Zhengyi had no other choice. They then started walking together.

"What's in that package?" Asked Xuande Zhanji.

Zhengyi also didn't know how to answer that question. Xuande Zhanji knew about the package, but Zhengyi didn't know if he could say more about what had just happened.

"It's the next clue regarding the handover of the ransom." The words just came out of Zhengyi's mouth.

I hope Xiongge and the others will not angry that I told this person.

"I hope this time everything will go smoothly," said Xuande Zhanji.

"That's right, Sir! I also hope that everything will be over quickly," said Zhengyi.

"Has there been any news regarding Mr. Duanmu?" Asked Xuande Zhanji.

"Not yet," said Zhengyi. "I've checked into several hospitals. I've also asked a lot of people. But we still haven't found a clue."

"This is very strange," said Xuande Zhanji.

"That's right, Sir! It's really weird. We're all having a headache right now. Plus, I can't sleep. So now I'm taking a walk to cool off."

Xuande Zhanji nodded.

"Excuse me, Sir!" Zhengyi said. "If I may ask, where are you from? I've never heard an accent like yours."

Xuande Zhanji laughed.

Why is he even laughing? Is there anything strange about my question?

"It's okay. You don't need to apologize. Indeed, several people have asked me about this. I come from a place very far from here. My hometown is Xiaxiong. Indeed, not many people from Xiaxiong migrated here. So it's natural that some people feel foreign to our accent."

"Have you been living in this city for a long time?"

"I have lived in this city for almost twenty years."

It's been so long. But his accent is still like that.

Xuande took a deep breath. "This city is enormous. For almost twenty years, I have lived in various parts of this gigantic city. I never stay too long. Usually only about nine to fifteen months. After that, I moved to another place. As you know, five months ago, I moved here."

"Why is that, Sir? Were the previous places not suitable for you?"

"I can't answer it because I don't even know the right answer. I think I'm one of those people who gets bored easily. So moving around is a way to find a new atmosphere."

"Does changing places of residence not make it difficult for you to work? Or does your place of work change frequently?"

Xuande Zhanji laughed again. "I'm not an employee. So I don't think it's a problem."

"So you're a businessman."

Xuande shook his head repeatedly. "I don't think it's right for people to call me an entrepreneur. I do whatever I can. So I don't always have a job."

"Oh! Sorry, Sir," said Zhengyi.

"It doesn't matter. I'm not really busy at the moment. Luckily, I have some savings. So I'm not too worried. At least for the next two or three years."

"So, at this time, you don't have any job?"

"Of course I have. But like I said earlier, it's really quiet right now. Apart from my job, in the last three months, I have had other activities. I have a friend who is starting a business. He asked me to be a temporary consultant. I can't refuse it. Apart from increasing my income, I can also help my friends."

"Your friend is starting a business in what field?"

"He is trying to become a distributor of the Maoxiongwei brand. The brand is not well known in this city. Making the brand popular is a tough job. The brand competition in this city is fierce."

"What kind of stuff, Sir?"

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"All kinds of things, Sir. But the focus is on the items people use when traveling. So it's like shoes, jackets, bags, and so on."

"It looks quite interesting, Sir!"

"Yes. I am also excited to help my friend."

The two of them then engage in conversation about other things. As they continued to walk, Xuande Zhanji recounted his experiences while living in the city where they are now. Zhengyi listened to the stories with enthusiasm. Occasionally he asked Xuande Zhanji about many things.

They kept walking until they finally arrived at the bus stop. That night, the atmosphere at the bus stop was very quiet. Apart from the two of them, no one else was sitting there. Sometimes there were people passing by. But they didn't stop at the bus stop.

Their conversation turned to other things. Zhengyi just discovered the old man who was conversing with him had extensive knowledge. So far, Zhengyi had never been involved in a serious conversation with him, so he knew so little about their neighbor.

The chilly night air finally made Zhengyi realize that he had been outside for too long. They sat on the bench at the bus stop for almost half an hour. He was afraid that people in the house would wonder why he didn't come back.

"Excuse me, Sir. But I think I should return home soon. I told my friends to just go out for a few minutes. It's been too long. They must be worried."

"Oh! You all haven't slept yet?"

"Besides not being able to sleep, we were discussing something earlier," said Zhengyi.

"I think it has something to do with what happened earlier."

Zhengyi nodded. "True, Sir. But I can't say much about that. Again, I'm sorry."

"It's all right, Sir." Xuande Zhanji smiled.

Zhengyi got up from the bench at the bus stop. "Do you still want to enjoy the night air outside?"

Xuande Zhanji laughed. "Tonight, I also find it difficult to sleep. So I'm going to continue sitting here relaxing my legs for a bit. Maybe half an hour or an hour from now, when I'm really sleepy, then I'll be back home."

"Alright, Sir! I am going home first."

"Please, Mr. Dongfang."

After that, Zhengyi turned around. He walked away from the bus stop. With hasty steps, he walked back to the house.

Arriving in front of their house, he did not see Caihong's car. At first Zhengyi thought that Caihong had gone home. But then he saw that Caihong's car was in the yard.

Does Caihong want to stay here tonight?

As soon as he entered the house, he found all his friends waiting for him. Their faces showed anxiety. Jinqkang was already in the house, but Qiuzhen had not returned from the juice stall. Zhengyi had the feeling that he had been out too long, but it turned out that Qiuzhen was still longer. Perhaps Qiuzhen had a lot to discuss with the police.

"You took too long," said Yiren.

"Sorry! I met Mr. Xuande. He couldn't sleep. Then we talked."

"After going through the things we've been through, I think it's only natural that Mr. Xuande couldn't sleep. What we experience is not something that we encounter every day. Those things must be constantly in his eyelids when he tries to close his eyes," said Yixiong.

Zhengyi nodded. It was then that he realized that there was a large cardboard box in their living room.

"What is this for?" Zhengyi pointed his index finger at the thing.

"Let me explain," said Zhongli Zhiren. "I came here secretly, so I also had to go out secretly. So I asked Mr. Mingzhu to help me get a ride in his car to Jongharng station. Just like when I came earlier, soon, when I leave this house, I have to hide in a box."

This is absolutely ridiculous!

Zhengyi smiled broadly. The cardboard box was huge. But it didn't seem big enough as a place for Zhongli Zhiren to hide. He had to bend his body in such a way. Zhongli Zhiren's body would definitely be sore after getting out of that cardboard box.

"Do you want to go home now?" Zhengyi asked Caihong.

"That's right, Uncle," replied Caihong. "There are some things I need to take care of right away."

"So you're not going to eat pizza?"

Caihong laughed at Zhengyi's words. "Next time, Uncle. I'll buy more pizza later."

Zhengyi looked at the cardboard box one more time. For the umpteenth time, he smiled again. "Being in this cardboard box must be very warm. Unlike the night air outside."

"What are you talking about?" Yiren asked.

"I'm talking about Mr. Xuande," Zhengyi said. "He's still outside at the moment."

"Where did you talk to him?" Yixiong asked.

"At the bus stop on the side of the highway."

"He didn't come home with you?" Asked Yiren.

"When I left, he still wanted to be there. Maybe in half or an hour from when I left, he'll be back home," said Zhengyi.

"What have you been talking about?" Yixiong asked. "Sounds very serious."

"Many things. But don't worry. Although we also talked about the package, but I did not tell him in detail about the contents of the package. I couldn't lie about the existence of the package. He had seen the package earlier. I only said that the package contained instructions for the ransom handover. I think even without me telling him, he could have guessed it, too."

His friends nodded at Zhengyi's explanation. They did not issue any statement regarding what Zhengyi had done.

"After all, he was the one who told the most stories."

"What did he tell you about?" Yiren asked.

"About where he came from, how long he lived here, his experience while living in this city. And also about his work."

"His job? I've never even heard him talk about his job. I wonder, what job is he currently doing?" Yixiong also seemed interested in knowing more about their neighbor.

"Currently, he is helping his friend to market products with unknown brands. It is a product of tools and items related to traveling."

"What's the brand?" Yixiong asked.

"Maoxiongwei," Zhengyi said. "Have you ever heard of it?"

"What did you say?" Yiren half shouted. His face changed.

"You ever heard of that brand?" Yixiong frowned. "Is there something wrong?"

Yiren took a deep breath. "The Maoxiongwei brand is the brand of the bag in the photo in the package that we found earlier in the park."