Chapter 51: A Warm Welcome

**White Elder treated Tang Ailian as an equal rather than a child, saying, "No, you didn't have to wait long. Young friend, this is your bankbook, opened in your name, and there's 100 yuan in it. I'll transfer more money to this account when you get back. There's 1,000 yuan in cash in this newspaper. Additionally, I've bought some New Year goods for you and placed them in the car."

Tang Ailian accepted the bankbook and the cash with a sense of excitement. Finally, she had some money. One thousand yuan, divided into ten 100-yuan packets, and then bundled into one large packet.

This was the end of 1960, and 1,000 yuan was already a substantial amount of money. Although food and consumer goods prices had skyrocketed this year, things other than food were still relatively inexpensive.

The fabric she wore cost only 1.5 yuan per yard, and with an additional yuan, she could have a whole new set of clothes made, plus fabric coupons.

Moreover, this was Chinese currency, usable immediately, not like those gold bars that were valuable but couldn't be spent.

Also, she could finally repay her debt to her "uncle." She no longer had to feel guilty for scheming to obtain his silver grass, lingzhi mushrooms, and ginseng seedlings.

Tang Ailian tucked the bankbook safely away and stuffed the bundle of cash into her small backpack. White Elder found it somewhat strange that the cash fit into her small bag so easily. Little did he know that Tang Ailian had actually placed the Chinese yuan into her dimensional space.

Seeing that Tang Ailian was in a good mood, White Elder was pleased as well. "Manager Zhao Shuji wants to meet you."

Tang Ailian thought for a moment and replied, "But it's very late."

"Just meet briefly. He wants to thank you and invite you to dinner. After dinner, I'll drive you back home."

Tang Ailian considered it and agreed.

Zhao Shuji, whose real name was Zhao Zixian, was a tall and burly middle-aged man who had the appearance of a northerner but was actually from the south. Zhao Lu was his nephew. He warmly welcomed Tang Ailian, gave her his phone number, and assured her that she could contact him anytime she needed help.

Zhao Lu and the more than ten workers whom Tang Ailian had saved had contracted a strange illness, and they had evidently gone to an extraordinary place. Tang Ailian knew there was a secret behind this, but she didn't ask any questions.

Her abilities were still limited, and even if she asked, she wouldn't dare to investigate further.

During dinner, White Elder cautiously asked Tang Ailian, "Young friend, do you still have that spiritual water you used to treat the workers?"

Tang Ailian replied without looking up, "It's all used up. My master gave me so little, and I used it all today." It seemed that she had just realized she had run out of spiritual medicine. "I've suffered a big loss today. I used up the life-saving pills my master gave me, not to mention the spiritual water. My master will definitely scold me." She pouted.

She had used up the life-saving pills and the spiritual water her master had given her, yet she only thought about her master scolding her, without any regret.

She was indeed still just a child.

White Elder had initially hoped to obtain some spiritual water from Tang Ailian, but to his surprise, she had already used it all. While he scolded Tang Ailian in his heart for being wasteful, he also felt fortunate that if the spiritual medicine hadn't been used up, many people might have coveted it. After all, she was just a child, and she might not understand the importance of keeping it a secret.

They all believed that Tang Ailian was telling the truth. Her appearance was very deceiving, and who would have thought that this two-and-a-half-year-old child could lie?

Zhao Zixian was deeply moved by Tang Ailian's actions. She had offered all her spiritual medicine to save his workers. However, as a factory manager, he couldn't offer money.

Well, he could at least help her get some good New Year goods.

He knew that food was scarce at the moment, so he planned to send some food to Tang Ailian's home.

When Tang Ailian left, the workers she had saved came to bid her farewell. Although they were all weak, they were very enthusiastic and eager to help Tang Ailian. Each of them wrote down their addresses, telling Tang Ailian to contact them if she ever needed assistance.

Tang Ailian couldn't help but roll her eyes. She couldn't come to them even if she used her psychic power to "see" the way. She didn't dare to come here.

Finally, White Elder and Xiaozhong escorted Tang Ailian back to Longtou Village. Of course, on the way back, Tang Ailian's eyes were covered once again.

In Tang Ailian's home, Liu Xiujian was still pacing in the main hall. She was very anxious, although Tang Shuisheng had already informed her family that Tang Ailian had been invited to treat his friend. But Liu Xiujian was still very worried: Tang Ailian had clearly been kidnapped.

Tang Grandma couldn't bear it any longer. "I told you not to worry, dear. Ailian will come back safe and sound."

Liu Xiujian, who had always been respectful and obedient to Grandma Tang, suddenly gave her a cold look and didn't say anything.

Tang Shuisheng quickly tried to ease the situation. "Yes, Xiujian, Tang Ailian will be fine."

Liu Xiujian exploded, pointing at Tang Shuisheng and scolding him loudly, "She's not your daughter, so of course you would say she's fine. You, a useless man who goes wandering around all day and gets into all sorts of disgraceful things. Do you know how much trouble you've caused? Why did you have to borrow money at such a high interest rate? You've brought this mess upon yourself. Why did you let my daughter wipe your..."

She didn't realize how inappropriate her words were as she vented her frustrations. Tang Shuisheng was left speechless. He couldn't believe he had caused so much trouble for his family, especially his daughter.

Liu Xiujian had rarely scolded Tang Shuisheng like this before, and while she vented her anger, she felt a sense of relief. But thinking of her young daughter, who had been taken away by this irresponsible man, she couldn't even eat dinner.

Even Tang Grandma was getting frustrated. Since Liu Xiujian wouldn't leave, Tang Shuisheng was pacing around the room.

As they waited for Tang Ailian, their patience wore thin. Suddenly, the sound of a car could be heard in the distance, and shortly afterward, Aishi ran into the room.

"She's back! She's back! Ailian is back!"

(End of this chapter)

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