Chapter 57 Catching the Thief

"Taoist Priest Feng, you simply must help us..." Jia Zhangshi pleaded.

"Where does his family live? I will go take a look for you," Taoist Priest Feng asked.

"Right in the back courtyard. I'll take you there right now," Jia Dongxu hurriedly stood up and led Taoist Priest Feng to the back courtyard.

"Mom, I think... that Taoist priest doesn't look like a good person," Qin Peiru said softly after Taoist Priest Feng had walked out.

Although Taoist Priest Feng acted very subtly, a woman's sixth sense told Qin Peiru that this priest had stolen glances at her more than once.

"Go on, what do you know, a country bumpkin," Jia Zhangshi scolded before following them to the back courtyard.

Qin Peiru wore a bitter smile.

No wonder Qin Huairu wanted to divorce Jia Dongxu; this mother and son truly did not treat her like a human being. They had beaten her on the third day of their marriage, and although Qin Huairu had warned Jia Dongxu, Jia Zhangshi had no such reservations, beating and cursing her at will.

Yet, remembering her own past experiences, she simply endured it.

She only hoped her womb would be cooperative and she would conceive a child soon, so life might become a bit easier.

Yet she never stopped to think why Qin Huairu, even with stick-boy and a child, had insisted on a divorce.

The West Courtyard.

Lin Shaowen had just emerged from the basement. Taking advantage of the time Qin Huairu was bathing, he had placed all the furniture he acquired today into the basement and extended an electrical line down from his own courtyard, allowing appliances like the electric lights and water heater to operate normally.

He had just lain down on the lounge chair when he heard voices coming from outside the door.

The entire courtyard was under the Isolation Great Formation, allowing him to perceive anyone who approached.

Outside the courtyard.

Taoist Priest Feng stared at the vermilion copper-studded grand gate, completely shocked.

He was not someone who had never seen the world; the two beast-head door knockers alone on the bronze gate must have cost several silver dollars.

"Taoist Priest Feng, this is that little beast's home," Jia Zhangshi said with jealousy.

"Mhm, I know," Taoist Priest Feng stepped forward, gently tapped the bronze knocker, cleared his throat, and called out, "Is anyone home? Poor Daoist..."

"Scram."

A stern roar forced Taoist Priest Feng to swallow the rest of his words.

"You little beast, open the door! Taoist Priest Feng is here specifically to examine the feng shui," Jia Zhangshi shouted.

"Jia Zhangshi, you're spreading feudal superstitions again. Have you not yet suffered enough of being locked up?" Lin Shaowen sneered.

The few people outside the door all shivered at these words.

"I'll count to three. If you don't scram right now, I'm going to go fetch someone..."

"You little beast, you just wait."

After dropping a harsh threat, Jia Zhangshi fled in panic.

As for Taoist Priest Feng, the moment Lin Shaowen spoke his first sentence, he had already bolted far away.

The Jia Residence.

"Taoist Priest Feng, is there any way you can punish that little beast?" Jia Zhangshi asked, gnashing her teeth.

"There are naturally ways," Taoist Priest Feng resumed his otherworldly, immortal demeanor. "What kind of person is he? Tell me in detail."

"He is the director of the Rolling Mill's medical department..."

Jia Dongxu immediately relayed the intelligence he knew to Taoist Priest Feng.

Taoist Priest Feng's eyes widened even further.

Ninety-nine yuan a month, and he spent over a thousand yuan just repairing the house and crafting furniture—if this motherfucker wasn't a fat sheep, what was he?

"Taoist Priest Feng, is there any way to deal with him?"

Jia Dongxu asked, harboring a deep hatred for Lin Shaowen.

If not for Lin Shaowen, he wouldn't have gotten divorced; and without a divorce, his family of four would now have a combined income of sixty yuan, placing them among the top-tier high-income earners in the courtyard.

Yet he forgot who had introduced Qin Huairu to the factory in the first place.

"Naturally there are ways. I've already cast a spell on his door just now; tonight, little ghosts will come and spirit away his wealth," Taoist Priest Feng said with effortless detachment. "Once the little ghosts enter his house, his fortune will naturally scatter."

"The Five Ghosts Transporting Wealth?"

Both Jia Zhangshi and Jia Dongxu were shocked, but Qin Peiru frowned.

"Rest assured, tomorrow will reveal the truth," Taoist Priest Feng said mysteriously.

The West Courtyard.

After finishing dinner, Qin Huairu and Lin Shaowen didn't bother cleaning up the bowls and chopsticks. Instead, she hugged Lin Shaowen tightly under the pergola, refusing to budge.

"What is it?"

"Let me hold you a little longer."

With reddened eyes, Qin Huairu said, "After you marry a wife, come find me only after she returns to her maiden family. Otherwise, it won't be good if she finds out."

Although the small side gate was secluded and covered by Boston ivy, it was still right next door. Her house didn't have the soundproofing that Lin Shaowen's house possessed; any slightly louder movement could be heard clearly outside.

"Are you worried about this?" Lin Shaowen smiled, pinched her cheek, pulled her up, and said, "I'll take you somewhere and you'll understand."

"Where to?" Qin Huairu hooked her arms around his neck.

Without answering, Lin Shaowen carried her straight toward the side room.

When he opened the wardrobe and pulled back its back panel, revealing a straight flight of stairs leading downward, Qin Huairu's jaw dropped in astonishment.

She had never known her own house possessed a basement.

Lin Shaowen turned on the lights, causing Qin Huairu to tremble with excitement.

Everything in the basement was fully equipped, especially the large bed gleaming with a metallic luster, which made it impossible for her to look away. She took a few steps and pushed open a closed door, leaving her completely dazed.

The bathroom was covered in pristine ceramic tiles, and the snow-white bathtub and toilet made her fall in love with it instantly.

"Afraid of being discovered now?" Lin Shaowen laughed.

"Shaowen, love me, right here..."

Qin Huairu reached out and wrapped her arms around Lin Shaowen's neck.

That night.

Humming a little tune after cleaning up the bowls and chopsticks, Qin Huairu then served Lin Shaowen as he finished his bath, before finally lying down on the bed in deep satisfaction.

With the heavy stone lifted from her heart, she quickly drifted off to sleep, utterly content.

Lin Shaowen was also growing drowsy when his heart suddenly skipped a beat. Closing his eyes to sense his surroundings, he detected someone preparing to scale his perimeter wall.

He immediately woke Qin Huairu, told her to return to the side room, and grabbing a wooden stick, concealed himself beneath the wall.

The intruder was clearly prepared. As soon as he climbed atop the wall, he stood there steadily.

The thorns of the Boston ivy had no effect on him whatsoever.

After waiting quietly for a moment, Lin Shaowen watched as a dark shadow leapt down from the wall.

Bang!

With a single strike of his stick, Lin Shaowen instantly deactivated the Isolation Great Formation and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Thief! Catch the thief, come quickly..."

The previously tranquil courtyard instantly illuminated with countless lights.

Led by the sound, the residents rushed toward the rear west courtyard.

At that moment, gripping his stick, Lin Shaowen lunged fiercely at the petty thief.

"Ow, ow, don't hit me, don't hit me!"

"I yield, mister, stop hitting!"

"Stop, I beg you..."

...

Lin Shaowen was cunning by nature; even without studying medicine, he knew precisely where blows hurt the most.

Covering his crotch, the petty thief rolled and scrambled continuously on the ground to dodge.

"Lin Shaowen, open the door..."

Many voices shouted from outside the courtyard.

"What's going on?"

Wearing a silk nightgown, Qin Huairu opened her door.

"Sister Qin, I heard a thief broke into Lin Shaowen's place."

After gloating with malicious glee, Silly Pillar suddenly froze, his eyes widening.

At that moment, Qin Huairu was wearing a silk sleeping dress. Even though only a sliver of her neck and her two arms were exposed, that patch of snowy skin was more than enough to drive a man out of his mind.

Many people looked toward Qin Huairu, the weak-willed ones even drooling slightly.

However, the darkness of the night meant no one paid much attention.

After a long while.

Lin Shaowen's courtyard gate was pushed open.

He was seen carrying a thick wooden stick across his shoulder while dragging a man by the other hand like a dead dog.

The fierce aura radiating from him caused many to involuntarily step back a fraction.

Only Qin Huairu gazed secretly at Lin Shaowen, her eyes as alluring as silk.

This man provided far too strong a sense of security.