Chapter 39: Missing 2
Two days later,
That morning, Lin Xu woke up as usual. Together with Yanmei, she started preparing food early. Today, they had to deliver a 20 bowl of meat to the Yun Restaurant. While she was cooking, she also set aside some things for her boys at the academy, carefully packing them into a basket.
Out in the fields, Mo Ying and Fu Han were busy working on the farm, planting and tending to the crops. When Lin Xu came out with the basket, she handed it to them. "Take these to the boys when you visit. There’s food, clothes, and some extra papers."
Mo Ying and Fu Han set off for the academy. But the moment they arrived, they felt something was wrong. The place was in chaos. Matrons hurried from one end to the other, whispering in panic. Some students looked unsettled, muttering among themselves.
"What’s going on here?" Mo Ying asked, frowning.
A student stopped long enough to answer. "Two boys went missing two days ago. They haven’t been seen since."
"Do you know the names of those two boys?" Mo Ying asked, hoping they weren’t the kids.
"Well I don’t know both their names but I do know the smaller one is named ’Bao’ I don’t know for the other one though."
Mo Ying’s chest tightened. He rushed to one of the matrons. "Where are my children? Where are Mo Yuen and Bao Bao?"
The matron’s face went pale. "Sir... we... we don’t know. The children... they’re missing."
Mo Ying grabbed her by the shoulder shaking her hard. "Missing? What do you mean missing! You are in charge of this place how can two boys vanish like wind and you notice nothing! Did no one see them go out, no one stop them??"
The matron trembled, her lips moving but no words came out.
Another servant woman came running up, wringing her hands. "We looked everywhere sir... their rooms, the courtyard, even the wells. They just gone. Vanished like ghost."
Fu Han stepped closer, his voice low but sharp. "Don’t tell me nonsense. Two living children don’t just disappear. Somebody had to see something. Who was on duty that day?"
A different matron whispered, avoiding their eyes. "We thought... we thought they left with their grandmother... an old woman, she said she was family..."
Mo Ying’s head snapped toward her, his face dark as thunder. "Grandmother?! My children don’t have any grandmother here! Who let her in? Who dared give my sons to stranger without my word!" His roar echoed through the academy halls, and students nearby shrank back in fear.
One of the older boys muttered to another, "I saw them leave... the woman held Bao Bao’s hand. He looked scared..."
That was enough to break the last of Mo Ying’s patience. He stormed straight into the headmaster’s office, his boots striking the floor like hammers. "Tell me what happened to my sons!"
The headmaster, sweating nervously, explained, "Two days ago... an old woman came. She claimed to be their grandmother. She said she wanted to take them out for a short visit. The matrons... believed her. But they never came back. We’ve been searching ever since."
Mo Ying slammed his fist on the desk. "And you didn’t think to inform me immediately?!" His voice shook the room as the headmaster bowed his head in shame.
Furious, Mo Ying stormed out of the academy, cursing every single one of them on his way out. His steps were heavy and fast as he made his way back home.
"Lin Xu... bad news!" Mo Ying’s voice cracked with rage and panic as he stumbled into the courtyard.
Lin Xu rushed out of the kitchen, her hands still damp from washing vegetables. Yan Mei followed close behind, worry etched across her face.
"Mo Ying, what’s wrong?" Lin Xu asked quickly, her heart already pounding. "Why are you breathing so fast? Did something happen?"
Mo Ying’s fists clenched, his jaw tight. "The boys... Yuen and Bao Bao... they’re missing."
The basket in Lin Xu’s hands fell to the ground with a dull thud. Her whole body froze, eyes wide with shock. "What... what do you mean missing?"
"They vanished two days ago," Mo Ying spat, his voice trembling with fury. "The academy said an old woman came, claimed she was their grandmother, and they let her take them. Since then—nothing! No one has seen them."
Yan Mei gasped, her face paling. "Grandmother? It can only be..." She glanced at Lin Xu, dread in her voice. "Aunt Lu."
Lin Xu’s shock turned into a burning glare. She grabbed a wooden stick leaning against the wall, her grip so tight her knuckles turned white.
"That wretched woman!" she hissed. Her chest heaved with rage. "She dares touch my children? I’ll break every bone in her body!"
She said coldly. "We’re going to the Lu family house."
Yan Mei tried to hold her arm. "Xu, wait—"
Lin Xu pulled free. "No. My children are out there, and I won’t sit here crying. If Aunt Lu has them, I’ll drag the truth out of her mouth myself."
Within moments, Lin Xu, Mo Ying, Fu Han, and Yan Mei stormed toward the Lu residence.
The villagers peeked out of their homes as Lin Xu marched past, a heavy wooden stick gripped tightly in her hands. Her face was like stone, and no one dared block her path.
At the Lu family house, Aunt Lu sat outside, gossiping with her husband and son, Lu Feng. When she saw Lin Xu’s group approach, her smirk widened.
"Well, well... look who came running."
Lin Xu’s grip on the stick tightened. "Where are my sons?" Her voice shook the air, sharp and cold.
Lu Feng sneered. "You think you can just barge in here and shout? Who do you think you are?"
Without hesitation, Lin Xu raised the stick and brought it down hard on the wooden table before them with a loud crack. Everyone flinched.
"I won’t ask again," she growled. "Where are my sons?"
Aunt Lu leaned back in her chair, unfazed. "Oh, they’re safe... for now. But if you want them to stay safe, you’ll do exactly as I say."
Yan Mei shouted, "You old witch! How dare you threaten children! Do you know how serious this is? We’ll report you to the authorities immediately!"
Aunt Lu’s smile was cruel. "Go ahead. Report me. By the time they even look into it, your precious boys will be lying in a ditch somewhere. Is that what you want?"
Lin Xu’s eyes widened, her whole body trembling. She raised the stick higher, ready to strike Aunt Lu across the head.
Lu Feng jumped to his feet. "Touch my mother, and I’ll—"
"Shut up!" Lin Xu roared, stepping forward. "Your family has crossed me for the last time. If one hair on my sons’ heads is harmed, I’ll make sure none of you live to see the next sunrise!"
Mo Ying placed a hand on her arm, his expression unreadable. Then, without drawing attention, he leaned closer to Fu Han and whispered something in his ear.
Fu Han’s eyes flickered in understanding. Without a word, he slipped away quietly, leaving the rest to hold Aunt Lu in place.
"Are you ready to listen now or should I just go on ahead to kill those two boys..m don’t forget that I’m just a old woman Lin Xu, even if I get arrested, it won’t be as painful and watching your two boys die before your eyes.. so you better make a decision, Will you keep being stubborn or finally listen."
Lin Xu’s grip on the stick tightened so hard her knuckles turned white. Her chest heaved, but she forced herself to stay still. "Fine," she spat. "Say what you want. I’ll listen—for now."
Aunt Lu smirked, leaning forward. "Good. At least you know how to act when your children’s lives are at stake. But don’t think I’m working alone. Chief Bai is behind this too. Together, we’ll make sure you’re ruined."
Lin Xu’s eyes narrowed, but she said nothing.
"The first task is simple," Aunt Lu continued, her voice cold. "You have another delivery to the Yun Restaurant tomorrow, don’t you? You’ll do it as usual. But this time, before sending the bowls, you’ll mix in these."
She pulled a small pouch from her sleeve and tossed it on the table. Dried, crumbled leaves spilled out slightly from the opening.
Mo Ying frowned. "What’s that?"
"Wood leaves," Aunt Lu said with a cruel smile. "A single handful is enough to cause hours of uncontrollable diarrhea. If the customers eat the food, the restaurant will be finished. Their name will be ruined, and so will yours."
Yan Mei’s face twisted in disgust. "You’re insane! You want to poison innocent people just to get revenge?!"
Aunt Lu’s smile only grew colder. "Don’t call it poison. Call it... persuasion. Do as I say, or the next time you see your boys, it’ll be their corpses."
Lin Xu’s heart pounded, rage boiling inside her. But her face remained hard and unreadable. Slowly, she lowered the stick and stared straight at Aunt Lu.
"What’s the second task?" she asked flatly.
Aunt Lu clapped her hands together lightly, mocking. "Ah, clever girl. Straight to the point. The second task is even simpler. Chief Bai wants information about how you’ve been managing your business. Where do you get your endless supply of meat? Who’s backing you? You’ll write down everything and send it to us by tomorrow night. Don’t even think about hiding anything—we’ll know if you lie."
Mo Ying’s eyes darkened, but he stayed silent, his hand still steady on Lin Xu’s arm.
Aunt Lu leaned back smugly. "Do these two things for now.. tomorrow I’ll tell you what next you are to do, if you follow all my instructions then surely... your son’s will be safe, but if you dare act smart for a second and try something stupid I’ll make sure you regret it."
She said as hearing that, Lin Xu and Mo Ying together with Yan Mei left the compound.