Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 2969: Chapter 2970: Jewelry Box

I’ve dealt with snakes before, eaten dead rats, so what’s the big deal about cleaning a septic tank? It’s not like I’m making you do it by hand.

Muyu quickly figured it out. With an iron hook, he soon uncovered the hidden Five Stone Powder.

...

Everything proceeded according to Bai Ruozhu’s plan, and the next day the Five Stone Powder was smoothly traded to the people of Jinhu Hall.

Jiang Yichun dispatched Muyu to continue monitoring Jinhu Hall, while they kept an eye on Duan Fei. Duan Fei went to the Xue Family to cause trouble that afternoon, but upon arriving at the main gate, he saw an officer entering. A crowd of townsfolk was gathered outside, all talking about a murder at the Xue Residence where someone had attempted to assassinate the young master Xue Zhuo and had killed a servant at the memorial hall.

”I heard not only was Xue Zhuo attacked, but the Xue Residence’s miss nearly died from an illness, which isn’t really an illness—someone harmed her. Think about it: if the Xue mistress lost both her children, her dowry would have to be returned to her family.”

”Ah, haven’t the Xue mistress’s brothers been making a fuss lately? Could he have committed murder for money?”

”How much dowry could there be to risk killing someone?”

”...”

The townsfolk at the Xue Family’s main gate were abuzz with gossip, and Duan Fei dared not join in; such a man still feared the officers.

Bai Ruozhu saw him turn away and sent Wei Jiu to tail him.

”You say the opponent isn’t making a move, but waiting around isn’t helping us. We need to know what the family heirloom is,” Bai Ruozhu worriedly said. ”So the storeroom should be examined, right? Just because Xue Wenyuan hasn’t discovered it doesn’t mean we won’t,” Jiang Yichun suggested.

”Right, I forgot about that,” Bai Ruozhu said with a smile.

Jiang Yichun tapped her nose, ”You’re too rich now; you don’t even think about what’s in the storeroom.”

After speaking with Xue Wenyuan, he soon handed them the storeroom key and let them in.

”Sorry to trouble you two; I’ll go cooperate with the government investigation,” Xue Wenyuan said with a bow before leaving.

”This Xue Wenyuan has quite the sharp eye, showing trust in us without fear we might take something,” Bai Ruozhu said with a smile.

”Could anything be worth a life? Besides, he probably thinks we wouldn’t be interested,” Jiang Yichun replied.

Indeed, Bai Ruozhu had no intention of taking Xue mistress’s dowry, which should be left for her children following her passing.

They thoroughly checked the storeroom, examining each item, yet found nothing.

The gold, lacquerware, and jewelry were valuable but not something cautious like Xue mistress would consider a family heirloom to hide for years.

”Right, you mentioned Xue mistress intended to pass the heirloom to her son. Perhaps Xue Zhuo knows what it is?” Jiang Yichun suddenly thought. ”Even if he doesn’t know specifically, he’d have surely heard something.”

”Your father has always looked after that boy; he should at least collect some medical fees. Let’s go ask.” Bai Ruozhu took his hand to leave while Jiang Yichun remembered to lock the door again. 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

Soon, they met Xue Zhuo, who looked uncomfortable upon seeing them and struggled to sit upright.

”Mr. Jiang, Madam Bai, thank you both for this time. I often offended you before, apologies,” Xue Zhuo said.

”Don’t apologize to us; go thank Ao Song and the astrologer instead,” Bai Ruozhu retorted.

Xue Zhuo’s face turned slightly red, ”Alright, I will definitely go.”

He sighed, ”I went through life and death this time, only to realize how reckless I’ve been and how painful it is to be stabbed.”

Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun exchanged a look; his insight was indeed fortunate; otherwise, he might have died not knowing why.

”Did your father tell you? Before your mother passed, she mentioned an heirloom to be given to you. The misfortune your family has faced might be related to this heirloom,” Jiang Yichun said.

”My father told me, but I truly don’t know anything about my mother having a family heirloom. She never mentioned anything to me, though upon reflection, she often lamented my reckless temper, not knowing how to pass things to me. I thought she was talking about the shop and paid it no mind,” Xue Zhuo said.

”Think carefully; did your mother ever tell you any unusual stories, especially when you were younger?” Bai Ruozhu asked.

If Xue mistress initially decided to give Xue Zhuo the heirloom, he may have received hints when he was young, though she stopped mentioning it as his disposition grew reckless over time.

Perhaps Xue mistress planned to wait a few years until Xue Zhuo matured before revealing it; unfortunately, her untimely demise meant her son never returned before passing.

Hearing about his deceased mother, tears uncontrollably fell from Xue Zhuo’s eyes.

”I was playful, never remembering things clearly, but the clearest memory is the folk song my mother always sang to me.” He seemed to recall and began humming it to himself, though his singing lacked tune, without altering the melody.

Soon after finishing the song, he came back to reality and quickly wiped away his tears, ”Sorry you had to hear that; I’m not a good singer, quite worse compared to my mother.”

”Isn’t there a lyric ’open the jewelry box, stick the yellow flower’? Could it be related to her jewelry box?” Bai Ruozhu asked.

Jiang Yichun looked at Xue Zhuo, ”Did your mother have a particularly unique jewelry box?”

”My mother managed the business well and had money over the years, purchasing quite a bit of jewelry. She had a fairly large jewelry box in her room, which was custom-made,” Xue Zhuo replied.

Bai Ruozhu looked at Jiang Yichun, ”Perhaps that’s it, which is why Xue Wenyuan couldn’t find it in the storeroom.”

”Where’s the jewelry box now?” Jiang Yichun asked.

”It seems it was moved to my sister’s room; the jewelry was initially for daughters. My father hoped to give her something to remember my mother after her severe illness. He even told me yesterday, fearing I’d get upset, but how could I? I wouldn’t fight my sister for those women’s items.”

As Xue Zhuo spoke, he began to worry, ”Could it really be inside? Wouldn’t Zhizhi be in danger?”

”Let’s go take a look; get some rest first,” Bai Ruozhu stood up, and with Jiang Yichun, quickly left.

Xue Zhuo opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but decided against it, unsure of what might be inappropriate.

”Is there anything you haven’t said?” Gao Zhou asked, ”I saved your life, yet at this moment you’re still hiding something?”

”No, esteemed doctor, this incident might be unrelated, and I’m not completely sure,” Xue Zhuo replied hurriedly.