Chapter 147 Thank you for your cooperation
Uncle Wang was stunned for a moment, then glanced at the imposing car and the cadre-looking man, and nodded quickly: "Okay, okay, Mr. Gu, you go ahead and do your thing."
The middle-aged man glanced at the guard, said nothing, and opened the car door for Gu Qiuyue.
There was also a young, taciturn driver in the car.
Gu Qiuyue sat in the back seat, the middle-aged man sat next to her, and the car drove steadily towards the kindergarten.
Along the way, the man didn't rush to ask questions, casually chatting about the local weather and education, appearing quite patient. Gu Qiuyue responded cautiously, her heart hanging as she wondered what their so-called "further understanding" was referring to. Was it the embroidery? Granny Li? Or... the letter she had written to Mr. Han?
After picking up the children Huahua and Shuangshuang, the two children were curious but a little restrained when they saw the strange uncle and the beautiful car. Gu Qiuyue hugged them comfortingly and told them that it was the uncle from their mother's unit who wanted to see them for something.
The car did not drive to the government compound in the town, but drove to an inconspicuous single-family building on the outskirts of the town. Gu Qiuyue's heart sank even more.
After entering a simply decorated but solemn office, the middle-aged man asked Gu Qiuyue and the children to sit down, and considerately poured two glasses of water for the children. Then, he sat behind his desk, took out a notebook and a pen, and his expression became more formal.
"Comrade Gu Qiuyue, please don't be nervous," he said. "We're looking for you mainly to learn more about your recent interactions with Comrade Li Shulan, especially... information about an embroidery called 'Spring in the Garden.'"
We hope you can recall and tell us in as much detail as possible how you came across this embroidery, what Comrade Li Shulan said about it, and… do you know of any other whereabouts of this embroidery, or anyone or anything related to it?”
His eyes were calm yet sharp, as if they could penetrate people's hearts.
Gu Qiuyue held the children's hands tightly, knowing that the real test had just begun. She had to organize her words extremely carefully to respond to the inquiries in front of her, protect Grandma Li, and not put herself in unknown danger.
She took a deep breath and began to narrate, deliberately focusing on her admiration for and learning of embroidery skills, and speaking as naturally as possible: "That painting 'Spring in the Garden', yes, I saw it at Granny Li's house. The craftsmanship is indeed very exquisite, and it left a deep impression on me..."
Gu Qiuyue's voice sounded steadily in the simple yet majestic office. She deliberately softened her tone, as if she was really just recalling a small thing about a fine work of art.
"Grandma Li's craftsmanship is truly exceptional. The painting 'Spring in the Garden' has a rich composition and natural color transitions. Especially the pair of butterflies, they are so vivid and lifelike. I couldn't take my eyes off them. I regretted not meeting her earlier. Otherwise, I could have shamelessly asked her to be my teacher." She smiled slightly, looking naturally at the middle-aged man, as if immersed in memories. "Huahua and Shuangshuang were playing in the mud in the yard at that time. She talked to me while watching the children play. She is a very kind old lady."
The middle-aged man, Gu Qiuyue had already learned from the information he inadvertently revealed that his surname was Liu. Comrade Liu occasionally wrote something on the notebook, but most of the time he just listened quietly. His eyes were indeed as Gu Qiuyue felt, calm and sharp, as if he was weighing every detail of her words.
"Comrade Li Shulan, when showing or mentioning this embroidery, did you say anything special? For example, its origin, or... some of her past experiences?" Comrade Liu's voice was not loud, but it carried a force that could not be avoided.
Gu Qiuyue's heart tightened slightly, but a thoughtful look appeared on her face at the right time: "Special? Hmm... Granny Li did say that she learned this pattern in the provincial capital when she was young. The embroidery workshops at that time were much more sophisticated than they are now.
Oh, she even praised this thread, saying it was genuine Suzhou and Hangzhou thread, with a vibrant color that wouldn't fade easily, and that it was hard to find these days. She deftly transformed Granny Li's potentially sensitive background information into a pure nostalgia for the craftsmanship and materials. This was something they had actually mentioned in their casual conversation, so it wasn't a lie, just a trade-off.
Comrade Liu nodded, without commenting, and then asked, "Besides you, who else has seen this embroidery? Or, has Comrade Li Shulan mentioned whether she gave it to someone else, or... sold it?"
This question got closer to the core. Gu Qiuyue held the children's hands tightly. Huahua seemed to feel that the atmosphere was a little dull, twisted uneasily, and whispered: "Mom, I want to go home."
Gu Qiuyue quickly patted his back soothingly and gave Comrade Liu an apologetic smile: "The child can't sit still, I'm sorry, Comrade Liu." She took the opportunity to calm herself down while lowering her head to comfort the child.
Looking up, she said with more certainty, "No one else has seen it, right? When I went there, the embroidery was stored in that old box in her bedroom. It looked quite old, and it was covered with a cloth to keep it dust-proof. Granny Li showed it to me because she saw that I really liked embroidery. She never said she wanted to sell it or give it away. It seemed more like she was keeping it for herself as a keepsake."
She paused, as if remembering something, and added, "Many people in town know that Granny Li is skilled in craftsmanship, but I'm afraid not many have actually seen that piece of work."
These words were reasonable and logical. They not only ruled out the possibility of Grandma Li widely displaying the embroidery, but also hinted at the privacy of the embroidery, reducing the probability of it being known to more people and even causing a stir.
Comrade Liu was silent for a moment and closed the notebook. This action made Gu Qiuyue's heart relax a little, but his next words made the string taut again.
"Comrade Gu Qiuyue, thank you for your cooperation. What we learned today is very important." A formal, relaxed expression flashed across his face. "Comrade Li Shulan's experience contains some issues left over from a special period, and the organization needs to verify them clearly. Regarding that embroidery and her social relationships, I hope that if you recall any details after you return, you can contact me at the town office at any time. Also..."
He glanced at the two children, his tone calm but pointed, "For the protection of Comrade Li Shulan and the need for investigation, please keep our conversation today and the matter of the embroidery confidential. Do not mention it to anyone, including your family."
He slightly emphasized the word "family." Gu Qiuyue instantly understood the deep meaning behind it.
Her husband Xie Shiyu is a senior military officer with a sensitive identity. The organization's investigation is not only investigating Grandma Li, but also perhaps observing whether she and her husband behind her are deeply involved in certain "historical issues." This is not just about understanding the situation, but also an implicit reminder and warning.
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