Chapter 76: Lianduo Goes Missing

  "What's wrong?" Zhang asked. Jiang had always been gentle and quiet, rarely showing her teeth when she smiled, and never spoke loudly, it was rare to see her with such a flustered expression.

  "It's Duan Er," said Jiang, her eyes reddening. "It's almost time for dinner and she still hasn't appeared. I've looked for her in both the front and back yards with my mother-in-law, but we can't find her."

  Lian Duo'er is gone?!

  Except for Zhang staying in the house, Lian Shouxin brought several children to the upper room, and Lian Shoulai and Zhao brought Lian Ye'er along. Before long, Lian Shouyi and He brought several children from the second house as well.

  "What's going on?" Even Lao Yezi asked when Lian Duo'er went missing.

  "After Huahua got burned, she hasn't been home since," said Jiangshi.

  "Why didn't you find someone earlier?" Zhou asked. With one thing after another happening at home, Zhou was very annoyed and didn't have her usual gentle tone when speaking to Jiang's daughter-in-law.

  Jiang's face turned slightly red, and after a moment of thought, he said, "At noon, I didn't see Duan, so I called out in the front and back yards, but still didn't see anyone. I told Mother about it, and she said that Duan must have splashed water on Hua'er and burned her, and that Duan was afraid of being beaten, so she should be hiding somewhere, but she can't leave the courtyard, and will come back at dinner time."

  Jiang said these words and then looked at Lian Jizong.

  "Yue E has been worried, we've searched the front and back yards, but still can't find Duan Er. Grandpa, grandma, what should we do?" Lian Ji Zu said.

  Lian Mian'er suddenly remembered that at the time, Lian Hua'er was scalded and fainted, Lian Duo'er was frightened silly, and He Shi said beside her that if anything happened to Lian Hua'er, Gu Shi's family would have to beat Lian Duo'er to death. After hearing He Shi's words, Lian Duo'er turned around and ran to the backyard.

  "Have you all looked carefully?" asked Lao Yezi.

  "We've searched carefully and can't find it," Lian Jizu said firmly.

  The front and back yards of Lian's house are very large, with many vegetables planted. There are also piles of miscellaneous items, firewood, etc., and many places where people can hide. Lian Jizong and Jiangshi do not usually live in this old house. If Lian Duo'er hides somewhere and doesn't come out, they may not be able to find her.

  "Search the front and back yards carefully again." Lian Lao Ye Zi was still relatively calm. "All of you go."

  With a single order from Lao Yezi, all the people in the Lian family came out of the house and started searching the front and back yards.

  There are many family members, with adults and children adding up to over a dozen people. Now the advantages of having many people are showing up. The front and back yards have been spread out, it's like a carpet search.

  "Duo'er is afraid of being scolded by her aunt, so when we call her out, let's tell her it's Grandpa and Grandma who want to see her. As long as she comes out, I guarantee she won't be scolded." suggested Lian Man'er.

  Lao Laozi held a tobacco pouch in his hand, standing outside the house. He opened both the front and back doors wide, waiting for the outcome. After hearing what Lian Man'er said, he thought it made sense, so he let everyone search while shouting to tell Lian Duo'er to come out. No one dared to punish her.

  Everyone shouted Lianduo's name while searching every possible hiding place.

  It turned out this way, with both the front and back yards almost overturned, but still no Lin Duo'er was found.

  Everyone gathered in the upper house again. It was already late afternoon, and most families started making dinner.

  "...where can she go? She bound her feet and after coming back, she rarely even goes out the front gate. Besides this courtyard, where else can she go?"

  "Don't be looking for a way out of this, okay?" Madam He said suddenly.

  "Nonsense!" Even Old Master glared at He Shi.

  Lian Duoer was only around ten years old, originally very fragile, encountering such a thing, it's possible she felt like the sky was falling, and seeking death wasn't impossible either.

  "There's none at home, so I'll go out and look." Lao Yezi said, "Does Duer have any acquaintances' homes to go to?"

  If there are familiar little friends, they may have hidden in their homes when they were afraid.

  Everyone looked at each other, and Lian Jizu and Jiangshi were the ones who returned to town later. At that time, the incident of Lian Huaer smashing the betrothal gift had already occurred. Neither Lian Huaer nor Lian Duo'er went out anymore, nor did they associate with the village girls. They naturally didn't know about it.

  Gu Shi and Lian Hua should have known, but unfortunately they are not here.

  "Hua Er Jie had just returned and was getting along well with Ying Zi and the others. That's right, it was the well at the entrance of Ying Zi's house, they played there for several days." Si Lang provided a clue.

  "Well?" Even Lao Ye's eyes twitched involuntarily.

  If you're looking for a short getaway, then this homestay is truly a great choice.

  There are several wells in the thirty-mile camp, and the one closest to Lian's family is the well at the entrance of Yingzi's house. From Lian's door, walking west, crossing a small path in the village, there is a large open space. Yingzi's house is right there, and that well is also on that open space, not far from Yingzi's door.

  To the south and west of this well, there are willow trees. Further to the west, the willows become more numerous, forming a grove with a large path leading directly to Wang Juren's mansion. These willows are also part of Wang Juren's estate.

  Because of its location, only a dozen or so households, including Lian's and Yingzi's families, use this well.

  This time even the old man himself brought his whole family out and rushed straight to this well.

  Lian Man'er followed Lian Shouxin and also walked towards the well.

  "Man Er, you don't have to go." Lian Shou Xin suddenly stopped and said to Lian Zhi Er, "Zhi Er, take your sister with you."

  "Ah." Lian Zhier responded with relish, then came over and tightly grasped Lian Man's hand with one hand, while pointing to a large stone at the entrance of his own house with the other hand, "Man'er, let's just watch from here."

  Wulang and Xiaogui didn't follow them either, but instead gathered around Lianmeng'er, their faces all filled with concern.

  Lian Wan'er was initially puzzled, but soon understood. That well should be where she was injured. Lian Shouxin and the others were afraid that she would see the well and recall past events.

  She may be good at cooking and doing chores at home, but she has never fetched water from the well. She has never even come to this well before.

  "I'm fine, you don't have to worry." Lian Man'er said to Lian Zhi'er, she was still curious about the well in her heart.

  At this time, Lao Yezi and his three sons had already walked to the water's edge, and were leaning over the well rim looking down. Lian Jizu loudly shouted out Lian Duoer's name.

  Lian Mian'er pulled Lian Zhi'er's hand and moved forward a bit, until they could see the well clearly before stopping.

  This well is not very big, but the edge of the well is surrounded by stones and is more than a foot high. On top of the well is a pulley with a grass rope tied to it. When someone comes to fetch water, they need to tie a small wooden bucket to the end of the grass rope and throw it into the well. After the bucket is submerged in the well water, they shake the pulley to lift the bucket full of water back up.

  This is not just a matter of strength, but also requires some skill. Since the separation, it has been Lian Shouxin who comes every day to fetch water. Sometimes when there is no water at home and Lian Shouxin happens to be out, it is Lian Zhier and Wu Lang who come, the two of them working together to lift bucket after bucket of water from the well and pour it into a large wooden barrel. When the barrel is full of water, the two of them work together again to carry it back home.

  "No one." Lian Shouyi and Lian Jizong looked inside the well and stood up straight.

  The water in the well is very deep. If someone really fell in, they should have floated up by now. Not even a ripple was left inside, and Lao Ye let out a sigh of relief, but then he started worrying again - where had Lianduo gone?

  At this time, some families who had finished their meals early came to the door to enjoy the cool breeze. They saw the commotion at Lian's house and walked over, guessing that something must have happened, and they all came over.

  He walked over to Lian Meng's side and sat down on a large stone in front of Yingzi's house.

  "Duoer has a small foot. It's hard for her to walk." said He Shi, "This well is close by. Where else can she go?"

  It seems that Mr. He has determined that Lian Duo'er is looking for a way out.

  Several people didn't even greet each other.

  "Yingzi, have you seen our Lian Duo'er?" He shouted towards Yingzi's house.

  Lian Man'er turned her head and saw Yingzi standing at the gate of the fence, looking out.

  "What's wrong with Lian Duo'er? Are you all here to find her?" Yingzi walked out from the door and stood beside He Shi, asking. Unlike ordinary village girls, Yingzi had also applied powder on her face and lip color, and her clothes were deliberately made narrow and tight-fitting, showing off her plump figure. Looking at her like this, although she couldn't compare to Lian Hua'er, she still had a few points of beauty.

  "She scalded her sister Hua's legs with boiling water and, frightened, ran away." He told Yingzi about it, inevitably adding some flavorings.

  "Ah yo!" Yingzi raised one hand to cover her mouth, revealing a yellow bangle on her wrist. "Lian Erniang, isn't that flower crippled?"

  "It's not considered disabled, walking is fine. It's just that leg, tsk, it's probably going to be ugly."

  "What's going to happen to her marriage then, does the Song family still want her?" Yingzi didn't mind the big stone being dirty at this time, and sat down beside He Shi.

  "How can I not? Even if there are scars, they're on my legs, not on my face." Heizi said. She didn't get along with Yingzi, so she stood up and walked away.

  Here, no Lin Duo'er was found, so naturally they had to continue searching. After some discussion, everyone decided to split up and search separately. The villagers were very enthusiastic and many people followed to help with the search. Lian Shouxin took Lian Man'er and a few others to search from the well westward. Several children joined in, and Yingzi also followed along.

  "Duo'er, where are you? Come out! Your grandfather said it's not your fault and won't let your parents punish you." Everyone entered the forest, searching and calling out at the same time. They startled the small snakes, frogs, and toads in the grass, and even Er Ya found her family's hen that hadn't returned to its nest since the previous evening, but there was no sign of Duo'er anywhere.

  Out of the woods, after walking for a while, in front is a large mansion, with blue-brick tile-roofed houses, powder-white walls, and a tall screen wall in front of the gate.

  Lian Shouxin stopped in front of the Wang family's residence, wondering if Lian Duo'er would come here. Just as he was hesitating, the large gate of the Wang family's house swung open with a creak, and a tall, thin young man walked out from inside.

  "What is this?"

  Man Er, Zhi Er, Wu Lang and Xiao Qi wish you a happy Dragon Boat Festival! May your skin be as white as the white rice dumplings, may your heart be as sweet as the honey dates rice dumplings, and may your life be like the meat rice dumplings - with plenty of food to eat, hehe (don't think too much about it, haha)!