Chapter 21 Lin Yufan, You Lunatic

Chapter 21 Lin Yufan, You Lunatic

Sunlight streamed through the window, making the First Madam's face look sallow. She couldn't quite figure out what Lin Yufan was up to.

Jian Suzhen usually knew how to handle people, and her relationship with Lin Yufan had always been decent, though not particularly close.

At this crucial time, why did Lin Yufan summon Jian Suzhen?

The First Madam, assisted by Cai Juan, licked her lips and asked, "You want Third Madam to come to you?"

"Yes, have her come."

Seeing Lin Yufan's stern face, the First Madam didn't dare to ask more: "Alright, alright, I understand. Then... should we prepare anything?"

Lin Yufan glanced at her: "Just come straight over, no need to bring anything. However, since you want to save the First Master and Third Master, you'll need to bribe some people. You should prepare something yourselves."

What to prepare?

It must be money for bribes.

The First Madam immediately agreed: "I understand. How much do you suggest?"

Lin Yufan looked at the First Madam's humble and respectful demeanor, finding it both sad and amusing: "We'll see. But the more you prepare, the better your odds."

The First Madam instantly saw a glimmer of hope, nodding repeatedly to show she understood.

Finally, Gui Xiang saw them out.

At the door, the First Madam gave Cai Juan a meaningful look, and Cai Juan pushed a handful of silver coins into Gui Xiang's hand.

"Sister Gui Xiang, it was all my fault earlier, I'm truly sorry. This is just a small gesture of my gratitude, you must accept it."

Gui Xiang hesitated but eventually accepted it.

After seeing the First Madam and her group off, Gui Xiang returned to the room and whispered to Lin Yufan, "They gave me six silver coins."

Lin Yufan was adjusting the radio, she slightly raised her head and smiled, "If they gave it to you, hold onto it."

Gui Xiang smiled, "I'll get the tofu pudding you like."

Lin Yufan didn't refuse, "Make it two bowls."

Gui Xiang was even happier, "Alright. I'll put in some osmanthus honey."

*

The Second Branch gathered again in the old lady's room.

Nan Geer, who had gone to seek help from another relative separately from the First Madam, had also returned.

Nan Geer returned with nothing, while the First Madam, who had also initially achieved nothing, now felt she had made some progress.

"Lin Yufan told us to prepare the money."

Upon hearing this, the old lady also seemed to see a glimmer of hope: "How much should we prepare?"

"She suggested we prepare more. As for the specifics, she said she needs to see Third Madam."

Jian Suzhen's heart skipped a beat: "Why does she want to see me?"

She really didn't want to see Lin Yufan.

Everyone else was curious too.

Nan Geer asked his mother, "Does she only want to see Third Aunt?"

First Madam replied, "She sent me back to fetch Third Madam."

Nan Geer asked again, "Did Fourth Aunt agree to ask Commissioner Bai for help?"

First Madam shook her head, "No. She said she wants to see Third Madam first. It’s likely still about the money. She’s closer to Third Madam and would rather talk to her. Third Sister-in-law, with things at this point, you’ve got to use the money from Third Master’s estate sale to help them, right?"

Jian Suzhen, as usual, evaded, "How would Zhao Mingjie hand me the money from the estate sale? I don’t even know where he’s stashed it."

First Madam didn’t believe Jian Suzhen’s words, "The brothers have been locked up for two days now. Haven’t you looked around the house? If you can’t find it, we’ll help."

Jian Suzhen, feeling guilty, softened her attitude, "I’ll search for it tonight."

"Make sure you search thoroughly," First Madam said, still upset from her run-in with Lin Yufan. She couldn’t bring herself to admit at home that she’d knelt before Lin Yufan.

What a humiliation.

She was still bitter, wondering why Lin Yufan favored Jian Suzhen, that two-faced hypocrite.

The old lady, anxious, urged, "Then don’t wait. Suzhen, head to Jinghua Tower first and hear what Lin Yufan has to say. It’d be best to reach out to Zhao Zhiao while using their family’s connections to get help from that commissioner."

Jian Suzhen couldn’t refuse, since the Second Branch thought Lin Yufan trusted her more.

But she knew Lin Yufan, who’d once poisoned her sour plum soup, surely wasn’t planning to help her now. She’d be lucky if Lin Yufan didn’t take advantage of her.

Forced to go, Jian Suzhen slipped a dagger into her handbag. Who knew what that crazy Lin Yufan might do to her? A knife could at least protect her if needed.

Half an hour after First Madam got back, Jian Suzhen rushed to Jinghua Tower.

As she entered Jinghua Garden, an unfamiliar maid guided her. She was startled to see a man smoking under the corridor behind.

The man looked quite familiar. Wasn’t that Tielong, who had been driven away by First Madam?

She exchanged a glance with Sang Zi, who also recognized him. It was indeed Tielong.

Why was Tielong here?

Jian Suzhen gently tugged at the maid leading the way and whispered with a smile, "Is that Tielong smoking?"

The maid smiled, "Yes, he’s the errand boy brought by First Madam."

Jian Suzhen nervously smiled, her upper lip pressed tightly against her gums, unable to come down. After a while, she suddenly realized and quickly stuck out her tongue to lick it.

Entering the house, a housekeeper greeted her and asked Sang Zi to wait downstairs, allowing only Jian Suzhen to go upstairs.

"Third Madam Jian, please leave your handbag downstairs."

Jian Suzhen didn’t expect Lin Yufan to be so wary of her and quickly said, "There are important things in my bag."

The housekeeper smiled, "If Third Madam doesn’t trust us, then leave the bag with your maid."

Under someone else’s roof, Jian Suzhen had to compromise. She handed the handbag containing the dagger to Sang Zi.

Going up to the second floor, she entered a small reception room. After the maid left a cup of tea, she was alone in the room.

"First Madam is resting. Please sit and wait for a while."

She waited and waited, but Lin Yufan did not show up.

Jian Suzhen was fuming. They had all been given a second chance, yet why was it that everything went wrong for them, encountering nothing but troubles, while Lin Yufan, a widow, had climbed the social ladder?

The First Madam’s grand display was clearly put on for her to see.

After waiting for nearly half an hour, she finally heard someone approaching.

With a mix of hope and worry, she looked towards the door, only for a young maid to enter and refill her tea.

Jian Suzhen couldn’t help but ask, "Why hasn’t the First Madam arrived yet?"

"She might be napping."

"Could you please check on her?"

"I wouldn’t dare disturb her. You might have to wait a little longer."

The maid answered politely, but her tone was cold, neither warm nor showing any human touch.

The issue with the girl selling cigarettes had caused quite a stir, and the servants privately discussed it, all despising the traitor who turned on their own. Who would have thought the traitor was from the old Zhao family?

In the past two days, the Second Branch had come begging multiple times. The servants didn’t dare speak up, but deep down, they wished the villain would get what was coming to them.

After the maid left, another half an hour passed, and there was still no movement.

Jian Suzhen didn’t dare drink too much tea. She needed to use the restroom, and drinking more tea would only make it worse, so she had to hold it in.

She secretly made up her mind that if Lin Yufan still didn’t come, she’d have to go. After all, she didn’t want to come in the first place, and she could justify her return—Lin Yufan was the one who snubbed her, not that she couldn’t bring herself to ask for help.

Jian Suzhen’s mindset was different from the First Madam’s. The First Madam was old-fashioned, completely focused on saving her husband, willing to sacrifice everything.

Jian Suzhen was relatively more selfish. Between her husband and money, she would definitely choose money.

She’d save her husband, but not if it meant losing all her money.

Just as Jian Suzhen was about to lose her patience, the door opened without warning.

Lin Yufan entered.

Jian Suzhen quickly stood up with a smile, "Fourth sister-in-law, you must be swamped with important things, making us wait so long."

Lin Yufan also sat down with a smile on the chair next to Jian Suzhen, "I slept in, and no one woke me."

Who would believe that?!

It was clearly intentional.

Jian Suzhen didn’t dare expose it, only flattering, "It’s been over ten days since we last saw each other, and you look even more glowing."

"Really? There’s no helping it. I eat well, sleep well, read books, and listen to operas. My mother-in-law pampers me, letting me buy whatever I want. I usually have no worries, unlike you and the First Madam, who have so many troubles. Oh dear, I see you’ve even grown some white hairs." Lin Yufan said this with a smile, her tone as casual as if she were chatting with a friend, which made Jian Suzhen’s veins on her forehead throb, almost smoking.

In her mind, she was thinking, had she really grown white hairs?

"Don’t move, let me pluck it for you." Lin Yufan pressed Jian Suzhen’s head.

This press startled Jian Suzhen, who flinched back like a frightened alpaca, her elbow nearly knocking over the teacup on the table.

Feeling a slight pain on her head, she heard Lin Yufan giggle.

"What are you scared of? Scared I’ll kill you? Look, a white hair."

Jian Suzhen stared at the thin white hair in front of her, her face pale with fear. She had genuinely been afraid that Lin Yufan might suddenly pull out a knife and kill her.

She’s done it before.

Despite Lin Yufan’s usual calm and gentle appearance, she was actually a lunatic.

Jian Suzhen broke out in a cold sweat, forcing a strained smile and speaking in a tone that wasn’t too sharp, "Lin Yufan, you did this on purpose. You called me here on purpose, didn’t you?"

"Did what on purpose?"

"So tell me, how can you save Third Master and the others? Can you get Commissioner Bai to help?"

"Even if I can’t, my husband certainly can."

"Would Zhao Zhiao actually listen to you?"

Lin Yufan raised an eyebrow slightly, "If you think Zhao Zhiao wouldn’t listen to me, why does your family keep begging me?"

Jian Suzhen rubbed her scalp, still sore from the pulled hair, and said, "We’re just trying our luck. What if… what if he listens to you?"

Lin Yufan’s mind raced, "Wait, why do you think Zhi Ao needs convincing to help you? They’re brothers from the same family. When the eldest master was arrested because of Commander Ji, it was Zhi Ao who helped get him out. This time, why do you think he wouldn’t help? Is there… something I’m missing?"

Jian Suzhen’s eyes darted rapidly, and she forced an awkward smile, "What could there be?"

Lin Yufan could tell the difference in attitude between Jian Suzhen and the eldest lady.

The eldest lady was sure Zhao Zhiao would save his brothers, which is why she came to beg her, while Jian Suzhen clearly thought Zhao Zhiao wouldn’t help, so she wasn’t very proactive.

Lin Yufan fixed her with a stare and asked, "What caused the eldest master and Third Master to fall out with Zhao Zhiao in the past?"

Jian Suzhen didn’t expect Lin Yufan to grasp the key issue so quickly. She feigned ignorance, "How would I know? Third Master didn’t tell me."

Lin Yufan didn’t believe it. Zhao Mingjie and his wife weren’t exactly affectionate, but they always discussed things together. With something this important, Jian Suzhen couldn’t possibly not know.

"If you don’t even trust me, why should I help you? When the eldest lady asks, I’ll just say it was you who refused to save the eldest master and Third Master."

Jian Suzhen: "..."

Lin Yufan checked her watch, and before she could speak, Jian Suzhen finally gave in.

"Back then, they fell out because Zhao Zhiao discovered that the eldest master and Third Master had secretly worked for the Japanese. He said he didn’t have traitors for brothers. After that, Zhao Zhiao cut off all support for us."

It was pretty much what Lin Yufan had guessed, "In that case, asking me to persuade him would just stir up trouble and hurt our marriage, wouldn’t it?"

Jian Suzhen suddenly realized that this might be the reason Lin Yufan had specifically called her over. She guessed that Lin Yufan wanted to find out from her who had caused the deaths of Zhao Zhiao’s brothers.

"How about we make a deal?"

"What kind of deal?"

Jian Suzhen glanced around, "Is there anyone else who can hear our conversation?"

Lin Yufan: "Gui Xiang is guarding outside. As long as you don’t shout, no one else can hear you."

"You know, Zhao Zhiao won’t live past 1950. If he dies, you’ll be a widow again, and then you’ll truly become a cursed widow. You won’t have the good life you have now."

"So what?"

"You have no idea how Zhao Zhiao died, right? If you can get my husband out, I’ll spill the beans on how your husband died." Jian Suzhen observed Lin Yufan’s expression. Lin Yufan and Zhao Zhiao had just tied the knot, and even if they didn’t have much affection yet, for her own benefit, Lin Yufan wouldn’t want Zhao Zhiao dead.

Lin Yufan retorted, "Do you?"

"I’ve got some idea."

"Some idea? Is it a big deal or just a small thing?"

"Plenty for you to work with."

"What makes you think I’d trust you? Jian Suzhen, you’re the one begging for my help here, not the other way around."

Jian Suzhen couldn’t hold Lin Yufan’s gaze for long, her eyes darting around. "I’ll give you a teaser first, and you can decide if it’s worth your trust."

"Spill it."

"Zhao Zhiao was taken out by someone close to him."

Taken out by someone close to him? You mean someone in his inner circle?

Lin Yufan’s interest was sparked. "Who exactly are you talking about?"

"Get Third Master out, and I’ll tell you." After saying this, Jian Suzhen remembered Zhao Lijie and quickly added, "And the first son."

Lin Yufan smirked, totally unfazed. "You expect me to buy your tall tales and do your bidding?"

"I’m telling you the truth. If I’m lying, may lightning strike me dead."

"Not even a little white lie?"

"I’m not lying to you."

"Then tell me this..." Lin Yufan lowered her voice, "In the previous life, how did Gui Xiang die?"

Jian Suzhen was stunned. She finally understood why Lin Yufan hated them so much that she poisoned them.

Previously, she and Zhao Mingjie had always thought that Lin Yufan was desperate because of the lawsuits and then discovered that Zhao Mingjie had cheated her out of her money, which led her to do something so extreme.

After all, it had been four years since Gui Xiang’s death.

Jian Suzhen swallowed hard. She couldn’t confess without being pressed, so she only said, "Gui Xiang died in a fire? That fire somehow started. You don’t think I set it, do you?"

"See, you lied. You love to lie so much, why do you swear such oaths? Struck by lightning, die a horrible death... Hah... Be careful it comes true!"

"I didn’t lie. I really didn’t lie." Jian Suzhen clenched her teeth, refusing to budge, and steered the conversation back, "Zhao Zhiao was killed by someone close to him."

Who? Jian Suzhen still wouldn’t say.

"First, save Third Master, and I’ll definitely tell you the truth."

Lin Yufan shook her head, "Actually, Zhao Mingjie isn’t that important to you, is he? You don’t really care if he lives or dies."

Jian Suzhen didn’t admit it, "If I didn’t care about his life, I wouldn’t be here begging you so humbly."

"I don’t see you being that humble. The eldest mistress knelt down with tears streaming down her face, pleading. You, on the other hand, have been sitting here with your legs crossed, leisurely negotiating with me. That’s because Zhao Mingjie isn’t your Achilles’ heel, is he?"

Faced with Lin Yufan’s aggressiveness, Jian Suzhen couldn’t figure out what she really wanted. Yes, she didn’t care that much about Zhao Mingjie, but she didn’t completely not care either.

"What do you want?"

"If Zhao Mingjie doesn’t matter to you, what about your son? Don’t you care about him?"

Jian Suzhen’s expression instantly shifted: "What are you saying?"

Lin Yufan spoke word by word: "Nothing really, just wanted to see how desperate you’d end up. Just giving you a heads-up—this is why I called you here today."

Jian Suzhen’s mind immediately went to Tie Long, who was smoking by the door. Tie Long had once worked as a guard in the countryside, not only skilled in martial arts but also very familiar with the Second Branch.

Her hand shook, and she uncrossed her legs.

"Do you think you and your son can cheat death?"

Lin Yufan’s beautiful face suddenly twisted into something fierce and terrifying, like a bloodthirsty lion.

Jian Suzhen knew it was an illusion.

She even wondered if the so-called rebirth was a sham, a punishment from the heavens for her past misdeeds.

She hadn’t meant to kill Gui Xiang.

She didn’t mean to.

Third Madam stood up, trembling, and shook her head: "Lin Yufan, you’re insane! You’d even go after a child?"

With that, she bolted out of the room.

The moment she stepped out, she saw Gui Xiang standing guard at the door, scaring Jian Suzhen half to death, and she sprinted downstairs.

Gui Xiang peeked in, confused: "Has Third Madam lost her mind?"

Lin Yufan smiled slightly: "It’s fine, I’ll make a call."

*

As soon as Jian Suzhen got home, she asked where her two sons were.

When she found out her eldest son was playing chess in his room and the younger one was cricket-fighting in the backyard, she hauled them back right away.

When First Madam saw Jian Suzhen return, she quickly dragged Second Aunt over to ask questions.

The worry that had clouded her face for days finally lifted. "How did it go? Lin Yufan just called and said she’s talked it over with you. We need to prepare money to pull some strings tomorrow. How much do we need?"

Lin Yufan called the Second Branch, and tomorrow they’ll try to get him out?

Is it real or not?

Jian Suzhen shook her head: "She didn’t say anything to me."

First Madam’s eyes widened, somewhat confused: "What’s the matter with you? You’re not willing to cough up the money, are you? Lin Yufan’s put the past behind her and agreed to get Commissioner Bai to intervene. Getting someone that high up involved will cost a fortune."

Jian Suzhen realized Lin Yufan was setting her up, making her the villain at home, and she quickly protested: "She didn’t tell me anything, and she didn’t say how much money we needed."

First Madam, who’d just started to look a little better, immediately scowled. "Jian Suzhen, you’re not planning to hold onto the money from the third brother’s secret sale of the manor, are you? That’s the brothers’ lifeline!"

The family was already in enough turmoil, and Second Aunt was afraid of more infighting. She advised: "Suzhen, just tell us how much we need, and we’ll all pitch in. Selling the house and shops is definitely too late now, you must take out the money from the third brother’s secret sale of the manor first."

"Lin Yufan really didn’t tell me anything, how would I know how much money is needed?" Jian Suzhen weakly defended herself.

But no one believed her. They all thought Jian Suzhen was holding back the money to save her sons, expecting others to foot the bill.

Finally, the old lady stepped in, telling Third Madam to turn in the money from selling the manor first thing tomorrow morning.

Jian Suzhen just said she’d look through the cabinets.

Once back in her room, Jian Suzhen grew increasingly anxious. If she gave up the money, would it really save Third Master and the others?

She thought Lin Yufan was setting her up to suffer.

But what was she supposed to do?

If she told the Second Branch Lin Yufan wasn’t really helping, they’d never believe her.

Now, Lin Yufan was their only hope. No matter what Third Madam said, no one would believe her.

Jian Suzhen lay on her side in bed. What should she do? Not giving up the money wasn’t an option.

At dinner, Hong Yu burst in, frantic, saying Dong Geer was gone.

"Didn’t I say to watch Dong Geer and keep him from wandering off?"

Jian Suzhen’s legs gave out from fear, and she tore around searching.

Outside, it was nearly dark. When they heard Dong Geer was missing, the others didn’t seem too concerned.

Mostly, it was the servants looking.

After searching everywhere with no luck, Jian Suzhen came back to the main courtyard, pale-faced.

The First Madam stood in the doorway, fanning herself with a banana leaf to keep the mosquitoes away. "Dong Geer’s always been a troublemaker with a sweet tooth. He’s probably hiding somewhere, sneaking candy."

Jian Suzhen muttered, shaking her head, "It’s got to be Lin Yufan. She threatened me today..."

Second Aunt, who’d been helping her search, was shocked. "What did she threaten you with?"

"She said... she said... what was it?"

"That’s it! She said she wanted to see me and my son cheat death!"

The First Madam gave her a puzzled look. "Why would Lin Yufan say that?"

"Lin Yufan’s crazy. She’s out to get us for how we treated her... She’s after me."

"I’ve fought with her plenty, and she’s never come after me. You’ve always gotten along with her. Why would she turn on you?" The First Madam scrutinized Third Madam, suspecting she was acting to avoid handing over the money.

Second Aunt also said, "Yes, although Yufan has had some unpleasantness with our Second Branch, didn’t she still agree to help? Suzhen, could it be that you misheard?"

Jian Suzhen was almost in tears. "No, I didn’t mishear. She’s a lunatic, a madwoman. She hates me. She secretly hired Iron Dragon as a guard. It must be Iron Dragon who took Dong Geer away."

Lin Yufan is a lunatic?

The First Madam looked coldly at Third Madam. She now suspected that Third Madam was feigning madness.

The First Madam said, "I was the one who drove Iron Dragon away. If he wanted revenge, he’d take it on me. I went to Jinghua Tower this morning and saw Iron Dragon there. He even greeted me, saying Gui Xiang had introduced him to the job. Iron Dragon was quite respectful to me and didn’t hold a grudge."

Jian Suzhen screamed hysterically, "But now Dong Geer is missing!"

Just as she said this, Nan Geer, who had been out searching, returned, leading Dong Geer by the hand.

"He bought some candy and was hiding at the alley entrance, eating it."

Shaking with fear, Jian Suzhen grabbed her son and started spanking him, "I told you not to run around, didn't you hear me?"

Third Madam looked at Jian Suzhen as if she were a lunatic, thinking to herself only four words: putting on an act.

She had to remind her, "Don't forget to find the money from selling the estate, it's crucial for survival."

Jian Suzhen didn't pay attention to Third Madam's words, only remembered them back in her room.

She asked Dong Geer, "Who gave you the money to buy candy?"

When Jian Suzhen learned from Dong Geer that the money to buy candy was given by a stranger, she immediately felt a sense of alarm.

"A stranger?"

"I don't know him," Dong Geer was still licking the candy in his hand.

A six-year-old boy couldn't describe what he looked like, only saying, "Taller than Nan Geer, average build."

The more Jian Suzhen thought about it, the more something felt off. Lin Yufan had an eccentric Fifth Brother, and her Fifth Brother knew quite a few thugs.

Staying here, besides being sitting ducks for Lin Yufan, she would also have to hand over all her money.

Why should she be so foolish?

She decided to take refuge with a relative.

Jian Suzhen's family wasn't from Haicheng, among her other relatives, only one cousin she trusted the most. Her cousin lived in the suburbs of Haicheng, and she could hide there for a while.

After dinner, Jian Suzhen closed her door and sneakily packed her belongings. She could only take her two sons with her, leaving her daughter with the Second Branch for the time being.

She retrieved a small wooden box from the bottom of her wardrobe, inside were the gold bars from selling the estate and her own savings.

She wrapped the small wooden box in floral fabric and placed it into a blue coarse cloth bag she had prepared earlier.

The bag with the wooden box looked suspiciously bulging, so she took the wooden box out again, took out the gold bars inside, wrapped them carefully with the floral fabric, then stuffed them back into the bag, and placed a pack of dried shiitake mushrooms and a pack of wood ear mushrooms on top. Holding it in her hand, it looked much more normal.

To avoid suspicion, she didn't take anything else.

After everything was ready, Jian Suzhen called Sang Zi in, "We're going to stay with my cousin for a few days. Take the boys out first, say you're going to buy candy, and remember to hold onto them tightly. Hail a rickshaw at the alley entrance and wait for me. I'll sneak out later to meet you."

Jian Suzhen had already warned Sang Zi beforehand, and she roughly guessed that Third Madam didn't want to give out the money, hence the plan to hide.

Sang Zi repeated the key points, "We hail a rickshaw and wait for you at the alley entrance?"

"Not at our alley entrance, go further ahead, wait at the Haide Street intersection, call two rickshaws." As she spoke, Jian Suzhen glanced outside, "Don't let anyone see, especially Hong Yu. If someone asks, just say they were begging for candy."

"I understand."

Sang Zi took the two boys out under the pretext of buying candy and smoothly exited the main gate.

Jian Suzhen then went to her daughters' room to check on them, instructing the old maid to take good care of the children. After waiting for about 10 minutes, she secretly carried the cloth bag downstairs.

She was going to hide for a while, wait until that crazy woman Lin Yufan left Haicheng, and then come back.

As for Third Master, the Second Branch wouldn't just watch him die, they would surely find a way to save him.

Just as she went downstairs, she happened to see Nan Geer coming out of the main house. Listening to his conversation with the people inside, it seemed he was about to go out.

Jian Suzhen was worried that Nan Geer might head east, which could lead to an encounter with Sang Zi and the children. She swiftly hid the bag behind the stairs and went over to ask, "Nan Geer, are you going out?"

"Auntie, the Qin family's house just sent a message asking me to go over and discuss the matter of rescuing my father and our uncle."

"Oh, that's good. It's always better to have more options. Is the Qin family's house far? In which direction?"

"Past Haide Street, it takes about a quarter of an hour by rickshaw."

Haide Street?

At this moment, Sang Zi was waiting at the Haide Street intersection.

Jian Suzhen came up with a plan on the spot: "Nan Geer, wait here for a moment, I'll get you something."

She hurried upstairs, found Hong Yu, the most trustworthy one, and told her to quickly go to Haide Street to find Sang Zi, instructing Sang Zi to take the rickshaw and leave first without waiting for her.

After hearing Auntie's instructions, Hong Yu didn't hesitate and slipped down the other staircase.

Jian Suzhen went into the room, grabbed two packs of cigarettes, and came down to hand them to Nan Geer: "You've been out and about these past couple of days, you'll need cigarettes for socializing. These two packs of imported cigarettes were given to your Third Uncle, he's been saving them, you take them."

Nan Geer didn't refuse: "Thank you, Auntie. By the way... Auntie, make sure to get the money from the land sale tonight, otherwise, what we have on hand won't be enough."

Jian Suzhen didn't argue and promptly agreed, then she gave Nan Geer a few more instructions to buy some time.

After Nan Geer left, Jian Suzhen grabbed the cloth bag and followed from a distance.

Seeing Nan Geer climb into a rickshaw from afar, she then hurried all the way to Haide Street.

At the intersection of Haide Street, someone was selling boiled peanuts and taro. Jian Suzhen didn't see Sang Zi and the boys, and was anxiously looking around when she spotted Hong Yu coming from behind.

"Where are they?"

"Sister Sang Zi took the two boys and left by rickshaw first. Sang Zi has already called another rickshaw." Hong Yu pointed to the rickshaw waiting across the street.

Jian Suzhen gripped the heavy bag tightly and instructed Hong Yu: "You head back first, if anyone asks, just say you don't know where we went."

Hong Yu nodded and replied, "Understood."

Jian Suzhen climbed into the rickshaw, holding the cloth bag tightly. She looked back at Hong Yu, and as she got further away from the Second Branch, her heart gradually calmed down.

Her cousin lived in the suburbs, although it wasn't a very remote area, there weren't many people out at night.

Earlier, her mind was focused on getting away from Haide Street quickly, she hadn't considered anything else.

Now, alone in a stranger's rickshaw, gradually moving away from the city's myriad lights, she couldn't help but tighten her grip on the cloth bag in her arms.

Then she thought, Hong Yu had repeatedly told the rickshaw driver to pull steadily, and he knew Hong Yu could recognize his face, so he probably wouldn't dare to misbehave.

Moreover, her cloth bag looked plain and unremarkable, completely inconspicuous as containing valuables.

Unless he was after her!

Jian Suzhen gripped the small sharp knife hidden in her bag, there was nothing to fear, she had killed before.

As they went along, she realized something was wrong.

The direction was off!

"Driver, are you going the wrong way?"

The rickshaw driver slightly turned his head: "I'm taking a shortcut, to save some effort, the fare is the same."

Jian Suzhen’s anxiety deepened.

Spotting a row of lit cottages along the roadside in the distance, she quickly said, "Stop here, I’m getting off."

"Here? Madam, we’re nearly there."

"I’m getting off here."

The rickshaw puller immediately stopped, muttering in self-defense, "This detour is quicker; we’re almost there. Madam, getting off mid-ride won’t lower the fare."

Usually, Jian Suzhen wouldn’t have paid the full fare, but today she didn’t argue and promptly paid the full fare, then rushed toward the lit house up ahead.

There were two families here, both still eating dinner.

Jian Suzhen approached one household, where only an elderly couple and their young grandson were home, and they echoed what the rickshaw puller had said.

This spot wasn’t far from the alley where her cousin lived; just go around the fish pond ahead, and the string of lights would mark the spot.

The moonlight and surrounding lights made it possible to walk without a flashlight.

The elderly couple didn’t own a flashlight, just a kerosene lamp. Jian Suzhen purchased a glass-covered kerosene lamp from them, vowing to return it the next day.

Since she’d paid, she had no intention of returning the lamp.

Clutching the oil lamp, Jian Suzhen headed toward the distant lights.

This so-called shortcut lacked a proper road; it wound around a field ridge and along a pond, and she had no idea how long it would take to arrive.

As she passed the pond, the bamboo grove rustled in the wind, and Jian Suzhen regretted leaving the rickshaw.

In hindsight, that rickshaw puller had been kind.

Lost in thought, her foot caught on something, and she tumbled forward!

"Ah!" she cried out.

A pit in the ground sent muddy water splashing across her face.

The kerosene lamp hit the ground and went out, plunging everything into darkness.

Why was she having such a streak of bad luck!

Before Jian Suzhen could even feel scared, as she was about to get up, she suddenly felt a chill on her neck...

Her heart skipped a beat!

Just as she was about to scream, a cloth was stuffed into her mouth, and she was lifted up.

The bag containing the gold bars was snatched away.

"Mmm!" She wanted to call for help, but no sound came out.