Chapter 82: The Bastard Second Son-in-Law
As for Yin Chuan and Lin Lang, after they left Lu Shuiling and Yu Jintang, Lin Lang said to Yin Chuan, "Although this Third Young Lady looks like she's under 20, why do I feel like she's more scheming than anyone else?"
"Indeed, she was extremely cautious in answering our questions. However, we can discern some clues from her husband Yu Jintang's words."
"Oh? What did you hear?"
"For example, he said that Lü Shuiling had done her utmost to be kind to her two sisters—that statement just sounded awkward. What does 'doing her utmost' mean? It's as if Lü Shuiling had no sisterly feelings for Lü Shuixian and Lü Shuiqing at all."
"That's right. It can be confirmed by the fact that everyone else is wearing mourning clothes, but Lu Shuiling is still wearing her usual clothes." Linlang nodded frequently.
"Also, he said that Lü Shuiling was a student at a girls' middle school, while he was a teacher there. Logically, his words should carry more weight with Lü Shuiling, but after marrying into the Lü family, their positions seem to have completely reversed. The wife, formerly a student, is bossy, while the husband, formerly a teacher, is submissive. This transformation is quite interesting!"
"I think it is very likely related to the reason why Yu Jintang married into the Lu family and became the third brother-in-law." Linlang said.
Yin Chuan snorted lightly, "I dare say that it's not just Yu Jintang, the reasons why the eldest brother-in-law Hai Yifan and the second brother-in-law Gu Yan married into the Lu family are similar."
"But...what does this have to do with the current Lu Shuixian poisoning case and the murder of Lu Jiye a few years ago?" Linlang asked.
"I don't know what the connection is yet, but I have a feeling that the horrific events that have occurred within the Lu family are in some way related to the circumstances surrounding the marriage of these three sons-in-law."
As they chatted, they unknowingly arrived at the rehearsal hall of the Lu family magic troupe. The rehearsal hall covered nearly 100 square meters in length and width, with a room at the back less than 30 square meters. Yin Chuan had been there before; it was where Lu Jiye's body had been found. It was nearing noon, and several apprentices were practicing their magic tricks, but Jin Gui was nowhere to be seen. The apprentices, upon seeing the two of them arrive, gave them strange looks, seemingly unwelcoming to Yin Chuan and Lin Lang. However, perhaps due to instructions from the patriarch, Lu Changhua, no one spoke coldly to them; they simply kept a respectful distance, not actively approaching to greet them.
"Everyone, it's time to eat!"
Before Yin Chuan could find someone to talk to, a man walked in from outside, clapping his hands and shouting to everyone in the courtyard. Yin Chuan recognized him as Zhang Dafang, the eldest disciple of his mute uncle Lu Tai. The other disciples agreed, put down their rehearsal props, and left the rehearsal room in twos and threes.
"Hey, two detectives from the Cao Gang," Zhang Dafang said, stepping forward and greeting Yin Chuan and Lin Lang. "If you don't mind, how about having lunch with us?"
"That's good, of course." Yin Chuan quickly responded.
"The food is just steamed buns, fried lentils and cornmeal porridge. I'm sorry to both of you."
"It's okay. We're not from wealthy families. We usually eat simple food and aren't picky." Yin Chuan said with a smile, then pointed inside. "Hey, Master Zhang, I went to that training room yesterday, but I didn't have time to ask. What's the difference between it and the training yard outside? Why build a separate room?"
"Oh, that's what you're asking. The truth is, our magic troupe is different from opera or folk art. We emphasize the privacy of our skills. Let's put it this way: all magicians can conjure goldfish and fire basins. If the audience only sees that routine, who would keep paying? So, we have to have some unique skills, unknown to other magicians, like our Lu family's three unique skills, to keep the audience fresh. But the details of these skills can't be seen by outsiders, so rehearsing in public is definitely not an option. So, we built a room to practice our secret, secret skills, which can't be shown to the public. You probably noticed yesterday that that room has almost no windows. There's only a small, palm-width window near the roof that opens and closes for ventilation, to prevent anyone from peeping in."
"So that's it!" Yin Chuan suddenly realized.
"Master Zhang, did you see with your own eyes the scene of Lu Jiye being killed in that room?" Linlang asked.
"This..." Zhang Dafang hesitated slightly, "Let's go eat first and talk while we eat." He deliberately changed the subject.
Lunch was eaten in a side room, and Zhang Dafang had deliberately arranged for Yin Chuan, Lin Lang, and his disciples to sit at the same table. The disciples chattered as they ate, leaving Yin Chuan, who wanted to ask Zhang Dafang more questions, completely speechless. This annoyed Lin Lang, who was on the verge of exasperation several times, but Yin Chuan seemed remarkably composed. She didn't have the time to question him, so she simply focused on her meal, even engaging in some uninhibited banter with the Lu Clan disciples.
As they were eating and chatting, the second son-in-law Gu Yan appeared at the door and called out to the people in the room, "Hey! You guys, follow me after you finish eating!"
"What's the matter, second uncle?" Zhang Dafang asked.
"Don't dilly-dally. My father-in-law has given you some work to do." Gu Yan looked impatient.
"Okay, right away. Everyone, hurry up and eat, then go to work with the second uncle." Zhang Dafang said to his disciples.
Yin Chuan noticed that his second uncle Gu Yan didn't seem to be as servile as his eldest and third uncles. Seeing that he was dressed like a rich young man and had a bossy attitude, he became curious and took the initiative to greet him: "Second uncle, have you eaten?"
Gu Yan looked up and down at Yin Chuan and Lin Lang beside him, "Oh, after all this commotion, it turns out the two from the Cao Gang are here too. Why are you eating from the same pot with your disciples? You should be having the feast at your father-in-law's place!"
There was a hint of sarcasm in his tone, but Yin Chuan didn't care. "Hey, we're not after the Lu family's food, so business is more important. By the way, Second Uncle, were you also busy with the eldest lady's funeral this morning?"
"Um...yes."
"What about your clothes..." Yin Chuan looked at his yellow and green satin waistcoat, the meaning was self-evident.
"Uh... I just changed into this. Wearing mourning clothes all morning is unlucky." Gu Yan smiled awkwardly. Yin Chuan and Lin Lang naturally understood that he was lying with his eyes open. He hadn't been busy with funeral affairs that morning, let alone wearing mourning clothes.
"Haha, you're really particular. Seeing you rush over and tell your apprentices to get to work, I'd like to ask what you're going to do?"
"My father-in-law told me to call someone, but I don't know."
Yin Chuan observed his expression and realized that he clearly knew something, but was hiding something because of some taboo. So he leaned in close and whispered to him, "I guess it wasn't the head of the family who called someone? Are you trying to use someone else's name to deceive me?"
Gu Yan was startled, thinking that this Cao Gang detective was indeed quite skilled, having guessed right on the spot. Yin Chuan knew from his expression that he was most likely right, so he continued in a low voice, "Is there something you want the disciples to do that's not convenient to mention?"
"You're amazing. Let me tell you the truth..." He pulled Yin Chuan aside. "My eldest brother-in-law asked me to come and call for help. He said a bird among the creatures he was looking after is missing. There are only a few tufts of bird feathers left in the cage. He suspects a snake got in and took the bird."
"Snake?" Yin Chuan was shocked, wondering if it was the fire snake. "Is he planning to ask his disciples to help catch the snake? Didn't the eldest brother-in-law lead people to search everywhere yesterday?"
"That's right. He said today he was worried and had to look for it again, but maybe he was afraid his apprentices and servants wouldn't obey him, so he grabbed me and forced me to help him find it. But I'm naturally timid, so how could I catch a snake? So he came to ask his apprentices for help. But if I tell them directly, they definitely won't do it. So I plan to tell them that the bird is lost and ask them to help find it. If I actually find the snake, wouldn't that be enough to report to my brother-in-law?"
Linlang frowned, "Second uncle, aren't you afraid that they won't be prepared and will get bitten by snakes when they try to find them?"
"Hey, don't underestimate these disciples, they're all very skilled! How did they get bitten?"
When Linlang heard him say such nonsense, she was so angry that she wanted to slap him, but Yin Chuan secretly held her down and she didn't lose her temper.
"Don't tell them this, otherwise none of them will go to work. Of course, I can't cooperate with you in investigating the case." Gu Yan continued.
"Hehe, you've thought it through." Yin Chuan sneered and teased.
Gu Yan jokingly clasped his fists towards Yin Chuan and Lin Lang, "Please, please, please!" He then walked back to the side room door and frowned, "What's going on? Have you finished eating? You're still so slow!"
"We're done eating." Zhang Dafang wiped his mouth and responded loudly, "Second uncle, just tell us what the head of the family wants us to do."
Gu Yan recounted the story, and the disciples burst into laughter. Zhang Dafang said nonchalantly, "Hey, it's just a bird. Why mobilize so many troops?"
"Don't say that. Living creatures are important props for our Lu family troupe's performances. If my father-in-law blames me, will you bear the responsibility or will I bear it?"
"Okay, okay, just consider it as a digestive meal. Everyone, follow the second uncle and go catch birds!" Zhang Dafang called to his disciples.
Everyone followed Gu Yan out of the side room. Lin Lang couldn't bear it, so she reminded Zhang Dafang, "Be careful!"
Zhang Dafang smiled and nodded in agreement, then left with his disciples without looking back.
"They...will not encounter any accidents, right?" Linlang said to Yin Chuan worriedly.
Yin Chuan frowned slightly and murmured, "I hope so."
Since most of the Lu family troupe was busy with the funeral from afternoon to evening, Yin Chuan and Lin Lang joined in, and the day passed quickly. Originally planning to return to the Cao Gang before dinner, the two worried about what might happen to Zhang Dafang and his disciples, who had been kept in the dark. Yin Chuan pleaded with Lu Changhua to arrange a private room for Lin Lang, while he and his disciples shared a large bunk bed. Lu Changhua readily agreed, and instead of letting Yin Chuan and his disciples share the same room, he also arranged a small room for them next to Lin Lang.
In reality, Yin Chuan didn't want to stay in a room all to himself; he'd rather sleep with the other disciples so he could learn more about the Lu Clan's inner gossip and the Flying Thief Feng Shijiu from them. But Lu Changhua insisted on this arrangement, and Yin Chuan couldn't refuse his kindness, so he agreed and thanked him.
As night fell, Yin Chuan tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. He wondered how Du Yunzhang's investigation was going, what would Luo Mei gain from her investigation of the underworld? Furthermore, was the case at the Magic Family still connected to the organization? What kind of trouble would the organization stir up in the Lu family? As he pondered these thoughts, Yin Chuan drifted off to sleep.
Early the next morning, Yin Chuan, who was half asleep, suddenly heard someone knocking on the door "bang bang bang" and someone shouted in a panic: "Brother Yin! Brother Yin! Something happened!" It was Linlang's voice.
Yin Chuan rubbed his eyes, got up, and opened the door to see Linlang standing there with a panicked look on her face. "What happened?"
"It's over there in the training room... Someone died in the training room!"
Yin Chuan suddenly lost all sleepiness and asked hurriedly, "Who died there?"
"It's the second young lady of the Lu family, Lu Shuiqing!"
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