Chapter 45: A Clue

Qin Ying lowered her eyes in thought for a while before hesitantly saying, “I think it’s either they don’t want to be found, or someone is hiding them.”

She let out a sigh. “In times of chaos, there are many disasters a girl could face.”

Zhou Yu’s heart sank, his face turning slightly pale.

Aunt Zhao quickly chimed in, “There are still more good people than bad in this world! Take you for example, Yingzi. Didn’t the Guo family take you in back then?”

Although the Guo family weren’t the best people, one couldn’t deny the kindness of their initial intentions.

A flash of light flickered in Zhou Yu’s eyes.

Qin Ying added, “It’s possible. May I ask how old the girls were when they were separated?”

Zhou Yu replied, “The older one was not yet ten, and the younger had just turned eight. It happened four years ago.”

“Then it’s possible someone adopted them,” Qin Ying nodded. “With the world in chaos, it’s easy to forge household records too.”

Zhou Yu nodded absentmindedly.

Qin Ying thoughtfully continued, “Lord Zhou, although they were young when they got separated from their family, they must have already formed certain preferences or habits that only their family would know.

“You might try thinking from that angle.”

Zhou Yu had only asked out of a sudden impulse, but now he felt as though clouds had parted before his eyes. He quickly asked, “Such as?”

“For example,” Qin Ying said softly, “maybe they hold their pen in a unique way when writing, or their strokes differ from others. Or maybe they tie knots in a different way when sewing, or have a unique embroidery technique.

“Or perhaps they have a special fondness for a particular item, color, or flower.”

Zhou Yu’s eyes lit up completely. He lost interest in eating and immediately stood up to leave.

Xu Xia quickly followed him.

Zhou Yu reached the doorway and suddenly stopped, turning back to deeply bow to Qin Ying. “Thank you!”

Without waiting for the Zhao family to react, he pulled open the door and strode away with large steps.

The Zhao family was startled and confused, not knowing what had just happened.

Aunt Zhao suddenly slapped her thigh. “Lord Zhou ran out in just a single layer of clothing!”

She rushed into the east room to grab the cloak that Qin Ying had mended for him and shoved it into Zhao Hu’s hands. “Hurry!”

Zhao Hu immediately dashed off.

Aunt Zhao stood there for a moment, then turned to Qin Ying with a worried look. “Yingzi, what do you think is going on with Lord Zhou?”

Qin Ying sighed softly. “Maybe the two missing girls are Lord Zhou’s relatives.”

Aunt Zhao joined in with a series of sighs. “Oh dear, the world is so cruel! Those brothers go off to war, and it’s us common folk who suffer the most!”

Neither had much appetite left. They quickly finished eating and cleaned up the table. Qin Ying went back to sewing winter clothes.

Zhao Hu soon returned, breathing heavily. “They walk really fast!”

Worried he hadn’t eaten enough, Aunt Zhao reheated some food for him.

Qin Ying finished the last few stitches, held up the garment to inspect it, and feeling satisfied, folded it neatly and packed it into a bundle. The leftover fabric was also rolled up neatly.

The unused candle was carefully wrapped in its original oiled cloth and put back in the bundle.

After Zhao Hu finished eating, Qin Ying called him over again. “You’ll need to make another trip and deliver these clothes to Lord Zhou. As for the dirty ones, we’ll need to wait until they’re washed and mended before sending them over.”

At that moment, An’an woke up. Aunt Zhao went to dress and feed her, while Qin Ying began taking apart Zhou Yu’s dirty clothes for washing.

But not long after, Xu Xia arrived together with Zhao Hu, looking rather embarrassed. “We left in such a rush, we forgot to take the dirty clothes. We were going to… Ah! Miss Qin, you’ve already taken them apart?”

“It’s easier to wash thoroughly after taking them apart,” Qin Ying quickly said. “This was our mistake, so it’s only right we make it up to you.”

Xu Xia remembered his own clumsy sewing skills and didn’t say anything more.

Aunt Zhao handed him a handful of roasted soybeans. “There’s nothing much for snacks, but these taste pretty good. Just don’t eat too many, and don’t drink cold water afterward.”

Xu Xia looked confused.

Zhao Hu tried to hold back his laughter and said, “Brother Xu, if you eat too many soybeans, you’ll get gassy. And if you drink cold water… ha, you might end up with diarrhea!”

Xu Xia’s face turned beet red.

Aunt Zhao gave Zhao Hu a light smack on the head. “You never say anything decent!”

Qin Ying rubbed her forehead, put down her work, wiped her hands, and handed Xu Xia a small pouch of dried mushrooms. “This is a little snack we made ourselves. Try it.”

They usually couldn’t afford snacks, but with the new year approaching, they had to prepare offerings for the gods and ancestors.

Xu Xia didn’t stay long and soon left.

In the days that followed, Zhou Yu didn’t visit the Zhao family again.

Life went on quietly. The clothes An’an had wet were washed, dried, and mended. Qin Ying then sent Zhao Hu to deliver them to the Chen family.

Zhao Hu returned saying Zhou Yu had already left Tongshu Tun. “Master Chen said he left three days ago. Not sure if he’ll be back for New Year.”

Aunt Zhao sighed in disappointment. “I was planning to send them some dumplings for New Year.”

Qin Ying smiled. “He’s not from around here to begin with. Isn’t it normal that he left? Huzi, have you memorized those characters I taught you?”

Soon it was the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month.

As the saying goes, “On the 28th, leaven the dough.” The Zhao family’s remaining white flour—all of which had been given by Zhou Yu—was too precious for the adults to eat, so it was saved for An’an.

Fortunately, the cornmeal was fine enough. Mixing it with millet and soybean flour, they managed to get it to rise.

They also made some cold dishes and stir-fried some beans and corn kernels. Though hard on the teeth, they were flavorful. Plus, with the preserved wild fruits they had stored, it was shaping up to be a decent New Year.

Aunt Zhao said regretfully, “It’s such a pity we don’t have any oil. Otherwise, we could fry some veggie balls. Our radish and tofu balls would be delicious!”

Zhao Hu slurped in agreement. “My sister’s recipe is the best!”

Qin Ying smiled and gently placed the sleeping An’an back on the kang.

Although the Qin family had been poor in the past, they could still occasionally eat chicken, duck, or fish. Sometimes their father would even take them to a restaurant.

But now, just being free from the shadow of death and able to fill their bellies already felt like an incredible blessing.

Suddenly, familiar voices came from outside—it was Xu Xia.

Zhao Hu dashed out like a gust of wind and soon returned with Zhou Yu and Xu Xia in tow.

Aunt Zhao and Qin Ying quickly stood up from their chores.

Zhou Yu smiled and waved a hand. “No need for formalities. You all keep busy. I’ll just sit for a bit and be on my way.”

This time, Aunt Zhao didn’t forget to bring him hot water, and Qin Ying fetched a tray with some snacks.

Zhou Yu asked, “These wooden trays and dishes—did Huzi make them? He’s improved quite a bit!”

Zhao Hu scratched the back of his head and chuckled. “Sir, Brother Xu, try some. The roasted mushrooms, chestnuts, and hazelnuts are really tasty!”

Zhou Yu nodded. “I tried these mushrooms last time and thought they were excellent. How are they made?”

Zhao Hu answered for his sister, “My sister slow-roasts them over a small fire. Just before they’re done, she sprinkles on some prepared seasoning and stir-fries them a little.”

Xu Xia asked curiously, “What seasoning? I think I tasted some Sichuan pepper.”