The events at Huang Xin's house.
It wasn't a simple case of ordinary theft.
Otherwise, the unusual situation under the century-old tree in the yard couldn't be explained.
At this moment.
Under the towering tree that met Zhang Yang's eyes, one large pit after another had been dug.
The tree roots, long buried in the soil, were exposed to the air.
It was obvious.
This kind of behavior wasn't something a thief would do.
How to put it?
It was more like treasure hunting?
This explanation would be more appropriate.
Residents living in old residential areas were all so poor they could barely make ends meet, and you wouldn't even find a single coin dropped.
If a thief couldn't find anything in the house, why would they target this big tree?
Vaguely.
Zhang Yang felt that this matter might have something to do with him.
Because his own house had been burgled not long ago.
Although it wasn't as crude as digging up tree roots here.
But his intuition told Zhang Yang that the other party was likely after him.
After all, he used to live here.
Zhang Yang looked up at the big tree. He often played under it for shade when he was a child.
Then, he directly climbed up.
He stopped at a height of five or six meters from the ground.
Zhang Yang stared at the triangular mark he had made as a child, took out the small knife he had brought with him.
He tapped on the thick trunk, found a hollow spot, and cut open the trunk with one stroke.
Suddenly, a hole appeared in the trunk.
Zhang Yang reached in and took out the item wrapped in a small red cloth that was placed inside.
Opening the red cloth, he found a token.
It was carved with nine divine dragons, with a character, 'Zhang', in the center, forming an arch.
Zhang Yang didn't know the specific function of this token.
However, according to his adoptive father.
When he picked him up, this token and a jade pendant were tied to him.
Zhang Yang had always worn the jade pendant, but the token was heavy, so he hid it.
Perhaps this token was related to the missing jade pendant and Zhang Yang's background.
However, Zhang Yang currently had little interest in his own background.
If it weren't for Huang Xin and her daughter wanting to sell the house.
Zhang Yang would have even hidden this token in the tree trunk forever.
Getting down from the tree, Zhang Yang put the token in his pocket.
He observed at the entrance for a while.
Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, he walked towards the car parked at the corner not far away.
At this time of day, everyone had gone out to work.
No one noticed the unusual situation at Huang Xin's house.
Zhang Yang parked his car in a spot near the bus stop and walked towards his home.
Upon returning home.
Zhang Yang played with the token in his hand for a while.
Finding no clues, he placed it under his pillow and ignored it.
...
On the other side.
The captain of the Qin family's guards stood before Qin Shengnan, reporting the entire incident.
"Miss, we searched Huang Xin's house as you instructed, but we didn't find any suspicious or similar items."
Still no luck?
Obviously, Qin Shengnan was very dissatisfied with this answer.
However, she was very confident in the Qin family's guard captain handling the matter personally.
Because this person was promoted by her.
Qin Shengnan frowned.
She couldn't figure out where Zhang Yang had hidden it!
Initially, Qin Shengnan searched Zhang Yang's house herself and found nothing.
Then, she used the Patrol Division to arrest Zhang Yang and search his person, but still didn't find what her junior disciple wanted.
Now, Qin Shengnan had ordered people to search the place where Zhang Yang lived as a child.
Still no luck!
Where exactly was what her junior disciple wanted hidden!
"You can go down now," Qin Shengnan waved her hand impatiently, letting the guard captain leave.
The repeated failures made Qin Shengnan gradually lose her patience.
This matter couldn't be delayed any longer.
Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to explain it to her junior disciple and master.
"What a shame, Master didn't allow me to alert them, otherwise it would be much easier to just capture Zhang Yang!" Qin Shengnan said angrily.
It seemed she had to start from somewhere else now.
Qin Shengnan thought to herself.
Suddenly, a phone call came in.
Seeing the name of the caller, Qin Shengnan's eyes showed surprise.
It was like a pillow being delivered when she was sleepy.
"What? Are your injuries all healed? When do you plan to come back?"
...
After resting at home for a while, it was time for dinner.
Zhang Yang felt he should celebrate buying a car today.
So he went out to buy some snacks to go with drinks.
Then he walked towards Old Man He's house, wanting to have a few drinks with the old man.
However.
When he arrived at Old Man He's house with the items.
A busy and beautiful figure in the yard made Zhang Yang freeze.
"This old man told me he has no wife, children, or descendants. Then who is this woman?"
Suddenly.
Zhang Yang thought of a possibility: had the news of the old residential area's demolition leaked?
Some women who wanted to take shortcuts wanted to deceive Old Man He.
Under the guise of taking care of him, they wanted to inherit Old Man He's demolition compensation.
Zhang Yang kept it in mind and walked in, calling out.
"Grandpa, where are you? I bought some snacks."
"Quickly, pour two pounds of sweet potato wine from your wine jar, and let's have a few drinks tonight."
Old Man He, inside the house, was constantly paying attention to the movements outside the yard.
Hearing Zhang Yang arrive, he walked out of the house with a melancholic expression.
Without looking sideways, he ignored He Qiyan's expectant gaze.
Old Man He carried a pot of wine towards Zhang Yang.
"You kid, you haven't come to see this old man for so many days. Have you fallen into a haven of bliss?" Old Man He said with a smile.
"Look at what you're saying, am I that kind of person? I've just been too busy lately," Zhang Yang replied with an awkward smile.
Then he placed the snacks in his hand on the stone table in the yard.
Zhang Yang glanced at He Qiyan, who was busy in the yard, and teased.
"If you talk about a haven of bliss, I might still be a bit behind compared to you, Grandpa."
"Then this beauty should be around my age, right?"
Pfft~
The wine Old Man He had just swallowed spurted out.
"You brat, what nonsense are you talking about? Am I that kind of person?"
Zhang Yang shrugged noncommittally, "Uh-huh~ Isn't it right in front of us?"
"This... alas." Old Man He sighed and said with a wry smile.
"This little girl is the widow of an old friend of mine. I took her in for a while when she was a child."
Huh?
Zhang Yang's face turned red with embarrassment, and he said with some shame.
"So that's how it is, I misunderstood. I thought..."
Old Man He waved his hand indifferently.
Looking at He Qiyan's busy back, his face was very conflicted.
Last night.
He Qiyan fell asleep on the stone table in the yard after getting drunk.
She woke up this morning as if nothing had happened.
She went out to buy groceries and prepared breakfast, lunch, and now dinner for Old Man He.
Old Man He was still holding a grudge about the past, so he didn't come out no matter how much He Qiyan called him.
However, He Qiyan had no complaints and continued to cook dinner.
Judging by her actions, she had decided to stay here.
"Stay for dinner tonight?" Old Man He said, looking at Zhang Yang.
"Of course, I came at mealtime, isn't that what it means?" Zhang Yang said with a thick skin and a smile.
Anyway, he had eaten at Old Man He's place quite a few times.
Then, Zhang Yang asked curiously.
"Grandpa, why have I never heard you mention this granddaughter of yours before?"
Old Man He took out the cheap roll of cigarettes from his pocket, lit one.
He exhaled a puff of smoke to hide his sad expression and shook his head.
"She's not my biological granddaughter, so there's nothing to mention."
Old Man He was clearly not telling the whole truth, but Zhang Yang didn't press him.
He opened the snacks he bought, poured white wine into their cups, and smiled.
"Alright, let's not talk about the past, let's have a couple of drinks first."
"Haha, good, let's have a couple of drinks first."
Throughout this day and night, Old Man He had been very troubled, agitated, and melancholic.
Now that Zhang Yang came to drink with him, he was naturally overjoyed.
In the kitchen.
He Qiyan, who had finished her work, saw that Old Man He was finally smiling.
A smile also appeared on her face. She carried two plates of freshly cooked dishes.
She came out of the kitchen, wanting to join Zhang Yang and Old Man He.
However.
As soon as He Qiyan got close, Zhang Yang's expression became unnatural.
Even though the dishes in He Qiyan's hands were rich in color, aroma, and taste.
They still couldn't hide the fragrance emanating from He Qiyan.
This scent...
Zhang Yang was too familiar with it!