Chapter 31 Empty-handed Visit

Chapter 31 Empty-handed Visit

Watching the public security officers take the man away, the residents of the compound were on edge and crowded around the Song family's door, asking the factory director, "Director Song, what’s going on with this man? Why was he arrested? We accepted his money, will we be in trouble?"

Song Baili reassured everyone, "It’s fine, I’m the one who called the cops. His movements were suspicious, and I was worried he might have some ulterior motive for collecting these things. We haven’t done anything wrong, so there’s no need to be afraid."

But the crowd was still uneasy, fearing that the money they had earned with difficulty might be taken back.

Just then, Song Xilan saw Jiang Chengxiao rushing over, anxiously pushing through the crowd, "Are you okay? I heard Jiang Jingru brought a man over here, did he give you any trouble?"

Someone was coming to cause trouble? Song Baili and Tan Aizhi pricked up their ears, and they both looked over.

Song Xilan was momentarily stunned by his sudden arrival, and Jiang Chengxiao was also caught off guard by the unexpected encounter with her parents.

In the awkward silence, Tan Aizhi broke the silence, "Who is this guy?"

Song Xilan replied, "Mom, Dad, this is Comrade Jiang I told you about."

Jiang Chengxiao awkwardly smiled, "Hi, Uncle, Aunt."

"So it’s Comrade Jiang, come in, come in, have a seat inside."

Jiang Chengxiao felt embarrassed to visit empty-handed for the first time, "No, no need, I just came to see how things are, I have a few words to say to Xiao Song."

Song Baili sensed that what he had to say might be related to today’s incident and said gravely, "Whatever it is, let’s talk inside."

Song Xilan also whispered, "Let’s go inside first, the neighbors are all watching."

Indeed, a crowd of people was staring at him intently; nothing stays secret in this compound.

Jiang Chengxiao kicked himself for rushing over like that, feeling it was too impolite.

"Come on, Xiao Jiang, don’t be shy, make yourself comfortable, sit down. Lan Lan, go brew some tea," Tan Aizhi said, smiling and sizing up Jiang Chengxiao with a satisfied look.

"So, Xiao Jiang, where’s home for you? What do your folks do?"

"Hahaha, is this the interrogation now?"

"Mom Song’s clearly into good looks."

"Oh my, where did this handsome young man come from? I want him as my son-in-law, right now!"

Song Xilan, who came out with a teacup, exclaimed, "...Mom!"

Song Baili interjected, "Let’s cut to the chase, Xiao Jiang, what did you mean by what you said earlier?"

Jiang Chengxiao explained, "This is all on me. It was my own issue, but it ended up involving Xiao Song."

After he returned to the inn that day, he hired some local thugs to keep an eye on Jiang Jingru.

They then informed Jiang Chengxiao that Jiang Jingru had been sneaking around and had contacted two men in the past two days. One was an antique dealer, who usually dealt in shady business, mostly fake antiques, and was not a good person.

The other was a scrap collector, whom she paid to go to the food factory dormitory, but they had no idea what she was planning.

Hearing it was the food factory dormitory, Jiang Chengxiao got nervous and rushed over, fearing that Jiang Jingru, because of his pursuit for the money, might have targeted Song Xilan and hired someone to harm her.

Song Baili asked, "So, you don’t know what the scrap collector was here for?"

Jiang Chengxiao remembered passing a police car on his way and nervously asked, "Has he already been here? What did he do?"

Song Baili: "He came to collect old portraits. We don’t know his real intentions, but it doesn’t seem like he’s after our Lan Lan."

Song Xilan glanced at her father in surprise. She got that he didn’t want to spill the beans about the famous calligraphy and painting they had at home. That was the right thing to do; such a big matter shouldn’t be casually disclosed.

Jiang Chengxiao stood up: "Thanks, Uncle. I’ll head to the police station to check things out. If they’re really up to no good with Xilan, I won’t let them get away with it. I’ll get going now."

Tan Aizhi: "Why don’t you stay for dinner before you head out?"

"No need, thanks, Auntie. I’ll swing by another time to properly visit and try your cooking."

Song Xilan also stood up: "I’ll go with you!"

She blurted out the words impulsively, only to realize that all three were looking at her in surprise. She quickly added, "I’m also curious what Jiang Jingru’s deal is, going through all this hassle to get those paintings."

Tan Aizhi: "You’re not staying for dinner? We were planning on having roast chicken tonight. Although we haven’t received the money yet, I already bought a roast chicken after leaving work early."

"Roast chicken’s no good cold."

There’s not much that could make Song Xilan pass up good food right in front of her, and certainly not the reason she just mentioned. She knows better than anyone why Jiang Jingru’s doing this, because as a time traveler, she knows she has something in her possession that could make Jiang Jingru a lot of money.

For Jiang Jingru, making money beats revenge.

So Song Xilan’s not sure why she blurted out going to the police station with Jiang Chengxiao. It’s not like she just wanted to hang out with Jiang Chengxiao, right? Is he more important than roast chicken?

But she’d already said it. Song Xilan hesitated for a moment: "I’ll eat when I get back!"

Song Baili pulled Song Xilan aside and told her: "If anyone asks about the frame, just say you know nothing about it, understand?"

Song Xilan: "Even if the police ask?"

"Yes, even if the police ask. If too many people find out we’ve got that thing at home, it’ll be trouble," Song Baili said seriously.

Song Xilan nodded naively: "Oh!"

Song Baili sighed; raising a daughter too innocent might not be entirely good.

Tan Aizhi, after all, felt sorry for her daughter and worried she might get hungry. Before they left, she stuffed a pack of walnut cookies bought from Lianxiang Lou into her hands: "Have these if you get hungry."

She also instructed Jiang Chengxiao: "Xiao Jiang, take good care of Lan Lan."

"Auntie, don’t worry, I’m here!" Jiang Chengxiao said spiritedly.