan badly. Seeing the car speed up, he flinched aside in panic and ended up rolling awkwardly on the ground from his awkward stance.

“How do you drive! Didn’t you see someone there?!” Hu Xuan scrambled up from the ground, cursing.

Li Jianwei ignored him completely and drove on until she parked steadily in the spot.

“Sister, he’s here for me. I’ll go talk to him.” Shu Heng unbuckled her seatbelt, only to find the door still locked when she tried the handle.

“Sister?” Shu Heng turned to Li Jianwei.

“It’s probably related to last night’s accident. You don’t need to get out—I’ll handle it.” Li Jianwei could see Shu Heng’s resistance to Hu Xuan, laced with a trace of fear.

Not asking did not mean Li Jianwei could not guess what was going on.

“I’ll go with you, Sister.” Shu Heng mustered her courage. “Hu Xuan’s my classmate—he knows my home address. I want to settle this.”

Li Jianwei looked at Shu Heng. Seeing the resolve in her eyes, she unlocked the doors.

“What’s your problem? Didn’t you see someone on the road?” Hu Xuan chased after them, yelling. But when his gaze met Li Jianwei’s, his wrist began to throb faintly, so he dared not get too close.

“Something?” Li Jianwei looked at Hu Xuan impassively.

“Not you—my old classmate.” Instinct told Hu Xuan she was trouble, so he edged aside, fixing his gaze on Shu Heng.

“Shu Heng, that motorcycle guy is pretty pitiful—no insurance or anything. Why not drop it?” Hu Xuan said. “Your car’s fixed anyway. Just let it go.”

“The car is mine.” Li Jianwei stressed.

Hu Xuan choked, avoiding Li Jianwei’s eyes as he muttered, “Then you drop it. Guy’s pitiful.”

“You don’t look broke yourself. No need to quibble with some poor loser.”

“Traffic police must have ruled you responsible for last night’s accident.” Li Jianwei cut straight to the truth. “I’m not waiving compensation I’m owed. Keep disrupting my life over this, and I’ll get the police involved.”

“You’re heartless!” Hu Xuan snapped, annoyed. “Shu Heng, what kind of friend is this—so cold-blooded?”

“Wasn’t it your fault first? You’re just paying the price for your actions.” Shu Heng clenched her fist inside her sleeve. “Hu Xuan, you’re an adult now. Own up to what you did.”

“What’re you saying? Still holding a grudge? It was just back in school…” Hu Xuan trailed off as two Volkswagen Magotans pulled up one after the other.

Five people in administrative jackets stepped out one by one. After a quick scan, all their gazes locked onto Li Jianwei.

The lead female official’s eyes lit up. She hurried over with a smile. “President Li, hello. I’m Lu Xiaohong, County Party Secretary of Spring Source County. Very sorry for the bad experience last night.”

“Secretary Lu, hello.” Li Jianwei offered a perfunctory smile and shook her hand. “Here for me?”

“More or less—and to check on one of Spring Source County’s own talents.” Secretary Lu beamed, her gaze landing on the still-stunned Shu Heng.

“If memory serves, Little Shu was a county Three Goods Student, top three in the county entrance exams.” Secretary Lu extended her hand to Shu Heng. “You chose Hua University, right?”

“Yes, Secretary. Hello.” Shu Heng shook hands nervously with the secretary, forgetting Hu Xuan entirely.

Thoroughly sidelined, Hu Xuan was left dazed. Sure, he was a college dropout drifting through society—but even he knew the county party secretary’s name.

What kind of friend had Shu Heng brought home to warrant a personal visit from the secretary?