Chapter 5: New Year (6)

A slight blush appeared on A Jun's pale face. She raised her face and said sincerely: "Mr. Li, thank you for thinking so thoughtful for me." Li Yuanfang said a little uncomfortable, "Hmm" and looked around, then frowned and said: "But these collections are not easy to deal with. If you keep them here, it is inevitable that thieves will come to the door, and Mr. Shen's efforts will not be saved." A Jun bit her lip and suddenly said: "Mr. Li, I will show you another place... Please close the door of the main hall."

Li Yuanfang closed the door as he said. When he returned to the utility room, he saw Ajun standing in front of a large cabinet against the wall. The cabinet door was open and empty inside. Seeing him walking over, Ajun squatted down and gently pressed a very indecipherable button at the bottom of the cabinet. The bottom of the cabinet was lifted upwards, revealing a hole. Ajun whispered: "Mr. Li, there is a cellar below, which is specially used by my father to collect secret items. Please follow me." She held a small candle and entered first. Li Yuanfang followed and walked along the steps to the bottom. It was indeed a cellar below that was about the size of a utility room above. It was very low. Ajun could stand up straight, so Li Yuanfang had to bend over.

Ajun raised the candle and let Li Yuanfang see clearly. Apart from the vague pile of things in the corner, there was nothing in the entire cellar. Ajun sighed softly and explained slowly: "Mr. Li, when our family moved here five years ago, his father specially found this isolated house to live in. For the sake of the safety of the book collection, he found someone to build this cellar." Li Yuanfang frowned slightly: "Then why are there no books here now?" Ajun was stunned for a moment and speechless. Li Yuanfang said in a deep voice: "Ajun, I guess what was stored here was not your father's collection, but the property he obtained through some ulterior motives. Am I right?" Seeing that Ajun did not answer, Li Yuanfang stopped asking questions, but went to the corner to search for the only item, but it turned out to be a woven carpet. The cellar was too dark and there was no specific appearance.

Li Yuanfang signaled Ajun to come and see him. Ajun shook his head: "I have never seen him before." Li Yuanfang asked, "Ajun, do you want to transfer all the books here?" Ajun asked, "Do you think this is OK?" Li Yuanfang nodded, "It's so good. I'll move the box on my back now." Ajun gently pulled his arm: "Don't move the box, just move the book down." Li Yuanfang looked at her in confusion, and Ajun's face turned red: "The whole box of books is too heavy and difficult to move. Besides... Mr. Mei knew that if the boxes suddenly disappeared in this utensil, he would be suspicious." Li Yuanfang suddenly realized.

Because they could only carry dozens of books at a time, it took Li Yuanfang more than an hour to move all the books in the utility room and the cabinet into the cellar. Ajun went to the bedroom opposite to get some clothes and placed them in the empty cabinet at will. When the two of them closed the cellar door again, the utility room returned to its original state. When they returned to the main hall, the sun was already drooping in the afternoon.

Li Yuanfang wanted to give A Jun a few more words, and the yelling of "Mo Feng" came from the front yard, and the sound was full of joy. Li Yuanfang knew that it must be Mei Yingchun's return, so he hurried to the front yard. Mei Yingchun was indeed intimate with "Mo Feng". Seeing Li Yuanfang coming, Mei Yingchun greeted excitedly: "Brother Li! I searched on the bank of the Yellow River for most of the day, and I thought there was no hope. I didn't expect you to find "Mo Feng"." Li Yuanfang also smiled and said: "It was actually a coincidence. This morning I followed the murderer's footsteps to the official road.

Next to him, he happened to meet 'Mo Feng' and brought it back." Mei Yingchun's face suddenly changed and asked, "Brother Li, are you back riding 'Mo Feng'?" "Yes." Li Yuanfang replied, but saw Mei Yingchun's expression suddenly become gloomy and sunny, and she murmured: "How could this happen? 'Mo Feng' never let others ride..." Li Yuanfang stepped forward and asked, "Brother Mei, are there any problems?" "Oh, no, no..." Mei Yingchun turned her eyes in a hurry, and the atmosphere became a little awkward.

A Jun appeared at this time. After saying hello, she invited Mei Yingchun to the back hall to talk. Li Yuanfang immediately understood that she was discussing with Mei Yingchun about going to Luoyang with her. It seemed that A Jun did not intend to let Li Yuanfang negotiate with Mei Yingchun on her behalf, just like letting Li Yuanfang see the secret cellar. She naturally chose to be close and distant, perhaps because of Chen Huai.

When night fell, several people sat around the round table in the main hall again. From last night to now, their New Year's Eve and New Year's Day were so unusual that they often felt like a dream. They seemed to wake up from the dream in the next moment, and seemed to be trapped in a nightmare that they could never get rid of. Their mood was always swaying in gloom and hope, which was really painful.

Mei Yingchun had already discussed with A Jun, and after seven days he temporarily buried Chen Tingfang behind Shen’s house. After A Jun came to Beijing to see Chen Huai, he decided on the time and place for the official burial. When Mei Yingchun went to Jincheng Pass during the day, she not only booked a coffin for Chen Tingfang, but also found a guide to cross the river. It is said that they are all people who live here all year round and know the situation of the Yellow River, and can guide those who cross the river to find the easiest and safest way.

The aunt named He has also become familiar with everyone. It turned out that she was a widow in Jincheng Pass. She made a living by exquisite embroidery and raised her only son with great difficulty. Now that her son is going to Luoyang for the exam, she is worried and plans to follow her. She falls into an ice cave on the Yellow River when she is rushing to go. After listening to her narration, Ajun thought about it and suggested that Aunt He simply go to Beijing with her and Mei Yingchun in seven days. Mei and Li also felt that it would be more appropriate to have an old woman beside Ajun, so she persuaded him from the side. After a little hesitation, Aunt He agreed. Aunt He is a very good female worker and is very experienced. These days, she happened to accompany Ajun to make shrines for Chen Ting, prepare housework, and pack up her luggage.

Everyone had no appetite for this first dinner in the New Year. They hurriedly discussed the matter. Ajun still returned to the main hall to guard the spirit, and Aunt He accompanied her. Mei Yingchun brought some firecrackers from the town during the day, and the child kept pestering Li Yuanfang to set off firecrackers to play. Li Yuanfang had no choice but to burn in the Shen house where the just dead, so she had to take him to the field outside the Shen house. Mei Yingchun and Di Jinghui continued to stay in the main hall to drink and chat.
Chapter completed!