The young master had been listless since his return, as if he were ill.
He instructed Granny Jin and Kong Xingzhuo to close the doors and refuse all visitors.
Prefect Qin cupped his fists and asked with a smile, "May I inquire if Young Master Xiao is at home?"
Upon hearing this, Granny Jin glanced at Prefect Chen, then at Prefect Qin, and asked, "Is there something you need from our master?"
The young master was quite daring.
To venture alone into the traffickers' lair.
Such a dangerous place, who would dare enter without a hundred or eighty guards!
Prefect Qin smiled slightly, "I have come merely to pay my respects to Young Master Xiao and hope you will grant me some convenience..."
He carefully considered every word he spoke, fearing he might offend the esteemed guest by saying the wrong thing.
Granny Jin raised an eyebrow, "Our master is not feeling well and cannot receive guests. Please return, both of you!~"
With that, Granny Jin closed the door tightly and went back inside to care for Xiao Jinheng...
Prefect Qin, having been refused entry, felt a bit dejected.
The young prince did not wish to see them, and they could not force their way in, so they had to return for now.
"Prefect Qin, did you hear that? The young prince is unwell. Is he injured?"
Prefect Chen keenly caught this remark and felt uneasy.
If a prince were injured in the territory he governed, it would surely affect his career!
Prefect Qin nodded slightly, "It is possible."
"Those traffickers are vicious and insidious. Beatings and torture are commonplace for them."
As he spoke, Prefect Qin couldn't help but frown, "Are all the traffickers locked up?"
"They are in the county jail."
Prefect Qin grunted, "Keep a close watch. I will personally interrogate them tomorrow."
"Yes!~"
Inside the main house of the Yun family.
Little Xi Tian was playing knuckle-bones with her sisters when Yun Jinshan and Fu Xiaoqiang entered with a few others.
The moment they saw Little Sweet Treasure, they burst into tears.
"Wuwuwu, little aunt, it's all my fault. Hit me or scold me!"
Yun Jinshan cried rivers of tears, deeply saddened.
"If I hadn't insisted on taking aunt to the county town, you wouldn't have been captured by the traffickers!"
Upon hearing this, Fu Xiaoqiang pushed him, "Don't take all the blame on yourself. We were also at fault!"
"That's right, that's right. We shouldn't have let Little Sweet Treasure go to the county town. There are too many bad people there. We'll never go again in our lives."
Hearing this, Little Xi Tian giggled.
These little rascals, though young, had quite a sense of responsibility.
In fact, her capture this time had nothing to do with Yun Jinshan and the others.
It was just that there were too many people at the market, and the moment she stepped off the carriage, she was swallowed by the crowd...
"It's alright! You are all good children!~" Little Xi Tian patted her second nephew's head.
To receive Little Sweet Treasure's forgiveness made the mischievous boys bubble with happiness.
They promptly took out the candies and melon seeds from their pockets and offered them to Little Xi Tian.
"Huh? Who are you?" Yun Jinshan tilted his head and looked at Chen Xiaoran.
Why did she look so familiar?
Chen Xiaoran's cheeks flushed slightly, and she murmured, "I... I am Chen Xiaoran!"
Fu Xiaoqiang's eyes lit up upon hearing this, "Oh, I remember now. You're Prefect Chen's daughter, right?"
The sharp-tongued girl who had previously called them wild children and wished death upon their families.
"Yes, it's me!" Chen Xiaoran lowered her head.
She hadn't expected these boys to be so vengeful.
It had been four years, and they still remembered it vividly.
Fu Xiaoqiang's eyes widened, and he was about to start scolding.
However, he was subdued by a rap on the head from Little Xi Tian.
"Sister Xiaoran has already apologized. You are not allowed to bully her!~"
When will the cycle of grudges end?
Since Little Xi Tian had spoken, the other mischievous boys dared not press the issue.
In the front courtyard, over a dozen tables of food were set, with various home-style dishes served.
Zhao Guihua and Jin Huaihua alone could not manage it all.
The women from the village also rolled up their sleeves, some picking vegetables, others tending the fires, and no one was idle...
The main dish at home was still sauerkraut stewed with pork bones, with blood sausage and streaky pork added.
The side dishes were also diverse.
Fried, stir-fried, deep-fried, braised, stewed – nothing was missing.
Prefect Qin's cheeks were flushed from drinking, and he showed no trace of officialdom.
Almost all the 'notable figures' of the village were seated at the same table as him.
For example, the village head, Du Lao San, Fu Daqiang, and so on.
A group of young wives frequently glanced at Prefect Qin.
This high official was not only handsome and dashing but also held great power.
He truly possessed both wisdom and beauty.
"Prefect Qin, you shouldn't drink anymore," Prefect Chen advised in a low voice.
Ever since Prefect Qin sat down, he had been downing bowls of wine as if it were cool water.
Although the homemade grain wine was delicious, you couldn't just guzzle it like that!
"Prefect Chen, why are you stopping me?" Prefect Qin shot him a glare.
"I have found my two daughters, so it is only right to celebrate. You should drink more too, and don't spoil the mood!~"
Prefect Chen: "..."
Good heavens, so the Prefect of Shuō Ān City was a heavy drinker.
The table was filled with toasting and clinking glasses, making for a lively scene.
Except for the Yun Wangcai family, almost all the villagers had come.
Adults and children crowded the courtyard.
The sound of clinking bowls and laughter blended together, echoing through the sky above Dashui Village.
The warm sun slanted westward, and the sky was painted with rosy clouds.
The old Yun family, which had been lively all day, gradually quieted down.
After their fill of food and drink, the villagers returned home.
The women stayed behind to help clear the dishes and clean the courtyard.
In the main hall of the house, Prefect Qin let out a burp and took a sip of tea.
This home-style meal was truly satisfying.
"Prefect Qin, it's getting late. Why don't you stay the night at our home!~"
Old Yun smiled and invited him to stay.
The Yun family had many rooms, and they could accommodate over twenty people at once...
Prefect Qin had not intended to leave anyway.
He had had a few drinks and had been traveling for days, and he was eager to sleep on the heated brick bed to relieve his fatigue.
Prefect Chen looked troubled, "Prefect Qin, allow me to escort you to an inn in the county town to rest!~"
If Prefect Qin stayed overnight in Dashui Village, he would have to stay as well.
His wife was still waiting for him at home.
"No, no, no, Prefect Chen, you go back first. I will find you at the county yamen tomorrow!~"
Prefect Chen: "..."
If I could leave, I would have left long ago!
Alas, I'll stay!
Thus, the two high officials stayed at the Yun residence simultaneously.
Jin Huaihua boiled another pot of water to serve the two gentlemen for washing their faces and feet.
As night fell, snores emanated from the Yun family's home.
They seemed to be competing in a snoring contest, each louder than the last.
Among them, Yun Daman and Prefect Chen's snores were the loudest and most rhythmic.
On the large heated brick bed in the west wing, Little Xi Tian slept side by side with her young friends.
Perhaps exhausted, everyone slept exceptionally soundly.
The next morning, Jin Huaihua prepared breakfast.
And woke everyone up.
"Yiyi, Xiaolan, Daddy has to go and investigate the human trafficking case and will temporarily be unable to look after you."
Prefect Qin slurped a bowl of millet porridge and looked at Old Yun and Madam Gu, "So I will have to trouble Brother Yun and Sister-in-law to look after them for a few days!"
Prefect Chen: "..."
Prefect Qin, what exactly are you trying to do?
Are you trying to establish a relationship with the Yun family?