Chapter 37: Meeting in a Foreign Land

Jiang Fan had truly found the right person when he asked Huang Osmanthus, who was exceptionally polite and grateful, for help.

After parking her car, Wang Wenyu walked to the entrance of the dumpling shop and saw Huang Osmanthus, wearing an apron, step outside. With a friendly smile, she asked, "Miss, do you still have dumplings for sale in your shop?"

Hearing that Wang Wenyu wanted dumplings, Huang Osmanthus, who regarded the shop as her home, greeted her warmly. "Yes, the owner just made them this morning—they're especially fresh. Sister, would you like a serving?"

She had already forgotten her original purpose for stepping out, thinking only of selling another bowl of dumplings so that Uncle Qiu and his wife could earn a bit more.

To avoid the flattery of Lu Fuen and not wanting her colleagues to think she was difficult, Huang Osmanthus had, for the past few days, waited until her coworkers arrived before slipping out to take care of her meals. So until now, she hadn’t eaten. It was her first time here, and seeing the dumpling shop, she, a northerner with a penchant for dumplings, thought she’d stop by while searching for Jiang Fan.

"I'd like a serving of chive dumplings, with dipping sauce, but no MSG."

Inside the shop, Jiang Fan listened as Huang Osmanthus not only failed to stop Wang Wenyu but also welcomed her enthusiastically. He was stunned.

Hearing Wang Wenyu order a serving, Jiang Fan glanced toward the kitchen, realizing it was too late to hide there. He quickly ducked under the innermost table.

The dumpling shop was situated at the T-shaped intersection where White Village Two met the national road. Its front faced the main road, and the side opened onto a rural lane leading into the village. Directly across this lane was Jiang Fan’s rental house.

The shop’s front was a large door, and to brighten the interior, Uncle Qiu had installed a big glass window on the side. From inside, one could clearly see Jiang Fan’s rental house.

Wang Wenyu entered and sat at a table near the door, pointing across the rural lane at the rental house. She asked Huang Osmanthus, "Miss, do you know the tenant living in that house across the street?"

Seeing Wang Wenyu point to the room Jiang Fan had lent her, Huang Osmanthus replied in confusion, "Yes, Brother Jiang lent me that room yesterday. Do you know him?"

When Wang Wenyu heard the words ‘Brother Jiang,’ she smiled and grabbed Huang Osmanthus’s hand. "Miss, is the Brother Jiang you mentioned called Jiang Fan?"

Huang Osmanthus shook her head. "I don’t know his exact name. I just heard my sister call him Deputy Jiang, so I call him Brother Jiang."

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Having found a clue, Wang Wenyu pressed excitedly, "Could you tell me why he lent you the room? Do you know where he is now?"

Uncle Qiu was resting that afternoon. Aunt Qiu, sitting near the kitchen, overheard Wang Wenyu inquiring about Jiang Fan. She hadn’t spoken earlier because Wang Wenyu had arrived in a police car and Jiang Fan had quickly hid under a table; she assumed it was about the fight from a few days ago and thought the police were here to hold him accountable, so she dared not speak.

Seeing Huang Osmanthus about to reveal Jiang Fan, Aunt Qiu quickly diverted their conversation. "Miss, why are you looking for the tenant across the street?"

Noticing Aunt Qiu’s guarded expression, Wang Wenyu guessed her intent and explained gently, "You’re mistaken. I have a classmate named Jiang Fan. He left his master’s address as the house across the street in a telegram, so I came here to bring him something."

Hiding under the table, Jiang Fan realized Wang Wenyu had found him using the address he’d sent to Li Wine Jar in a telegram.

He didn't know why Li Wine Jar had given her the address. He knew his master wouldn’t harm him, but he couldn’t help but grumble inwardly, "Old man, you’re siding with outsiders. Are we still a master and apprentice?"

Wang Wenyu, with her remarkable appearance, gentle demeanor, and pleasant voice, didn’t seem like a police officer to Aunt Qiu. She glanced discreetly toward Jiang Fan under the table and asked, "Are you really Xiao Jiang’s classmate?"

Aunt Qiu’s glance was subtle, but Wang Wenyu, trained in psychology, noticed it.

When she entered, Wang Wenyu had been focused on the house across the street and hadn’t observed the shop closely. Aunt Qiu’s glance gave away the target.

Following Aunt Qiu’s gaze, she saw Jiang Fan, awkwardly hiding under the table.

Wang Wenyu had little impression of Jiang Fan—she’d only seen his black-and-white student ID photo. Had he sat openly at the table, she might not have noticed him, but hiding under the table only exposed him further.

Seeing the man crouched under the table and recognizing his resemblance to the photo, Wang Wenyu knew she’d found him.

She stood, walked over, and crouched down before him, feigning indifference. "What’s the matter? Am I that frightening? You hide when you see me? I haven’t come to settle accounts yet. Isn’t it a bit early to run?"

Jiang Fan replied timidly, "I’m actually looking for something under the table, not deliberately hiding. That incident wasn’t intentional on my part, and I’ve already been punished. If you’re still not satisfied, do what you must—just don’t torment me any longer."

Wang Wenyu asked, puzzled, "I haven’t even had time to settle accounts with you. Why ask not to be tormented? Have I ever tormented you before?"

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Seeing Wang Wenyu arrive in a police car to settle scores with Jiang Fan, Huang Osmanthus assumed he’d done something wrong. Fearing she’d caused trouble for him, she knelt beside Wang Wenyu, anxiously gripping her arm. "Police sister, please don’t make things difficult for Brother Jiang. He’s a good person, and he’s injured right now. Please, I beg you, let him go."

Knowing Jiang Fan had come to Dongguan to seek his senior but found himself alone, Wang Wenyu was curious about Huang Osmanthus’s certainty. "How are you sure he’s a good person?"

"I had no money for food or lodging, and Brother Jiang helped me. He even lent me his own room to sleep in—he really is a good person."

Huang Osmanthus recounted how Jiang Fan had helped her and her sister, and brought her to the dumpling shop, hoping to elicit sympathy from Wang Wenyu so she’d spare Jiang Fan.

After listening, and recalling the high praise given to Jiang Fan by Professor Yan and Li Wine Jar before she left Beijing, Wang Wenyu smiled softly and first comforted the anxious Huang Osmanthus.

Then she crouched again, gazing at Jiang Fan under the table and teasing, "Isn’t it tiring to squat? It’s easy to crawl in, but getting out might be harder. Today, I’ll just wait here and see how you manage to crawl out."

Unable to meet Wang Wenyu’s gaze, Jiang Fan closed his eyes and pressed his palms together. "Auntie, I said you can do whatever you want—as long as you’re happy. But could you let me come out first?"

Noticing Jiang Fan’s left hand was still bandaged, Wang Wenyu stood and cleared a path.

Jiang Fan crawled out from under the table and hesitantly moved toward the door, hoping for a chance to escape.

Seeing Jiang Fan’s furtive manner, Wang Wenyu pointed to her previous seat and reminded him, "I came to Dongguan just to find you. Don’t even think about running away. Sit there and wait until I finish my dumplings—then we’ll talk."

Hearing that Wang Wenyu had come specifically for him, Jiang Fan felt a sense of responsibility and gave up any thoughts of escape, sitting down dutifully with a pout.

Aunt Qiu, uncertain what trouble Wang Wenyu wanted with Jiang Fan, relaxed upon hearing their conversation and realizing the police weren’t here to arrest him, and went into the kitchen to cook dumplings.