The father and daughter worked for nearly half a month, plastering posters all over Jiangning Prefecture.
The reason it took so long was that every time they found beggars to post the portraits, they would stay at an inn until the next morning. Their purpose was to see if anyone who recognized the child would contact them immediately upon seeing the portrait.
However, after plastering them everywhere, they did not receive the news they wanted.
Jiang Wan couldn't help but feel anxious. Was it possible that the person who found Xiao Bao was not within Jiangning Prefecture, but someone just passing through?
If that were the case, it would be troublesome.
More than two months had passed since Xiao Bao was taken away. If the person was indeed from out of town, they could have traveled across half the country by now.
Seeing Jiang Wan looking dejected, Jiang Pan tried to cheer her up, "Perhaps there are already people with information who are rushing towards Yaoxian."
This was the only way they could think of for now.
"Let's go home and wait. If there's no news, we'll continue posting, moving beyond Jiangning Prefecture."
As long as Xiao Bao was alive, there was always hope!
Clinging to this belief, the father and daughter returned the carriage to the prefectural city and hurried home.
As soon as they arrived home, Jiang Xiao's eyes immediately dimmed. She had fantasized countless times about Jiang Pan and Jiang Wan returning with Xiao Bao.
Not seeing Xiao Bao, Jiang Xiao felt very sad.
But she still mustered her spirits and greeted them with a smile, "Dad, Wan Wan, you must be tired after being out for so many days. Are you hungry? I'll cook for you. What do you want to eat?"
Jiang Pan waved his hand, "No need to bother, we've already eaten. Da Niu, you just wait at home these days. Perhaps there will be news about Xiao Bao."
Jiang Xiao smiled and nodded, "Yes, I know."
Jiang Pan was not as doting on his eldest daughter, Jiang Xiao, as he was on his younger daughter, Jiang Wan. Moreover, Jiang Xiao was already a mother, so he couldn't comfort her in the same way he comforted Jiang Wan. Thus, he simply waved his hand, went back to his room to change, and hurried to the yamen.
Jiang Wan knew how anxious Jiang Xiao was. She took Jiang Xiao's hand and said, "Sis, Dad and I have found a way to plaster posters all over Jiangning Prefecture. As long as Xiao Bao is still within Jiangning Prefecture, the person who took him will definitely see the portraits."
"Even if Xiao Bao was taken out of Jiangning Prefecture, it's okay. We'll just spend more time posting in other places, and we'll eventually get that person to see them."
Jiang Xiao was very surprised, "You've plastered all over Jiangning Prefecture?"
That was such a vast area. How did they manage it in half a month?
Jiang Wan nodded, "Sis, there are some things I can't explain to you, but don't worry, we haven't missed a single place that needed posting. Now everyone in Jiangning Prefecture knows we're looking for Xiao Bao."
Jiang Xiao thought of her tongue, her heart tightened, and she quickly said, "Sis won't ask anything."
She was naturally curious about how her tongue had regrown. Sometimes, she even thought her memory was faulty, perhaps her tongue had always been fine, and the scenes of it being cut off were just nightmares. Because the experience was too painful, she had mixed reality with dreams.
But she knew very well that those were not dreams; they were things she had truly experienced.
It was just that this kind of thing was too bizarre, so bizarre that she didn't even dare to ask how it happened, fearing it would bring disaster to the family. Therefore, she had suppressed her fear and curiosity, asking nothing and saying nothing.
Now, from Jiang Wan's words, she had understood something, and she was even more afraid to ask.
Why bother to figure it out?
If there were things she shouldn't know, she would just pretend she never discovered them. After all, her family wouldn't harm her.
Jiang Wan hadn't expected Jiang Xiao to be so understanding, which saved her a lot of trouble.
After tidying herself up, Jiang Wan went to Su Shi's room.
Su Shi had been in confinement for more than twenty days. In a few more days, the baby would be a month old.
When Jiang Wan and Jiang Pan left, Su Shi's daughter was still a wrinkled, red little ball. Unexpectedly, after their trip, that little monkey-like baby had become fair and tender. Her skin was no longer wrinkled, and she had little chubby cheeks. Her entire face looked a bit more adorable.
Jiang Xiao leaned by the bed, watching the swaddled baby spit out a bubble of saliva with her eyes squinted. She was instantly smitten and couldn't help but reach out to poke her cheek.
But considering her strength, she quickly dismissed the thought.
What if she poked the baby's face and damaged it? Her elder brother and sister-in-law would be heartbroken.
Su Shi had been a little worried that Jiang Wan might be too rough, but seeing Jiang Wan's restraint, she felt a little guilty.
"Touch her gently, it's okay."
Jiang Wan still shook her head, "No, no. Let's wait until she's a little older."
She was so small, she really didn't dare to touch her.
Jiang Wan leaned by the bed to continue watching the baby spit bubbles, and then she heard the sound of the main door being knocked.
The baby was startled and her lips puckered, about to cry.
Su Shi quickly picked up the baby and gently patted and soothed her, her movements extremely skilled.
From outside the door came Xiao Ma Zai's excited shouts. Jiang Wan's heart skipped a beat. Could there be a clue about Xiao Bao's whereabouts?
She quickly left Su Shi's room and rushed to the main door, asking, "What is it? Did someone come with a clue?"
However, when she saw who was at the door, Jiang Wan was stunned.
At the door were Gu Chen Zhou, who had disappeared for over a month, and his master, Yan Li!
The master and disciple were in a rather poor state, dressed in rags, gaunt, and disheveled, looking very down and out. Especially Gu Chen Zhou, his entire spirit seemed off. His eyes were hollow, as if his soul had been lost, and he could barely feel any energy fluctuations from him.
"How did you guys..."
Before Jiang Wan could finish her question, she heard Yan Li say in an unfamiliar tone, "Is this the home of Jiang Pan from Jianzhou?"
"Yes."
Not knowing what they were up to, Jiang Wan nodded along with their words, "What's going on with you two?"
Yan Li took out Xiao Bao's portrait from his怀, "Aren't you looking for this child? We know where he is."
Jiang Xiao, who had just come out of her room, heard this and rushed over as if she had gone mad. She grabbed Yan Li and pleaded, "Brother, where is my child? Please tell me, where is my child!"
Yan Li skillfully broke free from Jiang Xiao's grasp and said with a cold face, "What about the reward you mentioned?"
Jiang Xiao quickly replied, "Yes, yes, we won't be short of a single piece of silver..."
As she spoke, she quickly turned to Jiang Wan, "Wan Wan... do you have any money? Sis will borrow from you, and Sis will definitely repay you later."
Jiang Wan naturally had money, "Sis, don't worry. Let's invite these two inside first."
Jiang Xiao seemed to wake up from a dream and quickly invited Yan Li and his disciple into the courtyard.
Jiang Wan said to Jiang Xiao, "Sis, my money is in the dressing box in the room. Go get it."
"Aunt Hong Ye, please bring out some chairs."
After sending them away, Jiang Wan quietly asked, "Why did you come back? What happened to Gu Chen Zhou? And is it true about Xiao Bao?"