"But if it weren't for our identities, you might have other options and wouldn't need to worry so much,"
At this moment, Qin Qinghuai was really conflicted about his profession. In fact, compared to Jian Dan's personality, it was hard to say whether it was suitable or not. Strictly speaking, he was very disciplined, while Jian Dan was not a good boy at all. She was a free spirit. One had to be in the grid, while the other would definitely not be in the grid. So, the two of them could be considered two extremes.
Thinking about it this way, I got sentimental again.
"Wife, you've suffered a lot since you married me."
His thought process was a bit disjointed, but Jian Dan didn't dwell on it. She roughly understood what was bothering him and was just about to offer some advice when two figures quietly climbed in through the back window, temporarily putting the conversation on hold.
"You're back? How did your trip go?"
Cheng Chao gulped down two glasses of water, then sat down heavily.
"Oh dear, I'm exhausted. I never realized how big Beijing is before. These alleys, one after another, if I weren't familiar with the area, I would have gotten lost."
My eyes lit up at the simple thing.
"Following the local customs?"
Jian Liye's face was gloomy.
"I did follow, but,"
He looked at the children and sighed.
"However, things were completely different from what I expected."
Jian Dan and Qin Qinghuai looked at each other in bewilderment.
"Why do you say that? They're not targeting the Su family, are they just using the Su family as a cover?"
"no,"
"What is that? Tell me!"
They're so impatient; they look like they want to tear their heads open and see for themselves.
"Uncle Li, you eat first, I'll talk to you."
Cheng Chaoxi shoveled down a mouthful of rice and then continued the conversation.
"We did make a discovery, but it wasn't that."
We discovered that the group that followed you up the mountain, after coming down, circled around and ended up in your small courtyard in the East District. Wasn't that place already empty? That basement has been used by someone; it's used to store quite a few things.
Fearing we might alert them, we didn't dare go too deep, but they started carrying boxes in carefully. While we were watching, they brought in a truckload of over twenty boxes from the scrap yard.
"What?"
Jian Dan never expected that not only would they follow her, but they would also occupy her yard?
"You, did you see it clearly?"
Was it transported from the recycling station?
Do you know what it is?
Cheng Chao shook his head.
"I didn't see clearly, but I crawled through the hole behind the scrap yard and eavesdropped for a while. It seemed like they got it from ransacking and destroying other people's homes. It's good stuff, but it's all shady stuff. I don't know what they're up to."
Qin Qinghuai sneered.
"That goes without saying. In times of chaos, antiques are valued; in times of prosperity, gold is prized. If there's no profit to be made, who would be willing to take such a big risk?"
As Jian Dan wandered around underground, the frustration in his heart grew heavier and heavier.
"Fortunately, I just said that, in other words, regardless of whether I come back or not, if no one reports it, then it is their warehouse where they hide stolen goods."
If someone reports me, then I'm the one primarily responsible, right? Then they can just manipulate me and let them handle it however they want.
"Wow, that's really something! A two-pronged approach, quite the scheme!"
This place is a treasure trove when things are peaceful, but when something goes wrong, it's all her fault. She'll be badly hurt, if not killed. If it were a normal young girl, she would be easily frightened and would confess to anything asked.
What was simple to think of, the other three naturally thought of as well.
"On one hand, they're openly and secretly spreading rumors about finding the Su family's treasure. But in reality, they're also up to this kind of shady business. Are they using the Su family as a target?"
However, those people followed us the entire way up and down the mountain, never letting their guard down for a moment. They stayed with us until we returned and entered the compound, and then waited for quite a while before leaving.
Qin Qinghuai shook his head.
"Anything is possible. It cannot be ruled out that they want to use the Su family's name to do something, to openly attract everyone's attention, so that it will be easier for them to do whatever they want."
It's also possible that they had their eyes on the Su family's assets for a long time, but due to some opportunity or external factors, they waited several years before starting to make arrangements.
"I'm just not sure if the groups that want the property and the groups that smuggle goods are the same people?"
But why did he choose the Su family?
Since my wife went to the countryside, the Su family has practically disappeared from Beijing. It's been several years now, who would remember them so clearly and accurately?
There are several families in the capital with similar circumstances to the Su family. They donated their family property and lived ordinary lives. But why did they choose the Su family? Is it just because this courtyard was left behind by the Su family?
But compared to that, this place isn't close to the scrap metal recycling station either.
"And, honey, I think we received rent for this yard once before the New Year, right? Since the yard was occupied and the tenants were evicted, did anyone notify you?"
Jian Dan kept a straight face. She had entrusted the courtyard to Chen Hongjun, and he also wired her the annual rent. She really hadn't paid much attention to it.
“I spoke with Uncle Chen on the phone just last month. He didn’t say anything, and there was nothing unusual about him. He even told me to take good care of the child and to write or call him if I needed anything, and he would buy it for me and mail it to me.”
He also told me that the situation in Beijing was very intense recently, and that there might be a similar surge in the surrounding areas, potentially affecting the county towns and communes. He advised me to be careful and avoid going out if possible.
Hmm, it seems there's nothing strange about it?
His tone, the topic he discussed, and his emotions were all exactly the same as usual!
"There are two possibilities. One is that this happened recently, and the yard was occupied. He hasn't had a chance to tell you since your last phone call, or he has some concerns and doesn't want to tell you."
Alternatively, perhaps this happened a long time ago, but Chen Hongjun, as an insider, could have been a participant, a beneficiary, or even one of them. In that case, it's normal that he didn't tell you.
Qin Qinghuai rationally analyzed the situation, point by point.
"Of course, there are two other possibilities: Chen Hongjun was coerced or threatened not to tell you, or,"
He paused for a moment,
"Or, something happened to him, and he can't be contacted, or he simply can't reach you at all."
Jian Dan's heart sank again. She didn't have deep feelings for Chen Hongjun, but he was, after all, a friend of the original owner's parents and had helped her a lot when she first transmigrated; otherwise, these two small courtyards wouldn't have been saved. She turned to look at Jian Liye.
Do you still remember Chen Hongjun?
Based on your understanding of him, which possibility do you think is most likely?
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