Schemes and Conspiracies

Old Beard was taken aback for a moment. He looked around to ensure no one was nearby, then somewhat sheepishly extended his palm toward Jin Yin.

Jin Yin approached curiously, only to be nearly blinded.

A streak of lightning over a foot long suddenly appeared in Old Beard's palm, crackling for a few seconds before vanishing. The sky was already growing dark, and after being flashed, Jin Yin's vision went black for a long time.

She closed her eyes, resting for a while before she could see clearly again. She cursed in her heart, "You old devil!" but said aloud, "Uncle, are you a lightning-type esper? That is amazing."

Old Beard put his hand behind his back, nodding solemnly. "Since Comrade Jin Yin is willing to join the special department, choose a codename for yourself first. The appointment letter will be delivered in a few days."

There was no need to hesitate on the codename; Jin Yin used her real name. "Just call me Jin Yin."

"Jin Yin?" Old Beard repeated the name twice and nodded. "Jin Yin, also known as Er Hua, Shuang Hua... It indeed suits you well."

Showing off his knowledge now?

Jin Yin let out a forced laugh. In her past life, her grandfather was an old traditional Chinese medicine doctor, which was why he named her Jin Yin (Honeysuckle). It was originally a lovely name, but in the orphanage, she had been teased by the other kids calling her Er Hua or Shuang Hua.

Those kids in the orphanage did it to show off their literacy, but even after transmigrating, she still couldn't escape people showing off their knowledge.

Why didn't he mention that Jin Yin was also called White Egret Flower or Golden Vine Flower? Wasn't he just half-empty and rattling?

Old Beard didn't notice her disdain at all, continuing, "From now on, Comrade Jin Yin is one of us. If you have any requests, as long as they don't violate principles, feel free to ask the organization."

Hearing this, Jin Yin was delighted. She tapped her index fingers together, looking sheepish. "Well... about the benefits, Uncle, you haven't mentioned them yet."

Old Beard understood and smiled. "Our benefits are quite good. The Director earns one hundred and eighty per month, the Deputy Director one hundred and fifty, and regular staff earn one hundred and twenty. When on missions, travel expenses are calculated separately, depending on the mission. The department can also resolve housing issues."

Jin Yin knew without being told that this salary wasn't considered high. As for mission expenses, if they depended on the mission, there was no fixed standard. What if she completed a life-or-death mission only to receive a bonus less than her salary?

Seeing that Jin Yin wasn't satisfied, Old Beard was about to explain that their salary was just for show and most of their income came from mission bonuses, when Jin Yin asked, "Uncle, if I don't go on missions and do some side business on my own, does it count as illegal profiteering?"

Old Beard thought she was going to make a difficult request. If it was just this, it was naturally fine, so he nodded. "As long as you don't get caught, it's up to you!"

After a pause, he added, "Even if you get caught, Uncle will find someone to bail you out. But if you want to do business long-term, I can help you find an affiliated unit."

With Old Beard's guarantee, Jin Yin felt her world brighten. With this connection, she could openly trade goods from her space and get rich with her close friends.

"Uncle, you are wonderful! I'll head back first. Once the appointment letter arrives, I'll hand over my work with my eldest sister!"

"Alright, go on! I'll bring it to you when it arrives."

"Goodbye, Uncle!"

"Goodbye, little girl!"

Watching Jin Yin skip away, Old Beard realized belatedly: why had he referred to himself as "Uncle" to her? That form of address was truly brainwashing!

Jin Yin returned to the workshop. From afar, she saw Hua Jianshe running toward her and quickly met him. "Uncle, when did you get back? How is Grandmother's leg?"

Hua Jianshe saw that Jin Yin had returned safe and sound, and the anxiety on his face finally faded. "The doctor said she needs rest. She's old, so even with good care, she probably won't be able to walk much in the future. Just now I went to your workshop and heard from the utility worker that the police came looking for you? Did Xu Xiangfeng implicate you?"

Jin Yin shook her head. Naturally, she couldn't reveal the real reason, so she smiled. "No, the police came to verify some matters regarding Xu Xiangfeng and her son. I told them the truth, and they left."

Hua Jianshe's anxiety finally eased. "I see. Did the police say why she was arrested?"

Jin Yin looked around, seeing the utility workers leaving the workshop in small groups. She said to Hua Jianshe, "Uncle, let's talk on the way. I need to take a quick shower, wait for me."

Hua Jianshe agreed, retrieved his bicycle from the shed, and stood aside to wait.

Jin Yin took a shower and ran out while drying her hair.

Hua Jianshe muttered, "Is there really such a rush? It's so cold; you should have waited for your hair to dry."

Jin Yin tied her long hair into a bun, secured it with two rubber bands, put on her hat, and urged him to head home. "Uncle, I'm just anxious to tell you about Xu Xiangfeng. Let's talk on the way."

His attention diverted, Hua Jianshe mounted the bicycle and rode home with Jin Yin.

On the way, Jin Yin told him that Xu Xiangfeng had been arrested on suspicion of murder. Hua Jianshe was so startled that his handlebars wobbled, nearly sending them into a ditch.

"Are you serious?"

Jin Yin nodded repeatedly. "Absolutely. The body was discovered yesterday. Shen Niu and the others went to see it, and they said it was a gruesome sight."

Hua Jianshe stopped by the roadside, unable to recover his composure for a long time. After a while, he said with lingering fear, "That woman looked so weak, yet she was so ruthless. Our family crossed hers before; thank goodness she didn't target you while I wasn't home."

Remembering the newly installed window bars, he asked solemnly, "Second Girl, tell Uncle the truth. Did she do something else to you besides framing you?"

Jin Yin had to admit that her uncle, though rough around the edges, was quite perceptive. Although she couldn't tell him the real reason for the man's death was because he acted as a scapegoat, she wanted Hua Jianshe to be more wary of Xu Xiangfeng and her son.

"Uncle, since you asked, I'll tell you. That night when you weren't home, I was awakened by the sound of someone prying open the window. I saw two people standing outside.

I couldn't just watch them break in, right? So I said, 'If you don't leave, I'll scream!' They ran off, and then Xu Xiangfeng started shouting that someone had broken into my room.

I suspect she brought that dead man to pry open my window. As for how he died later, I don't know. But if Shen Niu and the others hadn't spoken up for me, my reputation would have been ruined even if they didn't get in."

"Damn her! Arresting her is too easy!" Hua Jianshe grew angrier as he listened, regretting that she was already arrested, leaving him no chance to beat her up. He felt incredibly stifled!