Chapter 154 The Sequelae of Retirement

Good times always fly by so fast.

The warm sun in the afternoon faded, and the outside of the window immediately became cold and miserable, full of bleakness.

If it weren't for the New Year's Eve approaching, the streets and alleys would have a bit of New Year's flavor, I'm afraid this winter would be particularly difficult.

Fortunately, there are still nine days before Chinese New Year.

In the study, Wu Tao closed Zhao Li's notebook, and then remembered that it had been a long time since there was any news from Zhao Li.

I remember that we agreed to keep in touch, he was busy all the time and didn't have time, and Zhao Li surprisingly didn't call him.

But it doesn't matter, sooner or later I have to go find her in person.

Because of this story outline, he borrowed from the setting and upgrade system of many online novels in his previous life, and some key details need to be explained in person to understand.

As dinner time approached, the poker game in the living room also came to an end.

Shi Guangyao played extremely hard, but he was still scolded by Tang Yan. On the other hand, the two cousins, who are not quite right in personality, cooperated very tacitly, and successfully upgraded and cleared the level twice in a row.

Throwing the cards away, Tang Yan stretched, looked at the clock on the wall, and said in surprise, "Oh, it's so late. Sweet, should we go home?"

Ding Tiantian put down the magazine and said calmly, "I'll just wait for you."

"Why didn't you say it earlier..." Tang Yan complained.

After shuffling the cards, Shi Guangyao volunteered, "Shall I see you off?"

Shi Qianxue couldn't help laughing and said, "What are you bringing?"

Wu Tao said with a smile: "I have a 28 big bar downstairs..."

Shi Guangyao said without humility: "You can consider it, I am in Taipei, and I am called the little prince of bicycles~"

"Get out!" Tang Yan said with an undisguised disgust.

An Rong also wanted to go home for dinner, but the dinners of the two cousins ​​were left unavailable.

"Second cousin, cousin, what are you two planning to eat? Go back to the village to eat with me, and help Zhang Luo worship ancestors by the way?"

The two cousins ​​shook their heads in unison, and then said in unison, "Ma La Tang!"

Really lost to these two people.

Pajero could barely accommodate seven young people, but after going around to the next neighborhood and putting An Rong down, the car soon became much more relaxed.

Pass by the east gate of Beijiang Middle School, drop off the two cousins; then go to the first guest house, drop Shi Guangyao; then go to Dongjiao Glass Factory, drop Ding Tiantian. In the end, only Wu Tao and Tang Yan were left, driving back to Binhu Town.

Tang Yan's family lives in Qiantangwan, which is the same as Houtangwan where Zhao Li's family lives, in a village near Binhu Town.

So when Tang Yan was sent to the entrance of the village, Pajero directly detoured to Houtangwan.

I really don't know how high Zhao Li can interpret the outline of this story? Vaguely, Wu Tao was full of expectations.

Not long after, the sky was getting dark, and Pajero drove across a bridge and entered the boundary of Houtangwan.

However, Wu Tao didn't know the exact location of Zhao Li's home, so he had to get out of the car to ask for directions.

At this moment, every household in the village is smoking, mixed with the occasional barking of dogs, and the laughter of children exploding firecrackers.

Walking into the dilapidated gate of the first house, the big yellow dog tied to the gate immediately jumped up and rushed over. As a result, Song Zhuang stared at him, sobbed and shrank back.

The hostess in the yard is a rural woman in her early thirties, wearing a floral apron, shuttling between the kitchen and the well, preparing dinner in a hurry.

Seeing the two people walking in, the action of washing rice in their hands stopped, and they stared at them suspiciously.

Wu Tao held a rolled up notebook in his hand, and said cordially, "Do you know how to get to Zhao Li's house?"

"Zhao Li's family, you mean Zhao Dafu's family?"

Wu Tao couldn't help but hesitated, and then vaguely remembered that Zhao Li's father seemed to have this name.

"Yes, yes, elder sister, can you please show us the way?"

Unexpectedly, the other party said with vigilance: "Look at your posture, you are here to collect debts from Zhao Dafu's family?"

Song Zhuang hurriedly said: "No, no, it's not..."

When Wu Tao heard it, he didn't feel right, so he interrupted immediately: "Sister, as far as I know, the conditions of Zhao Dafu's family have always been very good. Why do you owe others money?"

As he spoke, he saw a jumping little girl running out of the room, and casually took out a handful of white rabbit toffee for the child.

The little girl's mother saw the situation and thanked them repeatedly, and then stopped treating Wu Tao and Wu Tao as outsiders.

"To tell you the truth, Zhao Dafu's family conditions are good, but that is in the past."

"...Now, people come to collect debts every day, and the valuables in the house have long been emptied!"

"...a family of four ate their last meal but didn't finish their meal, and they had to hide from XZ all day long. It's pitiful to think about it..."

Wu Tao couldn't help being stunned, "Why, big sister?"

"Why else?" The woman rolled her eyes, "The Zhao family offended someone. The business was blocked by someone. The goods couldn't be sold, and the goods were thrown in their hands. The money couldn't be collected, and they still haven't paid the bill. Wholesale The merchants are pressing for the payment again, this will make the New Year uneasy!"

"Who did you offend?" Wu Tao asked urgently.

"It's spread in this village. It's said that the Zhao family ruined a marriage half a year ago. Zhao Li, with high spirits, decided to go to the city to study in high school, but she rejected her. Isn't this being retaliated against now?"

"Absolutely enough!" Wu Tao pondered.

"Isn't it? I heard that the man's family is a big official..."

"Thank you, big sister," Wu Tao took out another handful of toffee and said to the little girl, "Can you tell me how to get to her house? Don't worry, I'm not here to ask for a bill."

"I've seen it for a long time. Everyone who wants to pay is vicious, big and small, how can you be so polite like you? Zhao Dafu's house, drive straight ahead, and go to the first one by the fish pond, that's it."

Three minutes later, the car stopped by the fish pond.

Wu Tao got out of the car and looked at the ruts and the mess in front of Zhao Li's house. He couldn't help but regret that he came too late.

The doors of the houses around this row were all locked, and each of them had a gloomy smell.

This is really abnormal in the countryside. Ordinary people seldom close the door after seven or eight o'clock in the evening.

Walking to the door with mottled red paint, Wu Tao knocked hard a few times, and couldn't help using a little more strength when he was anxious.

Tuk tuk tuk... anyone?

There was a faint sound of bustle in the courtyard, and then it returned to silence.

Wu Tao and Song Zhuang exchanged glances. Song Zhuang walked to the side of the porch, jumped up to the wall, and looked into the courtyard.

"How is it, Uncle Zhuang?"

Song Zhuang, who was born as an old investigator, grinned and said with a smile: "It looks like there is no one, but it is actually hidden, and this house has a back door."

Someone will do! Wu Tao returned to the door, continued to knock on the door, and shouted, "Is Zhao Li at home? I'm Wu Tao. Are uncles and aunts at home? I'm Zhao Li's classmate..."

After a burst of urgent calls, there was finally movement in the main room, and then a stumbling figure rushed into the yard, and came to the door in a flash, with excitement and tension in a trembling voice, "Wu Tao, is it really you? "

"Can't you hear my voice? Open the door quickly..."

Second update.