Seeing her mother's attitude, Lei Yuhua knew she couldn't persuade her otherwise, so she turned and ran away.
She hopped on her bicycle and sped home with all her might, the wheels practically sparking.
When he got home, he didn't have time to explain. He rummaged through the drawers and found all the cash in the house. Afraid that it wouldn't be enough, he hurriedly called his father, Political Commissar Lei, and explained the situation in a few words, asking him to bring the money to Huabaolou as soon as possible.
When Political Commissar Lei heard that it involved his brother-in-law Zhou Jianbang, he was startled. He immediately grabbed his family savings book, withdrew the money, and rushed to Huabaolou.
Commissar Lei, being a veteran of many years, naturally exuded a calm and composed aura. Dressed in his military uniform, he stood ramrod straight in front of the counter.
Seeing Political Commissar Lei's serious face, the sales clerk didn't dare mention "kickbacks" again and simply told him everything she knew:
"Old comrade, this jade pendant... was consigned to us by a man surnamed Jin. His nickname is 'Big Tooth Jin,' and he's a dealer of jade and antiques on the black market. He's usually active in the area around the south city wall, right under the old city wall, in the black market area. However..."
The sales clerk paused, then lowered her voice.
“These kinds of dealers have shady dealings when it comes to buying things, so it's not necessarily something your relative brought from them. I reckon they might have bought secondhand goods from somewhere, or... they might even have found or stolen them. You should be prepared and not get your hopes up too high.”
Having obtained a clue about Jin Daya, Zhou Shuhua clutched the jade pendant she had just bought, which was still cool to the touch, determined to find him immediately.
Seeing that her face was pale, her lips were trembling, and she was extremely agitated, Political Commissar Lei feared that her body could not take it, so he forcibly pushed her into the back seat of the jeep and went to find someone himself.
The afternoon seemed exceptionally long, filled with Zhou Shuhua's anxious waiting and Lei Yuhua's reassurance.
As darkness fell, Political Commissar Lei finally appeared at the intersection.
"So, Lao Lei? Was it Jianbang? Was he the one who put it up for sale?"
Zhou Shuhua rushed over and grabbed her husband's arm, her voice trembling uncontrollably, her eyes filled with hope.
Political Commissar Lei sighed, shook his head, and said in a deep voice:
“We found Jin Daya. He said that a family of three farmers came to him to sell the jade pendant more than half a month ago. The family didn’t seem to have such old items. When Jin Daya asked them where the jade pendant came from, they stammered and couldn’t answer. They only said that it was left by their elders and that they urgently needed money for medical treatment, so they took it out to sell. They didn’t know anything else.”
The light in Zhou Shuhua's eyes dimmed instantly, as if she had been doused with cold water, but then a deeper obsession ignited within her:
"Then...is it possible to find that family? To find out where this jade pendant came from! Where was it found? Have they seen my brother?"
Commissar Lei patted his wife's hand helplessly:
"That Jin Daya is a black market dealer, how could he know so much about other people? He doesn't even know their names."
He paused, looking at his wife's face which instantly turned ashen, and then added...
"But don't worry, I've already given that Jin Daya some money and left our home address and phone number, asking him to keep an eye on things for us. If there's any new information about that family, let us know immediately."
The jeep drove back to the military family compound in the twilight.
When she got home, Zhou Shuhua was like a lost soul; she couldn't eat or drink anything.
She sat under the lamp, placing the two jade pendants side by side on the table, repeatedly stroking her brother's chipped pendant, and then took out the black-and-white photograph she had treasured for many years, now yellowed and brittle—
In the photo, the young Zhou Shuhua is embracing Zhou Jianbang, who is still a teenager. Both of them are wearing the same jade pendant around their necks and are smiling brightly.
Seeing his wife's distraught state, Political Commissar Lei felt both heartache and helplessness. He poured her a cup of hot water and placed it beside her.
“Shuhua, have some water. Don’t overthink it. All these years have passed; perhaps that family really did find the jade pendant by chance in some desolate wasteland. Jianbang…”
He couldn't bring himself to finish his sentence.
Zhou Shuhua suddenly raised her head, her eyes glistening with tears, yet also with an almost obsessive determination:
“Old Lei, I know you’re worried about me. But… Jianbang has disappeared without a trace, neither alive nor dead, for over twenty years! My heart… feels like it’s being weighed down by a huge rock, I haven’t had a single day of peace! Now, finally, there’s a sliver of news! Even if it’s just a shadow, a possibility!”
Her fingers gripped the edge of the photo tightly, her voice choked yet clear.
"As long as there's even a sliver of hope, I can't give up! If Jianbang is... if he's still alive, then thank God! But if he's really gone..."
Her tears finally rolled down in large drops, landing on the photograph.
"I have to find him! Even if all that's left are his bones, I have to bring him back! I have to give him a proper burial! Back then, if he hadn't gone to that even more arduous and dangerous place in my place to work in the countryside, he wouldn't have suffered all that, and he wouldn't have fallen into the river..."
Political Commissar Lei watched as his wife held the photo and jade pendant, looking completely lost, and felt a pang of heartache.
He knew that if this string was stretched too tight, it would surely snap.
We can't let her keep letting her daydream like this.
Political Commissar Lei sat down opposite her and made up his mind:
"I thought about it and realized I needed to find someone. Someone with connections and the ability to get things done."
He paused, looking into his wife's eyes.
“I’ll go find Huaichuan. He has a good relationship with Captain Li of the security team, so he should be able to help us.”
"Huaichuan?"
Zhou Shuhua was stunned for a moment, "He, can he help us? And what about Qiqi..."
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