Liu Duo furrowed her brow even more tightly. Where could Liu Ran have gone?
Liu Ran wouldn’t loiter around with his classmates and not come home after school finished. She was sure of this, so she was getting worried.
Ye Xuan also believed that something was amiss. He knew the ins and outs of Liu Ran’s lifestyle. He wouldn’t go anywhere besides home and school!
“Sister-in-law, I’ll go check out the homes of the classmates he went home with. Don’t worry.”
When the Ye brothers were around, Ye Xuan wouldn’t call her Sister Duo. He’d stick with “sister-in-law”.
Ye Ling egyed him with his brow furrowed. Why was he here?
He only had eyes for Liu Duo, therefore he had just recently noticed Ye Xuan.
Liu Duo merely gave him a look. She did not reply. She placed the textbook she had been carrying onto the table.
“Ling, this is Ran Er’s textbook. I found it among the bushes. I wasn’t able to find him, and since he’s not back yet, I’m beginning to worry, so I’m heading outside to look for him.”
“I’m going with you,” Ye Ling said without needing to think.
Seeing how worried she looked, he couldn’t let her go out all by herself. He had to stay with her.
His three brothers weren’t at home at the time, so he felt he had a compelling obligation to step up and help look for his brother-in-law.
“Sure.”
They greeted Aunt Li and then left the house to look for Liu Ran.
Little Lian, who was carrying Little Huzi in her arms, got worried too, “Mother, where do you think Ran Er went? Could something have happened? He’s a sensible kid, he wouldn’t do anything to worry Sister Duo.”
She didn’t think Liu Ran was the playful type. He wouldn’t refuse to come home.
Aunt Li furrowed her brow, sharing her woes. Liu Ran had never done anything like this before.
“Little Lian, you stay here. I’m going to notify Yang, so he can help with the search.”
“Right,” Little Lian nodded.
Aunt Li exited the yard and ran directly to Ye Yang’s farm. She was fast, and very soon sweat began to slide from her forehead.
When she saw Ye Yang’s figure she called out to him loudly, “Yang, you have to stop working and help look for Ran Er! Your wife went to fetch him from school, but she only found his textbook among the bushes. He didn’t come home, and we don’t know where he is now…”
Ye Yang didn’t wait for Aunt Li to get nearer to the farm. He instructed Old Liu nearby, “We stop here.”
Old Liu was the permanent worker they had hired not long before.
He also heard Aunt Li’s plea, and nodded, “Alright, I’ll come with you to look for Ran Er.”
He had seen Liu Ran before. He was a good kid, diligent and polite. Old Liu quite liked him.
Ye Yang agreed, “Thanks.”
Many hands make light work. Yang accepted his help. At times like this, they could use all the help they could get. After all, Ye Liu and the other men hadn’t returned from town.
They didn’t bother with their farming tools and just left them at the farm. They traced the route to the schoolhouse, looking for Liu Ran.
There was only one path. Very soon, Ye Yang’s team came across Liu Duo’s search party.
“Yang,” Ye Ling called ahead.
Liu Duo was now frantic and hot. Where could Liu Ran have gone?
“Little Duo, stay calm,” Ye Yang came to her side and brushed some hair behind her ear.
She felt reassured after hearing his low and husky voice. She looked up at him and nodded.
Their group went looking in places Liu Ran could possibly have gone, but they found nothing.
