Chapter 9: Xi Mei Got Lost

  A few people bid farewell to Xiao Er and got up to prepare to go to the city gate. Xi Mei thought that it was not easy to come to the town, and who knows when she would come again next time. Besides, even if she knew how to make pidan eggs, there were no materials for making pidan eggs at home.

  "Mother, it's not easy to come to the town, I'd like to take a stroll. Besides, it's still early, Grandpa Sun will definitely have some time. Why don't we just take a walk around here for half an hour?"

  "No, we've been out for a while now. You'll get caught up in playing and won't want to leave. I know you too well. Listen, next time Mother will bring you." Zhao's attitude was unusually firm this time.

  Watching Xi Mei's dejected appearance, Qian Shi couldn't help but say, "What's going on? It's just a matter of half an hour. Xi Mei, don't mind your mother, where do you want to go? Auntie Qian will take you." Xi Mei wanted to agree immediately, but she thought about it and realized they were outside. If she didn't give her mother face, when they got back, her mother would definitely make her reflect on her mistakes by facing the wall.

  Her toes rubbed against the ground, occasionally raising her head to glance at her mother. Madam Zhao looked at several daughters who were all somewhat moved, and finally agreed, "Alright, alright, it's not easy to come once, don't spoil everyone's fun."

  "Alright, just half an hour, no more haggling." Zhao said helplessly. "En en, Mama is so good. Aunt Qian is also very good." Momo gave each of them a kiss on the cheek.

  "Embroidered leaf, my tiger cub has grown particularly fast these past two days, his clothes are all too short and don't look right. Let's go to the fabric store up front and pick out some cloth. Madame Zhao thought for a moment and agreed, also picking out some for Rui Xuan. The child is growing up and can't always wear his father's altered clothes. But thinking of only buying for the eldest and not the second child makes me feel a bit guilty. Looking back at the several lively daughters, oh, our family really doesn't have any extra money. If not, we'll just have to put off buying clothes for now. We can talk about it again after selling the grain."

  "Xi Mei, you stay here and watch Xi Mei for a bit. I'll go inside with Qian Shu to take a look. Don't wander off, just stay around here." Zhao Shi instructed.

  "Mother, I know, you can go quickly now. Don't you see Aunt Qian waiting for you?" Zhao's wife turned back with concern, thinking to herself that it shouldn't be a problem since it wouldn't take long. Then she followed closely behind Qian.

  Xi Mei saw her mother turn into the fabric store and beckon to the two younger ones. She instructed, "Did you hear what Mother said? Follow me closely, or else be careful that the patroller will catch you." After saying this with a show of authority, she led them to the lively area ahead.

  Xi Mei is a good helper at home and more mature than her peers, but after all, she's just a little kid. Seeing the excitement ahead, she forgot about her two younger sisters and rushed in first.

  "Third sister, fourth sister, come quickly. The view is clear here, haha, it's so wonderful. He can actually swallow the sword into his throat."

  After she finished speaking, she turned her head to look around and found that there was only Xi He by her side. A bad premonition suddenly surged up in her heart. "Third sister, little sister, where is she? Why didn't she follow you? Xi Mei, Xi Mei, where are you?"

  She called out several times, but no one answered. Xi Mei was thoroughly panicked, pulling Xi He's hand to push through the crowd. The ominous feeling grew stronger and stronger, and her voice calling out for Xi Mei grew louder and louder.

  Where did Xi Mei go at this time? It turned out that when she was following her two sisters, someone pulled her from behind. She thought it was her mother looking for her, and as soon as she turned her head, someone covered her mouth and nose with a cloth. Then, she didn't know anything anymore.

  When she fainted, Zhao's heart suddenly hurt as if she had been pricked by a needle. She bent down in pain, and Qian was startled to see her like this while he was speaking enthusiastically. He went forward to support her: "What's wrong with you? You were fine just now."

  "I don't know, I suddenly feel very anxious, no, I have to go back and take a look, in case some kids got into trouble."

  "Alright, let's go back and take a look. Jihui, hurry up and support your mother."

  After a few people went out and walked along the place where they had just parted ways. Not far from the search, it was found that Xi Mei was shouting the name of Xi Mei.

  Zhao's legs went weak, luckily there were two people beside her to support her or she would have fallen to the ground. Xi He also saw them and rushed over with a tear-stained face like a crying flower cat, "Mother, mother, little sister is gone! We just turned our heads back and she was nowhere to be seen. Was she, was she taken away by the flower thief? Waaah, will I never see little sister again?"

  "Shut up." Zhao cut off Xihe's words, "No way, my dear daughter can't be gone, she must have hidden herself because she wanted to play. Yes, yes, she must have hidden herself. I'll look for her, I'll find her."

  "Xǐmei, Xǐmei, Mama's dear daughter, come out quickly! We should head back home now. Mama has prepared delicious food for you, and your elder brothers will take you out to play wherever you want to go. Mama won't stop you anymore. Come out, come out quickly!"

  People on the road heard it and shook their heads, a few women even resentfully said "What a scourge of heaven, even stealing from such a small child. Not afraid of heavenly punishment." The gaze towards Zhao's family became increasingly pitiful.

  Qian's family also felt guilty, if she hadn't spoiled Xi Mei and not let them go back, this wouldn't have happened now. The Chen family has already completely lost their minds, so she can't panic.

  "Embroidered leaf, don't cry first, let's go report to the authorities quickly. The government will definitely take care of it."

  "Yes, report to the officials, report to the officials." Zhao's family was already in a state of panic. Upon hearing Qian's words, they immediately got up and were about to head to the government office.

  At this time, someone nearby reminded them that if a child was lost and the time did not exceed 12 hours, the government would not intervene.

  Hearing this, Zhao seemed to be crushed by the last straw, completely despairing. Helplessly burying his face in his legs, he muttered "Xi Mei, Xi Mei. Come back quickly. Xi Mei..."

  Seeing Zhao's appearance, Xiju advised: "Mother, it's possible that Xi Mei got lost and didn't know the way. Now someone must have sent her back, let's go to the city gate to wait for her."

  At this time, Zhao's family was already unconscious, and they were supported by several people to the city gate.

  The story goes that Xi Mei was already being carried to a desolate place in the suburbs by someone. Who was carrying her? It was none other than the son of the Li Zheng family.

  He had a bad streak today, lost several rounds of gambling and didn't have a single penny left on him. He was dejected and wanted to go home when he saw a familiar figure as soon as he walked out the door. Weren't those three daughters of Chen Jia? He recalled hearing people talking in the casino these past few days about how several children had gone missing in town. A sinister thought crept into his mind.

  He watched as the youngest girl fell alone, and he laughed to himself, truly heaven was helping him. He pulled out a handkerchief that hadn't been washed in several months, poured on the newly purchased anesthetic, and walked towards Xi Mei with a sly smile.

  After getting what he wanted, he quickly hugged his sister and ran away.

  At the moment she fainted, Xi Mei thought to herself that this cloth hadn't been washed for a long time and could really stink someone to death. She suspected that she wasn't knocked out by anesthetic but by the smell.

  Hey, you're saying this girl is almost sold out and still thinking about all these messy things.