Before dinner, Zhou Jiao finished organizing her notes, took Cheng Ruzhu's message, and went to Professor Wei's room. She explained everything to him and Counselor Wu, leaving their phone number. After much persuasion, she finally got some time out.
Of course, for the safety of this student, there are naturally some detailed conditions. As long as Zhou Jiao can get away from this place, she has plenty of ways to deal with them.
It was such a hassle. After all, she was a student under the professors' management and could not question their authority. After thanking the teachers, Zhou Jiao carried her military bag and asked Qiao Na to pass on her message. Only then did she sneak away without Yi Jiefang.
There was no other way! This guy was one of the only two people who could have guessed that Cheng Ruzhu had returned to Beijing. If he caught me, I would have to scream and shout, and if someone heard me say anything, I would have no way of getting away.
Now, hehe...at most he was worried about going to the Commercial Bureau Guesthouse to look for her. Then come on, she didn't lie to him, she did stay there for a night, as for the reason, some people had too many ulterior motives, she was too lazy to pay attention, just wanted to be quiet!
Passing by the post office, Zhou Jiao walked in quickly. By now, her family should have been informed of the killing of the enemy spy, so she should confess to avoid her father calling the professor and accidentally revealing the flaws.
As soon as the call was connected, Zhou Xiaozheng's voice came immediately: "Have you left the area now?"
Zhou Jiao knew her father was probably waiting for her call. "Dad, how did you know it was me? I'm fine, very safe. I'm at the post office right now. My aunt left something at her guesthouse, and I have to go get it. I'll stay there for the night. It's not convenient for four people to share a room here."
"These are trivial matters. Dad will call your professor. Can you guarantee your safety? Without confirming that the other party has accomplices, I don't approve of you living out there alone."
"Dad, there are several of us. Who is targeting me? Besides, I'm your daughter, and I'm not a pushover!"
"That's impressive! He fought a knife-wielding gangster with his bare hands and killed him personally. Okay, you're feeling pretty smug, huh? Zhou Jiao, Dad's warning you, your life is more precious than anyone else's! If you get hurt, I'll show you how I'll deal with you!"
Zhou Jiao stuck out her tongue. "Dad, the rumors are exaggerated. Dayi was with me at the time, and there were many classmates there. I cherish my life very much."
On the other end of the phone, Zhou Xiaozheng chuckled: "You girl...you should stay calm in the future. If you find something wrong, fight back immediately and don't give the other party any chance."
"Well, your daughter is very clever."
"Don't get cocky. If anything happens again, you won't get another chance to go out. Do you understand what Dad means? Giving you things isn't just for show. In your free time, reflect on where you didn't do well this time. Imagine if the other party was being explicit and subtle. Wouldn't your indecision give them the upper hand?"
Zhou Jiao listened to her father's instructions, her eyes fixed on the outside. This conversation had been going on for so long, why was it starting again? Could her father be going through menopause?
When she thought of this, Zhou Jiao shuddered and trembled.
"Dad, I've reflected on it and I won't do it again."
"Yeah, hanging up. I have to get off work too."
Zhou Jiao breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, wiping the nonexistent sweat from her forehead. This matter had finally passed the first hurdle. If she had known the other party's identity earlier, she wouldn't have given him a chance to catch his breath.
And what about Xiaowu? How could he promise him that? Forget it, he'd hide for as long as he could. Even if he returned to Beijing immediately, he'd have to wait until the important matter was settled.
Arriving at the Commercial Bureau Guesthouse, Zhou Jiao handed her ID and message to the waiter. Sure enough, it was a large package. She knew Cheng Ruzhu was worried that she would starve to death.
After getting her things, Zhou Jiao slapped the letter of introduction her father had prepared for her on the counter and checked into a single room. She had to get some rest and quiet this time.
After registering, Zhou Jiao followed the waiter and watched her take the key, open the door and leave. She didn't bother to see what Cheng Ruzhu left for her. She took the thermos to get some water, intending to get some skin off first.
She's been staying out in the wilderness these past few days, so she probably has lice on her head and fleas on her body. She's been so busy all day, and now that she has some free time, she's itching all over!
Yi Jiefang slept in the guesthouse until dark and missed dinner. He was confused and didn't pay much attention to it. It was not until the next day when he went to have breakfast that he heard Qiao Na say that Zhou Jiao went to her aunt's house last night. He was really shocked.
Fortunately, the child was not that stupid. He walked to the counselor without changing his expression. When he heard from the counselor that Cheng Ruzhu had called him personally last night, he felt relieved while feeling puzzled.
Zhou Jiao was completely unaware of all this and was curious as to why Yi Jiefang hadn't rushed over. She even asked the front desk lady about the nearest cinema.
Feeling relaxed after taking a shower, Zhou Jiao left the guesthouse and saw it was still early, so she took a bus to leave the area, found a large state-owned restaurant and had a hearty dinner. She then leisurely carried the net bag containing the enamel bowl of leftovers to a nearby cinema and spent a dime to get in.
The black and white portraits, the dull atmosphere, and after more than half an hour, the film's plot reached a tense stage. She retreated through the back door to the bathroom, changed her clothes there, and then swaggered out of the theater.
Ever since the last encounter in Jiangcheng, Zhou Jiao had rehearsed this operation many times. During the half hour in the cinema just now, she had even gone over the aftermath.
After going around in circles and confirming again and again that no one was following her, Zhou Jiao disguised herself as a middle-aged woman again and went to the third secret room.
According to Gu Mingzhu's suicide note, this was a Qing Dynasty villa. As for who owned it, she didn't say. Zhou Jiao assumed it was the Gu family's ancestral property.
After dynasties changed and wars raged, the title deed to this villa had long since disappeared, so naturally, the unowned property should be occupied. Now she just wanted to test the waters first, and then she would have to consider her next move.
After getting off the bus at Xiguan, she followed the address her grandmother, Gu Mingzhu, had left and arrived at the place. It was very easy to find; it was now the office address of an institution.
Zhou Jiao, who can speak the local dialect, easily communicates with the elderly ladies nearby. After chatting with a few of them, she also gathered some inside information.
This courtyard was once the villa of a wealthy businessman in the Qing Dynasty. Later, it changed hands several times, from high-ranking officials to warlords, until it was half-destroyed by airplanes. After liberation, it became an ownerless property and was then taken back by the government to be used as an office space for an institution.
This situation was not much different from what Zhou Jiao had expected. After figuring it out, she began to search for the well. Yes, the well. It was said that behind the well were two adjacent, crooked, thousand-year-old trees, and the mechanism was located beneath them.
Normally, this well would be in the back yard of this villa. But now the wall is gone, and the entire villa has been divided into several parts after many twists and turns.
Zhou Jiao spent a lot of time and effort to find the two thousand-year-old trees on the mottled land that could tell the history. The original well should have been filled up, but there was a public toilet.
The thought of the secret room under the toilet made her feel sick. But as her father said, in a few years, the world would change, and it would either be exposed or impossible to find.
This action is really imperative!
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