“Big Sister!”
Jiang Wan was the first to notice something was wrong with Jiang Xiao and rushed over to support her. But she was too short, and Jiang Xiao fell straight down, almost crushing her. San Lang, standing on the other side of the table, couldn't reach in time.
Zhou Juren, with quick eyes and hands, grabbed her. But then he felt it was improper and wanted to let go, yet feared she would fall and get hurt.
Fortunately, San Lang quickly circled around the table and took Jiang Xiao from his grasp. Together with Jiang Wan, they helped Jiang Xiao sit on a chair under the eaves.
Without a second thought, San Lang rolled up his sleeves and pinched Jiang Xiao's philtrum. Jiang Wan seized the opportunity to transfer some of her spiritual energy to Jiang Xiao.
Jiang Xiao soon woke up, with a clear imprint of a fingernail on her philtrum. Looking at the portrait again, she couldn't help but burst into tears.
Seeing her cry so hard, Zhou Juren said, "It seems the painting is about eighty to ninety percent accurate."
Jiang Wan's mouth twitched. "Then, sir, please draw a few more copies of this portrait. We can then post them everywhere."
Zhou Juren, however, said, "How many can I draw by myself? You might as well take this painting to those skilled in carving and have it carved. Then, you can carve a printing plate and brush it with ink, press it onto paper, and print as many as you need!"
Jiang Wan's eyes lit up. Yes, why hadn't she thought of this method!
"Thank you, sir!"
"By the way, sir, how much silver do you charge for this painting?"
Zhou Juren looked at Jiang Xiao's pitiable state and waved his hand, "Consider it practice."
No silver?
Jiang Wan immediately said, "Thank you, sir. You are truly generous. We bid you farewell!"
With that, she pulled Jiang Xiao and hurried away.
Zhou Juren said with a hint of annoyance, "Why is this girl so money-grubbing?"
San Lang scratched his head sheepishly, wanting to explain for Jiang Xiao. But Zhou Juren didn't seem to want to listen. He walked to the osmanthus tree, looked at the fragrant blossoms, and a hint of longing flashed in his eyes. He said softly, "Eleven years..."
After speaking, he turned back to his desk and began to draw quickly.
Soon, a beautiful and elegant woman appeared on the paper.
San Lang recognized her as Zhou Juren's late wife.
Seeing how quickly and skillfully Zhou Juren drew, San Lang knew he had drawn this portrait countless times. It was no different from the other portraits San Lang had seen before.
How much does one have to miss someone to have her features etched into their very bones?
Moved by such deep affection, San Lang couldn't help but whisper, "Sir, please accept my condolences."
Zhou Juren, as if talking to himself, said, "Why do I always feel that I can't capture even one or two tenths of her true appearance? Have I forgotten what she truly looked like, or have I never truly painted her?"
San Lang couldn't answer this question.
Zhou Juren didn't seem to expect an answer. He gathered the portraits on the table and took them into the house, storing them carefully.
In the cabinet where he placed the portraits, there were portraits stacked a foot high. Each one had a different background and expression, but the features were consistent.
Jiang Wan pulled Jiang Xiao along and found a carver in the county. She gave him ten taels of silver and asked him to carve the portrait as quickly as possible. Below the portrait, she added a line of text: "Zhang Xiaobao, a native of Jianzhou, aged three, was rescued by kindhearted people in the mountains outside the city of Suning Prefecture. Those who know his whereabouts are requested to provide valid clues. A reward of fifty taels of silver will be given. Those who personally return the person will receive a reward of one hundred taels of silver."
At the very bottom, Jiang Wan carved their address.
She wasn't afraid of anyone impersonating the child. After all, transportation was inconvenient, and the cost of deception was high. Even if people from Yao County wanted to commit fraud, they would have to consider the hundreds of people in the small mountain village.
Carving the printing plate would take several days. After receiving the silver, the carver asked the sisters to go home and wait.
On the way home, Jiang Xiao held Jiang Wan's hand tightly. "Wan Wan, thank you."
"Sister, there's no need to thank me. Xiaobao is my nephew too, and I want to find him as soon as possible. I believe with this method, we'll have news of Xiaobao soon."
Jiang Xiao wiped away her tears and said with determination, "You're right, we'll find him soon."
When they returned home, Chen Yuezhi was washing diapers with Wang Hongye. Seeing the sisters arrive, she quickly washed her hands and asked, "Has the portrait been drawn?"
Jiang Xiao smiled and nodded. "It's been drawn. Mr. Zhou's painting is almost exactly like Xiaobao. With this portrait, we'll surely find Xiaobao soon."
In front of her parents, Jiang Xiao always pretended to be strong.
Chen Yuezhi didn't expose her. She smiled and said, "That's good. Da Niu, go and keep A Luo company. She must be bored staying in the room alone. We're too old to talk with her."
Actually, she wanted to find something for Jiang Xiao to do to distract her.
As a mother, how could she not know the urgency and anxiety of not finding her child? Pointing it out would only make her feel worse, so she could only use this method to make Jiang Xiao feel a bit better.
Jiang Xiao obediently nodded, went back to her room, washed her hands, and changed her clothes before going to Su Shi's room.
After she entered the room, Chen Yuezhi pulled Jiang Wan aside and asked carefully, "Will this method really work?"
Jiang Wan nodded. "This is the most effective method. Finding Xiaobao is like searching for a needle in a haystack. We need to let the person who took Xiaobao know that we are looking for him, and offer a reward that is enticing enough. Then, they will naturally bring Xiaobao back."
Chen Yuezhi's eyes also showed more hope. "It's best if we can find Xiaobao as soon as possible. Your sister puts on a brave face all day, and it's heartbreaking to see. That damned Zhang family, a hundred deaths wouldn't be enough!"
Jiang Wan thought the same. "We definitely will. I've already asked the immortal to help, and with these portraits, as long as Xiaobao is alive, we will definitely find him."
The next day was the third-day celebration for Su Shi's child.
Su Shi's daughter was the first child of the third generation of the Jiang family. Jiang Pan and Chen Yuezhi stayed up all night to decide on a proper name, Jiang Yao. Her nickname was Yao Yao, easy to remember.
On the day of the celebration, everyone in the village came to send red eggs. Madam Cheng, having just discovered she was pregnant, could not personally attend the celebration. However, she sent her most trusted wet nurse, Granny Tang, to personally deliver a pure gold longevity lock for Yao Yao.
Jiang Wan also received a longevity lock. According to Madam Cheng, it was to "supplement" Jiang Wan.
This... could also be supplemented?
Jiang Wan was amused and speechless, but she happily accepted the longevity lock.
Four or five days later, the carver delivered the printing plate. Jiang Xiao immediately fetched ink, brushed a layer onto the plate, and then pressed it onto the paper. When she peeled it off, Xiaobao's portrait was printed on the paper, almost indistinguishable from Zhou Juren's painting.
Jiang Wan was very satisfied. After seeing off the carver, she and Jiang Xiao busied themselves in the courtyard.
Jiang Wan was responsible for brushing ink onto the plate and peeling off the printed sheets, while Jiang Xiao held the plate and pressed it onto the paper. The sisters cooperated, printing several hundred copies in an afternoon.
"Sister, that's enough for now. Let's print these first. After we post these, we'll continue printing."
She noticed that Jiang Xiao's arms were too tired to lift. The printing plate was not light; it was a whole piece of wood, weighing over ten pounds. Holding it and printing for an entire afternoon was no easy task.
But Jiang Xiao gritted her teeth and persisted, "Let's finish printing these sheets first. I'm fine, I'm not tired."
The more copies they printed, the greater the hope of finding Xiaobao, and she couldn't bear to give up these hopes.