Chapter 270: Strange Cause of Death

Chapter 270: Strange Cause of Death
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Jiang Chuan had just let his guard down when he remembered that Zhang Ling’s father had recently passed away. He asked Su Zhen, “Do you know how Old Master Zhang died?”
Half-asleep, Su Zhen frowned upon hearing the question. After gathering his thoughts, he said, “It’s not very clear. When I visited the mountain to see Old Master Zhang, he was alive and well. But a week later, when I visited again, he was gone. The Zhang family claims that he got drunk and fell off the mountain. But he walked that mountain path daily, and it wasn’t his first time getting drunk. Why did he happen to fall this time?”
Though Su Zhen was suspicious, he never doubted any other members of the Zhang family. He respected everyone in the Zhang family, especially Zhang Ping’s mother, Zhao Wan. She had an air of literacy about her, which was not common for a hunter’s wife. Their three sons also seemed educated, not like typical rugged hunters. Every time Su Zhen came to collect wild animals meat, Zhang Ping would keep a detailed account in a ledger.
Su Zhen had seen that ledger; it was well-organized with neat handwriting. He’d never seen anyone write so beautifully. On several visits, he noticed Zhao Wan teaching Jiang Qing to write. If it weren’t for Old Master Zhang, the family atmosphere would be quite harmonious.
Old Master Zhang was rough and had a ruddy complexion, and he looked mismatched with the delicate and fair Zhao Wan. Moreover, Zhao Wan looked only in her thirties, around the same age as Jiang Chuan’s wife, Zhou Lan. But Old Master Zhang looked at least fifty.
The only explanation Su Zhen could think of was that Zhao Wan was sold to Old Master Zhang in the old days. How else could two people from such different worlds end up together?
After listening, Jiang Chuan grew even more suspicious of the Zhang family. Zhang Ling was hesitant to talk about her family. Outsiders did not know much about them. Such a mysterious family made Jiang Chuan even more worried about his eldest daughter’s recent situation.
Su Zhen’s tolerance for alcohol wasn’t particularly good, but it wasn’t bad either. After drinking half a bottle, although he felt dizzy, it didn’t hinder his travel.
He said he was also heading to Grand Cloud Mountain and insisted on accompanying Jiang Chuan’s family. He had a horse-drawn carriage, which, if driven fast, could reach Grand Cloud Mountain by tomorrow afternoon.
Jiang Chuan had an SUV, which was much faster than Su Zhen’s carriage. However, considering the winding mountain roads of Grand Cloud Mountain, they could easily get lost without a local guide. Hence, Jiang Chuan didn’t decline Su Zhen’s offer.
Swaying slightly, Su Zhen led Jiang Chuan and his family out of the town. A horse-drawn carriage was tethered to a stone, and a farmer was feeding the horse nearby.
Su Zhen approached casually, and the farmer took two coins, thanked him, and left. It appeared that the farmer had been temporarily hired by Su Zhen to look after the carriage.
This carriage was drawn by a single robust horse. The carriage was essentially an open wooden board with two wheels, looking quite rudimentary and not at all like a proper carriage.
Jiang Chuan loaded the luggage and lifted both his daughters onto the carriage, then helped Zhou Lan aboard. He and Su Zhen then took their seats on the edge of the carriage and set off.
The bumpy journey on the carriage became a lullaby, putting them to sleep. Su Zhen, who had already drunk quite a bit, fell asleep uncontrollably, sprawling on the wooden board.
Jiang Xia and Jiang Gu sat far away from Su Zhen, fearing he might roll over them in his sleep.
Jiang Chuan alone drove the horse-drawn carriage. Fortunately, he had learned horse riding in modern times; otherwise, he’d be in trouble now.
Looking at the unreliable Su Zhen, he sighed. If he had known Su Zhen couldn’t handle his alcohol, he wouldn’t have spent two coins on that bottle of wine.
Around three in the afternoon, the sky suddenly darkened, and the sun was obscured by thick clouds. Zhou Lan looked up with a hint of concern, “Honey, it looks like it’s going to rain.”
Jiang Chuan also felt rain was imminent. They needed to find shelter before the rain started, or their open wooden carriage would get drenched.
However, Jiang Xia believed that, given the year-long drought, the weather might just be bluffing and it might not really rain.
If it did rain, it would be a blessing for the crops. The recently sown seeds in the fields would germinate, which would be a good thing for the farmers..