How could I possibly be confined in a cage?

Chapter 147 Searching for Relatives

Lu Peijun immediately called the school and personally visited the principal to explain the previous suspension of study, and finally settled the matter of Yanru's return to school.

"Are you relieved now?"

Yan Ru nodded, a sweet smile spreading across her face. Things were finally settled, and things were back on track.

"Then where are we going now?"

Yan Ru looked at the scene before her; it didn't seem like the street she was going home to.

"Go find the person."

"Looking for someone?"

"Yes, Lao Hei's family. Now that Lao Hei is a member of our family, we naturally have the obligation to help him find his family."

Yan Ru nodded, agreeing. The Lü family had always been tolerant of their subordinates. The Hua family had stayed with them for so long, and now that they were sending them home, they were giving them a very generous reward.

Yanru rarely leaves the courtyard, let alone comes to the south of the city to play. Although several of her classmates live here, she rarely comes by herself, so she finds it all very novel and looks at the scenery outside the car window the whole way.

Since Lü Peijun brought back some money from the mountain tombs, the family's life has gradually become more comfortable. They even asked Guo Zixing to help them get a car, which makes it much more convenient for them to travel.

The east is rich and the west is noble, while the south is poor and the north is lowly. Naturally, those living in the south of the city were not wealthy, and the roads there were not very smooth.

It was spring plowing season, and many people who had land outside the city had already gone out to work, while those who didn't had gone out to find jobs. So those still at home were mostly the elderly, women, and children.

There hadn't been anything new for a while when a car suddenly arrived, and everyone, openly or secretly, craned their necks to peer out.

The car couldn't go any further at the alley entrance, so Yanru and Lü's father got out and looked around.

Why didn't Lao Hei come by himself?

"He had his own things to do, and he was only inquiring about the whereabouts of Lao Hei's relatives, without mentioning a word about Lao Hei himself."

"Mmm," Yan Ru replied obediently.

During her time at the Lü family's residence, Yanru's previous weak and innocent demeanor had faded considerably. She ate well and slept soundly at home, no longer worried about her safety, and was pampered by her father and sister; her overall temperament had become even more delicate.

Today, Yanru wore a loose-fitting pale yellow cheongsam with a matching wool coat and a wide-brimmed hat. She looked as beautiful as a movie star in a magazine. Even without makeup, she stood out in the crowd.

This was already Yan Ru's most ordinary attire, yet she was still incredibly eye-catching. Fortunately, with her father-in-law by her side, she wasn't afraid of any lecherous rogues.

"What are you doing?"

The plump auntie was carrying clothes she had just washed in the river when she saw a car blocking the alley entrance. Luckily, the people hadn't gone far, so she asked what was wrong.

Lu Peijun and Yan Ru turned around and politely asked, "Hello, are we here to look for someone?"

"Looking for someone? Looking for someone again?" The plump auntie asked suspiciously as she ushered the man into her house. "Come in and talk. The men aren't home right now."

The plump auntie was carrying a large wooden basin and hurried home. Yanru quickly followed her.

The plump auntie talked as she worked briskly. "Your daughter is so pretty," she said sincerely. She only had three sons, and she adored other people's daughters, especially such a beautiful one.

Yan Ru lowered her head shyly, and Lü Peijun stepped forward and asked, "Big sister, we are also from Sifang City. We came here on someone's behalf to see if there is a person named Xin Laohei who used to live here."

The plump woman asked in surprise, "Why are you looking for Xin Laohei too?"

Lu Peijun frowned and asked, "Is there anyone else looking for him?"

"Hey, look at my mouth. A young scholar came to see Xin Laohei before the New Year, saying he was his uncle and had drunk water here."

"Oh? What about that young man?" Lü Peijun said, taking out a silver dollar. "Don't worry, as long as what you said is true, I will give you a reward."

The plump woman quickly declined, saying, "What are you doing? I'm not after money. It's just a matter of a few words."

The plump woman was still pushing the cart when suddenly a hand reached out from where she was leaning and swiftly snatched the money.

“Ask me, I know.” The woman who spoke was very thin. It was early spring, and she was wearing a loose, unfitting cotton robe. Her hair was greasy and stuck to her head; you could smell the grease even without getting close.

Lu Peijun withdrew her hand without showing any emotion, but inwardly she felt quite disgusted.

The plump auntie, hands on her hips, cursed, "You locust rat spirit, you're out here cheating people again! Last time, that young man was starving to death, and you still had the nerve to rob him. This time, seeing that this gentleman has money, you just went up and robbed him. Won't you freeze to death in the winter?"

The woman shrank behind Lü Peijun, tilting her body to the side, and said in a pinched voice, "Sir, she's even swearing."

This behavior was disgusting, and Yan Ru was extremely displeased. She pushed Mr. Lü into the fat aunt's house and prevented the woman from having any contact with him.

"Auntie is just a bit outspoken, she didn't curse at all. You've already taken the silver dollar, so tell me, where is that guy who came looking for Xin Laohei?"

The woman was a little disappointed that she didn't get a chance to get close to Lü Peijun. When she saw that the person she was talking to was Yan Ru, she rolled her eyes in jealousy.

"Of course it's with Xin Laohei."

Yan Ru was so angry she laughed. "You're so unreasonable! You robbed me first and then cheated me. I could arrest you and send you straight to the police station."

"You think you can just give it away like that? I know the warden, though."

"So what if he knows you? Does he even know you? If you're smart enough to return the money, I might be magnanimous and let it go. But if you're not, my servants are right there at the alley entrance; they can just drag you in."

The woman shrank back slightly, this time genuinely frightened.

But asking her to repay the money was like asking for her life, so she could only force a smile and say, "Hehe, I was just joking with you, miss. Actually, that young man is at the warden's house. I'm not lying to you."

Yan Ru's gaze remained unchanged; she simply smiled at the woman and said, "Is that so? Whether this message is true or false, I'm not buying it."

"You, I already told you, this money is naturally mine."

"But this money is for the auntie; the money for the message is separate."

The woman thought for a moment, and seeing that Yan Ru and her father were dressed in extraordinary attire, she hesitated and asked, "Are you serious?"

"a man of his words."

The woman then handed the money to Yan Ru, saying, "You really have to give it to me, or I won't let you leave this courtyard."

Yan Ru took the silver dollar, her face turned cold, and she slapped the woman across the face.

"I'll give you a slap."

Everyone was stunned, never expecting that the seemingly gentle and weak Yan Ru could be so direct and efficient.

The woman covered her face and said, "You...you're lying!"

"You're not even human." Yan Ru could be cold to Master Song, let alone an ignorant woman. "If you keep pestering me, I can't guarantee what will fall on your face."

The woman finally ran away crying. Yan Ru's imposing presence made her dare not act recklessly. Petty theft was one thing, but she knew the consequences of offending someone powerful.

Lu Peijun looked at Yan Ru with satisfaction. Recently, he had finally managed to cultivate Yan Ru's temperament.

The plump aunt looked at Yanru with increasing satisfaction, as if she were her own daughter. She had always disliked the woman across the street, and now that Yanru had taught her a lesson, perhaps she would behave herself for a while.

At that moment, Lü Peijun bowed again and asked, "Elder sister, is it true that Xin Laohei's nephew has come looking for him?"

"Yes, he was a handsome young man, a scholar. He came looking pitiful, almost starving. And then..." The plump aunt hesitated, unsure whether to continue. It's never good to talk about someone behind their back.

"Do you still have any concerns?"

"Oh, what's the big deal? It's just that people talk badly about others behind their backs. After Xin Laohei died, the courtyard was sold to Cheng Ping, who is also the warden. He left a room for that kid, and he settled down there."

Lu Peijun kept these thoughts in mind, wondering, "Can we still find him now?"

"That's probably unlikely. That kid is quite... quite self-reliant. He doesn't want to be a freeloader at other people's houses, so he goes out to work and earn money from time to time. I haven't seen him come back for several days."

What's the child's name?

"His name is Wu Fu. If you ask me, this name is bad. He has no good fortune. His family members are all gone, not even his uncle."

"Okay, thank you very much." Upon receiving the news, Lü Peijun immediately took his leave, taking ten silver dollars with him before departing.

The plump woman firmly refused, saying, "You... I don't want money. I'm not that kind of person."

Lu Peijun smiled and said, "Please accept it. I have something to ask of you. Since you know that child, when he comes back, could you secretly bring him to my residence?"

"No, no, you don't need to spend that money. It's just a small matter."

Yanru advised, "Auntie, please accept it. Otherwise, my father will not feel at ease. Besides, I see that your family has a lot of people. Taking it to buy some food is a way of showing that we have met."

There were several pairs of straw sandals placed in front of the aunt's house, which was obviously a family with many men, and their food supply was probably quite tight.

Only then did the plump woman reluctantly accept the money, saying, "I only did it for my daughter's sake."

"Yes, thank you very much."

The father and daughter gave the fat aunt their address and names, and then went home.