I Bacame the Mother of His Child-Chapter 128: The Old Man Playing Cards

After leaving Aunt Lai’s house, Xu Xiuxiu sent Xu Jingjing back home and planned to head to the city herself. When Xu Jingjing learned of this, she wanted to follow, "Big sister, let me come with you. I can help you fight the bad guys and won’t hold you back at all." Xu Jingjing said, clenching her teeth and making a fist.

This deep-seated grudge from a broken head, Xu Jingjing would remember it for a lifetime. This girl had a clear sense of love and hate.

"Jingjing, you stay at home and take care of Cheng Guang for Big Sister, and maybe cook meals for your brother-in-law three times a day, okay? I trust no one else with this task. The people targeting me are from our own troop. I can’t stop worrying about Cheng Guang, and I can only resolve my concerns by entrusting his safety to you. Can you do this for Big Sister?" Xu Xiuxiu stepped forward, seriously gripping Xu Jingjing’s shoulders, giving her a significant look.

Xu Jingjing, always impulsive by nature, was typically hard to calm down, but the more Xu Xiuxiu interacted with her, the more she knew how to make this girl settle down.

Originally excited, Xu Jingjing looked at Xu Xiuxiu, but upon hearing her sister say that she trusted no one else, she was instantly filled with a sense of trust; after a long moment, the young girl bit her red lips and gave Xu Xiuxiu a resolute look, "Big sister, go ahead without worry! I’ll take good care of Cheng Guang and ensure not even a hair on his head is harmed."

"Good, now I’m relieved," Xu Xiuxiu said excitedly, nodding her head before turning around and leaving without hesitation.

Xu Jingjing, still uneasy, followed her for a few steps and then clenched her fists and bit her teeth as she went back home alone, as her Big Sister had entrusted her with a significant responsibility—to take good care of Cheng Guang and not to hold her back.

...

Xu Xiuxiu staggered by vehicle from the troop to the city, first took some time to visit Sichuan Pavilion. Seeing that, although the staff was nervous, the business was still strictly operational, she felt somewhat relieved and then asked Su Juan and Cai Qiufen for basic information about the business inspectors who visited yesterday, preparing to catch them off guard and target them precisely.

Xu Xiuxiu was examining the list given to her by Su Juan, realizing it mostly contained key figures from the Business Bureau. She was speechless, not expecting that so many high-level officials were used against her modest Sichuan Pavilion? It really took quite an effort! Thinking of this, Xu Xiuxiu smirked coldly.

Previously, given the face of Song Yuanhuan, these Bureau officials were quite courteous during inspections. No one anticipated that suddenly they would all show their true colors, so Xu Xiuxiu had some understanding of these people. She specifically researched these officials’ roles and titles and determined that most likely Deputy Director Yu Rongye was the one leading this, who had clashed with Xu Jingjing. After that, Xu Xiuxiu methodically put away the list.

She hailed a rickshaw and had been staking out the Business Bureau from noon. When Yu Rongye left the office in the evening, Xu Xiuxiu quietly followed her, tailing her all the way home.

After work, Yu Rongye took a detour to a nearby vegetable market, hurriedly bought some groceries, and rushed home. Judging by the number of people who greeted her, it seemed that Yu Rongye had a good relationship with her neighbors, and she wore a gentle smile on her face.

She was competent during the day, but humble and polite at home—a stark contrast. Xu Xiuxiu followed her all the way until she obtained the basic address of Yu Rongye’s home. Then, Xu Xiuxiu took a tricycle to a small restaurant nearby, dismissed the tricycle driver, and entered the small restaurant to order several dishes, enjoying a hearty dinner.

After dinner, it was already past five o’clock. As it was early spring, it got dark quickly. Although the weather was still a bit chilly, a dim yellow light shone at the doorway of almost every elderly person’s house in the small lane where Yu Rongye lived. Several elders, as if they had agreed in advance, sat together playing chess or card games animatedly.

"Excuse me, gentlemen, for disturbing your leisure time, but I have some questions I’d like to ask you," Xu Xiuxiu approached the group playing cards, after watching those playing chess for a moment.

True gentlemen say nothing when observing a chess game; those playing chess generally dislike disruptions. Therefore, Xu Xiuxiu, without hesitation, approached the card players—perhaps they’d be easier to converse with!

"..." The elders, lively a moment ago playing cards, all fell silent and stared at Xu Xiuxiu for a while, making her almost nervous.

"What do you want to inquire about, young lady?" The elder sitting opposite Xu Xiuxiu continued studying his fan-shaped hand of playing cards but looked up at Xu Xiuxiu.

"I actually want to ask about Deputy Director Yu, who works at the Bureau of Industry and Commerce," Xu Xiuxiu put on a helpless face. "My husband is planning to open a small restaurant in the city, but somehow we can’t get the business license issued. Our place is all set up, and we’ve even secretly given red envelopes there several times, but those have sunk without any results. Someone hinted to us that Deputy Director Yu is holding back our license and advised us to ’motivate’ her privately. My husband and I are greenhorns in this area; we just want to run a legitimate small business, but being stuck like this isn’t right, is it? I came to ask the neighbors living nearby, why won’t she approve our license? If I am to give her something useful, what would be appropriate? Does Deputy Director Yu have any elderly family members or children, what kind of gifts would be suitable? Please advise me, elders!" Xu Xiuxiu revealed her purpose in a troubled manner.

To Xu Xiuxiu’s explanation, the elders showed expressions of ’as expected.’

"That’s simple. People like you, whose licenses are stuck, are not few. Tomorrow, give that Yu Rongye a big red envelope, and I’m sure the business license will come through the next day," the elder beside Xu Xiuxiu spoke, suggesting that Xu Xiuxiu wasn’t the first to come asking discreetly, hence the elders didn’t hold back their comments.

"Is that so?" Xu Xiuxiu looked worried and unsure. "Please give me some sincere advice, elders! I’ve already waited too long for this business license, and I’m really anxious!"

"Sure, why not! If you’re really worried, let me give you another tip. You can buy some foods suitable for patients and deliver them to her, ensuring Deputy Director Yu treats you courteously," the elders said, sharing knowing glances among themselves. "I play a pair of sixes; do you want a pair of kings?" the elder opposite Xu Xiuxiu quickly threw his cards after speaking, responding to another elder’s played pair of sixes.