Volume 1 Chapter 56: Dodging (Please Collect)

  The sun rose high, sunlight seeped through the gap in the curtains and formed a mottled light and shadow on the table. The noisy courtyard gradually quieted down.

  Zhen Niang opened the door lock and walked into the house quietly, taking a peek inside. Huang Li was lying on the kang, sleeping soundly. After hesitating for a moment, Zhen Niang walked over to him, placing the bruise cream and several buns she had just bought on the small table, and carefully pulled the curtains. She turned her head to look at the bruises on Huang Li's face with some concern, let out a soft sigh, picked up the small stool and needlework, and sat down at the door to start working.

  After killing the merchant from Kawasaki, he came straight to the Dajian Temple and secretly opened the door of Zhen Niang's house by climbing over the wall. This was his pre-arranged plan, as he had nowhere else to go. In the middle of the night, carrying two boxes, one containing books, paintings, gold, silver, and confidential documents, it was not safe to come alone, and also easy to arouse suspicion from others.

  Zhen Niang felt unexpected at that time, but she only hesitated for a moment before opening the door. Her heart had unknowingly developed full trust in Huang Li. When she saw that Huang Li's face and body were injured, she became worried to death. If it weren't for Huang Li fearing to disturb others and stopping her, she would have dared to go out at midnight to buy medicine and seek medical attention.

  Huang Li slept until almost noon before waking up, the anesthetic effect completely eliminated, his mind cleared, but the injuries on his body from being kicked and beaten started to ache.

  Zhen Niang had been sitting at the door, doing her needlework and listening to the movements inside. When she heard Huang Li's footsteps coming down, she carried her needlework basket and walked in.

  "Huang Gege, you're awake." Zhen Niang reached out and supported Huang Li's hand.

  "Ah, sorry to trouble you." Huang Li smiled and sat down in the chair, saying: "No need to help me up, it's just a minor injury, nothing serious." As he spoke, he reached into the paper bag and pulled out a bun, opening his mouth to take a bite.

  "Huang, this bun has gone cold, I'll heat it up for you." Zhen Niang hastily stopped him, "If we're talking about trouble, how much have we given you? It's countless. In the future, don't be so polite to outsiders."

  Huang Li smiled without saying a word. It seems that society is the best teacher, and Zhen Niang has become much more cheerful and her words are very timely, this change makes people feel delighted.

  Zhen Niang heated the buns under the stove, then carried a bowl of porridge and walked back into the house. She found Huang Li had already taken off his clothes and was applying medicine to his wound. However, some areas were hard to reach and he was having trouble applying it smoothly.

  "Here I come!" Zhen Niang's face turned red, but her heart ached with worry and overcame her shyness. She took the medicine bottle, gently poured the liquid onto the wound, and used her fingers to lightly apply it evenly. Her movements were gentle, fearing that even the slightest pain would be caused to Huang Li.

  Two people were sometimes very close, and a strand of hair fell from Zhen Niang's forehead onto Huang Li's nose, almost making him sneeze. A faint scent of sweat wafted from the slightly open collar of Zhen Niang's shirt, smelling very good. Huang Li took a deep breath, looking at Zhen Niang's red face, feeling her gentle touch, and couldn't help but curl up the corners of his mouth, smiling: "I'm not made of paper, it doesn't matter if I move carefully, it doesn't hurt at all."

  Zhen Niang was still so careful and asked anxiously: "Who hit you? They were so ruthless, didn't they hurt your bones?"

  Heh heh, that was ruthless. Those guys didn't even have their lives left. Huang Li secretly sneered and calmly said: "A few small-time hooligans, thinking of robbing me? These are just superficial wounds for me, but they're all broken bones and torn tendons."

  Zhen Niang smiled wryly and stopped, Huang Li had already picked up the buns and started eating them in big mouthfuls. She picked up Huang Li's jacket and gently put it on him, then turned around to leave again.

  "Zhen Niang——" Huang Li's mouth was chewing on something, and he vaguely called out.

  Zhen Niang stopped in her tracks and turned around to ask: "Huang Dage, is there something else?"

  Huang Li nodded, swallowed the food in his mouth, and thought for a moment before saying: "Is there a rental house around here? I don't want to stay in a hotel anymore. Living with you isn't good for you either."

  "Is it just a few days, or are you planning to stay for a long time?" Zhen Niang asked after a moment of silence. She was extremely hoping that Huang Li could stay in Beiping, not for anything else, but so she could often see him, and her heart would feel solid and secure.

  Huang Li thought for a moment and smiled: "Renting a house doesn't make sense by the day, besides, the landlord will definitely not agree. Don't worry about money or other things for now, just try to rent a house as soon as possible. If it can be done before tonight, that would be best."

  "Then I'll go ask Uncle He, his children are all over the place pulling carts, they should know more news." Zhen Niang said as she turned around and walked out, casually closing the door behind her.

  Full and contentedly seated in a chair, he thought back on the strange experiences of the day, pondering where he might have left any clues behind and what his next move should be.

  Because it happened suddenly, he was somewhat planned, but it was inevitable that some were lost in detail and some were rough. Firstly, he thought that after the case broke out, the police would definitely tighten their checks at traffic hubs, stations and docks, and it was not wise to make a hasty escape, even risking being shot; secondly, from the confession obtained from Xiao Ye Kou, he believed that all personnel of Kawasaki Shangshe who knew about this matter had been silenced, and no one knew what relationship he had with this case; finally, and most importantly, he deliberately fabricated the robbery scene, and intentionally left behind eyewitnesses, enough to make the police shift their attention to the non-existent scar-faced man.

  After comprehensive analysis, Huang Li thought that the safest measure at this time was to stay in Beiping as if nothing had happened, handle things properly, and make plans after the situation calmed down. Being nervous and flustered would be the most foolish behavior.

  Huang Li thought for a moment, walked around the house, and couldn't help but curl up his mouth. The place was too small, and it was really difficult to find a secret hiding place.

  The door creaked, and Niu Niu bounced in with a big smile on her face, revealing two small white teeth. "Uncle, when did you wake up? I went to school this morning, and you were still snoring away!"

  "Ah, ah, Huang Li smiled and patted the child's head, saying: 'How was school?'"

  "It's really fun." Niu Niu blinked her eyes and said: "There are many people together in class, singing songs, playing games together."

  "Listen carefully and study hard!" Huang Li put on a serious face, saying with emphasis: "With knowledge, you will have a future, do you understand?"

  Niang niang hehe smiled and looked around, "Mom, where did you go? Is dinner ready?"

  "She went to your grandfather's house and will be back soon." Huang Li listened carefully, outside the courtyard seemed to be vendors selling snacks, he took out a dollar and handed it to Niu Niu, "Go outside to buy some food, buy more, your mother hasn't eaten yet!"

  Niu Niu happily agreed and ran out of the kitchen with a big bowl. Although Zhen Niang had some money, she was used to saving and basically didn't buy food outside. Niu Niu, although an obedient child, didn't cry or pester Zhen Niang, but as a little kid, her mouth was always watering.

  …………