“Probably,” Song Wei nodded, her expression calm.
It seemed today’s purchase of meat had indeed caught someone’s attention.
But who could it be? While she couldn’t be certain, there were a few suspects.
The first, obviously, was Xu Laidi. However, Song Wei doubted Xu Laidi had the skills to pick a lock.
Then there was Luo Yecheng, another person she found suspicious. Lastly, there was Ma Qian, Bai Yunjiao’s sycophantic follower.
Aside from these familiar faces, there were three senior Zhiqing who typically kept to themselves. Song Wei had observed them before—they seemed like quiet, hardworking types.
Something clicked in her mind, and she decided to pay Bai Yunjiao a visit.
“You’re not asleep yet? Is something wrong?” Bai Yunjiao asked in surprise when she saw Song Wei at her door.
Song Wei got straight to the point. “Let me take a look at your lock.”
“My lock?” Bai Yunjiao frowned. “Did something happen?”
Song Wei handed over her own lock. “Look at these scratches. They weren’t there before today.”
“Someone tried to pick your lock?!” Bai Yunjiao’s face went pale.
Song Wei nodded. “Wait, these same marks—my lock has them too,” Bai Yunjiao muttered, panic creeping into her voice.
She rushed Song Wei and Heidan into her room, locking the door behind them. Pulling out her lock, she handed it over. “Look, there are even more scratches on mine. Some of them look older.”
Song Wei examined the lock carefully. “Have you ever had anything stolen from your room?”
Bai Yunjiao clutched her clothes nervously. Panic flashed in her eyes as she hurriedly searched her belongings, then shook her head.
“No… no, wait. Something is missing—my… my undergarment.”
At those words, her face drained of all color, and she swayed as though she might faint.
Song Wei quickly steadied her and helped her sit down.
Tears streamed down Bai Yunjiao’s face. “What should I do? I thought I had just misplaced it, but now…”
“What exactly went missing?” Song Wei asked, her voice calm but tinged with an edge.
“My… my bellyband,” Bai Yunjiao stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Song Wei’s expression darkened immediately. “This has to be the work of a man.”
If it were Xu Laidi, she would have gone for food or money.
Song Wei’s mind raced, narrowing down the list of suspects.
“Do you want to catch whoever did this?”
Bai Yunjiao clenched her fists tightly. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded firmly. “I can’t just let this slide. Changing the lock won’t solve anything—it’ll only alert him. He’s already targeted me, and if we don’t find him, I’ll never feel safe again.”
“Do you have any suspects?”
Bai Yunjiao gritted her teeth. Two words escaped her lips: “Ma Qian.”
Song Wei raised her eyebrows slightly, impressed. Bai Yunjiao was quite intelligent, sharp and clear-headed.
The two of them devised a plan to catch the perpetrator.
“I’ll set a trap,” Song Wei said. “If he wants to break into your room, we’ll give him the chance.”
The next morning, it was the same as usual. Song Wei and Bai Yunjiao went about their day, acting as if nothing had happened.
Bai Yunjiao’s composure was remarkable. Even knowing what Ma Qian had likely done, she interacted with him without a trace of discomfort.
Song Wei, watching from the sidelines, couldn’t help but admire her performance.
As the weather grew colder, the first signs of snow loomed on the horizon. Song Wei, along with the Jiang brothers, Wen Yong and Wen Wu, helped Lin Zhen chop more firewood.
By the time they returned, Lin Zhen had already finished cooking.
He had not only stewed the pig trotters but had also boiled the bones into a rich broth.
Lin Zhen invited the brigade leader and his family for a meal. He used the bone broth to prepare a huge pot of fragrant noodle soup, serving everyone generously.
In the freezing weather, a steaming bowl of noodles was pure comfort. And with Lin Zhen’s exceptional cooking skills, it tasted even better.
Aunt Xinghua, was stunned. She had planned to help with the cooking but ended up only assisting here and there.
Even the brigade leader and his family were amazed.
“Lin Zhen, you’re something else,” Aunt Xinghua praised. “I’d never have guessed someone your size could cook this well. This is better than anything I’ve ever made! Whoever marries you will enjoy delicious food in the future.”
The brigade leader nodded in agreement, while his children didn’t even lift their heads from their bowls.
Lin Zhen chuckled and, stealing a glance at Song Wei, couldn’t help but grin even wider.
Their eyes met briefly, and for some reason, Song Wei felt her ears heat up. Why was he looking at her like that?!
The pig’s trotters were tender and flavorful, cooked with just the right amount of sauerkraut to cut through the richness. The combination was mouthwatering.
“Where’d you learn all this?” someone asked.
Lin Zhen flashed a toothy smile. “I picked it up from the old cook in the army.”
He held a massive bowl, shoveling in mouthfuls of noodles. The brigade leader and his sons ate the same way, quickly and without pretense.
“Your cooking is really delicious, but this is too indulgent,” Aunt Xinghua remarked, shaking her head. “You can’t eat like this every day.”
“Yeah,” the brigade leader agreed. “These noodles are a luxury—how much grain did you use for this?”
Lin Zhen waved off their concerns. “What’s the point of having food if you don’t eat it? Don’t worry, I’ve got plenty stocked up.”
By the end of the meal, the pot of noodles and the sauerkraut pig’s trotters were scraped clean. Everyone leaned back, sated and content.
Meanwhile, the children played in the yard. Heidan pulled out a handful of lard residue wrapped in clean newspaper.
“Wow!”
Fuwa and Lele’s eyes lit up.
“Lard residue! They smell so good!”
Lele, the brigade leader’s granddaughter, patted her round belly. “I’m too full to eat anymore.”
Still, she couldn’t stop staring at the lard residue.
Heidan shared them with his friends, giving Lele a bit more since she was younger. Fuwa, her brother, didn’t mind—he adored his little sister.
“Don’t eat it now if you’re full,” Heidan advised. “Save it for when you’re hungry. Fresh lard residue taste the best. It’s a shame you didn’t come yesterday!”
Unable to resist, Fuwa licked one of the lard residue. “Even cold, they’re amazing!”
The two siblings now adored Heidan even more. Their “big brother” always seemed to have the best treats!
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