The uncle's furious expression really bewildered Chen Xiao.
When did he ever behave dishonorably?
One hundred yuan a pack cigarettes, lighting one after another as if they were nothing.
And he says he was deceiving people?
When did Chen Xiao ever cheat anyone...?
Just as the thought arose, Chen Xiao's mind suddenly paused.
Sothing's wrong.
How did he realize he was cheated?
If he knew he was cheated, does that an he found out sothing?
Chen Xiao's eyes lit up with surprise, and he asked, "Uncle, do you rember who Wan De is now?"
"Of course, I made lots of phone calls asking my friends, and they all told
there wasn't anyone nad Wan De around here doing so well!"
"And then?" Chen Xiao pressed further.
The uncle sneered, "A very close friend told
that Wan De was on the sa bus with her ready to leave, but just before the bus was about to depart, Wan De got off! She also said she never saw Wan De again after that!"
"So I can assure you, there's no such big shot outside. And you, lying about fellow Dongzhou folks visiting, freeloading, and taking things. Young man, you're too young to be so deceitful!"
Chen Xiao didn't understand why the uncle was so angry.
Maybe it's because the uncle is just fond of such things.
Or perhaps he loves getting freebies, and not snagging that freebie makes him quite uncomfortable.
Regardless of his reason, Chen Xiao pulled the pack of cigarettes from Old Chen's pocket and put it back in the uncle's hand, saying:
"Uncle, these cigarettes are for you. Can you bring your friend over? I have so questions to ask. If we get the information we need, one pack per person and a bottle of good wine. How about it?"
The uncle stared at the cigarettes, eyes wide with surprise: "Really?"
"Really as real as can be."
"Can I cash it out instead? Turn it into money, then I can forget fishing for a bit!"
Chen Xiao paused, then smiled wryly, "Alright, all cash for you."
"Alright then, I'll go find her now. Do you guys want to wait here, or should I go to an address later on?"
Chen Xiao glanced at the sky and replied, "Bring her to my place later, ask for Chen Lie's place when you get to Songshanping."
"Alright, I'm on my way."
The fishing uncle left in a hurry to find his friend without even taking his fishing rod.
When Chen Xiao looked back at Old Chen, Old Chen stood there, dumbfounded.
Even Lin Xi looked pensive.
Chen Xiao knew they were thinking about the words "Wan De got off" ntioned by the fishing uncle.
"Dad, don't overthink for now. I'll ask thoroughly when they co." Chen Xiao understood the turmoil in Old Chen's heart at this mont.
But as always.
Until the truth is uncovered, all speculations remain just speculations.
Lin Xi nodded in agreent, "Yeah, Dad, perhaps we'll understand when they co."
"Alright, let's head ho."
Old Chen didn't waste words, packed up the fishing gear, and went ho.
On the way, Lin Xi asked Chen Xiao, "I saw you talked with the uncle for quite a while earlier, why did it take so long for him to rember?"
"Initially, he didn't know Uncle Wan De at all, but I concocted a story based on his preferences. The story was ant to deepen his impression, like testing the waters. After all, from his descriptions, he seed familiar with several people who sought fortune back then."
"However, the outco exceeded my expectations. With a lie, I actually found soone who t Uncle Wan De!"
The two talked all the way back ho.
At ho, Old Chen appeared very anxious but acted surprisingly excited.
He found Mom and urged, "Prepare so dishes, make so appetizers for drinking, we have guests tonight."
Mom was puzzled, "Why? Are you two going to drink heavily tonight?"
"I told you, we have guests, and the guests know Ah De!"
"Ah!" Mom couldn't help exclaiming.
"Don't 'ah'. I'll help you prepare."
"You look like you're in a panic. As long as you don't disrupt , that'll be enough. Just relax and calm down, I can handle it myself!"
Mom hurried to the kitchen, and seeing this, Lin Xi naturally followed without hesitation.
Chen Xiao observed Old Chen's restlessness and didn't say anything further to comfort him.
At this mont, no amount of words would make a difference.
After all, Old Chen was his father, and he understood him too well.
Often, it's the honest and simple ones like Old Chen who worry most about their concerns.
Inside, he is either as calm as a still well.
Or as tumultuous as the ocean.
Ti ticked by, and by the ti the sun set in the west, the fishing uncle finally arrived with soone.
The person was around forty, with a good deanor and appearance, but Chen Xiao didn't expect it to be a woman.
Old Chen was the quickest to react. As soon as he saw Zhang Zhuang, the fishing uncle, enter, he imdiately went up to greet him: "Brother Old Zhang, is this your friend?"
Zhang Zhuang nodded, and Chen Xiao quickly interjected, "Dad, go to the room and get the wine first, I'll entertain Uncle Zhang and them."
Old Chen understood and went to the room.
Chen Xiao invited both of them into the house. After they sat down, Zhang Zhuang introduced his friend.
The woman's na contained the character Yan, so many people called her Sister Yan.
From Zhang Zhuang's description, Sister Yan was sothing of a legendary figure to them.
From those words, Chen Xiao picked up on the fact that she was a female hero benefiting the community.
But that wasn't related to Chen Xiao. Once the food was served, Chen Xiao offered a pack of cigarettes each before diving straight into the conversation:
"Sister Yan, you should know we're eager to find out about Wan De. So, can you tell us what exactly happened on the train back then? Also, after so many years, how can you be sure the person who got off was him?"
Sister Yan didn't hold back for benefits and straightforwardly said, "Because he was very handso and quite tall. When he spoke, he seed very manly. Won, just like you guys, tend to take a second look at attractive people of the opposite sex."
Chen Xiao didn't have a clear mory of Wan De, so he turned to look at Old Chen.
Seeing Old Chen nod, Chen Xiao continued, "Then did you talk to him?"
"Yes, I greeted him and asked where he was heading. It was because I asked that I could rember him."
"What did he say?"
"We were chatting quite well, I even asked if he was married or had kids. Oh, don't be curious, I have this nature, I like asking around. But when I asked where he was going, he seed to be pondering. I joked, saying why not co with , at least get off at the sa spot and we could help each other out."
"He neither agreed nor disagreed, just seed absent-minded as if he had heavy thoughts on his mind."
Chen Xiao furrowed his brows slightly.
He had the abilities of sophistry, detection, construction, killing, and crafting.
The acquisition of these abilities enhanced his thinking, logic, and analysis to so extent.
Therefore, Chen Xiao felt that rely exchanging a few words wouldn't suffice for a woman to rember a man for over a decade.
In addition, she estimated roughly that Wan De hadn't been to that area.
That she could be so confident ant she had asked many people, and the ti spent inquiring likely wasn't short.
Considering this, Chen Xiao believed there must be more to the story, so he asked again, "Was there sothing else that happened on the train that day?"
Sister Yan looked up, exhaling a puff of smoke, surprised as she glanced over.
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