Chapter 77: Searching for Someone in the Middle of the Night

  The man walked over slowly, shaking a mud-gold folding fan.

  "Master Wang," Lian Shouxin hastily bowed, "my niece, Lian Duo'er, left home at noon and hasn't returned yet. She's been living in town and isn't familiar with the village roads. Her family is worried she might get lost on the way, so they've come out to look for her."

  Lian Hua was scalded, and Lian Duo ran out of the house. Neither of these things is a good thing. If it gets out, not only will the Lian family lose face, but it will also damage the reputations of both Lian Hua and Lian Duo. Therefore, Lian Shouxin kept it under wraps.

  Lian Man'er nodded secretly, thinking that Lian Shouxin was much more reliable than He Shi, and his heart was also kinder.

  "Has Lian Duo'er run away?" The man stood in front of Lian Shouxin. At this time, the sky had already darkened a bit, and it was only then that Lian Man'er saw clearly that this person was Wang Youhuai, also known as Wang Juren's eldest son.

  Lian Shouxin nodded slightly.

  "Have you been standing at the door all this time? Did you see Lian Duo'er?" Wang Youhuai asked the two house servants who were following behind him.

  "She's a ten-year-old little girl, about the same height as... " Lian Shouxin pointed to Lian Man'er, "and my second daughter." This was because he was afraid that the two family servants wouldn't recognize Lian Duo'er, so he described her appearance for them to hear.

  "...round face, with a bun on her head, wearing two red pom-poms on her hair, dressed in light red blouse and skirt, small feet." Added Lian Man Er.

  Lian Shouxin nodded in approval, feeling very satisfied. It wasn't just because Lian Man'er had said it more clearly than him, but also because of the effort Lian Man'er had put into finding Lian Duo'er. The big house had done many things that were wrong to them, especially since Lian Man'er had almost lost her life. But at this time, Lian Man'er was able to wholeheartedly search for Lian Duo'er. Lian Shouxin thought, his own daughter sometimes spoke harshly and liked to distinguish things clearly, but she was a kind-hearted and warm good child.

  "Back to Young Master. This time, there aren't many young ladies who come forward like this." The two house servants almost didn't hesitate and went to report to Wang Youhuai.

  The Wang family was a big household with rules. There were always one or two housekeepers at the gate. Since they said they hadn't seen her, then it must be that Lian Duo hadn't come this way.

  "Let's disturb Young Master Dai no more, we'll go somewhere else to look." Lian Shouxin said.

  Wang Youhuai nodded.

  Lian Shouxin turned around and walked back. Lian Man'er and a group of children also followed him walking back. Only Yingzi, not only didn't walk back, but also took several steps forward.

  "Isn't this Yingzi?" Wang Youhuai fanned himself with a fan, looking at Yingzi with a smile that was not quite a smile.

  "Does the young master recognize me?" Yingzi's eyes lit up, and she took two more steps forward, twisting her body to bow slightly, "Yingzi greets the young master... says... oh... no... asks after your well-being."

  Wang Youhuai burst out laughing, the country girl learned the city people's etiquette, but still didn't learn it thoroughly. It looked quite amusing. However, Wang Youhuai's gaze shifted from Yingzi's face to her body, circling around twice.

  "Hey little sister, we're from the same village, just treat me like a brother, no need to be so polite and formal."

  "Well, how can I dare." Yingzi said so, but her face was red, both shy and delighted.

  "What's wrong with Lian's family? What happened to Lian Duer?" Wang Youhuai looked at the crowd that had already walked to the edge of the forest, and asked Yingzi in a low voice.

  Yingzi felt a warmth in her heart when Wang Youhuai asked her questions so intimately.

  "Big Young Master doesn't know, I heard it's..." Yingzi then told Wang Youhuai everything she had heard from He Shi.

  "Lian Hua'er is injured. Did Lian Duo'er run away?" Wang Youhuai closed the fan, tapped it in his palm, and narrowed his eyes slightly.

  Lian Man'er walked into the woods, and suddenly found that Yingzi was not following her back. She stopped in her tracks, turned around to look for Yingzi, and saw that in front of the Wang family's screen wall, Yingzi and Wang Youhuai were almost shoulder to shoulder. Although she couldn't see the expressions on their faces clearly, from Wang Youhuai slightly leaning forward and Yingzi with one hand covering her mouth, leaning close to Wang Youhuai's ear, she knew that these two people must be saying something.

  "It's getting late, shall we call out to Yingzi?" asked Lianzhier.

  "Never mind. Yingzi is not a child of a few years old."

  Through the poplar forest, I returned to the side of the well. At this time, the sky had completely darkened, fortunately there was moonlight shining, and the road could still be seen clearly.

  "Dad, it's getting dark. Let's send Er Ya and the others back home first." Lian Man'er said to Lian Shou Xian.

  These children are mostly acquaintances of theirs, not very old, and like to follow them because they enjoy the excitement or want to help. Now that it's dark, although country kids are tough, if they play outside too late or something happens, it would be hard to explain to their parents.

  "Duoer is a tenderfoot, she has never suffered before, and she doesn't know the way around here. Where can she hide?" Lian Shouxin muttered to himself. Until now, he still couldn't find Lian Duo'er, and Lian Shouxin was secretly worried that someone had kidnapped her. Upon hearing what Lian Man'er said, he hastily nodded in agreement.

  "Man Er is right," Lian Shou said.

  There were several little kids who heard that they would be sent home and didn't want to go. Jian Shouxin didn't care whether they wanted to or not, and one by one, she sent them all back home, handing them over to the adults.

  "Duo'er hasn't been found yet, what if there's a kidnapper? We have to take good care of all the kids." Lian Shouxin reminded his family while sending off the children.

  Everyone thinks what Lian Shouxin said makes sense, and they all say that they will take good care of the children at home and not let them go out again.

  Only when Lian Shouxin is here can I feel at ease.

  As she walked along the road, Lian Mian suddenly heard a gurgling sound. What's that noise? Lian Mian thought it was strange and tilted her head to listen carefully, then she heard another gurgling sound.

  It was Xiao Qi's stomach growling, and Lian Er heard it clearly.

  "Xiao Qi, are you hungry?" Lian Man'er asked while pulling Xiao Qi's hand.

  Xiao Qi nodded, "Second sister, I'm hungry. We've been starving for half a day, didn't dare to say."

  They didn't have dinner and came out to find Lian Duer because of Lian Huaer's matter, at noon they just ate a little casually. Now, not only does Xiao Qi feel hungry, but also Lian Man'er is hungry.

  "Dad." Lian Man'er called out to Lian Shouxin.

  Lian Shouxin stopped in her tracks. It's already dark outside, the adults can continue searching, but the kids should head back to eat something and take a break.

  "Father will send you back home first. By the way, have your second and third uncles found Duan Er?" Lian Shou said.

  "Hmm." Lian Man'er nodded, but in her heart, she was clear that they must not have found it yet, or else someone would have sent them a message already.

  As soon as they entered the Lian family's gate, they saw that the upstairs and the wing rooms on both sides were all lit up. Lian Shouxi took the children back to the west wing room first, and after he went out for half a day, he thought of going to see Zhang Shi first.

  Mrs. Zhang was sitting under the lamp, sewing clothes one stitch at a time, and when she saw Lian Shouxin and the children return, she immediately invited them to sit down and rest.

  "You've been out for half a day, I was at home, worried all the time." said Zhang.

  "Don't worry, I'll take care of them. It's getting dark, I'll send the kids back first." Lian Shouxin said.

  "It's already half past dark," said Zhang.

  "Have Second Brother and them returned yet, or are they still unable to find it?" Lian Shou Xin asked.

  "They've all come back, not even a shadow can be found." Zhang sighed and said, "You haven't eaten yet, are you hungry? I steamed a basket of mantou, it's hot in the pot over there, hurry up and bring it over to eat."

  "Girl, why are you working in the fields again?" Lian Man'er complained.

  "Your daughter is so precious, just let me take care of her, otherwise I would have gone down long ago." Zhang said with a tone of dissatisfaction but full of smile. "It was your third aunt and Ye who helped me get it done. They came back earlier than you guys, I was about to fetch water and flour, then your third aunt took over and did everything for me, didn't need me to do anything."

  "Oh, it's okay then." Only then did Lian Man'er put her mind at ease.

  "You all eat first, I'll go upstairs and tell Father, and ask him if we should continue searching later?" Lian Shou Xin said as he stood up.

  "Zhang's wife said: 'The people upstairs have also had their meal, and there are still a few helpers who have stayed behind. You can go take a look and come back, no need to eat at the upper house.'"

  "Hmm." Lian Shouxin responded with a murmur and headed upstairs.

  Lian Zhier washed her hands and face, and the children did the same. Then they set up the dinner table. Lian Man lifted the lid of the pot and saw a steamer basket full of white mantou (steamed buns), a bowl of hot meat sauce, and a basin of calabaza soup underneath.

  "Don't go out yet, I'll go pick some scallions." Lian Zhier said and walked out. After a while, he came back with a bunch of big scallions, washed them in clear water, and put them on the table.

  Lian Shouxin also returned at this time.

  "Dad, let's eat." Lian Man'er called out to Lian Shouxin.

  "You and your mother eat, Dad has to go upstairs, accompany the villagers to eat. After finishing eating, I have to go find again."

  Losing a child is no trivial matter.

  Lian Shouxin was about to go out, but stopped at the door again.

  "Third Sister and Ye'er haven't eaten yet, and with so many people sitting at the table, who knows when they'll get to eat?" Lian Shouxin said to Zhang Shi.

  "I was just thinking of going to find them. I specially packed more noodles and brought their portions out." said Zhang.

  "I'll go call them over," said Lian Man Er.

  Lian Man'er followed Lian Shouxin to the upper house, where she saw that both sides of the room were filled with people. Zhou Shi sat on the east side of the kang, holding Niu Niu in her arms. He Shi, Zhao Shi, Jiang Shi, Lian Ye'er, and even Lian Xiu'er and Lian Rou'er were all busy on the ground. The tables had already been set up, and soon the dishes were brought up. Zhou Shi, He Shi, Jiang Shi, Lian Xiu'er, and Lian Rou'er all sat at a table for women. Zhao Shi and Lian Ye'er stood under the kang, hesitating about whether to sit down or not.

  "It's too crowded, you watch from downstairs and we'll eat later." said Zhou to Zhao.

  A woman in the village shifted her buttocks to the side, "Our village households are not afraid of crowding, crowding and eating together is a family affair. Lian San's wife, you and Ye Er sit next to me and eat."

  Zhou's face fell with a thud.

  The Dragon Boat Festival is over, Sa, and 185 votes are actually not far away.