Volume One, Chapter 13: Thirty Yuan!

After she finished speaking, she realized she was getting too worked up. She looked around—the place was empty, and besides the car before her, there wasn’t another one in sight.

“Comrade, please help me out. I really have something urgent. Is there any way you could take a little less?”

She wasn’t stupid—thirty yuan for a forty-minute drive, and he wanted the full thirty from her.

“Uncle Zhou, let’s go,” said Song Qinian.

“Hey, wait, wait!”

In the end, Shen Ruzhi still got into the car, anxiously urging, “Could you please go faster?”

Song Qinian leaned back, eyes half-closed as if dozing, but he secretly opened them to glance at Shen Ruzhi. Passing by that road today, he’d unexpectedly witnessed quite the performance.

He’d discovered a woman full of schemes, outwardly innocent but inwardly crafty, adept at disguising herself, who’d manipulated her foster family and toyed with everyone.

He was curious to see what tricks this woman would play next.

“We’re here, miss. Take care,” said Uncle Zhou.

“Thank you, thank you,” Shen Ruzhi said quickly, ready to get out.

A cold voice from Song Qinian rang out, “Trying to ride for free?”

Only then did Shen Ruzhi realize she’d actually forgotten to pay the fare. Her face reddened as she hurriedly took out thirty yuan and handed it to him.

“Sorry, here’s thirty yuan.”

Watching her leave, Uncle Zhou asked in confusion, “Young Master, we were coming this way anyway. Why bother...?”

Song Qinian sneered, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

“Uncle Zhou, not every pretty girl is as simple-minded as she looks.”

From what he’d seen today, Shen Ruzhi had used the Tian family as a shield; a woman this calculating must have a purpose for getting close to Tian Xiaoxia.

“What are you here for?”

“Hello, I’d like to report the Shen family... I need to see your director.”

“I have evidence in my hands.”

**

Shen Family

When Shen Jinlin got off work, he heard the neighbors gossiping that Wang Yaoyao was the Shen family’s biological daughter.

Shen Jinlin frowned—what was going on? Had his little sister’s secret been exposed early?

Returning home, he found his parents packing. When Wang Cuilian saw her son walk in, she urged, “Son, hurry, gather your things. We’re leaving soon. The boat leaves at eight tonight.”

“What! Tonight? Didn’t you say tomorrow at noon?”

Shen Jinlin stared in confusion at his father, who was sitting on the sofa smoking a cigar.

Shen Zhongguo had no mind to argue about the twenty thousand yuan his son had taken. He scowled and said, “Go pack up, take all the money, and be quick.”

“But Dad, why the rush? I thought we were leaving tomorrow. I’ve got friends waiting to drink with me—”

“Bang!” Shen Jinlin hadn’t finished when Shen Zhongguo slammed the table, glaring at him.

“When I tell you to go, you go! You took over twenty thousand in cash, and I haven’t even called you to account. Yet here you are, still thinking of drinking with your useless friends!”

Shen Jinlin shrank back in fear but quickly protested.

“Wait, Dad, did you say twenty thousand? When did I ever take that much? I only took two thousand, and even then you chased me around cursing! Was that necessary?”

Shen Zhongguo’s pupils contracted sharply. Grabbing his son by the collar, he barked, “What did you say? Say it again!”

If this worthless boy had only taken two thousand, then where had the whole box of money gone?

This meant someone else had discovered the basement.

Shen Jinlin answered honestly, “Dad, why would I lie to you? I only took two thousand. I spent five hundred; there’s fifteen hundred left—see?”

To prove his innocence, he pulled the remaining money from his briefcase.

Wang Cuilian cried out, “Oh no! If you didn’t take it, how did twenty thousand yuan just vanish into thin air?”

“What! Twenty thousand—you mean the whole box is gone?”

Shen Jinlin’s eyes widened in disbelief. That was a fortune!

A glint of murderous intent flashed in Shen Zhongguo’s sharp gaze, unease welling up in his heart.

“Hurry up and pack, we’re running out of time.”

Now was not the time to fret over the missing money; leaving Beijing was the priority.

“Dad, we can’t just let it go. That’s twenty thousand yuan!”

That amount would last him ages!

Shen Zhongguo exploded, roaring, “Shut up! You ungrateful brat—you’re nothing but a burden! We’re on the brink of disaster, and you’re still thinking about money. If you don’t want to die, get moving and pack!”

Faced with his father’s fury and a murderous look he’d never seen before, Shen Jinlin panicked for real. Could things really be that serious?

Stammering, he said, “Alright, Dad, I’m going. I just can’t stand that the money’s been stolen. Only the three of us have keys—who else could get in?”

Shen Zhongguo took a deep breath and hurried to the basement. Seeing the piles of gold and silver, his mood improved.

The movers entered, claiming to be hauling furniture, but in reality, they were loading up the hidden porcelain and antiques to take aboard the ship.

Some of the money had already been converted to cash for Hong Kong.

Shen Zhongguo turned a vase, revealing the secret compartment. He stepped in and his pupils dilated—it was empty!

Where were his antiques?

“Ah! Who did this!” His cry brought the family running.

“Dad, what’s wrong?” called Shen Jinlin.

Shen Zhongguo, his eyes bloodshot, seized his son, shouting, “Tell me! Was it you? Did you touch my things? Speak!”

Nearly suffocated, Shen Jinlin gasped, “Dad, what are you talking about? I don’t know.”

What was missing? Wait—there was such a big secret room here?

Meanwhile, the other Shen Ruzhi entered the director’s office, and with a sharp sound, placed a gold bar on the desk.

“I want to report the Shen family!”

The gold bar had come from her own private stash. It would serve as direct evidence—she had plenty of valuable things now.

Shen Zhongguo thought no one would ever find the treasures hidden in the compartment.

To be fair, he was vigilant—even if someone found the basement, they’d only find the gold, silver, and some cash. That alone was dazzling, but nothing compared to the secret room.

The secret room was nearly on par with a museum, which showed just how vast the Shen family’s wealth was.

She was dying to see Shen Zhongguo’s reaction when he realized his treasures were gone!

The Shen family was in total chaos.

Upon hearing that the secret room held priceless porcelain and antiques, Shen Jinlin grew frantic, “Dad, why did you put things in the secret room and not tell me? Now it’s all gone!”

Wang Cuilian cried out, “Those were my life’s treasures! Everything’s gone—who could have done this?”

She came from a prominent family and had been truly wealthy. Most of her beloved jewels and jade were stored here, never worn except on rare occasions.

Who could have stolen them?

Shen Zhongguo’s voice burst from his throat, his eyes bloodshot.

“The keys! Bring me the keys, now!”

Wang Cuilian and Shen Jinlin nearly collapsed in fright, scrambling to hand over their keys.

“Open the door! Hurry!” roared Shen Zhongguo.

Wang Cuilian, trembling, inserted her key—it turned easily.

Shen Jinlin swallowed nervously. His should work too—he’d used it just the other night.

But when he tried, no matter how hard he turned, the key wouldn’t budge.