Chapter 129: Trade
Regarding Jiang Cheng’s action, Chen Xiaong and Zhou Rong did not do or say anything to stop him. In fact, if Jiang Cheng didn’t do that, they had their own thods to make the girl speak. The girl’s ho might be old, but based on the dry chilli hanging under the eaves and the vegetables growing in the yard, there were clearly adults in her family.
The girl didn’t expect Jiang Cheng’s attitude to turn so quickly. Her eyes reddened for real this ti. Just as she was about to cry, she heard Jiang Cheng say slowly, “If you dare to cry, I’ll have this aunty ruin all the vegetables in your family’s yard.” Hearing that, the girl didn’t dare to cry. For her, this threat was far more effective than beating her up. After all, her family relied on those vegetables to survive. From when she had her mory, her life was accompanied by hunger.
“No.” The girl’s eyes blurred with tears, but she didn’t dare to let them fail. Her small face scrunched up. “Mom… planted those. Please… don’t destroy them.”
Jiang Cheng placed the girl back on the ground. She wanted to run, but she knew that while she could run, the vegetables at her ho couldn’t. So, she dropped that idea.
“How about we discuss this?” Jiang Cheng bent down to look into the girl’s eyes. “For each question that you answer, I’ll give you half a stead bun.”
“Okay.” The girl stared at him and replied timidly.
“Are you and your mother the only mbers of your family?”
“And grandma.” The girl pressed her lips. “But grandma is very sick. Mom has to go up the mountains to pick herbs for her.”
“Where is your dad?”
The girl looked up at Jiang Cheng. Sothing swirled in her eyes.
Jiang Cheng took out half the stead bun from before. He shoved it back into the girl’s pocket. The girl instantly said, “Hong Hong hasn’t seen father before. However, mom said that father has left for the big city. When Hong Hong is older, father will be back and buy many stead buns for Hong Hong.” The girl’s eyes glowed, but the other’s eyes dimd. The stead bun was probably the limit of this girl’s imagination. Plus, everyone knew that she wouldn’t wait until the day her father ca back ho. Her father… had probably been killed by Zhao Xiangi already.
“Are your mother and grandmother at ho?” Jiang Cheng asked.
The girl nodded. It was then that Zhou Rong suddenly realised the sun had mostly set. Night would soon co.
Jiang Cheng pulled out another bun and handed it to the girl. “We’re going back now.” He added, “I’ll be waiting for you tomorrow afternoon. Sa old rules. Half a bun for one question answered.”
“But…” The girl stared at the whole bun and asked Jiang Cheng, “Why did you give
an extra half?”
“Consider it the down paynt.” Jiang Cheng turned and ran back to their courtyard. Just as the sun fully set, the three entered the yard. A black pot was placed on the old wooden table. There were also a few sets of chopsticks and bowls.
“Mr. Yi.” Lee Lu greeted them warmly, “Co and eat. The soup is still hot. The village head just had people send it over.” Zhou Rong scanned the place. Only Lee Lu sat around the fire.
“Where are Bei Qian and the rest?”
“Elder Bei and Jiang Zhongyi said they wanted to take a walk around this courtyard.” Then, Lee Lu’s eyes widened as it dawned on her. “Did you not see them when you ca back?”
Naturally, they didn’t…
“When did they leave?” Jiang Cheng asked.
“About… 15 minutes ago.” Lee Lu’s face paled as she understood the severity of the situation, “They left before they had the chance to eat.”
Chen Xiaong turned to reopen the gate. Lee Lu looked out. The sky was already fully dark. Darkness hid a lot of dangers. Sothing must have happened to them since they hadn’t returned after so long. However, based on what Lee Lu said, they left 15 minutes ago. In other words, they would have seen the sky darkening when they left. They wouldn’t have gone far.
They should have been delayed by an abrupt incident… Or, sothing had stopped them from coming back.
The only thing that could grab their attention so… that was nearby. At the sa ti, a flash crossed the three’s eyes. A building appeared in their heads. It was right inside this courtyard. The abandoned and sealed largest building.
“Miss Dragon Lady,” Zhou Rong told Chen Xiaong rapidly, “I’ll have to trouble you to stay to accompany Miss Lee. Mr. Yi and I will go take a look.” This ti, Chen Xiaong didn’t insist on following them. She agreed easily.
Lee Lu nodded apologetically. Her injury made her a burden.
Zhou Rong pulled open the door and was about to leave. “Mr. Yi, we better hurry…”
However, Jiang Cheng didn’t even move. He stared at Lee Lu and Chen Xiaong. Then, he said, “Why don’t I stay? I’m better at taking care of people.” He paused. “After all, I’m a doctor.”
Chen Xiaong scoffed and exposed him. “Please show so respect to the occupation of doctor. They will not accept you as one of them.” Just as Jiang Cheng was about to argue with Chen Xiaong, the group heard a loud sound.
It was very dull, like sothing heavy landing on the ground from an elevation. It didn’t… sound far away. The three imdiately ran over. Even though Lee Lu was also curious, she knew that she would only drag them down, so she stayed.
A few seconds later, there was a scream. The scream was hoarse and deep. The screar should be old. The three knew that it was Bei Qian. Everyone wondered what could have happened to make the reliable senior scream like this.
Jiang Cheng rushed into his house to grab the oil lamp on the table. Then, he rushed towards the scream. Zhou Rong followed him. After so thought, Chen Xiaong also followed.
Their hypothesis was correct. The two went to the abandoned building in the yard. The scream ca from there.
The light from the oil lamp barely did anything to chase away the darkness. They slowly slunk forward. Nervousness festered in the air. Jiang Cheng suddenly paused. He took a deep breath, and his eyes sharpened.
He slled blood.
However, the thing that worried him even more was Bei Qian. His scream only lasted for a quick mont before disappearing completely.
The surroundings beca deathly quiet.
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