Chapter 551 - 551: 551
"Chen Xueru?" Uncle Lin glanced at Ye Qing, his brow furrowed slightly, and he said, "The person you're looking for is her?"
Seeing Uncle Lin's reaction, Ye Qing's heart skipped a beat. It seemed this man did indeed know Chen Xueru. They had found the right person.
"Yes, it's her!" Ye Qing said urgently, "Where is she? Has anything happened to her?"
"Then you're too late!" Uncle Lin shook his head and said, "She has been gone for over twenty years now."
"What?" Ye Qing and Old Wang Ba were immediately stunned. Had Chen Xueru also been lost in that flood? If so, had she had a child back then?
"Was she swept away by that flood too?" Old Wang Ba asked curiously.
"That's not the case…" Uncle Lin shook his head and said, "Ah, the events of those days are somewhat shameful to speak of. To tell you the truth, Chen Xueru was pregnant before marriage, and she had a child with a sent-down youth back then."
"What?" Ye Qing's eyes widened in surprise, while Old Wang Ba became excited and said, "I told you, I just knew it, there had to be a child!"
"How so, you knew them?" Uncle Lin looked at Old Wang Ba with a hint of suspicion.
"Oh, well… not exactly, I was just making a bet with my son…" Old Wang Ba said with an awkward chuckle, "Please, go on, what happened afterward?"
Uncle Lin gave Ye Qing another glance and said, "Later, that sent-down youth went back to the city to become a high-ranking official. She was left alone in the countryside. During that era, to be pregnant before marriage was a grave sin. Her family felt sorry for her, but couldn't keep her at home. They built a thatched cottage for her on the mountain, allowing her to live there. Ah, she was, in a way, blessed by misfortune, for she lived on the mountain, and when the flood came, she was spared."
Old Wang Ba urged, "And… what about the child?"
Uncle Lin sighed and said, "Of course, the child was born. In fact, she was born before the flood. However, after the flood was over, we were all hidden away in a village, locked up for two years, not allowed to see anyone. Chen Xueru was really unlucky; while she was locked up, she was violated by the guards, contracted a serious illness, and could no longer care for her child. Those guards took her child away, and where they went after I do not know. Chen Xueru, missing her child and seriously ill, died in less than two months, dragged out and buried by those guards. Ah, those were dark times indeed, human life was so cheap. That child, she might have passed away long ago!"
Ye Qing's brow furrowed deeply; the tribulations Chen Xueru had endured made him feel very indignant. Those officials and guards who had been involved in this affair really deserved to die. He was determined, no matter what, to thoroughly investigate the past events and secure justice for the restless souls of Erhe Village and for Chen Xueru's innocence!
"Was the child a boy or a girl?" Old Wang Ba asked.
Uncle Lin glanced at Old Wang Ba, seemingly puzzled why he would ask such a question, but replied anyway, "A girl."
"That's right!" Old Wang Ba looked at Ye Qing with triumphant eyes.
Ye Qing pondered for a moment; this confirmed Old Wang Ba's guess – Liu Changping truly had a daughter. But was she still alive? If so, where was she?
Ye Qing asked, "Do you know which day the child was taken away? Also, did she have any distinguishing marks, or was there any token?"
"Marks?" Uncle Lin thought for a moment and said, "Speaking of marks, there actually was one. While we were locked up in that village, to prevent us from escaping, we were put in shackles. Once, when a guard was assaulting Chen Xueru, the shackles accidentally hit the child, leaving a scar on her left shoulder, which should still be there. Also, I remember Chen Xueru saying that the child had a mole on the back of her neck, which could be considered a mark. As for a token, I recall that Chen Xueru once wrote a Blood Letter behind those guards' backs, but I don't know if that Blood Letter still exists."
Ye Qing asked, "Do you know where those guards took the child?"
"Who knows!" Uncle Lin shrugged and said, "It's been over twenty years since that happened, and there aren't many who still remember it. Whether that child was abandoned on the roadside or thrown directly into the sea, no one knows. Considering the turmoil of that time, the child most likely didn't survive!"
Ye Qing felt a chill in his heart. Chen Xueru had suffered so much, and if her daughter had also died, it would be truly unbearable. More crucially, if this daughter had perished, wouldn't Liu Changping have lost his last hope?
Ye Qing asked, "Then do you remember which guard took the child away?"
These words instantly raised Uncle Lin's vigilance. He looked nervously at Ye Qing and said, "What do you want to do? What are you really here for?"
Old Wang Ba replied, "We just want to repay a kindness, that's all!"
"Lies! You're lying!" Uncle Lin stood up, frantically walking towards the house, urgently saying, "I don't know anything, I don't know anything at all, don't ask me anything, I know nothing!"
Uncle Lin shouted and ran back into the house, locking the door from the inside, completely ignoring the calls of Ye Qing and Old Wang Ba.
Ye Qing and Old Wang Ba stood helplessly in front of the door. What was crucial now was finding out about that guard. If they couldn't find any information about him, wouldn't all their efforts have been in vain?
"You two should just let it be," Lin Dade came over to stop them, saying, "Regarding the incident back then, it wasn't easy for my uncle to tell you that much. The guards from that time must now be prominent figures in Xishan City. If you bring up their names and go to seek revenge, it will definitely involve all of us. You two, they are officials, I advise you not to fight against them—you can't win!"
Ye Qing and Old Wang Ba exchanged glances. It was clear that Lin Dade also knew about these guards. So they gave up on questioning Uncle Lin. Ye Qing sighed and walked over to the tricycle, saying, "It seems this is the only option, let's go back to the city for now!"
"Right, let's head back first, finding a place to stay is key!" Old Wang Ba grumbled as he got on the tricycle. They didn't directly ask Lin Dade, fearing he wouldn't answer. So, they planned to return to the city first and slowly figure out how to inquire.
Seeing that they didn't press for answers, Lin Dade was very pleased to take them back to the city, even asking along the way if they wanted to visit the scenic spots in Xishan City.
Ye Qing and Old Wang Ba were not in the mood for sightseeing. They only asked Lin Dade to help them find a place to live, preferably close to Lin Dade's home, so that they could continue to use his tricycle service the next day.
Lin Dade was an honest man who thought Ye Qing and Old Wang Ba just wanted to rent his tricycle and promptly took them to the area where he lived.
"I also rent a room here. The landlord has modified these houses so they can serve as rental rooms or even hotel rooms, and the price is very cheap. If you don't mind, it would be most convenient to stay here, and you can also come to my house for meals. My treat!" Lin Dade, having received five hundred yuan from Ye Qing, clearly became much more generous.
Ye Qing wanted to stay close to Lin Dade to ask more questions, so this suited his wishes perfectly. He followed Lin Dade to where they lived, which was also a part of the impoverished area of Xishan City. The surrounding area was full of old, decrepit houses, dark alleys, and lanes, emitting a mixed stench of trash and sweat. The area was littered with various makeshift stalls selling all kinds of daily necessities—cheap, yet suitable for this place.
Lin Dade weighed out a pound of meat at the butcher's, bought a few vegetables, and mentioned improving their meal for lunch. Passing by a pharmacy, he went in and came out with some gauze and anti-inflammatory drugs.
"Is there someone injured at your home?" Old Wang Ba asked curiously.
"Not at my house," Lin Dade sighed and replied, "It's my next-door neighbor, a single mother with a daughter. Ah, it's a complicated situation. Her husband had an affair with the daughter of a high-ranking official and wants to leave her. He forced her to agree to divorce and even injured her. Now she is alone with her daughter, life is very hard, and her wounds have become infected, but she can't afford medicine. We neighbors help out when we can, it's the least we can do!"
Ye Qing frowned slightly, angered by such a situation. He got out of the car, entered the pharmacy, and bought more medicine for wounds and supplements, giving them to Lin Dade to deliver to the neighbor.
"Mr. Ye, you really are a good person!" Lin Dade thanked him repeatedly, as his daily income wasn't high and he couldn't afford these expensive medicines. The drugs and supplements Ye Qing bought were enough to help the woman heal from her injuries.
Ye Qing didn't respond. Seeing these people, he couldn't help but think of the once Wang Tiezhu. Those living on the fringes of society, though their lives were harder than most, their hearts were often kinder than anyone else's. Just like Lin Dade, who earned at most seventy to eighty yuan a day with so many mouths to feed at home, yet still willing to spend five yuan to buy medicine and gauze to help others. He was the true definition of a good Samaritan!
Riding the tricycle back to the alley, Lin Dade was immediately surrounded by three kids, his own. Encircled by his three children, he smiled and handed out some candy from his pocket, and the children started cheering in excitement; the simplest of gifts brought them immense joy!
"Why did you buy candy again?" A woman came out of the house, scolding Lin Dade while smiling, shooing the three children away. Noticing the meat Lin Dade was carrying, she exclaimed in surprise, "Are you crazy? It's not a holiday or festival, why did you buy meat? Don't we have to live through the rest of our days?"
"What are you talking about, don't talk nonsense," Lin Dade hurriedly waved his hand and said, "Today we have guests at home. Hurry up and take the vegetables to the kitchen, and tidy up the house a bit."
Only then did the woman notice Ye Qing and Old Wang Ba standing there, immediately looking somewhat embarrassed and uneasy. She wiped her hands on her apron and smiled, saying, "You're here, please, come in and sit."