Chapter 128: Investigation

Such a valuable jade ornament, hanging on a mosquito net?

It definitely wasn’t for showing off—after all, Feng Chunhua always kept her curtains tightly closed, never letting outsiders see the furnishings in her room.

It must be for easy access, so she could play with it whenever she wanted.

Why was Feng Chunhua so obsessed with the Dragon and Phoenix jade pendant?

Did it hold some special significance for her?

In her previous life, Chu Xuan had never dared to enter Feng Chunhua’s bedroom, so she’d never even seen the Dragon and Phoenix jade pendant, let alone been in this room.

Chu Zhi had never mentioned how wealthy his family was, either.

He was always crying poor and asking her for money.

Time was short, so she quickly pulled her thoughts back and started searching carefully.

She found an old black-and-white photo of a woman in her twenties under the pillow—it looked like a much younger Feng Chunhua.

Suddenly, Chu Xuan remembered that she’d seen this photo by accident in both her previous and current lives. Last year, at the Chu family’s house in the village, she’d picked it up to look at it, and Feng Chunhua had flown into a rage, scolding her for touching things she shouldn’t and even hitting her a few times.

Feng Chunhua was extremely protective of this photo.

If it was just a photo from her youth, would she really be so anxious about it?

Chu Xuan examined the photo closely and found a few faint numbers in the lower right corner on the back: 19400901. Could that be the date the photo was taken—September 1, 1940?

Why did September 1st seem so familiar?

Wasn’t that her father’s birthday?

The more Chu Xuan tried to make sense of it, the more muddled her mind became.

She put the photo back and continued searching.

She didn’t find anything else suspicious. There were a few bills in the drawer, but Chu Xuan left them untouched.

She didn’t want to create any unnecessary trouble.

Feng Chunhua must have other places where she hid her money and valuables.

Restoring everything to its original state, she left the room.

Twenty minutes later, she made it back to Uncle Long’s shop without incident.

Not long after, Xiao Huan returned as well.

There was no one else in the shop at the moment.

Perfect for the three of them to talk.

Uncle Long spoke first. “Well? Did you find any clues?”

Xiao Huan looked at Chu Xuan expectantly, waiting for her answer.

Chu Xuan replied in a low voice, “She hung the Dragon and Phoenix jade pendant on her mosquito net, and there was a photo under her pillow. It looked like a young Feng Chunhua, but here’s the strange part—the date on the photo matches my dad’s birthday.”

Uncle Long was silent for a moment before speaking. “Your dad was adopted. Maybe the birthday you know isn’t his real one.”

That successfully reminded Chu Xuan.

“Then that must be the birthday of Feng Chunhua’s biological son. Uncle Long, there’s a lot I don’t understand. Why is Feng Chunhua so protective of that photo? She keeps it under her pillow. If it were you, would you keep a photo of your younger self under your pillow for no reason?”

“Of course not. I’d put it in a photo album or a frame.”

As soon as Uncle Long finished, Xiao Huan chimed in, “Uncle Long would only keep a photo of someone he loves under his pillow. I’ve seen it—she’s really pretty!”

Uncle Long’s face flushed red, and he pretended to hit Xiao Huan, who dodged nimbly.

That comment also gave Chu Xuan an idea.

“That’s right! Only a photo of someone extremely important to you would be hidden under your pillow. Maybe that photo isn’t of Feng Chunhua when she was young, but of someone who looks like her—maybe her sister or her daughter?”

Uncle Long stopped trying to hit Xiao Huan. “The Dragon and Phoenix jade pendant! Of course! It must mean twins—a boy and a girl! Feng Chunhua must have given birth to twins back then!”

Chu Xuan was about to agree, but then remembered that neither the nurse who delivered Feng Chunhua’s baby nor Hua Daling’s mother-in-law had ever mentioned twins.

“Uncle Long, something doesn’t add up. If Feng Chunhua had twins, the nurse who delivered her would know, and people in our village would know too. But no one’s ever mentioned twins.”

Uncle Long speculated, “Maybe she secretly gave birth to twins before she had Chu Zhi’s older brother?”

Xiao Huan couldn’t help but say, “Secretly gave birth? With who? Are you saying she had more than one man? This is getting more and more far-fetched.”

Uncle Long said seriously, “Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. If a woman had a child before marriage, the doctor who did her prenatal checkups would know best!”

Chu Xuan sighed. “And the doctor who examined her is still unconscious in the hospital, right?”

All the clues seemed to have led them back to square one.

Would they have to wait for Qin Xuehong to wake up?

She took the keys out of her pocket and continued, “Uncle Long, you have tools in your backyard. Can you help me destroy these two keys?”

Xiao Huan snatched them away. “It wasn’t easy getting these keys—I can’t just destroy them! When I have time, I’ll go back and look around again. Who knows, maybe I’ll find something unexpected.”

Uncle Long agreed.

Two against one, so Chu Xuan didn’t insist.

Xiao Huan left.

Leaving the other two some privacy.

Chu Xuan smiled. “Uncle Long, I had a misunderstanding with my mom before and burned all her photos. Could you help me develop two copies? My little brother and I each want to keep one.”

Uncle Long blushed again. “I don’t have any photos of your mom.”

Chu Xuan covered her mouth and laughed. “Xiao Huan just said you keep one under your pillow.”

“He didn’t say it was your mom’s photo.”

“Uncle Long, can you swear that the photo under your pillow isn’t of my mom? If you lie, you’ll never see her again in this life.”

Uncle Long surrendered immediately. “I wouldn’t dare swear. I’ll help you make copies—come back in a few days to pick them up.”

“Great.” Chu Xuan put away her smile and turned serious. “Uncle Long, there’s one more thing I hope you’ll agree to.”

“Go ahead.”

“No matter what Mu Chenzhe tells you, please don’t let him get involved in Feng Chunhua’s family affairs.”

Uncle Long thought of what Mu Chenzhe had said to him and decided to tell a white lie. “Alright! I promise!”

After watching Chu Xuan leave, Uncle Long muttered under his breath, “If a man wants to do something, he’ll do it no matter what…”

Chu Xuan rode her bike around town, buying some supplies.

An hour later, she returned home.

Ji Ping was there too.

After talking with Ji Ping, she learned that he had never planned to let Sheng Damei work with her.

In Ji Ping’s mind, Sheng Damei was just not a reliable person.

Chu Xuan warned him that Sheng Damei would definitely make a fuss, but Ji Ping said he could handle it.

When Ji Ping got home, Sheng Damei immediately ran up to him. “Brother, what did Chu Xuan say? Did she agree to let me work with her?”

“I told her there’s no need to think about it anymore.”

“Why?” Sheng Damei was furious, stomping her foot.

Ji Ping twisted her ear. “At least let me finish before you get mad!”

Sheng Damei covered her ear. “Ow, let go first!”

Ji Ping let go.

Sheng Damei snapped, “Hurry up and say it!”

Ji Ping kicked her lightly. “I spent three thousand yuan in the county to buy you a spot as a full-time worker. There’s a dorm for singles, free to live in. Once you’ve worked there long enough, you can even get a house.”

“What? You bought me a job? In the county? And I’ll get a house in the future? Brother, you’re the best! Which factory is it?”

That completely killed Sheng Damei’s schemes about Chu Xuan, and she didn’t even care that Ji Ping had kicked her.

From now on, she’d be a full-time worker, getting a stable salary every month, and no longer have to endure the villagers’ scorn.

“Write a guarantee letter first, then I’ll tell you which factory. You have to promise to work hard, stop messing around, and never ask me for money again. And most importantly—listen up!”

“Go ahead, I’m listening! What’s the most important thing?”"