The second watch, asking for pink.

*********

"Yeye, you just discovered the money was missing. When was the last time you confirmed the money was still there?" Lian Manman hurriedly asked.

"It was the day before yesterday when my mother and I went to the town market; we sold the eggs we had saved for the past two months. When we returned, my mother put the money from selling the eggs into the gourd. No one checked it these last two days, and it was only just now when my mother asked me to take some money to buy a piece of tofu that I discovered all the egg money was gone... Including the money from previous egg sales, there was a total of 126 wen money, all gone, leaving us not a single coin."

Lian Yeye said angrily, and by the end, there was a hint of tears in her voice.

In farmstead households, they raise chickens and ducks but are reluctant to eat the eggs themselves. Once they save up a significant amount, they take them to the market to sell. The money earned, besides being used for necessities, is also saved cautiously, one copper coin at a time, with great difficulty.

The Lian Yeye family’s three members all have cash income, which is rare among farmstead families. However, they still live frugally, even more so than other families. Unless it’s during a festival, the Lian Yeye family of three can’t bear to eat even one egg from their chickens or ducks.

The 126 wen money should have taken them several months to save up. And this sum, in the eyes of an ordinary farmstead family, could be considered a "fortune."

In the eyes of farmstead families, stealing money and stealing a bundle or two of firewood, or a couple of vegetables from someone else’s garden, are incomparable in terms of the severity of the act. Especially since it wasn’t just a few wen money, but over a hundred wen money, this is an unforgivable act.

The folk customs of Thirty Mile Camp are simple and honest, especially on the street where the Lian Family Old Mansion is located, where people almost leave their doors open during the day and unlocked at night. There’s always someone in the Lian Family Old Mansion during all twelve Chinese hours. Since the Lian Yeye family’s money was stolen, it can be concluded that the thief must live inside the old mansion, an inside job.

This inevitably draws suspicion towards the few members of the He Family, who are temporarily residing in the old mansion and are known for having a habit of stealing. Coincidentally, as the Lian Yeye family’s egg money went missing, so did Lady Gu and Lian Duoduo, increasing the number of suspects.

Lady Gu and Lian Duoduo both having bound feet, would find it almost impossible to walk thirty miles to the county town. However, with enough money, these two could rent a vehicle to travel.

So, who from the He Family stole this money, or was it Lady Gu and Lian Duoduo who stole it?

"Yeye, besides you and your family knowing where the egg money was kept, who else in the courtyard of the old mansion knew about it?" Lian Manman asked Lian Yeye.

"Sister Manman, my mother and I are very careful when it comes to putting away money." Lian Yeye replied. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

This implied that besides the three members of their household, no one else knew where the egg money was kept.

"Did anyone rummage through other places in your room?" Lian Manman asked again.

"No, nothing else was touched, just the money was gone." As Lian Yeye said this, it suddenly seemed as if she remembered something and exclaimed, "I remember now, that day when my mother and I were putting money into the gourd, the second son of the old He Family seemed to be in the outer room. It must have been him, he must have watched us and found out where the money was kept, and then stole it."

As Lian Yeye spoke, she became agitated. In fact, the first thing that came to her mind when she found out the money was stolen was the people of the He Family.

"Where have the He Family members been going these past two days?" Lian Manman quickly asked. She asked this with a glimmer of hope that if the He Family members hadn’t gone out, then the money they stole hadn’t been spent yet, and there would be a chance to recover it.

"I don’t know, Sister Manman." Lian Yeye frowned, "You know, my mother and I usually stay at the shop here, and we don’t want to go back when there’s nothing to do."

"Don’t worry." Lian Manman thought for a moment and said. Having lived in the Lian Family Old Mansion for this long, almost no one in Thirty Mile Camp didn’t know that the two sons of the He Family loved to steal things. Furthermore, in this village, it would be difficult to completely escape the eyes and ears of others if they wanted to do something, especially something involving the much "observed" members of the He Family.

A hundred and some wen money, in trying to offload it, would surely leave traces.

"Yeye, let me come over and have a look with you." Seeing Lian Yeye looking anxious, Lian Manman said. Every wen money in the Lian Yeye family is hard-earned, and they need to save up to build a house. Besides, if something happens once, it might happen a second time. If they dared to steal this one hundred and some wen money from the Lian Yeye family, they would have the courage to steal more in the future.