Chapter 59: Missing Sister (4) Anti-detection Awareness
"Strange." Sang Luo muttered.
Ruan Yu immediately looked at her: "What's wrong?"
Sang Luo said, "This market is not big to begin with, and there are two stalls selling candy figurines. Isn't this stealing business?"
Ruan Yu didn't think much about it: "Maybe it was just a collision, what's the big deal."
Sang Luo shook his head. "As the saying goes, people in the same trade are enemies. It's not easy for these craftsmen to make money. When they encounter something like this, they usually quarrel. But I see these two stalls are so friendly. It's a bit unreasonable."
Ruan Yu thought about it and began to agree with Sang Luo's statement: "Yes, in the past in the village, people would fight to the point of bloodshed just to fight for a piece of land, let alone facing this kind of opportunity to make money."
Sang Luo looked at the two stalls and said, "This old man must have been the first one to set up the stall. You can see that the cart in front of him is already very old and looks like it has been used for many years. This young man came later and his cart looks newly made."
Ruan Yu thought: "It was the old craftsman who came to the market first, and then the young man came in. Generally speaking, the first one to come will definitely squeeze the later one, but the old man is old after all, maybe he can't compete with the young man."
Sang Luo observed carefully for a while, then said, "No, look carefully, the wheelbarrows of these two people are both made of wood, and the second nail on the left is a little crooked, which means that these two wheelbarrows were made by the same person. These two people may know each other, or they are actually a family!" "Really?"
Ruan Yu was surprised at Sang Luo's attentiveness, but at the same time a little unconvinced.
"If you don't believe it, just go and ask!"
Sang Luo waved her hand, and Ruan Yu followed her, and the two walked towards the stall together.
Sang Luo first went to the old man's stall blowing candy figures. The old man had a face full of wrinkles and white hair. He looked to be in his sixties or seventies, and his hearing was not very good. Sang Luo shouted to him several times before he could hear clearly what Sang Luo wanted.
"Are you sure you want a tiger?"
Before taking action, the old man asked again out of concern. Only after getting Sang Luo's definite answer did he start to work.
He took a piece of syrup, skillfully put one end in his mouth and kept blowing air into it. The piece of syrup quickly expanded. At the same time, he changed the movements of his hands, pinching and picking, and a lifelike tiger appeared in his hand.
"Thank you, sir!"
Sang Luo paid the money, took the tiger with a smile, then squatted aside and chatted with the old man.
"I saw a guy blowing candy figures at the other end of the market. Is he stealing your business?" Sang Luo said casually.
The old man opened his eyes wide: "What, you said you wanted to give me a raw fish?"
Sang Luo covered his face helplessly and asked in a different way: "Uncle, I see your craftsmanship is really good. You must be an old craftsman. How many years have you been setting up the stall here?"
The old man shook his head in confusion: "Our sugar is not sticky. Little girl, what are you talking about?"
Seeing the old man like this, Sang Luo was completely helpless. She had to get up and pull Ruan Yu away. The two of them walked to the west end of the market.
Many children gathered in front of the young man blowing candy figures at the west end. He was young and good at making jokes, so the children were more willing to come to him to buy things.
Sang Luo did not speak, but watched him quietly for a while. Although they were both making the twelve zodiac animals, the young man was much slower than the old man. He spent a long time to make a snake and handed it to the child opposite. However, the child was unhappy after receiving it, and said with a pouty mouth:
"No, snakes don't look like this. Snakes are thin. Look at the snake you blew up. It's round and fat, just like a big gecko!"
The young man thought about it and did not take it back to redo it. Instead, he touched the child's head and said:
"Little friend, I made this especially for you. Look, the snake's belly is big and round. What does this mean? It means that the snake is pregnant. It is a female snake with many baby snakes in her belly! You only spent one dollar and got many snakes. You got a good deal!"
The child scratched his head hesitantly and walked away half-doubtingly. Immediately, other children gathered around and lined up. This scene made Sang Luo laugh. No wonder the young man's business was so good. It turned out that he was good at talking.
After all the children had left, Sang Luo sat in front of the stall and paid the young man to blow up a candy figure for her. The young man glanced at her and said:
"You already have one, why do you want to buy another one?"
Sang Luo pointed at Ruan Yu and said, "My brother and I made a bet between you and this old man, who has better craftsmanship? I bet you are better. Make one now and let me see your craftsmanship."
The young man shook his head: "Don't do it, you are doomed to fail. Let me tell you straight away, the old man at the east end is my grandfather, and he taught me the art of blowing sugar figures, so he must be better than me!"
They are indeed relatives! Sang Luo and Ruan Yu exchanged glances, and then asked:
"Since you are grandfather and grandson, why don't you set up a stall together instead of setting up two stalls?"
There was no one in front of the stall, so the young man was happy to say a few more words: "We used to set up the stall together. My grandfather always took care of me. He blew the candy figures and I helped him. Now that I am older, my grandfather said I can become a master, so he specially made a small cart for me to set up the stall independently and practice. But he was worried, so he followed me to the market and watched me from a distance."
Sang Luo pretended to be gossipy and asked, "How old are you? You seem to be about the same age as me. Are you married?"
When she asked this, the young man's face immediately turned red. He thought Sang Luo was interested in him, so he rushed to say:
"I live in Tianye Village. I'm a local. My name is Zhao Dazhu. I'm 29 years old and still single. My family only has a few acres of land. We're not rich, but I love cleanliness and I'm very hardworking. If you don't mind my low education, we can get to know each other..."
Sang Luo seized the opportunity and asked again: "What is your educational background? Why do you say that your education level is low?"
Zhao Dazhu scratched his head shyly: "I'm afraid you'll laugh at me if I tell you this, I... I didn't even graduate from elementary school, but you can't blame me for this, there is a reason, something happened when I was in elementary school, so I didn't continue to study."
"What's the matter?" Sang Luo asked.
Zhao Dazhu looked forward and said, "Ah... I am afraid to talk about this now. I was just in the first grade at that time. I went to the village primary school. The village was very poor and the houses were very shabby. They were all made of mud and bricks. But I was young and very naughty at that time. I often didn't go to school and always ran to the mountains to play. I climbed trees to take out bird nests and fished in the water."
When talking about his "glorious deeds" in the past, Zhao Dazhu seemed a little proud, but soon his proud look disappeared, and was replaced by a kind of fear.
"A few months after school started, I was playing on the edge of a field and heard people saying from afar that something had happened at school. A bunch of people were gathered at the school gate, and some were shouting. I didn't know what had happened."
"I was very curious, so I ran over to take a look. I saw that the school building had collapsed. The mud and brick walls had all fallen down, and someone was trapped underneath. Blood was flowing out of the cracks, forming a large pool."
He swallowed and said, "I walked forward bravely and picked up a brick. I saw a white, paste-like substance on the brick. I thought it might be human brain matter..."
After saying this, he was silent for a while before continuing, "I later heard from the adults that the school building was a dangerous building. When it collapsed that day, most of the students ran out, but a few who were slow to move didn't have time to run out and were crushed under the building. They died on the spot. It was a tragic death!"
"After that incident, people from the city came to investigate quickly. The principal was taken away, someone cleaned up the scene, and the children's bodies were returned to their parents. Someone helped the village build a new school. This time the school was a few large tiled houses. The house looked very solid. My family wanted to send me to continue studying, but I didn't dare to enter the school. Whenever I walked past the school, I would think of the brain matter I saw that day..."
"So that's how it is. This incident has left you with a psychological trauma." Sang Luo nodded.
Zhao Dazhu sighed: "Later, my father beat me several times, and the stick was broken, but I just refused to go to school. They couldn't do anything about me, so they had to give in to my wishes. I stopped studying and played in the village for many years. Later, when I was old, my family asked me to find a way to make a living. I had no education and it was difficult to find a job, so I just learned this craft from my grandfather."
"So," he looked at Sang Luo and said seriously, "I said this to tell you that I have my own reasons for not going to school, but I am not a lazy person. I am very hardworking and studious. Follow me, and your future life will definitely not be bad!"
Sang Luo in front of him looked very westernized and was from the city. Zhao Dazhu couldn't suppress the smile on his face. It was obvious that he had remembered something good. Sang Luo interrupted him in time:
"No need. I'm asking about you not for myself, but for my brother."
As they spoke, they both looked at Ruan Yu standing beside them, and Zhao Dazhu stammered:
"Your brother? How can men... and men... also...?"
Sang Luo nodded: "Yes, don't you know?"
Seeing this, Ruan Yu immediately pretended to be nice. He pinched his fingers together and said softly, "Young man, what do you think of me? I like your muscular body. I don't mind that your family is poor or that you are from the countryside. As long as you are willing, I will immediately ask the matchmaker to come to your house to propose marriage!"
After hearing this, Zhao Dazhu's face turned pale. He sat down on the ground as if he had seen a ghost, shouting "Oh my God!" and kept moving backwards, almost knocking over the stall behind him.
Sang Luo smiled and pulled Ruan Yu away. She just wanted to get some information and she didn't want to really scare the other person.
After leaving the market, the two returned to the farmhouse where they were staying. Ruan Yu asked her, "What do you think now?"
Sang Luo raised his head and looked up at the sky: "These two people are quite interesting, but I'm not sure if they are related to my sister's case. Ruoruo disappeared fifteen years ago, so at least Zhao Dazhu can be ruled out. Fifteen years ago, he was only ten years old. He should not have been able to set up a stall independently at the market, let alone meet my sister."
"You can't say that," Ruan Yu said seriously, "Some children mature very early, especially those bad ones."
"What you said makes sense," Sang Luo nodded, "They are locals anyway, we can find out if we go out and ask around."
After asking around, Sang Luo came to the conclusion that Zhao Dazhu had always been a troublemaker before he was fifteen years old. He was mischievous everywhere in the village and didn't know how to set up a stall outside. He could basically be ruled out as a suspect.
At the same time, Sang Luo also found out that Zhao Dazhui’s grandfather’s name is Zhao Aiguo, 62 years old this year. He was fine in the past few years, but in recent years his spirits have been getting worse and his hearing has been getting worse.
"Could C be Zhao Aiguo?" Ruan Yu began to imagine, "He is 62 years old this year. He was 47 years old 15 years ago. He is considered to be in the prime of life. He should be quite strong. It is more than enough for him to kidnap a little girl. Moreover, he is very skilled in blowing sugar figures. He will definitely attract Sang Ruo."
Sang Luo rubbed his temples: "But he is in this state now, his ears can't hear clearly, I'm afraid I can't ask anything."
After a pause, they both said at the same time: "Could he be pretending?"
Ruan Yu looked at Sang Luo: "Do you think so too?"
Sang Luo nodded: "Some suspects like to pretend to be deaf and dumb, especially the elderly. They hope to escape interrogation in this way, but my colleagues have many interrogation skills and will definitely make them talk."
"If he is really pretending to be deaf and dumb, then this person must be very meticulous inside. It will probably take some time to fight him. How about we stay here for a few more days?" Ruan Yu suggested.
Sang Luo shook his head: "I don't have that much time. I've taken a total of seven days off this time. It's already the second day, and there's still one village we haven't visited. Tomorrow we're going to Daliushu Village to take a look and get a basic understanding of the three markets before making a judgment."
Ruan Yu said considerately: "Okay, then I will go and help you contact a car now, and we will set off early tomorrow morning."
After Ruan Yu found the car, it was already evening. Sang Luo wanted to go to sleep, but she saw the owner of the house put on his clothes and went out. She became curious and followed him out.
When the host walked to the center of the village, Sang Luo saw a bonfire on the ground in the middle of the village. There were many people gathered around the bonfire. It turned out that this was the custom of this village. The villagers liked to gather together to roast fire and talk. Sang Luo also sat quietly by the bonfire and no one noticed her.
The flames crackled, illuminating everyone's faces. Sang Luo found that Zhao Aiguo was also sitting by the fire. He was warming his hands contentedly and dozing off slightly.
"Old Zhao, why didn't your grandson come out today? Your grandson is now setting up a stall alone. Is he doing well?"
An old lady pushed Zhao Aiguo, waking him up from his sleep, and shouted at him several times before he could clearly hear the old lady's question.
Zhang Aiguo wiped the corner of his mouth and said vaguely, "It's going smoothly. He's good at talking and can coax people. Many children are willing to buy his words. But he seemed to be scared today. He went home early in the evening and said he didn't want to go out tomorrow."
Sang Luo smiled secretly, knowing that it was because of what happened between the two of them during the day, and felt a little sorry for the unlucky young man in her heart.
Taking advantage of this topic, Sang Luo asked:
"Has this old man's ears always been so bad?"
The old lady sitting next to Zhao Aiguo laughed: "It's been a few years. He is so old and confused now that he can't even hear that his wife ran away with someone else!"
"Huh?" Sang Luo was a little surprised.
Seeing that Sang Luo didn't believe it, the old lady shouted directly into Zhao Aiguo's ear:
"Lao Zhao, your wife ran away with someone!"
Zhao Aiguo's eyes widened: "What? The bean paste is soaked?"
Everyone burst into laughter. Sang Luo observed Zhao Aiguo's expression again and again and felt that he did not seem to be acting. If he was really acting, then he could be considered a master of acting.
After laughing, everyone quickly moved on to other topics. Zhao Aiguo tilted his head and fell asleep completely, mumbling a few words in his sleep:
"He secretly learned from me... I was blowing candy figures, and he wanted to blow them too... I wouldn't let him learn, so he lay outside the window and watched me... I used a broom to beat him out... I beat him... I beat him..."
Sang Luo pointed at him and asked, "What is the old man talking about?"
The old lady next to him smiled and said, "It's all old news. It's just a bunch of trivial things. That's what happens when people get old. They keep talking about the past. How pitiful!"
Sang Luo didn't dare to ask any further, fearing that if she asked too much her true identity would be discovered by others, so she had to give up.
The next morning, the two left Tianye Village on a donkey cart and came to Daliushu Village. The market in Daliushu Village was much larger than the one in Tianye Village. Sang Luo and Ruan Yu pretended to be a couple as usual and strolled around the market arm in arm.
“Dragon’s Beard Candy! Freshly made handmade Dragon’s Beard Candy!”
"I can sew socks, mend pants, and alter skirts. There is no material I can't alter!"
"Small grind sesame oil! You'll want to take it away once you've tasted it!"
The hawking sounds in the market were endless, and Sang Luo was concentrating on looking for a stall selling sugar figurines.
Halfway through the walk, Sang Luo discovered a stall selling candy figurines. The stall owner was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties or fifties. He was plump, had a good temper, and always had a kind smile on his face.
Seeing Sang Luo approaching him, the uncle's eyes lit up and he asked with a smile:
"What kind of candy do you want?"
Sang Luo also smiled, bent down and said: "I bought it for my child. What kind of candy do you think my child will like?"
The uncle thought for a moment, pointed at the samples in front of him and said, "Usually they are the twelve zodiac animals. If you don't like them, I can also make other small animals, including butterflies, goldfish, sika deer..."
"You know so many things!" Sang Luo said flatteringly, "Our child is a six-year-old girl. Which candy figure do you think she would like at this age?"
The uncle laughed and said, "How can I explain this? Every child has a different personality and likes different things. If you really can't make a choice, you might as well buy a few more and bring them back to her."
"Okay, then I'll buy a few more!" Sang Luo casually pointed at a few samples on the stall, "Let's just make these."
The uncle nodded, stopped talking, took out a piece of candy and started to operate. While he was operating, Sang Luo kept looking at him intently. Noticing Sang Luo's gaze, he not only did not feel disgusted, but smiled humbly.
The sugar figure was finished. After Sang Luo paid, he did not leave. Instead, he stood aside and talked to him:
"Brother, which village are you from?"
He did not answer, but smiled and asked Sang Luo: "Why are you asking this?"
Sang Luo made up an excuse: "You look kind and I want to make friends with you. Actually, I work part-time as a matchmaker. I happen to have a woman who is about your age and she wants to find an honest and reliable man like you. I want to ask about your family. If it's a good match, I can introduce you two to each other."
The man shook his head: "No, thank you for your kindness, but I have a wife and children, and our family is fine. You can find someone else."
"So you already have a family. What a pity," Sang Luo clapped his hands in a regretful manner. "How old is your child?"
The man blinked, then said slowly: "She is seven years old."
Sang Luo was a little surprised: "At your age, your child is only seven years old?"
"Yes, our family is poor, so we had children late." The man smiled bitterly and said nothing more.
Seeing that he couldn't get any more questions out of her, Sang Luo had no choice but to stand up and said, "Sorry for disturbing you, we're leaving now!"
"That's right!" The man looked up and called out to them.
Sang Luo turned around: "What's the matter?"
The man smiled and said, "Remember to tell your daughters not to eat too much sugar, it will cause tooth decay. My daughter has bad teeth. She has a mouth full of black teeth at such a young age, and she won't listen no matter what I say."
"Got it. Thank you."
Sang Luo turned around and left with the candy man.
After returning to the boarding place, Sang Luo placed a few sugar figures by the window. They became crystal clear in the sunlight and looked very beautiful.
Such a beautiful sugar figure, and in an era of material scarcity, it’s no wonder Ruoruo was attracted to it…
Ruan Yu came up and asked, "Do you think C could be him?"
"It's not certain at the moment," Sang Luo looked out the window. "When I mentioned the six-year-old girl, he didn't have any special reaction. He seemed to be just a good-tempered craftsman. But one thing is certain - he was very alert. When I asked about his identity, he refused to say anything."
Ruan Yu understood: "In other words, this person has anti-reconnaissance awareness."
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