Chapter 161: Enemies from a Past Life

October 23, 2023

Author: Zi Tao

Uncle Long would never admit on his own that Mu Chenze had been here.

Before long, Chu Xuan followed Uncle Long into the study.

Uncle Long took a key from his pocket and unlocked the drawer of the desk.

He pulled out a portrait of a man from inside.

Chu Xuan glanced at it.

“This is Liang Shi?”

Uncle Long nodded in confirmation.

In her previous life, Chu Xuan had seen this man, though they had never spoken.

Back then, when her younger brother was arrested, she went to the security team to find out what happened and happened to pass by this man.

Besides that, there was one other time she saw him—right before something happened to her and her husband’s family. He appeared near the Mu family’s truck, but again, didn’t say a word.

Now, she suspected that the Mu family’s accident in her past life was orchestrated by this man.

Maybe if she could bring him to justice, history wouldn’t repeat itself.

“Uncle Long, this man might be the one who harmed Qin Xuehong.”

Uncle Long agreed, “We’ll have to wait until Qin Xuehong wakes up to identify him. That could take a while. By then, who knows where he’ll have run off to?”

“A ruthless man like him probably hasn’t just killed once. Remember Sheng Damei’s mother in our village? She died under suspicious circumstances. Could he be involved?”

“Even if he is, it doesn’t help us—we have no evidence.”

“He incited Guo Hailian to try to kill me. Since he’s always wanted me dead, why don’t I use myself as bait to lure him out? That way, we’ll have both witnesses and evidence to report him.”

Chu Xuan believed that only if Liang Shi was locked up would everyone outside be safe.

“No way. That’s too dangerous. If anything happened to you, how would I explain it to your mother?”

Uncle Long was firmly against it.

Chu Xuan tried to persuade him. “Uncle Long, if we miss this chance, he’ll disappear somewhere else. If I want to lure him out later, I might not even find him. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Tell me, where is he now?”

Uncle Long dodged the question. “Xiao Xuan, you look like you’ve lost weight—much prettier than before. Keep it up, don’t gain it back, or it’ll be hard to find a husband.”

“I’ll keep it off, but I won’t get married until Liang Shi is caught. Uncle Long, for the sake of my future, just tell me where he’s hiding, okay?”

“No.”

No matter how much Chu Xuan pressed, Uncle Long refused to reveal Liang Shi’s current whereabouts.

Chu Xuan had no choice but to play her trump card. “If you won’t tell me, I’ll just go to the county and search for him myself. I don’t believe I can’t find him. If we don’t plan this out and he hurts me, I’ll have no evidence to report him, and he’ll get away scot-free.”

“Are you really that foolish? Who goes looking for a killer? How about this—give me a day to think about it. Don’t worry, my people are watching him. I always know where he is. You go home for now.”

“Alright.”

Chu Xuan didn’t stay any longer.

After watching Chu Xuan leave, Uncle Long called the village office in Chu Xuan’s village.

He disguised his voice. “Hello, comrade! I’d like to speak to Mu Chenze. Please tell him to call me back. My surname is Yu.”

After the person on the other end agreed to pass on the message, Uncle Long hung up.

He wouldn’t use his real name—no one could know he was in contact with Mu Chenze.

Mu Chenze would know it was him when he heard the surname Yu.

The person who answered the phone at the village office was Accountant Wen.

He immediately went to the Mu family to deliver the message.

Mu Chenze hadn’t returned home yet, so Wen told Fu Qing and Qin Mahua.

Meanwhile, Feng Chunhua was still in her room at the county guesthouse, pouring her heart out to Liang Shi.

“Old Liang, do you think our son looks more like you or me? It’s been over forty years, and I’ve never even seen him once.”

“I’ve seen him. He looks like both of us. He’s a good kid, and our grandson is too.”

“You said when I go to Haishi, you’ll arrange for me to meet our son.”

“When your leg’s healed and you can go to Haishi, I’ll make it happen.”

“It’s my fault—I broke my leg, and then got three gold necklaces and a jade pendant stolen. Those necklaces could fetch a good price. I didn’t even get to give the jade pendant to our son. But don’t worry, I’ve already asked Xiao Tian to have a new one carved.”

“Chunhua, I should have taken better care of you.”

Liang Shi was already impatient inside, but his face was full of affection.

Feng Chunhua was deeply moved, swearing she’d go through fire and water for him.

Only when Feng Chunhua said it was getting late and she needed to leave did Liang Shi’s irritation ease, though he still tried to persuade her to stay.

He was a master at saying one thing and meaning another.

Feng Chunhua still had a lot to do, but reluctantly headed for the door.

Liang Shi hugged her again.

“Chunhua, once you get rid of Chu Xuan, you must come find me here. That’ll be the day I leave. And take care of your leg. I feel bad making you come here while you’re still hurt.”

“No matter how bad my injury is, if you want to see me, I’ll come. Before Chu Xuan is dead, does that mean we can’t meet again?”

“That’s right. Otherwise, people might get suspicious. You don’t want me to be in danger, do you?”

“No. Old Liang, was it you who killed that widow in our village? I remember you came to see me that day—did she see your face?”

“Chunhua, remember, that widow died in an accident. It had nothing to do with me!”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

Liang Shi refused to admit anything, and Feng Chunhua didn’t press further.

But she still believed that Sheng Damei’s mother was murdered by Liang Shi.

“Old Liang, do you still have money? If not, when Xiao Tian sends some, I’ll bring it to you…”

“I have money.” Liang Shi pulled out a thick wad of ten-yuan bills and handed them to Feng Chunhua. “Take this and spend it. Buy something nutritious for yourself and Xiao Zhi.”

Feng Chunhua was overwhelmed with emotion. “You’re so good to me!”

She put the money in her pocket, opened the door, waved goodbye, and left.

She didn’t see Liang Shi, after she left, pour disinfectant all over the room, wash his hair, and change clothes.

If the guesthouse had better facilities, he would have taken a shower…

After six in the evening, Mu Chenze returned from the city. Passing through town, he knocked on the back door of Uncle Long’s shop.

He’d gone to the city to see a classmate, but when he arrived, his friend was in a meeting.

He waited in the office, but was so tired he fell asleep.

His friend, seeing this, didn’t wake him.

He didn’t wake up until after two, then chatted with his friend for about two hours before taking the bus back.

He came to see Uncle Long to discuss something.

Uncle Long opened the gate, saw it was Mu Chenze, and warmly invited him inside.

“Haven’t eaten yet, have you? Dinner’s just ready—braised pork with hand-pulled noodles. Xiao Huan made it, it’s delicious. Have a taste.”

Mu Chenze really hadn’t eaten. “Uncle Long, I won’t stand on ceremony, I’ll eat first and talk business after.”

He hadn’t eaten in twelve hours.

His stomach was empty.

The fragrant noodles with braised pork—he ate two big bowls.

Xiao Huan had to make more noodles.

After finishing, Mu Chenze even drank a bowl of noodle soup.

Full and satisfied, he went to the study to talk with Uncle Long.

“Uncle Long, my classmate said Liang Shi doesn’t have a criminal record right now. There’s no evidence to arrest him unless he commits a crime and we have witnesses and proof.”

Uncle Long sighed. “Liang Shi wants Xiao Xuan dead more than anything. She came to me today and suggested using herself as bait. What do you think?”"