A few minutes later, the young man returned and said to Lu Qingqing, “Come with me. Brother Da Liu wants to see you.”
Following the young man, Lu Qingqing weaved through several turns and twists until they arrived in front of a large mansion.
The location was excellent, with high courtyard walls. Just a few dozen meters from the front gate was a three-way intersection.
The back gate led directly to the main road. Across the road was a complex maze of alleyways—meaning that once someone reached the opposite side, escape was possible.
Da Liu was short, dark, and sturdy. His palms were covered in thick calluses—clearly from years of training in weapons and martial arts.
At a glance, Lu Qingqing knew he was a skilled fighter.
“Brother, what do you want to see me for?”
Da Liu was also sizing her up. In his eyes, this person looked thin and weak, but her footsteps were light and steady.
He didn’t believe someone like this had no skills. And that gloomy expression suggested she was here on business—or trouble.
“Talk here?” Lu Qingqing looked around. Was it really appropriate to discuss things in the courtyard?
“Hahaha, my bad,” Da Liu slapped his forehead. “Brother, come inside.”
He gestured invitingly. Lu Qingqing did not hesitate and walked straight into the living room.
In just a few steps, she had already assessed the environment.
There were three escape routes in the front courtyard. One was the pile of firewood by the wall, another was the pile of miscellaneous objects against the wall, and the third was a wooden pole.
That pole should not be underestimated—someone with skill could easily use it to vault over the ten-foot-high wall.
The main building had three rooms. The central hall served as the living room and connected to the back courtyard—another escape route.
People were hidden in the east and west rooms. The moment Lu Qingqing arrived, they stopped all movement.
If a fight broke out here, they would rush out immediately.
“Sit, brother. What should I call you?” Da Liu said as he took the main seat and gestured casually.
“Surnamed Fu,” Lu Qingqing replied calmly as she sat down.
Her posture, however, was slightly unusual—half her butt on the chair, one foot forward, one foot back.
Da Liu’s eyelids twitched.
That stance—if a fight broke out, she could explode into action instantly, whether attacking or fleeing.
Definitely a trained fighter.
“So, Brother Fu, what business do you want to discuss?” Da Liu asked.
“I want information about the Red Committee, everyone under Zhang Shan, and all of Zhang Shan’s residences. If there are hidden houses, I’ll pay 200 yuan per location. That’s separate from other fees.”
“Zhang Shan?” Da Liu raised his brows. He had already heard that name several times today.
His house had been emptied, he had been arrested, and rumor said something had been “cut off.”
Whoever he offended must be some powerful figure.
Now someone was still willing to pay for intelligence on him—this was a profitable deal.
But rules had to be clear.
“I can sell you the information, but you cannot leak it. Even if it gets out, I will not acknowledge it.”
Lu Qingqing nodded.
“Information fee is 5,000. Non-negotiable. Hidden properties are extra.”
She nodded again. “How long will it take?”
Da Liu thought for a moment.
The information was already in his hands; organizing it wouldn’t take long. But he couldn’t say that out loud.
“If I can deliver before six, I’ll add another 2,000,” Lu Qingqing said.
Da Liu’s eyes lit up. “Brother, you’re generous. Deal.”
He then asked, “Anything else?”
“I want to buy a batch of goods. How much can you handle?”
She pulled out a list.
It included rice, flour, grain, oil, cotton, cloth, clothing, shoes, socks, daily necessities, and medicine.
She also included medicinal herbs.
She was planning to study medicine, and after going to the countryside, medical supplies would be scarce.
Her spatial storage meant she could stock up without worry.
Da Liu looked at the list and was startled.
The total value was nearly ten thousand yuan.
“I can get all of this, but medicine quantities are limited. I can’t meet your full demand.”
“Take as much as you can get,” Lu Qingqing said, opening her bag filled with stacks of cash.
“I’m not short on money. If you can supply more, I can take more.”
Da Liu’s eyes widened.
Stacks upon stacks of “Great Unity” banknotes—and beneath them, faint golden glints.
Gold bars too.
This was a big client.
No reason not to take it.
What she bought or did with it wasn’t his concern. He only did business—never asked questions.
“Your order is too big. I’ll need at least three days to prepare,” Da Liu said.
“Can you wait?”
“Yes. Prepare some ready stock for me first. I’ll take it with me.”
She tossed two bundles of cash over. “Deduct it from that.”
“Alright.”
Da Liu immediately agreed and went to the next room. After a short while, he returned carrying two large bundles.
“Check it?”
“No need. Put it on account.”
She looked at the bundles. “Deliver the rest to House No. 9 behind Lotus Lane.”
Da Liu nodded. He knew that place—a famous haunted house where eighteen people had died.
At first, people still tried to live there, but after repeated deaths, no one dared anymore.
Now it was perfect for transactions.
After finishing business, Lu Qingqing picked up the two bundles.
“I’ll come at six to get the information.”
“Anytime,” Da Liu said, seeing her out.
In black market dealings, unless they were old acquaintances, leaving immediately after finishing business was normal.
Lu Qingqing left without another word.
After walking through several alleys and confirming no one was following her, she found a hidden corner and stored the bundles into her space.
She changed her appearance inside the space.
Checking the time, it was still early. She didn’t plan to go home yet.
She opened her system’s intelligence section.
The free tip for the third day read: *At 4:30 PM, someone will fall into the lake at People’s Park.*
Looking at the time, she still had half an hour—enough to get there.
People’s Park wasn’t crowded today since it was a weekday. Under the willow trees near the lake, two young girls sat close together.
They whispered something. Suddenly, one girl’s expression turned vicious.
She stared at the other girl and suddenly reached out—
Splash!
One girl fell into the lake.
Unable to swim, she flailed in panic, arms and legs thrashing wildly in the water.