Chapter Seven: Now Everything's Gone
"Aunt Lu."
He Mingzhou strode ahead, carrying Xin Li's two handbags.
Following behind, Xinli quickly glanced at the four small bungalows with a courtyard belonging to Sister Lu.
When Zhang Jinhua saw He Mingzhou bring in a very stylish young girl, she exclaimed and looked at Xin Li with curiosity and a bit of scrutiny.
"Xiao He, who is this young lady?"
He Mingzhou said in a normal tone, "This is my fiancée."
"I just arrived today, so it's not appropriate for me to stay at your place. I'd like to trouble you for the night."
After He Mingzhou finished his introduction, Xin Li peeked out from behind him and called out to him in a clear voice.
"Hello, Aunt Lu! Just call me Xinxin!"
Zhang Jinhua's face lit up with a smile: "She's a lively girl, and quite pretty too. You can stay at my place tonight!"
"Thank you for your trouble, Auntie." After saying that, Xin Li glanced at He Mingzhou, a hint of dependence in her eyes: "So, are you coming to pick me up tomorrow?"
She came here to get married. It's understandable that she came so suddenly today, but she still needs to get the report done and the certificate in hand tomorrow. Otherwise, it's not good for her to keep living in someone else's house.
He Mingzhou had also thought of this, so he lowered his eyes to avoid Xin Li's gaze, nodded, and said in a low voice, "I'll pick you up first thing tomorrow morning."
Xin Li's eyes immediately curved into crescent moons.
"Then I'll wait for you!"
He Mingzhou was clearly very uncomfortable with the fact that he suddenly had a sweet and soft fiancée. He cleared his throat, said a few more words to Zhang Jinhua, and then left.
Looking at the man's slightly hurried back, Zhang Jinhua smiled kindly: "Xiao He is not a bad person. He's just a bit quiet since he was young. Actually, he's a steady and very warm-hearted person. He's just a little quiet. You'll know how good he is once you spend more time with him."
Xin Li understood the implication in Zhang Jinhua's words and blushed in agreement, saying, "Thank you, sister-in-law, I understand."
"Then I'll go and prepare a room for you. If you need anything, just let me know and I'll get it for you."
Xinli quickly stopped her, saying, "No need, sister-in-law, I can pack myself. Besides, I brought everything with me."
What kind of suffering hasn't Xinli endured in the apocalypse?
Besides, she had just arrived here and didn't want to leave anyone with the impression that she was lazy and good-for-nothing.
They will have to deal with each other for a long time to come.
Zhang Jinhua looked at the pretty little girl, wearing a plaid skirt and with two braids, and liked her very much.
You Xinli's suitcase was indeed packed with a lot of things. She smiled and said, "Just call me if you need anything."
Xinli thanked her again.
Zhang Jinhua specially chose a sunny room for Xinli, and busied himself getting clean bedding for her before leaving after Xinli expressed her gratitude.
Xin Li was indeed quite tired after the long journey. After a quick wash, she lay down on the bed and fell asleep.
She didn't know that He Mingzhou hadn't actually gone far, and had even come back specifically to ask Zhang Jinhua about her situation.
"She's a very adaptable girl. I saw that her eyes were bloodshot. She was obviously exhausted from the journey, but she didn't complain at all, nor did she complain about how simple our place is. I just took a look at her and she fell asleep right away."
He Mingzhou frowned slightly: "Asleep?"
Zhang Jinhua nodded: "Aren't you going to sleep? Do you know how long it takes to get here from Shanghai?"
She sighed and looked at He Mingzhou, saying, "Little He, you call me 'Auntie,' so I'll treat you like a junior. In my opinion, Xinxin is a really good girl. Since you've accepted the marriage exchange, you should treat her as your wife well."
"You've been single for so many years, and now that your wife has taken the initiative to come to you, don't keep a cold face and scare her away from getting close to you."
"Making a good life for the young couple is more important than anything else."
He Mingzhou was somewhat moved by Zhang Jinhua's words: "I know my sister-in-law, I will definitely marry her."
But with her delicate appearance and thin arms and legs, can she really survive on this island with its lack of food and clothing and harsh climate?
Xin Li was unaware that the two people downstairs were talking about her. She was truly exhausted and was fast asleep, sprawled out on her back.
...
In contrast to the settled situation for Xin Li, the Xu Changshan family in Shanghai is in a much worse predicament.
With their daughter and future son-in-law arrested, Xu Changshan and his wife plan to return to their rented apartment to inventory their assets and prepare to flee at any time.
When the couple returned to their apartment, filled with anxiety, they opened the door and saw a room cleaner than their own pockets, prompting them to scream at the top of their lungs.
Where are our things?
Where are my treasures?
Li Xiuhui's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. She rushed into the house and looked around, only to find that the entire house was eerily clean.
The high-end furniture placed here is completely devoid of wood chips.
Not to mention the chests and boxes containing antiques, paintings, treasures, and jewelry; not a single chest or box was seen.
Only the four marks left by the boxes on the ground clearly indicate that something was indeed placed here.
"What's going on here!" Li Xiuhui looked at Xu Changshan.
"Didn't you say nobody knew about this place?"
"Did you let those people come here to pick up their things?"
Xu Changshan, who had been in a daze, finally came to his senses. Looking at Li Xiuhui, who was acting like a madwoman, he was furious: "Do you think I'm out of my mind? This is our secret base. Do you think I would tell anyone?"
"Is it Ji Yubai?"
They absolutely believed that Xu Qingyu would not do such a thing. After all, Xu Qingyu was their biological daughter, and these things would eventually belong to her. She had no reason to take them.
But Ji Yubai is different.
If he could get people to empty that house, how could he possibly let go of the rare treasures inside?
"Aaaaah! I'm going to kill that beast!"
Li Xiuhui is really going crazy!
The Shen family's house had already suffered huge losses, and now the real bulk of their wealth had been taken away. How could she accept this?
Those thieves are really outrageous! They didn't even leave her a dress or a pair of shoes!
Li Xiuhui rushed out headfirst, cursing Ji Yubai's family with all the foul language she had ever learned.
If Ji Yubai were in front of her now, he would probably be riddled with holes.
Xu Changshan's hatred and anger towards Ji Yubai's family were no less than Li Xiuhui's.
But he was calmer than Li Xiuhui. He grabbed her, pulled her into the house, and closed the door. Xu Changshan suppressed his anger and said, "Calm down! Are you trying to tell everyone? Are you afraid that others won't know we've hidden some treasure outside?"
Li Xiuhui laughed and cried at the same time: "Does it matter now? There's nothing left for others to come!"
"My baby, my baby!"
Li Xiuhui's heart was bleeding.
Upon hearing this, Xu Changshan seemed to have aged more than ten years.
Finally, he made up his mind: "Let's go to the Ji family!"
The Ji family has taken so many good things from them; they must be made to return them!
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