Rebirth 1983: Building My Business Empire

F{h*F5.( V hapter 51 Searching for Human Traffickers

Wu Hanping looked over the documents handed to him, and seeing that they weren’t very urgent, he put them down and asked the visitor to leave.

Big Uncle Lu stood up and cautiously asked, “Leader, should we go back and wait for further news?”

Wu Hanping gestured for him to sit and then turned to Lu Jiaxin, “Can you draw a person’s appearance based just on a description?”

As soon as Lu Jiaxin heard the question, the idea of a simulated portrait artist immediately came to mind. She replied, “If a criminal suspect has distinctive features from ordinary people, an experienced artist should be able to draw them. I can’t do that, drawing is only a hobby for me. I was able to draw the trafficker because I often have nightmares about her, the impression is too deep.”

Wu Hanping looked at her young face, “Young lady, how old are you this year?”

“Fifteen.”

...

“Why aren’t you continuing your studies?”

Lu Jiaxin pointed to the scar on her head and said, “I lost too much blood from a head injury which led to my current weakness. The doctor advised against me retaking the year, saying it would be too much for my health. So, I’m resting for a while, and once I’ve recovered, I will return to my studies.”

Big Uncle Lu decided he would give Lu Hongjun a piece of his mind over the phone later. He couldn’t feel at ease until he had scolded him. How could a father allow his child, who was in such poor health, to move out? That just wasn’t something a father should do.

With a smile, Wu Hanping said, “Young lady, would you be interested in working with us for a short time? We’ll pay you.”

He thought that Lu Jiaxin was talented. Not only could she draw a criminal suspect vividly, but she was also capable of analyzing so many useful clues. The unit was in dire need of useful talent, and if this young lady could help, it would alleviate the staff shortage problem, and also put some pressure on the people in the bureau.

Lu Jiaxin was taken aback, then shook her head, “I have to go for a checkup at the old doctor’s place every few days. Once the business here is settled, I’ll have to go back for the checkup.”

Wu Hanping knew it would be difficult, “Then, what university are you planning to apply to in the future?”

“I haven’t thought about that yet. Uncle, do you have any good suggestions?”

Wu Hanping said, “I think you are quite suitable for our line of work. If possible, I hope you would consider the Public Security Academy.”

Lu Jiaxin thanked him for his kindness. She hadn’t yet decided which university to apply to or what major, but it definitely wouldn’t be the Public Security Academy. She was timid and didn’t have the courage to deal with dead bodies and criminals.

After completing their statements and leaving behind a portrait at the office, the group left the Public Security Bureau. Once outside, Zhao Dajun frowned and said, “A county Public Security Bureau with only four people is too few.”

Lu Jiaxin also noticed the scarcity of people inside, “They must be out carrying out tasks.”

Big Uncle Lu stood outside the entrance, expressing his regret, “Xinxin, if Xiao Shan and Xiao Cheng had even half of your ability, I wouldn’t be worried.”

This Leader Wu actually wanted to recruit Xinxin to the Public Security Bureau. Although it was only a temporary job, it was still quite an exceptional matter.

Lu Jiaxin said with a smile, “Big Uncle, let the kids focus on their studies so they can attend university in the future. Once they land a government job, you won’t have to worry about them for the rest of your life.”

Big Uncle Lu dreamed of them pursuing education to break free from farming life, but it was difficult, “Xinxin, no one in the family is cut out for academics, they all just have brute strength.”

He paused before continuing, “Xinxin, you’re the smartest and most open-minded in our family. If you succeed in the future, Big Uncle hopes you can help pull up Xiao Shan and the others.”

If it had been earlier, he would not have thought this. But after hearing what Lu Jiaguang had said, and seeing the events of today, Big Uncle Lu believed his niece would have a promising future.

Lu Jiaxin could also understand his way of thinking. Farming was the hardest work; one toiled year-round, and only in a good year could one have enough to eat, let alone when the heavens didn’t bless the crops. Hence, they were all desperate to escape from the confines of agriculture.

The Lu Family was relatively fortunate, with Lu Hongjun providing support; both branches of the family had someone who had a job and didn’t solely rely on farming. Many common folk among relatives and friends had no connections and were simply scratching out a living from the soil.

Lu Jiaxin said with a smile, “Big Uncle, we are family; of course, I’ll help whenever I can.”

As reform measures continued to intensify, Peng City was in increasing need of labor, and finding them jobs there wouldn’t be difficult. However, whether they could excel and make a good life in the long run was up to them.

With her promise, Big Uncle Lu was very happy.

Lu Jiaxin noticed it was still early, so she suggested to Big Uncle Lu that they take the portrait and ask around in the streets. Although the chances were slim, they might just get lucky and find someone who recognized the old woman.

Big Uncle Lu didn’t object, but he did worry about Lu Jiaxin walking so much that she would get blisters on her feet. It wasn’t that he treated Lu Jiaxin like a delicate doll, but rather because five years earlier, on her third day back, she had developed blisters. They treated them the old way, by piercing them with a sterilized needle, and Lu Jiaxin cried her heart out, her sobs audible from a distance.

The three of them went to the busiest vegetable market. This place was spontaneously formed by the locals, quite spacious, though the government was already planning to construct an official farmers’ market.

After asking many people, all of whom said they did not recognize the person in the portrait, Lu Jiaxin glanced at her watch and saw it was half-past twelve. She then called Big Uncle Lu and Zhao Dajun to go have lunch.

The Forty-nine City now had many small eateries, but Feng County still lacked them. More backward and remote places were the last to implement new policies. Take the distribution of farmland, for example, Feng County only started this spring, while the earliest places had done this over three years ago.

Lu Jiaxin said, “Big Uncle, let’s go eat at the state-run restaurant.”

If it were Big Uncle Lu by himself, a couple of steamed buns would suffice, but Lu Jiaxin was more selective with food, and he couldn’t let the child go home hungry.

The state-run restaurant had two waiters, and Lu Jiaxin, considering the well-dressed old lady might have eaten here, showed the portrait to the round-faced waitress.

The round-faced waitress didn’t even glance at the portrait and dismissively told her to leave if she wasn’t eating.

Lu Jiaxin was displeased but said nothing. However, when Big Uncle Lu was ordering, the waitress flicked her cleaning cloth, which brushed right past Big Uncle Lu’s clothes.

Witnessing this, Lu Jiaxin cursed directly, “Are you blind? Flailing your cleaning cloth around recklessly, can’t you see there’s someone next to you?”

The cloth used to wipe the tables was filthy, and flinging it around like that could result in dirt landing in the dishes of nearby tables.

The round-faced waitress felt she was being targeted and retorted, “It’s you who are blind, not knowing to move aside when you see someone working.”

Lu Jiaxin laughed out of exasperation and kicked the waitress on the knee. Caught off guard, the waitress’s legs buckled, and she fell to the ground.

Lu Jiaxin said sarcastically, “Sorry, my foot was just a bit numb, and I needed to lift it for a moment. It’s not my fault you don’t have eyes to move out of the way.”

The round-faced waitress was livid, standing up ready to hit Lu Jiaxin, but she was stopped by Zhao Dajun, “Comrade, she’s just a child, let’s not stoop to arguing with her.”

Lu Jiaxin almost burst into laughter. There was this phrase that used to be popular on the internet, always said in an ironic way, but right now, she thought it felt great.

Seeing Zhao Dajun, a fearsome and burly figure, the round-faced waitress grew a bit scared and didn’t dare to make a fuss anymore.@@novelbin@@