Chapter 39 Results

How could it be so easy to find someone in the 1980s?

There is no surveillance, and it is impossible to post missing person notices online. The household registration is not connected to the Internet, so we have to rely on asking one by one.

The two police officers originally wanted to ask one of the couple to ride in their own car so that they could understand the situation on the way. But when they saw that Lin Qiao had also driven a jeep over, they discussed it and decided to let Lin Shouyi ride on the motorcycle and have the other police officer ride on the jeep, and then both sides could question the couple at the same time.

When facing the police, Sun Xiuzhi told them everything she knew, and soon she recalled a lot of things under their guidance.

The exact time when Lin Wei left, his appearance and clothing when he left, Lin Wei’s personal relationships, and the places he often went to…

To be honest, the information was very mixed, but she and Lin Shouyi had already looked for all the information that could be found.

The only places left to look for were the mountains, rivers, and reservoirs, places they dared not even think about.

Seeing that Sun Xiuzhi's appearance was really not good, after the car stopped at the Lin family, the police simply asked for a recent photo of Lin Wei and took it to inquire in the village.

To be honest, the progress is very slow because it has been several days. Many people cannot say for sure whether the last time they saw Lin Wei was before or after he passed away.

In the afternoon, one of the police officers learned from an old man herding sheep that Lin Wei seemed to be heading towards the town. "He looked unhappy. In the past, he would call me Grandpa when he saw me from a distance, but this time he didn't even look at me. There were injuries on his face."

Seeing that the two police officers were the ones asking questions, the old man also started to worry, "Why haven't they found the person yet? Could it be that he was wronged and can't get over it?"

"You old bastard, you just can't get over it!" Sun Xiuzhi almost spit in his face.

The old man knew that what he said was not nice, but he was really concerned. "It's been a few days. No matter how angry you are, the child should come back by now."

Yes, it’s been four days. Even if Lin Wei is angry, he should come back soon…

Sun Xiuzhi did not give up and asked Lin Qiao again, her eyes changing from expectation to pleading, "Didn't Dawei really come to look for you?"

"I really didn't give him my address, and neither did my mother." Lin Qiao was also very worried.

The last bit of light in Sun Xiuzhi's eyes also dimmed. The two policemen had been through a lot and were not affected by her emotions. "He hasn't come back for so many days, it doesn't necessarily mean something has happened. Didn't you say it was because of a quarrel with his girlfriend? Go ask the woman if she knows."

"Yes, and there is also Swallow from the Guo family." Sun Xiuzhi was immediately injected with another breath of fairy air, and she led her people to the Guo family.

Seeing that it was her, Guo Yan's mother was about to close the door again. Fearing that she would not leave, she even lifted the bolt behind the door, "How dare you come to my house? Get out of here!"

Sun Xiuzhi was anxious and had no idea what was happening, so she was hit on the shoulder immediately.

Guo Yan's mother wanted to hit him again, but two police officers came up behind her and said, "Hello, comrade. We are from the town police station. We are here to investigate the situation."

Seeing that it was from the police station, Guo Yan's mother finally put down the bolt, but her face was still cold, "We don't know anything, you can go ask someone else."

"The person went with your daughter's boyfriend..." Sun Xiuzhi covered her hit shoulder and wanted to say something, but was stopped by the police officer next to her.

At this time, a young girl walked out of the Guo family's house. She was tall, with big eyes and a slightly tanned skin. She must have been busy just now. Her trouser legs were still rolled up, and she was lowering them as she walked. "Ask me anything. I just got together with someone. It's not illegal."

She was straightforward, decisive, and never self-pitying. After just one encounter, Lin Qiao immediately took a liking to her.

Seeing Guo Yan say this, two police officers immediately stepped forward and asked, "When was the last time you saw Lin Wei?"

"When she slapped me." Guo Yan pointed at Sun Xiuzhi.

Sun Xiuzhi's face froze at that moment. The two police officers looked at her and asked Guo Yan, "Did he come to see you again after he left?"

"No, my mother is watching at home and there's no way she'd let him in."

The two police officers asked Guo Yan several times, and she gave the same answer every time. It was obvious that the two had not seen each other since they separated in the cornfield.

Sun Xiuzhi was full of hope at first, but gradually became unsteady and finally her eyes rolled back and she fainted.

Lin Qiao didn't want to intervene at first, but seeing Lin Shouyi just standing there without moving, he could only go forward to help the man. Only then did Lin Shouyi react and took the man over.

Guo Yan glanced at Lin Qiao and said to the two police officers, "Lin Wei will definitely not be depressed. He is not that narrow-minded. But I don't know where he has gone. The last time Qiao Qiao was sold by his parents, he told me that he didn't want to stay in this family anymore."

”

Lin Qiao didn't expect Lin Wei to say this. "What did he say at that time?"

"They said he was useless and couldn't make decisions on anything. He said he didn't need to work, but his parents didn't listen. They also said it would be better if he wasn't around, and that they wouldn't have to sell Qiao Qiao. Qiao Qiao left in this situation, and I don't know if she is doing well outside."

However, Lin Wei never mentioned these to Lin Qiao, and he didn't even go to Liu Yulan to try to find out any news about Lin Qiao from her.

Guo Yan finally said to the two police officers, "If you need anything else, just come to me. If you need my help in finding someone, that's no problem for me."

When her mother heard this, she was obviously a little disapproving, but looking at her determined expression, she finally just sighed.

Now that the matter had come to this, the next step was to investigate in the town. However, there were so many people in the town, and four days had passed, so it would be even more difficult to investigate than in the village.

Everyone worked for another half day, and as the sky gradually darkened, they thought they would not be able to find any clues today, so Lin Qiao sent Liu Yulan back home.

The small village was exceptionally quiet on a summer night. Amid the sounds of cicadas and frogs, many houses had turned off their lights, except for Yang's, which was still on for Liu Yulan.

In the open courtyard door, the man whom Lin Qiao had just met during the day was holding a little girl of four or five years old in his arms. He was walking and taking pictures. Perhaps he was not very skilled and looked a little flustered.

Hearing the sound of the car engine, he immediately hurried out of the yard, and Liu Yulan also couldn't wait to open the car door.

Seeing that she tried twice to open the door but it didn't, Lin Qiao hooked it for her. As soon as Liu Yulan got out of the car, the little girl in the man's arms pouted immediately and stretched out her hands for her to hold her.

"Mommy, hold her, mommy, hold her." Liu Yulan took the little girl and patted her in her arms. The little girl soon calmed down, hugged her neck and buried her head in her arms. She whispered to her husband, "Where are the eldest and the second child?"

"I went to bed early, but Sanya was still noisy and kept yelling for her mom."

When Liu Yulan heard this, she was obviously distressed and put her lips on the child's cheek, "Mom is here, isn't Mom back?"

The family of three was having a great time. Lin Qiao was watching them in the car and suddenly he could understand why his original self didn't want to see Liu Yulan.

Sometimes, if there is no comparison, you don't feel pitiful. It is really painful to find that others are enjoying the happiness that you should have.

She didn't rush to speak, and waited until the couple finished talking before getting out of the car and saying hello to them. "We're leaving now, you guys should get some rest."

"It's so late, just stay at home for the night." The man felt a little uncomfortable, but still spoke.

Liu Yulan also looked at Lin Qiao, but Lin Qiao politely refused, "I booked a room at the hotel when I came here, and I've already paid for it. There's no way I can get a refund."

In fact, she and Xiaofang stayed on the road. It was still several hours' drive from Songshu Town, and they went directly to Shahe Village as soon as they arrived in the town.

But since we didn't have much intersection in the past, and are destined not to have much intersection in the future, let's not mix ourselves into each other's lives and just live our own lives.

It was unknown what time Liu Yulan got up. The next morning when Lin Qiao arrived at Shahe Village, she was already waiting at the entrance of the village.

The mother and daughter came to the Lin family together, and happened to meet Dr. Ma, the only barefoot doctor in the village clinic, coming out with a suitcase on his back. It was obvious that Sun Xiuzhi was sick and had just received an injection.

As they walked, Doctor Ma instructed Lin Shouyi: "Be careful, try not to irritate her. Your baby is only three months old, and both of them have had cardiac stimulants."

Lin Shouyi's face was not very good, but Sun Xiuzhi, who was lying on the kang, heard that Lin Qiao was coming. She struggled to get up, but couldn't get up, so she stretched out her hand to her with difficulty, "Qiao girl, I beg you! Please help me find your big brother Wei! The Ji family is capable, they will definitely find him, right?"

In the original owner's memory, she had never been so humble and begged others with tears in her eyes.

Lin Shouyi had obviously never seen this before, not to mention that Doctor Ma hadn't left yet. His face flushed and he immediately yelled at her, "What are you doing?"

Sun Xiuzhi ignored him and just clung to the edge of the kang, crying. "I have been so sorry to you before. You can take it out on me however you want. I just ask you to help me find Dawei! He is my only son. If he, he... how can I live as a mother!"

She had never had a child, and she had raised a son before. Lin Wei's whereabouts were unknown, which completely devastated her.

On the contrary, although Lin Shouyi also had a bad look on his face, he seemed too calm, even a little cold-hearted, compared to her as a mother.

Lin Qiao thought for a moment and stopped one meter away from the kang. "Do you know if my big brother Wei has any money?"

Sun Xiuzhi was obviously stunned by the question, "I think so. He has always been able to get by."

"No news now is good news. If he has money, is it possible that he is hiding on purpose, or has returned to your hometown?"

Sun Xiuzhi is not a local, her hometown is thousands of miles away from here. In her original memory, she had taken a few children back. Sun Xiuzhi's eyes lit up when she heard this, but soon dimmed again, and she shook her head, "I only took him back once, when he was only thirteen."

"Then send a telegram to ask. It's a clue after all. I'll go look in the town and the county."

Sun Xiuzhi nodded repeatedly and brought up what she had said before, "I was sorry for you before. The Ji family is so capable. Even if the police can't do it, they will definitely be able to find the person, right?"

"How pitiful are the parents in the world." Liu Yulan sighed softly when she came out of the Lin family.

Sun Xiuzhi was more sincere to the child than Lin Shouyi. She even apologized and begged Lin Qiao to help her find someone.

But she had taken it for granted, thinking that a few words of apology would wipe out all the past grudges. And if Lin Wei came back, it was hard to say whether she would immediately return to her old self.

"I will never do that again."

Many people would say, but it is difficult to change one’s nature. How many people can really change?

Lin Qiao said nothing more. He first went to the town to send the telegram, and then met with the two police officers from yesterday. "Can we go to the town and the bus station in the county to look for him?"

She was still thinking about this problem before going to bed last night.

There is only one primary school in Shahe Village, and it can only teach up to the third grade. Lin Wei studied in the town after the fourth grade, and there are actually quite a few people who know him. If he had been in the town for so many days, he would have had food and shelter, so he would have left some traces. How could there be no news until now?

Is it possible that he really doesn't want to stay in this house anymore, just as he told Guo Yan?

The railway in my hometown was only built in the past two years and has not yet been officially opened to traffic. The main way to travel is by bus.

The police also remembered this incident, but they had to go to the river and the reservoir today to inquire if anyone had been in trouble recently, so they could only send one person to go to the bus station with Lin Qiao.

"You reported the case too late, and it will be difficult to find him even if you get there. There are so many people taking the bus every day, and the conductor may not remember him." The police officer said to Lin Qiao on the way.

Lin Qiao actually knew that in this era, ticket sales were not based on real names, and anyone could get in as long as they paid, but he couldn't just not even try.

After asking several buses, they got nothing. Seeing the sun rising higher, they were sweating all over. The back of the police officer's uniform was even soaked through. Lin Qiao was about to buy some popsicles when he suddenly stopped and asked, "Have you asked at the new newsstand on the roadside?"

The police and Liu Yulan were both stunned.

Considering that people need to eat, they asked the hotels and shops in the town yesterday afternoon, and they all said they had never seen Lin Wei, but no one at the newsstand had thought of it.

This was newly established after the reform and opening up. It sells newspapers and allows people to make phone calls. In the past, newspapers were ordered by units and post offices, and were not sold to individuals.

Because of its special location, this stall next to the station also sells bread, biscuits and other food. There is also a person who sells tea leaf eggs on a small stove next to it. However, when they passed by it late yesterday, both the newsstand and the tea leaf egg stall were closed.

Several people looked at each other, quickened their pace and walked over, took out the photos and asked around, and this time someone finally said they had seen it.

"I remember this guy. He bought tea leaf eggs from me before. I don't know how long it has been since he last had a meal. He almost choked and even cried while eating."

The woman selling tea eggs recalled something and pointed to the newsstand next to her. "It seems he also went there to buy some stationery. He said he wanted to write something."

A few people rushed to the newsstand to ask, and received a letter that had not been sent yet from the person in charge of the newsstand.

The handwriting on the letter was very familiar, and there were two wet marks on it, which blurred the pen words. It was obvious that the writer had really cried. But perhaps he was reluctant to spend money to rewrite the letter, so the wet marks were wiped off, but the letter paper was not changed, and traces of scribbling and revisions could be seen on it.

"Dad, Mom, I'm going to the city to find a job, you don't have to

Worry."

This was the first sentence. Sun Xiuzhi's hands trembled when she received the letter, and she continued to read haltingly with her limited knowledge.

As the only clue, the police opened the letter and read it before sending it back to Shahe Village to the Lins. Lin Qiao already knew the content on the way, so he inevitably felt complicated.

The most difficult thing for Lin Wei in his life is probably his parents’ “I’m doing this for your own good”.

For his own good, she ignored his wishes and his relationship with Lin Qiao and insisted on selling Lin Qiao.

For his own good, he felt that Guo Yan was not worthy of him in every way. Without saying a word, he slapped Guo Yan twice and used extremely humiliating words to her.

When I was a kid, it was normal for boys to fight each other. But Sun Xiuzhi came to his house and beat up the kids who were fighting with him. From then on, no one dared to play with him anymore...

It seemed that ever since Lin Shouyi and Sun Xiuzhi lost their youngest son, this only child of theirs had been tightly held in their hands, becoming more and more suffocated day by day.

"In the end, it's still me who can't do it. If I could find a job and make money, my family wouldn't have to sell Qiaoqiao. If I had the ability to set up my own household, I wouldn't have to be so secretive about free love in this modern era, fearing that my parents would object..."

There was no accusation in Lin Wei's letter, but every sentence seemed to be a silent accusation.

"Now that the reform and opening up have begun, some people have started to do business. I am a grown man with hands and strength, so I will definitely not starve to death. When I am settled, I will find a way to write to my family. I will not come back until I have made a name for myself..."

"He's a damn kid. Without a household registration, he's an illegal resident. How can it be easy for him to find a job?" Sun Xiuzhi started to cry again, gasping for breath as she watched.

Lin Shouyi's face was not very good either. He didn't say anything, but his eyes were looking at Lin Qiao.

The other one at least knows how to ask for help, but this one is so concerned about her reputation that even if you want her to help, she has to take the initiative to ask.

Lin Qiao pretended not to see it; she really couldn't help much.

In those days when information was not well developed, it would take years for a fugitive to be caught, let alone an ordinary person.

She stood up from her chair. "When Viagra left, he told the newsstand that if no one came to see him within three days, he could put the letter in the mailbox. He had already put the stamp on it. Yesterday, he had something else to do at home, so he took a leave and didn't come, so it was delayed until today."

During these three days, his parents were busy asking Liu Yulan for her address and didn't look for him at all. I don't know how he would feel if he knew...

Lin Qiao did not stay any longer. "Since there is news, I will go back." Without waiting for the people in the room to react, he left.

After leaving the hospital, the bright summer sunshine gradually dispelled the dullness and depression that I had just felt in the house.

Lin Qiao let out a breath, thought about it, and went to Guo Yan's house next door and told Guo Yan the news about Lin Wei and the letter.

Guo Yan was silent for a long while, and it was hard to tell whether she was sad, worried, or reluctant. After a while, she raised her head and blinked, "Not bad, at least she looks like a grandfather."

If Lin Wei hadn't left, his life would have been like this. Only if he left would there be a slight possibility of something else.

Seeing Lin Qiao looking at her, she snorted coldly, "Do you think I would like him if he was really a coward? If he hadn't blocked it for me and held his mother tightly, I, I would have already..."

"You called back a long time ago?"

"Forget it, let's not talk about this. I haven't seen you for a few months, and you have changed a lot."

Guo Yan is a person of strong character and capable. Many men are better than her when it comes to farm work. She is exactly the opposite type of her original self.

Lin Qiao had been gone for three months, and he wasn't afraid of being noticed. He raised his eyebrows openly, "Are you waiting to be sold out? But you and Da Wei Ge, why didn't I notice it before?"

"Do you still need to see everything?" Guo Yan glanced at her and saw that she was no longer silent like before. She was more pleasing to her. "I told you before that you were too honest and should have fought them. You don't owe them anything. Why do they bully you with your father's subsidy?"

It’s not that Lin Qiao didn’t want to, but she came here at an unfortunate time and was left with no other choice.

However, with Guo Yan's fierce temper, she couldn't even get the upper hand. She would rather injure 800 enemies and lose 1,000 of her own than suffer this.

"Now that Dawei is gone, I want to see what they will do." Guo Yan couldn't help but talk about it again.

The only child they had always held in their hands suddenly flew away, and no one knew where he was. As long as he didn't come back, the couple would be worried and anxious.

Guo Yan sneered and then remained silent for a while. After a moment, she asked in a low voice: "Qiao Qiao, tell me the truth, is it really easy to find a job outside now?"

After all, she was still worried, so Lin Qiao didn't hide it from her, "Without a hukou, you will definitely not be able to find a formal job. But compared to farming in the village, you can definitely earn more with the same amount of effort. Besides, there are private factories now, so maybe you can work in one in the factory in the future."

"That is to say, there are more opportunities outside than in the village."

Guo Yan's words made Lin Qiao look at her more. "If you want to go out, you'd better wait a little longer. It may not be safe now."

"Do you think I'm as stupid as your brother and would run away to be an illegal resident? If you want to see me, I'll just look around first."

Lin Qiao didn't ask any more questions after Guo Yan said this. Instead, she asked Lin Qiao again, "How are you doing in Yandu? I couldn't even see you off the last time you left."

"I'm doing fine. I found a job as a teacher at a school for children of military personnel."

"It's a good thing you got married quickly, otherwise the couple would have made so many plans. I have poor taste, so why did I fall for your brother?"

When they came out of Guo's house, it was almost noon. Lin Qiao and Xiao Fang discussed it and decided not to stay here any longer. After lunch, they set off back to Yandu.

In fact, there was no place for Lin Qiao in either the Lin family or Liu Yulan's family, but the small second floor where she had lived for just over two months gave her a sense of belonging. She didn't even wait to enter the door, just seeing the familiar outline from afar in the night, she felt relieved.

Ji Duo was obviously still awake. Soon a tall figure walked out from the light on the second floor. "You're back."

"I'm back." Lin Qiao responded, thanked Xiao Fang again, and got out of the car with his things.

Ji Duo took it for her and without asking any questions, he let Xiao Fang go back to rest.

When he went upstairs with the things, Lin Qiao had already changed her clothes and fell on the bed without saying a word to him.

Ji Duo tidied up the things on the desk and quickly turned off the light.

When Lin Qiao woke up the next day, half of the bed was empty. The man had gone to the barracks, and there was food left for her in the kitchen downstairs.

After eating, Lin Qiao took the ticket and went to the bathhouse to take a bath. When he came back, he threw all the clothes he had worn during the past few days on the road into the washing machine.

It’s a good thing that I drove there by myself, so there were places to change clothes on the way. Otherwise, after a long trip in the hot summer, my clothes would have smelled bad when I came back.

Ji Duo came back at noon and bought some food with him.

This way, they wouldn't have to go out in the hot sun to eat. Lin Qiao took the lunch box and put it on the table. Just as she was about to get the bowl and chopsticks, she heard the man say something without context: "Don't you have anything to say to me?"

Why does this sound so familiar?

Lin Qiao paused as he reached for the chopsticks. He thought to himself that he hadn't done anything. "Are you asking me about my return trip?"

Ji Duo did not comment.

Lin Qiao sat down and told him about the process and results of her search while eating. "I've asked my mother to keep an eye out for me. If my cousin has any letter back, she should tell me."

Hearing that Lin Wei's family left him because of his girlfriend, Ji Duo frowned, obviously disagreeing, but didn't say anything.

Lin Qiao also knew that if it were him, he would definitely not handle the situation so immaturely, and would not let himself fall to this point.

However, everyone has a different personality and growth environment, so the way they deal with things is naturally different.

Lin Qiao was just about to wash the dishes when Ji Duo took over and finished them in a few seconds.

"I have something to tell you."

The man picked up the enamel mug on the tea table in the living room and motioned for her to go upstairs with him. When they reached the bedroom on the second floor, he motioned for her to sit down opposite the desk.

This attitude was quite serious. Lin Qiao had already begun to wonder what could happen if she was not around for two days. Then she saw the man put down the enamel pot with a serious face, "Comrade Lin Qiao, I think I need to talk to you about the trust issue between husband and wife."