Chapter 99: It Really Wasn’t an Accident

September 15, 2023

Author: Zi Tao

Mu Chenze could tell that Chu Xuan had deliberately sent Chu Feng away, but he didn’t mind her evasive answer.

“That’s right. I saw oil stains on the stone path outside her house. Someone must have put it there on purpose.”

Chu Xuan poured him a glass of water, just the right temperature to drink. “Have some water first. Did you report it to the police?”

Mu Chenze was indeed thirsty. He took the glass and finished it in one gulp, then set it aside. “I quietly told Ji Ping about it. He’s already reported it, but unfortunately, the rain kept getting heavier. By the time the security team arrived, all the traces had been washed away…”

Chu Xuan muttered under her breath, “Who would want to harm someone with cancer? Could it be that she accidentally found out someone’s secret and was silenced?”

Mu Chenze nodded in agreement. “That’s what I think too. The security team took Li Qin’s body away for an autopsy by professionals.”

“So her funeral arrangements can’t go ahead these next couple of days?”

“That’s right.” Mu Chenze pointed at the stove. “The water’s boiling, let’s cook the dumplings. I should head back.”

“Stay and eat the dumplings before you go.”

“I eat a lot.”

“We made enough for four people—there’s plenty for you!”

Chu Xuan had originally planned to have pan-fried dumplings for breakfast, so she’d made extra.

She hadn’t expected them to come in handy tonight.

Every time she could invite Mu Chenze for a meal, she felt happy—it was a small way to repay him for his help.

Unfortunately, Mu Chenze wouldn’t stay. “It’s already dark. My mom’s waiting for me to come home.”

He got up and left.

It wasn’t until he was almost home that he realized Chu Xuan hadn’t answered how much the ribbonfish cost per jin. He felt like the 160 yuan profit share was a bit much.

Forget it, he thought. No need to go back and ask. Next time there’s a profit to split, he’ll just take less.

When he walked through the door, he saw Qin Mahua standing at the kitchen door, looking out toward the gate.

“Mom, were you waiting for me?”

Qin Mahua looked at her son with concern. “Look at you, all muddy and wet. Go change into dry clothes, I’ll bring you dinner in a bit.”

“No need. I’ll eat first, then change. I’m starving.”

Mu Chenze bolted the courtyard gate and hurried into the kitchen, taking off his raincoat and hanging it by the door.

Qin Mahua quickly brought out some hot food from the stove.

Braised eggplant, ribbonfish, and rice.

All Mu Chenze’s favorites.

“Mom, your cooking smells amazing.”

He ate with relish.

Qin Mahua beamed at the compliment. “Eat as much as you want. We’ve already eaten.”

“Okay.” Mu Chenze nimbly picked out the bones from the ribbonfish. “Mom, let’s make dumplings tomorrow? I want lotus root and pork filling.”

Truth was, he was craving dumplings, but since the weather would keep them indoors and Chu Xuan’s supplies were limited, he hadn’t stayed for dinner at her place.

Qin Mahua had stocked up on plenty of supplies, including lotus root and pork. “No problem. But… aren’t you supposed to eat at Sheng Damei’s house tomorrow? Isn’t there supposed to be a three-day funeral?”

“It’s postponed for now. Li Qin’s body was taken away by the security team for examination. No idea when it’ll be returned.”

“What? Why did they take her away?”

“Possible homicide. But the heavy rain washed away the evidence. If the autopsy doesn’t find anything, it’ll probably be ruled an accident.”

“Who could be so heartless as to harm a woman with only months to live? They’ll get what’s coming to them.”

“Who knows.”

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

Qin Mahua grabbed an umbrella and went to open it.

Ji Ping was standing at the gate, also holding an umbrella.

“Pingzi, come in! You haven’t eaten yet, have you? There’s food in the kitchen.”

Ji Ping was touched. “Thank you, Aunt Qin!”

He really hadn’t eaten. He’d only had breakfast that day—no lunch or dinner.

When Mu Chenze heard it was Ji Ping, he quickly grabbed a clean bowl and chopsticks and served him a bowl of rice.

Ji Ping took it without a word and started eating quickly.

The rest of the Mu family had already gone to bed.

Qin Mahua made ginger-egg tea for the two of them.

After being out in the rain, a bowl of that would warm them up.

Once he’d eaten and drunk his fill, Ji Ping finally spoke. “Aunt Qin, I have a favor to ask. Sheng Damei is scared to be alone at home. Could she stay at your—”

Before he could finish, Mu Chenze cut him off. “I don’t agree to Sheng Damei staying at our house. She wasn’t scared when she was doing all those shameless things.”

Qin Mahua gave her son a light smack on the back. “Let Pingzi finish.”

She turned to Ji Ping. “Just give me a good reason. Why should we help Sheng Damei?”

Ji Ping replied quietly, “Because she’s my half-sister.”

“But your surname is Ji, hers is Sheng.”

“I took my adoptive father’s surname. Here’s what happened…”

After hearing the whole story, Qin Mahua finally agreed to let Sheng Damei stay at their house, for Ji Ping’s sake, and promised to take care of her.

Ji Ping took out a wad of cash and handed it to Qin Mahua. “Auntie, this is for her living expenses. She just had a miscarriage and lost her mother—her health is fragile and she needs good nutrition. Sorry for the trouble.”

Qin Mahua didn’t refuse and accepted the money, which made Ji Ping feel better.

There was a spare room and a kang bed in the house. With a little tidying up, it would be ready.

Mu Chenze was helpless—his mother was just that kind-hearted.

Half an hour later, Ji Ping came back carrying Sheng Damei and a bundle. Once she was settled, he was about to leave.

Mu Chenze stopped him. “Pingzi, before Sheng Damei’s mother died, did she say anything to you?”

Ji Ping wiped his tears. “She asked me to look after Sheng Damei. Otherwise, do you think I’d bother with her? You’ve already asked me this three or four times—why keep asking?”

“Think carefully—did she say anything at all about the real culprit?”

Ji Ping tried to recall. “She really didn’t say anything else.”

“Any gestures? Like pointing at someone or somewhere?”

“She pointed at the ceiling, does that count? She said ‘I…’ and pointed at the ceiling, then passed away.”

“The ceiling?”

“Yeah, the ceiling.”

“I remember there’s a crawl space in her ceiling.”

“So what? You think there’s money hidden up there? If there was, would she have needed to borrow money from me?”

“Let’s go take a look.”

“It’s pitch black and pouring rain—let’s wait till tomorrow! I need to rest, I’m exhausted…”

Before Ji Ping could finish, Mu Chenze was already putting on his raincoat. “If you’re not going, give me the key, I’ll go myself!”

“A corpse just died in there, and you really want to go? Aren’t you scared?”

“I’m not! What I am scared of is the real culprit getting away. Who knows, maybe the evidence is hidden in the crawl space.”

With that, Ji Ping grabbed his umbrella. “I’ll go with you!”

Sheng Damei, lost in grief, lay on the kang and didn’t hear a word they said.

But Qin Mahua did. She fetched two kitchen knives from the kitchen and handed one to each of them.

“Take these. If you run into danger, you can defend yourselves!”

Mu Chenze and Ji Ping took them without hesitation.

If the real culprit was also looking for evidence and they ran into each other, there’d definitely be a confrontation.

Twenty minutes later, the two of them, flashlights in hand, arrived at Sheng Damei’s house.

The courtyard gate was locked.

Ji Ping took the key from his pocket and unlocked the gate.

As soon as they stepped inside, a strong gust of wind slammed the gate shut behind them.

Both Mu Chenze and Ji Ping felt a chill, but for the sake of the truth, they steeled themselves and walked into the bedroom where Li Qin had lived."