Free Web NovelChapter 31: Chapter 31: The Official’s Daughter
Inside the woods, Patrol Police in identical white leg wraps bustled about, carrying one body after another onto the flatbed carts outside.
Fu Juemin stood under a small patch of shade, flanked by Qian Fei, Ma Dakui, and their men, watching the chaotic scene before him with a placid expression.
His gaze rested on a spot not far from him, where a man and a woman stood, talking.
The woman, of course, was the one Fu Juemin had saved earlier.
Now, she looked even more stunning than when she had been lying in the burlap sack.
Even though her qipao was stained with dirt and bits of grass, and the hair at her temples was slightly disheveled, just standing there revealed a portion of her figure and her profile. Every gesture exuded a nobility that seemed ingrained in her very bones.
Fu Juemin recognized the man speaking with her. He had a Jingtai Blue hat brim and a gold-bordered plum blossom insignia on his shoulder. It was Zhou He, the deputy director of the police department and a well-known figure in Luan River. Yet at this moment, before the woman, he was slightly bowed at the waist, his expression deferential. His courtesy was so pronounced it could almost be called humility.
"Young Master."
Qian Fei stepped closer from his side, his voice low and tinged with a hint of imperceptible awe. "I never imagined... that this time, you would rescue Little Grandma Su."
’Little Grandma Su.’
Hearing this strange title, Fu Juemin found it hard to associate it with the woman before him. He couldn’t help but ask, "Which Su Family in Luan River?"
But Qian Fei shook his head. "Not the Su Family. The Lin Family."
"The Lin Family?"
Just as Fu Juemin was about to press for more details, the woman in his line of sight finished speaking with Zhou He and started walking straight toward him.
Qian Fei tactfully retreated a few steps. Fu Juemin watched the woman as she drew closer. In the afternoon light filtering through the trees, her skin was so fair it was almost dazzling, like the finest rice paper—so flawless one couldn’t bear to stare directly at it.
The woman stopped three paces from Fu Juemin and extended her hand toward him.
Her hand was as slender as jade, her fingernails neatly trimmed. Only her knuckles still bore the faint red marks where the hemp rope had chafed them.
"My name is Su Hui."
Fu Juemin was taken aback for a moment, then extended his own hand. "Fu Juemin."
"I know."
The woman gave Fu Juemin’s hand a light shake and immediately withdrew hers, then she smiled.
Though she appeared exceptionally gentle and demure, her smile conveyed an inexplicable sense of calm and magnanimity.
"I am indebted to you for the rescue today, Young Master Fu. I will remember this kindness and will be sure to repay it in the future."
After speaking, the woman didn’t wait for Fu Juemin’s response, giving a slight nod before turning to leave.
Fu Juemin’s gaze followed her retreating figure. In the distance, he saw several people who looked like old servants waiting outside the woods. They rushed toward her anxiously the moment they saw her, but when she raised a hand, the panic on their faces immediately subsided...
"So which Lin Family is it?"
Fu Juemin withdrew his gaze and turned to ask again.
Qian Fei replied, "Have you forgotten, Young Master? The one with the Number Two Scholar."
At the mention of the "Number Two Scholar," Fu Juemin finally remembered.
In the final years of the previous dynasty, Luan River produced its last Advanced Scholar, a man named Lin Jinyao. He achieved the rank of Number Two Scholar and married the daughter of a high-ranking court official...
"So this Su Hui is the official’s daughter that the Lin Family married?"
"Correct."
Fu Juemin was surprised. "How is she so young?"
Qian Fei chuckled. "Well, the previous dynasty only fell a few years ago.
"Besides, I heard Little Grandma Su was only thirteen when she married into the family. The Lin Family has always raised her like she was practically their own daughter. freēwēbnovel.com
"The Lin Family has had poor fortune. Just after the official’s daughter married into the family, their own Advanced Scholar died, and then the previous dynasty collapsed...
"I heard that Little Grandma Su’s family held the First Grade rank in the previous dynasty and were even related to the Imperial Family."
"And she never went back?"
"No, she’s always stayed with the Lin Family.
"Once Mrs. Lin died, she became the member of the Lin Family with the highest seniority, so everyone calls her Little Grandma Su."
Fu Juemin couldn’t help but marvel at the story.
’A legendary figure like her could probably only be found in this day and age. And to think I rescued her by some strange twist of fate.’
"Little Grandma Su is usually very low-key. Not many people know about her background."
Qian Fei said with a sigh, "I only heard about it myself because the Second Master mentioned it once while we were drinking."
Fu Juemin nodded. Rescuing the widow of a former dynasty’s Advanced Scholar, an official’s daughter, was merely a novelty to him. It didn’t stir any strong feelings.
However, it was the other person he’d rescued along with Su Hui that truly surprised Fu Juemin.
At this thought, Fu Juemin subconsciously looked in a certain direction.
By a mound of dirt at the edge of the woods, a woman was squatting on the ground, hugging her knees. Beside her stood a handsome young man, leaning over and speaking to her, seemingly trying to comfort her.
’Xu Leyi.’
Fu Juemin had never expected that the other person kidnapped by the bandits would turn out to be his own annoying fiancée, Xu Leyi.
Fu Juemin’s gaze lingered on Xu Leyi for a moment before shifting to the young man beside her. He asked Qian Fei, "How did you run into them?"
"After receiving your message, Young Master, Dakui and I brought our men over immediately.
"On the way, we ran into this kid leading a squad of Patrol Police this way. They were heading straight for these woods..."
"How did he know the bandits were hiding here?"
"He said he got a tip from someone and tracked them here..."
Qian Fei replied in a low voice.
Fu Juemin’s eyes flickered. He watched the young man, whom he’d heard was named Zhao Xinhua, hovering around Xu Leyi, his mind quietly turning things over.
Just then, someone called out to him.
He turned to see Zhou He, the deputy director of the police department who had led this operation, walking toward him with his potbelly pushed out.
"Young Master Fu, your things. Returned to their rightful owner."
Zhou He walked up to Fu Juemin and immediately signaled for a Patrol Police officer behind him to respectfully present a gold pocket watch and a silver revolver.
Technically, both items should have been kept as evidence, but now even the bloodstains had been wiped completely clean.
"Thank you for your trouble, Deputy Director Zhou."
Fu Juemin took the gun and the watch, politely expressing his thanks.
Come to think of it, Zhou He was Fu Guoping’s direct superior.
However, the Fu Family was powerful, and Fu Juemin had also performed a great service by eliminating the bandits, so Zhou He was being exceptionally polite to him.
"It is I who should be thanking you."
Zhou He said with a serious expression, "This time, Young Master Fu, you and your bodyguards have eradicated a gang of bandits for our Luan River County. Acting courageously for a just cause and ridding the people of a menace—you are truly great heroes of Luan River County.
"Once the case is closed, the county will certainly publish a commendation in the papers for you both..." ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
"There’s no need to put it in the papers..."
Fu Juemin waved a dismissive hand. "But I would like the police department’s help in finding someone as soon as possible. I wonder if you’re aware of the matter, Deputy Director Zhou?"
Zhou He nodded at once. "I’ve heard. The petty thief who stole Young Master Fu’s Western watch. I’ll have my men press on with the investigation as soon as I get back."
"Then I’ll leave it in your hands, Deputy Director Zhou..."
Fu Juemin exchanged a few more pleasantries with Zhou He, and seeing as there was nothing else, he prepared to leave.
The latter naturally agreed, and even personally escorted Fu Juemin and his men all the way to the edge of the woods before stopping.
As soon as he was out of the woods, Fu Juemin saw his family’s car parked by the roadside.
He led Qian Fei and the others toward the car. As they neared it, Qian Fei glanced at the car and shot him a look.
Fu Juemin subconsciously glanced into the car and saw Li Tong, dressed in a black short jacket, sitting inside and watching him with an unreadable smile.
"Uncle Tong?"
Fu Juemin was a little surprised.
He hadn’t expected Li Tong to be the one to come; he had thought it would be Uncle Chen, the butler, or someone like that.
But on second thought, after an incident as serious as a run-in with bandits, it was perfectly reasonable for his father, Fu Guosheng, to send Li Tong.
"I bet when I get back, my father is going to ground me again."
Fu Juemin got into the car, sighing softly as he loosened his collar.
Li Tong smiled but didn’t respond to his comment. Just as Fu Juemin closed the car door, he spoke, his voice light.
"Today was your first time killing someone, Young Master. How does it feel?"
Fu Juemin stiffened, whipping his head around to look at Li Tong beside him.
Very quickly, the flicker of emotion in his eyes vanished, and he became calm again.
Fu Juemin rested his hands on his knees and slowly leaned back against the seat. "Good," he answered softly.
