Chen Fan took the information brought by Jiang Tiansheng and looked at it, his face showing more sadness and anger.
It wasn't as unexpected as he thought, Zhou Qiaoyun was no longer alive.
If Zhou Qiaoyun, as a mother, were still alive, little Nannan wouldn't have ended up being kidnapped and controlled by an illegal organization.
But it wasn't that simple either; there were man-made factors involved.
"Mr. Chen, Zhou Qiaoyun was from Lin County, only a little over an hour's drive from here!"
Jiang Tiansheng said, "The man and woman who seized Zhou Qiaoyun's mother and daughter's property live in the suburbs of Lin County."
"Are you familiar with the area?"
Chen Fan asked.
"To be honest, Mr. Chen, I'm also from Lin County!"
Jiang Tiansheng said, "I used to run around in Hangjiang in my early years. Although I haven't been back in many years, I still have some friends there. I got this information by asking friends."
Since Jiang Tiansheng was from Lin County, it was much easier. Chen Fan said, "You drive, we'll go to Lin County!"
"Okay!"
Jiang Tiansheng was a little excited and thrilled by this.
The more he did for Mr. Chen, the more he would gain in the future!
Chen Fan got up and said, "Let's go then!"
As soon as he got up, he saw a middle-aged woman dressed flamboyantly walking towards Nannan and snatching the jade thumb ring Nannan had placed on the table.
Little Nannan didn't know the value of the item and was concentrating on her ice cream. When she heard the commotion, she looked at the woman in confusion.
"Little brat, what are you looking at? You're taking other people's things without permission. Don't you have any upbringing?"
The middle-aged woman glared and pointed at little Nannan, scolding her.
"I..."
Little Nannan was startled, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Chen Fan walked over with a darkened face and said, "Hand it over!"
"What item?"
The woman's eyes were full of greed, and she snorted, "I don't know what you're talking about!"
Two other men with a rough demeanor walked over, shouting, "What are you doing? Are you trying to rob us? In broad daylight, where is the law?"
The law? Chen Fan was amused by the irony.
He glanced at Jiang Tiansheng, then turned and picked up little Nannan, comforting her, "It's okay, Uncle will get back the gift your grandpa gave you!"
"Uncle, I'm sorry!"
Little Nannan said with teary eyes, "I've caused trouble for you and Uncle!"
"It's no trouble, Nannan, don't feel guilty. The item isn't valuable!"
Chen Fan said with a smile, "Nannan, don't casually say sorry. You haven't wronged anyone. Rather, it's the world that has wronged you!"
Hearing Chen Fan's words, the woman and the two men were stunned for a moment, then showed disdain.
Little Nannan was sitting alone eating ice cream. They had been watching for a while, and with their discerning eyes, they realized the jade thumb ring was valuable and became greedy.
They didn't know yet what price this greed would cost them.
"Since it's a worthless item, I can't be bothered to argue with you."
"Dare to bother us again, and I'll kill you!"
A man wearing a thick gold chain shouted, pulling the woman back to their seats, looking smug and fearless.
Jiang Tiansheng glanced at Chen Fan. Seeing that Chen Fan had no reaction, he quickly walked out and made a call.
Given his status, he naturally brought subordinates with him.
"Nannan, let's wait for Uncle in the car first."
Chen Fan continued to comfort little Nannan, holding her ice cream and leading her out.
He didn't want to get his hands dirty, nor did he want Nannan to witness any violence.
Jiang Tiansheng, however, stayed behind.
Chen Fan and Nannan walked out of the coffee shop, and Jiang Tiansheng's three subordinates entered the coffee shop.
After taking Nannan to the car and sitting in the back seat, Chen Fan glanced at the coffee shop. They had already started inside.
The two men and one woman were kneeling on the ground, trembling and begging.
A minute later, Jiang Tiansheng got into the car with the thumb ring, handed it to Nannan, and said, "Nannan, don't cry, we got your item back. Actually, it wouldn't have mattered even if it were lost, Uncle could have bought you a new one!"
"Thank you, Uncle!"
Little Nannan, tears replaced by a smile, said, "Nannan doesn't want a new one. Mommy said every gift is a very important gesture and shouldn't be lost!"
Jiang Tiansheng was moved and showed genuine affection for Nannan.
It was hard not to like such a pitiable, sensible, and well-taught, lovely little girl.
"Then Uncle is very happy!"
Jiang Tiansheng smiled and asked Chen Fan for instructions, "Mr. Chen?"
"You handle it!"
Chen Fan said, "Let's drive, to Lin County."
"Okay!"
Jiang Tiansheng started the car and drove away.
Given his status, in Hangjiang, only Chen Fan made him willingly act as a driver, and even feel honored.
An hour and a half later, the car entered a county town.
A car was already waiting at the intersection. Jiang Tiansheng made a call, and they all drove towards the outskirts of the county town.
The car arrived on a street along the river in the suburbs, with distinct single-family villas lining the street.
Seeing the familiar scenery, little Nannan's face showed fear and she said,
"Uncle, please don't send me back!"
"Nannan, don't worry, Uncle isn't sending you back, but to retrieve your mother's belongings."
"Mommy?" Little Nannan shed tears and said, "They said Mommy is dead, that's not true, is it?"
Chen Fan felt a pang of sympathy and said, "Your mother and father have gone to a faraway place. When Nannan grows up, you will see them again."
"Mom and Dad both want Nannan to be brave and strong, so, Nannan, don't be afraid. You must keep what belongs to your mom and dad safe, right?"
"Mm!" Nannan thought for a moment and nodded heavily.
As they spoke, the car stopped outside a villa.
Although it was just a small county town, such a villa was not cheap to build, costing no less than two million yuan.
At this moment, there were tables and chairs set up on the lawn of this villa, and many guests were drinking and celebrating something.
Jiang Tiansheng didn't know much about this. He got out of the car first, and someone came up to him and said something.
Soon, Jiang Tiansheng opened the car door and said,
"Mr. Chen, today is supposedly the birthday of Zeng Ling's husband, Ge Bing, who has invited friends and family to their villa for a celebration!"
Chen Fan narrowed his eyes and said, "Then let's go give them a good celebration!"
He pulled little Nannan out of the car and walked towards the villa.
Little Nannan seemed a bit timid, with some psychological trauma associated with this place.
The few men who met Jiang Tiansheng in the county town looked at Chen Fan with curiosity and admiration.
Jiang Tiansheng did not explain Chen Fan's identity to them, but they were well aware of Jiang Tiansheng's identity.
Therefore, anyone who could make Jiang Tiansheng act as a driver and subordinate could only be of higher status than Jiang Tiansheng.
Pushing open the villa gate, a few guests inside looked over, their eyes fell on little Nannan, and they were all taken aback.
Immediately, someone shouted, "Zeng Ling, that ungrateful little slut you adopted has been sent back!"
This shout drew everyone's attention.
Inside the villa, a man and a woman, both around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, came out.
Seeing these two, little Nannan instinctively shrunk behind Chen Fan.
"Little slut, you still know how to come back?"
The man and woman saw little Nannan, exchanged glances, and a gloomy expression appeared on their faces. The man cursed.
"Get over here quickly!"
The woman also scolded, "I provide you with food and clothing, and you run away from home for three to four months, and now you come back? Why don't you just die outside?"