I work as a security guard at a cemetery, and I overhear the dead chatting about getting rich quick.

As the car drove out of Qingshan Cemetery, Lin Ye subconsciously looked back.

The cemetery gate is getting further and further away.

The sign for "Qingshan Cemetery" was shrouded in the morning mist and slowly receded into the background.

Lin Ye suddenly felt a little regretful.

He used to think that cemeteries were gloomy.

I've only just realized that cemeteries are the safest place.

Because the dead inside are all gentlemen who only use words and not fists.

The car was quiet.

The driver kept his eyes straight ahead.

Gu Wantang sat on the other side of the back seat, holding a tablet with several documents on the screen.

She wasn't interested in chatting.

Lin Ye didn't dare to chat casually.

This silence is very stressful.

After driving for more than twenty minutes, Lin Ye finally couldn't help but speak.

"Miss Gu."

Gu Wantang did not look up.

"explain."

"How far have you gotten from investigating Uncle Chen?"

Gu Wantang swiped her finger across the screen.

"Chen Guoxing, 72 years old. He left the Gu family's old house 20 years ago and returned to Nanxi to retire. He used to work for my grandfather and was in charge of the old house keys and some personal belongings."

Lin Ye felt a little relieved.

Right.

Grandpa Gu didn't curse indiscriminately.

wrong.

Grandpa Gu wasn't going to start cursing randomly.

He named names and even had a backup plan.

Gu Wantang looked up at him.

"But I couldn't find the pocket watch."

Lin Ye's heart, which had just relaxed, jumped again.

"Pocket watches probably aren't listed in the documentation."

That's why I'm taking you there.

Lin Ye remained silent.

This statement sounds very calm.

The translation is:

You'd better tell the truth.

Lin Ye looked out the window.

The city outside the car window gradually receded into the distance.

High-rise buildings are decreasing, and farmland, fishponds, and old houses are starting to appear along the roads.

Nanxi is not a specific address.

It's more like a general term for a place.

Several towns and more than a dozen villages are connected by a river and several provincial highways.

Lin Ye had only seen it on navigation apps before.

When he actually took a car there, he realized that the place was bigger than he had imagined.

He suddenly realized that when Grandpa Gu was scolding people, he omitted too much crucial information.

Uncle Chen from Nanxi.

These four words sound clear.

If you really search for him, it won't be much different from searching for Old Wang in China.

Gu Wantang was clearly aware of this problem as well.

She made several phone calls along the way.

Each call was very short.

"Check Chen Guoxing's last registered address."

"Let's go through the old address book in the old house again."

"Ask people who used to work at the old house."

"Don't alert Gu Mingyuan."

The atmosphere in the car noticeably cooled when the last sentence was uttered.

When Lin Ye heard "Don't disturb Gu Mingyuan," he truly realized that this trip to Nanxi was not an ordinary search for someone.

Gu Wantang was racing against time.

If Gu Mingyuan also knew about Uncle Chen's connection, he might be able to act even faster than they were.

He secretly glanced at Gu Wantang.

Gu Wantang was looking down at the documents, her profile expressionless.

Lin Ye suddenly realized that she wasn't fearless when she was forced to accept the will's arrangements by a group of relatives in front of the grave that day.

She's just good at hiding it.

It was almost noon when the car arrived in Nanxi.

The driver parked the car at the entrance of the old street.

Gu Wantang's people sent an old address.

Chen's Watch Repair Shop, Nanxi Old Street.

Lin Ye's heart stirred slightly when he saw the words "watch repair shop".

Pocket watch.

Watch repair shop.

This is somewhat consistent with what Grandpa Gu said.

When they found the old street according to the address, they discovered that the watch repair shop had long been closed.

The roller shutter door was rusted black.

Half of the lettering on the door frame is missing.

Chen Ji Watch Repair Shop, only the three characters "Chen Ji Repair" remain hanging there.

Lin Ye stood at the door for a few seconds.

"It looks like they moved out a while ago."

Gu Wantang didn't say anything, but turned to ask the vegetable vendor next to her.

"Hello, is the previous owner of this shop still around?"

The vegetable vendor looked up and glanced at them.

Gu Wantang's attire doesn't resemble that of a local.

Lin Ye stood next to her, his eyes still showing the dark circles from the night shift.

The two of them together look like a boss leading a sleepy assistant out to collect a debt.

The aunt asked warily, "What do you want with Old Chen?"

Before Lin Ye could speak, Gu Wantang spoke first.

"He used to work for my grandfather's family. Before my grandfather passed away, he may have entrusted some things to him for safekeeping, so we came to ask him."

She did not mention the pocket watch.

There was no mention of a will.

Lin Ye silently shut his mouth.

Fortunately, she spoke first.

If he were to ask, the first question would most likely be: "Auntie, does Uncle Chen have an old pocket watch?"

Within half an hour, the entire Nanxi Old Street would know that two out-of-towners had come looking for Old Chen's treasure.

When the aunt heard "before Grandpa passed away," her expression relaxed slightly.

"Old Chen hasn't lived here for a long time. He has trouble walking and moved back to the village a few years ago."

Gu Wantang asked, "Which village?"

The aunt thought about it.

"It's Xiahe Village, or maybe Shanghe Village. Anyway, it's in that area. Old Chen doesn't come out much, you'll have to ask at the village store."

Lin Ye felt chilled.

Shanghe Village.

Xiahe Village.

It sounds like fate has given them two separate scenarios.

Gu Wantang thanked him and returned to her car to continue her investigation.

The driver first drove towards Xiahe Village.

Sitting in the back seat, Lin Ye couldn't help but ask, "Why are we going to Xiahe Village first?"

Gu Wantang said, "She mentioned Xiahe Village first."

Lin Ye was stunned for a moment.

"Is this even considered evidence?"

"When people can't remember something accurately, the first word that comes to their mouth is usually closer to their memory."

Lin Ye glanced at her.

"You even know about this?"

Gu Wantang didn't say anything, but rolled her eyes.

Lin Ye immediately shut up.

Xiahe Village is not far from the town.

As the car drove in, the village road narrowed considerably.

The roadside houses are old, with faded slogans painted on their walls.

A few chickens strolled slowly across the front of the car, and the driver stepped on the brakes.

Lin Ye looked at the chickens and suddenly felt a little envious.

Even a chicken is more composed than him.

They stopped at the small shop at the village entrance.

The shopkeeper was an old man in his sixties, sitting at the door listening to the radio.

Gu Wantang got out of the car and asked Chen Guoxing.

The old man squinted at her.

"Chen Guoxing? You're looking for him?"

Gu Wantang nodded.

"Does he live here?"

The old man looked at her, then at Lin Ye.

"Are you his relatives?"

Before Gu Wantang could speak, Lin Ye chimed in.

"They are distant relatives."

Gu Wantang glanced at him.

After hearing this, the old man didn't ask any further questions.

"The house at the west end of the village, next to the old locust tree, the one with the peeling paint on the gate. He doesn't have good legs now, so he doesn't go out much."

Gu Wantang's fingers tightened slightly.

Lin Ye noticed it.

She got nervous.

It's very light, but it definitely has a light weight.

They couldn't drive into the narrow path at the west end of the village, so they had to walk.

People were drying corn on both sides of the village road.

The air smelled of firewood and a little damp earth.

As Lin Ye walked beside Gu Wantang, he suddenly felt that this scene was absurd.

The day before yesterday, he was still listening to Old Master Gu scolding Gu Mingyuan at the cemetery.

Today, I'll accompany Gu Wantang on the village road in Nanxi to find the housekeeper.

This life transition happened faster than he did when he was selling paintings.

When they reached the old locust tree, they saw an old courtyard.

The courtyard wall is not high, and the plaster is peeling off.

The wooden door was half-open, with patches of red paint peeling off.

There was an old wooden table in the courtyard.

There was a disassembled radio on the table.

An elderly man with completely white hair sat at the doorway, wearing reading glasses, and was bending down to tighten a small screw.

His fingers were thin, but his movements were very steady.

Gu Wantang stopped at the door.

She didn't go in immediately.

Lin Ye glanced at her.

The coldness on her face finally cracked a little.

That emotion was very mild.

It was as if a thread had been pulled out from this old courtyard and suddenly grabbed her.

The old man heard footsteps and looked up.

He saw Lin Ye first, but didn't react much.

Then I saw Gu Wantang.

In that instant, the screwdriver in his hand fell to the ground.

With a snap.

It's very light.

But it silenced the entire courtyard.

The old man stood up, supporting himself on the edge of the table, and swayed slightly.

Gu Wantang subconsciously took a step forward.

The old man stared at her, his eyes gradually reddening.

"Miss?"

Gu Wantang gripped the bag strap tightly.

She didn't speak immediately.

The old man's voice trembled.

"Are you Miss Wan Tang?"

Gu Wantang's throat moved slightly.

Uncle Chen.

Upon uttering those two words, the old man seemed to have finally confirmed something.

He leaned against the door frame and slowly stood up straight.

The tears didn't fall immediately; they just welled up in my eyes.

His lips trembled a few times.

"You've finally arrived."

Lin Ye stood to the side, suddenly unsure where to look.

This scene is so touching.

He was just a cemetery security guard standing there, his position as awkward as a food deliveryman who had accidentally wandered into a family reunion.

Uncle Chen wiped his eyes and quickly ushered him into the house.

"Come in, come in quickly. The old man said you would come sooner or later. I've waited for so many years, I thought I would never see you again."

Gu Wantang walked into the courtyard.

Lin Ye followed behind, trying to keep his presence as inconspicuous as possible.

But Uncle Chen still glanced at him.

"Is this you...?"

Gu Wantang did not answer immediately.

Lin Ye's heart tightened.

He also wanted to know what he was now.

security guard?

Informant?

Suspected scammer?

Gu Wantang paused for half a second, then said, "Help me find the people here."

This introduction is very short.

But it was much better than Lin Ye had expected.

At least not a "suspicious person requiring observation".

Uncle Chen's gaze towards Lin Ye immediately became more serious.

"Thank you."

Lin Ye quickly waved his hand.

"No, no need."

He felt a little guilty.

He really didn't do anything.

The main problem was that Old Master Gu was cursing too loudly in the grave.

The house was old, but it was kept clean.

An old photograph hangs on the wall.

In the photo, Gu Huaizhang is not that old yet, standing at the entrance of an old house, with a much younger Uncle Chen beside him.

Gu Wantang stared at the photo for a long time.

Uncle Chen lowered his voice.

"I was unable to see the old man off when he passed away."

Gu Wantang said softly, "I know."

"No one from the Gu family notified me. I only found out later."

Uncle Chen's voice became a little hoarse as he spoke.

"I knew it, they were afraid I'd go."

Gu Wantang's eyes turned cold.

Lin Ye stood to the side, silently making a mental note.

they.

I'm afraid Uncle Chen will leave.

This shows that Uncle Chen does indeed have something.

Gu Wantang asked, "Uncle Chen, did my grandfather give you a pocket watch?"

Uncle Chen was not surprised.

He just looked at her and remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he nodded slowly.

"have."

Gu Wantang's breathing became lighter.

Lin Ye also breathed a sigh of relief.

So far, he has not been reported to the police.

Uncle Chen turned and walked into the inner room.

His legs are indeed weak, and he walks very slowly.

Gu Wantang tried to help him up, but he gently waved her hand in refusal.

"I can walk."

He said.

"I've walked this route countless times."

Upon hearing this, Lin Ye suddenly felt a pang of unease.

Many times.

It's probably because he checks every day to make sure the watch is still there.

Perhaps he was thinking every day about when Gu Wantang would arrive.

Uncle Chen went into the inner room.

After a while, the sound of a wooden crate being dragged could be heard from inside.

Gu Wantang stood motionless in the main room.

She looked towards the inner room, her fingers clenched tightly.

Lin Ye wanted to say something to ease the tension.

But after thinking about it for a long time, I felt that it wouldn't be appropriate to say anything at this time.

Saying "Don't be nervous" is just stating the obvious.

Saying "it should be true" sounds too much like a customer service representative.

Saying "Your grandpa is good at hiding things" is just too annoying.

So he chose to keep quiet.

As it turns out, sometimes keeping quiet is the most mature thing a person can do.

A few minutes later, Uncle Chen came out from the inner room.

He was holding an old tin box in his arms.

The tin box was small, with rusted edges and a yellowed old paper strip stuck to the lid.

Uncle Chen placed the iron box on the table.

His hand landed on the lid of the box and lingered there for a long time.

"The old man said back then that if Miss came looking for him, he would give her this."

Gu Wantang looked at the metal box.

"What if I never come?"

Uncle Chen lowered his head and spoke very softly.

"Then I'll keep waiting."

The room fell silent.

A breeze rustled through the old locust tree outside the window.

Lin Ye looked at the iron box on the table, and his heart started racing again.

He knew that the old pocket watch was inside.

The pocket watch may contain clues to the Gu family's true will.

Uncle Chen slowly opened the iron box.

The lid made a soft click.

There was an old handkerchief laid out inside.

In the middle of the handkerchief, a silver old pocket watch lay quietly.

The watch case was slightly worn, but it was wiped very clean.

Gu Wantang's eyes immediately reddened.

She didn't cry.

I just stared at that pocket watch, as if staring at a piece of childhood that suddenly surfaced from the past year.

Uncle Chen said softly, "Your birthday is inside the watch cover."

Gu Wantang reached out her hand.

Just as his fingertips were about to touch the pocket watch, he stopped.

It's as if they're afraid that something will break if they touch it.

Lin Ye stood to the side, even his breathing became soft.

Just then, Uncle Chen suddenly looked up at Gu Wantang.

"Miss, the old master left a message."

Gu Wantang's voice was a little hoarse.

"What?"

Uncle Chen looked at her and said, word by word, "He said, don't believe Gu Mingyuan."

Lin Ye's heart skipped a beat.

Uncle Chen paused, then added another sentence.

"Also, don't touch A17."

Gu Wantang suddenly looked up.

Lin Ye's fingers also froze.

Inside the room, the old pocket watch lay quietly on the handkerchief.

The wind outside the window suddenly picked up a bit, making the old locust tree rustle.

Lin Ye looked at the pocket watch and felt it clearly for the first time.

This trip to Nanxi may uncover more than just a will.

There are also things that the Gu family dares not let see the light of day.