chapter 9

Compared to back then, Brother Hao now sported a mustache, had put on some weight, his hair was slicked back and shiny, and his attire was quite refined-he looked rather imposing.

Earlier, I had been wondering how to test the waters and probe just how deep the Cao Family’s secrets ran.

Wasn’t this the perfect opportunity?

Brother Hao was a dog of the Cao Family, so I could use him to see what the Cao Family had been up to in the shadows all these years.

I watched as Liu Hao pulled the old man aside and said something to him, then turned and headed back to the Cao Family Mansion.

Right after, I saw Driver Zhang leading the old man over in my direction.

“Boss Xiaolin, I’m really sorry-this is my cousin. Something… very strange happened at his home,” Driver Zhang introduced, a little embarrassed.

“Uncle, let’s get in the car and talk,” I said with a smile, inviting him in.

“Sorry to trouble you,” the old man said apologetically, nodding to me repeatedly.

Once the two of them got back in the car, I learned from Driver Zhang that the old man’s surname was Yang. Though his face was deeply wrinkled and he looked very old, he was actually not much older than Driver Zhang.

“What happened just now?” I asked.

“Sigh, didn’t I mention earlier that my cousin’s son-in-law works for the Cao Family? That’s Uncle Yang,” Driver Zhang sighed.

“Uncle’s son-in-law was that man just now?” I was genuinely surprised.

“Yes, that man is Liu Hao. He’s highly valued by the Cao Family. Every time I come to Meicheng, Uncle Yang always asks me to check in on Xiuyu at the Liu Family,” Driver Zhang nodded, adding, “Xiuyu is Uncle Yang’s daughter.”

“So Uncle Yang came to Meicheng this time to see his daughter?” I asked, suddenly understanding.

“That’s right. But unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to see her. And the whole thing is just… really strange. It gives me the creeps just thinking about it!”

As Driver Zhang spoke, he patted Uncle Yang on the shoulder. “Old buddy, why don’t you tell Boss Xiaolin the whole story from the beginning? He’s a very capable man-maybe he can give you some advice.”

“Alright, alright,” Uncle Yang nodded repeatedly, wiping away tears. “About three years ago, one night, my daughter Xiuyu suddenly called home and said she was getting married.”

“My wife and I were shocked. Xiuyu was still in school-how could she suddenly be getting married? But we couldn’t talk her out of it, so we just let her be.”

“But ever since she got married, we hardly ever see her. When I call Xiuyu’s phone, it’s often unreachable. And on the rare occasions she does answer, she says a few words and then hangs up, saying she’s busy.”

“So I asked Old Zhang to check in on Xiuyu at the Liu Family whenever he was in Meicheng.”

“Yes, over the past few years, I’ve been to the Liu Family dozens of times. I haven’t seen Xiuyu much-maybe five or six times in total. Each time, we barely exchanged a few words before Xiuyu said she had something to do and hurried off. All I could do was leave the things Uncle Yang’s family sent and take my leave,” Driver Zhang nodded.

At this point, he sighed. “I’ve watched Xiuyu grow up-she’s a really good kid. But ever since she got married, she just feels… distant.”

I asked Driver Zhang if he had noticed anything else unusual.

Driver Zhang thought for a long time, then shook his head and said no.

“Old Zhang is right-it’s not just you who feels this way. My wife and I feel it too. Ever since Xiuyu married into the Liu Family, she’s changed. She’s very cold when she talks to us,” Uncle Yang said anxiously.

“My wife says maybe it’s because Xiuyu married into a prominent family and has to mind her manners now, so she can’t act like she used to. But I just feel something’s off. Xiuyu is my daughter-I know her character better than anyone.”

“That’s why I often ask Old Zhang to check on Xiuyu, just in case something’s happened to her.”

Uncle Yang’s eyes reddened as he pounded his thigh. “My wife is sick and muddled, can’t eat anything, and all she thinks about is Xiuyu-she just wants to see her daughter. So I hurriedly called Xiuyu, thinking she’d finally come home this time.”

“But I couldn’t get through. I went to the Liu Family several times in a row and never saw Xiuyu. Every time I asked, they said she was out on errands. I tried to find my son-in-law, but he wasn’t there either.”

“I really had no choice, so I came to the Cao Family Mansion, hoping to catch my son-in-law and get some answers.”