Perfect Encounter - Chapter 54.2
PROOFREAD BY AFREANA
Chapter 54.2
“What are your plans?” The man asked.
“Maybe there’s no need to lose Liu Ze. I need to think again.”
“Understood.”
The man leaned against the wall as if nothing had happened, and behind him, there was no more sound as Mr. Xie left.
Nothing much happened in Zhonglan City that day. Zhao Jiahua’s suicide did not cause any big ripples, except that the streets and alleys began to discuss the owner of the Zhaofu Restaurant. Word spread that Mr. Liu is so pitiful. His daughter is gone while his wife is dead. He lived a happy life, but now he has become a widower. The local government office sent people to the Liu Residence to examine. They searched around the house but couldn’t find Liu Yin’s body. Late at night, they finally gave up. The team returned and let Liu Ze go to the courthouse the next day to close the case.
Liu Ze went to the courthouse early in the morning. When he exited the government office, he paid careful attention to the surroundings. He did not see any strange people, and no one was watching him.
Liu Ze did not take the carriage, walking back to the Zhaofu restaurant alone without a servant. Along the way, he met acquaintances and neighbors, politely responded to their condolences, and received a lot of sympathy and pity.
Walking to the restaurant, Liu Ze saw an extra bell at the window. His heart shifted. He entered the restaurant, asked the manager about handling of certain matters, and then went up to the second floor, appearing to check the condition of the rooms one by one. There were no customers in the restaurant at all. Thus, he went to a private room without worry and pulled a note from behind the cabinet. Written on it was: ‘Jiang family clothing store’s Li Xiu’er’ with ‘Xiu’er’ characters crossed.
He has received a task.
Does this mean that Young Master Min is testing him, or does he trust him again?
Liu Ze looked at all areas of the restaurant as if nothing had happened. After confirming the accounts with the manager and the bookkeeper, he let them officially close the business.
Liu Ze passed through the back kitchen and went to the back street. Before entering his house, he deliberately stopped to explain some rules for dealing with visitors to the gatekeepers. The family will hold a funeral and be busy with visitors and other chores at the back. The gatekeepers listened carefully to the instructions and responded one after another.
Liu Ze entered the house and returned to his courtyard, dismissing all the servants, saying he wanted to rest.
Inside the Jubao Gambling House, Qi Zheng was itching to see the outside of the secret room again. Although he promised Lu Daniang not to take risks easily, this secret room was a good place to hide secrets. Qi Zheng always felt there were clues hidden inside, but he couldn’t find the opportunity to go in. Now with no one around, isn’t it a good opportunity?
When he was struggling with whether or not he should enter the room and turn the switch, he heard a click, and there was movement inside.
Qi Zheng was so scared that he hurriedly hid behind the wall. A short while later, he saw Liu Ze coming out from the room.
Qi Zheng’s eyes widened with great surprise. He was sure that Boss Liu had not come to the gambling house today. How did he get into the secret room?
Liu Ze came out of the room and looked around alertly, then moved towards the direction Qi Zheng was hiding.
Qi Zheng leaned close to the wall, not daring to breathe.
Liu Ze walked through the passageway at Qi Zheng’s side, only four or five steps away from him. Qi Zheng felt his legs shaking. Fortunately, Liu Ze did not look back. He kept walking, passed through the courtyard door, and disappeared.
Qi Zheng stood in place for a while, making sure there was no more movement around before he heaved a sigh of relief. His legs were so weak that he could hardly stand. Looking at the door of the secret room, Qi Zheng felt reluctant but also scared. After struggling for a while, he still hurried to leave. If Boss Liu returned, it would be a disaster.
Liu Ze had already quietly gone upstairs and sat face-to-face with Lou Zhi.
“How is it? Did you find out?” Liu Ze asked.
Lou Zhi shook his head, “He’s too careful. He kept circling the city. I lost him every time. My brothers were afraid to follow him closely. If he finds out, it will be bad.”
“So towards him, we don’t know anything other than the three words, Young Master Min.” Liu Ze gritted his teeth.
“It’s too dangerous to make a move like this.” Lou Zhi said, “We can’t fight against him. In case something goes wrong ……”
“That’s why he has to be killed by An Ruochen and the military. This way, no one can pick a fault. The people above won’t know it was us either.” Liu Ze said, “Now that we have come to this step, either he dies or I die. If I die, you cannot be safe. We are on the same boat. He will not let us go.”
Lou Zhi murmured: “But I can’t figure out his background. I’m worried about the consequences.”
“He is just a link. When he dies, someone needs to take his place. I know more or less the situation in the city. Except me, nobody else is more suitable.”
“What happens if he dies, then a new person becomes the replacement, not you? Will they find out about us then?”
“Then we will wait until that time. It is better than being killed by him now.” Liu Ze said: “Consider the fate of the Xu Matchmaker. This one surnamed Min has already lost his temper last time, saying that An Ruochen has set her eyes on me. Once he feels unsafe, the idea of killing me is only a matter of time. Maybe he’s contacting a killer right now.”
“But you’ve already killed your wife.”
“That’s only a delaying tactic, just for a while. Don’t forget that An Ruochen also has eyes on the gambling house. She is an unshakeable trouble. She must die. But once An Ruochen is dead, the one surnamed Min will find us to settle accounts, and then we will remain in the same situation as today!”
Lou Zhi irritably clicked his lips and did not speak.
Liu Ze knew he had his objections, so he said: “This is all my fault. But after this hurdle, it will be better later. Previously you had bigger problems. Didn’t we pass it together?”
Lou Zhi was choked, speechless. He was silent for a while and nodded: “Okay. Then you arrange it properly.”
Liu Ze breathed a sigh of relief, took out a note, and handed it to Lou Zhi, saying, “The one surnamed Min asked us to kill someone. The deadline is two days.”
Lou Zhi took a look: “Who is this Li Xiu’er?”
“Ah Hua has made clothes in that clothing store. An Ruochen has also been there.”
Lou Zhi frowned and stared at the paper.
Liu Ze said: “You see. As long as he has a slight suspicion, the one surnamed Min would eliminate them. If we don’t kill him, we’ll be in danger.”
In the meantime, Lu Daniang went to the Jiang family clothing store. Li Xiu’er did not care about her at first. There were too many customers, and Lu Daniang’s outfit did not look like she could afford to make clothes here, so she thought Lu Daniang was only looking at the clothes to admire them. But then Lu Daniang suddenly squeezed over to her privately and whispered, “I’m here to ask about the materials for the Xu Matchmaker. Would you like to find a quiet place to talk?”
Li Xiu’er’s face froze as if she had heard a thunderstorm, and only after a long time did she say with a forced smile, “Madam, you are joking.”
Lu Daniang shook her head: “If you want special materials, we’d better find a place to discuss it.”
Li Xiu’er moved back and smiled, “Madam, please look elsewhere. I’m afraid the store doesn’t have the right material for you.”
Lu Daniang had rehearsed this situation in her mind many times before she came, so she said, “Then I will report back. But the next time someone comes to choose materials, it will not be me. Please take care of yourself, and please take care of your mother’s family as well.” After saying that, she turned around to leave.
Li Xiu’er subconsciously pulled her arm.