Chapter 384: Chapter 384. Maybe She’s Really Gone
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Nowhere.”
Jiang Yuyan remembered Su Qing’s instructions and didn’t tell Qiu Yongkang the truth. She mumbled a few words and was about to leave when Qiu Yongkang stepped forward and stopped her.
“I saw you go to Zhong Yong’s house. Are Su Qing and Shuisheng there? I have something to discuss with them.
Hearing that Qiu Yongkang was looking for Su Qing and Ji Shuisheng, Jiang Yuyan nodded.
“Yes!”
“Didn’t you discuss anything?”
Qiu Yongkang looked into Jiang Yuyan’s eyes and asked. Jiang Yuyan looked at him and shook her head.
“No, I went to deliver some food to them and left.”
“Okay, you can go back!”
Qiu Yongkang nodded and made way for Jiang Yuyan. Jiang Yuyan looked at him in confusion and left.
Ji Shuisheng and Su Qing drank a bowl of goat’s milk and ate the steamed buns and pickled vegetables that Jiang Yuyan had sent. They had a simple meal.
After eating, the two of them split up. Ji Shuisheng went to the Qiu family, and Su Qing went to the government office.
Ji Shuisheng’s mood was heavy on the way to the Qiu family’s house. He had arranged for someone to stand guard at the Qiu family’s door last night. Ji Shuisheng did not rush into the house when he reached the Qiu family’s door. Instead, he went to look for the two soldiers he had sent to follow Qiu Yongkang last night.
However, he realized that the two soldiers had disappeared. Ji Shuisheng’s heart skipped a beat. Since the two soldiers had disappeared, Yongkang had left early. Where had he gone so early?
Qiu Yongkang was not at home, so it was convenient for him to ask Aunt Qiu. Ji Shuisheng opened the door and walked into the Qiu family’s courtyard. Their family’s life was better than others.
Auntie Qiu and Uncle Qiu were hardworking and capable. Qiu Yongkang earned a lot of money from the dividends. There were dozens of fat sheep in the house alone. He had specially changed the house next door into a sheep pen. It could be said that the Qiu family was the best out of the dozen or so families from Peach Blossom Cove.
Ji Shuisheng pushed the door open and entered the house. The Qiu family had just finished their breakfast. Aunt Qiu was busy washing the dishes and pots. Uncle Qiu was also preparing to feed the sheep. When they saw Ji Shuisheng, they warmly invited him into the house.
“Shuisheng, you’re here. Come in and sit. Have you eaten?”
Auntie Qiu had not seen Ji Shuisheng for a long time, so she warmly let him in.
“I’ve eaten. Where’s Yongkang?”
Ji Shuisheng smiled and talked to Auntie Qiu as usual, casually asking where Yongkang went.
“He woke up early and went to the government office. He leaves early and returns late daily. He can’t even sleep for four hours.”
Aunt Qiu sighed. Her son had gone out early and returned late, so he had lost weight. As a mother, her heart ached.
“That’s too bad. I thought he was at home. Auntie Qiu, do you have ginger at home? Su Qing said that he needed some ginger to stew the mutton.”
Ji Shuisheng nodded and asked Auntie Qiu in the kitchen without entering the house.
“No, my family doesn’t have that kind of thing. Our Mo City can’t spend money.”
Auntie Qiu sighed. She did not lack money now, but she could not buy anything with money. It was pretty painful.
“No? Didn’t Yongkang bring the ginger back a few days ago?”
Ji Shuisheng asked casually. He had been watching Auntie Qiu’s reaction. Auntie Qiu was the kind of person who could not hide her feelings. If she did, her expression would reveal it.
“No, he doesn’t bring anything home. He doesn’t care about food or clothing. He gets paid every month and doesn’t care about anything else.
As soon as she mentioned it, Aunt Qiu started complaining about her son. Daily, he thrived in the government office and did not care about anything at home.
“He did it to let you live a good life. Auntie, I’ll leave first. I’ll go ask if other people have ginger.”
Ji Shuisheng smiled as he spoke up for Qiu Yongkang and prepared to leave.
“Shuisheng, I have a request.”
Auntie Qiu stopped Ji Shuisheng, afraid that her father-in-law would hear her, and dragged him outside to talk.
“What is it?”
Ji Shuisheng asked her absent-mindedly. Qiu Yongkang did not bring the ginger home. Could it be that he and Su Qing had wrongly accused him?
“You know a lot of people. Please help me find Qiu Yue! I’ve been dreaming about her these days. She cried and asked me to save her. I told Yongkang, but he was angry and asked me not to mention Qiu Yue anymore. Why is he so ruthless? That’s his biological sister, and he let me treat her like she’s dead.”
Auntie Qiu couldn’t stop her tears when she talked about her daughter. The better their lives were, the more she missed Qiu Yue. She was distraught that something terrible would happen to her outside.
“… Auntie Qiu, you have to be mentally prepared. It’s been so long. It’s chaotic…Maybe she is gone.”
Ji Shuisheng’s eyes flashed when he heard her mention Qiu Yue. He didn’t know how to tell Aunt Qiu about Qiu Yue’s death, but he still reminded Aunt Qiu not to think about Qiu Yue.
“No, she won’t. She won’t die. She hasn’t bloomed yet. She hasn’t gotten married yet. Shuisheng, please help me. Help me find her.”
Auntie Qiu was in tears. She held Ji Shuisheng’s hand and refused to let go, begging Ji Shuisheng to help her find Qiu Yue.
“Mother, didn’t I tell you not to mention Qiu Yue?”
Qiu Yongkang came in from outside. The usually gentle and refined Qiu Yongkang shouted at Auntie Qiu. Ji Shuisheng glanced at him and felt that Yongkang was very irritated. The typically calm Qiu Yongkang was acting abnormally today.
“You didn’t help me find Qiu Yue, and you won’t even let me beg Shuisheng. I think you’re just heartless. Qiu Yue is your sister; how can you be so cold-blooded?”
Auntie Qiu was also furious and scolded Qiu Yongkang with tears in her eyes.
“Shuisheng, let’s go.”
Qiu Yongkang ignored his mother’s crying and pulled Ji Shuisheng out of the door.
“Sob… Qiu Yue, how did you end up with such a cruel brother? Where are you? Mother misses you.”
Aunty Qiu’s heartbroken cries could be heard from behind them. Qiu Yongkang’s expression became even uglier. He pursed his lips tightly, and his expression was as gloomy as the sky before a storm.
“Yongkang.”
Out of habit, Ji Shuisheng patted Qiu Yongkang’s shoulder to comfort him, but Qiu Yongkang flung his hand away and looked at him with grief and anger. His voice was filled with suppressed rage.
“Shuisheng, do you still treat me as your brother?”
“What do you mean?”
Ji Shuisheng looked at him without batting an eyelid. Qiu Yongkang stepped back and looked at Ji Shuisheng with a sad smile.
“I treat you as my brother. For your sake, for the sake of the villagers of Peach Blossom Cove, I allowed Su Qing to kill Qiu Yue. My mother nagged me every day to help her find Qiu Yue. I wish I could kill myself with a knife. What did I get in return? In exchange, was your distrust of me? In exchange was your suspicion?”
Qiu Yongkang became increasingly agitated as he spoke, and his low growl was filled with anger. His eyes were red as he looked at Ji Shuisheng, and his pale face turned red from excitement.
Ji Shuisheng saw how agitated Qiu Yongkang was and stepped forward to ask.
“Yong Kang, why do you say I don’t trust you? Why do you say that?”
Qiu Yongkang laughed at himself when he heard Ji Shuisheng’s question. When he raised his head again, his expression returned to normal, but the smile on his lips was a little cold. He pointed at an alley not far away and questioned Ji Shuisheng,
“Why did you send someone to follow me?”