Chapter 139: Mmm! Everything Ming Dai says is right.

After leaving the dilapidated building, Ming Dai and Zhou Sinian took advantage of the surrounding structures for cover and quickly ducked into their spatial dimension.

The two excitedly tore open the two old cotton-padded jackets, and, with a rustle, bundles of cash tumbled out. Even someone as indifferent to money as Zhou Sinian couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. Ming Dai was so happy she was practically drooling—there was just so much, an endless supply of it!

"Next time we trade, we can't take paper currency anymore; we have to demand gold!" she thought. "Otherwise, we'll have so much money we won't even have room to store it! Hahahaha!"

Once the excitement subsided, Ming Dai remembered their objective. She calmed her racing heart, changed her appearance, and left Zhou Sinian in the space while she stepped out alone.

Before long, a young woman wearing a green headscarf and carrying a cloth bundle appeared at the entrance of the alley near the municipal government office, keeping a sharp eye on the gate as officials clocked out for the day. By the time everyone had left and the black sedan returned, Mayor Wei was still nowhere to be seen.

Deciding not to wait any longer, Ming Dai pulled a slice of ginger from her sleeve, squeezed the juice onto her eyes, and walked toward the gatekeeper, who was busy locking up.

"Hey, hey! Where do you think you're going? This is the municipal government office, no loitering allowed!" the old guard barked.

Ming Dai looked up, her eyes already red and swollen—oh boy, she’d used too much ginger juice! "Sir, I’m looking for Mayor Wei. Is he around?"

The guard shook his head. "The Mayor isn't here. Look at the time—he’s already off work. Besides, you can't see him without an appointment."

Ming Dai burst into loud sobs, startling the old man. "I have to see him! My wretched husband... he married me, got me pregnant, and now he’s been lured away by the daughter of a city official! He’s abandoned me! I need the Mayor to stand up for me! If I don't, I won't be able to go on living!"

Her dramatic, wailing performance successfully piqued the guard's curiosity. "Hey, which official's daughter did he run off with?"

Ming Dai shook her head bitterly. "Sir, I'm uneducated and don't know who these people are. I just know he's a high-ranking official. I went to the county office, but they said they couldn't intervene and told me to come find Mayor Wei. He's the only one who can help me!"

The guard was getting a headache from her caterwauling. "Alright, alright, come back tomorrow. The Mayor has already left for the day."

Ming Dai wouldn't have it. "No! I have to see him today! Just tell me where he lives—I'll go find him myself!"

The guard panicked and waved his hands frantically. "No, no! I don't know!"

Ming Dai threw herself at the guard’s legs. "I can't go on! If I don't find Mayor Wei today, I’ll die right here! If you don't tell me, I’ll haunt you even from the grave!"

The guard stumbled, nearly falling over. "Hey! You’re being unreasonable! Get up! I’m an old man; if people see this, how am I supposed to live with myself?"

Ming Dai looked up immediately. "Tell me the address, or I’ll report you for harassing me right now!"

The guard stared at her in terror, speechless for a long moment. Eventually, Ming Dai left with the address, though her eyes were stinging painfully. As it turned out, she was lucky; most people wouldn't know where Mayor Wei lived, but this old guard was the one who had brokered the rental of his current home when Mayor Wei and his wife, Yao Yuliang, first arrived. He was usually tight-lipped, but he couldn't withstand the threat to his sixty-year reputation.

Ming Dai found a secluded spot to bring out Zhou Sinian, who was disguised as an old man. Playing the part of a devoted daughter, she supported him as they made their way to the address.

Upon arrival, they discovered a humble, inconspicuous courtyard at the end of an alley. Just as Ming Dai was about to enter, a trembling Zhou Sinian pulled her back and signaled for them to keep walking. Ming Dai paused, then followed his lead, patting his back as if comforting her frail father. Only after they were a good distance away did a voice drift from the alley entrance: "It's fine, keep watching them."

Once they reached a blind spot, Zhou Sinian straightened up abruptly, his gaze icy as he looked back toward where they had come from.

Ming Dai exhaled in relief. "Were we being followed?"

Zhou Sinian nodded slightly, his fists clenching tight. "No wonder Uncle Wei didn't dare contact me. There were two people tailing us."

Ming Dai looked worried. "What do we do? If they're watching, it won't be easy to get in."

Zhou Sinian thought for a moment. "Back in the county, I visited Uncle Wei at two in the morning, and there was no one watching then."

Ming Dai’s eyes lit up. "Let's try going back at that time!"

"That's our only option for now."

The two retreated into their space to have dinner. Watching Zhou Sinian pace back and forth, Ming Dai knew he was nervous; they were about to uncover the truth, and even Ming Dai felt a thrill of anticipation. Seeing him so restless, she stopped him. "Zhou Sinian, you're about to see your uncle. Shouldn't you prepare a gift?"

Zhou Sinian nodded instantly. "You're right! I need to prepare a gift for Uncle Wei!"

They began searching through their stores. Ming Dai, hoping to curry favor with the Mayor, prepared her own gift. Since the only things she had in abundance were medicinal pills and powders, she selected blood-tonifying and anti-inflammatory medicines, knowing the Mayor was a veteran and currently under surveillance. She even included two small bottles of ginseng pills—the same ones she had been so desperate to secure—which could keep a person alive for at least two hours in an emergency.

Satisfied with her selection, she went to find Zhou Sinian. She was shocked to see a tethered roe deer and a lamb on the ground, along with two large, flopping fish. Zhou Sinian was holding a sack, trying to coax their cat, Mimi, into it—evidently planning to gift the cat to his uncle as well!

Seeing her, Zhou Sinian gave a sheepish smile and hid the sack behind his back. Ming Dai looked at the animals and felt a headache coming on. She didn't know whether to call him clever or foolish. Clever for gagging the animals so they wouldn't make noise, but foolish for bringing live animals—even if the watchers outside didn't notice, wouldn't his uncle find it suspicious?

After being scolded, Zhou Sinian realized the absurdity of his plan. He looked at the squirming lamb and the stiff roe deer with a melancholy expression. "Ming Dai, then what should I give?"

In the end, Ming Dai packed a basket with red dates, sugar-roasted chestnuts, and pine nut candy—all gathered from the mountains—which looked quite presentable.

With the gift ready, they waited for 2:00 AM. As they waited, Zhou Sinian suddenly spoke up. "Ming Dai, what if I remembered wrong and Mayor Wei isn't actually my uncle?"

Ming Dai thought for a moment. "It's possible."

Zhou Sinian looked bewildered. "Then what if we recognize the wrong person?"

Ming Dai pondered this for a long time but couldn't come up with a good solution. "Tell you what, let's keep our current outfits on. If it is him, we'll remove our disguises and reunite. But if we've got the wrong person..."

She steeled herself. "Then you'll just have to knock him out again. Mayor Wei was already knocked out once before; he probably wouldn't mind a second time, right?"

She looked at Zhou Sinian uncertainly. "Right?"

Zhou Sinian thought about it. "Right! Whatever you say is correct, Ming Dai!"