Compared to back then, Liu Hao now sported a mustache, had put on some weight, his hair was slicked back, and his attire was quite refined, giving him a distinguished air.
Before, I was wondering how to test the waters and gauge the depth of the Cao Family's influence.
Didn't this opportunity just present itself?
Liu Hao is a dog of the Cao Family, so this is a good chance to see what the Cao Family has been secretly doing all these years.
Liu Hao pulled the old man aside and said something, then turned and went back into the Cao Family Mansion.
Immediately after, Zhang Shifu came walking over with the old man.
“Mr. Lin, I'm really sorry, this is my old relative; something… very strange happened at his home.” Zhang Shifu introduced him apologetically.
“Uncle, please get in the car first.” I greeted him with a smile.
“I'm sorry to trouble you.” The old man's face was full of apologies, and he kept nodding at me.
Once the two were back in the car, I learned from Zhang Shifu that the old man's surname was Yang. He looked very old with a face full of wrinkles, but he was actually not much older than Zhang Shifu.
“What happened just now?” I asked.
“Sigh, didn't I just mention that a relative's son-in-law works for the Cao Family? That's Yang.” Zhang Shifu sighed.
“Uncle's son-in-law is The person from just now?” I was truly surprised.
“Yes, The person is named Liu Hao, and he is highly valued by the Cao Family. Every time I come to Mei City, Yang asks me to visit Xiuyu at the Liu Family.” Zhang Shifu nodded, then added, “Xiuyu is Yang's daughter.”
“So, Uncle Yang, you came to Mei City this time to see your daughter?” I asked, realizing.
“Yes, but unfortunately I haven't seen her, and the whole thing is quite strange… just thinking about it gives me the chills!”
Zhang Shifu said, patting Uncle Yang on the shoulder, “Yang, tell Mr. Lin the whole story from beginning to end. He is a very capable person, and he might be able to offer you some advice.”
“Alright, alright, alright.” Uncle Yang nodded repeatedly, wiping away old tears, “About three years ago, one evening, my daughter Xiuyu suddenly called home and said she was getting married.”
“My wife and I were quite surprised. Xiuyu was still studying, so how could she suddenly be getting married? We couldn't argue with her, so we could only let her.”
“But ever since she got married, I haven't seen my daughter much. When I call Xiuyu's cell phone, it's often unreachable. Sometimes, when I do manage to get through, she just says a few words hastily and then says she has something to do and hangs up.”
“Later, I asked Zhang Shifu to visit Xiuyu at the Liu Family whenever he came to Mei City.”
“Yes, over the past few years, I've been to the Liu Family dozens of times. I haven't seen Xiuyu many times, perhaps five or six times in total. Each time, I couldn't say more than a few words before Xiuyu said she had something to do and needed to get busy, so I just had to leave the things Yang and his wife sent.” Zhang Shifu nodded.
At this point, he sighed and said, “Xiuyu is a child I watched grow up from a young age; she's a very good child. But ever since she got married, I always feel… a bit estranged.”
I asked Zhang Shifu if he had noticed anything else unusual.
Zhang Shifu thought for a long time, then shook his head and said no.
“Zhang Shifu is right, it's not just you who thinks that. My wife and I also feel the same way. We always feel that ever since Xiuyu married into the Liu Family, she's been different. When she talks to us, she's very distant.” Uncle Yang said worriedly.
“My wife says it might be because Xiuyu married into a prominent family, so she has to follow rules in how she speaks and acts, and can't be like before. But I always feel that something is strange. Xiuyu is my daughter, and I know her character best.”
“That's why I often ask Zhang Shifu to drop by and see Xiuyu, just in case something happens to her.”
Uncle Yang's eyes reddened as he thumped his thigh, “My wife is delirious from illness, she can't eat anything, and she's just thinking about Xiuyu, wanting to see her daughter. I quickly called Xiuyu, thinking this time my daughter would surely come back, right?”
“But the phone was unreachable. I went to the Liu Family several times, but I didn't see Xiuyu. When I asked, they always said she was out on errands. I looked for my son-in-law, but he wasn't there either.”
“I really had no other choice, so I just ran over to the Cao Family Mansion, thinking I'd corner my son-in-law and get a clear answer.”