N-A-A Chapter 694 Xiao Dang's Plan
Chapter 694 Xiao Dang's Plan
Watching Xiao Dang's figure disappear at the teahouse entrance, her faded blue cloth shirt, like a willow leaf, quickly blended into the bustling crowd on the street, gradually being obscured by peddlers carrying loads and passersby on bicycles. The man picked up the tea on the table, which had long since gone cold, and took a big gulp. His Adam's apple bobbed as he lowered his voice and asked, "This girl looks no more than thirteen or fourteen, barely grown up, yet she speaks so fluently, always talking about 'rules.' Do you think she's reliable? Could it be a trap set by some mountain stronghold to swindle our money?" He ran his fingers along the edge of the table, his brows furrowed—he had kept this trip a secret from his relatives and friends; if he were to fail, he wouldn't even have the face to go back.
The woman carefully tucked the photo into her bosom, pressing it against her chest, leaving a small square mark on her coarse cloth jacket. She gently stroked the mark with her fingertips, her eyes flickering like shards of glass submerged in water, concealing an indescribable mix of anticipation and trepidation: "Whether she's reliable or not, I'll see what happens when I see the child in three days."
She paused, lowered her voice even further, and said with a hint of ruthlessness, "If it's a healthy and clever boy, with features as regular as in the photo, it's worth spending more money. Have you forgotten how Erzhu's wife in the village laughed at me? Have you forgotten what your mother said when she smashed her chopsticks last New Year? We've been hoping for a child for so many years, from twenty-five to thirty-five, we've accumulated mountains of medicine residue, and now that we finally have this opportunity, we can't let it slip away like this."
The man's Adam's apple bobbed again, but he remained silent. His pipe tapped against the corner of the table, sparks flying before quickly going out. Yes, they had long since exhausted all other options in their quest for a son. Back in their village, not having a son was like having a broken bone in your back; you'd be the subject of gossip wherever you went. They had specifically traveled to this other town to handle this matter, precisely because they feared being seen by acquaintances, which would haunt them for the rest of their lives.
He looked up at the window, but Xiao Dang was nowhere to be seen. The sounds of hawking and bicycle bells mingled together in the street, creating a noisy din. He took a deep breath and put his pipe back in his mouth: "Alright, we'll do it your way. Come back in three days, and if... if there's really someone suitable, we'll finalize things."
The woman didn't reply, but simply pressed the photo in her arms again, as if trying to etch that small figure into her heart. Sunlight streamed through the teahouse window, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow on her face, half hopeful, half an indescribable bitterness.
Xiao Dang's steps were extremely light, like a startled cat, tiptoeing on the bluestone path, even her breathing deliberately slowed down. She didn't head directly towards the courtyard house, but instead meandered through the crisscrossing alleys, deliberately choosing narrow side paths that could only allow one person to pass at a time. She would stop every few steps, pretending to tie her shoelaces, her fingers rubbing against the shoe surface, while her eyes quickly glanced back to make sure no suspicious figures were following her—a stray cat by the wall, a swaying drunkard, even the hem of her clothes fluttering in the wind could make her heart skip a beat.
The journey was exceptionally long, filled with countless detours and worn-out shoes. Only when the sky was completely tinged with darkness, and even the last rays of sunset had faded, did she dare to shuffle slowly, step by step, along the wall towards home. She had to ensure no one was following her; this was the first and most important lesson her master had taught her. The risk of being followed was like a gleaming sword hanging over her head; a single misstep could give a hidden adversary leverage, or even lead to her complete disappearance like the stray dog that vanished at the end of the alley.
By the time Xiao Dang finally stepped into the courtyard, the night was already thick and impenetrable. The streetlights in the courtyard cast a dim, yellowish light, casting the shadows of the trees on the ground like distorted nets. A fire burned within her, an irrepressible excitement rising within her—if she could just get through this step, her brother Jia Cai, who only knew how to cry, steal locust flower rations, and betray his family, would finally become real money. The thought that Qin Huairu would no longer have to buy saccharin for Jia Cai on credit, and that she could finally wear a patchless jacket, made her steps lighter. Even as she passed the screen wall, she couldn't resist touching its cool brick surface.
As she entered the courtyard, she bumped into He Feng, who had just finished his shift. He Feng was wearing a crisp police uniform, his hat pulled low, obscuring most of his face. He was walking home with his head down. The two exchanged glances but didn't speak. Xiao Dang's heart skipped a beat, and she felt inexplicably flustered. Her limbs stiffened—what she did was something shameful, and she always felt that people in police uniforms could see right through her, could see the sticky substance hidden in her bag. Before He Feng could speak, she hurried past him, head down, like a piece of paper fluttering in the wind, her skirt brushing against the weeds in the corner, creating a soft, rustling sound.
He Feng watched her hurried retreating figure, raised an eyebrow, but didn't take it to heart. His family and the Jia family weren't particularly close; they'd only nod to each other when they met. Xiao Dang was naturally withdrawn and quiet, so it was normal for her to run fast. He shook his head, turned, and went inside. The door hinges creaked open, shutting out the night—he had arranged to go fishing at the moat with Ma Xin tomorrow. Although it was just a casual joke made during their last drinking session, it was still a rare opportunity to relax, and he needed to get some rest and be well-rested.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking and the window paper was beginning to lighten, Xiao Dang hurriedly changed her clothes, grabbed a cold steamed bun, stuffed it into her mouth, and swallowed it whole, her eyes fixed on the window, as if she were about to rush out. She had to create a perfect alibi for herself; she couldn't let the people in the courtyard suspect her. Otherwise, all the groundwork she had laid recently—telling Uncle San that "Jia Cai always steals money" and complaining to Qin Huairu that "my brother eats too much"—would be for nothing.
"What are you rushing off to?" Qin Huairu, wearing a blue apron and busy at the stove, paused her spatula when she saw her like this and asked casually. The cornmeal porridge in the pot was steaming and bubbling, its aroma mixed with the smell of cooking food filling the room, making everyone's stomach rumble.
Xiao Dang had already prepared his story. He squeezed out a perfectly measured amount of excitement, his eyes sparkling: "Mom, you don't know, my master told me yesterday that there's a big job today—embroidering a door curtain for Boss Zhang's family in the alley in front. He said it has to be a dragon and phoenix design. If it works out, we can earn a lot of money! Enough for our family to buy two bags of flour and eat for several days."
Qin Huairu wanted to tell her to come back early and not to associate with shady people outside, but when she heard "you can earn a lot of money," she swallowed the words back. The family's grain jar was almost empty, and they still hadn't figured out how to pay for Huaihua's school fees. Any extra income was always good. She stirred the porridge with a spatula and nodded: "Okay, then be careful on the road, don't play around, and come back early. I'm off today, nothing's going on at home, waiting for your good news."