On the second day, Director Xu ca over and said it had been found.
After six years, the record book had beco damp and sowhat decayed, and there were traces of bugs on it. Fortunately, the content Beisitian and the others wanted to see was still there.
The na Mrs. Qin was originally written in the recipient column, but later it was crossed out and replaced with the na ’Qin Hongi’!
The two exchanged a look; it was indeed her!
At that ti, Qin Hongi probably intended to write Mrs. Qin’s na directly. Even if soone were to check, they wouldn’t be able to find anything. Unfortunately, the person distributing the items knew Mrs. Qin and realized it wasn’t her, so they had her cross it out and write her own na!
The pick-up date was the sa day the items were delivered!
In other words, Qin Hongi definitely knew what was inside and had been waiting there from early on, perhaps for several days.
Mrs. Qin handed Xu Youcai a cup of water, saw the two engrossed in an old book, and asked, "What are you looking at so intently?"
"Mom, do you rember I inford you before I went on a mission that a parcel was sent for you?" Luo Xudong asked.
"Before you went on a mission?" Mrs. Qin took a mont to recall he was referring to six years ago, "There was such a thing, but before I could pick it up, your Uncle’s wife delivered it instead. Wasn’t it just a few old clothes?"
Mrs. Qin rembered the matter clearly because when she looked through those old clothes, she found a patch on one of them, feeling heartbroken. She kept wondering how her son was doing in the army, that even his clothes had patches!
Hearing Mrs. Qin’s words, a faint bitter smile appeared on Luo Xudong’s resolute face. If that note containing money were still inside, Mrs. Qin would have discovered it through the patch.
But since Qin Hongi delivered it herself, it was clear she took the money.
"It’s alright, Mom, we just wanted to find out who picked it up, so we can go ’thank’ her!" Beisitian said with a smile, emphasizing the word ’thank’.
Mrs. Qin didn’t notice anything amiss, and Luo Xudong understood her intention. Before retrieving the money, it would be best not to let Mrs. Qin worry; she had been troubled enough over the years.
Thinking of Beisitian’s thoughtfulness ward Luo Xudong’s heart. eting her was a blessing for his parents and for him!
Xu Youcai twitched his mouth; the young couple clearly intended to find soone to cause trouble. He decided not to ask further to avoid getting into unnecessary trouble.
"I’ve delivered the items to you. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now." Xu Youcai stood up.
"Thanks to Director Xu for making this trip. If there’s anything we can help with in the future, just let us know," Beisitian said readily.
Xu Youcai had been working so long for this very sentence. Hearing it, he imdiately smiled, "I’m getting old, and the future belongs to you young people. Soday I might actually need your help, so give a hand then!"
After seeing Xu Youcai off, Beisitian suggested going out for a walk. Luo Xudong knew she wanted to discuss the matter away from Mrs. Qin, and he was more than willing to go out with her alone.
Seeing their relationship improving by the day, Mrs. Qin was happy to let them go out more often.
"Sister..." Luo Xuping spoke with shining eyes.
"Ping’an, go herd the sheep later!" Mrs. Qin intercepted her younger son before he could speak.
Luo Xuping was about to cry from grievance. Ever since his annoying brother ca, his sister was often taken away to play without him!
Watching the two leaving the house, Luo Xuping sulkily kicked the firewood stick in the yard, only to be scolded by Mrs. Qin, making him shrink back and dare not kick again.
Zhuangzhuang gave Luo Xuping a glance, then unceremoniously turned and ran out the door.
Beisitian and Luo Xudong strolled toward the North Slope, as it was secluded and perfect for discussing matters.
"What do you plan to do?" Beisitian asked.
"Whatever she devoured, she’ll give it back to ," Luo Xudong answered calmly, his eyes flashing with sharpness. If not for Qin Hongi taking the money, his parents wouldn’t have had to live pinching a stead bun into halves.
Moreover, with Qin Hongi being so close yet watching Luo Anguo and his wife suffer without offering help, and even blinding Mrs. Qin, her malicious intent cannot be overlooked.
Beisitian naturally shared the sentint, though her position was awkward. The last ti she punished Qin Hongi was only due to Qin Hongi’s own actions, keeping her in line up to now. There was too much distance between them, making it hard to act.
With Luo Aiguo above Luo Xudong, dealing with Qin Hongi was also inconvenient for him, which is why she asked him out to see what he planned.
Beisitian worried Luo Xudong might go easy on Qin Hongi because of Luo Aiguo, but it seed she overthought it.
It’s only natural; Luo Xudong had been able to infiltrate the enemy for so long. Not to ntion that level of patience, his thods must be beyond ordinary.
"First, I need to know how she found out there was money inside," Luo Xudong said.
The money inside was his settlent funds from the military. To put it bluntly, the military gave him such an amount with the assumption he might not return.
This money was ’non-existent’ to outsiders, a secret. How did Qin Hongi know about it? And how much did she know?
"It’s impossible for Qin Hongi to know you’re still alive," Beisitian said.
Though without evidence, the original owner, having interacted with her often, and Beisitian having had a year of interaction, it was evident just by observation.
Therefore, even Beisitian couldn’t figure out how, unless Qin Hongi hid it well enough that even she couldn’t see it?
"Qin Hongi isn’t all-seeing and all-knowing. If she knew about the money, soone must have tipped her off," Luo Xudong said.
Luo Aiguo had rooted himself in Kao Village over a decade ago, with older connections long inactive. How could Qin Hongi, a woman hardly leaving her ho, know anything?
Luo Xudong and Beisitian suddenly exchanged a look.
"Her family!" they said simultaneously.
Luo Xudong wasn’t surprised by the thought, knowing sowhat about Qin Hongi’s family, but for Beisitian to think of it was truly quick-witted!
Qin Hongi’s family was still urban. Even though she married Luo Aiguo and beca a rural woman, she maintained contact with her family.
Hence, her source of information could only be her family.
Qin Hongi had two brothers and a sister; both brothers were workers, and her sister married a businessman. If you only look at the background, it’s very simple.
"I rember her sister has a son who also joined the army," Luo Xudong thought aloud.
Could it be a coincidence that her nephew and he were at the sa base?
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