Chapter 003: Uncle Lai

The messenger has come again

I opened the box with a password, and at that moment, it felt as if my eyes and Zhang Qiao's were blinded by a burst of light, and we both gasped sharply.

It can be said that his image suddenly changed. He cannot be described as stingy towards me, but he is very meticulous; from childhood to adulthood, my pocket money was distributed with precise timing. There was certainly never enough money, especially as I grew older, but I understood his hardships. I always believed that the family relied on his meager salary to get by, so I never asked him for money indiscriminately. When I truly had no other options, I would find ways to manage on my own. There was certainly never enough money, especially as I grew older, but I understood his hardships. I always believed that the family relied on his meager salary to get by, so I never asked him for money indiscriminately. When I truly had no other options, I would find ways to manage on my own

Although this letter stirred my emotions, I quickly analyzed certain underlying matters after reading it. Moreover, this feeling caused a growing unease in my heart, which soon reached its peak

Uncle Lai considered for a moment on the other end of the phone. He said he had something to attend to and asked me to go find him at Bihai Yuntian 1012. Moreover, he specifically instructed that I could only go alone.

"What’s wrong, are you short on cash?" Uncle Lai smiled and said, "Your father has some matters to attend to and will be away from home for a while. He will return once everything is settled. If you need some money, I can give you some here."

When I returned home, I felt my footsteps were heavy and my body was fatigued. But as soon as I opened the door, I immediately saw a letter lying on the floor inside the room. My heart raced a few times, and I couldn't help but scan the room.

Your father is truly affluent Zhang Qiao smacked his lips and murmured a sentence

Who is Uncle Lai

Where did your father go? I truly do not know, really do not know

Uncle Lai did not know what I was about to do until I pulled back the curtains. Only then did he quickly get up, trying to stop me. But my movements were also swift; I turned over and jumped onto the windowsill, one leg already out the window, looking down. The hotel was on the eleventh floor, and looking down made me feel a bit dizzy.

When I arrived at Bihai Yuntian, Uncle Lai was there alone. Although he had already made an effort to tidy up the room before I came, I could still tell that he was organizing things, with a lot of clutter nearly filling every corner of the room. Under normal circumstances, I might not think too much about it, but what time is it now? Certain matters have made my nerves a bit sensitive, and I find Uncle Lai's motives rather suspicious. Why can't he stay at home and insists on coming to the hotel? Under normal circumstances, I might not think too much about it, but what time is it now? Certain matters have made my nerves a bit sensitive, and I find Uncle Lai's motives rather suspicious. Why can't he stay at home and insists on coming to the hotel?

This statement is already quite clear; I merely wish to convey to Uncle Lai that I have come to understand certain matters and there is no need to be evasive with me

In other words, some things are destined to happen; even if they do not appear now, after a certain period, they will change my life

If there is something important, you can go find Uncle Lai

My father, who has been my only companion for so many years, deceived me? He is not even working here at all

I have been here for twenty-one years. This old gentleman increasingly suspected that I wanted to sneak inside, blocking both me and Zhang Qiao outside. We negotiated for a long time, and in the end, I finally believed that my father was not here

Lai and Uncle Tu did not respond to my sincerity. I asked several times in a roundabout way, but he wouldn't say a straightforward word. I was already anxious inside, yet I did not show it for the moment. I put down the cup in my hand, walked to the window, and pulled the curtains open with a swift motion.

I cannot describe my feelings at this moment; a sense of loneliness flows through me like an electric current from the deepest part of my heart, invading every cell.

"Stop joking around. I'm a bit anxious: 'Sir, when are you coming here to watch the door? Zheng Lifu is my father, and I have something to discuss with him.'"

This is probably the only clue I can pursue at the moment. Without a moment's hesitation, I immediately picked up the phone and called Uncle Lai. I mentioned that I had something to discuss, but did not specify what it was, only stating that the matter was extremely serious and had reached a life-threatening level

The letter was indeed written by my father, but the manner in which it was delivered to me is highly unusual. The messenger clearly did not want me to know their identity. However, the most important question is: how did this letter get into the house? There is a threshold outside the security door, making it impossible for it to be slipped through the gap. After thinking for a long time, the only conclusion I could come up with is that this person has a key to my house. They intended to create a false impression, so they quietly opened the door and dropped the letter inside.

That night, I hardly slept, as various thoughts continuously surged through my mind. By dawn, I hurriedly called Zhang Qiao to get up and catch the earliest bus heading to the provincial capital. I vaguely remember my father telling me in the past that his workplace was the Fourth Mineral Geological Survey Institute

A rather taciturn old geologist, living in the most frugal manner possible, where did he acquire so much money from

After that, I did nothing and set an alarm to force myself to sleep. I plan to go to my father's workplace to ask about it. Throughout my life, I have never visited him at work because his workplace is in the provincial capital, and he does not allow me to wander around.

What makes me even more anxious is what kind of situation my father has encountered? It is evident that he did not go on a business trip this time; he went to do something else. Every word in this letter carries a sense of farewell and a last testament.

Following the instructions in the letter, I found the box under the bed. It was a large suitcase with a combination lock. When I dragged it out, it felt somewhat heavy, but without opening it, I could not know what was inside. This is something my father left for me, and I cannot imagine what a serious and rigid person like him would leave behind.

"Uncle Lai," I tried my best to appear casual as I stretched on the sofa. "Where has my dad gone?"

I sat in silence for a long time, then stood up and walked towards my father's bedroom. Normally, I would not dare to enter his room casually; in fact, I am someone who has been raised with strict discipline, and deep down, I fear my father.

Uncle Lai has a very gentle temperament. He poured me some tea and asked what was on my mind. In fact, I had already thought it through before coming; there was no need to beat around the bush, I could ask him directly. Because the letter was very clear, if Uncle Lai was unaware of certain matters, my father would not have allowed me to seek him out.

When Zhang Qiao inquired about Uncle Lai, a shadow of a kind middle-aged man in his forties appeared in my mind, as if from a picture book. His name is Lai Weiguo, one of the few friends of my father, and a frequent visitor to our home. Whenever my father returned from a business trip to rest, Uncle Lai would often come over, and the two seemed to have endless topics to discuss. I cannot say that I was very familiar with Uncle Lai, but I had seen him many times, and I had a fair understanding of this person. His name is Lai Weiguo, one of the few friends of my father, and a frequent visitor to our home. Whenever my father returned from a business trip to rest, Uncle Lai would often come over, and the two seemed to have endless topics to discuss. I cannot say that I was very familiar with Uncle Lai, but I had seen him many times, and I had a fair understanding of this person.

A suitcase full of cash, all neatly stacked in hundred-yuan bills, makes it impossible for me to estimate the exact amount of money. In an instant, my father's figure became very blurry, leading me to uncontrollably generate many speculations.

"No, no, no, Uncle Lai," I shook my head vigorously, gripping the teacup. "You know, what I need is not this."

"Uncle Lai," I turned to look at Uncle Lai, swinging my other leg out as well, both hands gripping the window frame. "You know I am a spendthrift. Without my father to support me, I will eventually starve to death. The sooner I die, the sooner I can be reborn. If you really refuse to tell the truth, I won't blame you. When my father finishes his business and comes back, you can tell him that I have gone ahead."

Zhang Qiao pulled me away because he noticed that the old man was also getting agitated. To avoid trouble, we had to step back for a moment. On the way back in the car, I kept reflecting on some past events. If viewed with a calm mindset, one would discover an issue. Many things have already infiltrated my life imperceptibly; it only takes an accidental or inevitable event for these things to be catalyzed.

As expected, Uncle Lai's smile gradually faded. He lowered his head to take a sip of tea, then raised his eyes to look at me. I tilted my head slightly at him, urging him to respond.

The handwriting is followed by a phone number, and I can tell that it is still my father's handwriting. I hesitated; if yesterday's letter was somewhat reasonable, then today's letter is quite strange. Where on earth is my father? He probably isn't too far away, otherwise how could he have arranged for someone to deliver the letter so quickly?

I feel unsafe; if an unidentified person can silently and effortlessly enter my home at any time, that feeling is quite unsettling

This letter is thinner than the previous one, possibly only a single sheet of paper. After I opened it, several very familiar handwriting characters appeared on that sheet of paper

Zhang Qiao asked me what to do, as he has always believed that my mind is more capable than his. However, now, I find myself at a loss as well

Zhang Qiao and I inquired for a long time in the provincial capital, and after much detouring, we finally found this place. However, before we could enter, the gatekeeper stopped us. I said I was looking for Zheng Lifu, and he looked at me with a very suspicious gaze, then told me that there was no such person here.

A friend of my father

There were no abnormalities inside the room, and I closed the door behind me. Zhang Qiao's expression also became somewhat strange; at this moment, even he could perceive the unusual circumstances.

I must find him. I snapped the box shut, and just as I stood up, I remembered that letter. His leaving a letter meant that I would never be able to find him again, but I was troubled by these questions, as if several claws were scratching at my heart incessantly. I thought that even if I couldn't find him, I at least needed to understand where he had gone and what he was doing.