Chapter 231: Chapter 231: What If It’s Evidence of Treason?

After dinner, Xu Qinghuan checked Huo Zui’s leg.

“This cast is really heavy. When can it be removed?” Huo Zui tapped the cast, his toes wiggling a little.

Shen Xiuqin saw it, “Look, A-Zui’s toes moved, they moved!”

What Huo Zui didn’t say was that he had exerted great effort today to move himself to the bathroom to wash his leg. Last night, this injured leg had hurt him so much that he fainted. When he woke up, it felt terribly stinky.

Luckily, several people in the house were emitting unpleasant odors, so no one noticed his side.

He really didn’t want to lose that much face in front of Xu Qinghuan.

Huo Zhenqing also noticed, his eyes a bit moist.

“Just endure for a few more days, wait another half month. Although the bone has healed, if you’re not careful and injure it again, it will be troublesome.”

Shen Xiuqin quickly said, “Just wait, why are you in such a hurry? Good things are worth waiting for, stay at home and recover. In all these years, when have you stayed at home for more than three days while serving in the army?”

In the morning, Jiang Xingye had to go to the furniture factory again, and Huo Zhenqing asked Lao Wen to accompany him, “Take your time, pay close attention, and ask for advice when needed. Be courteous and don’t be afraid of bothering others.”

Jiang Xingye acknowledged with a “Hmm” and left. Before he left, he glanced at Xu Qinghuan.

Last night, he didn’t sleep well. One reason was that he wasn’t used to sleeping in someone else’s home. The other was Xu Qinghuan’s words, which kept repeating in his mind.

While they were kissing, surprisingly, he didn’t feel any desire as he did when they first got together. He just wanted to kiss her well.

Clearly, before that, he couldn’t get enough of Xu Qinghuan. That deep-rooted desire almost drowned him, and in those moments, he would have gladly died.

Xu Qinghuan felt a little uneasy due to his deep gaze, unsure of what he wanted to say. She had to accompany Shen Xiuqin shopping today and couldn’t go with Jiang Xingye.

They would only stay here for another two days at most before returning.

Jiang Xingye called the commune to inquire about the harvest situation. The parts production for the threshing machine was almost complete, and their return would be perfect for assembly timing.

Without Jiang Xingye, it would certainly not work.

Earlier, Shen Xiuqin mentioned that her son never stayed at home, but now that he was home, she was carefree enough to take Xu Qinghuan shopping.

Along the way, people they encountered acted as if they didn’t recognize her, amazed by the changes in her appearance.

“Wow, it’s really Xiuqin. What did you put on your skin? It’s so tender!”

“I didn’t put on anything today. It’s hot, and I haven’t even used any cream, just like this.”

“But you weren’t this fair before.”

“I really didn’t apply anything!” Shen Xiuqin’s smile was so wide it cramped her cheeks. She was genuinely happy, her face beaming, tightly holding Xu Qinghuan’s hand.

She loved her face now, feeling rejuvenated, her skin even better than when she was younger. Could she not be pleased?

Huo Chi watched as his mom took Xu Qinghuan out, turning his head to see his brother staring fixedly, his eyes showing a strange gleam, startling him.

Despite his brother’s usually keen alertness, he didn’t seem to snap out of it even after careful observation.

He quickly waved his hand, “What are you staring at? Want to go out? Forget it, with that leg of yours, you’ll just be more trouble out there!”

Thinking about it, he pitied his brother and said, “How about I borrow a wheelchair for you from the hospital?”

“No need!” Huo Zui said, lowering his head in a sulky manner.

Huo Chi finally sensed something amiss. He opened his mouth to speak, but swallowed his words, fearing they would come out wrong.

Especially now, no matter what was said, it was too late, beyond repair.

The old man also spirited off to work today. When he got to the office, he startled everyone, making them wonder if he was having a sudden moment of clarity before passing.

But then hearing the loud scolding from his office, they thought otherwise.

Suddenly, there was a commotion, and the old man walked to the window to see Jiang Zhenguo’s car slowly approaching the office building. He waited for a moment, and when the time was right, he opened his office door and walked out.

Jiang Zhenguo’s office was at the west end, but there was only one staircase, right in the middle of the office building.

As soon as Jiang Zhenguo came up, he felt something was off. He glanced to the east and saw Huo Fuhai holding a large thermo cup, smiling at him, which felt eerie.

He almost fell down the stairs.

“Y-you, how are you here?” Jiang Zhenguo clutched the staircase railing.

Huo Fuhai took two steps forward and chuckled, “Are you wondering if I’m a person or a ghost?”

He leaned his face close to Jiang Zhenguo’s, “So am I a person or a ghost?”

Jiang Zhenguo snapped back to reality, patting his chest to hide his embarrassment, “Aren’t you too old for such jokes? What, you’ve recovered your health?”

Huo Fuhai took a sip of tea, which was brewed this morning by Huo Zhenqing, enhancing the freshness and relaxation.

“Ah, didn’t end up dying!” Huo Fuhai spoke with a hint of fake regret, “Might live another ten or twenty years. I wonder if those old pals underground will hold it against me for not joining them sooner!”

Jiang Zhenguo genuinely felt somewhat disappointed, “If you didn’t die, then live well. Enough of the gloomy talk, there’s a saying about extreme joy turning to sorrow!”

“That saying wouldn’t happen to be about you, would it?” Huo Fuhai added, “I heard something was stolen from your home, what was it? Found it yet?”

“No, it wasn’t anything valuable!” Jiang Zhenguo was heartbroken.

He still hadn’t realized that the wealth he stored secretly was gone because he never paid mind to the dozens of boxes, knowing he wouldn’t need them soon, and thus never worried about them.

On the contrary, the letters and photos, which he cherished as daily comforts, when he discovered they’d been taken, felt as if his life had ended.

Even though his current wife was his original spouse, giving him children, Zheng Qianxia was still his unattainable goddess, a presence that represented a past love. When they reunited after separation, she was already married; those letters and photos were proof they once loved each other.

Now, all gone.

“If it’s not valuable, just let it go, don’t trouble yourself by searching,” Huo Fuhai advised.

Jiang Zhenguo hadn’t thought to suspect anyone. If it was political enemies, there were more important things in his study untouched.

As a result, he had no suspects.

After returning to his office, as he sat at his desk in reflection, something felt odd, prompting him to rush back.

When he got home and went down to check, the dozens of boxes had vanished into thin air.

Jiang Zhenguo’s vision darkened, and he fell forward with a loud thud.

He never allowed anyone easily to follow him to the basement. Not even his own son had that privilege, leaving him unconscious and undiscovered for a long while.

It was only when the housemaid sensed something wrong and notified Jiang Chengshu that they managed to rescue Jiang Zhenguo.

“Find, find Jiang Chengxu, tell him, get him to Yan City!” Jiang Zhenguo ordered.

Jiang Chengshu didn’t understand why, but given his father’s grave condition, he promptly said, “I’ll notify him immediately.”

Jiang Zhenguo was sent to the Army General Hospital, where his blood pressure measured at 240 over 180.

He was just a step away from a stroke-induced paralysis.

That evening, Jiang Chengxu boarded the train heading to Yan City.

At the Huo Family’s dining table, Huo Zhenqing mentioned to the old man, “I heard today that someone visited Jiang’s study. Seems like a few letters and photos were missing.”

Huo Chi dismissively said, “Just some photos and letters. Is it necessary to make such a fuss over it?”

The others were puzzled, too.

Xu Qinghuan held her bowl, casually saying, “What if it’s evidence of treason or selling out the country?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep