Chapter 24: Danger Ahead

Back then, Feng Ti knew a little about what had happened. “Alright. What was that doctor’s name again? Qin something Hong?”

“She’s called Qin Xuehong.”

“Okay, I’ll go ask around.” Feng Ti turned to leave, but was stopped by Feng Chunhua.

“Little brother, leave me some money first.”

Feng Ti reluctantly pulled fifty yuan from his pocket and handed it to Feng Chunhua. “Sis, this is all I’ve got.”

Feng Chunhua put on a fawning smile. “I know you’re good to me. Don’t worry! When I make it big, you’ll be the first I look after.”

Feng Ti looked helpless. “You say that every time. When are you actually going to make it big?”

Feng Chunhua’s face was full of longing. “Soon! Once the time is right, it’ll happen. Just don’t tell anyone about this, especially your wife and Xiaoshuai.”

Feng Ti sighed. “Got it.”

He left the hospital room to go find out about Qin Xuehong.

Over an hour later, he returned.

He spoke in a low voice, “Sis, I found out. Qin Xuehong retired years ago and is living out her days in Lin County.”

Feng Chunhua leaned in and whispered, “Take the night train to Lin County, find out where she lives, and find a way to get rid of her.”

Her tone was frighteningly calm.

It startled Feng Ti. “What do you mean? Sis, at worst we just return the compensation money to Chu Xuan’s dad. There’s no need to kill anyone, is there?”

“Don’t you want to get rich with me?”

“Of course I do.”

“Then get rid of Qin Xuehong!”

“Even if you do, it’s no use! Didn’t that nurse and Hua Daling know too?”

“They can be bought. Besides, I have dirt on both Hua Daling and that nurse. Qin Xuehong is too upright—she can’t be bribed.”

“Alright then.”

Feng Ti agreed out loud, but inside he was uneasy. His sister talked about murder so calmly, as if it was no different from gutting a fish.

Just as he was about to leave, hands in his pockets, he realized he was broke.

“Sis, give me ten yuan for travel.”

Feng Chunhua slapped five yuan into his hand. “I’ve got lots of expenses. Make this five last.”

Feng Ti was unhappy, but didn’t show it. He pocketed the money and left.

Once outside the hospital, he grumbled to himself, “Every time I’m the one paying and running around, and every time it’s just empty promises. Should I really keep believing in this sister of mine?”

Thinking about all the money he’d sunk into her, he felt a pang of regret.

But in the end, he decided to go to Lin County.

His county was Lai County, and there was a night train to Lin County that took just over an hour...

The next morning, around ten, in Chu Xuan’s courtyard, Chu Feng and Wang Shasha were washing vegetables and snails, while Gao Meijuan and Chu Xuan were in the bedroom discussing something important.

“Xiao Xuan, I found out—the doctor who delivered Feng Chunhua back then was named Qin Xuehong. She retired and moved back to her hometown in Lin County...”

Before she could finish, Chu Xuan quietly repeated the name Qin Xuehong. She felt like she’d seen it somewhere in her previous life.

Then it hit her!

It was in the newspaper!

There had been a story about Qin Xuehong being murdered, asking for clues to catch the killer.

It happened in July—which was just about to happen.

Chu Xuan gripped Gao Meijuan’s hand tightly, trying to stay calm. “Grandma Gao, Qin Xuehong might be in danger. I need to go to Lin County. There’s a lot going on at home—could I ask you to take care of things here?”

Gao Meijuan was confused. “Xiao Xuan, how do you know Qin Xuehong is in danger? Even if she can prove your dad isn’t Feng Chunhua’s biological son, would Feng Chunhua really kill someone over a thousand yuan in compensation?”

Chu Xuan still hadn’t figured out all the connections, but she knew Qin Xuehong was about to be killed.

She quickly made up an excuse. “Grandma Gao, I know Feng Chunhua too well. She’ll do anything for money. I can’t let Dr. Qin get hurt because of my family’s business. I have to go warn her. If I don’t and something happens, I’ll never forgive myself.”

Hearing this, Gao Meijuan didn’t try to stop her—after all, it was a matter of life and death. “Alright! Go ahead. I’ll take care of everything here.”

Chu Xuan shot her a grateful look, said nothing more, told Chu Feng she was leaving, grabbed over a hundred yuan, and hurried out.

After Chu Xuan left, Gao Meijuan realized she hadn’t finished what she wanted to say—there was also a nurse who’d helped deliver Feng Chunhua, and she was still working at the county hospital. Could her life be in danger too?

And wasn’t Feng Chunhua at the county hospital right now, looking after Chu Zhi?

Could she be planning to silence the nurse as well?

She rushed to the village office to find her husband, Wang Depin, and quickly explained the situation.

Wang Depin immediately took it seriously and drove his tractor to the county seat himself.

Only then did Gao Meijuan feel at ease and return to Chu Xuan’s house to prepare lunch.

A few minutes later, Wang Depin spotted Chu Xuan on a horse cart and called her over to ride the tractor.

Seeing Wang Depin’s serious expression, Chu Xuan could guess something important was up.

She quickly got off the horse cart and climbed into the tractor’s bed.

Once the horse cart was out of earshot and it was just the two of them, Wang Depin spoke.

“Xiao Xuan, your Grandma Gao didn’t get a chance to tell you—there’s a nurse named Hong Ping who also helped deliver Feng Chunhua. Do you think Feng Chunhua might go after her too? Should we try to help...”

Chu Xuan replied confidently, “No.”

Because in her previous life, before she died, Hong Ping was still alive and well. In fact, when her eyes were injured, it was Hong Ping—already retired but called back to work—who changed her bandages.

Hong Ping wasn’t a good nurse; she’d even asked Chu Xuan for a bribe.

Wang Depin was puzzled and asked directly, “Why do you think Feng Chunhua might go after Qin Xuehong but not Hong Ping?”

Chu Xuan patiently explained, “Because Hong Ping has a weakness—she’s greedy. Feng Chunhua can buy her off. Qin Xuehong is upright and can’t be bribed, so I’m worried Feng Chunhua will...”

Wang Depin didn’t feel comfortable letting Chu Xuan go alone. He wanted to get someone else to drive the tractor and take them both to Lai County train station.

But Chu Xuan insisted on going alone. Unable to change her mind, Wang Depin drove her to Lai County himself.

A little after 1 p.m., Chu Xuan was in the streets of Lin County, eating two freshly steamed leek and egg buns.

She remembered from the newspaper that Qin Xuehong lived in a small courtyard near Lin County Elementary School.

After finishing her buns, she asked the bun vendor, “Boss, how do I get to Lin County Elementary School?”

She quickly glanced at the boss’s watch to check the time.

The boss was very friendly and pointed down the road. “Just keep going straight, turn right by the garbage dump, then go another five hundred meters... Someone else just asked me for directions—sounded a lot like your accent. Funny, all my customers today are headed to Lin County Elementary.”

Chu Xuan kept her expression neutral. “What a coincidence. Boss, was the person who asked before a man or a woman?”

“A man, about fifty, with a sharp face and a crafty look. Not like you—you look so honest...”

Before he finished, Chu Xuan quickly thanked him and ran off toward the elementary school.

That person was most likely Feng Ti. Chu Xuan was terrified she’d be too late and that Qin Xuehong’s life was in danger."