Chapter 64: Chapter 64 Guilty Conscience
It was early in the morning, just when the sky was beginning to lighten, Xuexue thought about moving to the old residence today, so she got up a bit earlier, took a glance at Chuner and Madam Xie in the next room, saw that they were both safe and sound, and then went to the kitchen to wash up.
The Mo family was utterly quiet, now being the winter season, the weather was cold, and most households would sleep in a bit longer, in addition to that, they had indeed stayed up late last night, probably still in their dreams.
After washing up, Xuexue, just as she was about to go back to her room, suddenly remembered that due to last night’s chaos, she had forgotten to retrieve the Copper Coin and pork lard cakes from the basket.
Thus, she turned back and went to the yard, approached the basket and peeked inside; it was a mess, clearly someone had rummaged through it. Xuexue quickly bent over, parted the objects that were covering the top, and sure enough, it was empty, both the Copper Coin and pork lard cakes had been taken.
“This is outrageous, who did this? Once I find out, I’ll chop off her hands.”
Xuexue stomped her feet in anger, it seemed she had been busy for nothing these past few days, and was just turning to go back to her room.
Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she vaguely saw a sneaky figure dash past the house where Madam Ruan lived.
Xuexue was puzzled and decided to follow and see.
Xiuzhi, holding a bundle in her arms, sneaked up to the door of Madam Ruan’s room, softly calling out.
Last night she had slept very late, Madam Ruan was still fast asleep, Xiuzhi’s call was quiet as a mosquito, unheard by her.
“Ah! Why is she sleeping so soundly?”
After calling several times with no response from inside, Xiuzhi grew impatient, she abandoned all caution, putting all her effort into knocking on the door: “Bang, bang, bang…! Mom, Dad, open the door quickly.”
Xuexue stepped inside, glanced at the bundle Xiuzhi was clutching, hey! It was the Copper Coin they had earned selling river snails yesterday, she chuckled to herself, truly finding what one needs without effort.
Xiuzhi was anxiously looking for her parents, unaware of Xuexue standing behind her.
“Bang, bang, bang…! Mom, it’s Xiuzhi, open the door quickly.”
Xiuzhi, engrossed in knocking, held the bundle in one arm while vigorously pounding with the other.
Xuexue silently stood behind her, stretched out her slender hand, reached forward, and easily grabbed the bundle in her hand.
Xiuzhi, deeply absorbed in knocking, suddenly felt a lightness in her hand—the bundle had vanished, she turned around bewildered, and suddenly was taken aback.
“You… you… why are you here?”
Already feeling guilty, Xiuzhi blurted out on seeing Xuexue suddenly behind her, her words slightly faltering.
“I should be asking you, how come my things are in your hands?” Xuexue asked, her glance cold as she scrutinized her.
“You… you… what nonsense are you talking about? That… that is my stuff, give it back to me right now.” Xiuzhi tried to calm her nerves, saying this as she reached for the bundle in Xuexue’s hands.
Just now, she had gone to the outhouse and on passing through the yard, remembered the basket that Madam Xie had brought back last night. She casually rummaged through it and found a large bag of Copper Coin and pork lard cakes, which made her very happy.
Such a large bag of Copper Coin, she had never seen so much money in her life, and was happily trotting to discuss it with her mother when, before finding her mother, Xuexue had snatched it back, suddenly, she became frantic.