Chapter 229
"Do you have any connection with him? You're just going to go find him?"
Shen Nanchu put down her teacup and raised an eyebrow,
"If you go to his door rashly and Pei Zhengwei's people see you, what if you alert the enemy?"
"Not only will you fail to get any information, but you'll also make Lei Mingyuan wary of you and think you have ulterior motives."
Pei Zhengnian froze for a moment, feeling that Shen Nanchu made sense.
"Then I'll call him? Arrange a place to meet? Like a teahouse or a park, where it's crowded and not easy to be discovered."
"Calling isn't appropriate either."
Shen Nanchu shook her head.
"Phone lines aren't necessarily safe these days. If we're wiretapped, it'll just cause more trouble."
"Besides, you're not close to Lei Mingyuan. If you suddenly call to meet him, he might not agree and will find you suspicious instead."
Shen Nanchu thought for a moment,
"How about I go? I have a much better excuse to seek him out."
Pei Zhengnian was a bit reluctant.
"You? Will it be dangerous? If Pei Zhengwei finds out, he might target you."
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Shen Nanchu smiled.
"Lei Mingyuan and I are somewhat acquainted."
"He even walked me home before!"
"Bumping into him and having a chat won't raise any suspicions. Plus, I'm a woman. Chatting with him about everyday things won't draw unwanted attention. It's much more convenient than you going."
Pei Zhengnian was still uneasy, but thinking it over, Shen Nanchu was right. His presence would easily arouse suspicion, whereas hers would seem much more natural.
He nodded and reached out to hold her hand.
"Then you must be careful. If you encounter any danger, don't try to brave it out. Protect yourself first."
"I know, don't be so nervous."
Shen Nanchu patted his hand.
Shen Nanchu had the system locate Lei Mingyuan. The system showed he was currently at the Qiuzhi Bookstore near Beijing University, seemingly picking out books.
Perfect.
It was quite close to their home.
Shen Nanchu slipped on her woolen coat, straightened her clothes, and headed out.
As soon as she entered the bookstore, she smelled the faint scent of ink.
Shen Nanchu scanned the room and quickly spotted Lei Mingyuan.
He was holding a copy of History of Ming, standing in the history section, completely engrossed. His brows were slightly furrowed as if he were pondering something.
Shen Nanchu walked over quietly and pretended to pick up a book. "Comrade Lei, what a coincidence. You're here to buy books too?"
Lei Mingyuan turned to see her, looking a bit surprised before offering a polite smile.
"Comrade Shen? Why are you here?"
"I came out to buy some things and get some fresh air. I figured I'd drop by the bookstore to see if there was anything good to read."
Shen Nanchu smiled, pointing at the book in his hand. "You like reading history books too?"
"Yeah, I read them when I have free time. Learning about the past broadens the mind."
Lei Mingyuan felt that Shen Nanchu was acting a bit strange today.
It didn't seem like a simple coincidence.
They exchanged a few pleasantries. Seeing the time was right, Shen Nanchu smoothly shifted the topic, lowering her voice.
"Comrade Lei, I recently heard a very interesting story and wanted to share it with you. If you're not busy, maybe you could have a listen."
Lei Mingyuan nodded. "Go ahead. I'm a bit tired anyway, so listening to a story will help me relax."
"Once upon a time, there was a family with the surname Pei. They were well-off, held a military position, and were highly respected."
Shen Nanchu spoke slowly, her eyes casually drifting toward Lei Mingyuan to gauge his reaction.
"This family hoped for a son for years and finally had one. The whole family treasured him, gave him a name, and prepared the best swaddling clothes. But unexpectedly, at the hospital, he was secretly swapped with the son of another family surnamed Lei."
Lei Mingyuan's body stiffened.
He looked up at Shen Nanchu, his eyes full of confusion and wariness. "Comrade Shen, what do you mean by telling me this story?"
"I don't mean anything by it. I just thought the story was bizarre and wanted to share it with you."
Shen Nanchu smiled, though her words carried an obvious metaphor.
"Think about it. That swapped Pei son grew up in the Lei family, looking nothing like them."
"And the Lei son who was swapped in looked nothing like the Peis. Don't you think that's absurd?"
Lei Mingyuan's breathing suddenly quickened. He gripped his water cup so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
Ever since he was young, he felt he looked nothing like Lei Zhenghua, or anyone in the Lei family for that matter.
When he first met Mother Pei, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as if he had known her for a long time.
He had harbored suspicions for a long time but never dared to dig deeper, afraid he was overthinking things and afraid the truth would be too cruel. Now, with Shen Nanchu pointing it out so bluntly, the doubts buried in his heart for years instantly broke through the soil, growing wildly like weeds.
Shen Nanchu continued, her voice even lower. "Later on! After the swapped Lei son learned the truth, instead of speaking up, he continued to impersonate the Pei family's son."
Lei Mingyuan's lips trembled. He wanted to say something but held back.
He knew Shen Nanchu wasn't telling a story, but stating facts, facts about him and Pei Zhengwei.
He looked at her, his eyes filled with complex emotions: shock, anger, and a trace of bewilderment.
Shen Nanchu saw his struggle and didn't push him. Instead, she took a piece of paper from her pocket. Written on it was the address to a small side door of her courtyard house in the hutong. She handed the note to him.
"This is the address to a side door of my house. Few people use it, so it's quite hidden."
"If you want to know more about the truth, or if you have anything you want to say to me, you can come find me anytime."
"I believe you're a smart man. You know what to do, and you know right from wrong."
Lei Mingyuan took the note, his fingers gripping it tightly, crinkling the edges.
He looked up at Shen Nanchu, his gaze turning a bit more resolute. "Comrade Shen, thank you for telling me all this. I... I will think it over carefully."
"No need to thank me. I just don't want my mother to be sad."
Shen Nanchu slipped her book back onto the shelf.
"I have other things to do, so I'll be going now."
With that, Shen Nanchu turned and left the bookstore, leaving Lei Mingyuan standing alone, clutching the note, his heart in turmoil.
When Shen Nanchu returned home, the sun was setting. The golden afterglow spilled into the courtyard, coating the gray brick and tiles in a warm light.
Pei Zhengnian was in the courtyard giving instructions to the workers for tomorrow. Seeing her return, he hurried over.
"How did it go? Did everything go smoothly? Did you see Lei Mingyuan? Did he say anything?"
"I saw him."
Shen Nanchu took off her coat and handed it to Pei Zhengnian.
"I told him a story, and he should have a pretty good idea by now. I gave him the address. I believe he'll come looking for us soon."
Pei Zhengnian breathed a sigh of relief but then grew worried again. "Will he really come?"
Shen Nanchu was very certain.
"He will."
The Lei family was not a good place to end up.
Lei Mingyuan wasn't a bad person, and he was smart. He would know how to choose.
......