“I ran into her that morning. She said she was going to buy groceries, but I don’t know for sure whether she actually went or not.”
His mother might have gone grocery shopping, but Su Li probably wasn't. If she did go out, it was most likely to be to the photo studio to get the photos developed.
Gu Huanian rode his bicycle to the old house first, then called people he knew and asked them to help him look for the person.
He also knew that his father had asked the bureau chief to search for several days, but to no avail.
Gu Huanian came to the vegetable section of the supply and marketing cooperative and asked the saleswoman, "Sister, did you see a very beautiful woman with another woman with her the day before yesterday who came here to buy vegetables?"
The saleswoman thought for a moment, then shook her head: "I didn't see it."
"Okay, thank you."
He rode his bicycle back and discovered that to get from his home to the supply and marketing cooperative and the photo studio, he had to pass through an empty alley.
If someone wants to harm them, this is the only place they can start.
He walked along the road and saw a courtyard not far away.
Gu Huanian knocked on the door, and a young girl opened it. "Who are you looking for?"
"I want to ask you something. A couple of days ago, there was a very pretty young girl in her early twenties, accompanied by a woman. She was passing by here, and I wanted to ask if you saw her?"
The little girl shook her head; "I didn't see it, you should ask someone else!"
Gu Huanian walked back and forth in this alley several times and knocked on the doors of several households, but they all said they hadn't seen him.
As he walked, he ran into Liu Wenqing, who was also asking if anyone had seen Chen Shujing.
Upon seeing Gu Huanian, he asked, "How is it? Any leads?"
Gu Huanian shook his head: "I suspect they were taken away at the intersection ahead, but no one in that area has seen them."
"Do you know if your mother and Comrade Su have offended anyone?"
Upon hearing Liu Wenqing's words, Gu Huanian immediately recalled Xie Feng's past stalking of Su Li.
This matter may have something to do with Xie Feng.
Gu Huanian looked at Liu Wenqing and said, "I have a rough idea of who it is, but you'd better not get involved in this matter."
After he finished speaking, he rode away on his bicycle. He went back to the old house, took out the set of fine tea that Gu Aiguo had treasured, and then went directly to the military region to find his old superior.
When he arrived, he knocked gently on the door.
"Come in"
The old leader was somewhat surprised to see Gu Huanian; "Weren't you supposed to rest for a few days after this mission? Why are you back so soon?"
Gu Huanian placed the tea leaves he was holding on the table; "I would like to ask you for a favor."
The old leader glanced at the tea he was holding and said unhappily, "You're pulling this stunt too? Just say what you need to say, don't give me that gift-giving nonsense."
Gu Huanian opened the tea leaves, grabbed a small pinch and put it into the cup, brewed a cup of tea and handed it to his old leader.
"It's not a gift. The tea belongs to my dad. He's just left it there without drinking it. I brought it here for you to try."
The old leader really liked this kind of tea. He took the tea that Gu Huanian handed him, took a sip, and said, "Yushan Longjing, not bad."
"Speak! What do you need my help with?"
"Well, I heard that you are friends with Mayor Xie, and I would like to ask you to introduce us."
The old leader frowned slightly; "Tell me the truth, what is it? Don't hide anything from me."
He knew Gu Huanian all too well what kind of person he was.
He's been under his command for so many years, and I've never heard him say that he's ever made a special effort to get to know anyone.
Gu Huanian thought for a moment and then said, "It's like this, my girlfriend and my mother went missing a couple of days ago, and I suspect they were taken away by Mayor Xie's son."
Are you sure?
“He had been harassing my girlfriend and stalking her. I suspect he’s involved in this whole thing.”
The old leader took another sip of tea before saying, "How about this? I'll contact him later and inquire about it privately first. Don't rush to publicize this matter."
"Why don't you call now? My girlfriend and the others have been taken away for two days, and I'm really in a hurry."
The old leader didn't say anything more. He simply stood up, walked to the phone, and started dialing. Soon, a middle-aged man's deep voice came from the other end: "Hello?"
"It's me. Do you have some time today? I'd like to give you a visit."
"Old Guo! We've known each other for so many years, how could I say I don't have time? I'm at home right now, so just come over. We can have lunch here. I'm afraid I'll have Aunt Sun prepare it now."
"Okay, I'll head over now. There are some things I need to tell you."
After hanging up the phone, the old leader looked at Gu Huanian and said, "Let's go! Come with me, and don't say anything out of line later."
Gu Huanian nodded.
Soon the two arrived at the Xie family's house. The Xie family lived in a traditional courtyard house with a large yard and a somewhat antique and grand interior.
As soon as the two entered, Mayor Xie personally came out to greet them. Standing beside him was a beautiful woman who looked to be about seven or eight years younger than him.
"You've arrived? Please come in."
Xie Changhe was surprised that Lao Guo had brought people with him.
The old leader quickly introduced them, saying, "This is my subordinate, Gu Huanian, who is now a battalion commander in the army."
Xie Changhe laughed and said, "You're really young and promising. I wonder if you have a girlfriend yet?"
In fact, when Eileen Chang first saw Gu Huanian, she also wanted to ask him this question, since her younger brother and sister's daughters were already sixteen or seventeen and ready for marriage.
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