Chapter 269: Where Exactly Did Things Go Wrong

In a small courtyard: "How did you end up like this?"

"Pour me a glass of water quick, my throat's practically smoking."

The one asking, seeing him in such a sorry state, hurriedly rose and poured him a glass of water.

Watching him gulp it down: "More?"

"One more cup."

After another cup went down: "Got anything to eat?"

That person rose, took two sponge cakes out of the cabinet, and handed them over: "I went over earlier and couldn't find you. What's going on with you—did you go up the mountain to live as a wild man?"

It was simply that his appearance was too much of a surprise.

After that person had downed the two sponge cakes: "If it weren't for my lucky fate, I almost wouldn't have made it back."

"What?"

Recalling the beating that day, still shaken to this day: "After you left that day, I was ambushed."

He naturally didn't dare reveal that he had betrayed the main household. In any case, he gambled that the person who beat him that day wouldn't speak of it. Judging from the fact that that person hadn't intended to take his life, they probably only wanted to pry for information.

In any case, as long as he himself didn't say anything, no one would know. Even if he ran into that person again, they might not necessarily recognize him—after all, it had happened on a dark and windy night.

The man inside the room rose and poured him another glass of water, handing it over: "What exactly happened?"

"Not long after you left that day, I was set upon from behind. And while I was unconscious, the attacker not only robbed me of everything valuable on me, but also beat me up."

"Who would be so bold, and have such skill? Could it be that what we did in Willow Village has been exposed?"

The man felt a pang of guilt: "It shouldn't be. After all, that person just grabbed the stuff and ran—probably just a coincidence."

"Then why haven't you come back all this time?"

"I was unconscious the whole time, only came to on the third day. I didn't have a single cent on me, and I didn't want to draw anyone's attention, so I had to keep avoiding people the whole way, which is how I ended up looking like this ghost of a thing."

Seeing his wretched appearance, he was inclined to believe a few parts of what he said.

"Any instructions from above?"

"The task has already been arranged by my people; we're just waiting to see the result."

The next day at noon, Ding Youwen called right on time: "Hello, I'm looking for Ding Surong."

He heard the operator call out: "Ding Surong, telephone."

Along with Ding Surong, there were three other people waiting to take calls here. The moment she heard her name called, she hurried forward: "Hello, Dad, it's me, Surong."

"Did you find the place?"

"Yes, but I've been there several times and didn't see anything."

She deliberately used the word "see," afraid of being overheard.

"Maybe you didn't find the right spot?"

"But any farther would be too dangerous—I wouldn't dare go alone. Besides, you said before that it wasn't far to begin with."

After thinking it over, she lowered her voice a few more degrees: "I didn't find that tree. The reason I said I didn't see anything is because I confirmed with the people there—it's definitely that spot, but the tree is gone. That's why I'm calling you."

Hearing this, a thought suddenly struck Ding Youwen: Could that old woman have been testing him on purpose?

But that didn't make sense—she had truly been drunk that day. Where exactly had things gone wrong?

He couldn't figure it out for the moment: "I understand. If you have time, go look again. I'll arrange things on my end here and try to find time to go over myself."

The parents chatted a bit more, then Ding Surong said: "Dad, to make things easier, I'm planning to move out. Don't forget to send me some money and ration coupons."

(End of chapter)