AWB Chapter 1958 Your life is in my hands
Chapter 1958 Your life is in my hands
The man's hand gripped Lan Cuihua's arm tightly like an iron clamp, the force so great that she cried out in pain, and tears instantly streamed down her face.
His eyes blazed with almost ferocious joy and excitement, a stark contrast to the cold and gloomy demeanor he had maintained before. Clearly, the news that the ledgers were in Li Xiangnan's hands had a huge impact on him!
"Are you sure?! That's exactly what that guy surnamed Li said? 'Nobody would have expected this?'"
The man's voice trembled slightly with excitement, and spittle almost landed on Lan Cuihua's face. His hawk-like eyes were fixed on her, not missing a single subtle change in expression that might indicate a lie.
Lan Cuihua trembled with fear, tears streaming down her face. This was genuine fear, requiring no pretense.
She struggled desperately, nodding vigorously, her voice trembling with tears and grievance.
"Yes...that's exactly what they said! I was right there, I heard it all, it's absolutely true...Let me go, let me go, you're hurting me..."
The man seemed to realize his lapse in composure and loosened his grip slightly, but the eagerness and burning passion in his eyes remained undiminished.
He took several deep breaths, seemingly trying to calm the turmoil in his heart after receiving the news, his chest heaving violently.
This news is extremely important. We've been investigating for so long, going through so many twists and turns, and even using several undercover agents, all to confirm Mu Huanying's whereabouts and that crucial ledger!
Now, we've actually gotten such solid information from this unassuming little girl!
Very good!
After the initial surprise, the man's vigilance, honed from years of walking in the dark, instinctively made him raise his head.
As the euphoria faded, caution and doubt regained their dominance.
We can't completely trust this poor girl's side of the story yet; what if this is also a trap set by Li Xiangnan?
That guy surnamed Li looks harmless, but damn, he's no pushover!
So much was discovered in the Mu family bombing case, so many bad things happened at the hospital, so many plans to frame him, all of which were uncovered by this bastard!
Take the recent Pudu Temple fire and Yuan Neng's death as examples. He was able to maneuver and even subtly take the initiative in all of them. He is definitely not a simple person!
Be careful!
"Stop fucking crying!" the man growled, releasing his grip, but his gaze sharpened as he scrutinized Lan Cuihua. "Let me ask you, what was Li Xiangnan's tone when he said that? Was it just a casual remark, or something like that, meant to be emphasized? Or what? What were the reactions of that fat guy surnamed Wang and the skinny guy surnamed Song?"
Lan Cuihua sobbed, silently wiping her tears with her sleeve. She tried hard to recall the details of what Li Xiangnan had taught her, and said haltingly, "He had never said anything like that before. I've been at the Li family's house for quite a few days now... He said it very seriously, very solemnly... Doctor Li usually speaks very gently, but that sentence... He lowered his voice very much, clearly afraid that others would hear... Brother Wang exclaimed 'Ah!', obviously he was also surprised... Young Master Song didn't say anything, but I could hear him gasp..."
The subtle reactions she described added an element of realism to the conversation.
Normally, no one would notice such details, let alone pay attention to this aspect.
The man listened, his eyes flickering, his fingers rubbing the web between his thumb and forefinger.
"What about the back room? Li Xiangnan said that Grandma should be careful not to go out of the back room. What does that mean? Did he really say that?" The man brought this up again to confirm with Lan Cuihua, emphasizing each word.
“Yes…that’s what Dr. Li said!” Lan Cuihua nodded.
The man's breath hitched, and he hurriedly asked, "You've been in the Li family for so long, have you ever personally seen Mu Huanying going in and out of the back room? Have you heard any sounds from the old man in the back room?"
This is the key issue. A single sentence from this little girl is not enough; he needs more concrete evidence of her existence.
Lan Cuihua's heart tightened. Li Xiangnan had obviously anticipated this question and had tested her with it several times.
She couldn't speak too definitively, otherwise it would seem fake, but she still needed to give the other party an answer, using some seemingly real but false details.
“I…I’ve never seen Old Mrs. Li with my own eyes!” Lan Cuihua shook her head, her face filled with reverence. “I feel that Old Mrs. Li’s health isn’t very good. She never comes out, even when the sun is shining brightly…In the back wing, besides Doctor Li and his grandfather, Aunt Zhu delivers vegetables and medicine regularly every day. Others generally don’t go near her. Even Sister-in-law Ruobai rarely goes there…I wonder if everyone in the courtyard has been reminded that they also respect the Li family…”
"Speaking of the old man's movements... I remember once when I washed my sister-in-law's clothes and took them to the backyard to dry, I actually heard the old man coughing in his room. The sound was very soft... But there is usually a strong smell of Chinese medicine in that area, so I didn't want to stay any longer and left quickly!"
Coughing sounds, the smell of Chinese medicine, strict entry and exit restrictions...
These details, when combined, immediately paint a picture of a frail and sickly old man under strict protection, which perfectly fits the setting of Mu Huanying living in seclusion here.
The man's brows relaxed slightly, but he was still not completely at ease.
He turned his head and stared intently at Lan Cuihua's face in the light of the kerosene lamp.
"What about the account books? Did Li Xiangnan mention where they are? What do they look like? Have you seen them? Or, is there anything he pays special attention to or checks frequently?"
This is the core issue that he cares about most.
After he said those words, his breathing became several beats faster.
Knowing that the ledgers were in Li Xiangnan's possession was only the first step. If they could find out the specific location or even the characteristics of the ledgers, their value would be immeasurable.
Lan Cuihua looked troubled and regretful.
"This... I really don't know, and I've never heard him mention it. They just said that one sentence, and then their voices suddenly dropped. Even when I leaned closer to listen, I couldn't hear it... I almost got bumped into by Grandma Tang when she came out to get water, and I was so scared that I ran away..."
As she said this, she patted her chest with lingering fear, her performance so natural that she vividly portrayed a girl who wanted to eavesdrop but was too timid to do so. It was a truly masterful portrayal.
The man stared at her for a good half-minute, as if trying to determine the truthfulness of her words.
Lan Cuihua was extremely nervous. She lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting her clothes, and she dared not breathe too heavily. She kept her nerves on edge, trying to guess what the other person was thinking.
Finally, the man seemed to temporarily accept her method. He resumed his cold tone, but spoke much faster, showing his urgency to get back and report.
"You did a great job, this hundred yuan is a reward for you!"
He pulled ten ten-yuan bills from his pocket and placed them on the table with a rude, condescending air.
"Keep a close eye on Li Xiangnan! Especially the back room, find out if Mu Huanying is inside! Also, pay attention to where Li Xiangnan usually spends his time, make sure he opens any unusual books or notebooks, or if there are any locked boxes or drawers!"
The man clearly intended to use Lan Cuihua as a lead for the long term.
After saying this, he turned around, opened the door, and said coldly without looking back, "Remember, your life and your father's life are in my hands. It all depends on how much useful stuff you can get!"
After saying that, he stepped out the door and, like a ghost, quickly disappeared into the deep night.
Lan Cuihua stared at the stack of money on the table, frozen in place for a long while, until the terrifying footsteps faded away completely and only the howling of the wind and snow remained at the door. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief, her legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground against the cold wall, her whole body drenched in cold sweat.
That exchange had exhausted all her energy and courage.
She sat quietly for several minutes before she could calm her racing heart and jumbled thoughts. Then she got up, locked the door, and returned to the simple bed.
On the bed, Old Lantou remained in a side-lying, half-asleep position, emitting even snores.
Lan Cuihua gently nudged Old Lan's shoulder and whispered, "Brother Song, he's gone!"
The snoring stopped abruptly the next second.
Old Lan quickly threw off the patched old cotton quilt covering his body, sat up abruptly, and with a swipe of his hand, all the makeup materials applied to his face to create the effect of illness and wrinkles disappeared, revealing his handsome but sharp-eyed face.
It was Song Ziming!