☆, Chapter 93: Is there more to her background than meets the eye?
Officer Liu said, "Miss Zhou, he lives here. Our men have been guarding this place ever since they found him. We haven't seen him come out. He must still be inside right now."
"They've guarded both the front and back doors. Unless he's dug a tunnel inside the house, he won't be able to leave."
In addition, he also deployed men outside the city gate. Unless the peddler dug a tunnel ten miles long, his men would definitely be able to discover the peddler's whereabouts immediately.
Zhou Mujiao didn't find the arrangement by the government and Ma Dalang exaggerated at all.
Tao Hong and Hou Jing were notorious bandits and serious criminals of the imperial court. When Lord Li got into trouble, the million-tael reward was effective. They managed to evade the pursuit of so many martial arts organizations for twenty years, which shows that they were very capable. However, they both died at the hands of that peddler, which shows that the peddler was not simple either.
Those more skilled than notorious thieves, besides bounty hunters, are government officials. Zhou Mujiao hasn't met him yet, so it's not appropriate to judge his identity now.
Zhou Mujiao knocked three times on the wooden door and then waited quietly outside.
A full half-cup of tea had passed, and just when Ma Dalang and Liu the constable thought the peddler had escaped, the wooden door creaked open, and a man of about forty years old came out: "Who are you?"
It was that peddler!
Zhou Mujiao stepped forward: "I am the family member of the child you saved a few days ago. I have come here today to express my gratitude. Thank you for your righteous act of saving my sister's life. We will never forget your great kindness."
"You're the older sister of Eighteen?"
"Exactly."
The peddler then took a serious look, and upon that, his expression immediately changed, and his eyes became very excited, though he quickly concealed it.
Although it was only for a brief moment, Zhou Mujiao caught it. She wondered why he was so excited. If he was shocked because she was beautiful, that would not be surprising. Her face was indeed outstanding and stunning. But as much as she was shocked, why was he so excited?
His expression was as if he had seen an old friend.
Old friend?
She and Xiao Wu don't look much like the Zhou family. Aunt Feng and Aunt Zhao both say they look like their mother, Bai Shi. So, their mother is an old friend of this peddler.
As everyone knows, Bai's family was very poor. Besides her parents, she only had an older brother and a sister-in-law. Now, her brother has passed away, leaving no children for his wife. She remained a widow for two years, but later, unable to bear the gossip, she remarried elsewhere.
After marrying into the Zhou family at the age of seventeen, Bai Shi never returned to her parents' home, nor did any of her old friends visit her. If this peddler in front of her was an old friend of Bai Shi's, then where had he been for the previous twenty years? What was his relationship with Bai Shi?
Zhou Mujiao calmly observed the other person, who allowed her to observe him as well. It was Liu, the head constable, who broke the strange atmosphere: "May I ask, brave man, was it you who attacked that couple at the alley entrance a few days ago?"
"What couple?" The peddler spread his hands. "Sir, do I look like someone who could defeat a notorious bandit?"
How do you know they are notorious bandits?
"These past few days, people from the government office have been coming and going; anyone with eyes and ears knows!" He said, looking at Zhou Mujiao, "Eighteen-year-old sister, do you want to thank me?"
"yes."
Do you need these things?
"No, this is just a gift for my visit. Please tell me what you want, and I will do my best to satisfy you. May I ask how I should address you, sir?"
"Jiang, Jiang Wuyu".
"Then I'll call you Uncle Jiang. What would you like, Uncle Jiang?"
Jiang Wuyu smiled and said, "Eighteen lectures, you and her older brother would be willing to give me all your money for her?"
"yes."
Jiang Wuyu laughed again: "I knew I wasn't wrong, this little girl is a lucky one. But I don't want money, I only ask that you give me a place to stay and a job with a stable income. If I ever die on the street, please collect my body for me, just roll it up in a straw mat and bury it in a hole."
"Uncle Jiang, don't worry. If that day ever comes, I will definitely give you a proper burial."
Jiang Wuyu laughed heartily: "Then it's settled?"
Zhou Mujiao nodded to Ma Dalang, who then personally placed the gifts at the door. Zhou Mujiao asked, "Uncle Jiang, what kind of work would you like to do?"
"Throughout my life, I have traveled far and wide, selling goods from the south to the north and vice versa. Though I have managed to make ends meet, I have been constantly on the move, feeling miserable and helpless. Therefore, my wish is to find a place where I can live out the rest of my life in peace. As for what kind of work I do, I don't care. If it is something I cannot do, I'm sure you won't arrange it for me."
"I've noted it down. I'll have someone let you know if there's a suitable one later."
"when?"
"Ten days later."
"Then I'll wait for you!"
"good."
Jiang Wuyu watched Zhou Mujiao and her group leave until they were completely out of sight before turning his gaze away. He glanced at the several baskets placed by the door, smiled, and took them all inside. He didn't bother to look inside to see what gifts were inside. Once the door was closed, he went into one of the rooms.
The room had only one window, with heavy curtains hanging around it, so the air didn't circulate much. As soon as Jiang Wuyu opened the door, she went to draw the curtains.
On a late autumn afternoon, the sun was blazing, and the rays of light rushed into the room, soon filling the entire space.
The woman in bed suddenly woke up from her dream: "Xiaoyu, is that Xiaoyu?"
"Mother, it's me."
There was a rustling sound coming from the bed. After a while, an old woman dressed simply, but with a face full of sorrow and paleness, walked into the sunlight.
Jiang Wuyu helped the old woman to the outside of the hall. As soon as she sat down, she noticed the baskets next to her.
"Did a neighbor just come over?"
“She’s not a neighbor,” Jiang Wuyu explained. “Mother, do you remember the eighteenth girl I mentioned to you a couple of days ago? Her family sent her here to thank me.”
The old woman remembered this incident. Twenty years had passed, and Jiang Wuyu had helped countless people, but the only one he remembered and specifically mentioned to her was this little girl named Eighteen. The girl's family was thoughtful, but…
The old woman looked away from the gifts: "When are we leaving?"
"Mother, we're not leaving." Jiang Wuyu knelt before the old woman. "We don't need to leave anymore, Mother. Peach Blossom County is a place of outstanding people and beautiful scenery. Let's stay here!"
The old woman was silent for a moment, then suddenly became agitated. She grabbed Jiang Wuyu and asked, "You found her? You found her, didn't you? Where is she? Is she alright? You saw her? What did she say? Did she still blame the Li family?"
“I didn’t see her, what I saw was her when she was young. That must be her child, I can’t be mistaken.” Jiang Wuyu controlled her emotions. “Mother, I will investigate and find out. If it is her child, then, then we—”
"Don't disturb her!" the old woman suddenly interrupted. "Since she didn't die back then and even had a child, but she doesn't want to go home, it means she hates us! Xiaoyu, although you are engaged, you've only met twice when you were little. She won't recognize you. Go secretly to see her and come back to tell me how she is. As long as she's doing well, I... I can die in peace!"
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