Lu Qingqing looked at Ye Lingxi’s fleeing figure and curled her lips. That’s what she called “ruthless”?
If you don’t lock her up with that scumbag, how is that even ruthless?
After sending Ye Lingxi away, she turned back into the room and saw her grandfather, parents, and others knocking around everywhere, searching for money. Lu Qingqing slapped her forehead and said,
“Grandpa, Dad, Mom, stop looking. I already moved everything.”
“You moved it?” Grandpa Lu looked pleasantly surprised. “My dear granddaughter is amazing.”
Lu Qingqing’s parents also sighed in relief. Moving it was better than letting outsiders take it. None of the three asked where it had been moved.
Some things were safer when fewer people knew.
Lu Qingqing took out money and bonds from her bag and placed them on the table.
“Besides cash and bonds, do you want to bring gold and jewelry?”
“No need,” Grandpa Lu said. “Those things are hard to explain if you bring them. Anyway, you’ll catch up with us soon. Cash is enough.”
He divided the money into several portions. “Each person hides a share. When we arrive at Majia Village, even if we have nothing, we won’t starve.”
“Alright, we’ll listen to Dad,” Lu’s father said with a smile, looking at Lu Qingqing. “Our Qingqing has really grown up and thinks everything through.”
“Dad.” Lu Qingqing blushed slightly and leaned closer. “Do you still have unfinished matters?”
“What matters could I have?” Lu’s father smiled bitterly. “As soon as I got into trouble, my office was taken over.”
But speaking of work, he remembered Wei Chunsheng had also been arrested. He wondered who would end up taking over the machinery factory.
“Forget it. It’s not our factory anyway. Let whoever wants it take it.”
Lu Qingqing lowered her voice. “When things settle down and we can do business again, we’ll build an even bigger factory and make those bastards furious.”
“Good,” her father agreed with a laugh. As for when that would happen—who knew. If it never came, it would just be an extended vacation.
Being a factory director wasn’t that easy anyway.
Seeing father and daughter chatting happily, Lu’s mother smiled and went upstairs to pack. Before she left, Lu Qingqing said,
“Mom, check what we’re still missing. I’ll go buy it later.”
“Alright. Sit and talk with your grandfather for a while,” her mother replied cheerfully.
Soon only the grandfather and granddaughter remained in the living room.
“Grandpa, if there’s anything you want to bring, tell me. I’ll figure out a way,” Lu Qingqing said.
“I?” Grandpa Lu thought for a moment. “I want to bring a couple of bottles of good liquor. I promised Old Ma I’d drink with him properly.”
“Which one? Moutai or Wuliangye?”
“Moutai,” he said, stroking his chin.
He recalled their last farewell. Old Ma had said that after the war ended, they would go to the biggest roast duck restaurant in Beijing and drink until they dropped.
But the war hadn’t ended yet—they had already been separated. He wondered if Old Ma still remembered.
At that moment, the two sisters-in-law came downstairs with three children. They were all neatly dressed, but the children looked noticeably less lively after the recent shock.
Still, they were close to Lu Qingqing and immediately clung to her legs.
The small, obedient-looking figures only made people feel even more heartache.
Lu Qingqing patted their heads and took out three White Rabbit milk candies, handing them out before turning to her sisters-in-law.
“Sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, go check your rooms and see what’s missing. I’ll go out and buy it later. Let’s try to prepare everything needed for going down to the countryside. If we can’t prepare everything now, I’ll bring it later or mail it.”
“Alright, thank you, little sister.”
Both sisters-in-law agreed. Though exhausted, they knew time was short. If they didn’t prepare now in the city, things would be much harder in the countryside, where supplies were scarce.
By afternoon, the family had mostly finished packing.
Money and valuables were hidden in clothes, quilts, and even shoe soles—whatever could be used was used. How much they could find would depend on the searchers; how much they could hide depended on their own ability.
Lu Qingqing held the shopping list and said, “Don’t go out to shop. Just stay home.”
Then she looked at the sisters-in-law. “If you want to visit your families, you can go. There are gifts in the storage room—take them.”
The sisters-in-law smiled. “We understand. You go ahead, little sister.”
Lu Laosan leaned over. “Let Third Brother go with you. I’m strong.”
He flexed dramatically, but pulled at his wound and hissed in pain.
“You should stay home and rest,” Lu Qingqing said, rolling her eyes. “We leave on the train tomorrow morning. You’ll suffer enough then.”
She wasn’t taking him—he would just interfere with her using her space.
Before leaving, she added, “I might come back late. Don’t go looking for me.”
Grandpa Lu immediately stood up. “Don’t tell me you’re going there? That place is dangerous—don’t go!”
“Don’t worry, Grandpa. I won’t take risks,” she said with a smile.
If she really went there, it wasn’t certain who would be in danger.
Anyone who dared mess with her would have their warehouse emptied.
She slipped out the back door and did not go to the supply store. Instead, she headed straight for the black market in West Alley.
According to her memory, the boss of this black market was a man named Da Liu, a former hooligan. Though rough, he was loyal and reliable.
If he agreed to something, he would do it; if he couldn’t, he would say so directly. His market was expensive but safe.
Unlike other black markets, where buyers might get robbed halfway and lose both goods and money.
Some were even worse—stealing goods and then using threats and leverage to force people into paying or doing favors.
That kind of thing had been exposed during a crackdown years ago, causing many families to suffer devastating consequences.
Disguising herself, Lu Qingqing turned into a somewhat weak-looking, gloomy middle-aged man.
At the entrance of West Alley’s black market, she found the young guard and said directly,
“I want to see Brother Da Liu. I’ve got big business to discuss.”
“What business?” the young man asked.
“Business you’re not qualified to decide. Go report it.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly, a cold pressure radiating from her.
The young man jumped in fright. He could tell this was a ruthless person. He wanted to talk back but didn’t dare.
Grumbling unhappily, he went to report it, muttering under his breath. Lu Qingqing didn’t care what he said.