Chapter 31 The Prodigal Son Returns Zhao Duan
The money box is not empty.
For example, on the top floor, there was a stack of banknotes mixed with a land deed. According to memory, it was the deposit that Wang Xian gave him.
In addition, there is his own house deed, a small amount of silver, the original owner's mother's jewelry, and other miscellaneous items. For ordinary people, it is already a lot of money, but...
"Where is the money I embezzled?" Zhao Duan was dumbfounded.
In my impression, in the past year, the original owner did not dare to be greedy because he was worried about being caught by others, but he received a lot of benefits overtly and covertly.
But now, they are all gone.
"Stolen? Or was it taken by the Eugene Flower? No...impossible."
Zhao Duan tried his best to squeeze his brain power, trying to search for memories.
But it has been more than three days since the time travel, and the remaining memories of the original owner have gradually become blurred.
Many things only remain impressions, and details are largely lost.
Just like he could remember that there was an aunt and stepsister at home, but their appearance was not clear. Only seeing them again could awaken his memory.
It's like a person suffering from amnesia. He only has the impression that "the original owner made a lot of money", but he can't remember the exact amount and the ins and outs of each transaction.
"It seems that I... took it myself."
Zhao Duan looked unhappy, "But I forgot where the money went."
Quite a bit:
When I saw the lottery winning numbers, they were exactly the same as the ones I bought, but I couldn’t remember where I put the lottery tickets.
"You're cheating..." Zhao Duan's mouth twitched.
What is the most painful thing?
The person is alive and the money is there, but I forgot where to put it.
"Calm down! Maybe we can test and ask Eugene Flowers," Zhao Duan thought, "The memory is just vague. As long as I get a reminder, I might be able to remember it."
Moreover, although the original owner is useless, he is not stupid. He has worked hard to get a lot of money and cannot lose it out of thin air.
After comforting himself for a moment, Zhao Duan took out the "deposit", put in the nourishing pill, locked the "safe", crossed his legs and breathed, to calm down his energy.
He looked calm and calm just now, but his meridians were aching due to excessive energy transport.
"It was too tight the first time, so it's normal to feel some pain. If you do it a few more times, it will get better as soon as it is loosened." Eunuch Hai's advice still rings in my ears.
Zhao Duan was convinced.
It wasn't until the sun set that he was awakened by the sound of footsteps outside the door. He only heard the maid knocking on the door and timidly saying:
"Mr. Lang, it's time to eat."
…
Inner hall.
When Zhao Duan arrived, he saw six dishes and one soup on the round table, but his aunt and sister were nowhere to be seen.
"Where are the people?" he asked subconsciously.
The maid next to her looked strange and reminded in a low voice:
"Have you forgotten, sir? Madam and young lady will not be at the table."
Zhao Duan's vague memory was activated, and he remembered that after the original owner gained power, in order to humiliate the two daughters, he would finish every meal at home first, and only then would the servants serve the remaining dishes to Eugene and his daughter. eat.
That's great. I've learned all the nonsense about honor and inferiority... Zhao Duan complained and said coldly:
"Go and ask them to come and eat together. I have something to ask."
The maids and women were a little surprised and did not dare to ask.
Not long after, the mother and daughter walked into the inner hall.
Zhao Pan kept a straight face and said nothing, as if he had warned his mother.
Eugene Flower was cautious and whispered softly:
"Mr. Lang..."
"Sit down and eat." Zhao Duan said. When the two girls didn't move, he had to pretend to be angry. Then Eugene Hua hurriedly pulled his daughter to the table.
Zhao Duan didn't say anything, his stomach growled, and he finally understood why the empress was so good at eating... One of the drawbacks of the royal family's exercises seemed to be that they were prone to hunger.
The mother and daughter were nervous and vigilant at first, wondering why Dalang was so crazy today.
Seeing Zhao Duan slumped over his meal, Zhao Pan gritted his teeth, picked up the chopsticks first, picked up a chopstick of meat viciously, and swallowed it. Seeing this, Eugene Hua also hesitated to pick up the food.
The beautiful woman almost wanted to cry when the hot meal entered her mouth. She had forgotten the last time a family of three sat together to eat quietly.
The wolf has changed his gender?
Zhao Pan looked suspicious. She boldly and carefully placed the dish she liked in front of Zhao Duan. However, the latter did not get angry. He just glanced at her and moved his chopsticks away, as if …
Are you... giving in to her?
How is that possible! The girl was extremely vigilant, suspecting that this was the calm before the storm.
Finally, when Zhao Duan was sixty percent full, he casually said:
"A few days ago, I took out money, does my aunt know?"
Eugene Flower was stunned, aunt? How long has it been since you heard this title?
"Ah, what's the matter?" Eugene Hua held her chopsticks and concealed her inner emotion.
Zhao Duan frowned and repeated the question.
The mother and daughter looked at each other, and Eugene Hua hesitated and said: "The money in the family has always been in charge of Da Lang. Except for household expenses, I don't know where the rest of the money went. Could it be that Da Lang had something to do with someone? Are your friends eating or drinking out?”
Friends?
Zhao Duan obtained the keyword, and a small light bulb lit up above his head.
After the original owner gained power, he did make a few dandy friends. They were all the children of some small and powerful people in the capital, and they always enjoyed compliments from each other.
The reason why he fell so quickly is also due to these people.
Otherwise, even if a small imperial army wants to corrupt, it will not be able to find the entrance to the big dye vat of society.
However, since Zhao Duan's incident, the group of fair-weather friends who used to surround him with all kinds of compliments and flattery have all disappeared with a tacit understanding.
It's so real... Zhao Duan sneered inwardly and secretly wrote down this clue, preparing to investigate again with his hands free.
When Eugene Hua saw that Zhao Duan didn't ask any more questions, he became even more surprised, thinking that maybe the other party was in a good mood after being pardoned today. He said cautiously:
"Speaking of which, the remaining money in the family's account has bottomed out. The money for next month...I don't know when it will be convenient for Dalang..."
Food and clothing for the family, as well as regular money for the servants and maids, were sent to us... Considering the high prices in the capital, it was still a sum of money every month.
Eugene spent his life with his palms facing up, scrimping every month for fear of overspending.
Even so, he still felt uneasy when asking Zhao Duan for living expenses every month.
Although she has worked hard to save money and manage a large family.
However, this time, Dalang did not curse her as a "waste" and "freeloader" as before, and asked her if the money had been secretly spent.
Zhao Duan, who used to be violent in the past, was startled for a moment, then put down his bowl and chopsticks with a guilty conscience, and said warmly: "I can escape this time, I spent a lot of money on it, and I will give it to you after I get my salary in a few days." Auntie. Well, I’m ready. Eat slowly.”
After saying that, he stood up and left the inner hall, so embarrassed that he almost walked out of the three rooms and one living room.
I was really embarrassed, saying that I didn’t know why, so I spent all the money at home.
"Haha, who would have thought that a villain like me would be so poor that he couldn't afford living expenses..."
Zhao Duan laughed at himself, feeling that he had to step up his efforts to defeat the Zhang brothers and earn money through meritorious deeds.
Only the mother and daughter were left at the dinner table, staring blankly at his leaving figure, feeling that the sun had really risen in the west.
…
At night, outside the master bedroom.
Zhao Pan held the oil lamp, pushed open the door, and saw his mother sitting at the table.
The beautiful woman was only wearing pajamas, her neck was drooped, and her temperament was gentle.
In his hand is the skirt that the girl wore during the day. When she fell, she accidentally scratched a hole, and she was currently focusing on mending it.
After completing the last stitch and biting off the thread with her silver teeth, Eugene looked at the exquisitely embroidered peach blossom at the hole with satisfaction. She raised her head and smiled at her daughter:
"Come and try it, see if it looks good."
Zhao Pan bit his lip, his eyes gleaming under the light. He walked to his mother and put down the light. She held her mother's hand distressedly and complained:
"Why don't you sew it up for the servants?"
Eugene smiled and said, "My mother-in-law has a bad eyesight. She will ruin her embroidery at night."
Then he said guiltily: "At your age, you should be buying new clothes. Weird mother can't save money... she can only mend them and wear them."
"Mother..." Zhao Pan's eyes were red and he said distressedly:
"I don't want new ones. Mother, you haven't had any clothes for a long time."
The Zhao family is not short of money. Zhao Duan goes out to eat and drink, and one meal is enough for them to add a good outfit.
But the monthly living allowance given to them is barely enough to support the family. They are so tight that they will be scolded for even a penny less.
It is rare for the family of the dignified White Horse Inspector to be so poor.
Eugene was so moved that the two of them nestled together for warmth.
After a long time, Eugene Hua suddenly said: "Brother You is a little different today."
"He is not my brother," Zhao Pan said with a straight face, "He must have been beaten by the emperor. He temporarily tucked his tail between his legs, and sooner or later he will have to show his fangs."
Eugene Hua was speechless and just sighed. Could it be that she didn't guess like this?
Just have unrealistic hopes.
"Maybe... Mom is saying maybe... he has changed for the better after this incident? Man, you have to temper yourself before you can grow up... In ancient times, there was a prodigal son who turned back..."
"I don't believe it. I only know that he has bullied us since he was a child!"
"Sigh... When you were young, his mother just passed away. You should not like being your mother..."
"Stop talking, I don't want to hear it!"
"Okay...go back to the house and sleep."
outside the door.
Behind the pillars of the corridor, Zhao Duan listened to the end of the conversation in the room, jumped up with Qinggong, and flew to the roof silently.
Watching Zhao Pan go away with the lantern in hand, he was silent for a long time, looking up at an unknown tall building that stood out in the dark night sky of the capital, feeling a little distracted.
…
The night sky is clear and dotted with stars.
The capital city of Dayu is located in the main altar of Daozong, that is, the "Tianshi Mansion", with a towering bell tower and a convex platform.
The starlight suddenly condensed, outlining a slender figure.
The night wind blew, and the other party's warlock robe was black with gold thread on the background. The sleeves were fluttering. On the corner of the robe, the heraldic emblem of "Tianshi Mansion" was embroidered with gold thread.
It was the mysterious warlock who witnessed Zhao Duan driving away from a turret near the White Horse Prison late the night before yesterday.
No, according to the saying in the Tianshi Mansion, it should be a "priest".
At this moment, the wind blew and the clouds moved, revealing the bright moonlight, which illuminated the priest's face, revealing that she was a beautiful girl.
He has fair complexion, slightly curly hair, and his eyes lack focus and look dull.
The temperament is mysterious and ethereal. If Zhao Duan were here, he would probably be reminded of Senior Sister Luna in Harry Potter...
As soon as the young priest appeared, her feet fell into the air, and she fell straight downstairs with a squeak, then climbed up as if nothing had happened.
Pretend nothing happened.
"Ah, Senior Sister Jin Jian!"
"I've met Senior Sister!"
"Senior sister, are you going out to play again?"
"Bah, what does it mean to play? Senior sister is following the decree of Tianshi, patrolling the capital at night, guarding the peace of the place and preventing the evil gods from causing trouble..."
"Ah, yes, yes...that's so right -"
Under the bell tower, a group of passing priests from the Tianshi Mansion gathered around and praised each other.
The girl named Jin Jian enjoyed the flattery, her eyes focused on everyone: "You guys."
The priests were puzzled: "What are your orders, Senior Sister?"
Jin Jian paused and slowly said the second half of the sentence: "Who can tell me about Zhao Duan?"
(End of chapter)