The Lucky Heiress

The entire Wei Residence was searched, even Tingsong Garden and Yingzhu Garden, where Wei Yilin would hardly go. However, Wei Yilin was nowhere to be found.

It was now clear that Wei Yilin was not in the residence. Wei Yichen and Wei Qingwan hurriedly reported the matter to Madam Yun.

Madam Yun immediately mobilized everyone in the residence to search.

In Tingsong Garden, after Wei Ruo had sent away the people who came to inquire about Wei Yilin, she lazily fell back into bed.

It was a rare break, why not have a nap? Napping is such a happy thing to do.

“Miss, should you also go out to help search? The servants from Wangmei Garden have already dashed out to join the search. They are quite busy.” Xiumei asked anxiously, frowning.

“With so many people already out looking, my absence won’t make much difference; moreover, I don’t like the brat Wei Yilin and he doesn’t like me either, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want to be found by me, his older sister in-name.” Wei Ruo stretched out lazily.

“Miss, I’m just worried that if young master really has had an accident, when Madam Yun asks about it and finds out that you, the eldest miss, were unconcernedly napping at home, you will be scolded…” Xiumei lowered her head and murmured.

At her words, Wei Ruo opened her eyes; becoming significantly more alert.

What Xiumei said was true; it wasn’t just about suffering Madam Yun’s punishment, if someone else gossiped it, the accusations of the eldest sister’s indifference might become more intense. After all, her little brother was missing, and she did not seem to care.

After a moment, Wei Ruo rolled over, propping up her upper body.

“Get the clothes, Xiumei, I am destined to work hard. There is simply no time for rest!”

Reluctantly, Wei Ruo got up and dressed, then went out with Xiumei.

The servants from the residence who were out searching spread out in a carpet pattern; everyone went out on foot, except for Wei Qingwan, who took a carriage. As a result, the carriage which Wei Ruo regularly took was available.

Although she walked out of the door, Wei Ruo did not have a specific direction, so she randomly decided to go to the south of the city. Even if she didn’t find anyone, at least she could take a look at the situation there.

After leaving the residence and reaching the south of the city, Wei Ruo got off the carriage and wandered around.

Xiumei was helpless: her lady was actually making an inspection of the land reclamation in the south of the city under the guise of searching for someone.

Wei Ruo walked around and observed; most of the people reclaiming the wasteland were poor folks without land. What she saw along the way were nothing but skinny elders or thin children.

They were all waiting for crops to grow on this piece of land. Their eyes were filled with light when they looked at the newly reclaimed fields.

There was a little boy, thin and yellow-skinned, dressed in thin, shabby clothes, nestled in the arms of his grandfather. When Wei Ruo passed by, his eyes were full of curiosity as he stared at her.

Then his grandfather hastily hugged him a little tighter and whispered, “Behave yourself, that’s the daughter of an official.”

Obviously, the grandfather was afraid his grandchild might offend Wei Ruo, and their difference in status was evident from Wei Ruo’s clothing.

The little boy was immediately frightened and quickly withdrew his gaze, daring not to look directly at Wei Ruo anymore.

Wei Ruo stopped, turned around and asked Xiumei, “Meimei, I’m a bit hungry, do you have any food?”

Xiumei knew very well that her mistress was not hungry herself, but wanted to give some food to these elders and children.

“Yes, there’s some in the carriage. I’ll go and get it.” Xiumei said.

“Hmm, bring more…no, bring all the food from the carriage.” Wei Ruo ordered.

“Okay. I’ll bring all of it, leaving a portion for Miss, and distribute the rest to the old people and children nearby, okay? They all look pitiful.” Xiumei offered.

She completed her young mistress’s previously unspoken suggestion, saving her from the embarrassment of making the request herself.

“Yes, go on.

“Alright!”

Xiumei turned around and ran back to their carriage parked on the official road.

As Xiumei took out a bag of dried sweet potatoes from the carriage, she noticed a large number of people from the Military Prefecture.

Xiumei was surprised, so she grabbed an acquaintance, Nurse Zhang, to find out what was happening.

“Nurse Zhang, what’s going on? Weren’t we searching for the young master? Why is everyone here in the south of the city?”

Nurse Zhang, looking quite anxious, replied, “Madam Xiumei, you and young mistress are indeed prescient! Young master likely sneaked to the south of the city! This morning, two servants from our residence drove a cart of straw to the south of the city. The young master probably hid in the cart then. The guards who were searching found the young master’s ornament on the cart.” Did her young mistress unexpectedly come to the right place?

Xiumei was at a loss for words for a moment and didn’t know what to say.

Then Nurse Zhang said, “We don’t know how our young master is doing now, but I heard that there are remnants of the Japanese pirates in the nearby mountains. It’s very dangerous for the young master, a small child.”

“What? There are remnants of the Japanese pirates nearby? How come? Weren’t the Japanese pirates defeated the last time?” Xiumei started to feel anxious.

“Yes, most of them were killed, but a few remnants of the Japanese pirates escaped. They’ve been hiding around Wangyue Mountain. I heard they’ve been quite tenacious, surviving on grass roots and tree bark, occasionally stealing food from the people who are reclaiming land in the south of the city. They were spotted by people while stealing food. The government office was just reported this morning, and no officials have been sent to handle this yet.” Nurse Zhang explained.

Upon reflecting on the fact that Wei Ruo was currently strolling outside, Xiumei felt worried. She immediately abandoned Wei Ruo’s task and ran back to the place where they split up earlier.

While waiting for Xiumei to return, Wei Ruo hadn’t been idle; she walked down the ridge of the newly reclaimed field while observing it.

The near field has changed a lot, the original weeds have been removed, and the land has been divided into plots, neat and with clear borders.

Most of the areas have been reclaimed well and would probably be ready for planting later this month.

Wei Ruo continued to walk towards the mountains, intending to check the progress of the medicinal field she and the Xie Family were jointly running.

As she neared the mountains, the terrain became complicated, and there were fewer people. In the distance, she could see a handful of people re-claiming the wasteland.

As for these places, only those families in the county town with some wealth were buying them for cultivating. However, the number of households that bought these places for reclamation was less, so they were sparsely distributed. One could only spot a few people from a long distance away.

Wei Ruo continued walking and maneuvered around a large piece of rock. In front of her, two short-statured men appeared.

Both men had their heads covered with headscarves, dressed like ordinary commoners. A boy stood between the two men; he had a face that Wei Ruo recognized…

Wei Yilin!

The object of the whole residence’s search, this little rascal, simply showed up unexpectedly in front of her?