Lu Yaozu thought Jiang Xiaoci was utterly ungrateful.
He clenched his fists and silently swore that he would make the Jiang family pay for what they had done today.
Fuming with anger, he stormed off. The breakfast he had brought was casually tossed onto the roadside, where it would end up feeding beggars.
After Jiang Xiaoci and her mother went inside, Mother Jiang immediately asked, “Why did that boy from the Lu family come here? What exactly does he want?”
Jiang Xiaoci explained, “Mom, don’t worry too much. He just came to remind us he exists. He probably realized we already know about the report against us, yet we haven’t gone looking for him. He’s getting nervous.”
Thinking about how their family had been reported, Mother Jiang became even more convinced that her daughter’s prophetic dream had been real. It also proved what kind of person Lu Yaozu truly was.
Shaking her head in anger, she muttered, “That brat is really a piece of work.”
Jiang Xiaoci comforted her. “Mom, let’s not talk about him anymore. Let’s eat first. Someone like him isn’t worth getting upset over.”
“You’re right. Your father is in the study checking the account books. I’ll call him. After breakfast, your father and I have to go take care of some business matters. You’ll be home alone today, so be careful.”
Jiang Xiaoci nodded with a smile.
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’m an adult now. I know how to take care of myself.”
The family quietly enjoyed breakfast together. Mother and daughter shared an unspoken understanding and deliberately didn’t mention Lu Yaozu or the report in front of Jiang Decai.
After the meal, her parents left for work.
Bored at home alone, Jiang Xiaoci entered the space inside the jade bracelet for another look.
She didn’t want to simply enjoy its benefits without making good use of it. Such an incredible treasure would be wasted otherwise.
Previously, she’d been too busy moving the family’s valuables into the space to properly explore it. Now that she finally had free time, she wandered around carefully, examining every corner.
She also planned to grow some vegetables in the small plot of farmland.
The environment inside the space was perfect, completely hidden from the outside world. Anything she grew here would never be stolen, and it would provide fresh ingredients for the family’s meals.
Most importantly, everything produced here could be obtained without leaving the house. No one else would know where it came from, so it wouldn’t attract unwanted attention.
Having made up her mind, Jiang Xiaoci fetched a packet of vegetable seeds.
Just as she loosened her grip, the seeds suddenly fell toward the field on their own.
It was as though an invisible force within the soil had drawn them in. Like heavenly maidens scattering blossoms, the seeds spread themselves evenly across the farmland, planting themselves automatically without her having to sow them by hand.
Jiang Xiaoci stared in stunned disbelief.
She had never expected the space to have such a fully automated function.
Moments later, shock gave way to excitement.
She couldn’t wait to eat the vegetables grown here. The only thing she wondered was whether crops inside the space matured at the same speed as those outside.
Either way, this independent little world belonged entirely to her.
If anything unexpected happened in the future, she could stay indoors and still eat well, without ever drawing suspicion.
In these times, when supplies were scarce, any family that ate too well was bound to become the target of envy.
Having lived through two lifetimes, Jiang Xiaoci understood that lesson better than anyone.
Just as she was happily marveling at the space’s new feature, loud knocking suddenly echoed from outside.
The pounding was forceful and impatient, each knock heavier and more urgent than the last.
Even inside the space, she heard it clearly.
She immediately realized what it meant.
The investigation team had arrived.
Hurrying out of the space, she quickly straightened her clothes.
Since she had been experimenting with farming inside the space, she was dressed in plain, old-fashioned clothes that were faded and dusty.
She looked down at herself with satisfaction.
Perfect.
There was no need to change.
She hurried to the front gate.
When she opened the door, several stern-faced men stood outside.
Leading them was a middle-aged man with a rigid expression and piercing eyes. He sized Jiang Xiaoci up from head to toe. Seeing that she was young, innocent-looking, and dressed very simply, he paused for a brief moment.
But he quickly resumed his official demeanor.
Taking a document from his jacket pocket, he held it up and announced, “Comrade, we’re from the Investigation Team. We’ve received a report alleging that your family’s wealth comes from unknown sources and seriously violates current socialist principles by promoting capitalist practices. This is a search warrant.”
Jiang Xiaoci’s heart tightened.
Just like in her previous life…
Everything was unfolding exactly the same way.
After presenting the warrant, the man didn’t wait for her response. He waved his hand sharply.
“Search the house!”
Behind him stood seven or eight young men wearing military-green uniforms with red armbands.
“Yes, Team Leader Xu!”
They immediately rushed inside.
Jiang Xiaoci stepped aside and watched as the investigators charged into her home like a pack of wolves.
She pursed her lips and frowned slightly but said nothing.
Instead, she pretended to be both surprised and confused.
“Hello, Comrade Leader. My family has always lived honestly. How could we possibly have any capitalist tendencies?”
Team Leader Xu glanced at her.
Perhaps because she looked so young and modestly dressed, he softened ever so slightly.
“Whether you do or not, we’ll find out after the search. Don’t ask so many questions.”
Jiang Xiaoci obediently fell silent.
Inside the house, investigators searched every room. Heavy footsteps mixed with the sounds of furniture being moved and belongings scattered everywhere.
Bowls, cups, and plates were shoved aside with loud clattering noises.
Old quilts were yanked from cabinets and carelessly thrown onto the floor.
Standing quietly to one side, Jiang Xiaoci watched the house become increasingly messy but remained unconcerned.
Everything left outside was worthless anyway.
Fortunately, all the truly valuable possessions had already been hidden inside the Blood Jade Bracelet’s space.
No matter how thoroughly they searched, they wouldn’t find a thing.
Such a commotion naturally attracted the attention of the entire residential compound.
The moment the Investigation Team’s jeep sped into the compound, many residents had already noticed.
They watched as the investigators filed out one after another in neat uniforms before heading straight for Jiang Decai’s home.
Now, with such a noisy search underway, a large crowd had gathered outside the Jiang family’s modest courtyard.
People whispered among themselves.
“What’s going on?”
“No idea. Why would the Investigation Team come to the Jiangs? It looks pretty serious.”
“Could the Jiang family have offended someone?”
“Who knows? Jiang Decai and his wife both went to work today. I think only their youngest daughter is home.”
…
Every kind of rumor spread through the crowd.
Neighbors who were close to the Jiang family worried deeply for them.
Uncle Fuman, a kind-hearted neighbor, immediately rushed to the garment factory where Jiang Decai and his wife worked to inform them of what had happened.
Those who didn’t get along with the Jiangs, however, openly gloated.
They eagerly spread gossip to everyone around them, raising their voices until even more people gathered to watch the spectacle.
One example was Liu Ermao’s family, who lived directly across from the Jiangs.
Liu Ermao’s wife didn’t have a job and usually stayed home taking care of their three children—two sons and a daughter.
Now she stood outside with her hands on her hips, slapping her thigh as she burst into loud, shrill laughter, clearly delighted by the Jiang family’s misfortune.