Chapter 78: Missing

Mrs. Hu choked for a moment and said, “I’ve conveyed the message to you. My Fifth Brother asked me to inquire out of kinship. You missed out on a big money-making opportunity, so don’t regret it.”

With that, she got up and left in a huff.

Once she left, the family’s mood plummeted. Mrs. Wang worriedly said, “Hu’s Fifth Brother is not a generous person. If he couldn’t achieve what he wanted, will he come looking for our family?”

Chen Ming sighed, “After Dabao returns, don’t let him go out alone these days. Today, my elder brother and A’Gui have gone to the county town to sell grain and won’t be back until the afternoon. I’ll talk to him tonight.” He then told Chen Feng, “You should also stay in.”

Mrs. Wang added, “Once I finish my embroidery work, I won’t take on any more. I’ll handle activities such as collecting firewood, fetching water, watering the fields, and washing clothes.”

Chen Feng said, “Don’t worry, I’ll go to Tangyuan this afternoon to inform the steward’s family. After all, their young miss also likes Qiqi and Gray, and now our relationship with them is very good. I’ll ask them to help and persuade Hu’s Fifth Brother.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Ming and Mrs. Wang felt relieved. Despite Hu’s boldness, she wouldn’t dare to provoke the steward from the Luo family.

Chen Feng stood up and said, “I’ll go and bring Dabao back now.”

Mrs. Wang pulled her back and said, “You don’t need to go. I’ll go find him.”

As soon as Mrs. Wang stepped out, she saw Chen Dabao returning with a large bundle of firewood on his back, accompanied by Zhui Feng. The bundle of firewood seemed even larger than the small child, almost bending his waist.

Mrs. Wang rushed over to take the firewood from him, feeling sorry for him. “Dabao, why did you collect so much?”

Dabao replied, “I wanted to save more firewood for Grandfather.”

Chen Feng lifted him up, wiping the sweat off his head, and said, “Don’t carry such heavy things in the future, it won’t be good for your growth.”

Chen Ming and Chen Feng then advised Dabao not to go out to collect firewood these days and not to go out casually. If they saw anyone from the Hu family or Chen Jue, they should keep their distance.

In the afternoon, seeing Dabao still sound asleep, Chen Feng took the set of small clothes she had made for Luo Mei and, with Zhui Feng, she went to the old courtyard. Mrs. Wang was waiting for her, and they went to Tangyuan together.

Although Zhui Feng was still young and might not have a strong fighting ability, its loud calls could intimidate others.

Passing through a large stretch of paddy fields, now all planted with rapeseed, they then walked through a grove of trees and arrived at the noble and mysterious Tangyuan. The tightly closed vermilion gate, adorned with large copper nails and lion-shaped ornaments, was followed by white courtyard walls, behind which the eaves and corners were concealed by lush greenery. Even from outside, the sweet and sour scent of crabapple fruits could be faintly detected.

They walked along the courtyard wall towards the rear. According to Dabao, the steward’s family at Tangyuan was located at the back, where there was a row of cottages for the Tangyuan’s servants, and their family was in the first one.

Upon reaching the back of Tangyuan, they found several interconnected small courtyards, with the first one being the largest, several times the size of the others.

The one to open the door was Xiao Qing.

Xiao Qing welcomed them into the courtyard with a smile and called out loudly, “Madam, Sister Feng and Mrs. Wang have arrived.”

It was a spacious quadrangle, with bluestone floors, blue brick-tiled houses, and a peculiarly shaped artificial mountain rock in the center. On either side, two pomegranate trees grew, heavy with bright red fruits. Such a dignified residence was only comparable to the Gao family in the village.

Mrs. Luo came out from the upper room, welcoming them with a smile. “Oh, from the Chen family? Ah, Mrs. Wang, Ms. Feng, what brings you here? Please come in.”

Once inside, after a few words, Chen Feng took out the small clothes, saying, “Just a small token of appreciation, Mrs. Luo, please don’t dislike it.”

The set of clothes was a crimson vest with a moon-white stand-up collar, paired with an inner shirt and trousers. Unlike modern vests with fabric strips for edging, the collars and cuffs of this vest were trimmed with blue satin lace, with tiny red ribbon knots sewn at the center of each. There was also a yellow dog face sewn onto the front of the shirt, the mouth forming a broad smile with a red tongue sticking out, unique and cheerful.

The design of the small trousers was even more unique, with a less pronounced crotch, simple yet attractive, and with a few embroidered flowers and a small dragonfly at the hem.

Mrs. Luo held the clothes for a while, unable to contain her joy, and praised them profusely.

Afterward, Chen Feng explained her desire for the Luo Family’s help, asking if they could mediate with Hu’s Fifth Brother. Hu’s Fifth Brother was interested in their parrots. Fearing retaliation or that he might harm Dabao, they were most worried about him targeting Dabao.

Mrs. Luo also didn’t want Qiqi and Gray to be in trouble, let alone Dabao. After all, the young miss liked that child and the two parrots. Previously, the Madame had also instructed her family to look after the Chen family. Moreover, her grandchildren got along well with Dabao and had often enjoyed the Chen family’s hospitality. The set of small clothes was to her liking.

She said, “Oh, that’s unfortunate. Our Master is still in the capital city. We’ll have to wait until next month, after the young miss’s birthday, to return with her. However, my eldest son is at home, and he can handle the negotiation. He went to the county town this morning and will return only in the evening. How about this? Let him meet with that Hu’s Fifth Brother tomorrow. He’s a ruffian, too audacious. Don’t be afraid, just keep Dabao at home today.”

That was the best they could do at the moment. Chen Feng and Mrs. Wang were extremely grateful.

When they returned home, they found the gate of the new courtyard wide open. Surprisingly, Dabao was not at home, and Chen Ming and Lu didn’t know when he had left.

The whole family was in a panic. Apart from Lu, who was unable to move much, the other three rushed out to search. Zhui Feng behaved unusually, nudging Chen Feng and barking loudly towards the outskirts of the village.

Chen Feng said, “Perhaps Dabao went to the outskirts. Let’s follow Zhui Feng.”

They ran to the outskirts and headed west to a small grove, but there was no sign of Dabao. Zhui Feng continued to nudge Chen Feng to the west.

At this point, Chen Ming was exhausted and pale.

Chen Feng hurriedly supported him, saying, “Father, go home now. If you push yourself too hard, things will get even more chaotic at home. Mom and I will go look for him.” She felt very conflicted because Chen Ming was in no condition to walk back home by himself.

Just then, they saw Wu Changgen and his brother Wu Chanshen approaching in a bullock cart. They had just returned from delivering furniture to a neighboring village.

Upon hearing about the situation, Wu Chanshen volunteered to help in the search.

They had Wu Changgen take Chen Ming home in the cart, while Wu Chanshen accompanied Chen Feng and Mrs. Wang with Zhui Feng to search. Chen Feng also told Chen Ming that if they hadn’t returned within an hour, he should seek help from their relatives in the clan to assist in the search.

Following Zhui Feng, they headed west, passing through Guqiao Village and then north, crossing a large expanse of fields and a small river, finally reaching a deserted area, where a black pine forest lay about four to five miles away from Xiangluo Village.

Zhui Feng led them further into the woods.