"Then what happened next?" Fu Xin Ci was very curious. How did the sisters end up in the hands of the human traffickers?
"We sisters waited until dark before we dared to move. But our legs were so numb from squatting (kneeling) that we couldn't walk at all. And most importantly, we had no idea about our surroundings and didn't dare to wander off."
Fu Xin Ci: I admire this little brain. To be so organized in such a situation, she really needed to learn from this local young lady.
However, she was still very curious and asked the question she most wanted to ask: "So you two sisters stayed there all night."
"Yes. When it got light, we sisters carefully continued along the small river."
Fu Xin Ci really wanted to ask: Weren't you hungry? What did you eat to sustain yourselves? But thinking about how awkward that might be at the time, she decided not to ask.
Just because she didn't ask didn't mean others wouldn't. Look, Commander Lin, who was concerned about his two nieces, asked.
"Nuan Xin, were you sisters starving the whole time?"
"No, Uncle," Nuan Nuan spoke up now. "We had mung bean cakes."
"We have to thank younger sister for not losing the bag she was carrying, no matter how much we ran."
Fu Xin Ci: A foodie never abandons their food.
"Before we left home, younger sister put some mung bean cakes in the bag. It was thanks to these mung bean cakes that we sisters didn't go hungry."
"We sisters walked along the small river until we met that person."
"Which person?" Commander Lin pressed.
Fu Xin Ci suddenly guessed, "The person with the scar on his face?" In this era, a woman's reputation was very important. Even though they were just little girls, Fu Xin Ci omitted the word 'man.'
Nuan Xin looked at Fu Xin Ci gratefully and nodded silently.
"It was the agency in Xian Shui Town," Fu Xin Ci added helpfully. Some things were inconvenient for them to handle, but Commander Lin and the others would be very efficient.
"There are not many households left in Xian Shui Town now. If we want to find people, we'll have to wait until spring next year to see if those people will return."
Qi Yuan Shan's words also reminded Commander Lin.
"Mm," Commander Lin replied, making his own plans.
Originally, he had brought Shun Zi today to thank the young lady for saving their lives. But seeing his two nieces here, and well taken care of, he exchanged a look with Shun Zi and bowed deeply to Grandpa Meng, as a way of thanking them for saving their lives.
Grandpa Meng was a bit confused. He could vaguely understand why Commander Lin, the sisters' uncle, would bow to him, as gratitude for saving Nuan Xin and her sister.
But what about that young soldier? Was this gratitude with a bonus?
However, no matter what the old man thought, he immediately told his son to help them up. He kept muttering, "This is not right. Saving them was my granddaughter's idea."
Commander Lin: That makes sense. They could bow to the old man, but not to the young lady.
Shun Zi: Bowing to little sister's grandfather is equivalent to bowing to little sister.
Fu Xin Ci: I agree.
After thanking Grandpa Meng, Commander Lin began to arrange for his two nieces to return.
"The two children have been missing for half a year. Because they are girls, and because of my brother's special status, our family has been afraid to search for them openly. My sister-in-law has been heartbroken and confined to bed."
When the sisters heard that their mother had been ill, tears welled up again.
"Then hurry back. I'll help you pack." Madam Fang, being a mother herself, thought of the time she spent without seeing her children, which was worse than death. She took the two sisters to the small building in the back.
Commander Lin also saw that this family was kind-hearted. A thought then occurred to him. While Madam Fang was packing for his nieces, he spoke to Grandpa Meng and his son about his plan.
"Uncle Meng, the two children have been away from home for so long. Even if I send them home safe and sound now, the gossip won't stop. It's okay for now, but I'm worried that when the children reach marriageable age, they'll be talked about."
Grandpa Meng and his son understood the meaning behind Commander Lin's words and waited for him to continue.
"Uncle Meng, what I mean is, can we become sworn relatives? That is, you recognize these two children as your granddaughters, and Brother Fu and his wife as their adoptive parents."
Fu Xin Ci hadn't expected Commander Lin to come up with this idea.
Grandpa Meng and his son exchanged a glance and agreed. This matter had no harm to the family and could help the two children, so why not?
When Madam Fang returned with Nuan Xin and her sister after packing, she learned of her uncle's decision.
The young sisters did not hesitate. They immediately knelt down and paid their respects again. They called out "Grandfather," "Adoptive Father," and "Adoptive Mother" more smoothly than Fu Xin Ci had when she first transmigrated.
After all, the young sisters had been in this family for quite some time and had gradually integrated into the family.
It was like an internship period before becoming a full-time employee.
Unlike her, who appeared in this era and was immediately thrust into a major role, forced into it against her will.
She really wanted to find a place to scream, why was she treated so unfairly?
Others had a gradual progression, while she reached the battlefield in two seconds.
Then all that was missing was a big banner, "Late-game wipeout."
Ah, could she throw a tantrum and roll on the ground?
However, before she could complain further, Nuan Xin and her sister came to pay their respects to their older sister. Perhaps it was because they had gotten along well during this period, Fu Xin Ci's actions were faster than her thoughts.
In everyone's eyes, it seemed that she really liked these two younger sisters. Of course, this wasn't just for show. Nuan Xin and her sister were indeed lovable girls with many merits.
Otherwise, given her temper, she wouldn't have indulged them.
After everyone had paid their respects again, Grandpa Meng asked his son and daughter-in-law to accompany them to send the sisters home.
"Since we have recognized these two children, you two will have to work hard and make this trip."
"Father, your son understands."
The couple understood their old father's good intentions. Commander Lin was so touched that he didn't know what to say, continuously expressing his gratitude to the old man.
The old man smiled and said, "Nephew Lin, if you continue to be like this, it will be like being a stranger."
Commander Lin patted his head and apologized to the old man, "Uncle Meng, my apologies."
"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. The donkey cart at home doesn't have a carriage. How can we go out in this cold weather? Please trouble you two to quickly build one now."
"Yes, we'll do it now."
Grandpa Meng added, "Make sure it's tied securely."