The two little girls were fair and clean, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and were about six or seven years old.
Xiao Xitian sized up Qin Yiyi and Qin Fenglan.
She was certain that their mother must be a great beauty...
"Where do you live?" Xiao Xitian asked.
Judging by their clothing and demeanor, they didn't seem to be locals from Heyang County.
Qin Yiyi pouted, her face full of sadness, "My home is in Shuo'an City. I miss my daddy and mommy so much!~"
Shuo'an City?
Xiao Xitian raised her eyebrows slightly.
That place was high in the mountains and far away, almost reaching the capital.
How did they end up being captured here?
After chatting for a while, she learned that the sisters had gone to offer incense with their mother.
While the servants were not paying attention, they had secretly run out of the temple.
Then they were tricked into coming here by that one-eyed man with two strings of candied hawthorns.
"Xitian, are we going to die here? I... I don't want to die yet, woo woo woo!~"
Qin Fenglan was so scared that tears streamed down her face. She covered her face with her chubby little hands and cried out loud.
Xiao Xitian sighed and patted her shoulder, "Don't worry, we will definitely get out alive!"
She had to calm herself down and reopen the door to her space.
This was the first time she had discovered a drawback of her space.
In the large courtyard outside the vegetable cellar, the one-eyed man and a middle-aged woman of corpulent build were sitting.
The two were raising their cups and drinking, seemingly in good spirits.
"Sister Four, we've really made a profit today. Did you see that lively little girl?"
"The wealthy gentlemen and officials in the city love that type."
"I've estimated it, she's worth at least this much..."
The one-eyed man held up five fingers.
Xia Si Jie frowned, "Five taels of silver?"
She was the leader of these human traffickers.
They were skilled in deceit and committed all sorts of bad deeds.
The one-eyed man nodded, "That's right, five taels of silver. The other children are all clumsy and dull, they're not worth this much!"
Xiao Xitian was the only child he had captured who didn't cry or fuss, nor did she look for her parents...
He thought this little girl was very obedient.
Buyers also liked quiet children.
It would be best if she were mute, so she wouldn't disturb others when they did bad things.
Xia Si Jie pouted and snorted, "Five taels of silver is too little. I think that little girl is worth at least fifteen taels of silver."
"The children in Heyang County have been almost all captured, and the authorities are also taking action."
"Children are scarce, and the risks are high, so the prices must also rise."
Otherwise, what were they doing this for?
They risked their heads every day.
Wasn't it all for the sake of earning enough silver to live a life of leisure and pleasure?
"Sister Four speaks wisely!" The one-eyed man agreed with a smile.
Xia Si Jie put down her wine cup, narrowed her eyes, "After we finish this job, we'll wash our hands of this business and live a leisurely life!~"
The one-eyed man heard this and asked curiously, "Sister Four, there are more children in other prefectures. Let's do a few more jobs!"
Once the arrow is shot, there's no turning back.
How could they just stop if they wanted to?
"No!" Xia Si Jie refused outright, her expression serious.
"We've captured the two daughters of Prefect Qin. This matter has already been exposed, and it won't end well."
"If a high-ranking official like Prefect Qin catches us, have you considered the consequences?"
It was bad enough to capture someone's child, but they had to go and abduct Prefect Qin's daughters.
They couldn't send them back, nor could they let them go.
Now they were in a difficult situation, caught between a rock and a hard place...
The one-eyed man was unwilling and muttered, "In our line of work, why should we care whose children they are?"
"Even the Emperor's son, I'd dare to tie him up!~"
If one is too cautious and timid, it's better to go home and farm early.
Xia Si Jie: "..."
This idiot.
Brave but foolish, he would surely fall into trouble sooner or later.
Xiao Jinheng picked up small bones along the way and finally arrived at the northern part of the county town.
He knew these bones were collected by the little village children.
There were about seven or eight scattered pieces.
It turned out that when the one-eyed man was carrying Xiao Xitian, he accidentally tore Xiao Xitian's satchel.
After the bumps, the small bones inside leaked out.
Xiao Jinheng easily found the courtyard where the children were being hidden...
The guards outside the gate saw that the little boy was as delicate as carved jade, both beautiful and handsome.
They had ulterior motives. "Hey, kid, are you lost?"
How could he let the duck that flew into his mouth escape?
Xiao Jinheng was shocked.
He had been careless.
If he hadn't been discovered by the guards, he could have gone back to find Kong Xingzhuo and brought people to rescue the little village children.
Now, he couldn't leave.
Forget it, he wanted to see the little village children as soon as possible and see if she was injured!
Thinking of this, Xiao Jinheng's eyes welled up with tears, and he cried out, "Waaah!"
"Wuwuwu, can Uncle help me find my parents?"
Alas, how embarrassing.
He had never cried like this in his life...
Little village child, this favor will last you a lifetime!
Seeing this, the guards were overjoyed and almost burst out laughing.
Hahaha, why is my luck so good today?
Not only did they capture a little girl who didn't cry or fuss, but they also got a little crybaby.
"Oh dear, young master, don't cry. Uncle will take you to find your parents later. Come in and have some candied hawthorns first!"
"Mhm, okay!~" Xiao Jinheng nodded obediently.
He wanted to say that he hated candied hawthorns the most.
The guard showed a sly smile, grabbed Xiao Jinheng, and pulled him into the courtyard.
"Sister Four, look, this child came to us voluntarily!" The guard was so happy that his eyes disappeared.
Xia Si Jie frowned and stared at Xiao Jinheng for a moment.
Although the child was crying, his eyes were hazy with tears, making him look very pitiful.
However, the sharp aura and oppressive presence around him were very strong.
Children from ordinary families would not voluntarily go home with strangers.
Moreover, this little boy's eyes were sharp and intelligent, and he looked very smart. He shouldn't have thrown himself into the net and done such a foolish thing.
"What's your name? Where do you live?" Xia Si Jie asked.
Xiao Jinheng wiped his tears, "My name is Yun Jinshan, and my home is in Xinwang Village!~"
Yun Jinshan, who was rushing towards Dashui Village, suddenly sneezed.
Xia Si Jie sneered and ordered the one-eyed man, "Search him!"
"Yes!~"
This child was wearing a brocade robe. What village child would wear such clothes?
The one-eyed man searched Xiao Jinheng.
He only found a jade thumb ring.
"Sister Four, this jade thumb ring seems very valuable!"
"Give it to me to see!"
Xia Si Jie had traveled extensively and was well-informed, so she naturally knew that this jade thumb ring was very valuable.
She rubbed it with her hand for a moment and asked, "Where did you get it?"
"I found it!"
"Where did you find it?"
"Why should I tell you?"
"Very good, you have backbone!~"
Xia Si Jie took the jade thumb ring and ordered the one-eyed man, "Lock him in the vegetable cellar!"
You brat, as long as your father isn't a high-ranking official like Prefect Qin, I'll dare to sell you.
Inside the vegetable cellar.
Many children were asleep.
Xiao Xitian sat cross-legged on the ground, her eyes half-closed.
The moment the door to her space opened, a call pulled her back to reality.
"Little village child..."