The funny counterattack of traveling through time and space and becoming a vicious female supporting

Chapter 48 The Secret Behind the Pass

In the charity cemetery in the prefectural capital, steward Liu Da narrowed his eyes as he watched a man in ordinary crescent-shaped white cotton clothes and a child in dirty, ragged clothes enter the cemetery. Although the man's clothes were simple, his confident and calm aura was impossible to ignore.

Liu Da gently brushed off the dust on his body, walked forward with a sly smile on his face: "Excuse me, sir, are you here to take care of family matters, or do you have any other needs? I, Liu Da, am the supervisor here." He cleverly concealed his speculation about the purpose of this couple, one big and one small, but he already knew in his heart that they were most likely here to buy a pass.

Liu Da had accumulated extensive experience in operating the charity cemetery, particularly adept at profiting from shady dealings. He secretly exploited drunken officials to steal blank travel permits and falsified information in official documents. This lucrative venture allowed him to acquire several small courtyards in the prefectural capital and the outer city. A hint of pride and shrewdness flickered in his eyes.

Gu Yichen sized Liu Da up, knowing he was incredibly cunning. He spoke cautiously, "We, a family of four and two, just arrived here, and unfortunately, our pass was stolen. There's word the thief might have escaped here. Has Steward Liu seen this person? We're willing to reward him handsomely, and we beg you to help us find him."

Liu Da's smile grew even brighter, and the smile lines at the corners of his eyes held a hint of cunning. "Brother Shen's experience is truly heartbreaking. I remember a few days ago a thief came in, fell, and ran away with a bag of things. It's very likely that it was your pass. However, words are not enough to prove it. Why don't you write down the name of the family so I can check it. As for the reward, our charity home is very simple, so I hope Brother Shen can donate 150 taels as a token of his appreciation."

Gu Yichen nodded, appearing remarkably calm. "Okay, please ask Manager Liu to give me some paper and pen. I'll write down the names of my family members so I can check them."

Liu Da immediately returned to his small room, secretly delighted. He quickly fetched a pen and paper, and with a sly smile on his face, he handed them to Gu Yichen. Liu Da had already anticipated the lucrative profits of this deal and was eagerly anticipating the 150 taels of silver he would soon receive.

Gu Yichen wrote down the names of his family members on the stone table in the courtyard. Lu Ling'er was Lin Cui'er, Gu Yichen was Shen Kang, Mo Yan was Shen Yan, Mo Xian was Shen Xian, and Shen Xuanping and Shen Xuan'an were Shen Kang and Lin Cui'er's twin sons. They were seven years old this year. Because Lu Ling'er had disguised everyone, Liu Da, though puzzled, didn't say much.

Liu Da gazed at Gu Yichen's handwriting and felt a deep sense of awe. The writing was vigorous and powerful, evidently the product of years of practice. Liu Da knew he couldn't afford to offend such a distinguished guest. He quickly returned to his room, finished writing the pass, and dried the ink over a charcoal stove, creating a hint of age.

Liu Da quickly returned to the courtyard with the Shen family's guide. Gu Yichen and Xuan An were sitting nearby, calmly drinking tea. Xuan An looked pale and frail, coughing occasionally, his voice weak and slightly painful.

"Brother Shen, you've found the right place. Your pass is the one that the thief left behind." Liu Da smiled broadly, his eyes narrowed slightly, as if trying to hide his inner joy. He handed the pass to Gu Yichen, his tone filled with a hint of anticipation and cunning: "Please take a look."

Gu Yichen took the pass, checked it, and confirmed it was correct. He then took out a 150-liang silver note from his pocket and handed it to Liu Da: "Thank you, Director Liu, for your help. This is 150 liang of silver as a token of gratitude. I hope we can become friends."

Liu Da took the banknote, his eyes flashing with eagerness, and quickly tucked it into his lapel. He politely saw Gu Yichen and Xuan An out, feeling satisfied with the banknotes he was about to receive. After he saw them off, the sly smile on his face became even more pronounced.

After the two of them left the charity cemetery, Gu Yichen decided to look for Lu Ling'er and Xuan Ping. Soon after, they ran into Mo Yan, who was covered in items. "Brother, my sister-in-law and Xuan Ping were at Huichuntang Pharmacy buying herbs. My sister-in-law asked me to go to the South Gate and keep an eye on the quilts and food delivered by the shop," Mo Yan said.

"Then hurry up, before someone takes your things. Take Xuan'an with you," Gu Yichen said, and hurried to Huichun Hall. Mo Yan looked at Gu Yichen's eagerness, and he couldn't help but feel worried. He felt a little uneasy that he was so anxious after just an hour's absence. He resigned himself to his fate and took Xuan'an to the South Gate to meet up with Mo Xian.