CHAPTER 209: CHAPTER 208: THRILLING!

Zhuangzi’s mother was so shocked by Lu Yuanfeng’s words that she couldn’t close her mouth. She didn’t find anything wrong with the clues Shuangshuang mentioned because she really couldn’t figure out any connection.

But when Lu Yuanfeng clearly explained Shuangshuang’s meaning, she felt that Shuangshuang was right, and it was highly possible that the missing children were the work of someone in the village!

"Oh heavens, Shuang, Fengzi, give me a moment, I can’t wrap my head around this!"

Zhuangzi’s mother found it hard to accept this suspicion; by the time she came to her senses, some time had already passed.

It was just past noon, the hottest time of the day, and Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng were both badly sunburned, their clothes soaked with sweat, almost able to wring out the water.

However, they were considerate and didn’t rush Zhuangzi’s mother because, after all, they were from the same village. While it’s normal to have disagreements, accusing someone of hiding another’s child is indeed hard to accept.

"Wait, I remember now. Last time the son of Old Cao told me, ’You have only three sons, give a few acres of land to our family,’ and I disagreed and outright refused.

We and that old stubborn one of ours only hope for the children’s well-being. Even though Zhuangzi is disappointing, marrying a jinx, over the years, she hasn’t lacked anything compared to the two sisters-in-law.

Could it be the Cao Family? But that’s not right either; Old Cao’s grandson went missing too, and I saw how worried he was that day, nearly losing his mind."

Zhuangzi’s mother thought of the Cao Family but immediately refuted it because they had also lost a child.

"Grandma, don’t worry. Let’s go check out the Cao Family first, and on the way, you can tell me about their situation!"

On the way, from Zhuangzi’s mother’s words, Mu Shuangshuang learned the last household was named Cao, with the family head being Cao Dafu. They moved to Dahuo Village a few years ago, bought land and a house, and settled down.

The Old Cao’s house had many children, seven or eight. In recent years, the grain yield in Dahuo Village had been increasing, and grain prices were better than elsewhere, so the Cao Family was always asking if anyone was selling land.

But no one wanted to sell. Even those going far away preferred to rent the land out and get some rent rather than sell it.

After all, no one could guarantee they wouldn’t return, and if they sold the land then, they would have nothing to rely on when returned.

Therefore, later, the village made a rule to make those unwilling to work their land behave, stating if the land was idle, it had to be sold at a low price.

"The Cao Family lost a twelve-year-old grandson, different from the ages of our children. Our Xiao Mizi is only six and knows nothing, and the Jiang Family’s child is only three..."

Zhuangzi’s mother rattled on a lot, but by then, the answer was pretty much apparent.

Not only did Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng think this way, but even Zhuangzi’s mother felt the same.

Because there were too many coincidences!

The Cao Family and Zhuangzi’s family were some distance apart, they were at the south end of the village, and they finally stopped at the gate of a large courtyard.

Inside the yard, a little girl with pigtails was playing with stones. Zhuangzi’s mother knocked a few times, but the little girl didn’t react. Finally, Old Cao’s wife came out to open the door, allowing everyone to enter the yard.

"Zhuangzi’s mother, why have you come?"

Old Cao’s wife, Sun, was wearing a brown-green long gown, with her hair impeccably styled. Seeing Zhuangzi’s mother suddenly visiting with two strangers, a trace of panic quickly flashed across Sun’s face.

Mu Shuangshuang happened to catch this and watched Sun intently, trying to find more from her expression.

"What? Can’t I come? Did you do something shameful?"

Zhuangzi’s mother was well-known in the village, a typical spitfire, who never lost in an argument, but as she never took advantage of others, the villagers both respected and feared her.

As the saying goes, love and hate, that’s all.

They liked her honesty but feared her sharp tongue.

Sure enough, hearing Zhuangzi’s mother’s words, Sun’s face immediately fell. "What do you mean? Speaking in such a sarcastic tone, just say it if you have something to say."

"Where’s your Old Cao? I want him to come out!" Zhuangzi’s mother wasted no words, immediately demanding Sun to bring out Old Cao.

Sun wouldn’t comply. Though she didn’t know why Zhuangzi’s mother came to their house, her man wasn’t someone to be summoned at others’ words.

"Not coming out, huh? Let’s see what the village thinks of what your family has done."

"What are you talking about? What could I have done?" Sun angrily asked.

"Stop pretending. It’s your Cao Family hiding the village’s children, wanting us not to work the land, so when the fields became unused, you could buy our land cheaply."

Zhuangzi’s mother’s accusation was said as fact, and Sun was immediately flustered.

Knowing what her family did, how did Zhuangzi’s mother know this?

"Don’t accuse me without evidence. Our Niuniu is also missing, we’re grieving too." Sun’s steps were already unsteady, having done such a thing made her guilty.

"Your family is grieving? If your family were grieving, Old Cao wouldn’t have gone to the fields to work first thing in the morning. Not one of the families in this village that lost children acted like yours. I think you did it on purpose!"

Zhuangzi’s mother grew angrier, charging forward to pinch Sun’s face, twisting the flesh on her cheeks, one hand yanking on Sun’s hair ruthlessly.

Sun let out a pig-like scream. "Oh my, it hurts! Murder, Zhuangzi’s mother is killing!"

Such commotion made the little girl in the yard finally look up and cry loudly.

"Don’t hit my grandma, don’t hit my grandma..."

The little girl cried and shouted as the beaten Sun panicked, ignoring her pain, she shouted to the little girl. "Niuniu, go find your grandpa in the fields, tell him Zhuangzi’s mother is hitting your grandma!"

The little girl ran out crying, and Mu Shuangshuang signaled Lu Yuanfeng with a look, and he quickly followed the girl out.

Here, while Sun was being beaten, Mu Shuangshuang wanted to intervene, but the fight was an uncoordinated mess. They were slapping around randomly.

Double thought it best not to interfere, knowing village women fights never led to anything too serious.

In a short while, their clothes were torn, and after hitting the ground, the fight continued.

Zhuangzi’s mother was muttering, "Give me my grandson, or I’ll take your worthless life today!"

"You’re talking nonsense, I don’t..."

"Still lying, I’ll beat you to death!"

What followed was a series of loud smacks...

(Next update at 8:20 tonight, 50,000 words and 25 Chapters after midnight ⊙▽⊙, looking forward to everyone’s read!)