Chapter 79: A Thief Is Caught

“Where does it hurt?”

Chen Juanjuan pouted, looking like a little girl who had just been wronged. With a grievance in her eyes, she gazed at Chen Anquan. “Here.”

She pointed to her ankle. “It hurts so much, I don’t even dare to move it.”

Chen Anquan took hold of her ankle, gently pulling her foot—still wrapped in black stockings—out of her boot.

He wanted to check her ankle for any injuries, but the entire foot was covered by the stocking. He couldn’t possibly take it off—that would be far too awkward.

He gripped her ankle with both hands, rotating it carefully to the left and right. Drawing on his expertise as a rehabilitation therapist and his acute sense of touch, he found nothing seriously wrong. “It’s just a sprain.”

“I’ll help you set it right.”

“No, no, no!” Suddenly, something occurred to Chen Juanjuan, and she quickly reached out to stop him.

She’d already heard about Chen Anquan being fired from the hospital—apparently, he’d twisted a patient’s neck!

If Chen Anquan were to break her ankle, she’d probably cry her eyes out.

Chen Anquan laughed, teasing, “Are you afraid I’ll break your ankle?”

“I didn’t mean it like that…” Chen Juanjuan lowered her head, realizing her words had been out of line.

“It doesn’t matter. If I really break your ankle, I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life.”

“Pfft.” In an instant, the feisty side of Chen Juanjuan returned. She looked at Chen Anquan with disdain. “I don’t need you to take care of me. The man I want is tall and strong. Besides, did you just say you’d keep me? You—”

Her cheeks flushed, whether from anger or embarrassment, it was hard to tell. Tilting her head, her gaze fell upon three dark shapes in the distance. She waved to them. “You three, come here yourselves!”

Crack!

At that moment, the crisp sound of a joint being reset rang out, as sharp and clear as firecrackers on a village festival.

“Damn it!” A sharp pain nearly made Chen Juanjuan faint.

“All done. Remember to stop by my place tonight,” Chen Anquan said.

“Your place?” Suddenly, Chen Juanjuan thought of something… Was he going to try something on her? She’d heard that the quiet ones could be the most dangerous.

“Of course. Don’t worry, I have good stuff at home that’ll definitely help you.”

“Oh,” Chen Juanjuan replied, nodding. She didn’t give it any more thought—there was no way Chen Anquan was the type to take advantage of her, after all.

At that moment, the three dark shadows began to move, slowly making their way toward Chen Anquan and Chen Juanjuan.

After helping her put her shoe back on, Chen Anquan also sat on the large stone, leaning back against her.

Chen Juanjuan shot him a glare. “Always trying to get close to me. Don’t press up against me.”

Chen Anquan laughed. Even a fool could see that she was just shy, her resistance laced with a hint of invitation. “Look, they’re really coming over.”

Both of them watched as three wild boars ambled closer. They moved slowly, glancing around warily, alert to the surrounding noises.

Chen Anquan and Juanjuan were no threat, but who knew about others nearby?

After three minutes, the boars finally appeared before Chen Juanjuan.

The mutated boar took the lead, flanked by two large wild boars on either side, standing as if at attention and awaiting orders.

They both looked up at the massive animals, especially the mutated one the size of a rhinoceros—not exactly spectacular, but certainly imposing.

Juanjuan reached out, gently stroking the forehead of the mutated boar.

Chen Anquan clenched his fist, ready to act at a moment’s notice.

The boar stood motionless, like a stone rhinoceros, letting Juanjuan’s hand rest on its forehead. It even lowered its head to make it easier for her to touch.

“Good piggy, be good. Why don’t you all hurry home?”

The boar rumbled softly, then opened its mouth and spat out a small, blood-red fruit. It matched the color of the crimson flowers.

Could it be their own fruit?

“Is this for me?” Juanjuan’s face showed surprise, her delight evident as she looked at the boar.

The boar rumbled in reply.

Chen Anquan had no idea what that meant.

“Thank you.” Juanjuan picked up the fruit from the ground, then took a packet of tissues from her woolen coat, wrapped the fruit, and tucked it into her pocket.

“Why didn’t you give me one, piggy?” Chen Anquan complained, mimicking her tone.

The boar rumbled again.

“Piggy says we broke all the flowers and grass, so there’s only one fruit left.”

“Does piggy know what’s so good about eating this fruit?”

Another rumble.

“Piggy seems to say it’s good for your health,” Juanjuan said uncertainly.

Yet another rumble.

The boar called out again, then turned as if to leave. As they were about to go, Juanjuan called after them, “Piggy, don’t live on Ao Bei Mountain anymore. It might be dangerous there!”

The mutated boar answered with a rumble, then trotted off toward the mountain ahead.

“I wonder if they understood me,” Juanjuan mused, glancing at Chen Anquan.

“Who knows? If wild boars can understand people, they’d be like the Second Brother Pig from the tales.”

“Hmph! What’s wrong with Second Brother? He’s quite considerate!”

“Let’s go home. It’s getting late.” Chen Anquan stood and gestured to the woman on his back. “Up you get.”

Juanjuan didn’t protest, closing her eyes and letting Chen Anquan carry her.

“Anquan, Ao Bei Mountain is getting stranger and stranger. I’m worried its secrets will come to light sooner or later. You should harvest those rehmannia roots as soon as you can.”

“I know. I just wonder what other strange things might happen in the future.”

Anquan paused, glancing back at the mountain behind them. “Perhaps none of us will be spared.”

He had awakened a panel of attributes; Juanjuan seemed to have gained the ability to communicate with the pig. What about the others?

Juanjuan pressed her lips together, her chin nestled against Anquan’s shoulder, her gaze fixed on the now-empty mountainside, silent for a long moment.

* * *

“Anquan, has the 300,000 reward arrived?”

“Not yet. Maybe in a few days. I’ve already gotten a notice from the police station.”

“That’s good. There’s no way they can back out now. My dad’s a contractor—want me to ask him to build you a new house? I could tell him not to make a single cent off you.”

“Is there really such a good deal?”

Just a few days ago, that annoying village bully Chen Long had wanted six hundred from him just to fix the basketball court’s marks!

“I’m his daughter, so what’s the trouble? Besides, your house is really falling apart. I’m afraid it’ll collapse one day.”

“Oh, don’t say that. I’m not planning to build a new house just yet, and where would I get the money to furnish it?”

“That’s true. But you know, we have plenty of rooms at my place. I wouldn’t mind you staying with us. You could just pay a few hundred in rent.”

“No need.”

Anquan refused outright. The image of Chen Long popped into his mind, making him uncomfortable.

Thank goodness Juanjuan had inherited her mother’s genes—still looking like a young girl even in her forties—nothing like Chen Long. Otherwise, if things ever got intimate and he saw a face like Chen Long’s, he’d be mortified.

“All right then,” Juanjuan said, not pressing the matter.

By now, they had reached the basketball court.

“Hey!” Suddenly, Second Aunt’s voice came from behind.

Both of them turned to see her, her face alight as if she’d just won the lottery.

Her nephew had learned how to win over the prettiest girl in the richest family in the village—and from her own arch-enemy’s household at that. The feeling was deliciously satisfying.

“Are you two dating?” Second Aunt asked bluntly, with no attempt to hide her curiosity.

“Second Aunt, don’t misunderstand. Didn’t you see her sprain her ankle? I’m just carrying her home.”

“Yes, yes,” Juanjuan said, blushing and shaking her head quickly. “Anquan’s a good man. He saw I hurt my ankle and insisted on carrying me back.”

“Oh?” Second Aunt’s eyes twinkled as she stared at Juanjuan. “Then why are you going to Anquan’s house?”

Damn!

Juanjuan’s mind went blank.

Seeing Wang Zhaodi’s knowing look, she was mortified.

Her eyes widened as she looked at Chen Anquan.