Zhong Weiming glanced at Lu Yuan's expression, and seeing that he seemed to have nothing but confusion, he chuckled awkwardly.
“There’s no problem, but this person is related to our family in some way. He’s my sister-in-law’s distant cousin. Here, wait a moment, I’ll have someone go and call my second brother and his wife over, and we’ll take you to their house to find them.”
Lu Yuan quickly declined, "No need for that trouble, just tell me which house Comrade Zhang is staying at, Director Zhong."
Zhong Weiming thought that taking the child back wasn't a big deal, so he stood up and said, "I'll take you there. Their family lives in another apartment building."
The two went downstairs together, exchanged pleasantries with Wen Shengtao and Mo Yitao, and then led them to the Zhang family's house.
The Zhang family.
Yu Xiaomei asked the man picking his teeth next to her anxiously, "Are you sure Mom can find Xiaohui a good family?"
Zhang Aiguo said impatiently, "How many times have you asked this question? Although the other party's family is from the countryside, they don't have a son. The child is so young and doesn't remember anything. They will treat him like their own son and take good care of him. It's much better than the way he was treated and abused in the Wen family."
Before Yu Xiaomei could say anything more, Zhang Aiguo impatiently interrupted her, "Alright, you've taken all the 50 yuan Mom gave you. If you don't want it, give the money back, and we'll return the money and get the child back."
When money was mentioned, Yu Xiaomei instinctively clutched her pockets and said sullenly, "I didn't say I wanted to switch the child back, I just asked a couple of questions because I was worried."
Zhang Aiguo glanced at her disdainfully. "Don't trust me? Humph, if he really didn't trust me, why would he have given the child to his mother for 50 yuan?"
"Stop talking nonsense. You went out to have a baby early this morning, and there's a pile of clothes at home that haven't been washed yet. Go and wash them all."
Yu Xiaomei frowned. She had just finished tidying up and put the youngest child to sleep. She hadn't even caught her breath before she was asked to do chores again. Ever since she married into the family, it was always chores, and there was never enough work to do.
But she couldn't just quit; if she didn't, she would be kicked out and truly homeless.
Holding back her anger, she had no choice but to obediently reply, "I'll go right away."
As she opened the door carrying a basin full of dirty clothes, she saw Zhong Weiming about to knock. Although she didn't recognize him, she recognized Lu Yuan beside him and Mo Yitao, Wen Shengtao, and the others behind him.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively wanted to close the door, but Lu Yuan quickly stopped her.
"What are you doing?" Yu Xiaomei asked guiltily, taking several steps back.
Lu Yuan, being a grown man, didn't feel comfortable saying much to her, so he stepped aside. Mo Yitao stepped forward and asked directly, "Where's the baby? Bring the baby out."
Yu Xiaomei's eyes darted around a few times, then she forced herself to remain calm and said, "My mother-in-law took the child out to play."
When Zhang Guoqiang saw that the woman who wanted the child had come over, he frowned. Didn't this woman say that the Wen family disowned her brother and sister-in-law and even disliked the child? She also said that the Wen family wouldn't have thought of raising the child if they hadn't really had no other choice, and they wished she would take the child away and not send it back.
It doesn't seem like they didn't want to raise the child now; they came after me in less than half a day wanting the baby.
They had originally intended to send him away, but upon seeing Zhong Weiming there, they immediately put on a smile.
"Director Zhong, what brings you here? Please come in and have a seat."
Zhong Weiming smiled and waved his hand, "You don't need to worry about me. I came here with Comrade Lu and the others. I'll leave after picking up the child."
Zhang Aiguo was taken aback, not expecting that Zhong Weiming knew these people who came to pick up the children.
He responded with a smile, "What a coincidence, my mom took the child to visit relatives in the countryside. We'll send the child back when my mom comes back, okay?"
This was something they had planned beforehand; if the Wen family came looking for the child, they would use this as an excuse.
Mo Yitao was skeptical. "Why didn't your mother take her own grandson with her when she went to visit relatives in the countryside? Why did she take Xiaohui with her?"
"Isn't it because Xiaohui is such a troublemaker at home, making it impossible for my wife to do any housework? That's why my mother thought of taking the child away."
"When is your mom coming back? We'll wait here."
"I'm sorry, something's come up at my relatives' house, and my mom will be staying in the countryside for two days before she comes back."
Mo Yitao said, "I don't believe what you're saying. You didn't lock the child inside, did you?"
Zhang Aiguo expressed his helplessness, "There are only our two kids in the house. Xiaohui was really taken out to play by my mother. If you don't believe me, come in and see for yourselves."
Mo Yitao actually went inside to check. There were only two rooms in total. Mo Yitao checked each room one by one, but she didn't see Xiaohui.
“Okay, we’ll go back first. Once the child is back, you can send him to us immediately,” Mo Yitao said.
There's nothing we can do if the child isn't home; we can't expect a whole group of them to chase after the child all the way to the countryside to pick them up.
Just as the group was about to leave the Zhang family's house, a middle-aged woman with slanted eyes appeared at the door and said in an unfriendly tone, "Who are you? What are so many people doing gathered at our door?"
Zhang Aiguo and Yu Xiaomei were both taken aback. Zhang Aiguo quickly stepped forward and shouted, "Mom, you're back! These are Xiaohui's maternal grandparents. They've come to pick up Xiaohui. Didn't you say you were taking the child to stay with your aunt in the countryside for a couple of days? Why are you back now? By the way, where's Xiaohui? Why are you alone?"
As he spoke, he kept giving his wife meaningful glances.
Grandma Zhang was stunned at first, but reacted quickly. She immediately sat down on the ground, slapped her thigh, and wailed, "Oh God! Aiguo, please hurry and find the child! I was carrying the child to the bus station and wanted to use the restroom. A kind lady offered to hold the child for me. I thought she was a good person because she was well-dressed, so I let her hold the child while I went to the restroom. Who knew that in just a short while, when I came out, I couldn't find her and the child! Aiguo, I'm so sorry to the Yu family and the Wen family! Please hurry and find the child!"
"What did you say? The child is lost?" Mo Yitao grabbed her and questioned her in disbelief.
"Waaah, dear sister Wen, I'm so sorry. I only meant well by taking the child out to play, but I never expected to lose the child. I'm so sorry, so very sorry."
Mo Yitao raised her hand and slapped him twice across the face.
"You're kidding me! How could a child just disappear like that? Did you do something to the child?"
"Hey, why did you hit me? I feel guilty about losing my child, but I didn't do it on purpose, I didn't want to either."
If my daughter-in-law hadn't gone to see the child and happened to see you abusing the child until he was crying loudly, she wouldn't have brought that poor baby back, and I wouldn't have thought of taking the child out.
"Oh God, in the end it's all my fault, this old woman's fault. I can't live anymore, I can't live anymore, I might as well just die."
As he spoke, he made a gesture as if he were about to bang his head against the wall.
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