Chronicle of the 70s
Chapter 77 - 075 Inform

Chapter 77: 075 Inform

PS: About the repeated Chapter 73 yesterday, it has been replaced with the content of Chapter 74. Just refresh and you can see it. No worries, everyone can subscribe with confidence.

When Li Xianglu found out about this, several days had already passed, and it was mentioned by Qin Xi in the afternoon while helping her to light the fire and cook.

Qin Xi gazed at the leaping flames, lost in thought for a moment, then raised her head and said, "After the harvest, I’d like to take a trip to Shanghai."

Shanghai? Li Xianglu, who was sneakily greasing the dough rolls, paused slightly and turned around, "What are you going to Shanghai for?"

Qin Xi looked up with a smile, "Just to have a look. Why? Do you want to go too?"

Li Xianglu’s eyes immediately lit up, her hands rubbing together in eager anticipation.

Qin Xi was taken aback, "You really want to go?"

Li Xianglu pouted slightly, a look of displeasure on her face, "What’s this, are you fooling around?"

Qin Xi shook her head with a smile, "Why do you act like a prickled lion every day? I’m just asking you."

Li Xianglu didn’t reply until she placed the rolls on a strainer and set it over the boiling pot, "Yes, I do want to see what Shanghai is like."

Qin Xi hesitated, beginning to consider the possibility of this trip.

Just then, Grandpa Li, who was outside digging potatoes with Qin Zhen, came in and happened to hear Li Xianglu’s last remark, prompting him to inquire about the reason.

After listening, Mr. Li slightly furrowed his brows, pondered for a while, and then slapped his thigh, "Qin, what are you going to Shanghai for?"

Qin Xi hesitated before replying, "I have something very important to do there."

Hearing the young man keeping secrets from him again, Mr. Li replied somewhat helplessly, "Well, all of you go then. I’ll take Xiang along for a trip too. It’s a good opportunity to visit my old buddy."

When Qin Xi heard this, it seemed like a good plan. If everyone went, they could look after each other. At this moment, Qin Zhen came in, his hands muddy, his dark, chubby cheeks immediately bursting with joy, "We’re going to Shanghai, we’re going to Shanghai, oh oh oh!"

Li Xianglu glanced over, "Who said you were coming?"

Qin Zhen was dumbfounded, standing still in shock.

Qin Xi, the ’step-brother’, also spoke up at the right time, "You stay home and take care of both courtyards, and I’ll bring you some tasty treats when I return."

With a ’wah’, Qin Zhen burst into tears, causing Li Xianglu to burst out laughing. Such a big person, always crying, one would think he’s made of water!

Mr. Li couldn’t stand it any longer. Qin Xi and his granddaughter often ganged up on Qin Zhen together, the poor chubby kid being so simple-minded he never caught on, always ending up being teased by the two. Mr. Li, feeling a bit sympathetic, shook his head, "Go wash up. If we go, we go together. If we leave you at home alone, we’d worry you might burn the house down."

Li Xianglu laughed her head off. So much for sympathy—that was quite the backhanded comment.

After dinner, as nightfall enveloped the sky, Qin Xi took her younger brother home.

Li Xianglu boiled a large pot of water, then heated up the kangs in both cave dwellings. It was already September, and the weather in Guanzhong was gradually cooling down. Without the kangs being heated, it felt a bit chilly at night.

She brought a basin of foot-washing water to Grandpa Li’s cave dwelling, settled Mr. Li on a small stool to wash his feet, and then returned to her room.

Li Xianglu took the golden key and the crudely hand-drawn map, which resembled human skin, back with her.

Mr. Li, while soaking his feet, saw his granddaughter handing something over and took it. Upon closer inspection, he was startled and after pausing for a long while, he asked, "Where did this come from?"

Li Xianglu had been paying close attention to Mr. Li’s expression. Seeing his shocked look, she thought he might recognize the items, yet she honestly recounted the origin of these things.

Upon hearing it came from the secret compartment inside the chest, Mr. Li was incredulous. After drying his feet, he followed his granddaughter to the western cave dwelling.

Mr. Li listened to his granddaughter’s instruction to press down to open it, but after trying fruitlessly for a while, he turned his head in confusion. The bottom of the chest didn’t seem to have any secret compartment at all; even looking from the outside, there was no difference in the inner depth.

Li Xianglu climbed up behind him. Seeing that Mr. Li couldn’t open it, she quickly placed the oil lamp on the cabinet next to her, then reached into the chest and gently tapped specific areas. After three or four taps, her keen ears caught a sound, and then she pressed down forcefully in the middle. With a ’click,’ the secret compartment opened.

Mr. Li was astounded that such a compartment existed in the chest. He tried to close it but couldn’t manage to do so. Li Xianglu, seeing this, smiled, took over, and closed it smoothly. After compressing, it fit neatly into place as if it were originally embedded there, leaving no trace at all.

This time, Mr. Li couldn’t help but scrutinize the young woman seriously. If he didn’t know that she was genuinely a local born and bred, he’d be tempte to suspect that she was someone planted by his side.

Li Xianglu was aware of Mr. Li’s suspicions, but sooner or later the issue had to be addressed. She had intended to conceal the matter for a while, learning a bit about antiques and treasure appraisal before bringing up the map. However, considering that she might go to Shanghai in November, there was no time to delay, and she couldn’t concern herself with being suspected anymore.

Seeing the clarity in his granddaughter’s eyes, Mr. Li didn’t ask any further and shook his head, saying, "People, it’s all about fate. Your chest has been with me for at least ten years, and I never noticed anything amiss. You discovered it upon your arrival, which shows it’s your destiny."

The grandfather and granddaughter pair returned to the eastern cave dwelling. Mr. Li pulled out his cabinet from his kang, took out the clothes and a large bundle inside, and said, "Come on, try to see if these two chests have any hidden compartments."

Li Xianglu couldn’t help but smile at Mr. Li’s sudden treasure-hunting whim, yet she cooperated and proceeded to press and tap around. Every chest’s secret mechanism was different, so she couldn’t use the previous method.

After three or four attempts, followed by another ’click,’ Li Xianglu opened another compartment.

Mr. Li excitedly looked over as Li Xianglu removed the board embedded at the bottom of the chest.

Surprisingly, there really was something inside—a wooden box.

Mr. Li was extremely astonished, his hands trembling as he picked up the object, tears flashing in his eyes.

Li Xianglu’s mouth gaped in surprise. What was happening? Could it be that Grandpa Li had personal belongings inside the chest, but he just didn’t know where they were hidden?

In front of Li Xianglu, Mr. Li opened the small box, which astonishingly contained just a pile of photographs—black and white images of a woman, or a woman holding a child, a boy.

Li Xianglu curiously took the photos and examined them. One photo depicted the woman in military attire, an early style military uniform with a four-pointed hat. The woman had delicate features and a gentle smile.

As Mr. Li’s tears freely flowed, Li Xianglu didn’t offer comfort but simply opened the other chest. Finding nothing, she raised an eyebrow. After tidying up, she then sat opposite her grandfather.