SES Chapter 143 Part 1

Chapter 143

In the village, roosters crowed earlier than any alarm clock. Luo Ren sprang up from bed in an instant — his eyes were open before he even sat upright.

If time had been on his side, he could’ve taken his time to observe, ask around, and play the long game. But the strange happenings from last night had given him a bad feeling. If Yi Wansan was in danger, then Mu Dai and Cao Yanhua couldn’t be any better off. Since every minute counted now, he didn’t have time to play nice anymore.

He washed up, dressed, and packed in under five minutes. When he pushed the door open, the rain was still falling — lighter now, a drizzle of fine needles instead of the earlier downpour.

Last night, Qingshan had mentioned an old village saying: “If it rains, it won’t stop for seven days.”
Never underestimate a drizzle, he’d said. Mountains that can withstand a storm often collapse under days of gentle rain.

Just as a flood only topples stones, but dripping water can bore through them.
Just as a hero can survive bullets and battle, only to fall to a soft touch and a painted smile.
People often escape from dangers they fear — only to trip on level ground, or capsize in calm water.

Luo Ren felt that same quiet danger spreading through the rain all around him — subtle, pervasive, and inescapable.

Qingshan came out of his room, yawning, toothbrush cup in hand. Tomorrow was his wedding day, and today he’d planned to set up the tent and flower arches at the threshing ground. He’d already told all the village men to wake up early and help.

Seeing Luo Ren startled him. Spotting the pack on his back, he couldn’t help asking, “You leaving?”

He’d long given up hope that his cousin Tudun would make it back for the wedding — and as for Tudun’s friends, they seemed to appear and vanish like ghosts. Honestly, they looked more like freeloading guests than friends.

“Got something to do,” Luo Ren said flatly.

He asked Qingshan for the address of Cao Jinhua’s house, then strode off through the drizzle.

Cao Jinhua’s mother had died young, leaving only her father and younger brother. Years later, her brother had married and had a baby, finally bringing some noise and warmth back into the quiet three-room home.

They’d also gotten up early to help Qingshan today — the stove fire crackled hot, and smoke curled up through the chimney into the rain. The family’s table was small, and Jinhua, tall and broad-shouldered, had to fold herself onto a low stool, looking more than a little uncomfortable.

During breakfast, her father started talking about Qingshan’s wedding — but before long, as usual, he turned the subject to her. The same three complaints, over and over.

First, he blamed Beijing.

“Beijing’s so big, millions of people — how’s there not one single man right for you?”

Then, he blamed Cao Tudun.

“That little punk from the Cao family — if I ever see him, I’ll skin him alive!”

And finally, he blamed fate.

“It’s fate, I tell you. Your mother died too early, and I’ve had no backbone since. Should’ve never let you go off to the big city. You didn’t earn a fortune — just lost your youth year by year…”

That hit a nerve. Jinhua’s temper flared instantly.

“Can you stop going on and on about getting married? Are women only supposed to marry? Can’t we have other dreams? Other ways to prove our worth?”

Her sister-in-law, nursing the baby, sighed inwardly — There she goes again.
To her, a woman’s fate was simple: marry, bear children, live quietly.

Her father just looked confused. Words like dreams and self-worth were far too abstract for him.

“What do you mean, ‘lost youth’? Time isn’t something you lose — it’s what you use to build value. You’re too narrow-minded. You only see people getting older, not the growth that comes with it!”

Her sister-in-law sighed again — What growth? You just got older, that’s all.

Her father still looked puzzled. “Narrow-minded?”

Cao Jinhua was seething now. No wonder she hated coming home — they didn’t even speak the same language. Fine, she’d dumb it down.

She jabbed a finger toward the door. “Can you stop harping on it every day? I told you, I’ll keep an eye out, but it’s all about fate. Men don’t fall out of the sky — what, you think if you shout loud enough, one will just show up at the door?”

A brief silence fell. The fire popped in the stove, and the porridge bubbled over in the pot.

Then the light in the doorway dimmed.

Luo Ren was standing there. His gaze swept across the room before settling on her.
“Cao Jinhua?”

“Uh… yeah?”

“Can I have a word?”

“Oh.”

Still half-dazed, she led him to her room — whoever he was, at least it meant an escape from the breakfast table lecture.

Her sister-in-law blinked, stunned at first, then noticed their father’s expression — startled, but pleased. She turned to watch Jinhua’s back disappear down the hall, her heart unexpectedly sour.

Hmph.

Once inside, Jinhua finally asked, “Who are you?”

Luo Ren didn’t waste words. His face hardened. “A couple of days ago, at Qingshan’s house — you talked with two people, a man and a woman, right?”

Of course, she remembered! They were supposed to be future clients.

Wait a second… if he’s asking about them — could he be that mysterious ‘brother’ they mentioned?

Her eyes lit up. “You’re Henry?”

Luo Ren frowned. “I heard you talked for quite a while. What about?”

“Insurance.”

“Insurance?”

“Yeah — you know, life protection plans. Everyone faces risks in life, so…”

Luo Ren’s patience snapped. He stepped forward, grabbed her by the collar, and slammed her against the wall.

Her sales pitch died mid-sentence. Her mind went blank. This morning had just become one of the most surreal — and terrifying — moments of her life.