Chapter 299 Code Words

Su Wantang stood outside the observation post, staring at the old woman in the Plum Blossom Hall.

The old woman sat there, motionless. She moved her prayer beads slowly and steadily, her eyes slightly closed, her breathing calm.

This person is definitely not here to try their luck.

Su Wantang took two steps back and walked to the small hall next door.

Qin Zheng followed over and lowered his voice: "Miss, should I go in first and sound them out?"

"No rush," Su Wantang shook her head. "Let's wait a bit longer."

She sat down and poured herself a cup of tea. The tea tasted slightly bitter.

Qin Zheng stood by the door, not daring to speak.

About fifteen minutes later, a sound came from the Plum Blossom Hall.

"Sir."

Qin Zheng pushed open the door and went in.

The old woman opened her eyes and looked at him: "Could you please get me a new pot of tea?"

Qin Zheng was stunned. "Change the tea?"

“Yes,” the old woman said, “I want to listen to the waves before the rain.”

Qin Zheng was even more bewildered. He had been managing Tangdixuan for so long, and this was the first time he had ever heard of this kind of tea.

"Please wait a moment, I'll go ask."

He left and went straight to the small hall.

"Miss, she wants to change her tea. She said she wants 'Listening to the Waves Before the Rain'."

Su Wantang paused, her hand holding the teacup still.

Listening to the waves before the rain.

She had seen those four words before.

In my mother's notebook on business strategies, there's a page dedicated to tea. She said the best tea in Shanghai isn't Biluochun or Longjing, but rather Tingtao before the rain.

The roasting method for this tea is extremely obscure, and almost no one knows about it.

My mother loved drinking this the most when she was alive.

Su Wantang put down her teacup and stood up.

"Qin Zheng".

"exist."

"Go back and tell her that listening to the waves before the rain is a rare treat and should be enjoyed with special snacks."

Qin Zheng nodded. "What kind of snacks?"

"Snow falls on the crabapple blossoms."

Qin Zheng made a note of it, then turned and left.

Su Wantang stood by the window, looking at the sky outside.

Snow-covered crabapple blossoms were a dessert created by my mother. Only Wang Ma and she knew how to make it.

This was her way of testing the waters.

Qin Zheng relayed the message in the Plum Blossom Hall.

The old woman's eyes flickered after hearing this.

"Snow falling on crabapple blossoms?"

“Yes,” Qin Zheng said, “that’s the rule.”

The old woman was silent for a few seconds, then nodded.

"Then let's wait and see."

She closed her eyes again and continued to move the prayer beads in her hand.

Qin Zheng withdrew and returned to the small hall to report.

"Young Miss, she agreed."

Su Wantang turned around, walked to the internal phone, and dialed a number.

"Wang Ma, it's me."

On the other end of the phone, Wang Ma was busy in the kitchen.

"Young Miss? What happened?"

Are you free now?

Yes, what's wrong?

"I need you to make a snow-covered crabapple blossom dish."

Wang Ma's voice trailed off.

"Snow falling on crabapple blossoms?"

"right."

“Young Miss…” Aunt Wang’s voice trembled slightly, “Why did you suddenly…”

"Don't ask," Su Wantang said. "Can you do it now?"

"Yes," said Wang Ma. "I'll go prepare it right away."

"It's ready. Have Qin Zheng's men come and pick it up."

"yes."

After hanging up the phone, Su Wantang sat back down in her chair.

Qin Zheng stood to the side, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

"Young Miss, these pastries..."

“It was created by my mother,” Su Wantang said. “Only Wang Ma and I know how to make it.”

Qin Zheng understood.

This is to verify identity.

An hour later, the snacks arrived.

On a blue and white porcelain plate are four pastries. The pastries are snow-white and shaped like begonia petals.

Qin Zheng carried the plate and walked into the Plum Blossom Hall.

The old woman opened her eyes and looked at the plate.

Qin Zheng put down the plate and poured tea.

"Please go ahead."

The old woman didn't touch the tea, only staring at the snacks.

She reached out and picked up a piece.

There is a tiny begonia flower imprint on the bottom of the pastry.

The old woman's hands trembled.

She held the snacks up and looked at them for a long time, her eyes reddening.

Qin Zheng stood to the side, not daring to utter a sound.

The old woman put down her snacks, took a slip of paper from her sleeve, and placed it under her teacup.

Then he stood up and nodded to Qin Zheng.

"I'm sorry to bother you."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Qin Zheng stood there, stunned.

Only after the old woman had walked away did he realize what had happened and quickly picked up the note.

The note contained only one line of text and one address.

"The crabapple blossoms are in bloom, awaiting the young master. No. 7 Chunshu Hutong, west of the city."

Qin Zheng took the note and strode into the small hall.

Su Wantang sat in a chair, looking out the window.

"Young Miss".

She turned around and took the note.

After reading it, she put the note in her pocket.

"Qin Zheng".

"exist."

"Take some men to the west of the city and find out the situation around No. 7 Chunshu Hutong."

Qin Zheng nodded. "I'll go now."

"Don't alert them," Su Wantang said. "Investigate, but don't go in."

"clear."

After Qin Zheng left, Su Wantang sat in a chair, touching her belly.

Little one, your mom caught another big fish today.

However, this fish needs to be handled carefully.

She stood up and walked to the window.

The old woman was nowhere to be seen outside the Plum Blossom Hall.

Su Wantang looked at the empty courtyard, her eyes darkening.

Why is it only now that my mother's people have been lying low in Beijing for so long?

Is it because she's pregnant?

Or is it because of something else?

She didn't know.

But she needs to figure it out.

Qin Zheng returned in the evening.

He said as soon as he entered the room, "Miss, we've found out."

Su Wantang sat on the sofa and looked up at him.

"explain."

“No. 7 Chunshu Hutong is an old house,” Qin Zheng said. “The courtyard is not big, and a widow named Fang lived there. Everyone called her Aunt Fang.”

"Aunt Fang?"

“Yes,” Qin Zheng said. “She has lived there for almost twenty years. She doesn’t go out much, except occasionally to the market to buy groceries.”

What did the neighbors say?

"The neighbors say she's a nice person, just not very talkative," Qin Zheng said. "When people ask her about her family, she doesn't answer."

Su Wantang nodded. "Anything else?"

“I had someone check her background,” Qin Zheng said. “The file says she’s from Shanghai, her husband died early, and she has no children.”

"Shanghai?"

"right."

Su Wantang stood up and walked to the window.

A Shanghai native, living in Beijing.

Her husband died young, and she has no children.

This identity is too clean.

"Young Miss," Qin Zheng said, "should I investigate further?"

“No need.” Su Wantang shook her head. “The more you investigate, the easier it is to be exposed.”

"Then let's..."

"I'll go myself tomorrow."

Qin Zheng was stunned. "Miss, you're not feeling well right now, should I go?"

“No,” Su Wantang said. “They want to see me, not you.”

She turned around and looked at Qin Zheng.

"You will take some men and keep watch outside tomorrow. If anything happens, come in immediately."

"yes."

After Qin Zheng left, Su Wantang sat back down on the sofa.

She touched her belly and said softly, "Little one, your mom is going to see someone tomorrow."

"You have to make your mother proud and not cause any trouble."

There was no movement in her belly.

Su Wantang smiled.

The little guy is only a few weeks old, how could he hear?

But she still spoke up.

Lu Jingyan returned that evening.

As soon as he entered the room, he saw Su Wantang sitting on the sofa in a daze.

"What are you thinking about?"

Su Wantang snapped out of her daze and looked at him.

"nothing."

Lu Jingyan walked over and sat down next to her.

"You don't look well. Did you throw up again?"

"No," Su Wantang shook her head, "I'm just a little tired."

Lu Jingyan frowned. "Then go to sleep early."

"Um."

He helped her to her feet and walked towards the bedroom.

Su Wantang stopped halfway there.

"Jingyan".

"What's wrong?"

Are you free tomorrow?

Lu Jingyan looked at her. "There's a meeting to attend, but we can postpone it."

"No need," Su Wantang said. "Go and do your thing."

"and you……"

"I also have something to take care of."

Lu Jingyan stared at her, his gaze darkening.

"What's up?"

"It's nothing serious," Su Wantang said. "It's just meeting someone."

"Whom are you going to see?"

Su Wantang paused. "My mother's old acquaintance."

Lu Jingyan's hand tightened.

Where shall we meet?

"West of the city."

"I'll go with you."

“No need.” Su Wantang shook her head. “Qin Zheng will be with me.”

"Wantang," Lu Jingyan said, "you're pregnant now, you can't take any risks."

“I know,” Su Wantang said, “that’s why I had Qin Zheng lead some men to keep watch outside.”

Lu Jingyan looked at her without saying a word.

Su Wantang grasped his hand.

"I won't risk the child, don't worry."

Lu Jingyan was silent for a few seconds, then nodded.

"Then I'll have Gao Jianjun bring some men to follow along."

"good."

He helped her to bed and covered her with the blanket.

Go to bed early.

"And you?"

"I have something to take care of," Lu Jingyan said. "I'll come over as soon as I'm done."

"Don't stay out too late."

"Um."

He closed the door and went to the study.

I picked up the phone and dialed a number.

"Jianjun, that's me."

"Brother? What happened so late?"

"Tomorrow, take some men to No. 7 Chunshu Hutong in the west of the city."

Gao Jianjun was stunned. "What are you going there for?"

"Protector".

"Protect whom?"

"Wantang".

Gao Jianjun's voice immediately turned serious.

"What are you doing there, sister-in-law?"

"I'm meeting someone," Lu Jingyan said. "You take some men and keep watch outside, make sure nothing happens to her."

"clear."

After hanging up the phone, Lu Jingyan sat down in a chair.

He looked out the window at the night sky, his eyes turning cold.

My mother's old flame.

Its appearance at this time is no coincidence.