哈哈漫画

Chapter 7

"I heard two children had their legs broken because they resisted. These human traffickers really deserve to be chopped into pieces," Auntie Mei said as she took a fierce bite of chicken leg, as if the chicken leg was a human trafficker.

Seeing Auntie Mei bite the chicken leg fiercely as if it was a human trafficker, Li Xia picked up a chicken leg from her bowl and put it on Auntie Mei’s plate, “Auntie, have the parents picked up those children?"

Auntie Mei shook her head, "Some have not been picked up."

Li Xia thought for a moment and said, "Maybe they are not from this county."

"Maybe," Auntie Mei's expression turned unpleasant. Li Xia lowered her head to eat without asking further. She knew Auntie Mei had a scar in her heart. When Auntie Mei had this kind of expression in the past, Li Xia had asked before, and Auntie Mei just cried. Later, Li Xia stopped asking. Whenever Auntie Mei revealed such an expression, Li Xia would let her immerse in her own thoughts.

Mrs. Lu looked at the jade pendant Li Ming handed over, unable to conceal her surprise, "This is the jade pendant I gave to Elder Sister Liu back then. How did it end up in your hands, Sir?" Mrs. Lu's maiden family was in the capital city. When she was young, she had a few close friends in the boudoir. This Elder Sister Liu was the one from the best family background among Mrs. Lu's friends. Liu was from the prominent Yongshun Earl Manor in the capital city. She married the heir of Gongshun Marquis Manor.

"It was found on a child," Li Ming's words made Mrs. Lu frown.

"How could that be?" Gongshun Marquis Manor was a centuries-old noble family, and was especially strict with rules and regulations. Thinking of this, Mrs. Lu got up, "I will write to Elder Sister Liu right away to ask about the situation."

After Mrs. Lu finished writing the letter, she handed it to Li Ming and said, "Sir, please let me take care of the child." No matter whether the child was Elder Sister Liu's or not, just because he had the jade pendant on him, Mrs. Lu would take good care of him.

Li Ming also had this intention. As soon as he heard Mrs. Lu's proposal, he immediately agreed, "I'll have to trouble you, Madam." The identity of that child was special. Mrs. Lu was the person he trusted the most. Leaving the child to Mrs. Lu put his mind at ease.

Mrs. Lu went to the front yard in person and brought the child back to her own courtyard. Chunlu Granny had already tidied up the room waiting. Looking at the child sleeping soundly on the bed, Chunlu Granny revealed a surprised expression on her usually stern face, "The young master looks so much like the old master!"

"Wet nurse, look at this child's appearance. He must be Elder Sister Liu's child," Mrs. Lu lamented. She did not expect to meet her old friend again under such circumstances.

"But how could that happen?" Chunlu Granny did not dare to imagine the precious young master being abducted and taken thousands of miles away to Bailang County.

"Back then, I was really envious that Elder Sister Liu married into such a prestigious family. I couldn't understand why Mother wanted to marry me to Sir instead. But now I understand," said Mrs. Lu, missing her mother-in-law who was far away in the capital city.

Seeing Mrs. Lu's expression, Chunlu Granny knew, "Miss is missing Madam."

"It has been 16 years, wet nurse. I haven't seen Mother in 16 years. The letters said she was fine, but I really want to see Mother. I really want to see what the capital city is like after 16 years," Mrs. Lu revealed a longing look on her face.

"It must be even more prosperous. After Sir made great achievements this time, he is sure to be transferred back to the capital city," Chunlu Granny comforted Mrs. Lu.

"I hope so," Mrs. Lu sighed.

The child on the bed made a whimper. Mrs. Lu went over to gently pat him to keep him sleeping soundly.

A carriage stopped in front of the back gate of Bailang County in the morning. The mottled marks on the carriage silently told of the owner's rushed and anxious trip.

The coachman jumped down from the carriage, turned around and bowed to the carriage, "Madam has arrived."

A thin, stern-faced old woman came out of the carriage first. The coachman set up a stool. The old woman stepped on the stool to get off the carriage, then turned around to face the carriage. After a while, a middle-aged woman with an air of nobility despite her ordinary clothes came down from the carriage. Although beautiful and gentle, her lovely face was stained with traces of sorrow that made people's hearts ache when they saw her.

Hearing the report from the servant, Chunlu Granny came to the door and was shocked to see the guest, "Liu... Madam, why are you here? My lady was just talking about missing you last night," Chunlu Granny greeted them.

The middle-aged beauty gestured to let Chunlu Granny get up, "Chunlu Auntie, we are not strangers."

The beautiful madam said so, but Chunlu Granny still saluted. She respectfully led the two madams into the courtyard. She also instructed the gatekeeper to take good care of the coachman.

Mrs. Lu went up and held the middle-aged beauty's hand, "Elder Sister Liu, why have you come?"

"Younger sister Wanying, sister has something to ask of you," said the middle-aged beauty as tears kept falling.

"Sister, please sit down. Younger sister will definitely help with anything she can," Mrs. Lu supported the other to sit down and wiped her tears with a handkerchief.

After crying for a while, the middle-aged beauty finally calmed down. Chunlu Granny personally brought water for her to wash her face and tidy up. The middle-aged beauty felt a little embarrassed, "I have made younger sister laugh."

"Being able to see elder sister here makes me delighted," Mrs. Lu held the middle-aged beauty's hand and said.

"Wanying, I have come to look for my child."

Hearing this, Mrs. Lu looked at Chunlu Granny. Understanding her meaning, Chunlu Granny turned and walked out. Mrs. Lu looked at the middle-aged beauty, "Elder Sister Liu, yesterday the county caught a few human traffickers and rescued several children." As she spoke, she could hear voices outside.

"Granny, who are you taking me to see?" Hearing the familiar childish voice, the middle-aged beauty immediately stood up and staggered out, "Xing'er, my Xing'er!"

Zhou Dingxing was still a little scared, not knowing where Chunlu Granny wanted to take him. Hearing the familiar voice and seeing the woman running out, he struggled free from Chunlu Granny and threw himself at her, "Mother, Mother!"

The mother and son hugged each other crying out loud. Even the stern old woman couldn't help the tears falling. After calming down for a while, she said, "Madam, it is a joyful thing to have found the young master.”

The middle-aged beauty calmed down, and used a handkerchief to wipe Zhou Dingxing's tears, "Yes, having found Xing'er, I should be happy, happy..."

After calming down, the middle-aged beauty held Zhou Dingxing and went back to the living room to sit down separately as guest and host. Looking at the child snuggling in her arms, the middle-aged beauty sincerely thanked Mrs. Lu, "Younger sister Wanying, your great kindness, Gongshun Marquis Manor and Yongshun Earl Manor will always remember."

"Elder sister Liu, you are too courteous. My family’s sir is the parent official of this place. This is his duty," Mrs. Lu politely said. "However, Elder Sister Liu, how did your nephew end up like this?"

Mrs. Lu had not finished speaking, but Ms. Liu understood her unfinished words. When it came to this, gentleness faded from Ms. Liu's face, revealing some hatred. She handed the child to the stern old woman. Zhou Dingxing was reluctant to let go of Ms. Liu’s embrace.

"Xing’er darling, go play with Granny Yan for a while. Mother will talk to your Aunt Lu," Ms. Liu said gently to Zhou Dingxing.