The offering table covered with a piece of cloth moved slightly at this mont. Tian Sangsang’s heart constricted, and she clasped the flashlight in front of her chest with both hands and said, "Lord Guan above—no, all heavenly kings above. This humble woman, Tian Sangsang, is here to find her son. I an no disrespect to you; please bless to find my son. Forgive , forgive !"
At so point, that... thing was by her feet, its head raised toward the offering table. Had this thing beco sentient?
"Yanyan?" Tian Sangsang’s eyes were fixed firmly under the table. She didn’t hear a response, but the movents of the table grew larger.
She dashed forward and yanked the dark red tablecloth off with one swift motion. As dust scattered, she quickly covered her nose and mouth, but her eyes widened slowly. Wasn’t the person under the table her son?
Her son’s small body sat beneath the table. His clean clothes were covered in dirt, and his delicate little face couldn’t hide the traces of dust and gri.
"Yanyan!" She hurriedly freed his bound hands from the rope and peeled the tape off his mouth, tears of joy streaming down her face. "It’s really you, Yanyan. Mommy was scared to death! Are you okay? Did anything happen to you?"
"Mom... Mommy..." ng Shuyan pursed his little lips and threw himself into her arms, crying uncontrollably.
The child had spent the entire day here alone. Of course, he was terrified. No matter how resilient he may be, he was just a little over three years old. At this mont, he was utterly shaken, his eyes red from crying.
"Yanyan, Mommy’s here. Mommy’s here with you. It’s okay, it’s okay, baby." Tian Sangsang held him tightly in her arms, one hand ruffling his fluffy hair, the other gently patting his back to comfort him.
After holding him for a while, she pulled back slightly and thoroughly inspected him. He had no injuries, thank goodness. However, his wrists bore faint red marks left by the tight ropes that had bound him.
Tian Sangsang’s gaze darkened. These heartless monsters—she swore they’d pay!
"Mommy, I knew you’d co to find ." The little boy spoke softly, wiping away his tears with his hand. "It was Aunt Tian Tian who brought here. She, she..."
ng Shuyan blinked his eyes, still trembling in fear. "She covered my mouth with her hand. I got dizzy, and then I... I..."
"Okay, Mommy understands." Tian Sangsang wiped his tears and asked, "Did they hurt you in any other way?"
ng Shuyan shook his head, raised his little hands to hold her, and buried his face in her shoulder, saying nothing.
Tian Sangsang pulled out a bottle of milk and a piece of bread, speaking softly, "Are you hungry? Let’s eat a little sothing first."
It was true that ng Shuyan hadn’t eaten anything all day. He sipped the milk and nibbled at the bread slowly, his red-rimd eyes holding the brightness of his dark, shiny pupils.
"Mommy, I overheard Aunt Tian Tian and that grandma talking."
Tian Sangsang stroked his head and gestured for him to speak slowly.
The little boy stood in front of her, his voice tinged with anger. "They owe Brother Biao money, and they want to marry you and off to him to make money."
So that’s how it was. It seed that the matchmaker and Tian Tian were working together. Tian Tian’s family owed money and ca up with such a vicious plan to sell her and her son. What a hateful family!
"Did you overhear how much money they owe?"
ng Shuyan tilted his head thoughtfully. "Three-five-eight. They said if Mommy and I both marry Brother Biao, they wouldn’t have to pay it back."
"My dear son," Tian Sangsang teased as she pinched his little nose and chuckled. "Mommy would be the one getting married, not you. You’re a boy; boys don’t get married, you know."
"But... but I’d be marrying Brother Biao along with Mommy."
"Well, that’s not right either," Tian Sangsang laughed. "You’re a boy; boys are supposed to marry others, not be married off. Rember not to say you’re getting married again, okay?"
ng Shuyan blinked in confusion and murmured, "Okay, but Mommy, they’re so an."
"Yes." Tian Sangsang hugged her son gently, narrowing her eyes in a dangerous expression. Her gaze turned icy as she looked ahead. "Bad people need to face consequences."
"Son, Mommy needs to share sothing with you. It’s about how to punish these bad people and reveal their actions to the villagers."
ng Shuyan lifted his head from her embrace, his little lips pressed together. "Mommy, tell ."
Tian Sangsang explained her thoughts to him and then asked, "What do you think?"
"Why do we have to hide and tell them we didn’t find ?" ng Shuyan blinked his clear eyes towards her. "I can stay here instead of going ho with Mommy, waiting for them to co and look for ."
Tian Sangsang pondered for a mont. This idea seed better than hers. "Yanyan, you’re absolutely right. But it ans you’ll have to spend the night in this deserted house. Mommy will stay with you. If you don’t want to, Mommy won’t force you. Mommy respects your decision."
ng Shuyan shook his head. "I’m willing."
Tian Sangsang held ng Shuyan tightly in the small house throughout the night. Perhaps having her son close made her mind clear and calm. She wasn’t as afraid of ghosts anymore.
In the stillness of the night, the rhythmic sound of her son’s breathing filled the air. ng Shuyan’s eyes were firmly shut. When Tian Sangsang lowered her gaze, she saw his long, curled eyelashes. She reached out and lightly touched them like small fans, then smiled softly and kissed his tender cheek. "Good night, my son."
She dared not sleep, fearing soone might co in the middle of the night. But she speculated that it wouldn’t happen. Even if soone did enter, she’d be ready to hide.
Early the next morning, ng Shuyan woke up. Tian Sangsang knew she had to leave at this point. Reassembling the site back to its original state, she looked at her son under the table with a pang of heartache. "Yanyan, can you manage this?"
"I can."
"Alright, Mommy’s putting the cloth back now." She spoke reluctantly.
"Mm-hmm, goodbye, Mommy. We’ll catch the bad guys for sure." His eyes curved into crescents, his voice tinged with excitent. It seed he still thought of this as a ga.
"Alright!"
It was just past four in the morning. Most families were just starting to stir, but Chen Guilan’s house was already filled with tension and hostility.
"Tiantian, why hasn’t Tian Sangsang co searching yet? Do you think she’ll just give up on her son?" Chen Guilan sat by the bed and said, "She was never really fond of that little brat. I wouldn’t be surprised if she doesn’t truly care now."
Tiantian frowned in worry. Dawn was breaking.
"Mom, don’t worry. As long as Tian Sangsang hasn’t found her son, she’ll definitely co. I can tell she loves her son." She sounded confident in her judgnt of character. "Besides, even if she refuses to marry, grandma will force her."
The door was abruptly pushed open, and the fiery orange sunlight stread in alongside Tian Sangsang’s tall and imposing figure.
Tiantian secretly breathed a sigh of relief, a smug satisfaction flickering in her eyes. "Cousin, you’re here."
"Where’s my son? Where have you hidden him? Give back my son!" Tian Sangsang glared at the two of them furiously.
Tiantian’s younger brother, Daniu, smirked as he glanced at her. "Fat pig, you’ll never find your son!" He finished with a mocking face.
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