Crouching down and feeling under the bed, Qiao Yuewei’s eyes lit up—Hu Xiumei really knew how to hide things!
She pulled out two cloth-wrapped bundles. Opening one, she found several stacks of money and a bankbook. Flipping through the bankbook, she saw a total of 6,500 yuan. She tossed it all into her space!
The other cloth bundle? It was the household registration booklet.
Qiao Yuewei flipped through it. She wasn’t listed; her registration had already been moved with Uncle Ren’s help after she entered the food factory.
She stopped at He Chuchu’s page and smiled—tomorrow, she would give He Chuchu a big surprise.
Having found nothing left behind by Grandpa in the couple’s bedroom, Qiao Yuewei moved to the study.
The study was locked as well, but Qiao Yuewei pried it open.
It was even bigger than her own room.
Apart from a few bookshelves, a desk, and a sofa set with a coffee table, the room was mostly empty. It should hold many things. Yet, after searching, she only found a thousand yuan and a pile of vouchers, which she immediately put into her space. Qiao Yuewei continued her search.
After a fruitless round, she plopped down on the sofa.
By now, He Runsong should have packed everything. Their whole family was just waiting to trick her into going down to the countryside so they could run off with her.
Glancing at the bookshelf behind the desk, Qiao Yuewei’s expression changed thoughtfully.
She walked over, picking up each book and feeling it. When she touched one hardcover, a click echoed—a hidden door on the side of the bookshelf swung open.
Qiao Yuewei snorted. Of course! Her biological father had done the same—quietly building a secret room at home.
There was a switch at the entrance. She pressed it, and the hidden room lit up.
She descended the stairs and nearly laughed with anger. Dozens of boxes were stacked neatly.
One small box had another smaller box on top. Qiao Yuewei violently opened it, finding four boat tickets inside.
Seeing it with her own eyes, it hurt even more than the brief mention in the book. Holding the tickets, she almost couldn’t resist tearing them to pieces.
After a moment, she put the tickets back and opened the other boxes.
Inside were boxes of shiny “small yellow croaker” gold, antiques and calligraphy, jewelry, several boxes of Great Unity tickets, and foreign currency—all already exchanged.
Qiao Yuewei pressed her lips together and packed all sixty boxes into her space, leaving the boat tickets separate.
After clearing the basement, Qiao Yuewei went to He Chuchu’s room.
He Chuchu was much bolder than the couple. Those familiar jewelry boxes on the vanity—her mother’s gifts—were there.
Qiao Yuewei opened the boxes. Thankfully, the jewelry was all there. He Chuchu, bold as she was, only dared to wear them in her own room.
Carefully placing the jewelry into the space, Qiao Yuewei also found another bankbook and a stack of cash in He Chuchu’s room.
Every penny went into the space.
Finally, she checked the wardrobe. Rows of brand-new cotton bras and even some antique qipaos remained.
Qiao Yuewei smiled. These qipaos had been left by her grandmother.
She put the qipaos into the space and packed the rest of the clothes. Tomorrow, she would send them to the social welfare institute.
After another sweep to ensure nothing was missed, Qiao Yuewei went to He Ximing’s room next door.
He Ximing was thirteen, in middle school, and academically terrible.
His room had no shortage of items—every large piece of furniture imaginable. Qiao Yuewei packed it all into her space. This family truly knew how to enjoy life, she thought with a chuckle.
Returning to the study, Qiao Yuewei took out paper and pen often used by He Runsong and wrote a severance letter.
After finishing, she glanced at his handwriting and, at the signature spot, mimicked He Runsong’s name, then signed her own below it.
She could imitate anything from her elementary school days.
Putting away the severance letter, Qiao Yuewei went to the kitchen. Over twenty jin of flour? Taken. Fine rice? Taken. White lard? Taken. White sugar, taken. Brown sugar, taken. Eggs? Taken! Only after emptying the kitchen did she nod in satisfaction.
Finally, Qiao Yuewei returned to her room and found a small box. Inside was the deed for the house, which she had received from Uncle Ren today.
According to the book, this house would eventually be taken. Better she gave it away herself and left a good name—after all, it wasn’t the old Qiao mansion.
Just as Qiao Yuewei was about to leave with the deed, footsteps sounded outside. At first, she thought one of He Runsong’s four family members had returned.
But pressing her ear to the door, she noticed the steps were hurried. They should have been held at the old mansion by Uncle Ren.
Then a knock came: “Yuewei, little cousin, I’m your cousin Hu. Aunt asked me to deliver something to you.”
Qiao Yuewei glanced at her watch. Exactly 9:30. Boldly barging into her house “to deliver something” was… rather audacious.
The knocking grew impatient. Qiao Yuewei gripped the handle and flung open the door, startling Hu Dashu.
A scar ran across his face, twisting as he smiled. “Little cousin Yuewei.”
Hu Dashu’s eyes roamed her body recklessly. Though Qiao Yuewei was from a “bad” background—a capitalist lady—he didn’t mind!
Looking at such a tender, beautiful girl, Hu Dashu’s heart burned. He reached out to touch her face.
“Little cousin Yuewei, don’t worry, I’ll take good care of you.”
Being so young, he already had several wives. He was desperate for a woman!
Hu Dashu grinned, about to tackle Qiao Yuewei, but she stared coldly. Seeing him lunge, she leaned aside and kicked him in the groin.
“Ah!”
A scream, like a pig being slaughtered, rang out. Hu Dashu collapsed, clutching his groin like a dead pig. Qiao Yuewei seized the moment, ran out, and locked him in the room.
Her gaze swept the door coldly. Hu Dashu was still wailing inside.
So this was Hu Xiumei’s plan. Fine, she’d go to the police!
Qiao Yuewei ran from the Qiao mansion straight to the local police station, crying and sobbing, frightening the officers on duty.
“Comrade, what happened to you?”
“Police comrade, help! Someone’s being lewd, sob sob sob!” Qiao Yuewei’s bright little face was red, one shoe lost in the scuffle. Her panicked state was heart-wrenching.
The police, hearing that someone dared to be lewd, immediately became serious. “Comrade, calm down. Tell us exactly what happened.”
Qiao Yuewei, taking the hot water the officer handed her, choked back her tears: “That man claimed to be my stepmother’s nephew. He said she asked him to deliver something, but when I opened the door, he tried to take advantage of me! Fortunately, I learned some anti-wolf techniques. That scoundrel is locked in my house. Police comrades, can you come arrest him? I’m home alone and scared.”
“Comrade, don’t worry! We won’t let any scoundrel get away.”
The on-duty officer made a call, and several others quickly arrived.
“Comrade, come. We’ll escort you home!”
Qiao Yuewei nodded.
She had deliberately lost one shoe at the door. With her tender skin, walking home like this would have been a bit distressing.
“Comrade, come. I’ll take you back.”
The officer noticed Qiao Yuewei’s awkwardness and patted the back of a bicycle.
“Thank you, officer!” Qiao Yuewei didn’t hesitate and sat directly on it.