Chapter 010: Night Conversations

I held the box in both hands, feeling somewhat at a loss. The old man really thinks highly of me; he actually entrusted such an important item to me and Wei Mian to take out.

I used to advise the old man to wash his hands, but after being scolded a few times for doing so, I no longer dared to mention it again

The next day, I started to have a fever and lay in bed for a full week. This rest made me quite lazy; although my body had recovered, I falsely claimed to still feel unwell and refused to go to work. My husband appeared very magnanimous; not only did he not scold me, but he also instructed the kitchen to prepare meals according to my preferences every day

The old man reiterated some details and also instructed me not to open the box and peek inside without permission. I nodded repeatedly and assured him that I would absolutely not take a look.

The old man's tone was very calm, yet I felt a chill rising from the soles of my feet. He was measured in his actions, but he was not a good person. If he were to catch a traitor, it would be bad enough even if he didn't skin them alive. Life and death are of utmost importance; such words should not be spoken lightly. My mind is not on business; with those people at the stall, we are merely fooling around.

After idling away for about twenty days, the good times have finally come to an end. Cao Shi is hosting several familiar major clients, accompanying them for a few days in Jiangbei. All the tedious matters regarding the stalls and accounts have fallen solely on my shoulders, and every night I have to report on business matters to the old man, which is quite bothersome

There was an indescribable feeling in the old man's gaze, yet I suddenly gained a deep understanding from it. It was not due to my intelligence; rather, I had grown up alongside him, and many things did not need to be explicitly stated. The old man is aging, and there may be a traitor in the family; he does not trust others and wishes to pass on authority to me

The flat black box was dark and unreflective, with a wax seal between the lid and the body, making it impossible to see anything from the outside. The old man caressed the box with the same tenderness as a young man would touch a young woman's face. After a while, he suddenly handed the box to me and said, "I don't trust anyone else; you and Xiao Mian should hide this somewhere else."

Nevertheless, those who betray continue to emerge in droves, which is understandable; there is no absolute truth in this world, including loyalty. Loyalty exists because the incentives that drive one to betrayal are not substantial enough.

In that very moment, I suddenly understood why the old man wanted me to go to Mazhan with Wei Mian. The experience was merely an excuse; he actually wanted to convey to me, as well as to his subordinates, that in the future, the stakes and businesses under the old man's name must include a share for Wei Mian

The people at the betting table and the stalls are still reliable... I glanced at the old man, my heart tightening involuntarily. By saying this, he has excluded Cao Shi from the list of those who can be trusted. However, I cannot speak well of Cao Shi in front of him, as that would only backfire. I thought for a moment and cautiously said: "As you often say, when water is full, it overflows; one must know when to advance and when to retreat. Our family business is already substantial..."

I feel that I am not someone destined for great achievements. The life I yearn for is one of unrestrained freedom, rather than dealing with all sorts of people and the local riffraff every day. I have not dared to voice this thought, as my father fears that I might squander the family fortune he has worked so hard to accumulate over a lifetime. It is not uncommon for descendants to squander the wealth built by their ancestors. Although I am impatient with serious matters, I am not a spendthrift. As for Wei Mian, it is even more unnecessary to mention him; in his disheveled state, he wouldn't even know how to spend money if given any. My father is most afraid that I will eventually waste away the family fortune he has painstakingly built.

As soon as the old man finished speaking, the image of Cao Shi immediately appeared in my mind. Everyone knows that in recent years, Wei Ba in Jiangbei has been incapacitated, and all matters, big and small, have been handled by Cao Shi. The old man, at most, serves as a coordinator, but what Cao Shi is doing in the shadows remains unclear to anyone.

The old man's words carry another layer of meaning. I share the same surname as the old man, and my feelings for him are akin to that of a father and son. However, the only true heir of the Wei family is Wei Mian. No matter how unambitious Wei Mian may be, he carries the blood of the Wei family in his veins. A person like the old man, who comes from an old family, would never allow the bloodline of the Wei family to be left without a path.

Father, are you referring to that item brought back from Mazhan?

The stall and market under the old man's name at mhetushu.com generally do not encounter any issues, as people in the circle are aware that this is the property of Master Wei Ba. However, on this day, an unexpected incident occurred; several small gangs from Jiangbei seemed to have taken something wrong and banded together to rob us. The situation escalated, and it nearly turned into a violent confrontation. I had never encountered such a situation before and did not know how to handle it, until the old man sent someone again, and the situation gradually began to calm down.

"Little rascal." The old man reached out and gently patted my head, saying, "You were born with this habit of wanting to ask about everything. It's not that I can't tell you, but these matters, even I only understand partially. If I tell you now, it won't do you any good. Don't be anxious; sooner or later, I will tell you. I won't take this secret to my grave."

I understand. I responded very solemnly, wanting to reassure the old man

The old man, seeing that I remained silent, continued, "In recent days, I have been increasingly unsettled. Apart from you and Xiao Mian, those two little rascals, there are also a few old friends from the past; I find it hard to trust anyone. Do not be overly suspicious, nor should you speak carelessly outside; I will get to the bottom of this matter."

We have an empty house in the east of the city, known to very few people. Behind the wardrobe in the east bedroom, there is a secret door, and items are hidden in the small secret room at the end of that door. We will quietly go there at midnight, and I will have Lao Luo guide you.

"Little brat, show some proper behavior," the old man said slowly, "My life is in the box."

Father, is the item brought back from Mazhan also a counterfeit Xixia Chiran horse brand

Those who stray from the right path are most wary of internal traitors. Once caught, the punishment is exceedingly severe; being shot dead is considered a lenient outcome. According to the old man, he once witnessed a traitor subjected to the torturous punishment of mercury pouring. The individual was buried in the ground with only their head exposed, and a cross-shaped incision was made on the scalp directly above. Mercury was then poured into the opening, and in the end, it could strip away an entire layer of human skin. Moreover, the victim was not yet fully dead, and the heartrending screams were so tragic that they could pierce a person's eardrums. It was a horrific sight, and those who witnessed it experienced nightmares for several days.

To be honest, I do not dislike Mian Yatou, but the effeminacy he exhibits is quite unbearable, especially when it comes to work; having someone like him around is equivalent to carrying a heavy burden. Holding the box, I casually remarked, "Having him around is of no use whatsoever."

I hurriedly asked who it was, and the old man shook his head, saying that he had been investigating in secret but had not yet found any results

That night, I went to discuss this matter with the old man. He listened in silence, seemingly a bit distracted. After I finished speaking, he asked me to sit a little closer to him, then pondered for a few minutes before lowering his voice to say: "Someone at home has turned traitor"

However, as soon as this thought emerged, I immediately dismissed it. I understand Cao Shi's character; he is someone with whom one can entrust their life and is a good partner in business. It is not merely because of my personal friendship with him that I think this way; people from all levels in Jiangbei know that Cao Shi is genuine and has no ulterior motives towards the old man. Many people envy the old man for having such a partner.

While I am still alive, there are certain matters that I must see through to the end in one go. Wealth is an external possession; I have never placed much importance on it. If I lose it, I can earn it back. When I die, I cannot take a single penny with me. I do not have many attachments left; at home and outside, there is only one thing that makes me feel unsettled

"Little brat, you've been hanging around the stall for a few years, and you're familiar with the people at home." The old man, sitting in a wheelchair, gently stroked the dragon head on his cane and said, "According to you, if someone were to turn traitor, who would it be?"

Could you say a little about it

The old man sighed, which could be considered an acknowledgment. While searching for the item in Mazhancheng, I was completely captivated by the corpses in the stone pit, causing me to overlook the item. In hindsight, I wanted to know, but no one was willing to tell me. Therefore, even until now, I still do not know what Cao Shi brought back from there

I am old. The old man looked at me and said only these three words before falling silent again

"One must first learn to endure and manage one's own heart." The old man took out a small black box, no larger than two cigarette packs, from his pocket and said, "I brought this back from Mazhan. I have a constant ominous feeling about it, and I always sense that it won't be safe in the house. It needs to be hidden in a different place."