novelraw Chapter 383: As Long as There’s Silver
Chapter 383: As Long as There’s Silver
The news that Man Er and the others were missing exploded in Yan Guan Town.
Most of the merchants were extremely angry. Kidnapping Shopkeeper Tong’s children was a provocation to all the merchants in Yan Guan Town.
Many merchants were helping to look for them.
Nie Xiaofeng, upon hearing the news, rushed to Tong Huaqiong to inquire about it.
Gu Baishuang didn’t go to admire the lanterns; she was at home taking stock of her private savings.
During this New Year period, she followed Tong Huaqiong’s advice, cautiously catering to Nie Mingyuan’s strategy. Today, Nie Mingyuan finally took the bait, considering letting her participate in the porcelain business as a condition to join the Lu family’s merchant ship with Tong Huaqiong.
Although Nie Mingyuan was still wary of her, getting first-hand information about her own business had improved her situation.
Gu Baishuang planned to create another option for herself. She intended to convert all of her assets into silver to invest in her stepmother Tong Huaqiong’s overseas business.
As she was envisioning the future, she received the news about her nephew and niece’s disappearance.
Gu Baishuang was anxious and immediately gathered the maids and servants in the house to guard the home and went out to search.
She intended to meet her stepmother on the street.
Just as she was about to step out, a piece of paper flew to her feet. A maid beside her picked it up and handed it to her.
Upon unfolding the note, Gu Baishuang’s face changed dramatically.
It said that the children of the Nie Family were in the hands of the kidnappers, and the Nie Family needed to prepare two thousand taels of silver.
Did it mean that the Nie family’s grandchildren or son Nie Xiaofeng were also kidnapped?
That couldn’t be right. Her own grandchildren had just returned from the lantern festival.
With Nie Xiaofeng’s strength, no kidnapper could take him away.
Gu Baishuang hurriedly rushed out, pondered for a moment, went back inside, and handed the note to the servant, who then quietly stealthily went back to the street through a side door.
Not long after leaving, the servant saw Tong Huaqiong and the others.
Tong Huaqiong had just searched around, and Boss Qian, He Chao, the village head of Qinghe Bay, Liu Tieshan, and others had already gathered people from Qinghe Bay to search.
Tong Huaqiong thought that there were enough people searching, so she stood at the place where the children went missing waiting.
She kept thinking, what if Man Er and the others just got lost? What if they came back and couldn’t find her? What if someone with a grudge wanted to negotiate and couldn’t find her?
"Madam, someone just shot a note to Madam, and Madam asked me to give it to you," the servant whispered to Tong Huaqiong.
Tong Huaqiong didn’t mind the shocking term "Madam" and clenched the note in her hand, turned around, and unfolded it. A glance was enough to understand; the kidnappers mistook Man Er and Yaozu as members of the Nie Family.
Although Tong Huaqiong wasn’t clear where this misunderstanding came from, she realized one thing: Man Er and the others haven’t left Yan Guan Town, and since the kidnappers wanted silver, they didn’t intend to harm the children.
The note from the kidnappers clearly stated that the Nie Family should place two thousand taels of silver at a specified location at the ugly hour, and by dawn, the children would naturally be sent to the Nie Family.
That meant the children would be safe until dawn.
"The children are still in town," Tong Huaqiong said.
Having confirmed this information, Tong Huaqiong’s tense nerves slightly relaxed.
As long as the children were safe, everything would be negotiable.
"Since the children are still in town, we should let the government officials help search," the servant saw a government official in the distance and said to Tong Huaqiong.
This is extortion; even with the combined resources of the Gu Family and the Nie Family, they couldn’t gather that much silver.
"We can’t let the government officials know now," Lu Zhaoyang shook his head.
Tong Huaqiong’s thinking coincided with Lu Zhaoyang’s.
Who knows who took Man Er, Xiao Long, Yaozu, and Duo Er?
This group is in the shadows, definitely watching the movement of the government officials at all times.
If they handed the note to the government, and the group acted desperately, Man Er, Xiao Long, and the others would definitely be in danger.
What slightly comforted Tong Huaqiong was that the kidnappers didn’t know her relationship with the children.
This would be beneficial for acting discreetly.
"Aunt Tong, leave this to me, trust me, I will find the children," Lu Zhaoyang said to Tong Huaqiong, clutching the note.
Lu Zhaoyang felt extremely guilty.
If it weren’t for his meeting with Huang Jingshan, Aunt Tong might not have brought the children to the festival in town tonight.
Even if she had taken the children to see the lanterns, she wouldn’t have been distracted by his meeting with Huang Jingshan, allowing the kidnappers the opportunity.
If anything happened to the children, not only would it be a disservice to Aunt Tong, but his happiness with Huang Jingshan would be compromised for life.
Therefore, even for his happiness with Huang Jingshan, he had to find the children.
Tong Huaqiong nodded firmly and handed the colorful silk ball of Man Er to Lu Zhaoyang, who then set out with his men.
Since Lu Zhaoyang was alive, it meant he was favored by heaven. Tong Huaqiong believed that those favored by fate would continue to be.
She trusted that as long as Lu Zhaoyang was there, the children would be found.
"Mother, Yaozu, is Yaozu missing?"
Liu Yueer joined the lantern festival tonight, and during the conversation between Tong Huaqiong and the Huang Family, she slipped into the shops that were still open.
Accompanied by several young village wives, she browsed the silver stores, bought jewelry, and acquired silk, reveling in the compliments of the wives to the point of losing herself.
Just as she stepped out of the jewelry store, she encountered someone from the Huang Family who said that Man Er and Yaozu were missing.
Liu Yueer’s mind exploded, and she was scared out of her wits.
She had only one son; if he was lost, Gu Dashu wouldn’t spare her.
But she couldn’t be completely blamed; her mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and brother-in-law were all present, and even Su Chengmin, who was specifically watching the children, was there, which allowed her to shop with peace of mind.
Liu Yueer ran in a panic, her hairpins and ornaments falling off, grabbed Tong Huaqiong’s hand and confirmed if Yaozu was indeed missing.
Tong Huaqiong said, "Four children are missing, and everyone is looking."
The words from her mother-in-law set Liu Yueer’s mind spinning; she was furious that a group of them couldn’t keep an eye on her son.
Liu Yueer exploded, "How could you lose sight of the children right under your nose?"
Tong Huaqiong felt guilt over the children’s disappearance.
Despite knowing there were many people at the lantern festival, she had placed the children amidst the bustling scene.
But she didn’t know whom to blame; it was all in the blink of an eye when the children vanished.
Facing her daughter-in-law’s accusations, Tong Huaqiong decided not to argue with her.
Tong Huaqiong told Liu Yueer, "Everyone is already looking, and they will definitely be found."
Liu Yueer cried, "It’s easy for you to say. We don’t even know where the children are now. If Yaozu is sold to some unspeakable place, I won’t live. Boohoo... my poor Yaozu..."
Tong Huaqiong’s face darkened, "What are you saying!"
Liu Yueer cried with disheveled hair, starting to curse Su Chengmin, "Wasn’t he supposed to watch the children? How did he not keep them safe? If Yaozu isn’t found, I won’t let him off."
Liu Yueer wept, her face full of tears.
Annoyed by Liu Yueer’s crying, Tong Huaqiong had Gu Taohua take Liu Yueer to a dark and quiet place.
Liu Yueer’s crying and fussing were too attention-grabbing.