Chapter 212: Chapter 212

After resting for two days, the three resumed their junk collecting journey, and with the Great Demon King there, any resistance from Qin Zhen was futile.

Working for two days, they indeed found quite a lot, mainly books intermixed with some paintings, fan surfaces, and other items. Some of them were in fairly good condition. Of course, the work was exhausting and dirty, and the three of them almost had to bathe every day.

On the third day, they collected a batch of furniture, which was much better than the previous batch. However, the seller seemed anxious to get rid of it and almost stood by the door watching them move the items.

During a break, Li Xianglu sat by the door and felt a strange sensation as if someone was watching her from behind. It felt intermittent and vague, but whenever she turned around, there was nothing there, which repeated several times and made her back break out in a fine sweat. It was only after changing her position that she felt somewhat better.

When Qin Xi arrived, Li Xianglu nervously shared her suspicions.

Upon hearing this, Qin Xi’s expression changed. Without alerting anyone, she scanned the surroundings and then turned to Li Xianglu, asking, "Is it the homeowner watching you?"

Li Xianglu didn’t know who it could be. Just now, Qin Xi and Qin Zhen had gone back to move things, leaving her alone. To avoid any misunderstandings, she sat by the door, but she kept feeling someone staring at her back—a woman’s intuition can be terrifyingly accurate.

After thinking for a while, Qin Xi said, "Wait for us, and you’ll come back with us. There’s just one more trip to make."

Li Xianglu nodded and agreed, helping to load the tricycle. While loading, Li Xianglu suddenly turned her head sharply and saw the homeowner, who was also startled and turned away.

Li Xianglu thought this person was acting too strangely. Could it be that they knew each other?

After hauling the last of the items, the three of them went back together. Li Xianglu rode her bike, and the newly purchased compound was just across the street from where they were. Qin Xi suggested they directly take everything there.

Li Xianglu was ahead and opened the distant door. The walls of the compound had been repaired, standing two and a half meters high and reinforced, making them very sturdy. The old door was somewhat decayed, and Qin Xi had it replaced with a thick iron plate, both front and back. With the higher walls and larger gate, the grandeur of the house was significantly enhanced.

After pushing the cart inside, Qin Xi didn’t rush to unload but instead placed a ladder against the wall to look outside, although unclear at what, coming down with a particularly troubled expression.

Li Xianglu asked why, but he simply said it was nothing, and then decided they wouldn’t collect any more items. Qin Zhen was ecstatically relieved.

In the afternoon, as the three returned, Qin Xi carefully watched behind, still unsure what he was observing. Once in the yard, he set up the ladder again to look outside, murmuring to himself, but this time his expression was much improved.

There’s no need to go out anymore, they might as well rest at home. Just after bathing, Qin Xi mentioned he had a call—it was Lu Anna.

With her hair still wet, Li Xianglu rushed to return the call.

"Hello, have you guys returned?" It was Lu Anna’s voice on the phone.

Li Xianglu answered cheerfully, "Yes, we’ve been back for three or four days."

Lu Anna responded irritably, "You’re back and didn’t even call. Are we still going to Beidaihe? I’ve been waiting for half a month!"

Li Xianglu, surprised, replied, "You haven’t gone yet? I thought you’d already been there."

Lu Anna was speechless: "We’ve been waiting for you to come back, it would be nice to go together."

Li Xianglu apologized: "That’s very embarrassing, let me talk to my family and then I’ll give you a call, okay?"

Just as Li Xianglu was about to go out, she saw Qin Xi coming in with a big towel, helping Li Xianglu dry her hair and asking, "Going to Beidaihe?"

Li Xianglu nodded eagerly, looking hopeful. Qin Xi chuckled, "Why stare like that? If you want to go, just go. I have things to handle so I can’t make it. Take Qin Zhen with you, keep an eye on him."

Hearing that Qin Xi couldn’t go, Li Xianglu curiously asked, "You can’t go, what are you doing?"

Qin Xi smiled, "I have some things to take care of, just staying at home with grandfather. You take Qin Zhen for some fun, and bring back some seafood for us. Buy more sea cucumbers. We can stew them for grandfather at Dongzhi, and send some to my dad too, they seem quite effective." Especially this girl, after eating them for two months her lips are plump and red, so enticing.

Seeing that he really had things to do, Li Xianglu nodded in agreement, went out and talked to the grandfather. Mr. Li approved of his granddaughter going out to have fun, why should the little girl stay at home all the time? As for a bunch of kids going, he, an old man, preferred not to bother; it was too hot and he was too lazy to move.

Qin Zhen’s opinions were secondary.

So Li Xianglu quickly replied back to Lu Anna, who said she would arrange everything right away, possibly leaving the next morning.

Qin Zhen, already informed, looked very conflicted. Li Xianglu, finding it odd, asked, "Don’t you want to eat seafood?"

Qin Zhen hesitated and said, "I do want to, but is that someone also going?"

Li Xianglu asked, "Who’s that someone? Who are you talking about?"

But Qin Zhen didn’t talk anymore, just turned his head to watch TV. Li Xianglu, confused, looked towards Qin Xi, who also shook his head puzzledly and stopped asking.

Indeed, by evening the phone call confirmed the arrangement for the next morning. Lu Anna, along with Xi Yunmei, little friend Lu Ping’an, Iro, and his older brother Ai Xin who would be responsible for driving and arranging accommodations.

It was just her and Qin Zhen on Li Xianglu’s side, but then she heard Qin Zhen ask, "Can I bring Yu Wei?"

Li Xianglu enquired on the phone, and Lu Anna said it was fine. It was just a minivan, which had ample seating. Li Xianglu thought it wasn’t a matter of space, but rather, given the status of the Lu family, it was customary to give prior notice if bringing others. However, Yu Wei was well known to them, and they must have enquired about his family background already, having heard that Yu Wei’s grandfather was a commander before retiring.

With an affirmative answer, Qin Zhen relaxed and called Yu Wei, not asking if he wanted to come but directly telling him to ride over early in the morning to go to Beidaihe, to which he joyfully agreed.

That night, Li Xianglu thought it over and packed some things, then made some dough, planning to steam some lotus leaf buns in the morning, along with savory steamed meat buns to take on the road.

Early in the morning, Li Xianglu got up very early and started steaming the prepared meat in a pot, while also beginning to steam the lotus leaf buns.

When Qin Xi and Mr. Li came out to practice boxing, they smelled the delicious scent of meat and both went in to see that a tasty breakfast had already been made.

Soon after, Sister Xing arrived and quickly helped make some porridge. While everyone was eating, Yu Wei also entered, his forehead sweaty. After washing his hands, he unhesitatingly sat down and competed with Qin Zhen in devouring the food.

ps: Last night before sleeping I noticed that the monthly ticket count had increased, so the debt owing before the 30th turned into 14, repaying first, today’s count continues. Should be very quick, right?