Chapter 527 Do One Last Thing for Me

Chapter 527: Do Me One Last Favor

Jiang Yu’s eyes went still for a moment, narrowing slightly as she began thinking deeply.

She looked up and fixed her gaze on Cai Xiaole.

“His mother-in-law is vegetarian? How do you know that?”

Cai Xiaole sat down across from her. “Pretty much everyone knows. That old lady is notoriously fussy—she has to cover her hair when she goes out, and her clothes can’t have a single wrinkle. She’s an old-fashioned lady who’s strict about staying indoors. If she sees us out and about, she’d probably scold us.”

Lao Wang was the husband who moved into his wife’s family home and had little status there. He lived in his wife’s family house and had to go along with her demands.

“She came from a well-known family on South Street. The whole family is vegetarian—it’s not exactly a secret.”

Jiang Yu nibbled her lip thoughtfully and asked, “If she’s vegetarian, then the fish Lao Wang caught couldn’t possibly be for her.”

Was Lao Wang lying, or was there something else going on?

Cai Xiaole hesitated. “Well… this is a secret—only I know. I’ll tell you, but don’t spread it around.”

Cai Xiaole’s good-for-nothing father from the countryside was from the same village as Lao Wang—both were from Tangdian.

When she was little, she’d heard her dad say that Lao Wang had already been married in the countryside but later left his wife and child behind and came to the city, where he became a husband living in his wife’s family home.

He went back to the countryside every month—not to visit his parents, but to see the wife and child he’d left behind.

“My dad made me swear to keep it quiet. I’ve never told anyone else.”

Over time, she’d forgotten about it.

If Jiang Yu hadn’t brought it up today, she wouldn’t have mentioned it.

Jiang Yu mused, “And his wife in the countryside doesn’t cause trouble?”

“What’s there to cause trouble about? The kid’s already grown up, and Lao Wang still gives them money. They just get by.”

Jiang Yu stood up. “Xiaole, I’m stepping out.”

Cai Xiaole gave a noncommittal “Oh.” Jiang Yu was always mysterious—she was used to it by now.

With this new information, Jiang Yu naturally went to find Xiaoqi.

“Take a trip to the countryside and investigate Lao Wang’s wife and child there.”

Xiaoqi was confused. “He has two wives? He can have two wives?”

Jiang Yu rapped him on the head. “He’s a terrible role model—don’t learn from him.”

As for Lao Wang, Jiang Yu kept her opinion to herself.

But given the current situation, Lao Wang was working against her—he was someone she needed to guard against.

Her intuition told her there was something not right about him.

Now, it all depended on whether Xiaoqi could find anything useful.

However, after several days, Xiaoqi came back with nothing to show.

"He's married to Cui Lian, who was raised to be his wife from childhood and had two sons with him. Later, when he went to the city to marry into his wife’s family, she didn’t remarry and stayed in the village with their two sons."

Everyone wondered why she remained so loyal to a man who treated her that way.

Some said Cui Lian was smart—since He Tingyue’s city wife hadn’t given him any children, his things would end up going to her boys.

"She’s just an ordinary country bumpkin, nothing unusual about her."

Cui Lian wore coarse clothes and tended the fields like everyone else, tanned and strong.

Her days followed the same routine: waking up early, feeding the chickens and ducks, then heading out to work in the fields.

Back home for breakfast, then off to the fields again.

Her life seemed stuck in the same loop.

"If He Tingyue and Jiao Zongyao were in cahoots, even scraps from Jiao Zongyao would be enough for them to live comfortably."

Yet Cui Lian’s household didn’t seem any better off.

Jiang Yu nodded—it was the first time her gut had never been wrong before.

Was she overthinking it?

"Xiaoqi, let’s drop it for now. Keep an eye on Jiao Zongyao and Wei Nan."

Jiang Yu’s mind was scrambled; she needed to untangle her thoughts.

Another exhausting day passed, and Jiang Yu trudged home, head pounding.

He Tingyue took one look at her tired face and frowned.

"Are you unwell?"

"No," she shook her head. "Just tired."

She collapsed onto the table and told him about He Tingyue’s family.

Her investigation had focused on those connected to Jiao Zongyao—his friends, He Tingyue, and Jin Lixuan’s wife and children.

"Could it be that none of these three are suspicious? Was I overthinking it?"

He Tingyue rubbed her temples—he really felt for her.

"Based on your instincts, who’s the most suspicious?"

"He Tingyue," Jiang Yu answered without hesitation.

Even though Xiaoqi’s findings had ruled him out, she still doubted him.

He Tingyue squeezed her arm gently. "Then keep at it."

"Why?"

"Because Xiaoqi overlooked one thing—Cui Lian’s family stands out from other country folk."

Jiang Yu straightened up. "What's the difference?"

"Their clothes don't have patches."

He Tingyue naturally wouldn’t let Jiang Yu handle this alone—he was in on the investigation too.

To judge a family’s living conditions, clothing and food are the most telling.

First, their clothes had no patches. Second, though they were dark-skinned, they had healthy, full faces—there wasn’t a single thin person in the family.

If this isn't considered living well, then what is?

Jiang Yu narrowed her eyes. "The more normal they appear, the more certain it is that something’s wrong."

Would Jiao Zongyao trust Old Wang with his stuff?

The next day, Jiang Yu stopped by the guard station again.

"I remember your hometown is in Tangdian, right?"

Old Wang’s smile didn’t waver as he nodded.

"You sure know your stuff, girl."

Jiang Yu said, "My husband's tight with you—no need for research. We’re thinking of going fishing in Tangdian this week. Wanna make it a contest?"

Old Wang’s smile stiffened. He started fanning himself hard, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"We'll see. Might be busy."

Jiang Yu tilted her head. "Your wife's crazy about fish, right? If you win, I’ll leave all the fish for you."

Old Wang didn’t agree, waving her off.

"Better get going now or you'll be late."

...

Night fell, and a shadow moved fast through the night.

Arriving at Jiao Zongyao’s doorstep, he pushed the door open and entered.

"Jiang Yu's got her eye on me."

Jiao Zongyao let out a cold, knowing smile, his face obscured by smoke.

"She's not onto you—she's onto me."

Old Wang said anxiously, "What are we gonna do? They've got the countryside staked out. I can’t get your things out."

"Calm down!" Jiao Zongyao shot him a glance.

Old Wang pressed his lips together. "All I want is a quiet life. I don’t want all this trouble. Can’t we—"

"Old Wang, once you're in this with me, there's no getting out."

Jiao Zongyao chuckled, "You lost your quiet life the moment you killed your father-in-law."

Old Wang’s temples pulsed as he exploded, "It was an accident! How long you gonna keep dangling this over me? I've paid my dues to you!"

Over the years, Jiao Zongyao's hands have remained clean because all the items were kept in his possession.

He knew exactly how dirty those goods were, yet he continued safeguarding them.

"I'm begging you, I don't want anything. Just take everything away. Jiang Yu hasn't let up on her suspicions—she has me in her sights!"

Jiang Yu's relentless pursuit had Lao Wang in a panic.

In a few days, she's making a trip to the countryside, undoubtedly targeting that batch of treasures.

Holding onto these things was like clutching a hot potato in his hands.

Jiao Zongyao remained silent, deep in thought.

With Jiang Yu watching him, he was now on the defensive.

After a long pause, he finally spoke.

"Handle one last thing for me."

Since Jiang Yu was so curious about his goods, he'd bury her curiosity forever in the countryside.