Reborn as a Happy Wife in a Rural Family
Chapter 52: Clue

Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Clue

Mr. Xiao said solemnly, "Hurry up."

The three nodded and jumped onto the ox cart.

Gu Qingli looked back deeply at Mr. Xiao, who was standing in the yard commanding like a general.

What an extraordinary father-in-law.

The ox cart quickly arrived at Master Xu’s place, and Gu Qingli jumped off to knock on the door.

It was Master Xu who opened the door. Seeing Gu Qingli, he immediately asked, "Have Gu Qingyun and Gu Qingyang been found yet?"

"No, Master Xu. We came to ask if you saw them leave through this door or...?"

Master Xu shook his head and said, "They left with another student; I didn’t see them go."

"Oh." Gu Qingli sounded somewhat disappointed.

"Then do you know which student it was, and where he lives?"

Master Xu said, "The one across from Jiuzi Lane, named Zheng Yonghui. Let me take you there."

"Alright, thank you, Master." Gu Qingli didn’t stand on ceremony. At a critical time like this, how could she care about causing trouble?

After Master Xu got on the cart, he gave directions. It was the time when lanterns were being lit, and every household had a lantern hanging at the front door to help those returning home in the night.

Even the ox could see the road.

They arrived shortly after, and Master Xu immediately got off and knocked on the door.

A man in his thirties opened the door. Seeing Master Xu, he was first startled and then said respectfully, "Master Xu, what can I do for you?"

Master Xu cupped his hands and said, "Apologies for the intrusion. Two of my students left with Zheng Yonghui. I’ve come to ask if anything happened to them or if they met anyone after they left."

"Oh, then Master, please come in and ask." Father Zheng opened the door wider.

"Alright."

Master Xu nodded to Gu Qingli.

Gu Qingli said to Eldest Brother Xiao, "Eldest Brother, you and Second Brother wait outside. I’ll go in with Master Xu."

The two brothers nodded.

After Gu Qingli and Master Xu entered, Eldest Brother Xiao gave Second Brother Xiao a look. Second Brother Xiao nodded, then lightly leaped onto the roof and disappeared into the night.

When Gu Qingli and Master Xu entered the house, Father Zheng asked them to wait in the living room for a moment while he went to call his son.

"Thank you, Uncle Zheng, for the trouble."

Father Zheng waved his hand. "It’s no trouble at all; the children’s safety is what’s important."

After saying that, Father Zheng left with a lamp.

It was not a large courtyard, likely a two-section compound. The furnishings were simple. Clearly not a wealthy household. A typical small merchant’s home.

Not long after, Father Zheng returned, leading a child about the same age as Dashuang and Xiaoshuang. The child looked quite clever.

Seeing Master Xu, he immediately bowed. "Student pays respects to Master."

Master Xu nodded.

Then, to Gu Qingli, "Greetings, Sister Gu."

Gu Qingli nodded. Before she could speak, Master Xu asked, "Zheng Yonghui, when you left school with Gu Qingyun and Gu Qingyang this afternoon, did anything happen before you separated? No matter what, you must tell me. Both of them haven’t returned home yet."

Zheng Yonghui paused for a moment, then thought before replying respectfully, "Yes, Master. Nothing happened when we were walking together. But just as we were about to part ways, Peng Dayong, who came up from behind, called out to me, so I stopped for a moment. It was then I saw an adult stop the two of them. They talked for a while and then left. I don’t know what happened after that."

"An adult? Was it a man? Did you get a clear look at his face?" Gu Qingli immediately thought of Gu Dahe and his two nephews. In town, apart from Doctor Shen and Little Six from Serenity Hall, they knew no one else. Doctor Shen wouldn’t be looking for Dashuang and Xiaoshuang. It must be Gu Dahe and his group! They’re out of money, so they must have targeted the two boys.

Zheng Yonghui shook his head. "Sister Gu, the person was a man, but he was turned to the side and stooped over, so I couldn’t see his face."

"Alright, thank you!" Gu Qingli was somewhat disappointed. If she could see his face, she could sketch Gu Dahe and his two nephews and confirm if it was them.

"Do you have anything else to ask?" Master Xu asked Gu Qingli.

Gu Qingli shook her head, then curtsied to Father Zheng. "Uncle Zheng, we’ll be leaving now. Sorry for the disturbance."

Father Zheng repeatedly waved his hand; he felt rather apologetic that his son could only provide such a small clue.

Gu Qingli and Master Xu left the Zheng residence. Master Xu glanced at Eldest Brother Xiao, who was waiting alone, and asked, "Madam Gu, what do you plan to do? Do you want to report this to the authorities? If needed, I have some acquaintance with the Qinghe County Magistrate and might be able to help."

Gu Qingli thought for a moment and said, "Thank you, Master. Reporting it is a must. We want to head to the County Town now. If it’s convenient for you, Master, could you please help us report it to the authorities first thing tomorrow morning? I’m afraid they might leave Qinghe County overnight."

If Gu Dahe really sold them, the buyers would surely leave immediately. For such an illicit transaction, they wouldn’t dare stay in town overnight. It has been an hour since they left school. If they took a carriage, and with no snow on the roads now, it could travel through the night. Where could they be by now?

Master Xu nodded. "Then you should hurry. I will handle the reporting."

"Alright, thank you very much, Master. Let us escort you back."

Master Xu waved his hand. "No need. You should hurry and pursue them."

Gu Qingli bowed to him and jumped onto the ox cart. Eldest Brother Xiao also cupped his hands towards Master Xu. "Thank you, Master."

Then he urged the ox cart away.

When they reached the edge of town, Eldest Brother Xiao stopped the ox cart. Xiao Han was waiting there.

"Father, Third Aunt," Xiao Han greeted.

"Mm, how are things at home?" Eldest Brother Xiao asked.

"Grandma and Grandma Wu went to speak with the Village Chief. Afterward, the Village Chief took some men to search the areas around the village, but they found no one. Grandma asked me to come and tell you."

"Alright, then you should head back quickly. We’re going to the County Town overnight. Tell Grandpa, Grandma, Grandpa Gu, and Grandma Wu not to worry. We’ll definitely bring the boys back."

"Yes, Father. Please be careful. I’m heading back now."

"Alright, you be careful too."

Xiao Han nodded, turned, and disappeared into the night.

"Eldest Brother, Sister-in-law." At this moment, Second Brother Xiao returned.

"How did it go?" Eldest Brother Xiao asked.

"Let’s talk on the cart."

Eldest Brother Xiao nodded.

Second Brother Xiao jumped onto the ox cart, and Eldest Brother Xiao immediately urged the ox cart towards the County Town.

The ox, perhaps because it usually drank Spiritual Spring Water, moved quickly despite the swaying of the carriage lantern.

"Eldest Brother, Sister-in-law, I just went to check on Third Brother Gu and his two nephews. They’re all there. Only Gu Dahe looked joyous; his two nephews showed no particular emotion. I also checked suspicious households in town but found no suspicious people."

Gu Qingli’s heart clenched. Apart from Gu Dahe, there was no one else. She said in a low, firm voice, "If it really is Gu Dahe, I will make him regret ever being born into this world."

My poisons are no ordinary concoctions; they will definitely make Gu Dahe question his very existence.