Chapter 3: Knocking on the Door

In her previous life, she had lived in this house for over a decade, and after becoming a ghost, she had lingered here for several more years. Naturally, she knew exactly where Jiang Jiali kept his money and valuables.

She planned to first collect Jiang Jiali’s belongings and then seize the opportunity to empty Liu Guilan’s secret stash later.

She also knew that Jiang Jiali’s biological father had secretly carried out several boxes of gold bars and various rare items from a landlord’s house during the land reform movement. Only Liu Guilan was aware of this. They had intended to wait until the political situation stabilized before gradually selling off those items.

In her previous life, before her son died, policies had already loosened not only could people buy and sell houses, but small businesses were also permitted. Liu Guilan had then given those items to Jiang Jiali, who not only purchased a house but also started a factory. This clearly indicated that the stash was substantial.

Chen Xueying intended to store all those items in her Dimension. When the Jiang family found themselves desperate and remembered the hidden treasures, only to discover they had vanished that double blow would surely be unforgettable, wouldn’t it?

Chen Xueying didn’t dare stay in the Dimension for too long. Although time within the Dimension was fixed meaning no matter how long she remained inside, she would emerge at the exact moment she had entered essentially, time outside hardly moved while she was in the Dimension.

Now that she had obtained this treasure, she was even more eager to swiftly deal with the scumbag and the despicable woman. Thus, she quickly exited the Dimension.

She heard that the guests outside had dispersed. Shortly after, Liu Guixiang brought a bowl of sweet fermented rice with glutinous rice balls to Lu Niannian and Jiang Yanqing.

“Hurry, eat this and then go rest. Niannian, as the new bride, you don’t need to clean up today. Go get a good sleep first. After I finish tidying up, I’ll go look for your second brother and Xueying,” Liu Guixiang said, her worry seeming genuine.

To her, Jiang Jiali was her real son. As for Chen Xueying, she wasn’t concerned that girl was so infatuated with her son that even if she now knew he loved someone else, a little coaxing from him would make her as foolish as ever.

Lu Niannian didn’t overthink it. Given the family’s poverty, when had they ever eaten fine flour? She accepted the bowl, politely thanked Liu Guixiang, and quickly ate, as if afraid someone might snatch it away from her.

Liu Guixiang felt a flicker of contempt but then noticed her eldest son holding the bowl of sweet fermented rice with a deeply troubled expression.

Her heart sank. Had this little brat figured something out?

Seeing him not eating and already irritated by the simultaneous disappearance of Jiang Jiali and Chen Xueying, Liu Guixiang scolded impatiently, “What are you standing there for? This is our local custom. Drink it quickly and go rest. Don’t you have to return to the military unit tomorrow?”

Jiang Yanqing pressed his lips together, glanced at his mother, and knew that it was tradition for newlyweds to eat a bowl of noodles after marriage. Poor families might serve porridge, while others cooked noodles. He just hadn’t expected his mother to prepare sweet fermented rice with glutinous rice balls.

“Probably thanks to Second Brother,” he thought self-mockingly, then silently raised the bowl and drank it all in one go.

After confirming they had both finished, Liu Guixiang took the bowls and finally relaxed, urging the two to return to their room and insisting she would handle the remaining cleanup herself.

Lu Niannian was more than happy to avoid chores. With a toss of her braid, she headed back to the room.

There wasn’t much to clean up outside anyway. The tables and bowls had been borrowed from others, and those people had directly taken the bowls along with some leftover food packed to go.

The tables and stools were also casually carried back by them.

Only a quick floor sweeping was needed. Liu Guixiang, worried about her son, didn’t put much effort into cleaning and hastily swept before heading out to look for Chen Xueying and Jiang Jiali.

She had just told everyone outside that the young couple was resting inside, feeling a bit unwell. The Chen family didn’t say much and even seemed concerned, so Xueying probably hadn’t returned to the Chen family. Where could she have gone then?

And both of them missing together…

Jiang Jiali, who had been hiding at the back door, hurried out as soon as he heard Liu Guixiang leave. The Jiang family’s house was near the foot of the mountain. Aside from the backyard being somewhat cleared, further up was just mountains and weeds.

Both Jiang Jiali and Liu Guixiang were incredibly lazy, and neither had bothered to clear the area. Liu Guixiang hadn’t even noticed Jiang Jiali hiding behind the weeds.

The backyard wasn’t far from the front yard, and in the countryside, people tended to speak loudly. The house wasn’t soundproof, so conversations in the front could be heard clearly in the backyard with a little attention.

Jiang Jiali had been wondering when exactly his mother had drugged them. When he heard her offering them sweet rice wine with glutinous rice balls, it suddenly clicked.

He knew why his mother disliked his elder brother something as precious as sweet rice wine with glutinous rice balls would never be given to his brother or Niannian.

Such abnormal behavior definitely meant it had been drugged.

Gritting his teeth, he knocked on Jiang Yanqing’s door. Standing outside, Jiang Jiali felt an indescribable urgency, fearing that any delay would allow the two to consummate their relationship.

The door opened almost immediately after he knocked. “Jiali? What are you doing here?” Jiang Yanqing frowned, looking at him with confusion.

His hawk-like eyes scanned Jiang Jiali up and down, quickly noticing that his trouser legs were damp and his shoes were stained with moist mud.

But Jiang Jiali didn’t answer him. Instead, he peered past Jiang Yanqing’s arm into the room and, seeing that Lu Niannian’s clothes were still properly on, let out a sigh of relief. “I just went looking for Xueying. She got upset because I didn’t go to fetch her for the wedding and ran off. I searched for a long time but couldn’t find her, so I came back.”

“I’m worried something might have happened. Brother, could you help me look for her?” He had also heard that Chen Xueying was missing and assumed she had run home heartbroken after hearing his words. But it didn’t matter if she went back, so be it. It suited his plans just fine.

He looked up and saw that Jiang Yanqing’s neck was flushed red, veins bulging. Was the drug taking effect, and he was resisting it?

Anxious, he pulled Jiang Yanqing out of the room. “Brother, please! This is a matter of life and death!”

Once pulled out, Jiang Yanqing had no intention of going back in. Besides, the situation did seem serious, so he casually closed the door behind him.

Jiang Yanqing could see the genuine urgency in Jiang Jiali’s eyes. At the same time, he felt an unusual heat spreading through his body and suspected the bowl of sweet rice wine earlier had been tampered with.

He didn’t know why his mother would do such a thing, but he had no intention of forcing himself on the young girl. It was just as well to go out now and cool off before deciding what to do.

“Calm down first. I’ll go with you to search. Have you checked the Chen family’s place?” Jiang Yanqing asked, turning to look at Jiang Jiali as they walked out together.