Chapter 47 The Night Watchman
Boss Tu knew immediately from their attire that Tu Miaoling had taken her somewhere to fool around.
He was covered in the smell of alcohol, which made him feel extremely distressed.
"Look at yourself! Is this appropriate? A young lady dressed as a man going out drinking, what kind of behavior is this!"
"Do you even have the air of a young lady? Huh? You actually brought other young ladies with you? You're simply incomprehensible..."
Tu Miaoling looked as if the sky had fallen, burying her head in her neck as if trying to escape, covering her ears with her hands, not wanting to listen to her father's nagging.
The thing she had been keeping hidden was finally exposed today.
"Uncle Tu, calm down, things aren't that serious."
Tao Tao said helplessly.
"You still dare to say that? How can it not be serious? You're young ladies, what if those filthy men take advantage of you?!"
"You're not allowed to go out in public dressed like that again, do you hear me?!"
"Ugh! I know, you're so annoying, Dad."
Tu Miaoling straightened up, her face full of annoyance and impatience.
Tao Tao felt a lightness in her body. She instantly felt relieved and quickly said, "I have something to do, so I'll be going now."
Before they could react, she turned and left.
"Stay and have a meal with us!"
Boss Tu spoke loudly from behind.
"Thank you, but no need."
Her voice drifted in from outside.
Tao Tao had only walked a short distance when she heard Tu Miaoling run out and call her.
She turned to look at the person who had stopped in front of her and asked, puzzled, "Is there anything else?"
Tu Miaoling, panting, swallowed hard and looked up, saying, "Are you going to the government office? I'll go too, take me with you."
Tao Tao looked at her in surprise. "I was planning to go to the government office, but not now. I want to find the night watchman from that night first."
"I want to ask him if he really didn't see anything that night."
The night watchman on Chengnan Street was a septuagenarian. On the other side of Wangyang Lake was Chengbei Street, so it was generally under the jurisdiction of Chengnan Street and half under the jurisdiction of Chengbei Street officials.
She was going to find the night watchmen on those two streets to ask about the situation.
"Miss Tu, I..."
"Just call me by my given name. Otherwise, calling me 'Miss Tu' all the time is too formal."
She casually put her arm around Tao Tao's shoulder and smiled.
Tao Tao leaned closer and smelled the strong smell of alcohol on her. Seeing her still flushed cheeks, she thought for a moment and said, "Let me treat you to wontons."
"Huh? Aren't you going to find the night watchman?"
"The night watchman works day and night, so he's probably resting now. Let's eat, go back and take a bath, and then go when the sun sets."
After hearing what she said, Tu Miaoling thought about it carefully and realized it made sense.
At this time, the wonton stall was still quite busy with customers, and the owner, despite being very busy, took the time to greet her.
"Miss Tao, still the same as always?"
Tao Tao glanced at him, twitched the corners of her mouth, and gave a few dry laughs.
"Yes, two bowls, please."
After she became familiar with the stall owner, who recognized her, she suddenly felt less inclined to buy anything. Fortunately, the stall owner wasn't a talkative person.
He smiled and said, "Okay!"
Do you come here to eat often?
Tu Miaoling sat down and glanced at the busy stall owner.
"Not often, just occasionally. This wonton shop is pretty good, with big fillings and thin wrappers. You should try it."
“I rarely eat out. My dad is a very good cook, comparable to the chef at a tavern. Actually, we should go back to eat now, but having wontons is especially nice.”
"Come to my house for dinner tomorrow and try my dad's cooking."
Tao Tao poured her a cup of tea and handed it to her, smiling, "I'll definitely go if I have the chance."
"Here it comes, the piping hot wontons are here!"
The stall owner placed the two wontons on the tray and said, "Please enjoy, esteemed guests."
Tu Miaoling looked at the plump wontons, with golden oil floating on top and garnished with scallions, which instantly whetted her appetite.
After drinking alcohol, I really need this warm soup.
A vast expanse of crimson sunset clouds appeared on the horizon, layering from deep to light, so magnificent that one couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the sunset.
Tao Tao stood in front of the wonton stall, suddenly touched something on her sleeve, and then felt relieved.
Before long, Tu Miaoling arrived at the agreed time.
The two looked at each other. "Let's go."
Tu Miaoling nodded.
"Let's go to the night watchman's house on the south street first. I've already inquired about it. All the night watchmen on these four streets are old men. Among them, the old men in the south and north streets have no children and live alone."
"We'll go to those two restaurants, one in the south of the city and one in the north, which are near Wangyang Lake."
The night watchman in the south of the city lived at the end of the alley. The two men stood at the door, looking at the dilapidated door that let in the wind, and knocked.
Is the night watchman here?
QQ QQ QQ...
"uncle?"
After Tao Tao called out a few times, she heard dragging footsteps and a hoarse old man's voice coming from inside.
"You're here! Who's at the door?"
With a creak, the door slowly opened.
An elderly man appeared before them, squinted his aging eyes, and asked with a puzzled look, "Who are you looking for? Have you come to the wrong place?"
"I'd like to ask you about Lady Liu."
"Are you government officials?"
The old man's eyes flashed with a hint of awe when he mentioned the government. He was about to adopt a respectful posture when he realized that the person in front of him might be someone from the government office, but he immediately withdrew his posture when the young lady said no.
He scoffed and gave them a disgruntled look: "Then what are you asking? What's the point of asking questions when the person is dead?"
"Sir, you can't say that. The death of Madam Liu was definitely not..."
Tu Miaoling was about to say something inappropriate when Tao Tao immediately stopped her.
The cause of death was determined by the government; their word didn't count, so there was no need to discuss it further.
Tao Tao smiled at him and said, "Sir, it's almost time for you to start your new job. We'll just ask you a few questions so as not to take up too much of your time."
These polite words made the elderly man, who was usually looked down upon, feel much better.
"I know what you're going to ask, but I really didn't see anything."
His eyes darted away, avoiding their gaze, and he lowered his head with a helpless sigh.
“I was summoned to the government office and interrogated before, why don’t you believe me?”
Tu Miaoling turned to look at Tao Tao, her eyes asking what to do now, but Tao Tao's gaze remained fixed on the old man in front of her.
"Sir, what did you have for dinner? We haven't eaten yet, just asking."
Grandpa Dong looked at her suspiciously, patted his stomach, and then touched his mouth.
"What else can we eat? Simple food, like the tofu, vegetables, and rice we just ate."
She nodded knowingly. "Okay, sorry to bother you."
He turned and left with Tu Miaoling.
As they walked out of the alley, Tu Miaoling was puzzled. Why did he have to ask her what she wanted to eat? It was just some trivial question.
Tao Tao seemed to know what she wanted to ask, and smiled, "Let's talk about it when we come back from North City Street."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com