Madmen don't keep diaries

Chapter 375, 374 Picked up by the roadside
Upon seeing Feng Xiuhu emerge from the car, Zheng Ajuan knelt down before him without saying a word.

Feng Xiuhu frowned deeply: "So you're trying to pin this on me now, huh?"

When Zheng Ajuan raised her head, her face was already streaked with tears: "Second Master, your kindness and virtue are beyond my ability to repay..."

Before he could finish speaking, Shunzi jumped out of the car and helped Zheng Ajuan up: "My brother doesn't like people kneeling. If you have something to say, stand up straight and say it."

Zheng Ajuan wiped away her tears and sobbed uncontrollably.

Looking at this unfortunate woman in front of him, Shunzi felt quite heavy-hearted.

He asked softly, "What are your plans next?"

Zheng Ajuan sobbed twice: "Replying to Third Master, I plan to go back to Qingfang Town first. If Heaven is kind and my husband is safe and sound, he may already be waiting at home. If something bad has really happened, I will pack my bags and go to Fancheng to find him, and at least bring his body back for burial."

Feng Xiuhu suddenly interjected, "Do you know Qian Guangtong?"

Zheng Ajuan was taken aback: "I remember him. He seemed to be the deacon of the town's prayer hall, but he left Qingfang Town a few years ago."

Feng Xiuhu said, "When you get to Fancheng, you can go to the government office and ask Qian Guangtong for help. Just say that the choir leader sent you."

Zheng Ajuan nodded emphatically: "Then I will listen to Second Master."

Feng Xiuhu crawled back into the carriage, and the other party said, "Let's go, don't waste time."

Fang Youliu glanced at Zheng Ajuan, his words carrying a hidden meaning: "Qingfang Town is actually on our way."

Shunzi immediately said, "Then we'll give you a ride. It's not convenient for a woman like you to travel alone."

How could Zheng Ajuan possibly trouble them any further? She quickly declined, and the two of them started tugging at each other.

Feng Xiuhu, growing impatient, stuck his head out the window and said, "Why are you wasting your breath talking to her? Just bring her up and let's go!"

……

Zheng Ajuan eventually got into the car.

She tried to shrink herself into the corner of the seat so as not to take up Feng Xiuhu and Shunzi's place.

After eating some dry food and drinking a few sips of water along the way, the fatigue accumulated over the days surged up, and Zheng Ajuan finally couldn't hold on any longer. She leaned against the wall of the compartment and fell into a deep sleep.

As he left the bustling county town and the surrounding environment returned to tranquility, Feng Xiuhu gradually fell silent.

If he had to summarize his trip to Jiangluoxi, Feng Xiuhu couldn't say whether he had won or lost.

Although Zhuo Sushou is dead, he has achieved his goal.

Feng Xiuhu was well aware of this fact.

The root of the problem lies not in Ma Sanjiang and Zhuo Sushou, but in the greed of human nature.

The birth of Zhu Linjin was a mistake from the start, but unfortunately, from the moment it was born, no one was able to stop this mistake from continuing.

It's like a drug; everyone knows it's wrong, but someone will always grow it.

Ironically, even if Feng Xiuhu were to reveal the cruel truth behind Zhu Linjin to the public, and even let the whole world know about it, doing so would only further increase the value of Zhu Linjin, making it even more scarce and valuable.

Just like the fur of rare animals, the more something is forbidden by society, the more people will want it.

This result made Feng Xiuhu feel worse than if he had swallowed a fly.

He wasn't like Shunzi. Shunzi didn't think so much; he just felt relieved after killing someone, and that everything would be over.

Feng Xiuhu looked at Shunzi, who was fiddling with the Agent Badge—this little gadget was even more useful than he had imagined.

The curved sword pattern on it reminded Shunzi of something. He looked up at Feng Xiuhu and said, "Brother, now that we have money, when we get to the next city, we need to buy some weapons to protect ourselves."

Feng Xiuhu nodded – he couldn't keep stealing weapons from others.

As the carriage reached the moon's zenith, it seemed they would have to travel through the night again.

After an unknown amount of time, the carriage suddenly slowed down.

Above the carriage shaft, someone said, "We'll be reaching Qingfang Town soon."

It was pitch black outside, how did he know they were almost there?
Feng Xiuhu lifted the curtain and peeked out, and was momentarily stunned.

The carriage slowly came to a stop. Feng Xiuhu jumped off the carriage without saying a word and stood motionless by the roadside.

Shunzi was confused, so he got off the bus and then froze.

In the fields not far from the main road, a man's figure could be seen pacing back and forth.

Feng Xiuhu asked, "Can you see it?"

Shunzi nodded: "...I can see it."

The man's figure emitted a hazy glow, appearing extremely translucent, as if it might dissipate at any moment.

Feng Xiuhu was silent for two seconds, then walked over to the man and asked, "Aren't you leaving yet, so late?"

The man raised his head blankly, his eyes vacant, as if he didn't see Feng Xiuhu. He only subconsciously replied, "I...I lost my jade pendant...It was left to me by my wife. I always wore it with me. How could I not find it..."

Feng Xiuhu took out a jade pendant from his pocket and held it up in front of the man: "Is this it?"

The man's eyes suddenly lit up, and he exclaimed joyfully, "That's it, that's it—"

He reached out to grab it, but his fingers passed right through the jade pendant.

The man was stunned. After a moment, he seemed to suddenly understand something and stared at Feng Xiuhu in astonishment.

Feng Xiuhu waved his hand: "Stop looking, hurry up and go down. Maybe you'll run into your older brother and have someone to keep you company."

Just then, Zheng Ajuan in the car suddenly woke up. She peeked out of the window and looked over in confusion: "Second Master, why did you suddenly stop the car?"

Feng Xiuhu replied, "Come down and have a smoke."

"sister in law……"

The man stared blankly at Zheng Ajuan through the car window.

Light spots began to emanate from his body, and his already translucent spirit form was becoming increasingly difficult to see.

Feng Xiuhu said, "Don't be reluctant. Just go. Otherwise you'll scare passersby if you turn back."

The man gave a bitter smile, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Feng Xiuhu, and disappeared completely a few seconds later.

Back in the car, Feng Xiuhu silently tossed the jade pendant into Zheng Ajuan's arms.

Zheng Ajuan picked it up and looked at it closely, then exclaimed with delight, "This is my uncle's jade pendant! How did it end up with Second Master?"

Feng Xiuhu said irritably, "I picked it up by the roadside."

He found it? Shouldn't it be in Ma Sihai's hands?

Zheng Ajuan wisely refrained from asking further questions and carefully placed the jade pendant into her bosom.

The carriage continued on its way, and soon stopped again.

Fang Youliu said, "This time it's really here."

Feng Xiuhu looked outside—a fork in the road appeared, and in the open space at the bend, a group of people were setting up camp for the night. Judging from the cart next to them, they were probably porters transporting dye.

When Feng Xiuhu and his entourage's carriage suddenly stopped, the night watchman, who had already become alert, quickly woke up the others.

Fang Youliu pointed to the path and said, "This path leads to Qingfang Town. It's about a two-hour walk from there."

Zheng Ajuan jumped off the car: "It won't take that long. What you're talking about is the journey for a porter carrying goods. I can travel light by myself and get there in half an hour if I walk fast."

Hearing the voices, someone in the camp suddenly stood up and called out, "Is that Madam Zheng?"

Zheng Ajuan turned around and called out, "Grandpa Chen? It's me!"

The porter, addressed as Grandpa Chen, quickly came forward: "Oh dear, where have you all been these past few days? Your servants have been searching frantically for you!"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Ajuan was overcome with grief and was about to explain, "This is a long story, but luckily I met Second Master and the others..."

When he turned around and pointed, there was nothing behind him.

Zheng Ajuan looked around anxiously, only to find that the carriage had already gone far away.

(End of this chapter)