Chapter 31 Home
◎His name is Ji Zhao, and he is a portrait artist in our municipal bureau◎
As soon as Zhao Xiangwan called the police, the entire Zhao family became busy.
Today is December 24th of the lunar calendar, the Minor New Year in the south. Zhao Changxing ran back to the village committee office and called the police. However, the police station in charge of Zhaojiagou said that Liaoning Province was too far away. There were many deep mountains and forests in Guning Town, Fengtai City, and the people were tough. If people were abducted there, it would be very difficult to rescue them. However, they would ask their superiors to cooperate with the Fengtai City Public Security Bureau to work hard to rescue the abused women.
Zhao Changgeng didn't have the energy to wait for the police station to ask for instructions. He went home to pack his luggage, took his daughter's photo, called his three sons, and prepared to go to Liaoning Province to rescue people.
Zhao Changxing stopped him and said, "Fengtaicheng Guning Town is so big, how are you going to find someone?"
Zhao Xiangwan stepped forward and said, "Uncle Changxing, let me make a call."
Zhao Changxing trusted Zhao Xiangwan very much at this moment, and quickly said, "The phone is here, call it quickly."
Zhao Xiangwan called the City Bureau's Serious Crime Unit, found Xu Songling, briefly explained what happened, and pleaded.
"Zhao Qingyao is only 18 years old this year. She grew up with me. She was abducted to Guning Town, Fengtai City. It is not clear which village she was abducted to. Since the other party asked her to send this fake safety letter, it means that he is guilty and afraid, and worried that his family will find him. Since the other party is guilty, it means that there are traces of his trafficking. Since there are traces and he can send a letter, he must be not far from the town. As long as we act quickly, we can rescue Qingyao. Captain Xu, you have a great influence in the police force. Can you find a way to contact Fengtai City in Liaoning Province? I will go there with the villagers to look for her."
The last time his daughter was nearly abducted, Xu Songling pushed the province to launch an anti-trafficking campaign. As a policeman, Xu Songling hated criminals who abducted women, girls and children. Hearing Zhao Xiangwan's words, he said without hesitation: "Okay, I have a comrade in the Liaoning Provincial Department, I will help you contact him."
Zhao Changgeng heard the conversation between Zhao Xiangwan and Xu Songling, his eyes were full of gratitude: "Third sister, if Sister Yao comes home, I will let her kowtow to you!"
Zhao Changxing asked: "You are a little girl, so don't go with us. I heard that the north is freezing cold in winter, and your breath can freeze into ice. Just wait in the village, and I will take a few strong men with me."
Zhao Xiangwan's attitude was very firm: "Let me go, I can help."
She has the ability to read minds, so she can find people faster. Although she can't get much useful information from Zhao Chenyang, at least she can confirm that Zhao Qingyao was abducted to a village in the north and locked in a cellar. The other party is a man who can't get married.
The longer Zhao Qingyao stayed there, the more suffering he would suffer. He had to act quickly.
While the village committee was waiting for Xu Songling's reply, Zhao Zhongwu hurried over, waving his hands and shouting: "Third sister, third sister, there are guests at home——"
guest?
Look at the sky, it is almost dusk, and the orange sunset spreads out, diluting the winter cold.
Who will come to visit at this time?
Zhao Xiangwan stood up and asked, "Who?"
The village committee is located in the upper house yard of the village, about a few hundred meters away from the old house. Zhao Zhongwu did not ride a bike, but ran out of breath to call for help: "Cars, two luxury cars, many gifts, and the surname is Ji."
Zhao Xiangwan was stunned for a moment. Ji? Could it be Ji Jinmao?
It was really Ji Jinmao. He brought Ji Zhaobai here earlier.
Ji Jinmao tried his best to send Ji Zhao to the Municipal Bureau in order to allow Ji Zhao to have more contact with the outside world while ensuring his safety, and Zhao Xiangwan was the medium and bridge for Ji Zhao to communicate with the outside world.
Zhao Xiangwan returned home for the New Year. Ji Zhao had no one to talk to and seemed a little listless. He became more silent every day and spent more and more time in a daze.
As the Chinese New Year is approaching, the Ji family's luxurious villa is decorated with flowers and is full of joy, but Ji Zhao
I was always lacking in interest and often sat on the second-floor balcony, looking at the lush green trees in the distance, wondering what I was thinking about.
Ji Jinmao and his wife Luo Danfeng felt something was wrong and discussed it quietly.
"Since my son started working at the city police station, he has been more responsive. When we call him to eat or take a walk, he will nod or shake his head. What happened now? He has returned to his old ways."
"Will someone say something unpleasant in his ear again?"
Ever since Feng Hongying told the story of the landlord's foolish son that irritated Ji Zhao, Ji Jinmao replaced everyone around Ji Zhao to ensure their loyalty. Logically, no one should say something similar again.
"Probably not. He doesn't look sad, but more like... Do you remember when my son was seven years old, my mother went away for something, and Ji Zhao squatted in the corner without saying a word?"
"Well, what you said is true. Could it be that my son is..."
The couple looked at each other and then at Ji Zhao at the same time. Ji Jinmao asked tentatively, "Shall I take you to find Zhao Xiangwan?"
Ji Zhao, who had been feeling a little depressed, suddenly turned around, looked at Ji Jinmao seriously, nodded heavily, and his dark eyes became sparkling.
Ji Jinmao felt both happy and sad.
The good news is that the son who was diagnosed with autism by the doctor finally has emotional ups and downs and can communicate with others normally; the sad thing is that the 21-year-old boy who she raised was only with Zhao Xiangwan for half a month, and his heart and eyes were filled with her.
Seeing their son's interest, Ji Jinmao and Luo Danfeng, who always responded to his requests, quickly prepared gifts and filled the trunk. Grandma Ji said, "Be polite and low-key when you are in the countryside. We are all from the countryside, so don't put on airs and bully others."
Ji Jinmao didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Mom, I'm such a grown-up, don't you know this?"
The grandmother of the Ji family, Ms. Chen Fangxi, was a kind-hearted old lady. She glared at Ji Jinmao and said, "Don't I know you? You like to show off when you have a little money, and you can't keep your cool at all. Although I have never met this girl Zhao Xiangwan, she is a great noblewoman of Ji Zhao. If it weren't for her, I would have lost my good grandson. You must be polite and considerate when you go to pay New Year's greetings this time, and you can't neglect her. If you make her unhappy, don't come home!"
Ji Jinmao's father died early, and he was very filial to his mother who had worked hard to raise him. He repeatedly said: "Yes, yes, yes, I'll listen to you."
Xing City is more than 100 kilometers away from Zhaojiagou. We took the national highway and then the country road. It took some time to prepare the gifts, and we were not familiar with the road, so we arrived at dusk.
Ji Jinmao drove two cars, he took Ji Zhao in one, and the bodyguards and gifts in the other. It was thought that two luxury cars driving into Zhaojiagou would cause a commotion. Unexpectedly, after the cars stopped at the entrance of the village, the villagers were quite calm. Several children led them to the old house of the Zhao family and ran away with candies.
Seeing the villagers' attitude so dignified, Ji Jinmao sighed in his heart. No wonder Zhao Xiangwan was not surprised by honor or disgrace. It turned out that the people where she grew up were so simple and calm.
In fact, this is a beautiful misunderstanding.
The villagers loved to watch the excitement, but firstly, Zhaojiagou had just sent Zhao Qingyun away, so seeing the luxury car coming over was not that shocking; secondly, the most intense gossip in Zhaojiagou, the true and false daughter case of Zhao Chenyang and Zhao Xiangwan, had consumed too much of everyone's energy; thirdly, Zhao Qingyao's kidnapping had caught everyone's attention. It was evening, and every family was preparing for the New Year's Eve dinner, so who had the time to care about what kind of car Ji Jinmao was driving.
Ji Jinmao was also a child who grew up in the countryside. Ji Zhao lived with his grandmother in the countryside until he was six years old. The father and son felt very comfortable here. Leaving the bodyguard in the car, Ji Jinmao walked into the main hall with a driver carrying a lot of gifts. He smiled politely at Zhao Bowen and said, "Hello, is this Zhao Xiangwan's home?"
Regardless of whether it was the real daughter or the fake daughter, or whether Qingyao was kidnapped, the old house of Zhao Erfu was the center of the vortex. Now that it was finally quiet, Zhao Bowen and Zhao Zhongwu were tidying up the tables, chairs, benches, and leftover tea and melon seeds in the main room. When they saw Ji Jinmao and Ji Zhaomai walk into the room, they straightened up in confusion.
Zhao Bowen stepped forward and greeted him: "I am Zhao Xiangwan's elder brother. May I ask who you are?"
Ji Jinmao briefly introduced himself and asked, "I wonder if your parents are home? I came here to pay New Year's greetings and also to get to know the family. We should visit each other more often in the future."
Hearing Ji Jinmao's words, Zhao Bowen immediately became alert. He and Zhao Zhongwu stood shoulder to shoulder and looked cautiously at Ji Zhao who was standing silently behind Ji Jinmao.
Zhao Zhongwu curled his lips and muttered in his heart: What's the point of a grown man being so beautiful? Can being beautiful be used to make a living?
Zhao Bowen's eyes darkened: He seems to have a bad temper and is not warm. Zhao Xiangwan is cold and taciturn. If they were together, wouldn't there be no warmth in the family?
It was no wonder that the two brothers thought Ji Jinmao was here to propose marriage. It was just that Ji Jinmao came at an unfortunate time.
During the Xiaonian Festival in Zhaojiagou, the family had to clean the house, offer sacrifices to the stove, and eat New Year's Eve dinner. It was a busy time for the family, and few people came to visit. Besides, the guests usually came in the morning. If it was not a particularly important matter, or if they were very familiar with each other, why would they come at dusk?
Ji Jinmao originally wanted to stay in the county town for one night and come over early the next morning, but Ji Zhao was unwilling to do so. He sat in the car with his lips pursed and refused to get out. Ji Zhao had no choice but to become a guest who came at dusk.
There was a silence for a second, then Zhao Bowen said, "My parents are not feeling well today, and they just went to bed to rest. I have to entertain the two distinguished guests today. Please wait a moment, I will ask Zhongwu to call Xiangwan back. Something happened in the village today, and she is on the phone at the village committee."
In the past, Qian Shufen was the one who greeted and saw off guests at home. Now, she was hurt by Zhao Chenyang and hid in the house and refused to come out. Zhao Bowen had to try his best to act like the head of the family, serving tea and water, and arranging for Zhao Zhongwu to call Zhao Xiangwan back.
Qian Shufen and Zhao Erfu heard it clearly in the inner room, but they didn't want to go out at all.
Their biological daughter, Zhao Chenyang, whom they had raised for ten years and sent to the city to enjoy a good life, ruthlessly rejected them and left with Zhao Qingyun without hesitation. This was a fatal blow to them.
No matter what, they were unwilling to admit that they had given their heart and soul to Zhao Chenyang, but in the end they raised an ungrateful person.
They were even more unwilling to admit that Zhao Xiangwan, who was suppressed and mistreated everywhere, had inexplicably grown up and become a powerful person that even Zhao Qingyun wanted to please.
The villagers scolded them for being heartless, and their son blamed them for being inconsiderate. When Xiangwan got married in the future, they would not receive a single cent of dowry, and after the New Year they would have to spend money and effort to build a house for their third sister.
Now she is in such a state that she is neither a human being nor a human being, Qian Shufen wants to die.
It’s retribution, it’s really retribution!
Qian Shufen wrapped a towel on her head, lying in the quilt humming, Zhao Erfu sat on the bed board smoking a dry cigarette, making a clicking sound. People came and went in the main room, whether they were discussing Yao Meizi being kidnapped or Ji Jinmao coming to their house, they didn't take it seriously.
Anyway, Ji Jinmao was looking for Zhao Xiangwan, so what did it have to do with them? Thinking of this, Qian Shufen and Zhao Erfu didn't even want to show their faces.
Ji Jinmao instructed the driver to carry the large and small bags to the main hall and put them away. He smiled and said, "Today is the Little New Year, and I brought my son here to pay New Year's greetings. According to the old custom, we should have come in the morning, but it took some time to prepare the gifts, and we were not familiar with the road conditions, so we were late."
A guest from afar is welcome. Ji Jinmao's explanation made Zhao Bowen put aside his dissatisfaction and he politely responded: "You must have had a hard journey. Please have a seat. You brought so many things..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Zhao Bowen was blinded by the gifts that Ji Jinmao kept bringing up.
The gifts were placed in the main room, filling up a corner. There were new and exotic fruits that had never been seen before, beautifully packaged cigarettes, alcohol, nuts, and biscuits, fabrics and clothes packed in high-end wooden boxes, and several red paper bags used exclusively by Hong Kong gold shops, which probably contained expensive gold jewelry!
Zhao Bowen had some sweat on his forehead.
Even Zhao Qingyun, a high-ranking official, did not bring such expensive gifts when he came to recognize his relatives. What was the meaning of Ji Jinmao sending so many things? Where did Zhao Xiangwan know such a generous and wealthy person?
Ji Jinmao noticed Zhao Bowen's discomfort and explained with a smile: "Zhao Xiangwan is the savior of my son Ji Zhao. These are just our small token of appreciation. Thank you for training Zhao Xiangwan so well."
Zhao Bowen felt proud when he heard him praise Zhao Xiangwan, and his face was full of smiles: "Xiangwan is the third child in the family, and we all call her Third Sister. She has loved reading since she was young, and she is the only one in our village who has been admitted to university in recent years."
After a few interactions, Ji Jinmao successfully made Zhao Bowen let down his guard, and the two of them communicated happily.
Ji Zhao sat on a bamboo chair, his long legs bent neatly in front of him, listening quietly without saying a word. He was really good-looking, with skin as white as fine porcelain, hair and eyes as black as black jade, and he was so handsome that he didn't look real. Zhao Bowen unconsciously lowered his voice when he spoke, for fear that his loud breathing would blow him away or melt him.
When Zhao Xiangwan came back, Zhao Bowen felt relieved: "Third sister, you are finally here."
Ji Zhao stood up.
He was tall, and the long light grey coat made him look even more slender and upright. Coupled with his good looks, he really made the old house look more glorious just standing there.
Zhao Xiangwan smiled: "You're here?"
Ji Zhao nodded, and his dark eyes looked at her intently, as if saying: I haven't seen you for so long, where have you been?
As he approached step by step, the world in Ji Zhao's heart once again appeared in Zhao Xiangwan's mind.
There was a faint sunlight above the wilderness, and the soft beige color added warmth to the whole picture. A skylark stood on a branch, chirping and tilting its head to stare at the sunlight.
The sun shines quietly over the skylark's head, and the picture is warm and peaceful.
Seeing this little skylark, the corners of Zhao Xiangwan's mouth gradually turned up.
With the sunshine, the snow will melt and the grass will start to sprout.
[Without you, the sun won't come out. 】
There was a hint of grievance in Ji Zhao's voice.
Zhao Xiangwan said: "You can draw a sun."
【A painted sun does not shine. 】
Ji Zhao took a step forward, standing only an arm's length away from Zhao Xiangwan. He tilted his head slightly like a skylark, with his graceful jawline rising at the Adam's apple and then retreating to the sternum.
The throat is a person's vital point, and this part will only be exposed to people whom one fully trusts. Therefore, tilting the head conveys an attitude of submission and absolute trust.
——When he realized this, Zhao Xiangwan felt warm in his heart.
Ji Zhao's eyes were filled with smiles, and he seemed to have come alive. Seeing this scene, Ji Jinmao finally felt relieved and grinned with great joy: "Zhao Xiangwan, when you went home, Ji Zhao felt lonely without anyone to talk to, so I brought him here."
Zhao Xiangwan smiled, his attitude calm.
The more Ji Jinmao looked at her, the more he liked her. He smiled like a Maitreya Buddha: "It's good to see you, it's good to see you. Tell Ji Zhao to stay at home and feel at ease. We can see each other again when you return to Xing City for school."
After confirming that the person in front of him was Zhao Xiangwan, Ji Zhao sat back in the bamboo chair, just like he was working at the Municipal Bureau. Although he seemed to be far away, he was highly focused and ready to follow her instructions at any time.
Ji Zhao's appearance made Zhao Bowen and Zhao Zhongwu feel suspicious.
What's wrong with this young man? If he said he liked Zhao Xiangwan, his eyes were clear and he didn't have any evil thoughts. He just sat back without saying hello. If he said he didn't like Zhao Xiangwan, he smiled when he saw her and his cold aura disappeared.
Zhao Xiangwan was used to this mode of getting along with Ji Zhao, and whispered, "When the sun comes out, we fly a little, and when it's cloudy, we rest in the nest."
Ji Zhao understood, was silent for a moment, and nodded.
Zhao Changxing shouted at the top of his voice outside the door: "Zhao Xiangwan, Zhao Xiangwan, the Municipal Bureau called back and has made contact. We can set off now!"
Zhao Xiangwan quickly walked out of the house to discuss with Zhao Changxing.
"Do you have any photos of Miss Yao?"
"Yes, yes, yes. Chang Geng just found a few."
Zhao Xiangwan took the photo handed to him by Zhao Changxing, and his eyes darkened.
Zhao Changxing also sighed: "There are only a few photos. But the face is too small, I don't know if I can recognize it."
Zhao Xiangwan shook his head: "Difficult."
Rural people rarely take photos. They only go to the photo studio in the county town to take photos when it is particularly important. In the family photo that Zhao Changgeng just found after searching through boxes and cabinets, Zhao Qingyao's face is only two centimeters in size and cannot be seen clearly.
The only two half-inch photos were ID photos taken by the school when I graduated from junior high school and high school. One of them had a childish look, while the other had a dull expression.
It is extremely difficult to find Zhao Qingyao from the vast crowd by relying on these few small photos.
Ji Zhao had sharp ears and when he heard Zhao Xiangwan talking, he suddenly interrupted with a word.
【I will draw】
Zhao Xiangwan was delighted. Yes, isn’t this a ready-made portrait painter?
Zhao Xiangwan highly recognized Ji Zhao's ability in painting portraits. The talented hyperrealist painter was able to restore Zhao Qingyun's portrait based on the hotel waiter's oral description. Now with photo references and so many descriptions from relatives, it is definitely not a problem to paint a small portrait of Zhao Qingyao with a high degree of restoration.
After presenting the photo to Ji Zhao, Zhao Xiangwan asked, "Where is your painting folder?"
Ji Zhao turned and looked at Ji Jinmao, his eyes sparkling.
Ji Jinmao was most impressed by his son's expression and immediately went back to the car to get a sketchpad, sketch paper and charcoal pencils.
Zhao Xiangwan's description is concise and clear.
"He's half a head shorter than me."
"A little fatter than me."
"There are two little dimples."
"I don't have much hair, so I'll tie it into a braid."
The girl who worked with Zhao Qingyao corrected her: "No, Miss Yao likes to be coquettish. She got her hair permed when she came to the city. Her bangs are curly and wavy, reaching her ears."
Amid the chattering, Ji Zhao raised his right hand slightly.
As soon as he picked up the paintbrush, his eyes became extremely focused, and looked even deeper under the reflection of the setting sun.
His eyes scanned the black-and-white photos in Zhao Xiangwan's hand. Ji Zhao moved his wrist slightly and the pencil quickly moved across the white paper.
With just a few strokes, a lively, playful girl with a bit of wild beauty appeared on the paper.
Zhao Changxing opened his mouth with joy: "Ah, yes, yes, that's it!"
Zhao Changgeng stared at the person in the painting, tears in his eyes, and choked up as he said, "My sister Yao, my sister Yao..."
A group of people gathered at the door of the main hall. They were all villagers who planned to follow Zhao Changgeng to the Northeast to save people. When they saw this portrait, they were all amazed.
"Is this person a painter? He paints so well!"
"This pretty guy has never seen Miss Yao before, how can he draw so like her just by looking at a photo!"
"Strange, it's only a few strokes, how can you tell it's Miss Yao at first glance?"
“It feels like Miss Yao has jumped into the painting herself.”
After Zhao Xiangwan confirmed that he could recognize the person based on the line drawing, he said to Ji Zhao, "Very good, draw two more."
Ji Zhao cooperated with her very well, nodded, took out two sketch papers from his drawing folder, and started to draw. His movements were very fast, and the two drawings he drew later were like copies of the previous ones, which attracted praise from everyone again.
"Where did Zhao Xiangwan find this painter? He paints quickly and well."
"With this portrait, if Miss Yao has ever appeared there, we will definitely be able to find her."
"This boy is amazing!"
"Isn't it? Not only is he handsome, he's also a good painter. Zhao Xiangwan is excellent, and so are his friends."
Although Ji Zhao was a recluse, he had an amazing talent for painting. He could perfectly reproduce scenes and characters with just one glance, and was known as the founder of hyperrealism. Ji Jinmao had heard countless people praise his son as a "genius painter" and "a rising star in the art world". He knew that his son was different from ordinary people, and the praise from the media and the art world did not make him lose his mind.
But today, sitting in this crude village house and listening to the villagers' discussions, Ji Jinmao felt a little intoxicated.
So many villagers sincerely praised his son for his good painting skills! They said his son was a great boy! They didn't see that Ji Zhao was different from others! They said Ji Zhao was excellent!
The feeling of being accepted by the public was so wonderful. Ji Jinmao's heart, which was broken by worrying about his son, seemed to be soaked in hot spring water, warm, soft, and a little fluttering.
Ji Zhao didn't know his father was here. As soon as he started to paint, all he could think about was the brush and paper. After painting three pictures, he put away the charcoal pencil and handed the portrait to Zhao Xiangwan.
The corners of Zhao Xiangwan's mouth curled up slightly, and his smile was very bright.
The sunshine in Ji Zhao's inner world became even brighter, and the skylarks were singing happily.
【I’m a little hungry.】
Ji Zhao's voice has a youthful quality that makes Zhao Xiangwan feel relaxed, without any sense of oppression.
Zhao Xiangwan handed the portrait to Zhao Changxing for safekeeping and happily rolled up his sleeves: "I'll make you some sweet wine to drink with eggs."
Zhao Xiangwan, who was used to doing housework, was more capable than her elder brother. She took out a clay pot and put it on the coal stove. She threw in a handful of red dates and longans, and added brown sugar. After the sugar water boiled, she added rice wine and beaten eggs. A can of sweet and nutritious sweet wine and eggs was ready.
The sweet tea was filled with egg flowers that had been washed open by the boiling water. They were bright yellow, golden, and fragrant. Ji Zhao took the tea bowl with a smile on his face.
Zhao Xiangwan told him: "Blow it first and then drink it, be careful not to burn your mouth."
Ji Zhao blew on it as he was told, then moved closer to the bowl and took a small sip, making a "hissing" sound.
Hearing this voice, Ji Jinmao's eyes suddenly turned red and he almost shed tears.
Over the years, he had consulted countless experts, doctors, and professors, all of whom said that Ji Zhao had a developmental disorder and that there was no cure, and that the symptoms could only be alleviated through appropriate intervention. He had originally given up hope and resigned himself to his fate, but he never expected that God would send Zhao Xiangwan to help Ji Zhao become more and more normal.
Ji Zhao is now able to correctly understand Zhao Xiangwan's words, accurately execute her orders, and give positive feedback during actions - in the past, Ji Jinmao would not even dare to think about it.
Ji Zhao's performance won the respect of the villagers. Zhao Changxing took the tea bowl that Zhao Xiangwan handed over, sat down and talked to him: "Are you a painter?"
Ji Zhao didn't even glance at him, lowered his head to drink sweet tea, and ignored him.
Zhao Changxing was a little embarrassed, and Zhao Xiangwan introduced him: "His name is Ji Zhao, and he is a portrait painter in our city bureau. He is introverted and doesn't like to talk."
"oh!"
Zhao Changxing was even more respectful when he heard this. He interpreted Ji Zhao's indifference as the arrogance that only geniuses can show. "So you're a police officer from the Public Security Bureau. Awesome, awesome."
Hearing their conversation, Ji Jinmao was filled with gratitude towards Zhao Xiangwan. She knew how to protect Ji Zhao outside, and she knew how to make others accept Ji Zhao's existence. Here, no one thought Ji Zhao was the stupid son of a landlord, and no one looked at him with strange eyes.
Smelling the aroma of sweet wine and hearing the hustle and bustle outside, Qian Shufen finally couldn't bear it anymore and climbed out of bed. As soon as she walked into the main room, her eyes were attracted by the gift in the corner. She couldn't help but gasp: Who is this person? Why did he send such an expensive gift?
Qian Shufen approached with a smirk and bent down to pick up the red paper bag on the top, muttering to herself: This looks a bit like the packaging of the Lao Fengxiang Gold Shop in the county town. Could it be real gold?
Zhao Bowen coughed and used his eyes to stop his mother's action. Zhao Zhongwu reacted faster, stepped forward and held her arm with one hand, and took the paper bag with the other hand, whispering: "This is the third sister's stuff, don't touch it!"
Ji Jinmao saw Qian Shufen coming out of the inner room wrapped in a towel, and guessed that it should be Zhao Xiangwan's mother. He was about to stand up and greet her, but Zhao Xiangwan stopped him and said, "Don't worry about her."
Ji Jinmao was a little confused, but he reacted quickly. As soon as his butt left the chair, he immediately stuck back to it.
Zhao Changxing was now very convinced of Zhao Xiangwan, so she would not let Qian Shufen take advantage of her again. She raised her voice and said, "Sister Qian, don't forget the decision made by the village just now."
Qian Shufen chuckled twice: "I, I'm just here to take a look, you guys are busy, you guys are busy." Looking at the pile of gifts, Qian Shufen's heart seemed to be frying in a frying pan. If she was a little better to the third sister, all these things would be hers!
Qian Shufen's arrival suddenly made the originally lively scene dull.
Zhao Zhongwu sent her back to the house and gave her a few lectures through gritted teeth: "Since you only have the heartless fourth sister in your heart, then stop taking advantage of the third sister. You pretended to be dead when guests came, but you were very active when taking gifts. Mom, you have no shame, but we, as your sons, still have some dignity."
Qian Shufen's face flushed red, and she sat down on the edge of the bed, too angry to speak for a long time.
Zhao Zhongwu turned around and said to his father who was silent, "Sister Yao has been kidnapped, and everyone in the village is trying to find a solution. It's fine for you and mom to stay in the house, but there is one thing: don't come out and cause trouble."
Because of the secret exchange of Zhao Xiangwan and Zhao Chenyang, Zhao Erfu lost all face in the village. His son's strength forced him to admit that his son had grown up and had become independent! He was also old. He muttered a few words, lowered his head and said nothing more.
Everyone in the main room was discussing Zhao Qingyao's disappearance. Ji Jinmao asked Zhao Xiangwan, "Do you want to go with them?"
Zhao Xiangwan hummed.
Guning Town, Fengtai City, Liaoning Province is 2,000 kilometers away from Zhaojiagou, from the south of the Yangtze River to the northeast, spanning almost half of China. It is the coldest season in the north, with the outdoor temperature of minus ten or twenty degrees Celsius. Zhao Xiangwan, a little girl, was not afraid of hardships to rescue a girl from the same village. This made Ji Jinmao, who had seen many speculators in the business world, very impressed.
"I'll help you." Ji Jinmao stepped forward. "I've driven two cars here and can take three people to Xing City. I'll buy plane tickets for you. We'll leave early tomorrow morning and arrive in Liaoning Province at noon. Then we'll have them send a car to pick you up. You should be there in the afternoon."
With Ji Jinmao's help, Zhao Xiangwan, Zhao Changxing and Zhao Changgeng arrived in Liaoning Province smoothly.
As soon as she got off the plane, the biting cold wind and heavy snow made Zhao Xiangwan wrap her coat and scarf tighter.
Ji Jinmao prepared cold-proof clothing for her, a long down jacket with thick fleece over a small cotton jacket, a mink hat, and thick-soled high-top snow boots. She had felt that it was cumbersome before, but now that she was curled up in a ball in the minus 16 degrees Celsius outside, she realized that it was all necessary.
Zhao Xiangwan raised his cotton-gloved hands and covered his nose with them. He looked at the layer of frost on his eyelashes and sighed.
——I still underestimated how cold the north is!
Lao Ruizhi, a criminal policeman from Liaoning Province who came to pick them up, quickly stopped them: "Don't breathe, be careful about freezing your nose." It's extremely cold in the north, and your breath turning into ice is no joke.
Lao Ruizhi was Xu Songling's comrade-in-arms. They had fought in the same trench and had a close relationship. It was a rare opportunity for Xu Songling to call him and ask for his help. Lao Ruizhi was very enthusiastic about Zhao Xiangwan and the other two. After a brief introduction, Lao Ruizhi drove the three to the Taicheng Guning Town Police Station.
Even if it was just a suspicious letter from home, even if there was no other evidence of disappearance or abduction, because of Lao Ruizhi's intervention, the Guning Town Police Station responded very quickly. Led by Director Shi Biwu, a special task force for missing Zhao Qingyao was immediately organized to search for her with all their efforts.
Zhao Xiangwan took out the portrait painted by Ji Zhao.
The portrait was so vivid and lifelike that Shi Bisheng took a look at it and his eyes widened: "Who painted this? It's so lifelike!"
He also looked at the photo Zhao Changxing brought, but he couldn't see the face clearly. Looking for someone with such a photo is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Ji Zhao's portrait is different. She has a round face, dimples, and a pair of lively almond eyes. The lively spirit shines through the paper. Anyone who has seen this girl will definitely recognize her.
Lao Ruizhi came over to take a look and exclaimed, "Wow!" He looked at Zhao Xiangwan with a different look in his eyes, "Was this painted by your city bureau's portrait artist? Did Lao Xu finally find the person?"
Zhao Xiangwan nodded.
The more Lao Ruizhi looked at the portrait, the more astonished he became: "This portrait artist...is not an ordinary person. The lines, the level of realism, and the ability to express are almost as good as those of a professor at the Liaoning Academy of Fine Arts."
Ji Zhao was known as a talented painter who created a new school of painting. He held a solo exhibition at the age of fifteen. His level was better than that of ordinary art academy professors. Being an extra-staff portrait painter in the Municipal Bureau was a complete waste of his talent. Zhao Xiangwan smiled and suddenly felt a little proud.
Lao Ruizhi asked: "What is the name of the portrait artist? If we need help in the future, we will come to you for support. This level... is incredible."
Zhao Xiangwan said: "His name is Ji Zhao. If you need him, please find our Captain Xu."
If Ji Zhao's hyper-realistic painting skills are used to help solve cases, it will indeed be very effective. She also wants to see how far Ji Zhao can go in the future after stepping out of the field of pure art.
A total of three portraits were brought in, Zhao Xiangwan kept one and gave the other two to the police station comrades. Three teams of people held the portraits in their hands and began to question them in a blanket manner.
Lao Zhirui, Shi Bisheng and Zhao Xiangwan headed to the Guning Town Post Office as their first stop.
There is a large green mailbox at the entrance of the post office. The top is covered with a thick layer of snow, and the side is slightly open, swallowing the incoming and outgoing letters.
Zhao Xiangwan walked around the mailbox and came to the post office counter to hand over the letter sent by Zhao Qingyao to the staff. The staff looked at the postmark and nodded, saying, "Yes, it was sent from us."
Shi Bisheng was a tall, sturdy man with a loud voice: "Do you remember the letter I sent ten days ago?"
The staff shook their heads and said they had no recollection. Every day, they took the letters out of the mailbox, stamped them and distributed them to all parts of the country. How could he pay attention to such a small letter?
Zhao Changgeng placed the portrait on the counter with trembling hands and asked hopefully, "Have you seen this girl?"
The staff still shook their heads.
Zhao Changgeng's face turned pale and he began to shiver like a sieve of chaff. Firstly, he was too cold to bear it, and secondly, he was panicking.
Zhao Changxing supported his cousin and comforted him, "Don't worry, just ask slowly. We just got here, how can we get results so quickly? Don't panic, stay calm, Sister Yao is still waiting for us."
Zhao Changxing's words gradually calmed Zhao Changgeng's trembling. He tried to cheer himself up: "Okay, I won't panic and won't cause trouble for the police comrades."
Zhao Xiangwan asked, "Is this the only post office in town?"
Shi Bisheng's voice was so loud that it made my eardrums buzz: "Yes! This is the one."
[The big bosses were looking for someone and brought a little girl. Isn't this a joke? Just based on a letter without a mailing address, they said that the person was abducted to our Guning Town. If Officer Lao hadn't brought the girl here in person, who would have filed a case to look for the person? On this New Year's Day, all the police from the police station were mobilized. I am really impressed! ]
Hearing Shi Bisheng's thoughts, Zhao Xiangwan's eyes flashed.
If Zhao Xiangwan had not heard Zhao Chenyang's thoughts in time, he might have ignored the letter in Zhao Changgeng's hand.
If Zhao Changgeng had waited a year until he realized something was wrong and then went to look for it, it would probably have been nothing but a pile of withered bones.
Zhao Chenyang, the reborn man, was useful in this case, so let's keep him. If you don't use the golden finger that comes to your door, you'll lose it.
Once you know the result, it will be much easier to look for clues.
The letter was written under duress. The handwriting was soaked with tears, and the last horizontal stroke of the word "good" tore through the paper, which shows that Zhao Qingyao was sad and had a very resistant attitude when writing the letter.
The letter was written in the dark. A lit candle was placed on the upper right side of the letter paper. Because it was too dark, she had to write close to the candlelight. Wax dripped onto the paper, leaving deep and shallow marks. Why didn't she write the letter during the day? There are only two possibilities. One is that she had to avoid people; the other is that she was imprisoned in the dark and could not see the light.
However, whether it is the inconsistency between the postmark address and the mailing address, or the tears and wax marks on Zhao Qingyao's paper, or the fatigue and tension expressed in the handwriting, these cannot serve as direct evidence.
Although Zhao Changxing was the director of the village committee, he was unfamiliar with the place and had no idea what to do. Seeing Director Shi speaking loudly and angrily, he felt a little uneasy and looked at Zhao Xiangwan nervously.
Zhao Xiangwan sorted out his thoughts, met Shi Bisheng's gaze, and continued to ask: "What villages are nearby? What are the roads to the town post office?"
Although Shi Bisheng was unhappy with the search, he was still very cooperative. He listed the names of dozens of nearby villages and pointed to the post office entrance: "There are only these two roads."
The Guning Town Post Office is located on the inner side of a crossroads. There are four directions in front of the door: east, south, west and north, leading to different villages.
Zhao Xiangwan was the first to push open the door of the post office, and the wind and snow hit his face.
Shi Bisheng shook his head and followed them out.
A group of five people started knocking on doors and asking questions from house to house along the two roads in front of the post office.
It was the coldest season in Northeast China, and every family stayed indoors. Heavy snow fell, and Zhao Changxing and Zhao Changgeng looked miserable, thinking that there was little hope of finding Zhao Qingyao. There was no one to be found when they went out, so where could they go to find her?
Zhao Xiangwan walked ahead with big strides: "Don't be discouraged, knock on every door, you will always be able to find out something!"
Braving the blizzard, a group of five people went to the town to inquire.
I asked from morning to afternoon, but there was no response at all. They basically just shook their heads and said, "I've never seen it" or "I don't know."
The wind and snow were blowing hard and the group of people turned into snowmen, with frost hanging on their eyebrows and eyelashes.
Finally, when he knocked on the door of a shop, Zhao Xiangwan noticed something strange.
This is a noodle shop, doing business on the street, with a small courtyard and two rooms in the back. The person who opened the door was a sister-in-law in her forties, who looked simple and honest. She looked at the portrait and her eyes unconsciously glanced to the upper right.
Seeing her unconscious little movement, Zhao Xiangwan immediately became alert.
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