Pristine Darkness

Chapter 15

Bo Jinyan, Jian Yao and Fang Qing are on the hunt! Let's see what surprising information they turn up . . . . There's also a rather sweet interlude between Bo Jinyan and Jian Yao. Who would have thought he would be so sweet?

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Translator: shl

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The afternoon sun shone warmly. There were not many people on the streets, just some cleaners who had gathered under a tree to rest and chat.

A young lady walked over and smiled politely. "Sorry to trouble you, may I know who is elder sister Zhang Sufen?"

Several of the cleaners looked at her while one of them stood up. "I am. Why are you looking for me?"

Jian Yao paused for a moment before she smilingly replied, "Auntie, let's go over there to talk. It's hot today, let me first buy all of you some bottles of water."

She bought enough water to fill a large bag from the nearby newsstand and gave it to them. These ladies couldn't figure out why she was treating them so well*, and felt a bit embarrassed. However, Jian Yao kept smiling at them gently, and invited Zhang Sufen to walk to the side with her. While they were drinking from their bottled water, she asked, "Auntie, there's something I would like to ask you about. Several years ago, did you work for the Yao family?"

(TN *这些大姐不知道她葫芦里卖的什么药 - literally, they did not know what kind of medicine she was selling)

Zhang Sufen sipped some water and asked, "Young lady, why are you asking this question?"

Jian Yao replied, "In recent days, there have been two deaths in the Yao household. I heard the aunties who help out in the household say that you'd worked there before, and thought of talking with you to help me understand the situation there." In reality, the information on Zhang Sufen and the other household helpers had been obtained by the police through other channels. Where the investigation into Yao Yuange was concerned, without proper evidence, there was no need to alarm anyone. If by any chance, the Tong Sheng case were really connected to him, then wouldn't to also be possible that maybe some household helper or insider at that time might have been his accomplice, or even intimately related to Yao Yuange?

Some comprehension dawned in Zhang Sufen's eyes. "Are you . . . a reporter?"

Jian Yao smiled without saying anything.

"Yes, I worked there for a year, but I couldn't carry on," said Zhang Sufen.

"Why?"

Zhang Sufen was silent for a moment. "That place was no place for anyone to work. Even though sweeping the streets earns me much less, I feel much more at ease."

......

"The people in the Yao household cannot be said to be human."

Jian Yao was silent for a moment before asking, "They mistreat their workers, but you never thought of making a police report?"

"What's the use? The Yao family has wealth and power. Even if I were to go so far as to make a report, what would happen if they later decided to take revenge? Since it was only a few small injuries, I thought it would be better to just let it go."

Jian Yao took out a photograph and showed it to her. "Have you ever seen this young girl?"

Zhang Sufen scrutinised the photograph carefully before shaking her head. "No, never."

"Then . . ." Jian Yao threw out an even more daring question. "Did Yao Yuange ever bring home young girls?"

"No. I don't think I've ever seen that happen before."