Late at night on the third day after the flood, the lights inside He Yan's house were dim.
Baiyun's eyes were red and swollen as she softly comforted Xiaobao, who had cried himself to sleep and was now lying on her lap.
Da Bao and Er Bao were also curled up in the corner of the kang (a heated brick bed), their little faces covered in tears, drowsy and unsure whether they were asleep or not.
At that moment, the door was pushed open, and He Yanzhi walked in, covered in cold air, mud, and heavy exhaustion.
His military uniform was soaked and covered in mud.
Bai Yun suddenly looked up and saw that He Yan was the only one there. The glimmer of hope that had just risen in her eyes was instantly extinguished.
Her voice trembled with tears, "Brother-in-law, is there still...is there still no news of my sister? It's been...it's been three days!"
He Yanzhi walked heavily, slowly shook his head, and his voice was so hoarse that he could barely speak, "No, I've asked all the villages downstream... no one has seen her."
He looked at the three children on the kang (a heated brick bed), his eyes filled with pain.
Bai Yun's tears welled up again, but she held them back. "Brother-in-law... sit down and rest for a while. I'll go get you some hot water. You... you're too tired. Rest for a bit."
Since her sister went missing, her brother-in-law hasn't slept for several days.
If this continues, my body won't be able to take it.
"No need!" He Yanzhi's gaze swept over Bai Yun, who was exhausted but still trying her best to take care of the children. His voice was deep. "Bai Yun, thank you for your hard work. We are so grateful to have you taking care of the children these past few days."
Bai Yun shook her head vigorously, "What are you saying, brother-in-law! Taking care of Da Bao, Er Bao, and Xiao Bao, and taking care of this family, is all my duty! Go change into some dry clothes and rest for a while!"
He was about to get up to pour water.
At this moment, the three children, who had been dozing off, were awakened.
Upon seeing her father return, she immediately rushed over crying, completely disregarding He Yanzhi's muddy body.
Da Bao clung tightly to He Yanzhi's leg, looking up at him and crying, "Daddy! Daddy! Where's Mommy?! I want Mommy! When is Mommy coming back?"
The second child hugged the other leg, sobbing, "Daddy...find Mommy...find Mommy come back...boohoo..."
Holding Bai Yun, Xiao Bao stretched out his little hand towards He Yanzhi, crying his heart out, "Mommy! I want my mommy!"
He struggled desperately, and Baiyun had no choice but to put him down.
He Yanzhi stiffened for a moment, then squatted down, opened his arms, and tightly hugged the three crying children, rubbing his muddy cheeks against their little faces, his voice a suppressed tenderness:
"Good boy... Da Bao, Er Bao, Xiao Bao, don't cry, Daddy's here... Daddy's here, Mommy... Your mommy went to a place a little far away to take care of something, she'll be back when she's done, don't worry, Daddy will definitely find Mommy and bring her back, definitely!"
He held the children in his arms, repeating in a low but firm voice, as if comforting them, or perhaps making a vow to himself.
After a long while, the children's cries gradually turned into sobs.
Finally, in extreme exhaustion and the brief sense of security in her father's arms, she snuggled up and fell asleep.
Baiyun carefully put Xiaobao back on the kang (heated brick bed).
Bai Yun looked at He Yanzhi's bloodshot eyes and the pallor that couldn't be hidden beneath the mud, and said softly, "Brother-in-law, why don't you get some sleep? I'll watch over them..."
He Yanzhi gently laid the sleeping children down and covered them with blankets.
He stood up, not looking at Baiyun, but turning his gaze to the still dark night outside the window. "No, I'm going out for some fresh air."
After saying that, he strode to the door, opened it, and plunged once again into the boundless night as he searched for Guan Wenru.
The door closed gently behind him, shutting out the dim, warm light inside the room.
......
He didn't come home again that night.
The next morning, Baiyun was making lunch at home with her three children. The triplets were squatting listlessly in the open space outside the No. 1 courtyard.
The three of them used small twigs to scratch the soil, seemingly trying to draw something.
Tie Dan from the next courtyard strolled over, a malicious smile on his face.
He deliberately spoke loudly, "Hey! He Dabao! He Erbao! He Xiaobao! Still squatting here playing in the mud? Where's your mom? It's been so many days, and there's not a trace of her!"
Da Bao suddenly looked up and glared at Tie Dan, "My mom went to run some errands! She'll be back when she's done!"
Tie Dan scoffed, mimicking an adult's tone, "Get things done? What kind of thing can be done so poorly that nothing happens? My grandma said..."
Your mother must have been swept away by the flood! Swept far, far away! Her body was never found! You'll be motherless wild children from now on! Hahaha!
"!!!" Erbao's face turned red with anger. She jumped up and pointed at Tiedan, "You're talking nonsense! You're the wild child! My mom will come back!"
Xiao Bao's eyes widened in anger, and he stood up and pounced on Tie Dan.
Seeing their anger, Tie Dan became even more smug. As he ran, he shouted, "From now on, you'll be motherless crybabies! Hehehe! You'll be motherless! My grandma said if we can't find you, you'll be fish food! You three poor little wretches! No mother to care for you anymore!"
The words "no mother" were like sparks, instantly igniting the fear, grievances, and anger that the triplets had suppressed for several days!
Da Bao's eyes instantly turned red, and he roared like a little leopard, "I'll teach you to talk nonsense! Beat him up!"
Da Bao rushed forward and slammed his head hard into Tie Dan's stomach!
Caught off guard, Tie Dan cried out in pain as he was bumped into, clutching his stomach and backing away. "You all have no mothers, and you still dare to hit people?!"
"You're the one who doesn't have a mother!" Erbao followed closely, his little fists raining down on Tiedan's back. "I'll beat you to death! You'll learn your lesson for talking about my mother! I'll kill you!"
Xiao Bao rushed up to Tie Dan, scratching and biting, yelling, "You mean mouth!"
Tie Dan was suddenly surrounded and attacked by three angry little guys, and he panicked instantly.
He usually just bullies lone kids because of his sharp tongue, he's never seen anything like this before.
He was screaming and thrashing about as he was being hit, frantically pushing and shoving, but he couldn't defend himself at all. "Ouch! Stop hitting me! Let me go! He Dabao! How dare you hit me?! Ouch! My hair! Stop biting me! It hurts so much!"
The triplets were completely enraged, their pent-up emotions finding an outlet, and they unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks at Tiedan.
Tie Dan was quickly beaten to the point of being unable to fight back. His face was covered in snot and tears, and his clothes were torn to shreds.
A moment later, Tie Dan finally broke down, letting out a pig-like wail, "Waaaaah! Help! Grandma! Grandma, help me! That brat from the He family has killed someone!"
He scrambled and crawled away from the three children's attack, crying and running wildly towards his home.
The triplets stood there, panting heavily, their small chests heaving, their faces still bearing angry tear stains and red marks from the fight.
Watching Tie Dan flee in a disheveled state, Da Bao wiped his face hard, his voice still trembling with tears, but he roared fiercely at Tie Dan's retreating figure, "If you dare to talk about my mother again! I'll beat you every time I see you!"
Soon, Tie Dan's pig-like wailing and his grandmother's shrill cursing came from afar.
Baiyun rushed out of the house upon hearing the noise. Seeing the three children's disheveled yet stubborn appearance, she instantly understood most of the situation, feeling anxious, angry, and heartbroken.
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