The Real Heiress Just Wants to Be a Lazy Fish - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Pocket Money

Tao Yitong was immersed in this sudden, overwhelming wealth and hadn’t regained her senses for a moment. Her dazed expression caught the attention of a female police officer who had just walked into the station.

“Hello, do you need help?” the officer asked, stopping in her tracks.

“Ah… no, no need.” Tao Yitong shook her head, instinctively thanking the tall, handsome female officer. She had finally accepted the reality that her pocket money was 200,000 RMB. If Jiang Zitan had given her 200, she would have accepted it without shame, but this was 200,000!

The female officer watched as the girl left the station in a daze, looking like a wandering soul. She felt a bit worried seeing her walk toward the busy road in that state, but she only looked away once the girl safely reached the other side. As she turned to head back to her office, she noticed the atmosphere in the station was different from usual.

“Is there a case?” she asked a colleague.

“Yes, a murder in the Huayuan Residential Area. The victim had been dead in his home for several days, and the body had begun to decompose. However, that apartment has seen high-altitude flinging of objects for two consecutive days. Just now, the murder weapon a cleaver was thrown out the window and nearly hit a pedestrian. It was the lady you met at the entrance, Captain Peng,” an officer said. “It was quite dangerous; it missed her by a hair.”

A cleaver falling from the fifth floor if it had truly hit her, the consequences would likely have been fatal.

“The murder weapon was thrown out?” Even though the officer known as Captain Peng was widely experienced, she had never heard of such a thing. She asked, “Was someone living in that house?”

“It’s not clear yet; it’s under investigation.”

At this moment, a young officer leaned in mysteriously and said, “Captain Peng, guess who that lady was?”

Peng Shuang glared at him, signaling him to get to the point.

The young officer felt a shiver down his spine and immediately stopped playing coy. “She’s the protagonist of that Jiang Group ‘Real vs. Fake Daughter’ incident that caused such a stir recently!”

“Oh? I remember Jiang Zitan doesn’t look like that, so she must be the real daughter? She looks quite young she’s actually the same age as Jiang Zitan?”

Peng Shuang had heard rumors about the matter, but she didn’t particularly care. She had a case of her own to worry about. While the other officers continued their discussion, she returned to her office.

Before she could even sit down, she was summoned by her superior. Her boss said the Special Affairs Bureau had clues regarding the murder case just discovered and told her to contact them as soon as possible.

Hearing the words “Special Affairs Bureau,” she couldn’t help but grip her phone tighter.

Ordinarily, a regular police officer wouldn’t know about an existence like the Special Affairs Bureau. However, it was she who had led the team to dismantle that human trafficking village organization, and it was she who first discovered the pit filled with accumulated bones. Through a stroke of luck, she had been given the opportunity to learn about that mysterious department.

“Does the Special Affairs Bureau… have clues about the cannibalism case?” The usually calm Peng Shuang had uncontrollable anger in her eyes when she mentioned the word “cannibalism.”

“Xiao Peng, this matter isn’t something we can handle. The Special Affairs Bureau is having a hard time too. They suffered heavy losses recently and sacrificed several members… this matter cannot be rushed.”

Peng Shuang remained silent for a while. Calmness finally began to replace her rage. “We just discovered another pit of bones…”

As Tao Yitong held her phone, looking at the 200,000 RMB transfer and planning what good things to buy, she suddenly received a message from the Bureau.

They had found another former stronghold of the cannibal. It was filled with white bones, the tragedy identical to the previous village.

Tao Yitong stood on the crowded road, swearing under her breath after a long silence. If the murderer were caught in the future, they should be rinsed through the eighteen levels of hell several times.

Perhaps there were still victims serving as food in places they didn’t know about. Tao Yitong felt the burden on her shoulders grow heavier; she had to find the true culprit behind the scenes even faster.

Her gaze was likely a bit terrifying right now; the little assistant looked nervous when she found her.

Tao Yitong worked hard to adjust her expression, making herself look harmless. “Sorry to make you take this trip.”

“It’s no trouble, no trouble at all.” The little assistant shook her head. she observed the Jiang family’s real daughter with curiosity. Just now must have been her imagination; the lady looked gentle and considerate, much easier to get along with than those Jiang family relatives.

Moreover, her relationship with President Jiang was shockingly harmonious. No one else had ever stayed in President Jiang’s apartment. Those people who demonized President Jiang should really be dragged over here to see how well these sisters get along!

However, this Miss Tao’s luck wasn’t very good. While waiting for her to return earlier, the assistant had visited the community “intelligence station” and heard about how the murder case was discovered. They said someone was walking peacefully on the road when they were nearly hit by a falling weapon.

When the police searched the household, they found the person inside had been dead for several days and it was a homicide. There were no living people in the room at the time.

And that unlucky person was Miss Tao, who had just moved into the community today.

The little assistant gasped upon hearing this. In the middle of this scorching summer, the temperature felt like it dropped instantly. How could a murder weapon fly out of a room with no living people? And she heard that the household had been throwing things out for the past two days. Could it really be what those uncles and aunties said… a ghost?

The uncles and aunties at the intelligence station were discussing it back and forth. The matter was very suspicious, so someone suggested that because the deceased hadn’t been discovered for days, the vengeful soul used this method to voice its grievance.

She got goosebumps all over. After delivering the meal, she didn’t even dare stay a moment longer. She said goodbye to Tao Yitong and hurried away, then told Jiang Zitan everything she knew.

At that time, Jiang Zitan had just finished a call with Jiang Hong. Her grandfather didn’t seem to reject Tao Yitong like her adoptive parents did. After hearing that she had taken Tao Yitong away, he sighed and said it was for the best.

Grandfather said he didn’t care about what the fortuneteller said, but his eldest son and daughter-in-law couldn’t get over that hurdle. He had kept his biological granddaughter at home wanting the parents and daughter to build an emotional connection, but since they were so resistant, he wouldn’t force it.

If the two granddaughters could get along well, that would be good too. He even entrusted Jiang Zitan to take more care of Tao Yitong.

He sounded like an ordinary old man worried about family relationships, but Jiang Zitan, who grew up by his side, sensed a contradiction in his words and deeds. Although he didn’t like juniors disturbing his peace, Tao Yitong was his biological granddaughter who had been lost for over twenty years. If he truly cared about her, he should at least meet her, shouldn’t he?

She had heard from Tongtong that the girl had only ever seen her grandfather’s face on Baidu.

Grandfather clearly had something to hide. When she pressed him about the fortuneteller, he changed the subject. It was obvious he didn’t want to discuss it.

No results would come from asking about topics Grandfather didn’t want to talk about. To find the truth, she could only rely on her own investigation.

Jiang Zitan rubbed her aching forehead. When the little assistant returned, she asked about Tao Yitong’s situation. The assistant said Miss Tao seemed fine and didn’t look frightened, though the murder case was quite eerie.

Not to mention the person involved, even Xiao Ran felt creeped out after hearing about it. “No one at the crime scene? The victim had been dead for days? Then how did the murder weapon fly out? Thrown by a ghost?”

The little assistant shook her head; she didn’t know either. The matter would likely have to wait for the police investigation results. But before the police issued an official report, the assistant, who was already afraid of ghosts, felt she was going to have frequent nightmares!

The speaker was unintentional, but the listener was mindful. Xiao Ran spoke casually, but Jiang Zitan’s expression turned poor. She thought of the series of eerie things she had encountered last night… it should just be a coincidence, she shouldn’t overthink.

She had seen a doctor in the morning. The doctor said she had been under a lot of mental pressure lately and needed more rest.

Thus, when it was time to clock out, she left the company punctually. The staff of the Jiang Group watched Jiang Zitan’s departing back in shock; someone even glanced out the window to see if the sun was setting in the east today.

Upon arriving home and opening the door, Jiang Zitan smelled a rich aroma of food. The table was filled with a sumptuous dinner, enough for four or five people.

“Sister is back? Go wash your hands quickly; I’ll be able to eat as soon as I bring the last soup to the table!” Tao Yitong, wearing an apron, poked her head out from the kitchen.

“Okay,” Jiang Zitan responded. From the fragrance filling the room, she knew Tao Yitong’s cooking was excellent.

In fact, many dishes were Tao Yitong’s first attempts. She usually couldn’t bear to buy expensive sea fish or lobsters, but after buying them this time, she learned how to cook them on the spot via the internet. Fortunately, nothing went wrong.

Jiang Zitan had a small appetite and was full after half a bowl of rice. She took her bowl to the kitchen. When she returned, she found Tao Yitong finishing the cleanup work on the table by mixing the last of the rice in the cooker with the soup…

She looked at Tao Yitong’s flat stomach with some surprise. Tongtong’s appetite was indeed terrifying, but as long as it didn’t make her sick, she could afford to feed her no matter how much she ate. But she had eaten so much, and her stomach was still flat. Jiang Zitan felt like reaching out to touch it where did all that food go?

This black-hole-like stomach was a mystery Jiang Zitan ultimately couldn’t figure out.

After dinner, Tao Yitong took out her canvas bag. Inside was a small, old photo album. This was the album about the Tao parents she had promised Jiang Zitan last night, but because of the accident, it was only now reaching the hands of their biological daughter.

“Mom and Dad took few photos, and many were lost when we moved. Now only a dozen or so are left.” Tao Yitong had done her best to find them in her hometown, but unfortunately, these were the only mementos she could leave for Jiang Zitan.

Jiang Zitan opened the album. The first photo was of Mother Tao holding Tao Yitong as an infant under a tree. At that time, the tree was in full bloom; as the breeze blew, petals fell, making her look exceptionally gentle.

“Look, Sister, your eyes are most like Mom’s.” Tao Yitong looked at the eyes of the mother and daughter; especially the way they looked when they smiled, they were truly identical.

Then there were photos of the family of three together. Tao Yitong was very naughty as a child, often getting covered in mud while playing outside. Upon returning, she would insist on being held by Mother Tao. Mother Tao really didn’t know which angle to use to pick up her mud-covered daughter; this helpless look was also captured by Father Tao.

If Jiang Zitan were to use one word to describe these photos, it would be “happiness.” In the Jiang family, she had almost never felt this kind of warmth.

The photos were arranged chronologically, and the last photo showed Tao Yitong at age four. The year she was four, her happy family broke apart. When she turned past the last photo, Jiang Zitan’s hand couldn’t help but tremble slightly.

“After they passed away, did you live well in the village?” Jiang Zitan lightly stroked the photos. The cold words in the files ultimately couldn’t piece together the life of a four-year-old child who had lost her parents.

“I didn’t live poorly. Mom and Dad died in an accident trying to save several children in the village, so the villagers were very grateful and took good care of me. If any kid dared to bully me, they’d be whipped with a belt when they got home!” Actually, they couldn’t bully her anyway; after all, she was born with superhuman strength and could beat up three kids with one punch. Even children several years older than her were beaten until they wailed.

Thinking of various things from her childhood, Tao Yitong laughed out loud.

“If any household in the village had something delicious, they would call me over. Especially when they slaughtered the lunar New Year pig, I could get meat to eat every day. My snacks back then were the fried lard residue sent by every household; the other kids were dying of envy.” Tao Yitong picked out interesting stories from her childhood to tell Jiang Zitan.

The old lady who adopted her in the records was actually her teacher; that old lady was very powerful and ultimately passed away peacefully of old age. So her past wasn’t as bitter as Jiang Zitan imagined.

Tao Yitong could sense that Jiang Zitan felt guilty toward her. But putting aside the fact that being switched at birth wasn’t her fault, judging from the information she had unraveled from the Jiang family, the switch that year might not have been an accident at all. Perhaps… the one who should feel guilty in the end was herself.

At this thought, Tao Yitong felt the six-figure pocket money in her hand grow even hotter.

“Sister, I’ve really been fine all these years. You don’t need to feel guilty and give me so much pocket money. Otherwise, I should…” Return it to you?

“Is it a lot?” Jiang Zitan showed a look of confusion. “Won’t it be gone after buying a few pieces of clothing and jewelry?”

Tao Yitong opened her mouth, then silently swallowed the rest of her words.

Jiang Zitan gave a light laugh. “Your cousins’ monthly pocket money is more than this. Just accept it with peace of mind.”

After a while, Tao Yitong finally found her voice.

“Sister”

“Mhm?”

“I don’t want to work hard anymore.”

Jiang Zitan was amused by her sister’s remark again. she reached out to stroke Tao Yitong’s head. “Okay, then don’t work hard.”

Tao Yitong had finally found a third path for her retirement: being a salted fish at home waiting for Jiang Zitan to feed her. This life was much better than being a security guard at the Bureau!

Seeing someone’s expression of tolerance to the point of doting, Tao Yitong felt inexplicably flushed and glanced away. Ahem, but before that, she still had to work hard. Because some “dirty things” were eyeing Jiang Zitan. Only by ensuring Jiang Zitan had no worries could she truly lie flat with a peaceful mind!

Support The Real Heiress Just Wants to Be a Lazy Fish