"Hahaha, xixixi!"
The person in red vanished, and the people around them chortled and resumed their previous activities.
Liu Sandao also smiled and continued picking up trash.
"You did it, didn't you? You must have!"
Bai Suxiang asked herself and answered.
Liu Sandao offered no comment, neither admitting nor denying.
Some things required a small punishment to leave a lasting impression.
The event had no specified end time, only that items which could be recycled, such as plastic water bottles and aluminum cans, could be brought to the park entrance for unified processing.
Bai Suxiang and Liu Sandao had collected two aluminum cans, so their final stop for the activity was the park entrance.
"Come, come, put them here!"
The speaker was Director Cai, who seemed to be waiting specifically for them.
Bai Suxiang took the two aluminum cans she had collected and dropped them into a large plastic bag prepared by Director Cai.
Liu Sandao glanced at the bottles and cans; there weren't many, just enough to fill one bag, about twenty or thirty in total.
"Thank you for your hard work. Go home and rest well!"
Director Cai said politely.
"Okay, okay," Bai Suxiang replied casually, then added, "What will happen to these items?"
Anyone with common sense wouldn't ask this question, yet Bai Suxiang did.
Director Cai understood that her question was one most people asked them.
This event had been held for five years now. Many people participated, but the number of plastic bottles and aluminum cans collected each time was actually quite small.
"They'll be donated to those in need!"
Director Cai said casually. Seeing Bai Suxiang looking at her strangely, she smiled and added,
"I need to head back too. I'll take this there on the way. Do you want to come along and see?"
"Really? Okay, okay!"
Bai Suxiang immediately agreed.
Even though a few plastic bottles wouldn't fetch much money, the story behind them piqued Bai Suxiang's interest.
As they chatted, they left Wukui Park. Liu Sandao followed a few steps behind them.
After about fifteen minutes, they arrived at a small courtyard with single-story houses.
It wasn't far from Wukui Park, but there were few tall buildings around.
Director Cai explained that it was a protected area for ancient ruins, so the government didn't allow high-rise construction.
The gate of the small courtyard house was only two meters high, clearly indicating it was an old building.
Liu Sandao stooped to enter, expecting it to be like a regular home.
However, upon entering, the potted flowers, a small table, and a few chairs in the courtyard were all neatly arranged.
The rooms facing the entrance were clean and peaceful.
"Teacher Xue, Teacher Xue!"
Director Cai shouted as soon as she entered the courtyard.
It seemed the owner was a teacher, and Director Cai's teacher at that, suggesting a certain standing.
However, despite Director Cai's calls, there was no response.
"Wait for me, I'll go to the back to see if she's busy there!"
Director Cai said, carrying the bag of cans and bottles as she headed towards the backyard.
The door to the backyard was on the right side of the courtyard, directly opposite the main gate. It was evident that someone had guided her.
The door was simply a plank, not locked.
Bai Suxiang, curious, followed her inside.
Liu Sandao, with nothing else to do, also walked over to see who was hidden inside.
"Wow!"
As Bai Suxiang pushed open the door, a foul odor wafted out. She quickly covered her nose.
Seeing her reaction, Liu Sandao, having braced himself, held his breath as he entered.
Behind the door, a large pile of plastic bottles, aluminum cans, scrap metal, and a heap of cardboard boxes were stacked.
The courtyard was much larger than the front. Although the accumulated items were messy, they were mostly sorted.
"Teacher Xue! Teacher Xue!"
Director Cai called out again, but no one answered.
"Ah, never mind. She must have gone out again. Let me put this down, and we'll wait for her outside!"
Director Cai said as she placed the garbage bag next to the pile of bottles.
She was clearly accustomed to the environment and didn't seem uncomfortable at all. Sudan Novel Network
It was hard to imagine a cleanly dressed person standing amidst a pile of trash.
After leaving the backyard, Director Cai habitually pulled the wooden door shut.
"Let's have lunch here today!"
Director Cai said, acting as if she were also a resident.
"Oh, that would be too much trouble."
Bai Suxiang said bashfully.
"It's nothing. This is how we always do it. Teacher Xue won't mind."
The more Director Cai said this, the more curious Bai Suxiang became. What kind of person was she?
She collected junk, allowed people to eat at her home, and judging by Director Cai's demeanor, many people came here to eat. It was truly intriguing.
As Director Cai spoke, she began preparing to cook.
Bai Suxiang quickly offered to help, while Liu Sandao sat by the small table.
There was a simple stove in the courtyard for cooking.
While cooking, Director Cai chatted with Bai Suxiang, particularly about her relationship with Teacher Xue.
Teacher Xue, whose name was Xue Guilan, was a retired teacher, around seventy-five years old. Director Cai said that when she was in junior high, Teacher Xue had just transferred to work in Wukui City.
Wukui City back then was not as developed as it was now.
When she was a student, Director Cai was particularly afraid of Teacher Xue because of her strictness.
But her perception truly changed after she got married. Because she worked in Wukui City, she met her partner and settled down here.
At that time, she had just married, and her home was in the Xingfuli neighborhood nearby.
One evening, around seven or eight o'clock, she and her husband were out for a walk when they encountered a woman collecting junk.
There were many people collecting junk, so she didn't pay much attention.
However, as the woman turned to leave, Director Cai noticed that her figure strongly resembled her teacher, so she called out, "Teacher Xue!"
The woman immediately turned around upon hearing her name. Director Cai saw that it was indeed Teacher Xue.
"You... how can you be here?"
"You are? You are..."
"I am Cai Xiangyue, have you forgotten, Teacher Xue?"
"Oh, it's you. Do you live here?" Xue Guilan asked.
"Yes, yes!" Director Cai replied.
Initially, Director Cai thought she was collecting junk because of financial difficulties. She was about to say that if she had any trouble, she could help. After all, Xingfuli neighborhood was the earliest residential area there at the time.
"Good, good, good! That's good!"
Teacher Xue left in such a hurry.