Chapter 231: Return Home

Disclaimer: 

1. This is an unofficial translation and no permission has been obtained from the author/ official publisher. It may be taken down if the author/official publisher requests. 

2. This is a fan work and the interpretation represents only the translator’s personal views without any input from the author. 

3. No permission has been granted to use, publish, upload and/or copy this translation to any other site except for Second Life Translations.

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Liu Xu’er was still mindful of a certain matter. While her brothers were with Liu Yue’er and Liu Li talking, she dragged Shi Cheng out to ask, “The other two children, as well as the slave traders. What did you say to them?”

Shi Cheng shrugged, “We didn’t get to talk much. I just said that Liu Li was kidnapped. The slave trader tried to argue, but was silenced when Liu Lin said that he would bring the matter before government officials to mediate. As for the two other boys… I couldn’t just stand by and watch them get sold, right?”

“Were those two sold by their family members?”

“We need to check that out. I didn’t have time to ask.” Shi Cheng understood her concern. He quickly said, “But I did ask the slave traders. She said that she bought them from another slave trader in Feng town.”

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Old Man Liu was in the main house smoking his pipe, staring dazedly for a long time. Liu Sen was at his yeye’s side, blinking and wondering how best to comfort him. But even after thinking for a long time, he still didn’t know what to say. 

Finally, the sound of horse hooves outside the courtyard door rang out. Like an arrow, Liu Changshi dashed for the door, and flung it open. He saw two carriages right outside, while Liu Shu and Liu Lin were dismounting. 

Liu Changshi loudly asked, “Are they back?”

Shi Cheng had immediately drawn the curtains of the carriage the instant he had dismounted. He replied, “They’re back, sishu.”

From the carriage, a little seven-year-old boy emerged. Timidly he stood at the side of the carriage. Then it was a 10-year-old girl who came down. She too stood timidly by the side. Until Liu Xu’er came down; then the both of them rushed to stand next to her.

Liu Changgeng and Liu Changqi had all come out of the house by now. Everyone was relieved, “We finally found them!”

“Thank goodness they’re alright”

“What a relief… Quickly go into the house! Go and meet your ye, nai!” Liu Changgeng said.

So the big group of them ushered Liu Yue’er and Liu Li into the courtyard. Liu Changgeng saw that two more boys had emerged from the carriage behind, but didn’t recognise either of them. So he quickly asked Shi Cheng, “Who are these two?”

Shi Cheng quickly said, “They were sold along with Liu Li. When we found Liu Li, we brought them back with us… When we’ve the time, we need to discuss what we can do with them.”

Li Changgeng nodded his head and entered the courtyard. He shi and the rest of the women met them as they were coming. Because the crowd was ushering the children into the main house, He shi and her sisters-in-law went to help support Liu Gao shi over as well. 

Liu Yue’er and Liu Li were not dumb – they were vaguely aware before this that they did have relatives, it was just that they were still unfamiliar with all of them. But because they had been with Liu Xu’er and Shi Cheng these past few days, and knew that these were their genuine relatives, they were a little shy, but otherwise obedient. When instructed, they would call out their greetings appropriately.

Old Man Liu and Liu Gao shi recognised the two of them. Liu Changqi, Liu Changgeng and Liu Changshi also knew them. These past few years, Liu Gao shi would just sometimes want to see Liu Changgui, so would call for her sons to accompany her on her visit to him. Liu Changqi and his brothers would then bring her over.

They had all met these two children before. 

It was just that Liu Changgui wasn’t willing to stay in touch with the family, and none of his brother’s wives were willing to go visit, so the rest of the family hadn’t seen them. 

The two children greeted their grandparents. Old Man Liu continued to puff on his pipe, while Liu Gao shi wiped the tears from her eyes. In order to break the heavy atmosphere, Liu Lin explained how they found the two of them. Everyone was anxious to know, so they were very attentive. Even Liu Gao shi was listening closely. She kept repeating, “Amitaba.”

“Thank goodness our response was quick, and that we knew to immediately head out to search for them. If we were delayed by another few days, if they had arrived at their target destination, it would be really hard to find them.” Liu Lin said. 

Liu Changgeng turned to look at Shi Cheng, “Shi Cheng, thank goodness you were there.”

Shi Cheng waved him off after being praised by his father-in-law. He demurred, “It’s better when there are more people to discuss the situation. With more people, we can also respond much more quickly.”

Liu Shu took out the title deed from his pocket. “This deed was sewn into Liu Li’s pant leg.” He said and passed it to his father, “Thankfully it wasn’t found by the slave traders.”

Liu Changgeng took it over for a look and passed it to Liu Gao shi. She wiped her eyes and started to feel sad again. “They even left the house….”

Shi Cheng’s mouth moved before he thought better of it. It wasn’t suitable for him to speak at this time. Instead, he turned quickly to look at Liu Xu’er. Liu Xu’er said, “Nai! You shouldn’t get your hopes up…. The officials have already confiscated all the things in their home. Even the house might be confiscated. Probably, the only reason it hasn’t already been was because the deed was sewn into didi’s pant leg, and they didn’t manage to find it!”

Liu Shu nodded quickly, “That’s right! Nai! We really can’t put our hopes in this, it will definitely get confiscated. And it will be alright. The most important thing is that didi and memei are both fine. We have so many people – it should be no problem finding someone to take care of them.”

Liu Changgeng and Liu Changshi both nodded their heads. 

Liu Gao shi thought it over. She knew that what they said was reasonable, so she only sighed. 

Then they split off into multiple different groups, talking about different topics. Liu Gao shi had brought Liu Yue’er and Liu Li up the kang to sit and ask them in detail about their situation. While He shi and her sisters-in-law were all talking about how the children had been found. 

Liu Shu, Shi Cheng and the rest of them had already come out. Liu Shu then said, “We should report the situation to the officials. That house… We probably won’t be able to keep it. Since we found out about it, we should quickly inform the officials, so that they don’t make trouble for us.”

Liu Lin nodded his head, “That’s right! Now that we’ve found the children, we don’t need the house. We shouldn’t let the officials use this as an excuse to try and exploit us again.”

Liu Xu’er was solemn. She looked at Shi Cheng, “I am just not able to accept the situation. Not the house, but those servants. Especially those who sold Yue’er and Liu Li…. They’re too evil! If we don’t find them and teach them a lesson, I won’t be able to accept it!”

Shi Cheng agreed. “No one can accept their behavior!”

Liu Sen nodded his head, “That’s right! We should find out who they are and teach them a lesson!”

Liu Lin started to think of a plan.

“It won’t be easy to find them, right? They should have escaped quickly after selling them. They won’t be here… Aren’t they afraid that we would look for them?”

Shi Cheng said quickly, “Thankfully Liu Xu’er asked me about this back at Hanzhong city yesterday. I asked the slave trader – he had been unaware of the children’s identity, and thought they were being sold by their family members. He gave me their papers. As for the Feng town slave traders – I have sent people to investigate. They would definitely be able to find out the truth!”

Liu Xu’er then said, “Best to strike quickly! Try and catch them before they’ve left Feng town.”

Shi Cheng nodded his head and headed out. Liu Lin said, “I’ll go with you!”

Their families were now considered quite prominent in Feng town. Because they frequently bought servants, they were familiar with the local slave traders. They quickly sent off a servant woman to investigate.

This matter definitely wouldn’t have been handled by officially registered slave traders. They wouldn’t dare do these sorts of things. But they were all in the trade, and so would be well aware of who did. So in the afternoon, a few names were reported. 

Liu Lin immediately instructed people to investigate the given names, and find out who exactly had sold the children. He had also leaked news that they wouldn’t make trouble for the slave traders, after all, they were just handling their business as usual. They were merely searching for Liu Changgui’s servants – the ones who had sold their Young Miss and Master.

While they were out looking, the people inside the house were still talking. Now that everyone was together, the topic inevitably swung to Liu Changgui and Liu Yun’er. Liu Gao shi and the two children started to sob, and all the women rallied around to comfort them. 

At noon, after the meal, He shi and the rest had finally managed to persuade Liu Gao shi not to think about it any more. She should have a rest. They would help get the children clean and settle them down for a nap. Liu Gao shi finally agreed. Old Man Liu on the other hand, took out his cotton jacket and called for his sons and grandsons to discuss who the two children would stay with in future.

Liu Changgeng said, “Naturally, they should stay with me. I have the most space….”

He hadn’t finished when Liu Changshi quickly interrupted, “Erge! You shouldn’t be in such a hurry to insist. Nowadays, your family isn’t the same as before. Shu, Lin have all gotten married. It’s not convenient for Yue’er and Li to stay here. It would be better for them to stay with me.”

Liu Shu quickly pointed out, “Sishu, the He brothers are staying with you.”

Liu Changshi then said, “Tao is preparing to bring them over to stay with him, didn’t you know? When he and Xiuxiu are married, they will bring her brothers over to stay with them.”

Liu Shu and Liu Lin were all stunned. They looked at Liu Tao, “Tao, has your wedding date been confirmed? Why didn’t you say anything?!”

Liu Tao flushed red and quickly said, “It’s not confirmed yet, I…. I can bring them over even before we get married. I am staying alone, and there’s plenty of space.” He turned to look at Liu Changqi, “Dad, what do you think?”