Chapter 70: Flowers
Fengyuan recently launched a cost-effective car targeted at young working women. The car featured a pink interior and was mostly available in white, with classic blue and black options also available. Upon release, it became quite popular with decent sales figures. The price was affordable, the interior cute, and well within the budget of the target demographic. So, it was a common sight on the roads. You Ruxu had seen three accidents involving this car in the past two days.
All the same model. She suspected it wasn’t just a road condition issue, so she went to the transportation department and joined a few online car owner groups to learn more.
[Is it the Fengyuan V1? I bought one too, haven’t driven it yet.]
[My sister had an accident last week, said there were cracks in the brake disc, ridiculous, a brand new car with brake problems.]
[I contacted the 4S shop, they don’t admit there’s a problem.]
And there was more than one similar complaint. Fengyuan was an established brand, with no major issues in the past, so many car owners simply considered themselves unlucky, especially since the reasons given by the 4S shop were plausible.
High speed or continuous braking could indeed cause cracks in the brake disc. If anyone made a fuss, they would be offered compensation. The 4S shop’s attitude was always, we can offer compensation, a full refund, even, but if you want to buy the car again, there will be no discount.
The initial discount for this car was quite substantial, equivalent to a few months’ salary, and the compensation offered by the 4S shop was unconditional replacement of parts and a monetary compensation, which, combined, was still less than the original discount. So, very few people chose to return the car, but there were still many complaints. You Ruxu, while gathering information, heard a whole day’s worth of complaints. After Chen Xiang contacted Yin Lanlan, and she agreed to be interviewed, You Ruxu immediately added a news segment about the Fengyuan car issue.
The phones at the Fengyuan 4S shop started ringing off the hook that afternoon.
The staff reported to the manager, the manager reported to the boss, who sneered while holding his phone, “Can’t even handle a single reporter?”
The manager’s forehead was covered in sweat. This new boss took over last year, and having spent a few years abroad, thought his ideas were superior, refusing to listen to advice, preferring to spend his time partying with his friends. This brake disc issue was due to subpar quality. They had strongly suggested using a different supplier, but the boss insisted on using his “good buddy’s” company, claiming his friend wouldn’t dare to shortchange him. The test results showed there were indeed problems, but the boss refused to listen, instead increasing the discount and offering compensation or replacements if any issues arose. He had even said nothing would go wrong. Now that something did go wrong, he started shifting the blame.
The manager, bitter and frustrated, had to appease the customers while dealing with the chaos at the 4S shop, spinning like a top.
Fengyuan’s internal affairs were also in disarray. With the New Year approaching, who would have expected such an incident? They used to spend their free time gossiping about others online, now they were the center of gossip.
[I heard Fengyuan has a new boss, not very competent.]
[The new boss’s name is Zhou Heng, his character is questionable.]
You Ruxu didn’t pay attention to the online discussions, but Shi Qi stopped her: “When did you find this lead?”
You Ruxu said, “Before lunch.”
“Even kept it from me.” Shi Qi said, “You have to make it up to me tonight.”
You Ruxu smiled.
Chen Xiang rushed over excitedly, “Teacher You!”
You Ruxu looked at her. Chen Xiang said, “I just received a few calls, people willing to provide evidence. They just bought the car, also brake problems, the 4S shop offered compensation, but they haven’t gone yet.”
You Ruxu said, “Tell them not to go yet.”
“I know, I already told them.” Chen Xiang said, “As expected of Teacher You, when you make a move, it’s always big news!”
Although it was close to the New Year, with major news stories emerging constantly, the news about Fengyuan still spread like wildfire, becoming bigger and bigger. It was a matter of safety, no one would ignore it. You Ruxu lowered her head to reply to Zhou Tianzui, Chen Xiang standing beside her, “By the way, Teacher You, is Yao Zhao still staying at your place?”
You Ruxu’s typing paused. She looked up at Chen Xiang.
Chen Xiang said, “Editor Qiao is asking about her, did she contact you?”
Editor Qiao was in charge of secondary coverage. Shi Qi had told You Ruxu that Yao Zhao’s story wouldn’t make it to prime time and would be published online instead, so it was assigned to Editor Qiao, who had reserved a spot for it. But You Ruxu hadn’t provided any updates, not even a single word, making Editor Qiao wonder if she had forgotten about it.
You Ruxu said, “She hasn’t contacted me, Yao Zhao’s case is a little complicated, I’ll talk to Editor Qiao.”
Chen Xiang breathed a sigh of relief: “Okay.”
You Ruxu pursed her lips.
She sat in the car, watching the busy street outside, and after a moment of thought, called Zhou Tianzui.
Zhou Tianzui had just come out of a ward. She had just received You Ruxu’s message and hadn’t had time to reply when she received her call, chuckling, “Not busy today?”
You Ruxu said, “Not really, just taking a break, what about you?”
Zhou Tianzui waved to He Wei beside her, “I’m also free.”
She asked You Ruxu, “Chen Xiang’s at the hospital, a new case?”
You Ruxu said, “Not a case, there’s a problem with Fengyuan’s cars.”
Zhou Tianzui hadn’t had time to watch the news at noon, so she didn’t know about the Fengyuan incident yet. She hummed in response and heard You Ruxu ask, “Did you submit the report to the police?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Yes, why?”
You Ruxu said, “Nothing, what did the police say?”
Zhou Tianzui: “Are you scared?”
Her words hit You Ruxu’s sore spot. You Ruxu was silent. Zhou Tianzui mentally chided herself for being so blunt, although You Ruxu understood these things.
She wasn’t projecting her mother onto Yao Zhao.
But Yao Zhao’s situation mirrored her mother’s in many ways.
Domestic violence, sexual assault, even the ubiquitous rumors, the predictable harm… Zhou Tianzui’s voice softened, “Sorry.”
You Ruxu chuckled softly, “What are you apologizing for?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “I shouldn’t have said that.”
You Ruxu said, “You didn’t say anything wrong.”
She was scared, afraid Yao Zhao wouldn’t be able to overcome this. Zhou Tianzui had said she was overly concerned about Yao Zhao, while she had accused Zhou Tianzui of being too rational. Actually, Zhou Tianzui wasn’t wrong, she was overly concerned about Yao Zhao, lacking objectivity.
You Ruxu rubbed her temples and heard Zhou Tianzui say, “Don’t always treat her like a child.”
“But she is a child.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “A smart child.”
You Ruxu chuckled. She said, “I have to go.”
Zhou Tianzui asked, “Busy?”
You Ruxu said, “I need to call Captain Zhou.”
Zhou Tianzui chuckled, her tone unreadable. You Ruxu, before hanging up, called out, “Zhou Tianzui…”
A soft, almost soothing tone, a stark contrast to her usual clear and crisp voice. Zhou Tianzui’s annoyance dissipated, “I know.”
You Ruxu chuckled softly and hung up, calling Captain Zhou.
Captain Zhou said, “Yes, we received the report, I still need to talk to Yao Zhao, she’s staying with you now, right?”
You Ruxu said, “Yes, will she be punished?”
Although Yao Zhao had acted out of self-preservation, calling the police and the ensuing media attention had a significant social impact. If her stepfather decided to press charges, Yao Zhao could be held responsible. Captain Zhou said, “She should be, but she’s still young, so it will probably be a warning. We’ve also taken her age into consideration, it’s best not to publicize this matter too much, so I suggest not reporting on it.”
You Ruxu’s main concern wasn’t the report, but Yao Zhao’s stepfather.
If the case was closed like this, Yao Zhao would have to go back home. Legally, the man was still her guardian, he had the right to take her home. The only way for her to avoid this now was to tell the truth, but then what would happen to her future?
It was a dead end.
Either path was difficult.
You Ruxu hung up the phone and looked out the window, the crew was still filming. Chen Xiang and Shi Qi were chatting. Chen Xiang, after receiving a call, looked towards the car. You Ruxu saw her run over and rolled down the window. Chen Xiang said, “Teacher You, the sales manager from Fengyuan wants to invite you to dinner.”
You Ruxu’s phone had been busy, so the manager contacted Chen Xiang.
“Dinner?” You Ruxu said, “That won’t be necessary.”
She knew what such dinner invitations entailed, and she declined politely. Chen Xiang gave a small “oh” and turned around to relay the message. You Ruxu, looking at her, pursed her lips, then opened the car door and got out.
The wind was cold.
You Ruxu took her car keys. Chen Xiang had hung up the phone. You Ruxu said, “I’m leaving.”
Chen Xiang said, “Hey, Teacher You, what about dinner…”
“Send me the address for the team dinner.” You Ruxu said, “I’ll go directly.”
Chen Xiang made an “okay” sign with her fingers. You Ruxu got into the car, her mind still in turmoil. Aimlessly, she drove, unknowingly arriving at the cemetery. The wind howled outside. She got out of the car. There were no flower shops nearby, only a shop selling paper offerings. You Ruxu drove around, then finally bought a bouquet of flowers and walked towards the cemetery.
Before, she wouldn’t even bring a bouquet, just picking some inconspicuous wild flowers by the roadside.
Today was an exception.
She stood before the tombstone, holding the bright and vibrant flowers. The man in the photo was smiling, his expression gentle. You Ruxu remembered the first time she saw him, when her mother came home from work, and he was behind her, her mother’s eyes red and swollen. She had heard her mother say, “A Ran, go watch some TV, Mommy needs to talk to Uncle.”
She had sat nearby, watching her mother cry.
She had thought the man made her cry, a seed of hatred planted in her heart, carrying all her malice, growing rapidly. It felt like a distant memory, yet so vivid every time she recalled it.
You Ruxu placed the flowers in front of the tombstone, their vibrant colors a stark contrast to the gray stone. The man in the photo was still smiling gently. You Ruxu stood there for several minutes, then lowered her head, about to leave, when she heard a familiar voice: “Xiao Xu?”
She looked up and saw Yu Qiao.
Her hand clenched.
Yu Qiao looked at her, then at the tombstone, and asked, slightly puzzled, “What are you doing here?”
You Ruxu: Zhou Tianzui, I ran into your mom.
Zhou Tianzui: It’s okay, she’s your mom too.
You Ruxu: …
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