Before going to bed, Xia Baozhu wrote a reply to her young readers while holding a hot water bottle.

Sun Xingyan slowly read through the article she published last year, chuckling occasionally.

After writing the letter, the two of them soaked their feet. Xia Baozhu started doing yoga, and Sun Xingyan asked her to teach him.

"Honey, you're so flexible! Did you get that from practicing this?"

"Yes, but you have to keep practicing to see results."

Suddenly, Sun Xingyan snorted. He quickly sat up, rubbing his leg and gasping for breath: "My leg almost cramped up just now!"

"Since this is your first time, don't force yourself to stretch. Just do what feels comfortable for you. You don't have to do it like I did." Xia Baozhu stopped and massaged his legs.

Sun Xingyan wasn't interested in yoga; he just wanted to try out a way of getting along that suited the two of them.

Learning from each other is a great thing.

Unlike some people who marry their wives and then abandon them as if they've completed a task, he won't do that.

He wants the two of them to have common ground and shared topics, and to understand each other's needs and thoughts.

Although his parents' relationship was good and most people praised it, he didn't think so; he had higher expectations.

When Xia Baozhu woke up in the morning, she first checked Sun Xingyan's face to see if there were any new injuries.

"No, honey, I'm fine, you don't need to be nervous." Sun Xingyan even took off his pajamas to show her his body.

Xia Baozhu really did get a thorough check-up.

She remained calm, which made Sun Xingyan blush and his heart race.

...

The temple fair in Feixian County occupies a large area, with tents set up one after another in open spaces far from the temples.

This kind of gathering originated from temple fairs and gradually developed into large-scale gatherings, but it is still called a temple fair here.

These tents offer paid shows, including acrobatics, animal performances, shadow puppetry, magic, drama, and some borderline performances.

The price wasn't high, and it attracted a lot of viewers, making it a lively and bustling place.

The area outside is lined with stalls selling antiques, old paintings and calligraphy, sugar figurines, fortune telling, lanterns, clothing, shoes, small ornaments, food, and even televisions and small appliances—it has everything imaginable.

Xia Baozhu was pulled into Sun Xingyan's arms as they jostled and pushed by countless people.

There were so many stalls that she was overwhelmed.

"This place is really interesting." It's even bigger and more lively than the market in the city.

Xia Baozhu stopped in front of a calligraphy and painting stall and watched the stall owner paint her name into a picture with a flourish.

"Wife, would you like me to write a piece of calligraphy?"

Sun Xingyan saw that Xia Baozhu was interested, and although he didn't think there was anything special about her, he was still prepared to pay for her.

"No need." Xia Baozhu was just there to watch the fun.

The two continued strolling around. In such crowded and lively places, there are many pickpockets. Xia Baozhu had already spotted three.

"Wife, look, there's one over there too."

Sun Xingyan pointed to a bird stall in front of him, where two circles of people were gathered.

One of the men on the outermost edge secretly reached his hand into the pocket of the person in front of him.

Xia Baozhu threw a pebble at that person.

Hearing the screams, the two men left with smiles on their faces.

It's like playing a mouse-finding game; it's fun and gives you a great sense of accomplishment.

When there were no mice around, they would look at various stalls and the two of them would play all day without getting bored.

Back at the guesthouse, a man rushed out and almost bumped into Xia Baozhu, but she quickly dodged him.

In the middle of the night, Xia Baozhu was awakened by the crying and shouting outside.

"My daughter! Where are you? It's all my fault for not watching you properly!"

The sound was shrill and painful, accompanied by crying and the sound of banging against the wall.

Someone opened the door and went out.

She broke free from Sun Xingyan's embrace and tried to get up.

"Wife, don't go!" Sun Xingyan grabbed her. Losing a person is not like looking for a thief at a gathering, where you know the target.

Their trip would not have helped.

Do you remember the magic show tent we went to today?

“I remember you said you thought you heard crying inside,” Sun Xingyan replied. “You suspect they’re human trafficking?”

"That's possible. I don't know if they rest in the tents at night. I'd like to go and check."

“Alright then, I’ll go with you.” Sun Xingyan sat up.

"You don't need to go. I'll just take a look and be right back."

"But I'm worried about you, so I'll just follow behind, I won't go in."

Ultimately, Xia Baozhu agreed to Sun Xingyan's proposal.

The noise in the hallway outside increased, and several well-meaning people surrounded the person who had been crying earlier, asking them questions.

One of them looked like an undercover officer; when Xia Baozhu passed by him, he gave her a few serious looks.

However, Xia Baozhu was wrapped up tightly, so he could only remember her figure and clothing.

The guesthouse they stayed at wasn't far from the temple fair; it was only a 20-minute walk away.

The temple fair at this time was a chaotic mess, with garbage everywhere.

The tents, of varying heights, stood silently in the night.

In stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the daytime.

Xia Baozhu accidentally stepped on some trash. This trash was real trash, leftovers from scavengers.

She became even more cautious, with Sun Xingyan silently following behind her.

He was carrying a flashlight and a stun gun, but the flashlight was useless. He walked very carefully.

Xia Baozhu also had these two items in her pocket; Sun Xingyan had given them to her.

They agreed that from now on, whoever goes on a long trip must carry a weapon for self-defense with them.

Xia Baozhu started from the first tent she passed, and not knowing where the backstage was, she wandered around looking for it.

She stayed for five minutes with each of them.

Until she finally saw the magic show tent.

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