Chapter 3: Finding the Evidence

Su Yao chatted with Aunt Li for a while before returning. Zhang Ming and the others still hadn’t come back. Su Yao entered Wang Qiuxia’s room and rummaged through the cabinet and boxes. Apart from the household registration book, several "Great Unity" bonds, and some grain and cloth ration coupons, there was nothing else.

Su Yao stood in the middle of the room, recalling how in novels people of this era often hid things in secret compartments or wall cavities. She began tapping around the room.

Sure enough, beneath the bed, she found a loose brick. Pry it up, she discovered a shallow pit containing a tin box.

She took out the tin box and opened it. Inside lay a thick stack of "Great Unity" bonds, probably worth five or six thousand, the property ownership certificate of the house bearing the original owner’s name, a notebook, and several letters.

The letters were hidden at the bottom. When Su Yao read them, she wished she could kill Wang Qiuxia and Zhang Ming on the spot.

The letter in her hand was less a letter and more evidence of mutual blackmail between the two. It detailed how they had an affair, when Zhang Yuetong was born, how the parents discovered their treachery, and their plan to eliminate the elders. Both had signed and sealed the document.

Suppressing her fury, Su Yao opened the other two letters. Their contents enraged her even more—she learned that the original owner’s father had been killed through a conspiracy between Zhang Ming, Wang Qiuxia, and undercover agents.

The agents had approached Zhang Ming to murder Su Yuanrong, the original owner’s father. Zhang Ming, timid, refused to act himself and instead conspired with Wang Qiuxia to lure Su Yuanrong out, allowing the agents to carry out the deed.

Su Yao endured her anger and put the letters into her spatial pocket. She then opened the notebook, which recorded all the expenses the original owner had incurred since childhood. The handwriting was unmistakably Wang Qiuxia’s. Could she be planning to make her repay all this money? It was laughable.

Su Yao stored the bonds, notebook, and property certificate into her space, returned the empty tin box to the pit, laid the brick back, and made it appear as if nothing had happened.

As for the letters, she planned to hand them to her father’s former direct superior, Uncle Zhao, the next day. He still supported the original owner, though she had never seen any of the food or money he sent.

Leaving Wang Qiuxia’s room, Su Yao entered Zhang Yuetong’s room and fell asleep instantly after lying down.

Since this family arrived, she had been sleeping in the storage room—a makeshift bed of two stools and a wooden plank. The quilt had become a hardened lump, and the cold winter nights were unbearable.

After a night passed and the family still hadn’t returned, Su Yao didn’t bother to inquire about them. She grabbed some soy milk and a meat bun from her space to hastily finish breakfast.

With her backpack, she stepped out and, following her memory, found Uncle Zhao’s house. It was still early, before working hours.

Feeling awkward to knock, Su Yao simply waited by the door.

Zhao Yunliang pushed his cart out and saw Su Yao squatting by the door. “Yao Yao?”

Su Yao, who had the original owner’s memories and therefore recognized Zhao Yunliang, greeted, “Uncle Zhao.”

“Yao Yao, why are you here? Why didn’t you knock? Come, come inside with Uncle.”

Zhao Yunliang parked his cart and led Su Yao inside.

Ding Caixia, preparing to go out, saw Zhao Yunliang return and asked, “What happened? Did you forget something?”

“No, Yao Yao came by. The child didn’t knock but waited outside the whole time.”

Ding Caixia glanced behind Zhao Yunliang and indeed saw a small, slender figure. She hurried forward and pulled her inside. “Next time, just knock and come in. Your hands are cold.”

“It’s nothing, Aunt. I have urgent matters to discuss with Uncle Zhao.” Tears welled up as she spoke, her chest aching painfully.

Su Yao clutched her chest and tried to steady herself. The original owner’s emotions must still be influencing her.

Ding Caixia sat Su Yao down and brought her water and food. Zhao Yunliang sat nearby and asked, “Yao Yao, what urgent matter do you have? Tell Uncle. I’ll help as much as I can.”

Pretending to take out the letters from her bag, Su Yao handed them over. “Uncle, you must help me.”

Zhao Yunliang read the letters. After the first, he stood in shock, and by the end, he slammed the table in anger. “How outrageous! How could Wang Qiuxia do such a thing? And Zhang Ming, I thought he was a good man—turns out he’s a traitor.”

After cursing, he looked at Su Yao. “You’ve suffered these years. I suppose my gifts to you never truly reached you.”

Su Yao nodded.

“Yao Yao, your father’s matter is serious. It won’t be resolved quickly. But the affair between Wang Qiuxia and Zhang Ming can be dealt with promptly. If we handle Wang Qiuxia, what will you do afterward?” Zhao Yunliang asked.

“Zhang Ming registered me for rural labor service. I have to leave in four or five days,” Su Yao replied.

“That Zhang Ming is worthless! If not for them, you wouldn’t have to go away.” Zhao Yunliang hit the table again in frustration.

“Uncle Zhao, it’s alright. Honestly, leaving here is good. I can start anew. Besides, my name is already registered; I can’t change it now.”

“Sigh, Zhang Ming deserves to die. I’ll ask around about your labor placement. If it’s no good, I’ll get you a better one. I have some influence.”

“Thank you, Uncle. Also, there’s another favor I need.”

“Go ahead.”

“The house I live in was left to me by my father. I want you to see if anyone is interested in buying it. I want to sell it.”

“Sell the house? Won’t you want to keep it in case you come back?”

“I don’t know when I’ll return. Even if I do, who knows whose it’ll be. Better to sell it.”

Ding Caixia, listening nearby, was tempted. She pulled Zhao Yunliang aside to silence him and said, “Yao Yao, are you serious about selling the house?”

Su Yao nodded.

“In that case, why don’t you sell it to us? Our three sons are about to start families and we’re worried about housing. If you’re willing, we’ll buy it.”

“Of course I’m willing. Uncle Zhao has supported me all these years. I’m glad to help you.”

Su Yao took the property certificate from her bag. “I secretly took this out with me. Aunt, if you have time, we can transfer the ownership now. But living here will have to wait until Wang Qiuxia and Zhang Ming are dealt with.”

“We do have time. As for living, we’ll settle things with Wang Qiuxia and Zhang Ming first.” Ding Caixia nodded repeatedly upon seeing the certificate.

Afterward, Zhao Yunliang took the letters to handle the matter, while Su Yao and Ding Caixia went to process the ownership transfer. Regarding the price, Ding Caixia wanted to pay more, but Su Yao declined, accepting only the current market value.

The couple had helped the original owner greatly. Although the money and food had never directly reached her, their goodwill was evident.