Guide to Rising to Power as a Wife in Beijing's Elite Circle

At 10:00 AM, at Baizhou Film and Television Base, the extras training class for students. The car was parked at the entrance of the base. Calling it a base is a stretch; it's really just a few old factory buildings converted into film studios. The exterior walls are painted white, but in some places, the paint has peeled off, revealing the gray-black cement underneath.

Two signs hang at the entrance: one reads "Baizhou Film and Television Group," and the other reads "Baizhou City Poor Girls' Education Assistance College Film and Television Training Base."

Wang Longjie was already waiting at the door. He wore thin-rimmed glasses and a simple T-shirt, with a gentle demeanor, looking like an honest and law-abiding person. "Chief Chen, Inspector Ning, Captain Luo, Director Chen, welcome, welcome."

Chen Wei extended her hand and shook his. "Mr. Wang, I apologize for bothering you. I'm here mainly to check on the use of your company's film and television funding. It's a routine inspection, please don't be nervous."

Wang Longjie nodded repeatedly. "Don't be nervous, don't be nervous, good job. Every penny of public money must be used wisely. I welcome the inspection with open arms."

Wang Longjie led them inside. They passed through a corridor whose walls were covered with photos—group pictures of the girls in the special education program. Some were reading in classrooms, some were running on the playground, and some were performing on stage. In every photo, the girls were smiling brightly.

At the end of the corridor is a glass door, behind which is the classroom for the extras in the student aid program.

Wang Longjie pushed open the door, and inside, the girls were in class. It was more like a vocational training session than a formal class. A dozen or so girls sat at desks, some reading, some drawing, and some writing.

They ranged in age from eight or nine to fifteen or sixteen, wearing uniform light blue school uniforms, looking clean and with their hair neatly combed.

Chen Nuo's gaze swept across their faces. Every girl had a smile on her face, looking no different from children in an ordinary school. She felt a little more at ease. At least Wang Longjie hadn't embezzled all the money, as they had speculated.

These children have enough to eat and wear, they have access to education, they have a place to live, and they are cared for. Even if it's just for show, the fact that they've gone to this extent shows they've put in effort.

Wang Longjie explained from the side, "Our student aid program currently has 120 children, divided into six classes. Today's class is on extra acting skills, mainly teaching some basic acting knowledge and on-set etiquette. After the children finish learning, they can go to our base's film crews to work as extras. They can learn something, earn money, and broaden their horizons. It's a win-win-win situation."

Chen Wei nodded. "Where do the children usually live?"

"They live in the dormitory building behind the base. We built a special building for them, four-person rooms with air conditioning, hot water, and private bathrooms. The meal standard is three meals a day, two meat dishes and one vegetable dish, all you can eat," Wang Longjie said, taking a small booklet out of his pocket and handing it over. "This is the children's menu and accommodation arrangement, all recorded, you can check it."

Chen Wei took the booklet, flipped through it, and handed it to Chen Nuo. Chen Nuo glanced at it; the records were very detailed, with daily menus, weekly recipes, and dormitory occupancy lists all clearly written down. She closed the booklet without saying a word.

Wang Longjie led them through the classroom to an office at the end of the corridor. The office wasn't large, probably only about ten square meters. There was an old-fashioned desk, a chair, a bookcase, and a filing cabinet. Several documents were spread out on the desk, along with an old desktop computer.

Wang Longjie brought out several folding chairs for everyone to sit down. "The conditions are simple, please don't mind, leaders."

After sitting down, Chen Wei gestured for Chen Nuo to begin checking the accounts.

Chen Nuo began checking each book one by one. She moved slowly, reading each page three times. The first time she looked at the numbers, the second time at the signature, and the third time at the dates.

The evidence is so well done, every single detail is airtight, there's absolutely no way to find any problems.

After the inspection, Wang Longjie saw them out. The group walked through the corridor towards the door. As they passed the tutoring class classroom, Chen Nuo saw through the glass door that the girls had finished class and were playing in the corridor.

Chen Nuo's gaze swept across the girls' faces, then suddenly stopped. One girl, about twelve or thirteen years old, with two braids and wearing a light blue school uniform, was squatting on the ground playing a game. There was a large red stain on the back of her pants, running from her waist down to her thigh; it was a dark color, like blood.

Chen Nuo's heart skipped a beat. "Sister Chen Wei, look at that girl."

Chen Wei followed her gaze and said, "She's probably getting her period. It's normal for her to have her first period at this age. Go get her a sanitary napkin."

Chen Nuo nodded. She quickly walked over and squatted down in front of the girl. The girl looked up at her, her eyes showing a hint of fear.

"Little friend, what's your name?"

"Yueyue."

"Yueyue, your pants are dirty. Are you on your period?" Chen Nuo took a pack of sanitary napkins out of her bag and handed it to Yueyue. "Go to the bathroom and change quickly, otherwise your pants will get even dirtier."

Yueyue looked down at the sanitary napkin in her hand, then looked up at Chen Nuo. Her lips moved slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but dared not.

Chen Nuo patted her on the shoulder. "It's okay, go on."

"Sister... this bleeding won't stop."

"What do you mean? It can't be stopped?"

Yueyue lowered her head, her voice barely audible. "Ever since...ever since that uncle touched me, the bleeding just won't stop."

Chen Nuo's head buzzed. She forced herself to remain calm, her voice as steady as possible. "What uncle? Yueyue, tell your sister, what uncle?"

Yueyue was about to speak...

"Director Chen."

Chen Nuo turned around. Wang Longjie stood before him, his smile gone. His eyes were fixed on Chen Nuo, like two snakes. "Director Chen, what are you two talking about?"

Her expression was calm. "Mr. Wang, I see this child's pants are dirty; she must be menstruating. I'll give her a pack of sanitary napkins."

Wang Longjie glanced at the sanitary napkin in Yueyue's hand for two seconds. "Thank you for your help, Director Chen. We provide sanitary napkins to the children every month and also hire someone to give them gynecological lectures. We have experience with this kind of thing."

He turned to look at Yueyue and said gently, "Yueyue, it's time to go back to class. Stop playing."

Yueyue's body trembled. She lowered her head, clutching the sanitary napkin, and quickly ran into the classroom.

Chen Nuo stood there, staring at the closed door. Her back was soaked with sweat.

What uncle?