Brother Qiu came back from Danbei carrying Tong Bajin and Qinglian. He looked in a bad mood. As soon as he landed, he scared the two horses so much that one of them even peed its pants.

Jian Ning took Brother Qiu to the woods, secretly took some spiritual spring water to feed it, and at the same time comforted it and gave it some psychological counseling.

"It's almost time to leave. If you're any later, the city gates will be locked and you won't be able to leave." Huo Jincheng shouted outside the woods.

"I'm coming." Jian Ning responded and took Brother Qiu out of the forest. He also told Tong Bajin to meet up with Xu Dali and the others, and then ask more local people in Qujing County. If a living person disappeared in Qujing, there would always be clues to find.

"Don't worry, ma'am." Tong Bajin said, "If he's alive, I want to see him. If he's dead, I want to see his body. My brother Dali and I will find Manager Chen as soon as possible."

"You should be careful too." Jian Ning looked at Huo Jincheng, "When you come to Xing'an, I'll make you some dumplings and fry some side dishes, and let my husband drink with you."

Huo Jincheng bowed to express his gratitude.

After Jian Ning took Qinglian on Qiu Ge's horse, Huo Jincheng and Tong Bajin also led their horses down the mountain.

After midnight, Brother Qiu carried Jian Ning and Qing Lian to the Xing'an County Government Office. Ding Youtian stood with his hands behind his back under a big tree in the yard. At first, he saw from a distance that the two people on the snake were very close to each other, as if they were hugging each other. He secretly cursed Huo Jincheng in his heart, but when he got closer and saw that the person sitting in front of him was a young woman, a smile appeared on his face.

"Thank you for your hard work, madam. This girl is... Miss Qinglian?" Ding Youtian had an extraordinary memory. Although the light from the lanterns on the corridor was limited, he still recognized Qinglian at a glance when his eyes fell on her.

"I, Song Qinglian, greet Lord Ding." Qinglian turned sideways and bowed.

"No need to be so polite in the future." When Ding Youtian saw her coming, he didn't ask her how Old Man Song was doing. He guessed that Old Man Song was probably passed away, otherwise Qinglian would not have come here with Jian Ning, so he didn't ask.

"Are Jia Jia and Yao Yao asleep?" Jian Ning asked.

"Yes, I told them that you wouldn't be back until the day after tomorrow, and they didn't dare to make a fuss about waiting for you. They'll be quiet for the next two days. I'll tell you more later."

"Are they fighting again?"

"This time, they beat someone up and filed a complaint with the government."

Jian Ning was stunned for a moment, then took Qinglian's hand and said, "Come with me, I will arrange a place for you to live first. Don't be too restrictive when you get here. My concubine's mothers are here with you. If you need anything, you can tell me or them."

There was a small empty room in the backyard of the yamen, which was used by Erniu and Sanniu to do their homework. The two little ones had no choice but to practice martial arts, and they could only read and understand a few words. Neither Jian Ning nor Ding Youtian expected them to become female scholars.

"I'll get you a bed and blanket. You can get ready yourself. There's hot water on the stove in the kitchen, and there's a well behind it. Come with me and I'll show you. You can get some water and wash up first. I'll get you some more utensils tomorrow."

Jian Ning led her out and pointed her in the direction of the kitchen. Qing Lian only then realized that she had really caused her so much trouble and felt very uneasy. Knowing that her child at home had caused some trouble, she did not delay Jian Ning any longer. "Madam, please go and do your own thing. Don't worry about me. I will take care of my own affairs. Madam, just go."

"Okay, I'll get the bedding for you." Jane Ning went back to the main house. Ding Youtian had already unpacked the box and found a quilt. He was about to send it to the small house when Jane Ning walked over and said, "Give it to me." She took the quilt and handed it to Qinglian.

When Jane Ning delivered the quilt and was about to go back to the house, Brother Qiu jumped over and blocked her way. He raised his snake body and looked at Jane Ning. Jane Ning knew what he was thinking just by looking into his eyes without saying a word.

"Okay, I'll call my husband, and we'll take you to Guoguo first. It'll take another two days for Ah Man's father to come back, so you can just stay in the mountains and play with Guoguo and the others for a couple of days."

Jian Ning went back to the house and called Ding Youtian, and took Qiu Ge on the way to Jiguana Mountain. Because Qiu Ge was flying in a strong wind, the distance was not far, and the flight would not take long, so she did not rush to ask what happened at Ding Youtian's house?

Ding Youtian also didn't ask her about Qinglian, but just hugged her tightly. It was the first time they had been separated for several days since Jian Ning came here. He was always good at sweet talk, and he didn't know what he said with his head buried in the back of Jian Ning's neck, which made Jian Ning giggle and keep hitting his forehead with the back of her head.

Listening to Jian Ning's laughter, Brother Qiu seemed to be infected, or maybe it was because he was about to see his little friend whom he had not seen for a long time. In short, he started to laugh more and more happily.

"Qiuqiu! Brother!" Baimei stood high and could see far. It was the first to discover Brother Qiu and Jian Ning. It cried out joyfully twice, flapped its wings, and shot out from the treetop like an arrow, flying towards Brother Qiu.

The white-browed cat flew over and landed on Jian Ning's shoulder. Because Ding Youtian clung too closely to Jian Ning, and his shoulders were higher than Jian Ning's, the white-browed cat almost lost its balance on Jian Ning's shoulder. It was so angry that it turned its head and cursed, "Hateful!"

"Watch out, Guo'er's gonna punish you." Ding Youtian poked its butt with his finger when it swiftly turned its head and pecked it. He cried out in pain, "This is terrible! This flat-haired beast seems to have an iron beak. Be careful, or I'll get angry and smash your head with a hammer."

Guoguo was already jumping high below. Its jumping ability was amazing now. Before Brother Qiu landed, it jumped onto the tree, and with the help of the branches and leaves shaking, it landed on Brother Qiu's back like a cannonball.

Its four paws still knew to hold Qiu Ge tightly, and Qiu Ge was so happy that his heads twisted into a big knot again. The haze in his heart was swept away when Guoguo fell on its back.

"When they transform into human form one day, I suspect they will have a passionate interracial love affair." Jane Ning smiled after landing on the ground.

"You think they're spirit alpacas." Ding Youtian smiled, looking at Qiu Ge and Guo Guo rolling around and playing, and Jin Bao lying quietly beside them. He touched his nose and said, "Jin Bao and Yuan Bao have really grown up and become sensible. This is what you mentioned before, that no matter what happens, you will stick to your post, right?"

"Yes." Jian Ning took a bowl from the bushes, went in among the herbs and scooped out some spiritual spring water. He leaned over and scratched Jinbao's head. "You're so good. Come, drink first. After you drink, call Yuanbao to come over and drink."

The white-browed cat flew over with two angry roars. After it flew down, it went back to its own post. It was extremely angry that it was not praised.

When Jinbao heard its cry, he was so scared that he took two steps back.

As for the spiritual spring water, it has to wait until the two big guys use it before it and Yuanbao can have their turn. It understands this rule.

Baimei landed on the edge of the bowl, but didn't drink. His two little eyes just stared at Jian Ning, making Jian Ning happy and grabbing it. "Master Ding is wrong. My Jian Baimei is the one who sticks to his post the most. I will criticize Master Ding later. Don't worry, okay?"

That was more like it. Baimei's throat moved a few times, and he broke free from Jian Ning's hands. He and Guoguo squeezed into the same bowl and drank the spiritual spring water.