Chapter 180 Killing Intent
Pei Jiuyan has been gone for a week. During this week, Qin Suisui has been busy picking up and dropping off the children, making beauty pills, planting vegetables in the garden at the door, or cooking in her space. Every other day, she goes to the brigade to check on the team members, guide them in planting medicinal herbs, and deliver meals to the hospital. In short, she has been very busy.
There were three workers helping to repair the woodshed in the backyard, but for some reason, the woodshed was never repaired, though she didn't seem to care.
That day, after Qin Suisui dropped Zanzan off at the nursery, she went straight back to the family compound to get the twenty-six bottles of beauty pills and went to the post office in town.
After sending the package out, I also called my mother-in-law to remind her to sign for it and to ask my sisters-in-law to help collect the money, since the raw materials weren't cheap and I couldn't just give it away for free.
After finishing all that, she rushed to the glass factory she had visited before. She had cooked quite a lot in her space these past few days, making all sorts of dishes, desserts, roasted chestnuts, hazelnuts, pine nuts, and other snacks. She had used up all the storage containers in her space, and there wasn't a single empty one left, so she had to go and buy some more.
When I passed by the scrap yard where the accident happened, I found that the gate of the scrap yard had been sealed off.
"Oh, that junkyard! I heard someone committed murder and buried the body there, which is why it was shut down. Now the town's junkyard has been moved to West Fifth Alley!"
The old gatekeeper at the glass factory was very welcoming to her, and when she asked about the scrap yard, he answered without changing his expression.
"Murder and burying the body?"
Qin Suisui clicked her tongue in astonishment. Upon hearing this claim, she knew it was just a rumor. However, she didn't expose it, because the real reason behind closing the scrap yard was even more terrifying than murder and burying a body.
The matter that Pei Jiuyan is currently investigating is also inextricably linked to this incident.
Leaving aside those terrible things, Qin Suisui took out two bottles of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) that she had prepared beforehand from her cloth bag and waved them in front of the old man: "Grandpa, hehe."
The old man grinned even more slyly than she did when he saw the two bottles of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor): "I know, I know! The pickle jars, right? Yes! Yes! You haven't been here in so long, I've kept them all for you!"
As the old man spoke, he pulled out two large pickle jars, three small pickle jars, several large canning jars, and several large glass wine jars with graduations from under the table and behind the door.
Qin Suisui added one yuan and accepted all the items.
After leaving the glass factory, she went to the department store to see if they sold coconut candy. Luckily, she arrived in time and managed to buy the two pounds of coconut candy.
Coconut candy is a new product from Qiongtan Island this year, and both Zanzan and her love it.
She also wanted to buy some enamel basins, as they are easy to use and durable. Unfortunately, there was a purchase limit on enamel basins in department stores. After thinking about it, Qin Suisui decided to go directly to the black market.
Liang Qi wasn't there today, but the brothers in the black market had already been warned several times, so they all responded immediately when she came. Qin Suisui bought five enamel basins, three large enamel mugs, and several bamboo and rattan winnowing baskets at cost price. She also saw many large bowls and ladles made of coconut shells and bought a few of those as well; they were durable, unbreakable, and all-natural, which Qin Suisui liked very much.
Just as she was about to pay and head back, she noticed Qi Ming picking out two kinds of fish maw, just starting to set up his stall. Upon seeing her, he greeted her with a smile, "Oh? Buying fish maw again? How was the last batch? Was it delicious? I also have some new bird's nest today, want to grab some too?"
Qin Suisui smiled and nodded: "Sure, the last one was really good."
As he spoke, he squatted down again and selected some fish maw and bird's nest from his stall. Qi Ming took the opportunity to stuff something wrapped in cloth into the pile of fish maw, and then began to seriously count and calculate the bill. When Qin Suisui handed him the money, she heard him whisper, "When I was looking for this, it seemed like someone was following me. You must hide it well when you get back."
Qin Suisui was taken aback. Before she could speak, Qi Ming was already attending to another customer who had come to buy something.
Qin Suisui pretended to tidy up her basket, but actually put the package into her spatial storage before leaving the black market with the basket on her back.
On the way back, Qin Suisui didn't know if it was just her imagination or because of what Qi Ming said, but she had a feeling that someone was following her.
However, it was broad daylight, and the road she was walking on was a main road with occasional pedestrians, so it was relatively safe. Therefore, she could only remain silent.
As they approached the family compound, they had to pass through a small grove of trees, which separated the military region from other areas. Qin Suisui felt a little uneasy and quickened her pace.
Outside, the sun was shining brightly, but inside the woods, the light was not so bright because of the large trees blocking the light. It wasn't dark either, just more shady, and much cooler inside.
Qin Suisui kept her eyes on the road while carefully glancing around. As she rode past a tall plum tree, she spotted a tall man wearing a hat suddenly emerging from the woods. She couldn't see his face, but he was walking very fast and exuded a chilling murderous aura as he headed straight for her.
Qin Suisui was startled and was about to turn the bicycle around.
Suddenly, I heard a horn honking from behind.
Qin Suisui turned around and saw that it was the same "Yuejin" brand truck that had transported stones to their family last time!
The driver was the same one as last time. He must have seen her as soon as the truck entered the woods and honked to greet her.
Sure enough, when the truck pulled up, the driver stopped and leaned out, saying, "Comrade Qin, what a coincidence! Are you going home?"
Qin Suisui glanced at the person from before out of the corner of her eye, forced a smile and nodded: "Yes, I went to town to buy some things, and I'm in a hurry to get home to cook. Are you delivering things to the family compound again?"
The driver nodded: "There are still a few coal briquettes left to deliver!"
After the truck drove away, Qin Suisui looked again and found that the murderous man from before was gone.
She touched the cold sweat seeping from her back, and quickly followed the truck, riding her bicycle back to the family compound.
When Qin Suisui went to deliver lunch to Chi Donglin and the others at noon, she promptly told them about it.
Although she knew Pei Jiuyan must have secretly arranged for people, she said that Chi Donglin and his group would definitely send more people over, which would also make them more vigilant.
Around 4 p.m., Qin Suisui was busy collecting the dried green beans she had laid out to dry in the yard when the postman outside shouted, "Comrade Qin Suisui, you have a package!"
Qin Suisui opened the courtyard gate and saw the postman standing outside carrying a large package. He smiled and said to her, "This thing is so heavy, it looks like it was sent from the Northeast. Let me help you carry it in."
Northeast? That's probably the Ganoderma lucidum spawn and other medicinal herbs that Xu Shouquan and his group sent.
Qin Suisui thanked him with a smile, and after the postman left, she closed the courtyard gate again before opening the package.
Sure enough, as the package was unwrapped layer by layer, some clods of soil gradually fell out. Only after it was completely unwrapped did they realize that Xu Shouquan had sent the Ganoderma lucidum spawn along with the soil.
Perhaps feeling a little guilty for taking her cycad and torreya seeds, he actually sent her a ginseng plant he had cultivated and a handful of ginseng seeds.
Qin Suisui smiled, thinking that this old man still had some conscience.
She placed some of the Ganoderma lucidum spores in her spatial storage, and temporarily stored the other part in a shady spot in the backyard, following the instructions handwritten by Xu Shouquan.
Qiongtan Island used to be very hot every day, but it was basically a mix of sunshine and rain. That's how tropical monsoon climates are; high temperatures and heavy rain don't conflict, they take turns every day, and sometimes it even rains while the sun is out.
Perhaps it's because most parts of the country have entered autumn, but ever since Qin Suisui and the others returned from Beijing, Qiongtan Island has been sunny and dry, with no rain.
Because of what happened during the day, Qin Suisui didn't sleep very well at night, so she specially moved Xiaobaiqiu's doghouse to the second floor, between her and Zanzan's rooms.
Before going to bed at night, I let Dahuang out of the space and let the little guy stay in her room.
With double insurance, she finally lay down comfortably, but she tossed and turned from lying down around nine o'clock until almost midnight before finally falling asleep.
I had just fallen asleep when, in the still of the night, a woman's piercing scream suddenly rang out: "Fire! Fire! Help! Put out the fire!"
Qin Suisui suddenly opened her eyes, ran to the window and looked out. Sure enough, she saw that the flames were already leaping high not far from their house.
Many people heard the scream, and one after another, a number of people wearing pajamas, vests, and shorts ran towards the fire with basins and buckets of water, and the residential compound was thrown into chaos.
Qin Suisui hesitated whether to go out and help when she suddenly heard Da Huang bark twice, and then Xiao Baiqiu, who had run downstairs because of the noise outside, also barked.
Qin Suisui was startled and subconsciously looked down. She saw a dark shadow appear in the courtyard on the first floor. The little white ball that had been barking was now covered in dark red bloodstains, but the little guy was biting the shadow's trouser leg tightly and wouldn't let go no matter how the shadow kicked or hit it.
Qin Suisui covered her mouth, holding back her tears, thinking that she should go to the next room to check on Zanzan first.
Before she could turn around, the person in the courtyard suddenly raised his head, meeting her gaze.
Not far away, the family compound was ablaze with firelight and filled with the clamor of voices. A bright moon hung overhead, making the night exceptionally bright. So bright that Qin Suisui, standing on the upper floor, could clearly see the surging murderous intent in that person's eyes.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
