Street Hustler and His Policewoman Wife

Chapter 418: The Country Peddler

Ah Yu’s calm response left Chen Xiao momentarily unsure of what to ask.

It seemed there were many questions to ask Ah Yu.

Whether in Jingguang Village or at Jingguang Tomb, Ah Yu held a unique position.

But what could she be asked?

She was discovered while still in swaddling clothes.

After being carried down the mountain, she lived with a lonely old woman.

She was very sensible.

And quite capable.

But what could she know?

Looking at Ah Yu sitting properly, Chen Xiao thought Lin Xi probably didn’t formally ask her anything either.

With only so much time, Lin Xi likely learned about Ah Yu through life experiences, thus Ah Yu was very close to her.

Despite how competent Ah Yu seemed.

She was actually just a child, merely stubborn and strong.

Chen Xiao thought for a moment, his gaze falling back on Jingguang Village in the night:

"Brother and sister are full, why don’t you lead us for a walk around the village?"

"Huh? You won’t ask me anything?"

"Let’s chat as we walk, Ah Yu, why don’t you give us an introduction to Jingguang Village? Who lives in which household, what happened in the village since you began remembering things, let’s talk about it all."

Ah Yu nodded but murmured, "What’s there to say about Jingguang Village? They’re all bad people."

Chen Xiao heard this but didn’t say anything.

After speaking to Liao Cheng, Chen Xiao and Lin Xi started wandering around the village with Ah Yu.

Ah Yu was very candid, announcing as they passed each house:

"This is the third old woman’s house; she’s very formidable. When grandma was alive, she often bullied her. Grandma toiled away in her vegetable garden, and she would casually occupy parts of it, eventually claiming the whole thing as hers because of her large household."

"The third old woman is now over ninety, with a voice louder than mine!"

Ah Yu pointed at a household ahead with an angry expression.

Then they reached another house, and Ah Yu said:

"This is Zhu Rao’s house; he’s really awful! He’s grandma’s nephew; he never cared for grandma while she was well, but during her illness, he stuck around every day, even helped her go to the bathroom."

"But grandma wasn’t foolish; she knew he was here for the house and the land, so she made a will in front of him, bequeathing them to me, and he never came back."

Talking about this, Ah Yu appeared proud: "Though during that time, we had endless food; his wife often brought pork and fruits, which I claimed wasn’t enough for grandma, while in reality, I hid it all. Yet, for the house and land, they couldn’t stop bringing more ... hehe!"

Listening to Ah Yu’s words, Chen Xiao and Lin Xi couldn’t help but laugh.

But when they stopped at another house, Ah Yu paused:

"This is the village chief’s house; his name is Zhu Dun. He cared for grandma a lot, distributing money yearly to those struggling in the village. Good people receive good returns; a few years ago, his son struck it rich outside and now lives in the county."

"But villagers are ill-natured; even though the chief gives them money, every time they argue, claiming they deserved more."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiao seemed to understand why and asked:

"Was grandma considered a five-guarantee household or a low-income, poverty-stricken household?"

"Brother, what’s a five-guarantee household or poverty-stricken household?"

Seeing Ah Yu’s question, Chen Xiao understood.

"Then why didn’t grandma join them in confronting the village chief?"

Ah Yu appeared puzzled: "I don’t know, but grandma didn’t seem happy taking money, either. Why do people get upset when the chief gives them money?"

Chen Xiao understood this question.

Lin Xi got it too.

After casting a chilly glance at the chief’s house, she asked: "Is he still the chief?"

"Yes, when there’s village business, he comes back, otherwise he stays in the county."

Lin Xi nodded, and Ah Yu continued leading them around the village.

Passing an open space, Ah Yu pointed at a large tree, saying:

"This is my favorite spot; I love climbing that tree. Every now and then, a vendor auntie would come by. When it’s hot, she’d ride over selling popsicles and watermelons."

"In autumn, she sells pears and tangerines. In winter, she sells hairpins and sunflower seeds peanuts."

"I always timed her visits and climbed up the tree to wait for her, from up high you could see far. Whenever I spotted her approaching, I’d drag grandma out to buy me something."

"The vendor auntie always gifted me plenty."

"Did she come by after grandma passed?" Chen Xiao asked.

Ah Yu shook her head: "After grandma died, she never came back. I asked others, and they said the vendor auntie vanished too."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiao glanced at Lin Xi.

Lin Xi nodded slightly to Chen Xiao, indicating she took note of this.

Chen Xiao looked at the big tree Ah Yu mentioned and smiled: "Ah Yu hasn’t climbed that tree in a long time now?"

"Climbing won’t bring the vendor auntie, I’m not a monkey, so I don’t want to climb anymore."

"Why don’t we sit under the tree, and you tell me what the vendor auntie looked like? Then you can see if my drawing resembles her."

Ah Yu’s eyes lit up: "Brother, you know how to draw?"

"A little bit."

"Could you draw something for me? Actually, can I bring grandma’s photo and then you draw me leaning against her? Grandma took me to town to take a picture before passing, but I lost it."

Chen Xiao didn’t hesitate and nodded: "Sure."

Ah Yu quickly ran home, and Lin Xi watched her say:

"You suspect something about that vendor woman?"

"Ah Yu was brought to Jingguang Tomb; while it’s puzzling why a baby would be left near an ancient tomb, I believe the one who abandoned her knew her whereabouts."

"Though puzzling, why did the vendor woman stop coming after grandma died? Did something happen to her too? Or was there something between her and grandma? Otherwise, a rural vendor wouldn’t cease visiting just because someone died!"

Chen Xiao spoke, and Lin Xi didn’t reply.

Soon, Ah Yu ran back holding grandma’s photo.

Chen Xiao decided to start the drawing, so he let Ah Yu sit nicely under the tree.

However, Chen Xiao didn’t scrutinize Ah Yu’s features, as he had them memorized well.

It was grandma’s appearance Chen Xiao needed to focus on, to mend this regret in Ah Yu’s heart.