“Mu Zhaozhao, stop talking nonsense! My dad would never do such a thing!” Mu Yunxing yelled. She was unwilling to believe that the home she had thought was so happy was already rotten to the core.
“Suit yourself then,” Mu Zhaozhao said with an indifferent look, continuing her way inside.
Stopping right beside Qi Ruobing, she suddenly paused. “I just remembered that something seems a bit fishy around the Baoan Road area in Baoshan District. Auntie, you should take a stroll over there if you have time.”
Leaving behind those cryptic words, Mu Zhaozhao walked back to her bedroom without bothering to spare them another glance.
If she wanted to uncover the truth from sixteen years ago, she had to drive a wedge between Qi Ruobing and Mu Shangyu. Otherwise, with Qi Ruobing’s temperament, she would only use the secret to blackmail Mu Shangyu and never speak a word of it, taking it straight to her grave.
Mu Yunxing clenched her fists tightly. At this moment, she desperately wanted to pick a fight with Mu Zhaozhao, but she simply lacked the courage. She had no choice but to swallow her rage.
Having suffered a major setback at Mu Zhaozhao’s hands, Qi Ruobing gnashed her teeth in hatred. However, having lived twenty more years than Mu Yunxing, she persuaded her daughter, “Let this little wench gloat for a few days. Once we soothe your father, we’ll deal with her.”
Mu Yunxing nodded. “I guess that’s all we can do for now.”
At dusk, Mu Zhaozhao opened her eyes and glanced at her wristwatch. It was almost time.
She picked out a gray shirt and a pair of black Dacron trousers, putting them on. Hiding herself perfectly in the dark night, she pulled a bicycle out from her pocket dimension and rode straight toward No. 169-2 Baoan Road, Baoshan District.
By the time she arrived, her timing was spot-on. Mu Zhaozhao stashed the bicycle back into her dimension.
Concealing herself within the space, she secretly observed Su Wanxing, who was laboriously hauling out several black wooden chests. Judging by how hard Su Wanxing was panting, there were bound to be plenty of treasures inside.
The moment Su Wanxing turned around, a man’s figure suddenly rushed out from behind her, wrapping his arms around her slender waist.
“My darling, I’ve missed you to death!”
Hearing the voice, Su Wanxing turned around in a panic. “Ah Lang, why are you here? Mu Shangyu is coming tonight—hurry up and leave!”
Watching the scene unfold, Mu Zhaozhao thought to herself: Oho, didn’t expect a bonus discovery! The side-chick has a side-chick of her own—what a messy circle. Isn’t this setting a terrible example for a model citizen like me?
Hearing her words, the man pouted discontentedly. “I’m not leaving! I haven’t come to see you for two whole days. Didn’t you promise me that once you tricked that old man out of his money, you’d run away with me to a far-off place? What do you mean by dragging all these jewels out now? Are you getting ready to leave with me?”
Su Wanxing glanced at the wooden chests on the ground and said cautiously, “Ah Lang, Mu Shangyu keeps strict count of the money and wealth he leaves here. I can’t just take them directly. If they go missing on my watch, he’ll skin me alive.”
Zhang Alang said displeasedly, “Then you dragged them out to help him move them? Are you planning to leave with him instead?”
Su Wanxing shook her head repeatedly and placated him, “Ah Lang, listen to me. Mu Shangyu indeed wants to transport the jewels away tonight, but I’m extremely unwilling to leave with him. I’m still hoping to live a happy life with you and our child! But I can’t have stayed with him all this time for nothing without getting a single benefit.”
“Then what do you mean?” Zhang Alang asked.
“I’m thinking you should get a few brothers in a bit to hijack the truck transporting the jewels. Do you dare?”
Su Wanxing had long planned to leave Mu Shangyu. She was only twenty-nine years old; she couldn’t keep catering to an old man forever.
Looking at the many chests of treasure on the ground, Zhang Alang’s eyes sparkled with greed. He made up his mind and said, “I dare! I’ll go find people right now. You just wait to live a good life with me!”
Su Wanxing thought that by having Zhang Alang step up, she would completely get rid of Mu Shangyu if it succeeded, and even if it failed, she could shirk the responsibility onto him. It was the safest plan.
After Zhang Alang left, Su Wanxing hauled out two more black wooden chests from the house.
Hiding inside the dimension, Mu Zhaozhao counted them—there were nine chests in total. She turned her head to look at the stones she had prepared in advance; they should be plenty enough.
Next was to wait alongside Su Wanxing.
Before long, a truck drove over. Mu Shangyu arrived right along with it. He stepped down from the vehicle and walked straight into the yard.
He asked Su Wanxing, “Have all nine chests of goods been brought out?”
Su Wanxing nodded. “Shangyu, they’re all here.”
Two burly, brawny men stepped down from the truck and entered the yard, speaking in rough voices, “Master Mu, the rules of our gang dictate that we must inspect the goods face-to-face to confirm the quantity before helping to transport them.”
Mu Shangyu said amiably, “I’ve inquired about Seventh Brother’s rules. Rest assured and inspect the goods. Since I chose to hire you, I naturally trust you.”
Old Qi waved his hand and instructed, “Old Eight, inspect the goods.”
Hearing this, the man beside him stepped straight forward and opened the chests one by one. They were packed to the brim with jewelry, jade, diamonds, and pearls, sorted by chest. The exact count of items was labeled on each box.
After taking some effort, Old Qi finally finished counting. Once everything was confirmed to be correct, they loaded them onto the truck.
Mu Zhaozhao watched the entire process. Taking advantage of the moment they were busy inspecting, she quietly sneaked into the truck’s cargo hold.
Once the vehicle drove off, Mu Zhaozhao stepped out of her dimension. Looking at the nine chests of jewels inside the truck bed, she sank into thought. There are only jewels here. It seems those antiques and famous paintings are still hidden somewhere else by Mu Shangyu.
A sly rabbit really does have three burrows—even after all this, his entire fortune hasn’t been swept clean yet.
With no time to overthink, Mu Zhaozhao waved her arm, sweeping all nine chests of jewels inside the cargo hold straight into her dimension.
Just like before, she filled the empty chests with stones, and then waited to watch the show unfold.
Not long after the truck drove off, Su Wanxing felt restless, wondering if the people Zhang Alang found could handle the burly Old Qi and Old Eight.
Mu Shangyu was just about to lie down on the bed to sleep when he saw Su Wanxing tossing and turning.
He said impatiently, “What’s wrong with you today? Something on your mind?”
Su Wanxing immediately stopped moving and smiled awkwardly. “It’s nothing, Shangyu. I was just thinking… could those jewels we just sent out be embezzled by Old Qi and Old Eight? Can they deliver them to the pier as agreed?”
Mu Shangyu rubbed the bridge of his nose and said tiredly, “I’ve checked into them. They run the most reliable escort agency around. No matter how precious the cargo, they’ve never pocketed a single item for themselves. People in their line of work value credibility above all else. Go to sleep, stop worrying.”
Su Wanxing’s eyes flickered. She nodded and lay stiffly on the bed, not daring to move.
Over on the truck’s side, Old Qi was yawning while driving when he accidentally hit a large rock, causing the tire to blow out with a loud BANG.
Hearing this, Old Eight cursed angrily, “How the hell are you driving?!”
As he spoke, he opened the door, jumped out of the truck, and went to check the tire.
Just at that moment, Zhang Alang rushed out with two cronies, holding arm-thick wooden clubs and yelling “Yee-haw!” at the top of their lungs to build up their courage.
Hearing the noise, Old Eight glared with raised eyebrows and turned around. Looking at the frail, skinny men before him, he didn’t take them seriously at all.
Old Qi jumped off the truck as well upon hearing the commotion and bellowed furiously, “Which bastard dares to block your granddaddy’s truck?! Go ask around on the streets about us—scrawny fools like you, I could crush one with each hand!”