Chapter 183 : Shimen Yihshyong

The road in front of their house was very quiet. No one was passing by. Nor were people lounging on the front porches of their houses. Yihshyong felt that such silence was eerie. Under normal circumstances, it was almost impossible for Yihshyong to dare to continue his stride. He would definitely decide to just go back home. However, back then, everything was different. Now, Yihshyong had no time to worry about the things that would normally bother him. Courageously, Yihshyong continued to step forward.

<<There's no way anything worse could have happen to me along the way to the bus stop up ahead!>>

Half running, Yihshyong walked towards the entrance gate of their housing complex. He really wished that Mr. Shiuander was still sitting at the bus stop. With such a moving speed, it didn't take too long for Yihshyong to catch up with the old man. As Jenqyih said, Mr. Shiuander was still sitting on the bench at the bus stop. From afar, his body seemed to be leaning forward slightly. It seemed that Mr. Shiuander was already very sleepy.

"Mr. Shiuander!" Yihshyong exclaimed when he was very close to the bus stop.

The old man turned. Even though the light wasn't too bright, Yihshyong could still see clearly. Shiuander's face looked surprised when he noticed Yihshyong's presence. In an instant, the expression on the old man's face changed. He smiled and waved at Yihshyong.

Yihshyong sat down next to Shiuander straight away.

"Good evening, Sir!"

"Good evening, Mr. Shimen. But it's already late at night."

"Mr. Dongfang told me you are sitting here because you couldn't sleep."

Shiuander smiled wider. "Are you also unable to sleep?"

Yihshyong did not immediately answer the question. "I feel relieved that you are still here!"

"What's wrong, Mr. Shimen? Looks like something serious is going on."

"I have something very important to discuss with you."

"Is that related to what happened earlier?"

"That's right, Sir! I hope you will spare a minute."

Shiuander Janji pondered for a while. "Okay, Mr. Shimen. Incidentally, besides not being able to sleep, I also don't know what I should do now. Where are we going to talk?"

"Let's talk here, Sir! I think this place is even safer than our house in there."

Before starting the discussion, Shiuander Janji looked in all directions around them. Even though they were on the edge of the highway, it didn't mean that the atmosphere there had to be crowded. It was past midnight. So, not many pedestrians are still passing by.

"Very well, Mr. Shimen. Please tell me what is on your mind."

Wasting no time, Yihshyong told him what he had to say. He revealed everything from the incident of Shinnshiow's abduction to the message in the package they had found in the park. Of course, as Jongli suggested, there were many things Yihshyong didn't reveal.

Shiuander Janji listened attentively to Yihshyong's speech. His eyes widened when Yihshyong explained the important points of the series of events that he experienced. The old man seemed to forget the drowsiness that had hit him.

"So basically, the kidnappers asked you to replace the bag that was the container for the ransom items?"

"That's right, Sir! Jenqyih coincidentally told me you were helping your friend who is a distributor of goods using the Mhaushyongwoei brand. The kidnappers asked us to look for bags with the Mhaushyongwoei brand."

"Do you really have to use the exact same bag? Even to use a certain brand?"

"We don't know, Sir! They sent a picture of a bag with the Mhaushyongwoei brand. We don't know it's only the shape, size, and color have to be the same. Or they also want a bag with the same brand."

"Are you currently carrying the photo?"

"I bring the picture, Sir." Yihshyong reached into his shirt pocket. He took out a photo.

"May I see it?" Shiuander Janji stretched out his hand.

"Please, Sir!" Yihshyong gave the photo to Shiuander Janji.

The old man immediately brought the photo in front of his face. He looked at the photo very seriously.

"The light is terrible in here. I can't see very well." Shiuander Janji sighed. "Besides, my eyesight is also blurry."

The street lighting did not function as a reading lamp. The light that came out of the lamp was enough to illuminate the road and the bus stop. However, it was almost impossible to use it as a reading lamp. Yihshyong, who was much younger than Shiuander, had a little trouble seeing the bag clearly in the photo. Moreover, Shiuander Janji, who may be the same age or older than Horngshi Gauchyh, a neighbor who lives in the house which was located right next to their house.

"Maybe we should move somewhere else, Sir?" Yihshyong made a suggestion.

"No need, Mr. Shimen. Although I couldn't see clearly, but in general I have an idea of what kind of bag you mean. I certainly don't know every product from the Mhaushyongwoei brand. I think we should contact my friend immediately."

"Thank you, Sir! I hope we don't bother you."

"Absolutely not. We are neighbors. Neighbors do have to help each other. I will help you as much as I can."

"Once again, thank you very much, Sir!"

"But it's late at night. It's impossible for us to come to my friend's place right now. So I think I'll take you there early in the morning."

"Is he okay if we suddenly show up for his help?"

"I think it's okay. He really wakes up early every day. After he wakes up, he usually does exercise, listens to the radio or reads the newspaper. So our arrival will not disturb his routine schedule."

"Thank you, Sir! I think I should go home now to rest."

"So am I, Sir. I have to go home too! At my age, I shouldn't be out too long. The night air can have a terrible effect on my lungs."

The two of them then got up from the bench at the bus stop. The frosty night air made them walk quickly as they returned home together. In a short time, they had arrived in front of Shiuander Janji's house.

"What time do we leave tomorrow, Sir?" Yihshyong really wished that they could leave so early in the morning.

"Do you think six o'clock is too early?"

<<Ah! This is great! I hope, after that, we still have enough time.>>

"Absolutely not, Sir!"

"Okay! Tomorrow we leave at six. We'll just use my car."

"Thank you, Sir!"

"I'll go in first," said Shiuander Janji.

"Please, Sir!"

Shiuander Janji then opened the gate of his house. As he closed the gate, he sighed.

"It's a very safe place. In my five months of living here, nothing disturbing has happened. I think this is the safest home I've had in my nearly twenty years of living in this city. It is unbelievable that something like this could happen."

Yihshyong nodded. "Things like this can happen anywhere, Sir!"

"See you at six o'clock," said Shiuander Janji.

"Good night, Sir!" Yihshyong nodded respectfully.

Shiuander Janji turned his body. He walked to the entrance of his house. After opening the door, he immediately disappeared behind the door that separated the terrace and living room of his house.

Yihshyong was still standing transfixed in front of the gate of Shiuander Janji's house. After the old man entered the house, Yihshyong also didn't move from where he was standing. He pondered for a moment, thinking about what Shiuander Janji said. It was true that the housing complex where they lived was so safe. During the one year he lived there, he had never heard of anything extraordinary happening.