When Mo Yan ran out the gate and didnât see Lu Junming and his horse, she walked back and forth anxiously. After a short while, he rode over.
âWhere were you?â Her voice was full of resentment and stress.
Lu Junming pointed to the silver spear hanging on his saddle, âI went home to grab my spear, just in case I needed it!â
He stretched out his hand, and Mo Yan immediately grabbed it to get onto the horse.
The horse ran out of the village and passed behind the Lu familyâs house. Sir Lu stood there waiting for them, âJunming, donât hurt others impulsively!â
He saw him hurry home to get his spear, and thought he was going to fight. Lu Junming turned around and shouted, âDonât worry, Grandpa, Iâm saving someone.â
Lu Junmingâs horse was young and well-trained, and was selected by his father for him.
They soon caught up with Zhong Cheng. Lu Junming slowed down and Mo Yan took out the letter. She shouted to Zhong Cheng, âBrother Cheng, go to the Minghui Company.â
Zhong Cheng nodded and whipped his horse again.
Qianshui City was less than twenty kilometres away from Yi City, and they arrived in an hour. They could see the city walls, and Mo Yan also saw the carriage with the smoke pattern.
âLu Junming, thatâs their carriage.â
The big white horse caught up with the carriage instantly, and he pulled the reins to stop the carriage. Mo Zenianâs boss lifted the curtain of the carriage and asked, âWhat are you doing?â
Mo Yan asked, âWhereâs my sister?â
He replied disdainfully, âWho knows! Why did you come here and ask us?â
Lu Junming took out his silver spear and opened the curtain of the carriage. The old man was so scared he moved aside, âWhat are you doing! Are you going to kill me?â
âNo one cares about your worthless life, where is Mo Ling?â
âSee for yourselves! Sheâs not here.â
Mo Yan looked into the carriage, and there was only the old manâs idiot son inside. There wasnât a lot of space inside, so it would be difficult to hide someone.
âWhat about Mo Zenian?â
The old man said with a bitter face again, âWhy would I know? Stop asking me about where your missing family members are.â
âThis is definitely linked to him. If my sister isnât here, she must be with Mo Zenian. They mustâve rented another carriage.â
âThen what should we do?â Lu Junming asked.
âThey kidnapped my sister just to give this idiot a wife. Heâs still here, so sheâs still safe for the time being. Letâs go to the Minghui Company to see if my sister is there.â
Yi City is a small city, much smaller than the Upper Valley. The Minghui Company was the largest in the city, and it was easy to find. They got off their horses outside and went in to ask. The workers inside hadnât seen any young ladies, and Mo Zenian, wasnât there either.
People couldnât live in the company, so the owner must live elsewhere. If they really took Mo Ling, it must be to become the wife of that fool, so she must be hidden in their home.
They had already startled them by stopping their car on the road. They probably wouldnât go home directly, and most likely go to the business first. They found a hiding place in the opposite alley and waited, staring at the door of the business.
About half an hour later, the old manâs carriage arrived at the firm. He and his son got out of the carriage, and their driver drove it to the back.
The two looked at each other and said, âThere is a back door!â
Lu Junming said, âIâm going to the back door. When you see that fool go out, follow him quietly, and donât act rashly. Remember where he went, come back and tell me.â
After he finished speaking, Lu Junming rode his horse to the back door of the company, pretending like nothing was wrong.
Mo Yan was watching the company, when she saw Zhong Cheng coming in his carriage. She called out his name, and he came over.
âBrother Cheng, find an inn to leave the carriage in, itâs too easy to spot.â
Opposite the company is the Jiayunlai Inn. Zhong Cheng left the carriage there, then went back to Mu Yan. The two of them stared at the entrance of the company together.
âYanâer, do you know where your father lives?â
Mo Yan shook her head, âI donât know, all of his letters had the address of the company.â
It was almost dark, but neither Mo Zenian nor his mistress entered or exited the building. The idiot didnât go out either, and there was no sign of Lu Junming.
Zhong Cheng stomped his feet anxiously, âWhy donât you report them to the officials!â
âWhatâs the use of reporting this kind of thing to the officials? They could just say he was teaching his daughter a lesson. Who could do anything?â
âIsnât it better than waiting here for something to happen?â
âAs long as we keep an eye on that idiot, nothing will happen. When it gets dark, Iâll sneak into the business to have a look.â
They were waiting impatiently when they heard someone on the street say, âZhengâer, where are you going?â
âTo buy steamed buns.â
Zhengâer, that was the womanâs child! Mo Yan leaned out and saw the child buying steamed buns at the steamed bun shop.
If he was out alone, they must live nearby.
Mo Yan quietly followed. The child bought the buns, then carried them into the alley next to the business and walked inside. After passing by the back door of the business, he entered a small yard. Mu Yan hid outside and heard the woman named Xianâer talking inside, âZhengâer, you bought the steamed buns back? Youâre really capable!â
Then came Mo Zenianâs voice, âMy son is smart!â
Mo Yan peaked inside from the crack of the door. There were only the three of them, and no sign of Mu Ling. Had she been mistaken? Impossible, something mustâve happened to Mo Ling. Otherwise the hairpin wouldnât have been left on the ground. Maybe it was a clue she left on purpose!
Lu Junming had been watching the back door of the company. When he saw her passing by, he quietly came over, âWhose house is this?â
âMo Zenianâs. His mistress and child are inside too.â
Lu Junming looked inside, âMo Ling wonât be here.â
âThen where would they hide my sister?â
âYou canât just wait, you need to try and find out.â
Lu Junming looked around, and saw a teahouse on the street not far away, âGo to the teahouse, have something to eat, and take a rest.â
They called Zhong Cheng and entered the teahouse together. Lu Junming ordered tea and some food. Mo Yan was tired and hungry, but she wasnât in the mood to eat and drink, and neither was Zhong Cheng.
When the employee handed over their food, Lu Junming asked, âIâm from out of town. Do you mind if I ask you something?â
It is very common to inquire about people and things in the teahouse. Lu Junming gavehim a few dollars, and he was very happy to answer.
âBrother, someone proposed marriage to my sister recently. He was the son of the Minghui Companyâs owner. Iâve heard their family is well-off. Do you know where they live?â
The employee enthusiastically replied, âYou mean Hu Weiming! Their family is well-off, but his unmarried second son isnât the brightest.â
Lu Junming pretended to be surprised and said, âThe matchmaker was talking about his second son! She also talked about how good his house is.â
âItâs not bad. Just go south from here, then turn east when you see a large street. The big house inside is theirs. It says itâs the Hu family house on the door.â
The three of them rested for a while, and then followed the instructions of the employee in the teahouse. It had two black lacquered gates, and mounting stones on both sides.
They could tell how large their courtyard was instantly, at least triple the size of Mo Yanâs, and even the walls were made of blue bricks. They hid behind the wall and stared carefully at the other side.
Post-translation notes: I have a feeling weâll be done with this miniature rescue arc by the next update. As always, thank you for reading!