After a long silence, Grandma Xu seemed to come to her senses and slowly spoke.

Why would you suddenly inquire about this person?

“I overheard a friend mentioning this person, saying he was from our Xu family. But in my memory, there doesn’t seem to be such an ancestor in the Xu family genealogy. That’s why I was curious and asked you, sir.”

After a moment of silence, Madam Xu chuckled softly twice.

“Our Xu family is large and powerful, with many collateral branches. Especially during that most chaotic period, all sorts of people would try to get involved with the Xu family in order to claim kinship. You can’t trust them.”

"I see. Perhaps it really is as you said, that someone used our Xu family's name to swindle and deceive people."

The old lady did not bring up the topic again.

"When are you coming back? I'm getting older and older, and I've been forgetting things lately. I'm afraid that one day when I wake up, I'll have forgotten all of you younger generations."

Xu Hualan realized that the old lady wanted her to take her husband and children to Shanghai.

When they first returned to China, they took a few days to visit him. At that time, Kang Cheng happened to be in Shanghai on a business trip, so it was on his way there.

Several months have passed in the blink of an eye.

"I will definitely make time to go back and visit you soon. I miss you so much."

After making the old man happy, Xu Hualan hung up the phone.

She tidied herself up quickly, gave Old Bai some instructions, and then went out.

Once on the bus, I took out my phone and made a call.

"Qianmo, where are you right now?"

Forty minutes later

Xu Hualan and Bai Qianmo arranged to meet at a teahouse.

The traditional courtyard houses in old Beijing are secluded and quiet, each with its own entrance and rooms.

Bai Qianmo rushed back from Xiangshan, but after receiving a call from Xu Hualan halfway there, she immediately changed her plans.

"Auntie!"

"Qianmo is here, come and sit down." Xu Hualan greeted Bai Qianmo with a smile.

Bai Qianmo walked in, placed her worn-out backpack on an empty chair, and then sat cross-legged at the tea table.

The tea stove on the table was brewing tea. Xu Hualan gracefully and skillfully placed the tea from the teapot in front of Bai Qianmo after stirring it with a spoon several times.

"It must be cold outside. Come and have a sip of hot tea to warm yourself up."

"Thank you, Auntie!"

Bai Qianmo took a sip of hot tea, lifted her eyelids to glance at Xu Hualan, and smiled, "Aunt, why did you suddenly invite me here for tea today?"

Although she already had a vague idea of ​​the answer, she still asked it out loud.

Xu Hualan also picked up her teacup and took a leisurely sip of tea.

“I just had a video call with my mother, and I asked her about Xu Jin’en, but she said she didn’t know him.”

"Since Madam Xu doesn't know Xu Jin'en, you wouldn't have come all this way to invite me for tea," Bai Qianmo said with a faint smile.

Xu Hualan also smiled: "The old lady did say those words, but her expression at the time was very strange. I think she knew Xu Jin'en, but didn't want to mention him. Considering that Xu Jin'en is not on the Xu family genealogy, could it be that he committed a major taboo in the Xu family and was therefore removed from the list?"

This matter was originally just something I asked on behalf of Qianmo.

But now, Xu Hualan herself has also begun to feel curious.

Recalling the old lady's expression when she heard Xu Jin'en's name, she seemed to see a hint of sadness in the old lady's eyes.

Who exactly is Xu Jin'en? Why does she seem to have become a taboo subject?

Driven by curiosity, she quickly contacted Qianmo, partly to tell her the information she had obtained, and partly to learn more about Xu Jin'en from Qianmo.

"Qianmo, why are you investigating Xu Jin'en? And who exactly is she?"

Bai Qianmo pondered for a moment: "Aunt, you have brought me some very important news. I will not hide anything from you. Xu Jin'en is related to a serial murder case that I am investigating, so I have been investigating this person."

"Based on what you said about Xu Jin'en's age last time, she's already over 100 years old. How could she be involved in a series of murders?"

"This matter involves many people, and I'm sorry I can't tell you the truth, but one thing is certain: Madam Xu knows Xu Jin'en. Aunt, could you please act as a go-between and let me see Madam Xu?"

Only by meeting Madam Xu in person can many things be unraveled from the fog.

“That’s not difficult. I promised the old lady today that I’ll take some time to go back to Shanghai soon. You can come with me to the Xu family home then.”

"Then thank you in advance, Auntie."

"Why are you being so polite with me? Besides, I'm curious about what relationship this Xu Jin'en has with our Xu family."

*

Liu Fuyong rested for a night in the underground base. He was worried about his wife and children, and because of his external injuries, his wounds were still hurting, so he didn't sleep a wink all night.

I finally drifted off to sleep after a day of exhaustion.

Even when she was asleep, she kept murmuring her son's nickname.

He slept until the afternoon, and when he saw that it was already past four o'clock, he suddenly rolled out of bed like a carp.

I hurriedly put on my clothes and rushed out of the room.

He knocked on his companion's door, and the person inside quickly opened it.

Upon seeing Liu Fuyong, his companion squinted his tired eyes.

"Brother Yong."

"Where is the boss? Can I go see him now?"

His companion, who had stayed up all night playing games and was sound asleep, seemed much more alert after hearing Liu Fuyong's words.

"Um, I'll call Min and ask if the boss is here."

"Okay, go ask quickly," Liu Fuyong urged.

His companion took out his phone, dialed the headquarters number, and after asking some questions, he turned to Liu Fuyong and said, "The boss is here, but he doesn't want to see you today."

Liu Fuyong clenched his fists, feeling that his loyal master saw everything clearly.

Similarly, his master valued him highly.

Unexpectedly, after this mission failed and he was captured, the new relationship between him and his master instantly crumbled.

He then realized that there was almost no trust between him and his master.

After being captured by Feng Yi, he was beaten and tortured, while his master kidnapped his wife and children as hostages.

Filled with anger and dissatisfaction, Liu Fuyong could no longer calmly consider other matters.

"I must see my master today!"

After saying those words, Liu Fuyong vanished in a flash.

His companions tried to stop him, but it was too late.

Liu Fuyong was one of the three most capable and skilled men by his master's side. Even if he wanted to stop him, he couldn't.

With a helpless, bitter laugh, Yongban immediately took out his phone and made a call.

"Get ready quickly, Liu Fuyong is going to the base."