AGN -Chapter 160 Liang Zhu (Part 10)

Liu Tao sat on the sofa in a daze for more than ten minutes. After her emotions had calmed a little, she no longer tried to persuade Luo Jun to return to Shanghai. Instead, she went upstairs, changed into clean clothes, re-combed her hair, washed her face, and then began cleaning the house.

Luo Jun sat in the living room reading the newspaper.

Rarely, he was not reading fiction, but current affairs news. The newspaper had key phrases circled in pen—mostly reports on where battles were taking place, where there were floods, droughts, or epidemics, along with some missing-person notices tucked into the corners.

Qin Huai glanced at the newspaper beside Luo Jun and realized Luo Jun wasn’t wrong. According to what was written, aside from remote, uninhabited areas, there truly weren’t many absolutely safe places in this era.

In this time period, remote, uninhabited areas in themselves were, in a sense, unsafe.

Luo Jun frowned as he studied the paper, occasionally circling locations with his pen. While he was reading, there was a knock at the door.

Liu Tao, who was wiping a cabinet, quickly went to open it. Outside stood a middle-aged couple.

The man had a protruding belly and carried himself with an air of authority. The woman was slightly plump, dressed in a cheongsam, wearing a beautiful pearl necklace around her neck, with heavy gold bracelets and an exaggerated gemstone ring on her hand—looking lavish and wealthy.

“Secretary Cao, Madam Cao, what brings you here?” Liu Tao hurriedly invited them in.

Luo Jun was also a bit surprised to see them, but he didn’t show it much. He simply calmly put down his newspaper and stood up.

Liu Tao went to the kitchen to make tea.

“Mr. Luo,” Madam Cao began, “you didn’t return home all night yesterday and didn’t even inform your wife. She was terribly frightened. She was anxious and fearful in the air-raid shelter. If not for me and your household staff holding her back, she would have run out in the middle of the night to look for you. Now that we heard you returned safely, my husband and I came by to check on you.”

Her words seemed reasonable, but her tone carried a hint of hostility.

Secretary Cao glared at her, and Madam Cao shot him an unconcerned eye-roll before sitting down.

Secretary Cao could only smile apologetically at Luo Jun. “Mr. Luo, please don’t take offense. My wife has been living in the countryside these past years—it’s just her temperament.”

Madam Cao rolled her eyes again.

“It’s like this,” Secretary Cao continued with a smile, “my wife was a bit confused about the situation. I heard she said some unpleasant things to your wife in the air-raid shelter last night. She’s been overly suspicious all day, and I was worried she might mislead your wife as well, so I brought her here to explain.”

Liu Tao came out of the kitchen carrying tea and served it to the two guests. When she placed the tea in front of Madam Cao, Madam Cao deliberately stood up to take it, drank immediately, and even gestured for Liu Tao to sit beside her instead of standing.

Qin Huai watched the pair and found Madam Cao quite interesting. Although she didn’t seem fond of Luo Jun, she appeared to get along well with Liu Tao.

“Mrs. Luo,” Secretary Cao said, “I know your husband has been going out frequently these days, and you must be worried. But rest assured, he’s my brother. When he goes out, he’s always protected. Men work hard outside for their wives and children—you should be more understanding. I just received a box of high-quality bird’s nest; it’s good for nourishing you. You’ve looked quite haggard recently.”

As he spoke, he let out a very insincere laugh.

Liu Tao looked a bit confused, clearly not understanding why the couple had come all this way just to explain this matter. Before she could ask anything, Secretary Cao stood up, saying he had other matters to attend to and needed to leave. Madam Cao also stood, reminding Liu Tao not to forget to go to their home for mahjong in the afternoon.

Liu Tao escorted them out, while Luo Jun, unsurprised, continued reading his newspaper.

Qin Huai also found the couple rather odd and quietly followed them out, hoping to overhear something more interesting.

As soon as he stepped outside, he heard it.

Once the door closed, Secretary Cao immediately changed his demeanor and reprimanded her in a low voice, “Are you that bored with nothing to do? Why did you say those strange things to Mrs. Luo last night, even telling her to return to Shanghai? If you want to go back to your hometown, I won’t stop you—I’ll have someone buy you a ticket tomorrow.”

Madam Cao’s tone also changed instantly. “And what’s wrong with me saying a few words? Aren’t you men all the same? You think I’m old and useless, so you left me in the countryside taking care of your parents, while you came to the city to enjoy yourself with educated young women. Now that your brother has been promoted, you bring me back to the city—and your attitude flips faster than turning a page.”

“People like you surnamed Cao are no good. And that Luo guy isn’t any better. What kind of businessman pretends to be a romantic? Always reading books or newspapers—who knows what he’s secretly doing outside? Talking about business meetings—what business is he even doing with you? Running out every few days—who knows if he’s keeping a mistress outside.”

Qin Huai: ?

Secretary Cao lowered his voice further. “What does that have to do with you? Do you think Luo Jun is an ordinary businessman? Ask around—over the years, anyone who’s offended him, whether gangs, landlords, foreigners, or government officials—none of them have been seen alive or dead. I’m just a minor official with no real power. How many lives do you think you have to say he’s just an ordinary businessman?”

Madam Cao still looked unconvinced.

“I told you to spend time playing mahjong with Mrs. Luo, not to become allies with her.”

“If you ask me, Mr. Luo is already being considerate. His wife is barely literate and from a theatrical background—being a concubine would already be a step up. They’ve been married for years and still have no children—most likely she can’t bear any.”

“The fact that he hasn’t taken a formal mistress but only keeps someone outside—I suspect he’s planning to have a child and then have it raised under his wife’s name. After going that far, what’s there to complain about? Just keep your mouth shut in front of Mrs. Luo. At mahjong this afternoon, watch your tongue. Do you understand?”

Madam Cao reluctantly nodded.

“And don’t let slip anything about Mr. Luo’s business with me. That pearl necklace around your neck was given by him—keep your mouth shut.”

Madam Cao walked away angrily.

Qin Huai stood there, somewhat dazed.

From his understanding of Luo Jun, Luo Jun was unlikely to keep a mistress outside. He wasn’t the type to lie—at most, he’d look at people coldly. Lying was something he simply disdained.

But he had indeed been lying.

Liu Tao had said Luo Jun had been going out frequently lately, not at home whenever the air-raid alarms sounded, always out meeting Secretary Cao for business.

But Luo Jun clearly hadn’t been meeting Secretary Cao for business. That’s why Secretary Cao and Madam Cao suspected he was keeping a mistress.

So the question was: why was Luo Jun lying to Liu Tao? He wasn’t someone who enjoyed going out either.

Back when Luo Jun wasn’t in a relationship, aside from necessary fighting, he would stay in hotels reading novels, even ordering food delivery.

Was he short on money? Were his outside dealings too dangerous to reveal, forcing him to go out frequently and stage meetings with Secretary Cao to deceive Liu Tao?
But his “business” didn’t seem extensive enough to require all this.

Qin Huai returned to the house, still puzzled.

Luo Jun was still on the sofa reading the newspaper, while Liu Tao had moved on from cleaning cabinets to the dining table.

After some time, Uncle Zhang and Chen Ping returned from their outing earlier that morning. Both looked rather disheveled. Luo Jun didn’t say much and simply assigned them tasks—one to go out and buy newspapers, the other to fetch food from a restaurant.

In the afternoon, Liu Tao went to Madam Cao’s home for mahjong, and Luo Jun also left, claiming he was going to the government to meet Secretary Cao.

“Boyan.” Before leaving, Liu Tao hesitated, then spoke, “It’s so chaotic outside now. You go out every day to meet Secretary Cao—it’s dangerous. Maybe you should put the matter of finding my parents on hold for now.”

“That way, you won’t have to go out as often.”

“I feel more at ease being with Secretary Cao. I was really worried about what happened last night.”

Luo Jun looked at her concerned expression. Though somewhat reluctant, he nodded. “I understand. I’ll have others handle the search from now on. I won’t go out at night.”

Only then did Liu Tao leave with peace of mind.

Luo Jun didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he went upstairs and stacked over twenty-six newspapers, then left the house with them.

Qin Huai followed him all the way as Luo Jun walked through the wealthy district, past cafés, avoiding street vendors, weaving through complex routes until he arrived at an open area without tall buildings blocking the view—sunlight bright, air clear, free of the smell of blood or decay. It seemed like a decent spot.

He took out the neatly stacked newspapers, unfolded them, and began reading.

Qin Huai: ?

So after all that elaborate deception, even giving away an expensive pearl necklace and causing Madam Cao to suspect an affair and hint at it to Liu Tao—he went through all that trouble just to find a well-lit place to read newspapers?

Was the lighting at home not good enough?

Did novels really have to be read outside to be enjoyable?

Are married men that hard to understand?

This place wasn’t even as good as Jiang Weiming’s neighbor’s courtyard—at least there he could sit while reading. Here, he could only stand.

Luo Jun stood there reading newspapers the entire afternoon without a hint of fatigue. Only when the daylight dimmed toward evening did he reluctantly fold the papers, tuck them into his pocket, and return home.

By the time he got back, it was completely dark. Liu Tao was waiting at the door.

Seeing her there, Luo Jun asked, “Why not wait inside?”

“It’s dark and you weren’t back yet. I felt uneasy staying inside,” Liu Tao replied with a slightly embarrassed smile. “Madam Cao explained things to me this afternoon. I realized I misunderstood her yesterday.”

“You were right—nowhere is truly safe. Not even the countryside.”

“Madam Cao had someone send over a stew of gecko and pigeon with tianma. Tianma is good for the eyes. You don’t like pigeon meat, but the soup was very flavorful. Drink more later.”

Luo Jun nodded. “Don’t wait outside next time. I’ll try to return before dark. The wind at night can make you ill.”

They went inside together. The dishes were kept warm in the kitchen. Liu Tao brought them out, and the pigeon soup was served in a full bowl for Luo Jun. Qin Huai glanced at the remaining soup in the kitchen—it was practically all in the bowl.

The meal was simple, but quite sumptuous for this era: pan-fried tofu, stir-fried vegetables, sweet-and-sour fish, braised pork ribs, along with pigeon soup and white rice.

After dinner, Luo Jun and Liu Tao went upstairs, where Luo Jun read novels aloud to her for over an hour before they went to sleep.

It was clear that the situation was chaotic enough that Luo Jun couldn’t even hire a young woman to read novels for Liu Tao—he had to do it himself.

The next morning, Luo Jun stacked over thirty newspapers and even brought a novel. After finishing his Chenpi tea, he left early and found an even better spot than the day before, standing there reading novels all day.

He didn’t even stop for lunch.

One could say he was extremely devoted.

The next two days were the same.

If there had been smartphones at the time, Luo Jun’s step count on a fitness tracker would have been extremely high—he was essentially doing “city walks” and standing while reading every day. Qin Huai even suspected Luo Jun’s legs weren’t bad due to his true nature as a one-legged being, but rather from walking too much in his youth.

After following Luo Jun for several days, Qin Huai still hadn’t figured out why he went to such lengths instead of comfortably staying home to read novels. But he had read quite a lot of novels along the way—more than in the previous two memory segments combined.

By the third day, Qin Huai even began to feel that Luo Jun’s way of reading wasn’t so bad—exercise plus reading, with a regular routine, aside from skipping lunch.

He even thought Luo Jun could have told Liu Tao the truth. Given her trust and tolerance, she would likely have accepted it even without a reason—just saying he wanted to go out and walk around while reading.

…Wait, no. Liu Tao thought the outside world was too dangerous—she probably wouldn’t accept it.

Then… was this the real reason Luo Jun was lying?

But why insist on reading outside?

On the evening of the third day, the answer finally seemed to emerge.

While Luo Jun was reading aloud to Liu Tao, an air-raid alarm suddenly sounded.

Liu Tao, still in her sleepwear, quickly put on a coat, grabbed a water flask and carefully wrapped biscuits, and took Luo Jun downstairs.

Uncle Zhang and Chen Ping, already prepared, escorted them toward the air-raid shelter.

The shelter in this wealthy district was relatively narrow but well-equipped. Qin Huai noticed a radio, telegraph machines, kerosene lamps, tables, and wooden crates—likely containing food and water.

Liu Tao and Luo Jun didn’t bring much because others helped carry supplies. Madam Cao’s household servants brought not only hot water, tea sets, and tea leaves, but also chairs and cushions.

Others brought even more—mahjong sets, chessboards, tobacco pipes, bird cages, cats, and dogs.

Combined, they could play mahjong, chess, gamble, smoke, and even engage in various leisure activities.

Guards stood watch at the entrance.

Qin Huai was stunned.

Outside, families were shattered and lives lost; inside, it was all indulgence and luxury.

No wonder Luo Jun said other places might not be safer—this place truly was safe, perhaps even overly so.

Luo Jun clearly disliked the extravagance here.

No matter how much wealth people added, it couldn’t change the fact that this was an air-raid shelter—damp, dark, cramped, noisy, and filled with a musty smell, a neglected underground corner.

Liu Tao was pulled to the mahjong table by Madam Cao, but she clearly had no interest in playing. She wanted to stay by Luo Jun’s side.

Someone called out to Luo Jun, inviting him to join a table needing one more player.

Luo Jun shook his head.

Others laughed and said he didn’t like mahjong and shouldn’t be disturbed, suggesting his driver could join instead.

The crowd chuckled.

Seeing this, Qin Huai felt a sense of déjà vu—like the Li Te Restaurant from Luo Jun’s first memory, also brightly lit and filled with people playing mahjong all night.

Gradually, Qin Huai began to understand why Luo Jun made excuses to go out every day to read newspapers.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to stay at home.

He just didn’t want to stay here.

He didn’t bother explaining, nor could he explain it clearly, so he simply didn’t—creating a reason to go out every day.

After all, he wasn’t afraid of bombings.

One could only say that in his prime, a being like Bifang truly could do as he pleased.