The Zeng family's living room was in a mess. The family members could only cry quietly and explain the situation of their missing children. It turned out that the children were not lost in one day, but over a period of three days.
After Su Jin coaxed Hanhan to sleep, she pushed the door open and came out of the guest room.
"Xiao Jin, these sisters-in-law are the family members of the missing children." Liu Yunshan pointed at the people across from her. "Why didn't you listen to my advice and insisted on letting the children go out to play?"
Liu Yunshan heard from the families that the children went missing during the spring plowing holiday.
Su Jin stared at her sisters-in-law. Apart from the allocated private plots, the family members hardly had to work in the fields. The children also played in the yard during their spring plowing holiday.
"These children all said that they stayed at their classmates' homes for two days, and were only thinking about the spring plowing holiday. Children of workers and soldiers are not allowed to work in the fields." Several sisters-in-law did not take Wu Jun's warning seriously. They became scared when they learned that their children were missing.
The team members became even more anxious. After daily training, they changed into casual clothes and went to the police station to inquire about the news.
"Did the children behave unusually before leaving?" Su Jin worried that the children had been tricked into entering some place. Some places were eager to see the military children. "Also, did they take anything with them before leaving?"
"They went out to play as usual, saying they were visiting classmates' homes. Those classmates all had working parents," the sister-in-law in charge explained. "We learned that the children were missing, so we went to those families to inquire. Only two families also had their children missing. The other three said they hadn't seen them."
Su Jin looked at the anxious expressions of her sisters-in-law and didn't know how to calm them down for a moment.
"They are employees of the textile and steel mills in the county town, and the family compound is right between the two mills," Sister Zuo said hurriedly. "There are quite a few dual-worker families in that family compound, with the man working at the steel mill and the woman at the textile mill."
"I heard from Mrs. Gong in the courtyard that the textile factory hasn't been doing well lately and a lot of workers have been fired. Some of them have returned to the village and used their daughters' marriages as leverage to get a lot of benefits." Mrs. Qi sneered, "Two of the families you mentioned have already left the county and their whereabouts are unknown."
Several people were stunned. They didn't know the specific whereabouts of these families.
"I heard from their neighbors that these families took a lot of things back home later." Sister Qi said what she heard outside, "These people are not involved, right? Otherwise, why would they leave in such a hurry?"
The rest of the workers would definitely not leave until the last moment, but these two companies left early.
"Sister-in-law, are you telling the truth?" Liu Yunshan asked hurriedly. "I'll ask Old Wu to investigate their whereabouts in detail."
The family members looked at Liu Yunshan with gratitude, hoping that she could bring good news.
"Auntie, if these two families really take action, please ask the military camp to help." The family members had tired eyes and were eager to find their children.
"Let's do this on a two-pronged approach. The police should first investigate the whereabouts of the two families and the children," Su Jin suggested, reaching out to pick up the water cup and taking a sip. "Then let the team members search for them privately."
"Teacher Su's suggestion is a good one. If we both search for the children at the same time, we should be able to get the news sooner." Liu Yunshan also expressed her opinion. "The Armed Forces have military dogs. You can find some clothes that the children often wear and give them to the team members. Perhaps the dogs can help us find the children."
Su Jin nodded: "What my aunt said is feasible. Besides, it's best not to wash the clothes."
After hearing what Liu Yunshan and Su Jin said, the sisters-in-law exchanged a few words and said goodbye. They were anxious to go home to find clothes.
All the missing children were boys, and each household could only make a few sets of clothes for the children, so the family members were too busy to wash the clothes.
After the family members left, Zeng Hong looked at their backs and sighed.
"Your sister-in-law is a junior high school teacher. She quit her job for Hanhan. Don't you think it's a pity?" Zeng Hong admired Su Jin's courage. She certainly couldn't do what Su Jin did.
"Ayi's parents and I are unable to take care of Hanhan, so one of us has to sacrifice our job," Su Jin explained helplessly. "Many of my sisters-in-law in the family compound have also given up their jobs. I'll find a job when Hanhan grows up."
Zeng Hong agreed with Su Jin's approach: "You're right. I can't be as decisive as you. The Lu family is in a better situation, but the Shi family is not. Without my job, my family really wouldn't be able to make ends meet."
"Sister-in-law, Political Commissar Shi is still sending half of his allowance? Isn't the old man gone?" Liu Yunshan asked in surprise. "Political Commissar Shi took leave last time to attend a funeral. He shouldn't be sending his allowance, right?"
"My parents-in-law are both gone now. They owed a lot of medical bills. We're still sending allowances as usual, but after next month, we won't have to send Lao Shi's allowance anymore," Zeng Hong explained. "My father-in-law finally divided the property between them. Lao Shi got nothing, just all the debts. My parents-in-law are biased. My brother-in-law has been working in a factory in the county town, yet he's paid the least for living expenses."
"Hasn't this already been resolved? Just endure another month, and you'll be completely liberated," Liu Yunshan persuaded Zeng Hong, patting her hand. "You've all suffered so much over the years. What can Political Commissar Shi say?"
"After he came back from his hometown, he told me he wouldn't be going back anymore. My eldest uncle and younger brother-in-law would just visit my parents-in-law's graves." Zeng Hong hasn't been back home for 10 years. "My daughter...if she were still alive now, she would be 10 years old. Just because my eldest uncle's son got chickenpox, my mother-in-law didn't even tell her..."
"Xiaoxi was a premature baby and has always been weak. When I came back that year, I didn't see Xiaoxi, so I knew something had happened." Liu Yunshan and Zeng Hong's families have a good relationship, and their children often play together. After Xiaoxi was born, the boys all said they would protect their sister.
"I will remember it all my life. My children and I didn't go to attend the funeral of my parents-in-law, and those people from my family didn't dare to say anything nonsense." Zeng's eyes were red.
Su Jin looked at the wall. In the middle of the photo frame was a photo of a girl celebrating her first birthday.
"Okay, we have to work hard to take good care of the three children." Liu Yunshan reminded Zeng Hong, "Xiao Jin, go push Hanhan out. We should go back."
Su Jin got up and walked towards the guest room. Liu Yunshan persuaded Zeng Hong to relax.
Hanhan was playing by himself in the stroller, and she leaned over and kissed his forehead.
"Hanhan, let's get ready to go home." Su Jin called her son softly.
After she pushed the stroller out, Liu Yunshan also stood up and said goodbye to Zeng Hong.
After the two left Zeng's house, they met many family members in the family compound. In their conversations, they were more or less trying to find out information.
Su Jin stood beside Liu Yunshan and listened to Liu Yunshan practicing Tai Chi with them.
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