Chapter 75: Begging for Mercy

Li Zhuiyuan looked at Xue Liangliang and blinked.

Xue Liangliang waved his hand a bit sheepishly. “I never said I was innocent. But either way, I only smashed the idol for the sake of the construction schedule, not for personal gain. Engineer Luo already explained it all to that Bai Family Matron.”

“Liangliang-ge, actually, there’s one more important thing.”

“What is it, Xiaoyuan? Say it.”

“Sister Ying’er was able to recite what was written on that plaque. That means, at the very least, she must’ve seen a handwritten copy.

But how could two elderly folks, in just the short time after the coffin was opened, not only read and understand the text, but also memorize it word for word, and dictate it to someone to transcribe?”

“You mean…”

“Yeah. Those two must’ve gotten their hands on something. At the very least, that wood carving—it’s in their house.”

Xue Liangliang nodded heavily after hearing that, then scrutinized Li Zhuiyuan. “Xiaoyuan, are you really just a primary school student?”

“Actually, I’m a college student from the shores of Weiming Lake.”

“Hehehe… cough!” Xue Liangliang burst into laughter, then coughed. He reached out and patted Li Zhuiyuan on the back. “Good. It’s impressive you have that kind of ambition!”

Li Zhuiyuan just smiled.

“But Xiaoyuan, have you heard of the Bai Family Matron?”

“Liangliang-ge, I’ve spent even less time in Nantong than you.”

“Ah, fair enough. I’ll head to the city’s historical archive and see if there’s anything about her in the local records.”

“Liangliang-ge, you’re in the clear now. Why are you so invested in all this? Is it… for your classmate?”

“Uh, shouldn’t I be?”

“I thought you didn’t like him.”

“What does liking him have to do with it? Everyone chooses their own path in life. I can only follow my own judgment. In the end, only history can decide who was right or wrong.

Alright, the doctors should be on duty by now. I’ll go get the report. If everything looks good, I won’t come back. I’ll head straight to the historical archive.

You live in Shinan’s Siyuan Village, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Where should I get off the bus? Since your great-grandpa’s here, I won’t see you back. I’ll come find you tonight.”

“Get off two stops past Shijiaqiao, then walk in and ask around for Li Sanjiang’s place.”

“Sure they’ll know?”

“Yeah. Great-Grandpa’s pretty well-known in the village.”

“Alright. If there are no buses tonight, I’ll grab a cab.”

Li Zhuiyuan asked curiously, “Liangliang-ge?”

“What’s up? Something else?”

“You seem… pretty well off.”

He said he was from a rural part of Anhui, but his clothes and habits didn’t seem constrained at all.

“Oh, I run two campus convenience stores and a stationery shop. Also pulled together a team of classmates—we take on design projects from professors or outside clients.

Big cities and universities have way more opportunities. It’s much easier to make money than back home. I still send money to my parents every month.

Honestly, I could’ve skipped this internship, but I didn’t want to miss the chance for hands-on experience.”

“Liangliang-ge, you’re amazing.”

“You too, smart little guy.” Xue Liangliang bumped his forehead gently against Li Zhuiyuan’s. When he saw Li Sanjiang and the others return, he got up and left.

“Great-Grandpa.”

“That college kid—he left?”

“Went to see his classmate.”

“Hmm.” Li Sanjiang nodded. “Let’s go.”

“Where are we going, Great-Grandpa?”

“To pick something up.”

Ying’er and Third Aunt stayed at the hospital to handle the follow-up. Uncle Zhou Hai and Aunt Chen Xiaoling took Li Sanjiang and Li Zhuiyuan home, grabbing a moto-taxi waiting outside the hospital to save time.

It was a spacious country house, facing an artificial canal, with the river visible to the south.

Inside, Chen Xiaoling poured water while Zhou Hai pulled out a cloth bundle and opened it. Inside were a hairpin and a wood carving.

Li Sanjiang picked up the carving, frowned as he read the inscription.

Li Zhuiyuan leaned in and read it aloud.

Exactly as Ying’er had recited it.

“Fools… what fools…” Li Sanjiang set the carving down and slapped his thigh. “Life’s not that hard now, is it? You’ve got food and drink—how could you be so blinded by greed?”

Thud! Thud!

With no hospital decorum to hold them back, Zhou Hai and Chen Xiaoling dropped to their knees before Li Sanjiang, nearly kowtowing as they begged him to save them.

They’d started having the same dreams too.

After witnessing what happened to the old couple, they were terrified to the brink of collapse.

“Let’s go. To the farm. You remember where the bones were buried?”

“Yes, yes.” Zhou Hai nodded immediately. “We dug the hole ourselves.”

“Heh.” Li Sanjiang gave a cold laugh.

The farm wasn’t far. Just a fifteen-minute walk along the river from the village.

It was a small operation. Besides the owner, only Zhou Hai’s parents worked there.

So in their earlier story, they’d glossed over their involvement, hiding the truth from both Third Aunt and Ying’er, and from Li Sanjiang.

“Dig,” said Li Sanjiang.

“Shouldn’t we wait till night?” Zhou Hai asked.

It was broad daylight. Few people passed by, but still, there was risk.

Li Sanjiang nodded. “Then I’ll go nap in the village. You dig the bones up tonight.”

“No, no, that won’t work. Sir, I’m scared—I don’t dare.”

“So you do know fear!” Li Sanjiang practically roared. “If you don’t dig in daylight, when are you gonna dig? Gonna wait till night to stir up more trouble?”

“Okay, okay—we’ll dig, we’ll dig!”

Zhou Hai and Chen Xiaoling each grabbed a shovel and started digging.

As they worked, Li Sanjiang asked, “That boss went missing. Did you report it?”

“No.” Zhou Hai shoveled a load of dirt aside. “We were greedy. Didn’t dare report it. Thought we’d get exposed, and have to give the stuff up.”

“What about his family?”

“He’s from the south. Came alone to lease the farm. Didn’t bring anyone.”

Suddenly, Li Sanjiang asked in a low voice, “You didn’t kill him and take his share, did you?”

Zhou Hai choked out, “Sir, I could never… I’d never do something like that!”

Chen Xiaoling nodded frantically. “We wouldn’t dare kill anyone. Wouldn’t dare.”

“Hmm.” Li Sanjiang didn’t press further. He didn’t believe they’d go that far. Instead, he got up and quietly began preparing his altar.

Li Zhuiyuan helped from the side.

Soon, they dug up the coffin.

Li Sanjiang glanced inside and let out a breath of relief. It had been buried shut. Inside, the skeleton was intact—undisturbed.

A small mercy, all things considered.

Li Zhuiyuan peered in. The remains were indeed those of a young girl.

Li Sanjiang performed the rite, then burned the paper offerings.

After the process was complete, he asked, “The other items—especially the bottle. Where are they?”

“The boss took them.”

“Where did he live?”

“He stayed at the farm. That room over there. After he vanished, we searched it. But we couldn’t find anything. No sign of that bottle either.”

Li Sanjiang’s brows furrowed. His plan had been simple: return all the items, perform another offering, reseal the coffin and sink it in the river.

The inscription had spelled it out clearly. Two, maybe three lives were already lost—blood had been paid. That should have placated the grudge.

But only if everything was returned. Trinkets could be lost, fine. But not that bottle with the talisman seal.

The words on the carving had been clear: it was that corpse’s anchor against the evil presence.

Li Zhuiyuan asked, “Uncle, Auntie—did the boss have any connections here?”

Li Sanjiang perked up. “Right, right—did he know anyone else? I’ve heard southern bosses like to keep mistresses.”

Chen Xiaoling shook her head. “Not that we heard.”

Zhou Hai scratched his head. “Maybe a couple. One’s a widow in Jiuwei Port. The other’s a woman at a karaoke bar in the city.”

“Can you find them?” asked Li Sanjiang.

Zhou Hai shook his head. “I only heard my parents talk about them over meals. I don’t know where they live. Can’t find them.”

Li Sanjiang pulled out a cigarette pack, flicked one out for Zhou Hai.

“Call the police. Let them track it down.”

“What?”

“What?”

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