The official road was pitch black, with dense rain streaks blurring one's vision.
Liu Cuirong hadn't even left the village before she stumbled several times...
Her paper umbrella was broken, her clothes were soaked, and her hair bun had come undone. In the dark, rainy night, she truly looked like a vengeful spirit.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, she finally arrived at the county town and collapsed at the door of the steamed bun shop opened by Lu Shi and Liu Cuijin, wailing.
"Wuwuwu, Mother, Cuijin, I feel so wronged, so wronged! Wuwu..."
The room was silent, with no lights on.
Liu Cuirong thought they were asleep and continued to cry with all her might.
To her surprise, no one came to open the door even after her voice was hoarse from crying.
"What's going on? Could Mother and Cuijin be dead?" Liu Cuirong got up and walked to the window, knocking twice.
"Open the door, Mother, it's Cuirong. It's raining outside..."
After waiting for a long time, no one still opened the door.
Liu Cuirong instantly panicked. Had Mother moved away?
If so, her luck was truly terrible.
Just then, a woman from next door came out to use the privy. Seeing Liu Cuirong standing suspiciously outside the steamed bun shop, she asked, "Who are you looking for?"
"Auntie, do you know where the people from this steamed bun shop went?" Liu Cuirong wiped the rain from her face.
Even if Lu Shi had moved, she should have told her...
The woman glanced her up and down and said, "They went out to buy pigs. They probably won't be back for a few days!"
Making steamed buns required pork. The pork delivered to the county town was too expensive, so Lu Shi had taken Liu Cuijin to other villages to buy pigs.
"Ah?" Liu Cuirong was stunned.
Her luck today was truly abysmal...
She couldn't go back to the Old Yun family, and no one was at the steamed bun shop. She couldn't possibly stand in the rain all night.
So, Liu Cuirong picked up a large stone and smashed the door lock with two forceful blows.
The woman's expression turned panicked, and she rushed forward to stop her, "Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing? Why are you smashing someone's door?"
"Oh, get out of the way! I'm their daughter, don't block the path!"
Liu Cuirong cursed as she walked in and closed the door behind her...
The woman kicked the door panel in anger, "What kind of person is this? So uncivilized!"
After entering, Liu Cuirong ran to the shelf where the bowls were kept and rummaged through them with a clatter.
She hadn't eaten dinner and had walked so far in the rain, her stomach was growling with hunger.
But after searching for a long time, there was nothing in the bowl rack, only a bunch of dry scallions and celery...
"What kind of steamed bun shop is this? They don't even have a lamb shank or ribs. They're practically dirt poor! Humph!"
Liu Cuirong found the flour bag and made herself a bowl of noodles, wolfing them down.
Perhaps because she ate too quickly, her stomach started to ache.
Fortunately, after a few farts and burps, she felt better...
At the same time, Yun Erman and Prefect Chen hurried back to Dashui Village.
They were accompanied by over a dozen constables carrying torches.
"How is it? Have you found anyone?" Prefect Chen rushed into the Old Yun family's house and asked.
Old Man Yun and Gu Shi had a high fever and had already gone to bed.
After the incident with Liu Cuirong, the elderly couple were so angry that they hadn't eaten or drunk anything. They were now as weak as two dried straws...
"St-still not, cough, cough, cough!" As Old Man Yun spoke, he was overcome by a series of coughs.
Yun Erman quickly handed the purchased herbs to Jin Huaihua, "Hurry and boil the medicine!"
His parents were old. They couldn't delay their illness; it would wear them down.
Prefect Chen sighed incessantly, "It's over, it's over, this is really the end. Alas, oh dear, what to do, what to do..."
He knew how capable Little Sweet Treasure was. Governor Qin had instructed him to take good care of her and not make any mistakes.
But now, not only was Little Sweet Treasure lost, but the little prince had also been swept away by the flood.
If he couldn't find these two children, his official hat would definitely be gone...
At that point, before Magistrate Qin could come to hold him accountable, the Emperor and Empress from the palace wouldn't let him off either.
"Prefect, cough, cough, I'll go up the mountain with the constables to search, cough, cough!" Old Man Yun said, trying to get up.
"Oh, brother, you should rest. If anything else happens to you, it will be even harder for me to explain!"
Prefect Chen patted Old Man Yun's shoulder, then turned to order the constables, "What are you still standing there for? Waiting for a funeral feast? Hurry up and go into the mountains to search..."
These useless subordinates, who were usually so boisterous, were useless when it mattered.
Yun Erman stepped forward, "I'm going into the mountains too!"
If he didn't find his sister, he couldn't even eat.
Prefect Chen didn't say anything. If he wanted to go, so be it. More people meant more strength...
The light rain gradually stopped, and gusts of damp, cool wind blew, causing everyone to shiver.
Just as Yun Erman was about to step out the door, Yun Jinshan ran over and stopped him, "Dad!"
"What is it? Why aren't you asleep yet? Have you eaten?" Yun Erman reached out and tidied his son's collar.
Yun Jinshan wrinkled his nose and choked out, "Dad, Mother made another mistake, she angered Grandma and Grandpa terribly, and Mother was kicked out..."
Yun Erman was stunned for two seconds after hearing this.
He knew that foolish woman was always reckless and showing off, and sooner or later, she would anger his parents.
"You go inside first, don't get upset. Later, I'll have Huaihua make two bowls of gnocchi soup for Grandpa and Grandma!"
Yun Erman rubbed his son's head, a bitter feeling rising in his heart...
Everything was happening at once. His sister and Young Master Xiao were swept away by the flood, and the troublesome person at home was also driven away.
"Dad, you'll find Little Auntie, right?" Yun Jinshan's eyes were filled with tears. He really wanted to cry.
Yun Erman nodded, "Yes, your auntie is a little lucky charm, she'll be fine!"
Yun Jinshan found a little comfort after hearing this...
Yes, Sweet Baby was blessed with endless good fortune, how could anything happen to her.
The village chief and the villagers searched the mountain for most of the night but didn't see any sign of Xiao Xi Tian or Xiao Jin Heng.
After everyone returned, Yun Erman and the constables went up the mountain to continue the search.
Zhao Guihua held her son and lay on the kang, shedding tears continuously.
Others had children happily, but she couldn't feel any joy now...
Yun Jinhe and Chen Xiaoran stayed by her side, their eyes heavy with sleep.
"You two go rest, don't stay here," Zhao Guihua said.
Yun Jinhe's eyes were red from crying. He nudged Chen Xiaoran, "Your father is here, why aren't you going to see him!"
Just now, Prefect Chen had rushed over, and he had gone into the mountains without even seeing his daughter...
Chen Xiaoran pouted, "What's the use of me seeing him? Little Sister Xi Tian isn't coming back!"
Yun Jinhe: "..."
What kind of logic is that?
Meanwhile, within Tuofeng Mountain.
Kong Xingzhuo was moving rapidly through the mountains with two dark guards.