Chapter 3

“Sis, are Mom and Dad really not coming back?”

Tang Zhou was still young, his eyes brimming with tears, yet he stubbornly refused to let them fall.

“They’ll be fine. Mom and Dad will be okay.”

Tang Wan sighed softly. The task ahead of her was going to be a heavy one.

Lu Huaijing had brought them to a nearby guesthouse and explained, “I came in a hurry and didn’t have time to buy train tickets.

So we’ll have to stay here for the night and leave early tomorrow morning.”

“You handle it however you see fit.”

Tang Wan, who had just transmigrated, still felt a bit dazed. She simply held her younger brother Tang Zhou’s hand tightly.

Lu Huaijing pulled out a few blank recommendation letters, quickly filled them in, and managed to secure two rooms.

The staff at the guesthouse visibly relaxed when they saw Tang Wan and Lu Huaijing weren’t staying in the same room.

Back then, personal conduct was under strict scrutiny.

“I’ll sleep with Zhou Zhou,” Tang Wan said.

Lu Huaijing handed her a few steamed buns he had bought from somewhere. “Have these to fill your stomach for now.”

“Thank you.”

Tang Wan felt a warmth in her chest. She had to admit, the original owner’s parents had a good eye for people.

This man gave her a sense of comfort and reliability.

“Do you need some ointment for the wound on your head?”

Lu Huaijing’s gaze lingered on the wound on Tang Wan’s forehead, and Tang Zhou looked over nervously as well.

“Sis, should we go to the clinic to check it out?”

“No need, it’s just a small cut. It looks worse than it is. I have medicine in my bag; I’ll take care of it myself later.”

Tang Wan quickly declined. Lu Huaijing didn’t insist but reminded her, “We’re in the room next door. Knock if you feel unwell.”

“Okay.”

After parting ways at the doorway, Tang Wan entered her own room.

The guesthouse from the 1970s had basic amenities, with just a single bed in the room. Even bathing required going to a communal bathhouse.

However, Tang Wan didn’t have time to pay attention to these details. She immediately brought her luggage into the space.

The space was no different from her previous life—a massive, nest-like mall filled with everything one could need. Outside was a plot of land she hadn’t had the chance to cultivate yet.

After confirming that nothing was missing, Tang Wan walked over to the pile of boxes she had scavenged from the Tang family. She counted them again—there were fifty boxes in total.

Moments ago, she had been feeling despondent, but now her eyes sparkled with excitement as she eagerly opened the boxes one by one.

What a haul.

Ten boxes of small gold bars, five boxes of gold ingots, five boxes of silver ingots, ten boxes of calligraphy, paintings, and antique ornaments, two boxes of rare manuscripts, and three boxes of medical books.

There were also five boxes filled with the Tang family shop’s secret recipes. She couldn’t help but admire the foresight of the old patriarch.

As the saying goes, “As long as there’s life, there’s hope.”

In addition, there were six boxes of jewelry. The pièce de résistance was a full set of a phoenix coronet and bridal robe, which made her heart race with joy.

There were also two boxes of high-quality fabric and one box full of property deeds and land contracts. To her delight, it even contained a stash of large-denomination bills.

Tang Wan was overjoyed. In her previous life, though she owned a mall, she had never been this wealthy.

Any random antique from this collection could fetch a sky-high price in the future.

Even the five sandalwood boxes she had taken from the Qin family’s secret room were packed with jewelry and gems. No wonder her distant uncle from the Qin family had been so fixated on them.

With such a treasure trove, Tang Wan became even more determined to rescue the original owner’s parents.

After going through everything, Tang Wan realized her stomach was starting to grumble. The coarse-grain steamed buns Lu Huaijing had given her were too rough on her throat.

Tang Wan teleported to the mall in her space. Inside, she could instantly move to any location. She quickly grabbed a box of self-heating rice.

After gulping down a large amount of water, she didn’t dare linger in the otherworldly space for too long. She filled her stomach and quickly left.

It was already quite dark outside. She rummaged through the original owner’s luggage and found a wristwatch—it was a little past 8 p.m.

At this moment, there was a knock at the door. Tang Wan opened it to find Lu Huaijing standing there.

“I went to get the train tickets and also inquired about your parents’ situation. Tomorrow morning, we’ll take the train to my hometown.”

“Alright. If possible, please help me pass this money and tickets to my parents.”

Tang Wan pulled out a bundle of cash and tickets from her pocket. In this era, her identity required her to keep a low profile. Apart from Lu Huaijing, she didn’t have a better option.

After Lu Huaijing left, Tang Wan quickly washed up in her personal space and carefully applied medicine to herself.

The wound wasn’t large but was somewhat deep. No wonder the original owner of the body lost her life—this might leave a scar.

When she had time, she would make some scar-removal ointment.

With that thought, the clock on her watch pointed to ten. Time in the space matched the outside world, so Tang Wan exited the space.

She changed into black clothing. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Lu Huaijing walking toward her from a distance.

“You’re still awake?”

Lu Huaijing looked surprised. Tang Wan’s palms were sweaty with nerves, but she calmed down, lowered her gaze, and said, “I couldn’t sleep. I was just about to go to the bathroom.”

The guesthouse rooms didn’t have private bathrooms; everyone used public toilets. Because of this, Lu Huaijing didn’t doubt her.

Looking at her long lashes trembling lightly, he sighed. A young girl facing such a sudden family upheaval must be feeling deeply sorrowful.

“I’ve got the train tickets, but about your parents…”

“It’s alright, go ahead.”

Tang Wan had already mentally prepared herself. She raised her eyes to look at Lu Huaijing, which inexplicably made him feel a pang of sympathy.

“The report accused them of being spies, but fortunately, no evidence to prove it was found.

However, some banned books and a few gold bars were discovered in your father’s office.”

Tang Wan quietly let out a sigh of relief.

As expected, the person framing her father had deliberately planted things in his study. Thankfully, she had cleared it all out.

Otherwise, being labeled as spies, her parents might have faced execution.

“What will happen to them?”

“They’ll be sent to a village.”

Afraid the girl might burst into tears, Lu Huaijing reassured her, “Don’t worry. I’ve already arranged for someone to have them sent to a village near the military unit where I’m stationed.”

With only banned books as evidence, the Tang couple was still seen as a thorn in some people’s sides. It would be better for them to stay in a village for now, at least under some protection.

“Thank you.”

Tang Wan felt this was already the best possible outcome. It was better than being sent to a labor camp.

She would find a way to take good care of them. As long as the family stayed together, they could overcome any hardship.

“You should rest early. The train leaves at 9 a.m. tomorrow; I’ll come to get you at 7:30.”

Lu Huaijing was thoughtful. Though he always wore a stern expression, Tang Wan could sense his kindness.

“Okay.”

After agreeing, they each returned to their rooms. Tang Wan, however, recalled something Qin Fei had said, which stirred her suspicions.

She stayed in her room for another half hour. By then, it was already 10:30. In this era, with little entertainment, most people had already gone to bed.

Tang Wan quietly opened her door, checked to ensure no one was outside, and slipped out. The guesthouse receptionist was dozing off.

Tang Wan carefully climbed over from the public restroom area and left the guesthouse.

There weren’t many people outside. Feeling emboldened, Tang Wan headed straight for the textile factory’s residential building she had visited earlier that afternoon. Luckily, it wasn’t far.

At this late hour, the building’s gatekeeper was nodding off. Tang Wan crouched and slipped inside, making her way to Qin Fei’s house with ease.

Qin Fei’s family lived on the first floor, and coincidentally, the room by the window belonged to his parents, Qin Tiezhu and his wife.

The couple seemed to be having trouble sleeping.

“Where do you think Tang Zhou has run off to?”

“Who cares? If he’s gone, it saves us the trouble. Besides, with the money Qin Su gave us and Deputy Director Su’s promises, are you really afraid we’ll starve?”