Transmigration: The Little Chef Calls The Shots
Chapter 895 - 124 Go Home, Thief_4

Chapter 895: 124 Go Home, Thief_4

Lin Yuan frowned slightly. Although she spoke confidently, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread when considering the matter further. What if it wasn’t a petty thief who visited their home, but a violent bandit or robber? What if Lin Jiaxin hadn’t prepared mousetraps in advance, or if the traps had failed to catch the thief? That could be a life-threatening situation!

"No, this won’t do. If the thief is someone from our village, we must catch him quickly!" Lin Yuan was getting restless. "What did the village head and the others say?"

"That’s exactly what the village head said. He had several of the most upright men in the village patrol around. It really worked, too. It’s been seven or eight days now, and that thief hasn’t shown up again!" Lin Wei couldn’t help but laugh.

That was indeed a good method, but Lin Yuan knew that such measures were only temporary solutions. The most fundamental approach was to catch the thief.

"Right, didn’t you say our father set up mousetraps for the thief? Did he see the person?"

Lin Wei furrowed her brow: "According to our mother, when our father chased after him, the thief had already scaled the wall and escaped. It’s not clear if he saw him."

She would have to ask Lin Jiaxin himself.

With that thought, Lin Yuan left to find him.

Upon hearing the matter was about the thief, Lin Jiaxin’s eyes twinkled, and he chuckled, evading the question, "That thief, ah, I didn’t see his face."

"What about his build? Didn’t you see him climbing over the wall? You should have seen his silhouette, right?" Lin Yuan persisted, seeking answers.

"This, um, let me think." Lin Jiaxin stroked his chin and paced two steps as if in deep thought before turning around and saying, "I remember now, the thief was of average build, neither fat nor thin, probably about the same as me. Hmm, possibly, around forty years old? No, no, he must be younger, otherwise he wouldn’t be able to climb walls!"

Listening to her father’s vague inferences, Lin Yuan couldn’t help but facepalm. Had her father’s memory deteriorated to this extent? He had practically forgotten an incident that happened just a few days ago.

After discussing the thief with Lin Jiaxin, Lin Yuan felt quite disheartened.

Xia Zheng, however, patted her head and teased, "Silly girl, haven’t you realized yet? Dad doesn’t want to tell you the true situation about that thief!"

"What? Why not?" Lin Yuan slapped her forehead and corrected herself, "No, you’re saying that Dad knows who the thief is?"

Xia Zheng raised an eyebrow: "Of course, otherwise, why would Dad talk around the subject? Not only does he know who the thief is, but he must also be well acquainted with him and doesn’t want others to catch him."

Lin Yuan frowned, reconsidering Lin Jiaxin’s words and his demeanor while speaking. Just like Xia Zheng said, he indeed knew the identity of the thief!

"What’s gotten into Dad? Why would he want to protect the thief? I have to go back and ask him. Doesn’t he realize that having such a person in the village makes everyone uneasy?"

With that, Lin Yuan turned to enter the house to question Lin Jiaxin, but after only a couple of steps, Xia Zheng pulled her back.

"Yuanyuan, let it be. If Dad doesn’t want to talk, he must have his reasons. We should trust him; it’s best not to get involved this time." Xia Zheng reassured her, squeezed her hand gently, and smiled, "What we need to do now is to hire a few skilled guards in town. If that thief doesn’t change his ways or bears a grudge against Dad, at least we’ll be prepared."

Those words were true indeed!

"Right, hiring some guards not only helps guard against the thief but also against other ulterior motives. Business in town is so busy, and only Dad, Mom, and my younger siblings are home. I’m really not at ease."

The matter of hiring guards needed immediate action. Early the next morning, Xia Zheng and Lin Yuan took a carriage to Zhuma Town. They first tasked Shopkeeper Liu with finding dependable guards from a trustworthy martial arts school, and then they proceeded to check on Rice Flower Fragrance.

During the past month away from town, neither Rice Flower Fragrance nor Fuman Building had run into any issues, which was a great relief for Lin Yuan.

After leaving Rice Flower Fragrance and with time to spare, they decided to make a stop at the tofu shop as well.

From afar, Lin Yuan spotted a man and a woman chatting at the entrance of the tofu shop from her carriage. The man’s back was turned to her, obscuring his features, but the woman’s appearance was unmistakably clear—it was Lan Hua.

Today, Lan Hua was dressed in a pink dress embroidered with hibiscus flowers, with a silver hairpin adorned with a small jade flower in her hair. At first glance, she was strikingly elegant and ethereal.

What caught Lin Yuan’s eye even more was Lan Hua’s smile. It was so radiant and dazzling, more brilliant than the spring sun. And the faint shyness on her face was so irresistible that one could hardly stop oneself from kissing her!

This was the first time Lin Yuan had ever seen Lan Hua like this!

Curiosity towards the man grew within Lin Yuan.

As the carriage drew closer, Lan Hua was the first to notice Lin Yuan, her cheeks coloring even more.

"Lan Hua!"

Lin Yuan quickly got out of the carriage and hurried over, turning her head to look at the man. Oh, isn’t this an old acquaintance?