Chapter 219

“Mu Jingmei is nowhere to be found, neither alive nor dead. I made some inquiries earlier, and the situation at the dam is basically clear now. Everyone has been accounted for, and she’s the only person still missing,” Song Nianchu said slowly.

“What’s the problem with that?” Wu Zhenggui still didn’t quite understand what she was getting at.

“Taken by itself, there’s nothing particularly strange about it. No matter how carefully we search, there are bound to be oversights. It’s perfectly normal for one or two people to go missing.”

“But Yang Dafu was injured right after Mu Jingmei left. There may be more to it than that.”

“If Yang Dafu’s injury is connected to Mu Jingmei, then this could all be a setup she planned.” Song Nianchu voiced her suspicion.

“A setup?” Wu Zhenggui asked in surprise.

“Mu Jingmei is not someone who can endure hardship. Back then, she ignored her family’s objections and insisted on marrying Yang Dafu, but only because she had her eye on the fact that his father was the brigade leader. She thought he could provide her with food and comfort while letting her avoid farm work.”

“But now Yang Mingwan has been arrested, and Yang Dafu is useless. Life in the household is bound to become difficult. Do you think someone with her personality would stay with the Yang family?” Song Nianchu looked Wu Zhenggui straight in the eye.

“So you mean Mu Jingmei didn’t disappear by accident—she did it deliberately?” By this point, Wu Zhenggui naturally understood.

“I only made that guess after hearing that Yang Dafu was injured and thinking of Mu Jingmei’s disappearance. We won’t know what really happened until we find her.” Song Nianchu spoke gently.

“Mu Jingmei really is something. If she’d stayed in our village back then, her life would definitely be easier now. But she couldn’t bear even the slightest hardship, and this is where she ended up.” Wu Zhenggui sighed.

“That’s not what I’m worried about. If Mu Jingmei really did escape on purpose, then with her status as a reformed element, if the authorities catch her and bring her back, it won’t just affect her. It could implicate the entire Mu family.” Song Nianchu’s brows drew tightly together.

She had finally begun to make some progress, and she hoped to help Mu Shi’an shed his label as a reformed element.

She couldn’t let everything appear to be on the verge of success, only for Mu Jingmei to ruin it all in the end.

“If that’s really the case, then it would indeed be troublesome,” Wu Zhenggui said with a frown.

“Forget it. There’s no use worrying about it now. We’ll just have to deal with things as they come.” Song Nianchu let out a slow sigh.

“Don’t worry. Mu Jingmei married out of the family, after all. Even if she really does cause trouble, it shouldn’t affect the Mu family too much,” Wu Zhenggui consoled her.

“Mm.” Song Nianchu nodded.

“Then what about Mu Jingmei’s death benefit? Should we issue it or not?” Wu Zhenggui returned to the matter at hand.

“She’s only missing right now, and we haven’t found a body. We’ll put the payment on hold for the time being. Once the missing-person period has passed and we obtain a death certificate, we can issue it.” Song Nianchu spoke calmly.

“All right. We’ll do as you say.” Wu Zhenggui nodded.

“…”

They chatted for a little while longer. When they noticed that the horizon in the distance had begun to pale, they finally headed home separately.

When Song Nianchu pushed open the courtyard gate, a dim lamp was still lit inside the house.

The house was quiet. She didn’t see Mu Shi’an, so she went to the room next door.

She gently opened the door a crack and saw Mu Haoxuan and Mu Yongnian lying on the bed.

Only then did she feel relieved. She closed the door and turned to heat some water for a bath.

She had hardly had a proper bath during this period, and she felt grimy and smelly from head to toe.

Just as she had heated the water and was about to carry it to the washroom, she suddenly heard a faint noise outside.

As if she had thought of something, she immediately stood up and hurried out.

Mu Shi’an had just stepped into the courtyard. The moment he saw Song Nianchu coming out, his expression froze.

“Did I wake you?” Mu Shi’an asked softly.

“No.” Song Nianchu shook her head.

Mu Shi’an walked slowly over to her.

Song Nianchu carefully examined him. His complexion looked rather poor, and his entire body radiated deep exhaustion.

It showed in every part of him.

“You went home just now?” Song Nianchu could tell what he had been doing from the way he looked.

“Mm.” Mu Shi’an nodded.

“Your parents… are they all right?” Song Nianchu asked.

“My mother’s emotions aren’t very stable. She’s fainted several times already.” Mu Shi’an had told them about Mu Jingmei’s disappearance and uncertain fate.

His mother had fainted the moment she heard the news. After she woke up, she kept crying nonstop.

Worried that something might happen to her health, he had stayed with her until now.

“You should visit your mother more often these next few days and comfort her as much as you can. She’s only missing for now, and we haven’t found a body. There’s still a chance she survived.” Song Nianchu didn’t tell Mu Shi’an about the theory she and Wu Zhenggui had come up with.

After all, they had no evidence. Speculation alone wouldn’t stand up to scrutiny.

“Mm.” Mu Shi’an nodded.

“I heated some water. You can take a bath in a little while.” Song Nianchu took Mu Shi’an’s hand.

Mu Shi’an forced a faint smile.

By the time they had finished bathing, the sky outside had already begun to brighten.

Mu Shi’an hadn’t intended to sleep, but Song Nianchu insisted on pulling him onto the bed.

“Even one extra hour of sleep is better than none.”

Mu Shi’an wanted to say that he couldn’t sleep right now. Yet for some reason, after Song Nianchu gradually drifted off in his arms, he also felt his eyelids grow heavy and slowly closed his eyes.

The two of them slept until noon.

It was only because Mu Yongnian was worried they would sleep too long and harm their health by missing a meal that he woke them when it was time to eat.

Song Nianchu was still somewhat groggy when she came out of the room and saw that Mu Yongnian had already prepared the food and set it on the table.

The dishes were simple—just some leafy greens and potatoes.

At his age, he didn’t know how to make anything too complicated.

“Did you make all of this?” Song Nianchu asked in surprise.

“Mm.” Mu Yongnian nodded.

During the time Mu Shi’an had been away, he had continued living here with Mu Haoxuan.

His parents had wanted to take them back home, but the two boys wanted to stay here and wait for them to return.

His mother had been preparing their meals and bringing them over, but today, probably because she saw that Song Nianchu and Mu Shi’an were both back, she hadn’t come by.

So Mu Yongnian had no choice but to imitate the way Song Nianchu had cooked before and fry two dishes—cabbage and potatoes.

“That’s very impressive.” Song Nianchu smiled and rubbed Mu Yongnian’s head.

“Big Sister-in-law, you’ve worked hard these past few days. Hurry up and eat.” Mu Yongnian looked a little embarrassed by the praise.

“All right.” Song Nianchu sat down at once.

However, as they ate, Song Nianchu clearly noticed that Mu Haoxuan seemed somewhat downcast.

It was as if something was troubling him.

“Haoxuan, what’s wrong?” Song Nianchu asked him directly.

After all, he was usually the one who enjoyed his meals the most.