Yangliu Village
Taking advantage of the good weather, Xia Qianqian took the bedding from home to the yard to dry in the sun, and the two puppies circled around her feet.
Xia Dingfeng came to her with a sad face: "Qianqian, can you help me see what's wrong with my method of burning tiles? I burned a batch of tiles today and got scolded by your second uncle."
"Oh? Tell me about it."
Xia Qianqian sat in the yard, listening to Xia Dingfeng's explanation of the process of making tiles, giving some pointers from time to time. Two little black dogs chased and played around her.
After a while, Xia Dingfeng, who had learned the trick, walked away humming a little tune. Halfway through, he turned back and handed Xia Qianqian a tattered book mysteriously: "I stole this from your second uncle's room. I can't read. Can you help me see what's written on it?"
The book was very torn and there were blood stains on the corners.
Xia Qianqian flipped it open and was surprised to find that it was an account book. The writer was not well educated, the handwriting was ugly, and the recording method was not standardized.
But the handwriting is very familiar!
This is Xia Dingshan’s calligraphy!
Xia Qianqian opened her eyes wide in shock, and her heart was filled with turmoil. How could the account book that Dad used himself be in the hands of Second Uncle
"Qianqian, what's written on it?" Xia Dingfeng asked.
Xia Qianqian blinked hard and managed to control her emotions. She pretended to be calm and said, "It's very complicated. There are some techniques for burning tiles in it. I can't understand it at first. Please leave the book and I will tell you after I have studied it."
"Okay, I'll come back tomorrow!"
Xia Dingfeng left happily.
Xia Qianqian could no longer remain calm as she held the bloody account book.
She went back to the house and asked Qin Xue: "Mom, does the Xia family have account books?"
"Except for your father, they can't read, so how can they have account books?" Qin Xue said with a smile.
"Then how does my grandma manage the accounts?" Xia Qianqian asked again.
Qin Xue said, "Your father should give all the money he earns from selling tiles to you. When the family has expenses, we can ask your grandmother for money. Your grandmother is smart and knows how to manage money. No one can take a penny from her."
"Then have you ever seen my father use the account book in private?"
"No. But I heard from your father that he has a notebook in which he records the addresses of his regular customers from other places, as well as some purchase records. I am blind and don't quite understand it."
Xia Qianqian took the bloody account book out of her sleeve: "Mom, is this the one?"
"I can't see clearly." Qin Xue shook her head. "Where did you get the book?"
"My third uncle gave it to me. He said he stole it from my second uncle's room."
Qin Xue's expression suddenly changed: "In your second uncle's room?"
"Yeah, so I find it very strange. After my father died, they wanted the technique of burning tiles. I have already memorized it, so why did my second uncle leave an account book?"
Qin Xue also felt strange: "Qianqian, take a good look at what is written in the account book."
"Okay." Xia Qianqian closed the door and flipped through the pages in the light from the window.
In fact, this is not a real account book, it is more like Xia Dingshan's "diary", which records the number of tiles ordered and delivered, as well as some of his experience.
Most of them were related to business. After flipping through two-thirds of them, Xia Qianqian saw a sentence: "My second brother is too selfish. There may be family changes."
Xia Qianqian was terrified and continued to flip through the pages, reading every word carefully, afraid of missing any clues.
She once again realized strongly that Xia Dingshan’s death was related to Xia Dinghai!
Finally, she saw the messy handwriting on one of the pages: "Brother, wants to kill me."
(End of this chapter)