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墨書 Inktalez
The residents of this area, while not extraordinarily wealthy, are all well-off enough to have food to spare. They are regulars at The Food Haven. Sang Qingxiao, filled with curiosity, personally delivered meals to The Office of Censors and was warmly welcomed by the locals. She brought not only porridge but also clear wine and snacks. As the table filled with people enjoyed their drinks, lively conversations began.
Aunt Liu was her target. Sang Qingxiao approached a slightly plump woman with kind eyes and thin lips, who was incessantly cracking sunflower seeds. Aunt Liu looked up as Sang Qingxiao sat down beside her and immediately wrapped her arms around her. "Miss Sang, now that you're here, I feel so much safer."
With so many Censors around, how could anyone feel unsafe? Aunt Liu stole a glance and immediately shrank back, feeling nervous just by looking at them. Sang Qingxiao exchanged a few jokes to ease her tension. Once Aunt Liu relaxed, she continued, "After the Court issued the spy-catching order, you in Fulin Neighborhood were the first to report it. If the situation is true, you’ll be the first to receive a reward from the Court."
"Of course!" Aunt Liu beamed with pride. "The reward is secondary; we’re not short on money. What matters is the recognition!" She leaned in closer and whispered in Sang Qingxiao's ear, "That Zheng family, the Loyalty and Righteousness Marquis, has been hiding in our country for decades without being discovered by so many officials of the Great Jing Dynasty."
At this point, Aunt Liu muttered under her breath about how those officials were less observant than ordinary folks like them. Sang Qingxiao smiled and complimented her, agreeing that grassroots power should not be underestimated.
"Aunt Liu," she said playfully, "I'm curious—how did you discover the spy?"
Aunt Liu's excitement bubbled over as she turned to face Sang Qingxiao directly. "Let me tell you! You should keep your eyes open when you're out there." She continued animatedly, "I was the first to sense something was off with that household. There are sixteen people living there; they moved in over a year ago but hardly interacted with the neighbors."
Fulin Neighborhood had always been united; suddenly having such a family move in made me uneasy. I thought they were just shy and hoped my warmth would help them feel welcome. But who would have thought I was just putting my warm face against their cold rear? They wouldn’t even give me a casual acknowledgment; one glare from them made me feel like my life was in danger.
After that, I didn’t dare speak to them again until the Court issued the spy-catching order when I began to suspect that household. First of all, they never cooked at home. Ordinary folks either cook for themselves when they're short on money or hire someone when they can afford it. But this family? They ordered takeout every single day.
Moreover, I listened closely against the wall but never heard any sounds coming from their home. With so many people living together, how could there be no arguments? Yet their house was eerily silent.
Then there was their child—I found that suspicious too. With so many people in the household, there was only one child who seemed unusually mature for his age and lacked any childlike qualities. He was about five years old and had lived here for over a year yet hadn’t grown an inch since he arrived; he was still as tall as the stone stump outside my door.
For a five or six-year-old child, they should be growing quickly! Even if both parents are short, it’s impossible for a child not to grow at all!
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