wind in the dark night

Chapter 307 The wedding is approaching
The hall was silent and quiet.

The oil lamp was under the incense table. Li Fuwen was just about to reach out to take it when he suddenly heard a creaking sound. The hall door, which was originally half-closed, was unexpectedly closed, and a dark shadow appeared silently behind him.

Li Fuwen's hand slowly reached for his waist. He carried a dagger for self-defense.

Black shadow——Qi Yue said: "It's me."

"Qingyi?"

Li Fuwen was surprised and happy.

Qi Yue asked: "Who was that person just now?"

Li Fuwen hesitated for a moment: "Captain Zhou of the Binjiang Branch."

Qi Yue asked again: "Do you know each other?"

Li Fuwen said: "It's a long story. When I joined the revolution and went to Yan'an for the first time, he was there too. We have known each other for many years."

Qi Yue said: "I've been to your house."

Li Fuwen said, "I got into some trouble. For safety reasons, I no longer live there. How did you find this place?"

"Just now, in the woods near the blockhouse, Ma Kai from the Anti-Japanese United Army Working Group was killed. I suspect it was one of our own who did it."

Qi Yue did not mention the words on the merit box. If he had mentioned it, it would have been tantamount to revealing his identity. Everything was not clear yet, so it was better to be cautious.

Li Fuwen was shocked: "Ma Kai was killed? Did you see it with your own eyes?"

Qi Yue said: "Yes."

"Who could have done this..."

Li Fuwen frowned.

Qi Yue said: "I have a clue that may help us find the murderer."

"What clue?"

The two talked in the dark, and Li Fuwen did not turn on the light, because he knew that Qingyi did not want to show her true face before finding out the traitor.

Qi Yue said: "Whoever owns the Pu'er tea could be the murderer. As for the reason, it is not convenient to tell you now, but I will explain it to you later. Of course, this is only circumstantial evidence. To confirm the murderer's identity, other evidence is needed."

When Li Fuwen heard the word "circumstantial evidence", his heart was moved. This kind of professional vocabulary is generally used in the judicial department. He speculated that Qingyi's identity was most likely a policeman.

Qi Yue asked: "Are you going to live here from now on?"

Li Fuwen said: "No, I'm still in Binjiang. I came to Lianhua Town just on the way. If you want to find me in the future, just go to Chenghuang Temple. Normally, I set up a fortune-telling stall there every Sunday afternoon..."

At this time, footsteps were heard outside the hall.

Qi Yue retreated to the side behind the door.

As the door of the hall opened, Taoist Li walked in. The hall was pitch black, but in the dim moonlight, Li Fuwen could be vaguely seen.

Li Fuwen said, "Uncle."

Taoist Li asked: "Why don't you light the lamp?"

Li Fuwen said: "I didn't find it."

Taoist Li walked in and fumbled to take out the oil lamp from under the incense table: "The lamp has been placed here. Didn't I tell you last time..."

Qi Yue flashed out of the hall.

……

Nine o'clock at night.

Bang! Bang!

The cold wind howled, accompanied by the sound of clappers, and the hoarse voice of the night watchman, Old Gengtou, could be heard faintly: "Close the doors and windows to prevent theft~"

Zhou Yi paced back and forth with a frown on his face.

Officer Zhao said, "Captain Zhou, don't worry too much. Ma Kai is a local and is familiar with the place. Just like last time, even if he encounters danger, he can just find a place to hide. He will be fine."

Zhou Yi said: "That was a fluke."

Secretary Zhao said, "Yes, we can't rely on luck every time... The same thing happened to Ma Kai. I told him not to go out, but he just wouldn't listen. When he comes back, I will definitely criticize him severely!"

Zhou Yi asked: "Did he say where he was going?"

Secretary Zhao said: "He said he wanted to go to his second aunt's house. Oh, his second aunt is also in Shiqiao Village. I thought that since we didn't leave the village, I agreed..."

The door curtain was lifted and Xiao Wang walked in quickly.

Secretary Zhao immediately asked, "What's going on? Have you found Ma Kai?"

"I didn't find him." "Did you go to his second aunt's house to ask?"

Xiao Wang said: "I asked, and his second aunt said that Ma Kai didn't come at all."

"What's going on?"

Secretary Zhao looked at Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi said: "Look somewhere else."

Before he finished speaking, Lao Chen and Da Chun walked in one after the other, looking nervous: "Captain Zhou, Secretary Zhao, something happened!"

Officer Zhao asked, "What happened?"

Lao Chen said: "A body was found near the blockhouse. People from the public security bureau have come. Many people from the village have gone there. Dachun and I also went there... It looks like Ma Kai."

Officer Zhao frowned: "Looks like it?"

Lao Chen said: "The face was chopped up, I couldn't recognize who it was, but I looked at the physique."

"It looks similar to me."

Dachun echoed.

Zhou Yi sat down slowly: "Tiezhu was killed, Ma Kai was killed, and these incidents happened one after another. This at least shows one thing, there is a problem within us..."

Lao Chen said: "Just now, a few unfamiliar faces appeared in the village. I suspect that they might be spies sent by the enemy. Captain Zhou, I would like you to leave quickly. You are a foreigner..."

Officer Zhao immediately said, "Old Chen is right. Captain Zhou, let Dachun escort you and leave overnight. If the enemy raids the village, it will be terrible!"

Zhou Yi thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I'll leave now. Officer Zhao, I'll leave everything here to you. We must find out whether Ma Kai is dead or alive!"

Officer Zhao asked, "What should we do with the thunder bomb?"

Zhou Yi said: "We'll see how the situation develops. You guys should also be extra careful during this period."

"Don't worry, it's okay."

Secretary Zhao called Dachun, who was in charge of security, to escort Zhou Yi out of Shiqiao Village overnight.

……

early morning.

No. 84 Binshan Road.

Inside the Baigongguan restaurant.

Bai Peicen's family of three were having breakfast, porridge, pickles, fried dough sticks, milk bread, a hodgepodge of Chinese and Western food, everyone eating their own food.

Bai Peicen looked at his daughter and said, "Xue'er, how do you feel after being a teacher for a few days?"

“It feels really good.”

Snow White took a sip of milk.

Bai Peicen nodded: "In a few days, the school will be on winter vacation, and your wedding should be on the agenda. I originally planned to hold the wedding in May of next year, when the weather is warm and the flowers are blooming... November 6th is also good, but it's a bit rushed."

“I feel it’s rushed, too.”

Bai Xue had no expression on her face.

Mrs. Bai said, "It was Yu Jincheng who proposed the date, and you two didn't object. Now you say it's too hasty. The date has been set, can it be changed? That would be like children playing house. Besides, we have to respect Jincheng's opinion."

Bai Peicen said: "I didn't say to change the date. What I meant was that we have to seize the time and not wait until the last minute to cram."

Mrs. Bai curled her lips and said, "My hall master, you just wait to be a ready-made father-in-law. I have already prepared Xue'er's wedding. Now, it's up to the Yu family... By the way, Xue'er, how many people are coming to Jincheng's house?"

Bai Xue said: "Only his parents came, not his relatives. The main reason is that it's too far away, the journey is inconvenient, and there are also concerns about safety issues."

Mrs. Bai snorted, "How far can it be? What's unsafe about taking the train? Not wanting to come is just an excuse... Forget it, I don't care whether you come or not. Sigh, today is the beginning of the month, and Xue'er will get married in more than half a month. Sometimes when I think about it, I feel very sad."

Bai Xue was stunned for a moment, then suddenly became annoyed, stood up and walked out.

"Where are you going so early in the morning?"

Mrs. Bai asked from behind.

Bai Xue didn't even turn around: "Let's go to school."

Mrs. Bai glanced at the clock and murmured, "So early?"

It's just past seven o'clock now. The sun rises late in the northeast in winter. Elementary school classes start at 8:30, and Bai Xue usually doesn't go out until eight o'clock.

(End of this chapter)