Sister Zhang patiently listened to her finish speaking, only to realize that her experiences over this period had actually been so convoluted.
Fortunately, she had always trusted Sister Zhang, which was why she came today.
Zhi Xia said, "Sister Zhang, didn't you ever think of calling the police?"
Sister Zhang wiped her eyes and said, "How could I not have thought of it? But I don't have any evidence. The police wouldn't believe me either. As for that silk scarf, my eldest daughter wore it out and many people saw it. The old master I served was also suspicious of me. His daughter-in-law said that if I was sensible, I should admit to it, but if I wasn't sensible and wanted to falsely accuse the old master of seducing me, she would take me to the police station. We don't have much power either. What else could I do but admit to it?"
If there had been any way, she wouldn't have suffered this silent grievance. This matter was truly difficult to resolve, because Sister Zhang really couldn't prove that the silk scarf had been given to her by the family. There was no surveillance footage in this day and age either.
"Sister Zhang, no matter what others say, I definitely trust your moral character. If you're willing, you can keep coming to help me out at home. Now that the policy to restore the college entrance examination has been announced, I also want to try and improve myself. You can just stay at home and help look after my child, cook meals. We'll give you the same treatment as when my child's grandfather was around. What do you think?" Zhi Xia said.
But Sister Zhang was worried. "With my reputation now, won't it cause your family trouble?"
"Don't worry about that. We won't take the initiative to meddle in other people's affairs, but we won't let others bully us either. Just rest assured," Zhi Xia gently reassured her.
Under Zhi Xia’s soothing words, Sister Zhang finally nodded happily and made an appointment to come over starting tomorrow. Ever since she was falsely accused, her neighbors and friends had kept their distance from her, and even her husband and children had suffered because of her. She had been hiding at home, not daring to go out, suffering cold looks all day long.
Zhi Xia's appearance was no doubt a lifeline to her.
When she left, small snowflakes were drifting down from the sky again.
Zhi Xia gathered her scarf tighter around her neck. Upstairs, Sister Zhang called out to remind her to be careful on the way home. Zhi Xia responded, telling her to hurry back inside.
As she opened her umbrella, a woman nearby walked over to her doubtfully. "Comrade, are you and that woman upstairs related?"
The girl's clothing and style didn't seem lacking. In this day and age, anyone who could afford to wear a wool coat must have some capabilities. She had never heard that the family had such an impressive relative!
"Sister Zhang used to work for my family. Now my family needs help at home. Hearing that she currently doesn't have a job, I wanted to invite her back," Zhi Xia said deliberately.
But unexpectedly, the woman's eyes widened. "Aiya, you still dare to invite her? Don't you know what she did? She stole things from the family she was working for as a nanny... "
No matter when, there would always be annoying people who casually spread rumors.
Zhi Xia smiled. "Sister Zhang took care of my grandfather for over 10 years without any problems arising. I believe she wouldn't be so shameless. Comrade, please don't spread rumors without evidence."
"I'm not spreading rumors. The family personally identified her, and the silk scarf was caught red-handed on her. It's not like they just randomly hung it around her neck. You comrade, I'm kindly reminding you, yet you don't appreciate it..."
Without asking, Zhi Xia could guess that this woman must have some grudge against Sister Zhou.
Not wanting to argue further with her, Zhi Xia walked away. But she didn't hurry home, instead going to the police station.
Over the past few years, Liu Jun could be said to have risen meteorically. Dressed in his police uniform, his entire person exuded an impressive aura.
"Officer Liu, someone's here looking for you..."
When Liu Jun turned around, he saw Zhi Xia standing at the door and quickly welcomed her inside.
Hearing that she had something to discuss, he invited her into his office.
"Zhi Xia, this matter really is difficult to resolve, because we don't have evidence to prove that the nanny's silk scarf was given by the family. Yet the family firmly insists that the nanny stole it. For matters like this, it's best if the family doesn't pursue it. If they insist on investigating, the nanny would have to undergo public criticism and ideological education. Since there weren't major losses and they didn't ask for compensation either, I advise you not to offend these people further. Otherwise if it escalates, the one eating the loss will still be the nanny."
Although restrictions had been loosened considerably over the past two years, these types of situations still existed and hadn't been abolished.
Moreover, any family that could afford a nanny was definitely not just an ordinary working-class family. It was best not to casually make enemies of them.
If what the nanny said was true, the family probably just wanted to find a suitable reason to dismiss her, and didn't really intend any harm. So this was already the best outcome.
The word "unjust" could be fully demonstrated no matter where, especially when there was a huge gap in status.
Liu Jun was advising Zhi Xia not to meddle in other people's affairs. He also didn't want to get involved in these types of situations himself. Exerting effort wouldn't win anyone's favor, and it was very easy to offend others.
Walking out of the police station, Zhi Xia sighed helplessly.
She had already expected this kind of outcome before coming. Making this trip was just to confirm it.
Zhi Xia also went to An Zhiren’s house. Regarding the college entrance exam, she was confident she didn’t have any problems with her knowledge, as she had been preparing all these years. But there were still some things she had to ask her Second Brother about, like details and tips for taking the exam, to give herself a better chance.
It just so happened to be around lunch time. Zheng Suchun had just brought the dishes to the table. Turning around, she saw Zhi Xia knocking on the door to come in and jokingly said, "Did you catch a whiff of our home cooking and come looking for food? I just set the table and we haven't eaten yet."
Zhi Xia certainly wouldn't stand on ceremony with her. "Of course. I happened to come mooch a meal, saving our own family some food."
An Zhiren was holding his year-old son. His two-year-old daughter followed behind him from the room, sweetly calling "Auntie".
Zhi Xia hurriedly caught her throwing herself over. She kissed the little girl's face with a smile.
Zheng Suchun had given birth to her eldest right after getting married. Not long after, she was pregnant with the second child again, so the two kids were very close in age. The second child still couldn't walk yet. Seeing a familiar face, he babbled loudly, drool dripping down his chin.
"Did you have time to come see me today even though it's snowing? Didn't the kids come with you?" Seeing her come alone, An Zhiren knew without asking that she must have something to discuss.
Zhi Xia accepted the food her sister-in-law dished up for her and spoke about why she had come while eating.
"Little sister wants to take the college entrance exam too?" Zheng Suchun looked very surprised.
But Zhi Xia noticed the "also" and looked curiously at An Zhiren. "Are you taking it too, Brother?"
An Zhiren nodded. "It's not just me. Your sisters-in-law both have this intention too."
Zhi Xia was stunned. Her eldest sister-in-law and Second Brother were both working. Her second sister-in-law had only graduated middle school.
But it made sense after thinking about it. In others' eyes, she herself hadn't even stepped through a school gate before. Yet her second sister-in-law had married a high school teacher. Over the past few years, with her husband's guidance, it wasn't strange for her to have learned high school knowledge.
But if that was the case, Zhou Nan would probably have to work hard again.
With two sons and four children, even if Wen Qing was older and could take care of himself, the three below were two years old, just under two, and not even one yet—they would be difficult to look after. Moreover, Zhou Nan's health wasn't good.
Zhi Xia stopped her train of thought. Since her sisters-in-law and Second Brother had made this decision, they must have considered it carefully. She didn't need to worry for them.
Before leaving after the meal, An Zhiren said she could come over when he wasn't working so he could tutor her properly.
In just a few years' time, for this little sister to self-study all the way from elementary to high school knowledge left An Zhiren extremely shocked.
Students who properly went to class every day didn't necessarily learn everything well. Yet she had self-studied. Even if she occasionally had some guidance, it still required extreme patience.
This made him unable not to think that if his little sister hadn't been swapped out at birth and had stayed to be raised in their family from childhood, what outstanding achievements could she have now.
Perhaps she wouldn't be any worse than him and his brothers.
If one had to point out Zhi Xia's only shortcoming, it would be in ideological understanding.
Possibly due to her experience of the afterlife, on many matters, whether in behavior or ideology, she had great differences from people of this era. This was ingrained and not so easy to change.
