The next evening, Zong Yuan received a message from headquarters. After 0046 finished reading it aloud, even it was confused. “Zong Yuan, what does this mean?”
A bunch of formal jargon. Headquarters was clearly playing it safe.
Zong Yuan replied, “Cut out the fluff. Basically, all they said was ‘no comment’.”
Chen Hongmei came in from outside, brimming with excitement. The moment she stepped into the courtyard, she called out to Zong Yuan, “Son, I saw those two people you mentioned working at Shengyan’s house! I know them—they’re from the village to the east.”
Zong Yuan asked, “Mom, are they a couple?”
Chen Hongmei nodded. “They’ve been married for years. But I heard a few years back they almost got divorced. No one’s sure if they actually went through with it. They’re not young anymore and people around here think they didn’t end up separating. It seems like they’re still together.”
Zong Yuan thought of Assistant Lin. “Mom, do they have any children?”
Chen Hongmei glanced around before lowering her voice, “No children. His wife can’t have any and that’s what caused their fight over the divorce.”
So, that Assistant Lin wasn’t their son.
Zong Yuan furrowed his brow, just as Zong Xiaomo called from the doorway, “Brother, someone’s here to see you.”
When Zong Yuan stepped outside, he saw a girl who looked familiar. She was someone he’d seen often. If he recalled correctly, her name was Er Ya.
Er Ya stood there as if her lips were glued shut. She couldn’t utter a single word upon seeing Zong Yuan. Growing anxious, Zong Xiaomo nudged her, “Say something!”
Er Ya stammered, “Brother Yuan, I… I saw something yesterday. I saw Aunt Chen almost get pushed into the river by Uncle Zhang.”
Zong Yuan’s expression changed instantly. “What?”
Zong Xiaomo gasped from the side.
Er Ya, intimidated by his intense gaze, continued nervously, “It… it happened yesterday afternoon.”
Zong Yuan’s voice turned cold. “He tried to drown my mom?”
Zong Xiaomo suddenly dashed back into the courtyard and shouted, “Mom, did Uncle Zhang try to push you into the river?!”
Caught off guard by the abrupt question, Chen Hongmei froze in place. “No, no, it’s nothing. Don’t get involved.”
0046 suddenly jolted awake. “Pushing someone into the river—could he be the one who pushed Jiang Shengyan down the mountain?”
Zong Yuan stopped Zong Xiaomo, who was now seething and about to rush out. “You stay home. I’ll go find Uncle Zhang.”
Er Ya hesitated and mumbled, “Brother Yuan, at this time of day, no one knows where he might be wandering around.”
Zong Yuan responded, “Then I’ll check the places he usually hangs around.”
Though he seemed calm on the outside, Er Ya instinctively felt uneasy, as if she shouldn’t get any closer. “Then… then I’ll…”
Zong Yuan said, “Thank you, Er Ya. You can go back now.”
Er Ya nodded, then turned and ran off quickly.
Watching her brother’s back, Zong Xiaomo muttered, “Can brother handle this alone? No, I should go find Brother Shengyan. At least he’s more useful than me.”
She called back into the house, “Mom, I’m going to find Brother Shengyan!”
“That girl,” Chen Hongmei shook her head with a laugh. “So eager and unreserved.”
Interesting, indeed.
Jiang Shengyan had spent a full hour just taking a shower that morning, going through nearly the entire box of mint-scented body wash. He couldn’t really tell the difference between the various scents, but what he did notice was that the mint smell clung to him and it left him feeling cool all over.
Before he could even dry off, there was a knock at the door.
A smile immediately appeared on his face, and he excitedly ran to open the door. “That was quick—Zong Xiaomo.”
The strong minty smell hit Zong Xiaomo, causing her to instinctively take a step back. “Brother, you smell way too strong.”
Jiang Shengyan looked over her shoulder. “Where’s your brother?”
Zong Xiaomo suddenly remembered the urgent matter. “Oh right! My brother went to find Uncle Zhang. I’m afraid he might get framed or something. Brother Shengyan, come with me to find my brother!”
Frowning, Jiang Shengyan immediately stepped outside. “Lead the way.”
“Brother Shengyan, it’s not that urgent…” Zong Xiaomo glanced at him, unsure of how to put it into words. “Maybe… you should change your clothes first?”
Jiang Shengyan was wearing a pristine white bathrobe, exposing a considerable length of his slender legs. Realizing this, he hurried back to change clothes. Zong Xiaomo murmured to herself, “Brother Shengyan’s skin is even whiter than mine!”
When Zong Yuan arrived at Uncle Zhang’s house, he found no one there. He asked the old man who lived next door, “Sir, do you know where Uncle Zhang went?”
The old man was basking in the sun. “He’s either at the intersection or down by Da Ya River.”
Zong Yuan thanked him and hurried to check those two locations.
Uncle Zhang was squatting by Da Ya River, looking disdainfully at a few young men swimming in the water. “Why aren’t there any pretty girls swimming?”
Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him. Turning around, he revealed a wide grin, showing off his yellowed teeth. “Oh, it’s you, A’Yuan! What are you doing here alone?”
Zong Yuan curved his lips into a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Uncle Zhang, I’m here to find you.”
Uncle Zhang Si felt a jolt in his heart, recalling his argument with Chen Hongmei from the previous day. He stood up, hunched over, and took a step back. “It’s all a misunderstanding, no hard feelings. We’re all family, haha!”
Zong Yuan stared at him coldly. “Pushing my mom into the river was also a misunderstanding?”
0046, fearing Zong Yuan might lose his temper and act irrationally, kept fanning him. Fortunately, while Zong Yuan was angry, he remained composed.
Uncle Zhang, feeling indignant, shouted, “Who said I pushed anyone? That’s ridiculous! I curse whoever spreads that rumor! They’re not a good person!”
“You’re the one being ridiculous,” Zong Yuan stepped closer with a cold smile. “You curse others; why don’t you curse yourself?”
Uncle Zhang, in a moment of desperation, raised four fingers. “I absolutely didn’t push her! If I did, I’d never find a wife! Does that work for you?”
Zong Yuan looked at him with mockery. “Too bad I don’t believe that.”
Uncle Zhang’s expression froze in shock.
When Zong Xiaomo and Jiang Shengyan found them, they saw the two of them in a standoff. Jiang Shengyan looked surprised. “You haven’t even made a move yet?”
Uncle Zhang’s expression grew darker.
Zong Yuan slowly explained, “You don’t know—if it comes to blows, if you touch him with just a pinky finger, he’ll linger at your doorstep for a month.”
Jiang Shengyan snorted. “Just a bunch of bullies. Watch this.”
He took out his phone, pretending to dial a number. “I have people at the station. Just tell them you want him to spend a few years inside.”
Uncle Zhang, panicking at the unexpected cooperation, exclaimed, “You can’t do this! It’s illegal!”
Zong Yuan’s voice turned stern. “But pushing a non-swimmer into the river isn’t illegal?”
Uncle Zhang tried to sound brave. “But I didn’t push her, did I?”
Zong Xiaomo glared at him with righteous anger. “You did push her!”
He wouldn’t dare to take a life, would he?
Uncle Zhang wished he could slap himself several times. “What did I say?”
“Foolish brat,” Jiang Shengyan stood sideways, shaking his phone. “You know about the recording function? I recorded everything. If I hand this to the police, you’re done for.”
Zong Yuan took a moment to glance at Jiang Shengyan. He could tell he was lying but was impressed with how well he said it. “Uncle Zhang,” he said, suddenly softening his tone, “we’ve lived in the same village for at least over a decade. I don’t have the heart to send you away. If this blows up, it won’t be good for anyone.”
He suggested, “How about you move to the next village? That way, we can all pretend nothing happened.”
Uncle Zhang was taken aback.
Zong Yuan continued, “You see, your reputation here is already tarnished beyond repair. After you move and work hard, ask the village head for a plot of land and live a prosperous life. Who knows, you might even find a wife. Why bother with all this?”
Uncle Zhang couldn’t help but glance at him. “Is it really that easy?”
Zong Yuan seemed like a promoter brainwashing Uncle Zhang. Jiang Shengyan, with a look of black lines on his face, said to Zong Xiaomo, “Your brother is a master of deception.”
Zong Xiaomo looked at him with envy. “What he said makes sense. As long as Uncle Zhang doesn’t make mistakes and works hard, he can definitely improve!”
Jiang Shengyan thought, Another one was brainwashed.
Zong Yuan asked, “When do you plan to leave?”
Uncle Zhang appeared dazed but felt like he had a purpose in life. “I’ll leave the day after tomorrow. I’ll go build a good relationship with the village head next door.”
Zong Yuan nodded. “That sounds good.”
On the way back, Jiang Shengyan glanced sideways at Zong Yuan. “Impressive, Brother Zong Yuan.”
Zong Yuan humbly replied, “You’re the impressive one, Boss Jiang.”
He twitched his nose. “Where’s that mint smell coming from?”
Jiang Shengyan’s expression became momentarily awkward. “How the hell would I know?”
Zong Yuan stopped in his tracks, grabbing Jiang Shengyan’s wrist and bringing it to his nose, sniffing along his arm until he reached his hair. He frowned. “Your hair doesn’t smell like mint.”
Jiang Shengyan, feeling frustrated, muttered, “I forgot to change my shampoo. I just like this scent.”
Zong Yuan laughed. “What a coincidence! I like the scent you like, too.”
Here we go again…
Zong Xiaomo, walking behind them, clenched her fists in excitement at that strange feeling.
She couldn’t help but chime in. “Brother, what do you think about the girl, Er Ya, who came to tell us this morning?”
Jiang Shengyan’s lips curled downwards. “Er Ya…”
He tried to break free from Zong Yuan’s grip on his wrist. “Let me go, damn it.”
“Stop messing around,” Zong Yuan said to Jiang Shengyan before answering Zong Xiaomo. “She’s a pretty down-to-earth girl.”
Zong Xiaomo couldn’t help herself. “She likes you, you know.”
The atmosphere instantly grew tense. Zong Xiaomo shrank back, timidly asking, “Is that a problem?”
After a few seconds, Jiang Shengyan finally spoke. “There are many people who like him. Is he supposed to respond to each little girl? You need to be realistic.”
Zong Yuan nodded in agreement.
He felt someone nearby pinching the flesh at his side hard, yet he maintained a calm expression. He really was impressive.
Jiang Shengyan turned back to him with a smirk that concealed a knife. “Zong Yuan, don’t you think so?”
“Yeah.”
Zong Xiaomo looked around suspiciously, feeling that something about the atmosphere was even more off.
Ever since Chen Hongmei believed that Jiang Shengyan had special feelings for her daughter, she increasingly felt that way. After all, which wealthy man would come to her house every day and lower himself to get close to her?
She became even more enthusiastic towards Jiang Shengyan. “Shengyan, you’re here too!”
As she lifted a basin of water to greet him, she accidentally lost her grip, splashing water all over Zong Yuan. Jiang Shengyan next to him got soaked as well.
Fortunately, it was summer. Chen Hongmei quickly handed them towels. “Hurry and wipe yourselves off. A’Yuan, take Shengyan to your room to change clothes. You both need to change. Shengyan, just wear A’Yuan’s clothes.”
She pushed the two of them into the room and the door clicked shut behind them.
Jiang Shengyan stood there, water still dripping from him, looking dazed when he suddenly felt a hand reach out.
Zong Yuan’s voice was teasing. “Boss Jiang, change your clothes. Take them off. If you’re shy, I can help you.”
In the pitch-black room, an unclear atmosphere suddenly enveloped them.
Images of the large bird he had seen before flashed through Jiang Shengyan’s mind and his face turned red. “N-no, I won’t.”
Yet, his tone carried a hint of anticipation.
Zong Yuan stifled a laugh, rummaging around in the darkness for two sets of clothes. “Then you can take them off and put them on yourself.”
Jiang Shengyan hesitated for a long time before finally deciding to take off his pants, deliberately turning his back to Zong Yuan in the dark room.
Zong Yuan whistled. “Boss Jiang, you’ve got quite the figure.”
How would you know I have a figure if I’m turned away from you?
Wait, could he mean—
What the hell!
