When Xing Zhaozhao reappeared on Renmin Road, it was already the eighth day of the Lunar New Year. The big red lanterns on both sides of the street had not yet been taken down, and there was still a faint festive atmosphere in the air.
It had been a long time since she had seen the old gentlemen. They were still at the same old place. As soon as she saw them, Xing Zhaozhao immediately went up to greet them warmly: "It's been a long time, gentlemen. Happy New Year!"
The elderly men were overjoyed to see her: "Xiao Xing? You've finally arrived! Why haven't we seen you for so long? We were worried something had happened to you."
Xing Zhaozhao smiled sheepishly and said, "It's the New Year, and everyone's been busy at home. I'm sorry to have made you gentlemen worry."
"It's alright, it's good that you're here. Old Wu was getting so worried about you," said Grandpa Song.
"Professor Wu?" Xing Zhaozhao's eyes lit up. "Could it be that there's been news about the wooden box that was sent for auction?"
"It should be. I'll give him a call." Grandpa Song said, and immediately called Professor Wu.
A moment later, Professor Wu rushed over: "You've finally arrived! I've been waiting for you!"
"Did the wooden box sell?" Xing Zhaozhao asked.
Professor Wu nodded, smiling as he looked at her: "Guess how many you sold?"
Xing Zhaozhao remembers that the initial valuation was 300,000 yuan, and it was said that it could be sold for double the price.
She looked at the smile on Professor Wu's face and pondered for a moment: "600,000."
Professor Wu shook his head: "Guess again."
700,000.
"Guess again."
Xing Zhaozhao's heart started racing: "It can't be... 1 million, can it?"
Professor Wu raised his hand and gestured: "1.2 million."
Xing Zhaozhao gasped, "How can there be so much?" It was more than double the estimated auction price.
"It probably hits right where people's hearts are," Professor Wu said with a smile.
"Old Lu happens to be in Lanyuan these days. Should I contact him for you now?" Professor Wu asked.
Xing Zhaozhao nodded: "Then I'll trouble you."
Professor Wu immediately called Mr. Lu, and after exchanging only a few words, he handed the phone to Xing Zhaozhao: "Old Lu wants to talk to you."
Xing Zhaozhao accepted it: "Hello, Mr. Lu."
Mr. Lu's hearty laughter soon came from the other end of the phone: "You've kept me waiting, Miss Xing."
Xing Zhaozhao quickly apologized: "I'm sorry, Mr. Lu, for keeping you waiting. I've been busy at home during the New Year and haven't had time to come over."
"Old Wu has already told you the final auction price, hasn't he?" Mr. Lu asked.
"Yes, I've already heard about it from Professor Wu," Xing Zhaozhao said.
"After deducting commissions and taxes, the final amount you'll receive is approximately 1.05 million. If there are no objections, please give me a bank account number, and I'll have the company transfer it to you," Mr. Lu said.
“Uh…” Xing Zhaozhao hesitated.
Old Mr. Lu sensed something was wrong and asked, "What? Is there another problem?"
"Can I have all the cash?" Xing Zhaozhao asked.
Mr. Lu was startled: "All in cash?"
“Yes, I feel more secure having cash in my hand,” Xing Zhaozhao said.
"I didn't expect that at such a young age, your attitude towards money is just like that of some eighty or ninety-year-old people. You have such old-fashioned ideas; you can only feel at ease when you have it in your hands," said Mr. Lu.
Xing Zhaozhao chuckled. Judging by the current time, she should indeed be over eighty years old. The main problem is that she doesn't have a bank card, and she can't contact Mingcheng right now.
"Is that not allowed?" Xing Zhaozhao asked.
"That's possible, but it might take a while if it's in cash," Mr. Lu said.
"It's okay, I can wait," Xing Zhaozhao said. As long as she got the money, that was all that mattered.
"Hmm," Mr. Lu responded, then suddenly hesitated, "Uh..."
"Is there anything else, Mr. Lu?" Xing Zhaozhao asked, sensing something was amiss.
"Here's the thing," Mr. Lu said, "the person who bought your wooden box wants to meet you. Of course, if you don't want to, that's fine too; I can help you refuse."
"Want to see me? Why?" Xing Zhaozhao asked, puzzled.
"Judging from what that buyer said, he seems to have some connection with that wooden box and wants to ask you about some things," Mr. Lu said.
Xing Zhaozhao's heart tightened upon hearing this. Was the person connected to the wooden box a younger member of the old principal's family? If so, returning it to its rightful owner would be a good thing.
“Sure, when would be a good time for you? Let’s schedule a time,” Xing Zhaozhao said.
Mr. Lu thought for a moment and said, "If we arrange another time, I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to contact me."
Xing Zhaozhao chuckled sheepishly.
"There's no time like the present, let's do it today. It just so happens that Old Qin's family also lives in Lanyuan," said Mr. Lu.
Old Qin? I think the old principal's surname was Qin.
“Okay,” Xing Zhaozhao readily agreed.
"Wait a moment, I'll go contact Mr. Qin first," Mr. Lu said, and then hung up the phone.
A short while later, he called again: "It's arranged, meet at Xunlan Tea House in half an hour."
"Where is Xunlan Teahouse?" Xing Zhaozhao asked, as she didn't know the way.
“It’s right next to Zhaohong Square, I’ll take you there,” Professor Wu offered to help.
"Thank you, Professor Wu." Xing Zhaozhao thanked him with a smile, then, remembering something, she took the basket off her shoulder, took out a bundle of newspapers, and handed it to Professor Wu, "I found you some more newspapers that you wanted."
Professor Wu casually flipped through the pages, his face beaming with delight: "You actually found so many? That's wonderful!"
He reached into his pocket: "Oh no, I left in a hurry and didn't bring any money."
Xing Zhaozhao waved her hand dismissively: "It's okay, I'll give it to you next time. We're old acquaintances."
"That works too," Professor Wu said with a smile.
Xunlan Tea House is located in a relatively quiet corner of Zhaohong Square. The environment is elegant and seems like a good place to have a chat.
Xing Zhaozhao was about to go inside when she saw a missing person notice on the door. The person on it was entirely hand-drawn, a girl of about sixteen or seventeen years old, with braids, wearing a small floral dress, and smiling brightly. Below it was written that her name was Fu Lan, she lived on Dacheng Street in Lanyuan Town, was born in 1955 at Lanyuan Town People's Hospital, and went missing in 1971 at the age of 16. Anyone with information is requested to contact her by phone. A generous reward will be given.
It's been 54 years since 1971. I never thought my family would still have given up. They even named their teahouse "Seeking Orchids." But after 54 years, is there still a chance to find it again?
But Dacheng Street? That sounds familiar.
Xing Zhaozhao frowned, pondered for a moment, and then quickly remembered.
By the way, didn't Lin Wan say that she lives on Dacheng Street now? What a coincidence.
Inside the teahouse, two elegant elderly ladies, probably in their seventies or eighties, were sitting at a table near the door, drinking tea and chatting.
One of them noticed Xing Zhaozhao staring at the missing person poster. Her brow furrowed, she said something to the other elderly woman, then got up and walked over. She opened the door, looked at Xing Zhaozhao, and politely smiled, saying, "Hello, my name is Fu Hong, and I'm the owner of this teahouse. May I ask why you've been staring at this missing person poster? Have you... seen someone who looks similar to her?"
By the end, Fu Hong's voice was somewhat urgent.
“Fu Hong?” Xing Zhaozhao pointed to the girl on the missing person poster. “You’re her…”
“I am her older sister,” Fu Hong said.
Xing Zhaozhao met Fu Hong's eager gaze and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I've never met her before. I was just a little surprised to see her. I didn't expect that after all these years, you still haven't given up looking for her."
Fu Hong looked disappointed, but she knew she had been too hasty. She smiled bitterly and said, "No matter what, I still have something to look forward to."
Xing Zhaozhao nodded in understanding.
Looking at Xing Zhaozhao's inappropriate outfit, Fu Hong asked, "Where did you come from?"
Xing Zhaozhao chuckled: "My home is in the mountains."
“From the mountains…” Fu Hong looked Xing Zhaozhao up and down, her gaze finally settling on her face. She narrowed her eyes slightly and said, “Why do I feel like I’ve seen you before?”
She suddenly opened her eyes wide, pulled Xing Zhaozhao into the teahouse, and turned to look at the old lady who had just been drinking tea with her: "Sister Wan, look, doesn't this child look a lot like you when you were young?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com