Why am I, a cook, always involved in cases?

As time went by, General Zhimou slowly pulled out a purse from his worn-out lapel. Its surface was covered with marks of time, and every crease seemed to tell a forgotten story.

This purse has become so worn out that it is almost unrecognizable due to years of carrying it close to the body, but the memories it carries are priceless.

Deep inside the purse, two objects can be vaguely seen. They are as slender as branches and carefully wrapped in layers of paper, as if hiding an ancient legend.

Lin Zhiruo's movements in front of the chessboard seemed a little clumsy. This was not only because she was unfamiliar with chess, but also because she played with her left hand, which made her movements seem uncoordinated.

Her nails were painted in bright colors, but only her little finger was twisted and deformed, just like the unresolved resentment in her heart that was difficult to hide.

General Zhimou knew very well that he had sown this resentment, and he could not escape it, nor could he make excuses.

However, deep down in his heart, he still longed for her to stay by his side, and no longer wanted to be bound by this life filled with Go and chess pieces day after day.

To this end, he seized the family power from his father at all costs, drove his half-brother out of the house, and adopted his nephew as his adopted son, consolidating his position step by step.

He clashed with the madam several times, spent ten years, and paid gold and silver equivalent to twice the compensation, just for a glimmer of hope.

Finally, at that specific moment, he was able to step through the closed door.

This responsibility naturally fell on Xiaohe's shoulders.

Perhaps it was because General Zhimou had once taught her how to arrange chess, which made her feel pity for him and couldn't bear to see him alone and helpless.

All General Zhimou wanted was to spend time with his daughter, and all his efforts were to fulfill this simple wish.

However, he was not good at reading people's minds, and every action he took seemed to backfire, making this wish even more out of reach.

General Zhimou gently put the purse back into his arms, feeling a sense of powerlessness in his heart.

This time, maybe I should give up, just this once.

But even if he is accused of being a stalker, he will never give up easily.

What's more, the man who stayed with his daughter made him feel particularly unhappy.

During the game, the man put his hands on his daughter's shoulders three times. Although he was shaken off each time, he still felt angry.

General Zhiwu picked up the water bottle and drank the bitter drink in one gulp, but he was thinking about how to vent his dissatisfaction.

Although the drink was hard to swallow, it was made by his daughter herself, so he could only endure it silently.

At this moment, the idea of ​​how to swat the insects off the flowers emerged in his mind, trying to calm the waves in his heart.

Just as General Zhimou was lost in thought, a loud noise broke the silence and the door suddenly opened.

"You finally woke up?"

A hoarse voice came, the unique voice of a brothel owner.

"Since you want to redeem my daughter, you should know that it's not something that can be solved with just a couple of thousand taels of silver."

Her words were full of greed and calculation.

General Zhimou held his aching head and smiled bitterly.

He put on the exquisite monocle, and his right eye flashed with determination.

"Ten thousand isn't enough? Twenty thousand or thirty thousand are fine, but a hundred thousand is a bit of a stretch."

He sighed inwardly, this number was by no means a small number for someone of his status.

But for the sake of his daughter, he had no choice but to shamelessly ask his nephew for help.

"Really? Then come over here and I'll let you pick something you like."

There was a hint of provocation in the madam's words.

General Zhimou followed her instructions and came to the hall of Hongxia Tower, where he saw a group of girls in gorgeous clothes lined up in a row, with Xiaohe quietly blending in among them.

"Oh? Did Sanji join too?"

"I told you to pick something you like, but if you pick well, the price will naturally be high."

The madam spat and answered with disdain.

General Zhimou looked at these heavily made-up girls, but his heart was not moved at all.

No matter how they dressed up, they were just pawns in his eyes.

He heard the woman's laughter and smelled her sweet fragrance, but none of it could touch his heart.

However, since the madam asked him to choose, he had no choice but to choose one reluctantly.

After all, he still has the money to support a girl. If she doesn't like him, he can give her money and let her leave freely.

So, General Zhimou walked towards where Xiaohe was.

Xiao He's concerns about General Zhimou may stem from her inner guilt.

If she hadn't left without permission, things might not have developed to this point.

General Zhimou thought to himself that it was only right to reward her.

"General of Wisdom."

Xiao He smiled softly,

"Even as a prostitute, I have my dignity. If you are interested, I will not hesitate."

After saying that, she walked lightly to the window and gently pushed open the window facing the atrium.

The curtains swayed in the wind, petals floated into the house, and a faint fragrance filled the air.

"But if you want to choose, please consider it carefully."

There was a hint of determination in Xiaohe's words.

"Xiao He! Who told you to open the window without permission?"

The madam roared and tried to close the window, but the wise general accidentally caught a sound.

It was a childish and innocent nursery rhyme, as if it came from a distant childhood.

General Zhimou's eyes widened, and an inexplicable throbbing surged in his heart.

"what happened to you?"

The madam asked in surprise.

General Zhimou looked out through the stained glass window and heard intermittent singing.

He could no longer bear the impulse in his heart, so he pushed open the window, jumped out, and ran towards the direction of the singing.

He had never regretted his lack of exercise as much as he did today.

His legs were knotted and he was out of breath, but he still insisted on running forward.

General Zhimou had visited Hongxia Tower many times, but had never set foot in this place.

He came to a remote hut, far away from the main house, which seemed to be a forgotten corner.

The singing came from here.

General Zhimou suppressed his pounding heart and slowly pushed open the door. A unique fragrance filled his nose.

Inside the house, a thin woman sat there quietly, her long hair draped dully over her shoulders, her fingers like dead branches gently placed on her chest.

She exuded an air of illness, and a piece of her left ring finger was misshapenly missing.

General Zhimou was stunned, tears unconsciously sliding down his cheeks.

"What are you doing! That's the patient's room!"

The madam came running over and tried to grab General Zhimou's hand and drive him out.

But General Zhimou stood there motionless, his eyes fixed on the thin woman.

"Come out now! Go pick a girl!"

The madam urged anxiously.

"You're right, I have to choose one."

General Zhimou let the tears roll down his cheeks and slowly knelt on the ground.

The woman didn't seem to notice General Zhiwu's presence and just continued singing the nursery rhyme.

There was no arrogance in her eyes, nor was there any contempt that treated others as fools.

There, she seemed to have become an innocent child.

Although she was skinny and sickly, in the eyes of the wise general, she was more beautiful than any other woman.

She is like a Su Qianyin flower, even when swaying in the wind and rain, she still exudes unique charm.

"Old woman, I want this woman."

General Zhiwu said firmly.

"Are you crazy? Go back inside and pick a girl!"

roared the madam.

But the wise general remained unmoved. He gently stroked the purse in his arms, then took out a heavy bag from it and placed it in the woman's palm.

The woman seemed to be interested in the bag. She opened it clumsily and picked up a Go piece with trembling fingertips.

At that moment, a blush seemed to appear on the woman's face, but perhaps it was just an illusion of the wise general.

But he couldn't help laughing.

"I want to redeem this girl. I'm willing to pay any price, even 100,000 or 200,000."

General Zhimou's words were full of determination and firmness.

Seeing this, the madam said nothing more.

Xiao He stood behind the madam. She dragged her clothes into the house, sat down in front of the sick woman, and held her skinny hand.

"Big sis, it would be great if you were honest about your feelings from the beginning. Why couldn't you have done it sooner..."

There was a cry in Xiaohe's voice, and she seemed to be regretting the missed opportunity.

General Zhimou didn't understand why Xiaohe was crying so bitterly. He just looked quietly at the woman who was looking at the Go pieces happily.

Just watching her quietly...