Chapter 312: The Hatred of a Stolen Wife

After more than an hour, the rush in the restaurant finally died down, leaving only two tables of customers still eating.

The kitchen staff quickly prepared their own meal and brought it out.

The food was set on the table, but neither Old Huang nor Que’er was anywhere to be seen. Lian’er went to Old Huang’s room in the back courtyard to look for them.

But they weren’t there.

Just as Gu Fei was about to suggest saving some food for them, Old Huang stumbled in through the door, looking completely devastated.

"Mr. Huang, it’s time to eat," Gu Fei called out to him quickly. "By the way, where’s Que’er?"

Old Huang stared blankly, then tears suddenly streamed down his face. "She’s gone... gone—"

Gu Fei was confused. "What’s gone?"

Old Huang looked like he was both crying and laughing. "Que’er is gone—"

Gu Fei was shocked. "How could that be? She was perfectly fine. How could she suddenly be gone?"

"That can’t be right. I saw her just this morning. She was fine, buying sour apricots right here at the door."

Old Huang froze. "And then what?"

"Then... then customers arrived, and I went to serve them." Gu Fei hesitated for a moment. "Mr. Huang, are you saying Que’er is missing?"

Old Huang shook his head, his eyes vacant. He drifted toward the back courtyard like a wandering spirit.

Gu Fei suddenly remembered something Old Huang had said on the day he brought Que’er home. "You watch her for me from behind the counter. Whatever you do, don’t let her out that door."

’He said not to let her leave, and today she just stood by the door for a moment, and now she’s gone?’

’Did Old Huang know all along that Que’er would disappear?’

Gu Fei pondered as she ate, but she couldn’t make any sense of it.

After finishing her meal, she carried a plate of food to the back courtyard.

Old Huang’s door was closed. Gu Fei knocked. "Mr. Huang, you should eat something first. Whatever it is, we can talk after you’ve eaten."

The door suddenly swung open. Old Huang stood in the doorway, his two murky eyes suddenly gleaming with a sharp light as they fixed firmly on Gu Fei.

Gu Fei was so startled she took a step back. ’Has the shock made him lose his mind?’

Old Huang said suddenly, "Little Fei, come in. I have something to tell you."

Seeing that his expression had calmed, Gu Fei nodded, entered the room, and placed the tray on the table. "If you have something to say, please go ahead."

Old Huang shut the door and, without any warning, knelt before Gu Fei. "Little Fei, I’m begging you, please save this old man."

Gu Fei rushed to help him up. "If something’s wrong, just tell me. You haven’t said anything, so how would I know if I can even help?"

Old Huang got up with a bitter smile. "As long as you’re willing, Miss, you can help."

Gu Fei looked at him. "Do you want me to help you find Que’er? Is she really missing?"

’And she’s pregnant, too!’

Old Huang first nodded, then shook his head. "Right now, finding her isn’t the most urgent thing. If this problem isn’t solved, she’ll just go missing again even if we find her."

Gu Fei remained silent, watching Old Huang.

Old Huang gave another bitter laugh. "Lass, I’m not afraid of losing face anymore. I’ll tell you everything today."

"The truth is, you’ve probably already guessed it. Housekeeper Wu and I are enemies."

"What kind of enemies? The kind born from having your wife stolen from you!"

Gu Fei’s eyebrows shot up. As the saying goes, a man can’t live under the same sky as the one who killed his father or stole his wife.

’This is a blood feud, one that can never be settled!’

"My late wife and Housekeeper Wu were cousins and childhood sweethearts. Their families had planned for them to marry once they came of age."

"But then, one year during the Lantern Festival, I saw my wife under the festive lanterns on the street."

"My wife was very beautiful when she was young. The moment I saw her, I was completely captivated."

"So I secretly followed her and found out where she lived."