Longer chapter in three parts

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When the sun was shining, two women came to wash clothes by the river with wooden basins and chatted about the daily life. One said that the devil in my family had drunk too much and kicked things in the house in a mess. The other said that she was uncomfortable in the middle of the night, and the child’s father was watching by the bed, and didn’t dare to close his eyes.

The two women looked about the same age, and they both ate in the same pot as the family, but their lives were completely different.

The wind blows and the reeds sway gently, creating circles of ripples.

Huang Dan sat on the grass and changed into the long gown that Liu Chu got for him. Although his own clothes were dry, they were red wedding clothes, and were too dazzling, so it was not suitable for him to walk on the street on them.

Liu Chu stood aside, holding a knife in his hand, not knowing what is in his mind.

The two women not far away talked and then talked about the celebrity in the town, Boss Dai.

In the mouths of the women in Yueshan Town, Boss Dai, there are only a few fixed words, indiscreet, revealingly dressed, shameless, vixen, they all attribute the success of the restaurant to Boss Dai’s bed, saying that she has good legs to spread open.

“Have you heard that the Young Master of the Song family got married yesterday, and surname Dai went. Hey, hey, the cheongsam she was wearing had the fork stretched to the bottom of her thigh. She twisted her waist badly when she was walking. You say, wasn’t she shameless?”

“What kind of face do you want? She has no face. Not only is she shameless, but she is also heartless. Everyone knows that Boss Zhang was having an affair with her. He helped her a lot when the business of the restaurant was not good. As a result, when Boss Zhang was buried, She didn’t even show her face, that kind of woman, her life is too messy, sooner or later she will hit a snag.”

“Let me tell you something. When Boss Zhang was surrounded by big guys and beaten, I saw her watching from the Xifeng loft.”

“She’s really ruthless.”

“Hey, Boss Zhang died unjustly, I thought he was a demon, then…”

“Me too, I hit him on the head with a shoulder pole.”

“It’s terrible, don’t say, don’t say it.”

The two women quickly finished washing their clothes and left, panicked and afraid of doing something wrong.

Huang Dan was thoughtful, Boss Dai’s relationship with the opposite sex is very good, but she doesn’t seem to hook up with married men, she only drinks and listens to ditty songs with the single men.

On the day Boss Zhang died, Huang Dan came late, after Liu Chu.

He recalled for a moment that the Xifeng Loft was nearby, and he could see the process of Boss Zhang being brutally beaten and lying in a pool of blood.

The scene was extremely chaotic at that time, and Huang Dan didn’t pay attention to whether there was anyone in the Xifeng loft. He glanced at the man from the corner of his eye. The other party should be able to grasp some useful information from the conversation between the two women.

Liu Chu did gain something.

That day he went to see Boss Dai, who was admiring the flowers in the yard mentioned Boss Zhang’s death as if she mentioned someone who had nothing to do with her.

When he was leaving, Liu Chu asked Boss Dai’s maid, who said that the master stayed at home all the time and never went out.

Is the maid lying, hiding something for the master, or is she ignorant?

Huang Dan sneezed. It was almost July, and the water in the river was not cold. He soaked for too long, and his physique was not very good. He caught a cold.

Liu Chu didn’t look at him, “Have you changed properly?”

Huang Dan said, “Not properly.”

Liu Chu still didn’t look, “Why?”

Huang Dan said, “Usually Juan’er dresses me, and this button is not easy to button.”

An unknown fire burned in Liu Chu’s heart, and he snorted, “A person in his twenties still needs someone to dress him? The shoulders have not arms, but two pendants?”

Huang Dan’s drooping eyes are more realistic than the buttons.

Liu Chu squinted, “Why aren’t you talking?”

Huang Dan said, “You always mock me, I don’t want to talk to you.”

Liu Chu left without saying a word.

Huang Dan buttoned up all the buttons, rearranged the gown, walked forward with the clothes on the floor, and saw the man under the pear tree, did not leave, but stood there waiting for him, with a sharp profile and a tall and powerful figure fierce.

A young woman passed by, glanced at the man secretly, left with a blushing face, and turned back when she was far away, her eyes full of admiration.

Huang Dan is not fast or slow. In this era, if a young woman with a family is found hooking up with other men, she will be sink into the pond and lose her life. Even so, there will still be people who are desperate for true love, and some are just unsatisfied with the status quo, want some stimulation, and finally indulge in desire.

Taking responsibility for one’s own actions is the most common and most difficult thing in a person’s life.

Huang Dan walked over, “I’m hungry, let’s go eat.”

At this time, anyone with a normal mind will know that this is a step, just walk up and down, and we are still good friends.

No, Liu Chu, his brain was kicked by the donkey, not only did not walk up the steps, but also became arrogant, “Don’t you not want to talk to me?”

Huang Dan said, “I didn’t talk to you, I was talking to smelly bug on the tree.”

Turning his head, Liu Chu saw a black worm on the tree trunk. It was huge and had a bad smell. He jumped back a long way and was about to draw his knife.

Huang Dan stopped it, “It’s just a bug.”

Liu Chu’s killing intent has been determined, “No, this bug is not only big, but also smelly, it must be killed, get out of the way.”

Huang Dan said, “Even children are not afraid of bugs.”

A trace of unnaturalness flashed across Liu Chu’s face, and there was a thin layer of red at the base of his ears. He snorted coldly, “If a child falls down, he will get up and run, and you Eldest Young Master will lie on the ground and cry loudly from pain.”

Huang Dan, “……”

“Okay, you won, let this bug go, let’s go have breakfast.”

Liu Chu didn’t let go of the handle of the knife, his eyes were fixed on the black worm on the tree, his brows were furrowed, and his expression was serious.

Huang Dan said, “Forget it, I will go by myself, goodbye.”

He hadn’t gone far when a man’s voice came from behind him, “Did I say no? Go slower!”

The morning market is very lively. Vendors shuttle their loads through the streets and alleys, yelling with all their might. Some sell homemade snacks, sesame seed cakes, and fruits, all of which are cheaper than those in shops.

Huang Dan and Liu Chu appeared in an early morning shop on West Street, and ordered two servings of buns, steamed buns, fried dough sticks, and soy milk.

Both of them consumed a lot of energy last night and were already hungry.

At this point, there are quite a lot of diners in the shop, and there are almost no empty seats.

After Huang Dan drank two sips of soy milk, he received many sympathetic looks. Looking at the reaction of the everyone they think, that he was abandoned by the bride on the wedding day, and come out to have breakfast wearing a wedding dress. It’s a pity that there is nothing else besides this.

He guessed that either Juan’er was still in his room, the door was closed, the old lady and the people thought he was there, and hadn’t gotten up yet.

Or, what happened last night was discovered, and the old lady held her composure and didn’t send anyone out to look for him in a big way. She wanted to wait for him to go back and then settle the accounts.

Huang Dan’s thoughts came back, and he found that the man opposite was eating fried dough sticks while peeking at him.

He suddenly looked over, and the man looked ashamed of being caught.

Huang Dan smiled.

Liu Chu stared blankly, forgot to chew the fritters in his mouth and choked.

Huang Dan said, “Drink soy milk.”

Liu Chu coughed a few times and drank a few mouthfuls of soy milk to feel better, “Why are you smiling all of a sudden?”

Huang Dan was stunned, and immediately asked in his heart, “Mr. System, Liu Chu said I smiled, did you take a screenshot for me?”

System, “Check it.”

Two pictures appeared in front of Huang Dan, one was the last time Liu Chu injured his leg and jumped on one foot in the inn, he was laughing next to him, and the other was just now.

He looked at the picture, and it turned out that it was a smile.

Liu Chu’s eyelids lifted, and the soy milk bowl in his hand shook, “Eldest Young Master, I beg you, don’t smile like that, it’s too fake.”

The curvature of Huang Dan’s lips converged, “I think so too.”

It doesn’t look same imitating according to my own picture, it still has to come from the heart to be real.

Neither of them mentioned what happened last night.

It seems that something has changed, there is no need to mention it, each other knows it well.

The wound on the tip of Huang Dan’s tongue will hurt a little, and there is also a wound on the lower lip, or two, and the culprit is very happy.

He took a bite of the steamed stuffed bun, chewed slowly, “The soup time, the tavern, and this time, how much is the total, you tell me, I’ll pay you back.”

Liu Chu raised his eyes abruptly, wanting to clear up with him?

Huang Dan said, “You are a Chief Police, your income is not much, and you have to save money. I can’t always spend your money.”

Liu Chu frowned. Do you think he earns too little?

Huang Dan said, “I don’t think you earn less. You earn a penny and you earn it on your own. You are better than me. I haven’t found a job when I come back. Now I rely on my family for food and clothing.”

Liu Chu’s face was full of weirdness, why did this person know what he was thinking?

Huang Dan said, “I guess.”

Liu Chu’s face twitched, something flickered under his eyes, and the corners of his lips slanted, “Then guess again, what else is in my heart?”

Huang Dan ate the steamed stuffed bun, “Me.”

Liu Chu took a breath, and the next moment he heard the young man say, “This is the answer you want me to say.”

“……”

The small space on the table suddenly became quiet, separated from the noise of other places in the shop, and drew a clear boundary.

Huang Dan didn’t speak to Liu Chu again, and they left after eating.

They walked through West Street, walked through several alleys, and stood at the gate of the backyard of the Song Mansion without going through the gate. This seemed to be hiding some kind of information, which was somewhat vague and ambiguous.

Huang Dan said, “I’m going back.”

Liu Chu said abruptly, “It won’t happen in the future.”

Huang Dan asked, “What?”

Liu Chu turned his head, “It’s nothing.”

Huang Dan looked at the man and pursed his lips for a while, “Keep your words. If you mock me again, you’ll sleep with the bug in your arms.”

Liu Chu stared over, “You are so vicious.”

“……”

Huang Dan said, “My mouth was bitten by you, grandma will ask later, I don’t want to fool around.”

Liu Chu raised his eyebrows, “Just say you bit it yourself.”

Huang Dan said, “If grandma asks me how I solved it last night, how should I answer?”

Liu Chu’s eyes hung high, “Those who have stayed abroad, can’t do this?”

Huang Dan said, “No.”

Liu Chu was speechless for a moment, and asked him to directly tell about his soaking in the river all night, which happened to explain the clothes on his body.

Huang Dan said, “Juan’er saw you last night.”

Liu Chu didn’t take it seriously, “It’s just a mute, and she can’t speak.”

Huang Dan said, “Don’t underestimate the dumb.”

Liu Chu frowned, and said impatiently, “Why don’t you just throw the matter on me, and I’ll tell the Old Madam.”

Huang Dan said no, it would be more troublesome, “I’ll see grandma’s reaction first, and then make a plan.”

“You worked hard last night.”

Liu Chu said internally that he really worked hard and endured so much. Even he himself didn’t expect that the delicious food is in front of him, and he can eat it with his mouth open, but he just licked it, smelled the fragrance, and held it back abruptly.

Huang Dan said, “It’s a good thing you’re here.”

If this man hadn’t come, he might really be with Juan’er… What a blessing.

As far as Huang Dan is concerned, since he has no other thoughts about Juan’er, he can’t have her body and be responsible for himself as well as her.

Just as Liu Chu was about to speak, the back door opened from the inside.

A figure flashed before Huang Dan’s eyes, and the man had disappeared.

Servant who poured night fragrance saw Huang Dan, his eyes widened, “Young, Young Master?”

Huang Dan hummed, stepped past him to enter the door, and asked casually, “Did anything happen at home?”

The servant faltered, saying that Juan’er was kneeling in the garden and had been kneeling all night.

Huang Dan’s eyelids twitched, he quickened his pace, and went straight to the garden.

The housekeeper floated over from nowhere, “Young Master, the old lady is waiting for you for breakfast.”

Huang Dan changed the direction and went to the front hall.

Song Yuan Shi was sitting on the top, dressed neatly, with a kind face, without any abnormality, “You are back.”

Huang Dan sat down beside the old lady, “Grandma, last night I…”

Song Yuan Shi interrupted his grandson, “Let’s have breakfast first.”

Huang Dan was full, he looked at a table of hearty breakfasts, and finally chose to drink porridge, which was easy to digest, and he was done with lavatory.

The grandparents and grandson ate breakfast quietly, interpreting the three words “eat without words” very thoroughly.

After the meal, Song Yuan Shi signaled for the housekeeper to go out and asked servants to bring Juan’er over.

Even though it wasn’t raining and it wasn’t the twelfth lunar month of winter, kneeling on the hard ground for one night would be too much for even a burly man.

Let alone a weak woman.

Juan’er staggered when she walked, and would faint at any moment.

Seeing her slowness, a maid gave her a big twist on her waist, “Hurry up, don’t make the Old Madam wait!”

Juan’er’s complexion was very bad, and cold sweat covered her forehead. She gritted her teeth and forced herself to walk forward.

When she got to the front hall, Juan’er was pressed to kneel down.

Huang Dan stood up and wanted to help, but Song Yuan Shi said sharply, “Sit down.”

He sits back.

Song Yuan Shi said, “Ah Wang, a servant is a servant. Don’t break the rules of the family just because you are a dubious person.”

Huang Dan said, “Understood.”

He asked, “Grandma, what did Juan’er do wrong, you made her kneel all night?”

“That’s what she deserves.” Song Yuan Shi took a sip of tea, “If you don’t serve your master well, you should be punished.”

Huang Dan didn’t speak.

Song Yuan Shi put down the teacup, “Ah Wang, tell grandma, you were not in the room last night, where did you go with Chief Liu?”

Huang Dan looked at Juan’er.

Juan’er shook her head with a pale face, her eyes showed strong uneasiness, and she was telling Huang Dan that it wasn’t her who said it.

Huang Dan withdrew his gaze, “Just spent the night outside.”

Song Yuan Shi asked, “Which girl is it?”

Huang Dan was taken aback, the old lady thought that Liu Chu took him to the brothel, “I soaked in the river all night.”

Song Yuan Shi’s expression changed, “What?”

Huang Dan sneezed.

Song Yuan Shi hurriedly asked the housekeeper to invite the doctor, “Ah Wang, what were you thinking?”

“Grandma admits that what happened last night was due to a lack of consideration, and I didn’t ask for your opinion in advance, but you, everyone has prepared for you, and there is a very easy way. But you insist on going off road, don’t you think you are stupid?”

Huang Dan glanced at Juan’er and remained silent.

Song Yuan Shi asked, “Then why did Chief Liu appear in the mansion last night?”

Huang Dan’s mind turned, “He was going to search in the mountains. He came to me because he knew that I had a gun brought back by overseas. He hoped that I would follow him to be safe.”

“But after going out, I asked Chief Liu to take me to the Earthworm River. He climbed the mountain on his own. We didn’t see each other until dawn. The clothes on my body were prepared by Chief Liu.”

After hearing this, Song Yuan Shi said, “Don’t be so foolish in the future, how can you stay in the water for such a long time, it will hurt your health.”

Huang Dan sneezed again, he sneezed twice in a row, and his nose flowed, he wiped it with a handkerchief, “Okay.”

“You’ve caught a cold. Next time, remember better, so don’t wrong yourself.” Song Yuan Shi suddenly said, “Ah Wang, come here and let grandma take a look.”

Huang Dan’s heart skipped a beat. The old lady’s eyesight is good, and she would noticed the wound on his lower lip.

At this moment, there was a bang at the door, and Juan’er fainted to the ground.

Huang Dan thought, give Juan’er a sum of money in two days, let her go back to the countryside, or go to other places, it doesn’t matter, just don’t stay in Song Mansion.

A cold and fever are not a serious illness, but they are also quite uncomfortable.

Huang Dan was feverish all over. He drank the medicine and lay down on the bed, and soon fell asleep.

Dazed, Huang Dan felt a hand touching his face, he wanted to open his eyelids, but he was powerless, struggled a bit, and fell asleep even deeper.

On the other side, Si Mao was called by Liu Chu to visit the salesman’s house to inquire.

He didn’t quite understand that the salesman had died long ago, and no one had asked about it, so there was nothing else to investigate.

The mountain fog blurred, and the unknown birds were whining. After passing through a section of the winding mountain road, several slanting huts at the foot of the mountain were finally exposed.

This is a dilapidated village with only seven or eight families. Si Mao walked into the village, and through his inquiries, he easily came to the door of the salesman’s house.

The two rotten old wooden doors are tilted, and there is a rusty copper lock hanging in the middle. There are a few crooked rotten bamboo baskets on both sides of the door, which should be used by the salesman to store goods.

Si Mao walked around the door, but didn’t find anything, so he walked back to the door and pushed the wooden door hard. The dilapidated wooden door immediately swayed and made a low creaking sound, as if it would collapse at any moment.

Fortunately, the dilapidated brass lock was quite strong. Si Mao slammed the door hard several times, but he couldn’t open the door, so he had no choice but to crawl between the cracks of the door and look into the house.

The furnishing inside the house is extremely simple. It seems that the salesman’s business is not good and he can only maintain a basic livelihood. Perhaps it is because he is single and has no wife. The salesman’s house is very dirty and messy. It seems that it has not been cleaned for a long time. Old and worn-out items were piled up randomly, and the whole house was filled with an unpleasant smell.

Si Mao rubbed his nose, and when he was about to watch carefully again, he felt someone patting his left shoulder. He was startled, and turned his head to check.

“What are you doing?”

He saw a vigilant old lady standing behind her, maybe she was attracted by the sound of his slamming on the door just now, and the other party regarded him as a snitch who wanted to break into the house.

“Ma’am, I’m a police officer from the town, and I’m here to investigate the case of the salesman.”

Si Mao curled his lips, considering the impoverished condition of the salesman’s house, even a real thief would never come to steal this house.

Seeing the policeman, the aunt was relieved, but also a little worried. She is the neighbor of the salesman, and the case was also a big deal.

Some said that the salesman was eaten to death by wild beasts in the mountains, and others said that he was eaten by demons. A few days ago, it was reported that Boss Zhang was treated as a demon and beaten to death.

This year is so evil that they closed the door tightly before it got dark, hiding in the house and not daring to come out.

Now even the town’s police are here, and aunt knows that the case of the salesman may be really famous. It is strange to say that the man died after being missing for such a long time. When he was found, there were only a few bones and meat load.

There is no face on the fleshy bones, who knows if it is a salesman.

Si Mao asked, “Ma’am, when was the last time you saw the salesman?”

The aunt thought for a while and said, “It seems to be March. He was drying the quilt at the door. I can’t remember the exact day.”

“Anyway, I just remember that the salesman was very happy at that time, saying that one of his friends became rich and became the chef of the restaurant in the town, and said that he would invite him to the restaurant for dinner.”

“What? Restaurant chef?”

Si Mao was startled, the only restaurant in the town was Boss Dai’s, the others were all small restaurants, and the salesman’s friend was the chef he had met before?

“Ma’am, is there anything special about the salesman’s appearance?”

“There’s no difference. The salesman’s height is not short, just like his father, hey, young man, but you are also quite tall. How about you, have you married a wife? People like you who work under the county lord, ordinary people’s girl is not good enough, my uncle’s neighbor’s cousin’s daughter…”

The aunt looked at Si Mao with bright eyes, looked up and down carefully, and nodded with satisfaction from time to time, so frightened that Si Mao quickly interrupted.

“Ma’am, let’s talk about business. You said that the salesman is also tall, so how can he compare with me?”

The aunt said, “He is taller in the village, but compared with you, young man, he is still half a head shorter than you.”

Si Mao asked, “Then what else is special about him?”

“Other special ones? Nothing else.” The aunt lowered her head and thought for a while, then suddenly clapped her hands and said, “Ah, by the way, the salesman once climbed a mountain and fell down when he was young, and his left leg has always been a little lame.”

Si Mao wrote it down, asked some other things, but found nothing else, finally opened the door of the salesman’s house, searched carefully for a while, sucked up the dust, and left the village with a stinky face .