CHAPTER 208: CHAPTER 207 THOUGHT OF IT

With Zhuangzi’s mother leading the way, Mu Shuangshuang inquired about the situation when the child went missing. Although she was still cursed at, the situation improved significantly.

Lu Yuanfeng appeared as a responsible protector throughout the journey. Whenever someone attempted violence, he swiftly eliminated the danger. However, there was one particularly aggressive family that threw a kitchen knife. If not for Lu Yuanfeng’s exceptional skills, he might have been injured.

Lu Yuanfeng was puzzled deep down, wondering why there was such resistance when Shuangshuang was clearly there to help.

But to avoid causing trouble for Shuangshuang, he suppressed this concern within himself.

Who knew, Mu Shuangshuang still figured it out.

Mu Shuangshuang said, "Actually, it’s human nature. When a person is grieving, the best remedy is to calm them down, but our presence reminds them of their sorrow, so they lose control and may do unexpected things..."

The things Mu Shuangshuang talked about pertained to her previous life’s work. She briefly explained it to Lu Yuanfeng, telling him not to view those in mourning with a normal person’s mindset.

"Shuangshuang, you know so much!" Lu Yuanfeng exclaimed sincerely.

"Yes, I’m used to it!"

The phrase "I’m used to it" was loaded with emotion, but it all related to her past work. Yet in Lu Yuanfeng’s eyes, it seemed like Shuangshuang had suffered too much at Old Mu Family, becoming accustomed to such feelings.

Lu Yuanfeng felt a hoarseness in his throat, as if something was constantly pressing down on it.

"Shuangshuang, don’t mind what your grandparents and uncles think. Just like me, I rarely visit them."

Lu Yuanfeng actually wanted to say that he would protect Shuangshuang in the future so that no one could bully her, but he swallowed these words and instead chose a more fitting approach, using his example to ease her sadness.

Mu Shuangshuang felt warm inside. The big boy before her was like a foolish goose, his way of comforting people not very effective, yet it managed to dispel the gloom in her heart.

She smiled, her dimples appearing faintly, playful yet warm!

Lu Yuanfeng was somewhat entranced. It was the first time he realized how beautiful Shuangshuang’s smile was. If it weren’t for the inappropriate setting, he might have said something.

Mu Shuangshuang didn’t mind Lu Yuanfeng’s gaze; after all, his deep look wasn’t appearing for the first time.

"Fool, it’s not because of them."

This left Lu Yuanfeng more confused. If not because of them, then why?

Lu Yuanfeng voiced his thoughts, unsurprisingly sparking Mu Shuangshuang’s playful mood.

"I’m such a smart, cute, and lovely young girl. Do I care about what those people think? I’m thinking about the villagers we just saw and what they said." A sly look flashed across Mu Shuangshuang’s face.

Perhaps only someone as cheeky as her would say such self-praising words!

Zhuangzi’s mother couldn’t hold back, almost bursting into laughter, and the gloom in her heart dispersed considerably in an instant.

If at first, she harbored hostility toward this little girl who suddenly appeared in her home, now she completely accepted her and believed she could find her grandson, Xiao Mizi.

When Zhuangzi’s mother took the little girl and boy to the houses that had lost children, she noticed that no matter how dangerous the situation, the little girl remained unfazed.

In the end, people naturally felt empathy and volunteered their situations to her.

This girl is not simple!

At least she’s not like those turtle-shell hiding Mu Family members.

Lu Yuanfeng nodded seriously. "Shuangshuang is right! But what did you think of?"

In this world, probably only Lu Yuanfeng would take Mu Shuangshuang’s jokes as indistinguishable from reality, and firmly believe them.

All right, this silly boy always managed to bring unexpected warmth.

"Alright, now for the serious business. We visited four villagers’ homes, and in total, six families in Dahuo Village lost children, six kids. Let’s first find the commonalities among these families!"

"First, the timing of the children’s disappearance is quite a coincidence—they all went missing during the day when everyone was busy with farm work in the fields."

"Second, each of these families has quite a bit of farmland."

"Third, because of the children, these families haven’t been tending to their fields, leaving the land idle now."

With such significant events, who would have the heart to tend to their land? Either they’re out searching for people, or they’re at home crying their hearts out.

Mu Shuangshuang listed the clues she gathered one by one, but this aroused Zhuangzi’s mother’s curiosity. "Shuang, how do you know these families have a lot of land?"

"I guessed. These families’ courtyards are all large, and they each have stone rollers and grinders in their yards, meaning they don’t need to take their grains to the communal threshing ground; they can mill rice at home."

"This means these people have a lot of land and don’t need to share a place with others. Families with such resources must own a lot of land."

After hearing Mu Shuangshuang’s analysis, Lu Yuanfeng nodded in agreement, feeling she was right.

"But that doesn’t explain anything. There are quite a few people in the village with a lot of land," Zhuangzi’s mother added.

"It doesn’t explain anything on its own, but put together, it does. Granny, can I ask if there’s any Da Ning Dynasty law, like reclaiming unused land?"

Mu Shuangshuang wasn’t knowledgeable on laws but had some understanding.

Compared to modern times, Da Ning Dynasty’s laws were relatively complete, with most laws protecting arable land and farmers.

After all, in ancient times, the mainstay industry was agriculture, the primary sector.

If such a law existed, preventing farmers from leaving land idle could be possible.

Mu Shuangshuang had a bold guess already at heart. This so-called child disappearance might just be a ruse arranged by some people, and the real motive could be to seize farmland.

Moreover, to take away so many children in broad daylight without being noticed, it was likely an insider’s doing.

Even though she hadn’t visited the last remaining household yet, the answer seemed almost certain.

"We don’t have such a law, but our village has a rule that if someone’s land is left fallow for a year, it must be sold at a low price for someone else to cultivate the next year," Zhuangzi’s mother mentioned critically, though she wasn’t aware of its significance.

Lu Yuanfeng, listening carefully, furrowed his brows and then suddenly said, "Is Shuangshuang suggesting that someone abducted the children to get their hands on the land, and it’s someone from the village?"

Mu Shuangshuang nodded and said, "That’s what it seems like so far, but we’ll have to wait until I visit the last household to be sure."

"Granny, can you tell me about the last family we haven’t visited? Who are they, and what’s their situation?"