Dahewan Production Brigade
In the dead of night, Che Wang was restless at home, banging his pipe against the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed).
Lu Amei also looked worried. "What time is it? Why aren't they back yet? Should we go to the communications room and call Director Guan to ask? Could it be that there's some kind of transport mission tonight?"
Che Wang took a deep drag of his cigarette, exhaled, and then spoke, "If there's a mission, Zhenxing will tell us. When has he ever done something so unreliable?"
He went to look for his son several times tonight, but his son was not there.
Xi Mufan, who lives in the same courtyard as her son, also said that Che Zhenxing did not go home tonight.
Suddenly remembering something, Che Wang turned to look at Che Xiaoni beside him and asked, "After dinner, when your brother went out with you, did he say anything to you?"
Che Xiaoni absentmindedly rubbed the hem of her clothes, her voice a little weak, "No... he didn't say anything... he... he probably had something to do at the factory, so he went to the factory?"
"Bullshit!" Che Wang suddenly stood up. "If something happened at his factory, wouldn't he at least send a message? It's already past midnight! Your brother isn't the kind of person who doesn't keep his word! Did you two have another fight? Did he storm off in anger?"
Che Xiaoni's face paled when her secret was exposed, but she stubbornly retorted, "Who...who argued with him! He's minding his own business!"
Lu Amei panicked even more, "Alright, alright, stop scolding the child, hurry up and go look for him! It's so dark, we don't want anything to happen!"
"Go! Everyone go out and look!" Che Wang grabbed his coat and yelled at Che Xiaoni, "You go too! You brat, if anything happens to your brother because of you, I won't let you off the hook!"
The family rushed out the door, grabbing their only flashlight, and called out in the cold night:
"Revitalize!"
"Brother! Where are you?!"
"Zhenxing! We're home!"
The commotion alerted many people in the group.
Many people came out to ask.
Upon learning that Che Zhenxing had not returned home, everyone took out flashlights and went out to look for him.
Xi Mufan came out wearing a cotton-padded coat and carrying a flashlight, and joined the search.
A group of people were shouting and taking pictures on several roads in the village, which alerted several households, but they all said they had not seen Che Zhenxing.
Just as they were getting anxious, several brighter and more stable beams of light shone from the direction of the village entrance.
A moment later, several men in plainclothes, but with efficient and neat movements, walked over. The one in the lead looked at Che Wang and the others and asked, "Captain Che, what's wrong so late? Who are you looking for?"
Che Wang recognized one of them as a battalion commander. He grasped at a straw and quickly exclaimed, "Comrade! We're looking for my son! Che Zhenxing! He hasn't come back all night!"
The man at the head of the group was Weng Liang, the battalion commander of the reconnaissance battalion.
Weng Liang's gaze lingered on Che Xiaoni's face for a moment, then he nodded, "We're also looking for someone, let's search together! Many hands make light work! Where did you last see him? Which direction did he go?"
Che Wang shook his head: "I don't know! He came home from get off work, talked to Xiaoni for a while, and then went out. He didn't say where he was going!"
Weng Liang immediately pressed Che Xiaoni for details, "Miss, what did your brother say to you? Did he mention where you were going? And did you meet anyone tonight? Like any new friends?"
Che Xiaoni felt extremely flustered as several men stared at her, especially their gazes, which inexplicably frightened her.
Her voice trembled, "No! My brother... he just told me... not to go out... I don't know where he went, I really don't know!"
Weng Liang exchanged a glance with a scout next to him.
He knew that Che Xiaoni was still hiding a lot. He looked at Che Wang and said, "Okay, you guys continue to search in the village and the familiar places nearby. A few of us will go outside the village to look, especially the riverbanks and the woods. Dr. Xi, please stay with the villagers and keep an eye on them. If anything happens, shout loudly!"
Xi Mufan nodded, "Okay."
Che Wang bowed repeatedly, saying, "Thank you, comrades!"
Weng Liang waved his hand, "Let's go! Spread out and search carefully!"
Several scouts immediately and swiftly disappeared into the darkness outside the village like cheetahs, their beams scanning the ground and suspicious corners in a regular pattern.
Che Xiaoni looked in the direction they disappeared, then at her anxiously calling parents, and a sudden, overwhelming panic gripped her.
Her legs went weak.
Xi Mufan reacted quickly and grabbed her arm. "Be careful, if you can't hold on, go back first!"
Che Xiaoni shook her head, broke free from her parents' grasp, and followed behind them with her head down.
The group searched all night long.
But in the end, nothing was gained!
After daybreak, Weng Liang found Che Xiaoni again.
Che Xiaoni finally couldn't take it anymore and broke down, revealing that she had argued with Che Zhenxing last night and met Zhao Zhilang!
...
The air outside the feed processing plant was still chilly in the early morning.
Guan Wenru and Bai Yun had just gotten out of the jeep when they saw Xi Mufan standing there, looking exhausted.
Bai Yun rushed forward in surprise, "Dr. Xi? What are you doing here? So early?"
Guan Wenru looked at him with suspicion, "Has something happened?"
Xi Mufan was visibly relieved to see that the two of them were safe and sound, but his brows were furrowed. "It's good to see that you're both alright. I came here to tell you something: Che Zhenxing has gone missing."
"What?!" Guan Wenru and Bai Yun exclaimed in surprise at the same time.
"Missing? Brother Zhenxing? How could this be?" Baiyun asked incredulously.
Xi Mufan's voice was low and hoarse from not having slept all night, "I didn't go home last night. Uncle Che and his men searched all night, but we still haven't found a single clue."
Guan Wenru's heart sank suddenly. "Not a single clue? Where did he go in the end? Who did he end up with?"
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