Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

“By the way, have you given the New Year’s gifts to your mother-in-law?”

Di Yelei asked while coming close.

“I did. A set of clothes for Dad and Mom, and gifts for our two nephews. I also gave an extra one tael of silver as a festival gift. I also gave Mom 20 taels of silver in secret to protect herself, I didn’t discuss this with you beforehand, you won’t blame me, will you?”

Liu Sisi was somewhat unsure.

“Silly, if it weren’t for my Lady Mother-in-law’s insistence back then, how could we have what we have now? Giving her some silver to protect herself is the right thing to do.”

Di Yelei was smiling and not at all angry.

As the two of them walked and whispered to each other, Liu Zhi’er, who was carrying Da Mao on her back, looked down and sullen.

She could deceive her parents for a while, but how could she deceive them for a lifetime? She wished that the day they discovered the truth would come a little later.

As the group gradually moved forward and climbed up the mountain hollow, Liu Sisi looked up and saw Di Ruoning’s home, and after a moment of hesitation, she couldn’t help but say, “I wonder if Little Sister has returned? Since we’re all passing by here, why not take a small detour and see if she’s at home? This way we can be at ease.”

Actually, Di Yelei had the same intention. Once Liu Sisi suggested it, he agreed right away.

“Fine, it’ll only take a pot of tea’s time, let’s go over.”

The group changed course and walked towards the Yuan Family’s home.

Compared to the lively atmosphere of the neighboring homes, the Yuan Family’s place was exceptionally quiet. Even the main entrance had no traces of firecracker residue, let alone the character of happiness, spring couplets, window paper-cuts, or Door Gods!

The main entrance was tightly closed, Di Yelei knocked on the door for a long time, but no one came to answer.

Just then, someone happened to pass by, and Di Yelei hurriedly called out to them.

“Brother, do you know if Yuan Mengbai, who lives here, has returned to his mother’s home today?”

The man looked Di Yelei up and down: “You must be from the Di Family, right? The Yuan Family moved away long before the New Year, they were said to have moved into the city, but they didn’t tell us where they were going.”

“Moved away? When did this happen?”

Di Yelei and Liu Sisi asked in unison.

“I think it was before the Winter Solstice, it’s been a long time, how could outsiders like us know the specifics!”

The man glanced at Di Yelei and shook his head as he walked away.

“Yuan Mengbai actually moved with Di Ruoning long ago, why didn’t he inform us? This is really strange!” Di Yelei’s eyebrows were almost knotted.

Liu Sisi thought for a moment: “Could it be that Dad and Mom knew, but didn’t tell us?”

This was quite possible!

Di Yelei nodded: “Let’s go back!”

On the way back, the few people didn’t know what to say and continued to walk in silence. Di Yelei took the opportunity to carry Ying’er on his back, and they hurried home in the gradually intensifying wind and snow.

“Huh? Ye Lei, why are you all…?”

A familiar voice came from the diagonal path, turning his head to see Zuo Xingyu, dressed as a constable, walking from the other side of the road.

Di Yelei hurriedly greeted him: “So it’s Xingyu, why are you dressed like this? Is there something going on at the governmental office?”

Zuo Xingyu swept his gaze over Liu Sisi and Liu Zhi’er behind him, his unsmiling face frowned, “It’s not a matter from the government office, but rather the matter entrusted by the Honorable Lady last time has made progress.”

This ambiguous statement made everyone’s faces turn rather unpleasant.

It took Liu Sisi a while to react, and she was overjoyed immediately!

She hurriedly stepped out from behind Di Yelei, “What did you say? There is progress in that matter? Have you found Er Mao or San Mao? Or is there news about both children?”

Liu Zhi’er trembled all over and rushed out vigorously, grabbing Zuo Xingyu’s sleeve in a panic.

“What you just said, is it true? Have you really received news of San Mao?”

“Yes, there is news of San Mao.”

Zuo Xingyu looked up at the increasingly heavy snow and wind, pointing to the thatched hut at the corner, “The wind and snow are getting heavier; it’s better to take shelter in my humble dwelling for a moment and talk in detail there. How about it?”

Naturally, everyone had no objections to this proposal.

Although the thatched hut was small, it was tidily arranged.

As the group entered, Mother Zuo was feeling her way around trying to greet everyone, “Yu Er, have you brought your friends? This blind old woman’s vision is not so good, so I may seem negligent in entertaining you esteemed guests. Please, sit down quickly and have a cup of hot tea.”

As she spoke, she tried to find her way to boil water and make tea.

“Auntie, let me do it!”

Although Liu Zhi’er was anxious, she also understood that nothing could be rushed at this moment.

“Let me do it instead; how can we make the guests do such chores?”

Zuo Xingyu took over the task instead.

As he quickly boiled water and poured tea, he talked about the results of his investigation, “A few days ago, as I was investigating another case, I asked around if anyone had bought two children recently. Surprisingly, I did find some clues. One of them specializes in raising male concubines for wealthy families. These people usually choose good-looking children and start training them from a young age. Because of this, the investigation was particularly difficult.”

As the water boiled, Zuo Xingyu skillfully picked up the teacup and prepared hot tea, “But, fortunately, the person I entrusted was also from their circle. I promised a hefty reward, and they agreed to help. However, it turned out that more than ten similarly aged children had been bought in the past few days. Their suggestion was for me to go and identify which one was San Mao in person. But as I don’t know San Mao, I had to put the matter on hold for the time being.”

He was going to be trained as a male concubine?

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhi’er almost dropped the teacup in front of her, and tears started to flow.

“Constable Zuo, you have to help me, you must help me! San Mao is so young; how can they do that to him… ”

Liu Zhi’er covered her mouth, crying uncontrollably.

“What else did they say?”

Liu Sisi considered further, “Did they demand silver or ask you to do them a favor?”

“You’re quite right!”

Zuo Xingyu put down the teapot, with an approving look at Liu Sisi, “The male concubines they collected were all from different places, meaning they were all bought from different people. With all these transactions, even with the help of a friend, it would probably cost 500 taels of silver to get San Mao out!”

“500 taels! Why don’t they just rob someone?”

Liu Zhi’er’s face changed, “Even if I were sold, I wouldn’t be worth 500 taels of silver! My poor Da Mao…”

“We can find another way to handle the silver issue. Xingyu, what are the chances of success in this matter? Can San Mao definitely be rescued?”

Di Yelei’s question hit the crux of the issue.