Chapter 77: Being Investigated

Qiu Man studied Shen Yanming’s report, frowning. This sudden, seemingly fabricated critical illness and the subsequent sale of shares were suspicious.

He then examined Bi Qiao’an’s report. Changes in Xiao Fei and Shen Yanming’s lives had altered hers, but these shifts seemed within reason.

The lives of others were similarly affected by their connection to Xiao Fei, their fates twisting and turning along his path.

Qiu Man returned to Xiao Fei and Shen Yanming’s reports, scrutinizing them. Xiao Fei felt like the pivotal figure in these events.

As for Shen Yanming, besides his return to Qinghua, nothing appeared amiss.

After further consideration, Qiu Man decided to meet with Shen Yanming in person. A direct conversation might provide the clarity he sought.

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At noon, Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an were eating when a knock interrupted them. When he opened the door, he found Chen Shunwei with a stranger, a man whose sharp gaze held an air of authority. His frown betrayed his immediate unease. “May I ask what brings you here?” he inquired, politeness masking a hint of wariness.

Chen Shunwei, sensing Shen Yanming’s displeasure, quickly interjected, “This is Mr. Qiu, a leader from the city. He’s here to conduct some inspections and investigations.” The words spilled out in a nervous rush.

Shen Yanming nodded and invited the two inside. Chen Shunwei, having already received subtle hints, excused himself before even entering the door.

Inside, Qiu Man flashed his ID at Shen Yanming, the plastic glinting under the light. Shen Yanming took note of the brand-new ID card, but his expression remained neutral. With a calm demeanor, he invited Qiu Man to the sofa, suggesting they talk at ease.

Bi Qiao’an, always the hospitable one, broke the tension slightly by asking Qiu Man if he’d eaten and offering to share their meal. Without hesitation, Qiu Man admitted, “Actually, I am a bit hungry.”

Bi Qiao’an went to the kitchen and returned with a bowl of oil-splashed noodles. “Try it. My cooking’s nothing fancy, but I hope it’s alright,” she said, her smile a touch nervous.

“Not at all, it looks delicious,” Qiu Man replied, accepting the bowl of noodles with a smile. The aroma was surprisingly enticing, making his mouth water.

Ten minutes later, Qiu Man set the empty bowl down with a satisfied burp, his manners temporarily forgotten.

Bi Qiao’an whisked the bowl away to the kitchen while Shen Yanming poured Qiu Man a cup of tea, the steam curling upwards. “So,” he began, “what brings you here for an investigation today?”

“Mm, just checking how everyone’s handling dry season preparations. Lucky you were randomly selected,” Qiu Man said with a smile.

Shen Yanming returned the smile. “The Qinghe Alliance’s guidance has been invaluable. Thank you!” His voice held a practiced smoothness.

“Our duty. It’s only when everyone’s prepared that we can weather these hardships together,” Qiu Man replied.

With the pleasantries out of the way, Qiu Man decided it was time to focus on the purpose of his visit. His gaze sharpened on Shen Yanming as he asked, “Would you mind showing me your dry season preparations?”

“Of course!” Shen Yanming nodded and led Qiu Man towards the converted bedrooms.

Shen Yanming had transformed the rooms, aside from the master bedroom, into indoor gardens. Neatly arranged pots brimmed with thriving plants.

Lush greens, cherry tomatoes bursting with red, plump blueberries, and clusters of mushrooms filled the space.

“These… are quite impressive. When did you start? They’re well-established,” Qiu Man’s eyebrows rose in surprise as he surveyed Shen Yanming’s “vegetable rooms”.

“It all started around the time “Dream Life” was on TV. My wife saw those celebrity greenhouses and got inspired. So, what could I do? I made her a vegetable room.” Shen Yanming chuckled, affectionately calling Bi Qiao’an silly, but his eyes shone with warmth.

“I told her growing all those flowers was pointless. We’d be better off with vegetables and fruit. And well, here we are!” He gestured around the room, a hint of pride in his voice.

Qiu Man nodded thoughtfully. Those variety shows were created to encourage people to grow their own food. Seeing this room filled with produce, he felt reassured that the Qinghe Alliance’s efforts weren’t wasted. A genuine smile spread across his face.

Shen Yanming, sensing an opportunity to further impress Qiu Man and solidify his trust, guided him to the family’s storage room. With confidence, he introduced each item, showcasing the carefully organized supplies and well-stocked shelves.

“This is chocolate and red wine Qiao’an and I picked up in France last year. We bought a lot, and the chocolate’s about to expire,” he said, pointing to the neatly arranged boxes.

“These are peanuts, melon seeds, candies, and white liquor—stock from when Qiao’an and I got married. There were no purchase restrictions back then, so we have plenty left over,” he said, gesturing towards the shelves.

“These are all just everyday items we normally buy,” he added with a shrug, waving his hand as if to brush off their importance.

“These dried strawberries were made from the fruits of our potted strawberry plants,” he explained, holding up a jar of bright red candied dried fruit.

“These are the ingredients Qiao’an and I recently collected from Qingning Mountain. We’ve made them all into dried vegetables, such as wild mushrooms, locust tree leaves, white goosefoot, purslane…” he listed, pointing to each jar in turn.

“Mm, and this purified water, I feel it’s quite a lot already. Hopefully it can last through the winter,” he said, his voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty.

He then led Qiu Man to the cloakroom. “Here are furs and woolens brought from Iceland and Europa, and these are the clothes, shoes, bags, and cosmetics brought from the Netherlands,” he explained, gesturing towards the well-organized shelves.

Their tour complete, Shen Yanming and Qiu Man settled back on the sofa, a subtle ease now between them.

“Mr. Shen, your preparations are truly impressive. I’m in awe,” Qiu Man admitted, his eyes wide with genuine admiration.

Shen Yanming offered a modest smile. “In life, one must prepare for the worst while hoping for the best,” he replied, his tone carrying a touch of quiet determination.

Qiu Man shook his head, a wry smile playing on his lips. “Perhaps it’s your business acumen—that broader perspective lets you see the heart of things. The Qinghe Alliance launched so many shows, but those really growing their own food, foraging… less than ten percent!” There was a hint of sadness in his voice.

Shen Yanming didn’t reply directly. Instead, he pushed the colorful fruit plate Bi Qiao’an had prepared towards Qiu Man. “Care for some blueberries?” he asked, his tone casual.

Qiu Man didn’t hesitate. He popped one into his mouth, the sweet burst surprising him. “Wow! These are sweeter than any I’ve had before!” His eyes lit up with pure delight.

“Right? After Chief Li announced the video, I’ve been collecting rainwater to nourish them. They taste even better than before, and they’re growing faster too,” Shen Yanming explained, keeping his tone matter-of-fact.

Qiu Man blinked, a touch of surprise in his eyes. “How did you know the energy rain helped plants grow?” Chief Li had never mentioned the effect of the energy rain on plants in the video.

“Honestly, I didn’t know. It was just a hunch that if the energy rain helped humans, maybe plants would like it too. Figured there was no harm in trying,” Shen Yanming shrugged, a touch of nonchalance in his voice.

Qiu Man nodded, his eyes shrewd as he shifted the focus back to Shen Yanming. “Mr. Shen, you’re clearly a man of great foresight. I hear you were once a shareholder in the Shen Group. Might I be so bold as to ask what prompted your return to Qinghua and the decision to sell your shares?” His tone was deceptively casual, but his gaze held a probing intensity.

“I won’t hide it from you. My old workaholic ways in Europa put me in the hospital,” he began, his voice steady, his expression open.

“Lying there, half out of it, I overheard my secretary Cai Chun on the phone with a Miss Wei. Let’s just say what they discussed… it felt like a betrayal,” he continued, his eyes taking on a distant look.

“After Cai Chun left the ward, I had someone investigate,” he said, his voice low and laden with intensity.

“Turns out, my childhood friend had been deliberately driven away by Cai Chun,” he explained, bitterness lacing his voice as his eyes betrayed a deep hurt.

“It’s ridiculous. All this time, I thought Qiao’an resented me, that she didn’t want to talk anymore,” he admitted with a self-deprecating chuckle.

“But the moment I learned the truth…” he paused, a wave of emotion washing over him, “I wanted nothing more than to rush back to Qinghua and confess my feelings to Qiao’an.”

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