Chapter 30: Going to the County to Find Jade

Su Nianzhi felt uneasy. In the TV drama, wasn’t this the mission where Qin Xiaoyun got into trouble?

She didn’t know exactly what happened, so she could only raise her head and stare seriously into his eyes.

“Qin Xiaoyun, you must come back safe and sound.”

Qin Xiaoyun’s heart instantly bloomed like a flower.

He nodded solemnly.

Their eyes met for a moment.

And something stirred between them.

Su Nianzhi knew what he was thinking. Honestly, she didn’t want this secondary cannon fodder character to die.

“I’m heading back.”

Su Nianzhi almost felt like she was fleeing the scene.

Qin Xiaoyun watched her retreating back, a small smile forming on his lips.

Once he returned from this mission, he’d confess his feelings to her.

The reason he didn’t do it now was because he wasn’t sure if he would make it back alive.

He didn’t want the little girl to worry about him.

——

As Su Nianzhi opened the door, five people nearly tumbled in from the other side.

“Aiya, the moon sure is big tonight!”

“Yeah, and the flowers smell nice too.”

“Dad, there’s a hole in your shoe.”

“Maomao, let Daddy tuck you in for bed.”

“Old lady, my pipe’s leaking smoke again.”

Su Nianzhi: ……

Wang Guifang and the old lady Wang sat at the table, both looking at the men with disdain.

“So? All good?”

Su Nianzhi walked over with a bright smile and hooked her arm around the old lady’s, “Mm, I expressed my gratitude. He said if anything comes up, just go find that public security officer from today.”

“Oh?” The old lady didn’t say much. She was experienced and understood that young people’s feelings should develop naturally.

But Wang Guifang seemed a bit impatient. “That Qin boy, he didn’t say anything else?”

Su Nianzhi’s eyelids flicked, and she picked up a piece of mutton and put it in her mouth. “Mm, he said he’s going back to the unit.”

“What?”

“That kid’s leaving?”

Su Zhewu and Wang Jiaxi were so agitated their voices changed pitch, nearly jumping out of their seats.

The old lady Wang smacked each of them with her cane.

“You little brats!”

And just like that, dinner was over. Su Nianzhi returned to her room, her thoughts unsettled.

She entered her space and reorganized everything inside before coming out to sleep.

She didn’t sleep at all that night.

Su Nianzhi had already told Wang Guifang she was going to town.

Only after promising a long list of conditions did she get permission.

She managed to catch a bull cart headed to the county.

Driving the cart was Zhou Dasheng, the village’s fish seller.

“Su girl, heading to the county?” Aunt Hua and Little Aunt Feng—Dr. Feng’s daughter-in-law—greeted her with a smile.

“Mm, just going to buy a few things.”

On the side, Ma Lamei snorted and turned her head away.

“Come on, Su girl, sit next to me.”

After a while, a woman came running over carrying a basket.

When she saw Su Nianzhi, her eyes were filled with hostility and wariness.

It was Sun family’s second daughter-in-law—Xu Zhaodi.

“Zhaodi, your father-in-law just got arrested, and you still have the mood to go to town?” Ma Lamei mocked loudly.

“What’s it to you, you big-mouthed cow? Mind your own business.”

“I may have a big mouth, but at least I don’t come from a murderer’s family. Look, isn’t our victim sitting right here in the cart?”

Su Nianzhi suddenly got mentioned.

She was truly caught off guard.

But she pretended not to hear it.

Leaving Ma Lamei a bit embarrassed. “Tch, don’t know a good heart when you see one.”

The bull cart swayed the whole way.

Su Nianzhi turned to greet Aunt Hua, Little Aunt Feng, and Uncle Zhou before hopping off.

“Hmph, that tramp, dressed like that—bet she’s off to meet her lover.”

“I say, Xu Zhaodi, you call me foul-mouthed, but your mouth’s more like a sewer.”

“You…”

“Careful, I’ll tell the Su family about this.”

Xu Zhaodi was so angry she nearly exploded.

Meanwhile, Su Nianzhi bounced along on her way to the post office.

She hadn’t forgotten her business.

When she got there, the place had already opened.

“Comrade, hello, I’m here to see Comrade Pan Qingsheng.”

The worker at the front desk looked up and saw a lively little girl with two braided pigtails.

Her little dimples were cute and sweet.

Immediately, the worker’s voice softened.

He called toward the back, “Old Pan, someone’s looking for you.”

Pan Qingsheng put down the package in his hands and wiped them clean.

When he came out, he saw Su Nianzhi.

“Well, if it isn’t the little miracle doctor! I thought you weren’t going to come see me after all.”

Su Nianzhi smiled, “Sorry, Comrade Pan. I haven’t been in great health. I was sick for a while.”

Pan Qingsheng asked about her well-being, and Su Nianzhi assured him she was much better.

After chatting for a bit, even the way they addressed each other changed.

“Uncle Pan, do you still have those things you mentioned last time?”

“Little Su, come with Uncle Pan.”

With that, Pan Qingsheng called out, “I’m heading out to make a delivery!”

He picked up a package and put it on the back of his big black bicycle.

Su Nianzhi followed him closely.

They walked for quite a while.

“Little girl, when we get there, don’t say too much.”

“Mm.” Su Nianzhi noticed how secretive he was—

She wondered silently—could he be taking her to the black market?

After following Pan Qingsheng through a maze of twists and turns for a while, she saw quite a few run-down houses.

They looked like they hadn’t been maintained in years.

Pan Qingsheng finally stopped the car in front of a small, partially damaged building.

“When I knock on the door, don’t say anything,” he told her.

Three short knocks, one long one, followed by three taps like a drumbeat.

Then came a creaking sound as the door opened.

“What are you doing here?”

The man inside glanced at the girl standing behind him.

“This is my niece. She’s looking for something to give as a gift.”

“All right, come in then.”

Su Nianzhi looked at the number on the house—28 Yulin Road.

Then glanced at the even more dilapidated place next door. That must be 29?

“Little girl, don’t look around too much. It’s all junk here.”

Pan Qingsheng and the old man muttered back and forth for quite a while.

“Wait here.”

“Uncle Pan, what is this place?” Su Nianzhi asked.

Seeing the girl’s curiosity, Pan Qingsheng explained, “This is where things were stored during the chaotic times. The policy is more relaxed now, but no one’s come to manage it.”

Su Nianzhi immediately understood.

The old man came back and said, “Old boy, this is all I’ve got. Take a look and see if you want anything.”

Su Nianzhi frowned as she looked at the items he brought out. They were all jade pieces of poor quality.

She could tell at a glance they were useless.

She shook her head.

The old man didn’t seem offended. He went back inside.

This time, he came out holding a box.

“This is the best I’ve got.”

When he opened it—ice jade.

“How much for this?” she asked.

The old man held up three fingers.

Su Nianzhi quickly pulled out her purse and handed over three large denomination bills.

Before leaving, she looked again at the house next door.

“Don’t look at that one. It’s a haunted house. An entire family died in there—bad luck,” the old man muttered as he happily counted the bills, eager to send them on their way.

Now he could buy more liquor.

“Girl, this is just temporary. I contacted a friend of mine—he’s got better goods. I’ll let you know next time.”

Su Nianzhi smiled and replied, “Thanks, Uncle Pan.”

Once they walked out of the alley and strolled a while, Su Nianzhi said goodbye to Pan Qingsheng.

Then she turned and headed straight for 29 Yulin Road.

Su Nianzhi wasn’t afraid of ghosts.

Zombies were way scarier than ghosts.

She nimbly scouted the perimeter, then vaulted over the wall in one leap.

Inside, the place was overgrown with weeds.

She gradually released her spiritual sense.

Pushing open the dilapidated door, she found cobwebs covering everything inside.

Why had Zhang Wenliang’s teacher sent him to this place?