I raised stunning young ladies, but they all wanted to possess me.

Aunt Tian suddenly came to her senses, quickly folded the handkerchief and put it in her pocket. She took a deep breath to regain her composure, and her expression became serious.

"Master Gu, it's strange, but Miss Fu's adoptive parents are very cultured and refined. Their way of speaking and acting is different from that of ordinary country people."

"They really treat Miss Fu very well, like their own daughter, without any hesitation."

Gu Yan nodded without interrupting, waiting for her to continue.

Aunt Tian frowned, as if carefully choosing her words.

"The problem is that this elderly couple moves frequently, every few years, and each time they live in a notorious neighborhood."

"It's the kind of place that law enforcement officers dread, and even patrol cars don't dare to drive in alone."

Gu Yan frowned slightly and tapped her fingers lightly on the stone table.

"What do you mean by 'villainous zone'? Explain yourself."

Aunt Tian lowered her voice and leaned forward.

"Master Gu, you don't know, take the mountainous area where they first lived as an example, that place was notoriously poor and desolate."

"The people in the mountains are vicious and ruthless. Robbing people on the road is commonplace for them. Outsiders are robbed clean before they even reach the village entrance."

"Women dared not go out alone. Once it got dark, no one dared to walk on the street, and every household closed and locked their doors early."

"Injuries happen every few days. Some people even deliberately scatter nails on the mountain roads, and then swarm to steal them when a tire is punctured."

"Even if law enforcement officers go there, they can't do anything about it. Those people disappear as soon as they go into the mountains. The terrain is so complicated that even police cars can't get in."

"Some law enforcement officers were even beaten with sticks, and their patrol cars were vandalized several times. Eventually, even law enforcement officers stopped going to that area."

"The higher-ups dread mentioning that place and avoid it during meetings."

As Gu Yan listened, her brows furrowed more and more, and she tapped her fingers on the table twice more.

"Wanqing's adoptive parents lived in such a place for several years."

Aunt Tian nodded emphatically.

"They lived there for several years, but strangely enough, every time they lived there for a few years, the area would gradually improve."

"First, several ringleaders of the thugs disappeared without a trace. Nobody knew where they went, and nobody dared to ask."

"Without a leader, the remaining thugs were leaderless. They would fight each other today and tomorrow, and eventually they would fall apart."

"The security improved day by day, the streetlights came on, and the shops dared to open their doors. In the end, that area even became a model town."

"People from higher up even went there to investigate, saying it was a typical example of comprehensive governance."

Gu Yan's fingers stopped on the stone table, and her voice deepened.

This has happened several times.

Aunt Tian held up three fingers and pried them apart one by one.

"I was able to find out about it three times, from the mountainous area to the town and then to another county, and it was always the same each time."

"When we moved in, it was a bad neighborhood; when we moved out, it was a model neighborhood, as if someone had specially cleaned it up."

"As for the suburbs of Shanglu this time, that community is also notoriously chaotic, and the people living there are a mixed bag."

"There are all sorts of people, from thieves and fighters to those who collect protection money. The property management doesn't dare to do anything about it, and we've gone through countless security guards."

"Some security guards were beaten three times while working the night shift, and afterwards no one dared to apply for security guard positions."

"People in the neighborhood say that place is dangerous to live in, and that something terrible will happen sooner or later, but Miss Fu's adoptive parents moved in anyway."

"The elderly couple were all smiles, planting vegetables and watering flowers in the yard, saying that the vegetables here are cheap and the place is quiet."

Upon hearing this, a thought suddenly flashed through Gu Yan's mind, but he didn't say it aloud.

Aunt Tian paused for a moment and then added, her tone softening slightly.

"Of course, Master Gu, it might just be a coincidence. After all, Miss Fu's adoptive parents are used to being frugal, and houses in these areas are very cheap."

"The rent is less than half of what it is in the city. It makes sense that the elderly couple would choose to live in a cheaper place because they are careful with their money."

After Aunt Tian finished speaking, she stopped talking and just quietly looked at Gu Yan.

A cool breeze blew through the courtyard, and the leaves of the old locust tree in the distance rustled.

Gu Yan leaned back in her chair, looking at Aunt Tian's face, which had regained its composure, but the doubts in her heart grew stronger.

He always felt that these things were not just a coincidence, but he couldn't figure it out for the time being.

Gu Yan frowned slightly but did not reply. Aunt Tian asked softly.

"Master Gu, what's your opinion on these matters?"

Gu Yan shook her head and tapped her fingers lightly twice on the edge of the stone table.

"It's not clear what's going on right now."

"This time we just had a meal in the living room; we only saw the surface."

"Perhaps the next time we go into the bedroom or something, we'll find some clues."

"But maybe I'm just being too cautious."

"These things don't seem to have anything to do with Wanqing at all."

He paused and then added, his tone very even.

"There are no problems for now, thank you for your hard work, Aunt Tian."

Aunt Tian quickly waved her hand and said, "I dare not accept such praise."

She stood up and bowed sincerely to Gu Yan.

Her back was bent very deeply, and her gray hair slipped down from her ears.

"Master Gu, please feel free to contact me anytime if you need anything, no matter what it is."

"Although I am old, I can still run errands and gather information."

"Whatever you ask, I, Old Lady Tian, ​​will do it without hesitation."

After she finished speaking, she straightened up and wiped the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief.

She turned and walked away with small, quick steps, the light in the corridor casting a long shadow of her.

The footsteps gradually faded away at the end of the corridor.

Gu Yan watched her walk away, then leaned back in her chair and breathed a sigh of relief.

A night breeze blew in from the courtyard, carrying a hint of coolness.

The leaves of the old locust tree rustled a few times.

Just then, his cell phone rang in his pocket.

The bell rang especially crisply in the quiet courtyard.

He took out his phone and glanced at the screen; it was a call from Shen Youyao.

Gu Yan answered the phone, her voice unconsciously softening.

"Youyao, what's wrong? Why aren't you asleep so late?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone before a voice came through.

Shen Youyao's voice was soft, as if she had hesitated for a long time before speaking.

"Brother Gu Yan, this martial arts exam is divided into two large examination venues."

"One is in Shanghai and the other is in Beijing and Shanghai."

"Can I come to Shanglu? I want to see you."

Gu Yan was dumbfounded, sitting there holding her phone for a long time, not knowing how to answer.

He knew something about the martial arts exam; it was an annual event.

But he didn't expect Shen Youyao to directly request to come to Shanghai.

He remained silent for a long while, several thoughts swirling in his mind.

Forget it, even if he disagrees with Shen Youyao not coming.

Shen Youwei will definitely come too.

He knew exactly what that woman wanted to do; whether he agreed or not made no difference.

"Okay, come over here. I'll treat you to dinner later."

Shen Youyao on the other end of the phone was visibly happier.

Even their breathing sounds became lighter.