Plunder-Chapter 253: Minor Interlude

"They’re fine."

Zhou Jin’an had chosen to conceal the truth.

He knew Qiao En’s personality well—she would definitely worry if she knew about the situation in Australia.

"Tell me the truth."

Qiao En was not easily deceived, and she was eager to learn the truth.

"En’en, the most important thing for you right now is to take care of yourself, and leave everything else to me."

Zhou Jin’an’s voice deepened.

"My mom is there, I can’t be at peace if anything happens to her. If you’re not willing to tell me the truth, I’ll go there myself right now."

"En’en."

Zhou Jin’an’s voice grew even heavier.

"Jin’an, we’re husband and wife, we should share our burdens. How can you conceal things from me? I heard gunshots, tell me the truth, was there an accident?"

"Yes."

Zhou Jin’an didn’t continue to conceal the truth.

He sighed slightly, "Don’t worry, Auntie Jiang and Sister Rong are both okay. I’ve already arranged everything there, and with Xiaolu around, they will definitely be safe."

On the other end of the phone, Qiao En suddenly fell silent.

For some reason, she felt especially uncomfortable.

"Who was it?"

Her voice was emotional and sounded very downcast.

The taller the tree, the greater the wind.

And Zhou Jin’an was a giant tree.

Being with him, smooth sailing was never an option.

Qiao En’s hand unconsciously rested on her stomach.

"An Jinhua."

Zhou Jin’an said.

"What does he want to do?"

Qiao En asked again.

"I’m not sure of the specifics, but he might target you to restrict me, so I absolutely cannot sit by idly. En’en, just endure for a few more days, I will have everything in place here soon, just waiting to close the net."

"Okay."

Qiao En responded.

Once the call ended, she leaned against the headboard for a long time.

Auntie Jiang’s phone was still not being answered, and Qiao En felt extremely uneasy.

In the past, when she worked as Jin’an’s secretary, she had experienced similar situations. Perhaps it was the audacity of youth or fewer commitments back then that didn’t make her feel scared but rather thrilled by the excitement.

Australia.

Xiaolu had been shot in the abdomen and shoulder, and bright red blood flowed profusely.

"Prepare scissors, hot water, gauze."

She leaned against the headboard, her face pallid, as large beads of cold sweat rolled down her forehead.

Sister Rong immediately set to work, her movements very efficient.

Auntie Jiang stood at the room’s doorway, not entering, and cautiously asked, "Is there anything I can do for you?"

Xiaolu clutched her wounds, in great pain, but still tried desperately to endure it.

"First aid kit, bring the first aid kit."

Auntie Jiang turned around and hurriedly went to search for it, leaning on the wall for support.

Her legs trembled nonstop, and her head buzzed.

When she came out of the room, she almost bumped into Sister Rong.

"Auntie Jiang, calm down, let’s treat Xiaolu’s wounds first, she’ll be alright."

Sister Rong comforted her.

Auntie Jiang nodded heavily.

She searched around the living room and quickly found the first aid kit.

When she returned to the bedroom with the first aid kit, Sister Rong was helping Xiaolu remove the bullets.

She held a scalpel in one hand and surgical tweezers in the other, working on the wound.

Auntie Jiang was stunned.

Xiaolu was in unbearable pain, biting on a piece of towel, her body trembling slightly.

"We should go to a hospital."

Auntie Jiang suggested.

"We can’t go."

Sister Rong calmly objected.

"Auntie Jiang, come over and help me."

She commanded.

Auntie Jiang approached, and Sister Rong instructed, "Use a knife to make an incision here."

Auntie Jiang saw Xiaolu’s wound continuously bleeding, and she was utterly terrified, shaking her head like a rattle.

"I can’t, I can’t do it."

"Cut, it won’t hurt me."

Xiaolu said weakly.

"Auntie Jiang, hurry, otherwise she will only be in more pain."

Sister Rong urged as well.

The situation was critical, and there was no time for hesitation anymore.

Auntie Jiang was scared, but she no longer had a choice.

She grabbed the scalpel, extremely nervous, but still followed Sister Rong’s instructions closely.

She didn’t know how long it took, but the bullet in her shoulder was finally removed.

There were hemostatic and anti-inflammatory drugs in the medical kit, which Sister Rong applied to Xiaolu, who soon fell into a deep sleep.

Auntie Jiang, tender-hearted, saw Xiaolu’s haggard face and cried from distress.

"Auntie Jiang, it’s okay, let’s go out and let Xiaolu rest for a while."

Sister Rong led Auntie Jiang outside.

She nodded and covered her mouth with her hand.

The bedroom door was left ajar, and Sister Rong and Auntie Jiang returned to their room.

"It’s all my fault, if I hadn’t gone out then, she might not have been injured. She took the bullet for me."

Auntie Jiang was full of guilt.

Sister Rong patted the back of Auntie Jiang’s hand. "Auntie Jiang, don’t blame yourself, blame those villains, they won’t die a good death. Xiaolu did what she had to do. What would happen to the young master and young mistress if something happened to you?"

"But Xiaolu is still so young, with such a severe wound, and she didn’t go to the hospital. What if..."

Auntie Jiang couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence.

On one hand, she felt pained by Xiaolu’s suffering, and on the other hand, she was still worried.

"There won’t be any issues, rest assured, Xiaolu isn’t as fragile as you think."

Sister Rong looked calm.

That night seemed especially long.

Auntie Jiang lay down but could not fall asleep again.

Sister Rong lay down for a while, then got up and went to Xiaolu’s room.

As dawn was breaking, Auntie Jiang also went toward Xiaolu’s room.

Just as she reached the door, she heard a conversation inside.

"Mom, I’m really okay, what’s this little injury to me?"

It was Xiaolu’s voice.

She called Sister Rong mom.

Auntie Jiang was extremely shocked, Xiaolu was Sister Rong’s daughter?

"You, be more careful next time, bullets are blind, you need to cherish your life."

Sister Rong said while patting Xiaolu’s hand.

Xiaolu laughed, "You forgot, the fortune teller said I’m tough, born in the year of the cat, at least nine lives, King Yan doesn’t want me yet."

"Still talking back with such an injury."

Sister Rong scolded playfully.

Xiaolu grabbed Sister Rong’s hand and began to act childishly, "Mom, I want to eat the dumplings you make, can you make some for me in the morning? Your dumplings are so delicious, I start drooling just thinking about them."

"Okay, I’ll go and make them for you right now."

Saying this, Sister Rong immediately got up and headed out.

Auntie Jiang, hearing the movement, quickly turned back to her bedroom.

But her tears flowed freely.

"Auntie Jiang, what’s the matter? Why are you crying? Are you thinking about the young mistress?"

Sister Rong sat down next to Auntie Jiang, ready to comfort her.

This time, Auntie Jiang was the one who grabbed Sister Rong’s hand first.

"Sister Rong, thank you."

Sister Rong smiled naively, "Why are you thanking me? I’m only doing what I should, as long as the young master and young mistress are fine, I’m happy!"

"I’m sorry, I just found out Xiaolu is your daughter."

Auntie Jiang apologized again.

Sister Rong’s smile grew more naive, "There’s nothing to be sorry for. This is her duty, the girl has been wild since she was little. Later, she spent a few years in the field army, and after being discharged, the young master arranged this job for her, which she absolutely loves! You really shouldn’t feel burdened about it."

"You’re not distressed?"

Auntie Jiang asked curiously.

"Distressed, of course, I’m distressed. But I can’t help with that; she’s grown up and has her own choices. She loves her job, and as long as she’s happy, I, as her mother, am happy too. Life and death are fated; we can’t worry too much about that."

Sister Rong’s words suddenly made Auntie Jiang feel much relieved.

"Sister Rong, I should learn from you in the future."

When Qiao En called again, this time, Auntie Jiang answered.

"Mom, are you okay?"

Qiao En was still very worried.

Auntie Jiang casually replied, "Very well, the scenery here is beautiful, the food is great, I am very happy with Sister Rong, we’re planning to go hiking after dinner."

"Are you really okay?"

Qiao En asked suspiciously.

"What could be wrong with me? The only downside here is a lot of cockroaches, but today we’re going to the store to buy some insecticide, so that should be fine too. Take good care of yourself over there! If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up now, I’m about to go out with Sister Rong."

Auntie Jiang didn’t utter a word of worry, which was entirely different from her usual self.

Qiao En still wanted to ask more, but Auntie Jiang had already hung up the phone.

Sister Rong and Xiaolu worried about each other, but they each took good care of themselves, giving each other peace of mind.

Auntie Jiang realized that a person needs to take good care of themselves to have the ability to reassure their family.

Rong City.

An Jinhua was answering a call.

"Are you sure someone was injured?"

"Yes, President An, their security is very tight, but we had more people this time. Although our loss was significant, they didn’t gain any advantage either. According to our brothers who stormed in, a young woman was injured, and it’s severe, she looked very much like the woman you described."

An Jinhua’s eyes narrowed and then relaxed.

"Is that so? Then check every hospital, I need confirmed information."