Todayâs train was delayed due to heavy rain in East Province. It was originally scheduled to arrive at five oâclock, but ended up being delayed by an hour and a half.
As soon as Han Jingchen checked into the guesthouse, he met the team leader responsible for the investigation here: "Tell me about the recent situation."
The visitor was named Zhang Libing. He first saluted Han Jingchen, then spoke: "Old leader, there are still two villages that havenât been thoroughly investigated. We have about a dozen girls of similar age on hand and need to conduct further investigations."
Upon hearing this, Han Jingchenâs expression grew somewhat solemn: "Bring over those investigation materials."
Zhang Libing responded: "Okay, Iâll bring them over shortly. It will take about four or five more days to cover the remaining two villages."
Though anxious, Han Jingchen knew rushing wouldnât help: "No problem, send over any updates promptly."
Zhang Libing understood the old leaderâs feelings: "Yes, we will complete the investigation as soon as possible."
After the person left, Han Jingchen assigned tasks to Su Jingsong before preparing to have dinner.
*
On the other side, Yu Shuosheng, the second son of the Yu Family, jogged home after returning to the village from the county. As he entered the yard and saw his wife cooking pig food, he asked, "Rongjuan, where are Mom and Dad?"
Wan Rongjuan, seeing her husband in a hurry, asked, "Whatâs the matter? Did you cause trouble outside?"
Yu Shuosheng, annoyed, glared: "What nonsense are you talking about? I have serious business with Mom and Dad. Where are they?"
Wan Rongjuan pointed to the east: "Aunt Dongâs youngest son is getting married tomorrow, they went over to help."
Yu Shuosheng turned to leave, and despite Wan Rongjuan calling after him, he didnât stop, causing her to stomp her feet in frustration.
Soon, Yu Shuosheng brought the Yu Familyâs couple back from a neighborâs house up front.
Yuâs mother, displeased, said: "Yu Shuosheng, you better have a good reason for this today, or Iâm not done with you."
As soon as they entered the house, Yu Shuosheng pulled them in and quietly instructed Wan Rongjuan in the yard: "Keep an eye on the yard, donât let outsiders get close."
Yuâs mother, seeing his secretive behavior, asked, "What on earth is going on?"
Yu Shuosheng took a glance outside and then whispered, "I heard from a friend that someone is looking for a person."
Yuâs mother, being hot-tempered, slapped her second son: "What does that have to do with us? We were helping, and you dragged us back."
Yu Shuosheng, feeling the pain, was a bit unhappy: "My friend said theyâre looking for a girl born in 1960. Xinyan, that dead girl, was born the same year as Erli. Isnât that 1960? Could they be looking for Xinyan, that dead girl?"
Hearing this, the Yu Family couple exchanged a glance, and Yuâs father frowned nervously, "Is this information true?"
Yu Shuosheng assured them immediately: "Absolutely true. My friendâs uncle is the village head of Dabao Village, and he happened to pass by to deliver something that day, overheard a word or two. Today he mentioned it casually, and I asked more about it. Otherwise, how would I know this news?"
Yuâs father grew tense: "Could they really be looking for Xinyan?"
Yuâs mother thought for a moment: "Donât panic yet. Thatâs not certain. If they were looking, they would have come a long time ago. They wouldnât wait until now."
Yuâs father wasnât convinced: "Back then, we promised that person weâd take good care of the child. If they really come looking, how will we explain ourselves?"
Yuâs mother initially put up a tough front: "Explain what? We did let her go to school, didnât we? She studied all the way through high school, didnât she?
How else can we explain?"
Yuâs father frowned even more: "If they find out what we forced her to do, there wonât be any good result for us."
Yuâs mother was actually a bit anxious too, swallowing hard before saying, "Donât scare yourself. They might not be looking for her. Even if they are, havenât we raised her to adulthood? Surely they wonât be ungrateful, right?"
Yuâs father couldnât argue with her, nor did he want to continue speaking.
Over the years, Xinyan indeed went to school but didnât cost the family much money. If they are indeed looking for her, they will certainly come to the village to investigate. By then, the things the family did to Xinyan may not be hidden, and if they pursue it, it could be difficult to explain.
Yu Shuosheng, not understanding the specifics: "Mom, Dad, what are you afraid of? My friend said those people donât look like ordinary people. If they are looking for Xinyan, wouldnât we benefit as well? Like Mom said, no matter what, weâve at least raised her."
Yuâs father shuddered at his second sonâs words, thinking: If only you knew we took money from them to raise their child, you wouldnât be saying these things.
The money didnât go towards the child at all, and we even married her off to a second husband, eventually cutting off all ties. If her family really comes, would they spare us? Just thinking about it is terrifying, but he couldnât directly say these things to his second son.