As she thought more about it, she found the method feasible. So, the next time they were going out to buy food, Lin Xiaohui proactively offered to go.
Qiu Peng just glanced at her and agreed without saying anything.
Lin Xiaohui happily got up, but before she could take two steps, a large hand holding a handkerchief suddenly reached out from behind her and covered her mouth and nose.
Lin Xiaohui struggled in fear, but after only a couple of struggles, she suddenly felt her limbs go weak and her head spin. Her vision gradually darkened, and she fainted.
Only when she stopped moving did Qiu Peng drag her under the bridge and cover her from head to toe with the discarded straw mat he had found.
Lin Xiaohui was too naive, her every joy and sorrow displayed on her face without any concealment. She had been terrified and afraid to go anywhere before, but now she suddenly offered to go buy food. Qiu Peng wasn't stupid; he wouldn't believe she had no other intentions.
Since he had managed to hide for long enough, if she had no other thoughts, Qiu Peng wouldn't mind taking her out. As for now, Qiu Peng glanced in Lin Xiaohui's direction, narrowing his eyes. Before leaving, he decided to sell her first to get some travel money.
...
Lin Xiaoyue and Wu Zheng searched for two consecutive days while also taking care of the children at home. They ran back and forth between the two, and due to the anxiety and anger, Lin Xiaoyue quickly developed a ring of blisters around her mouth, and her milk dried up. Wu Yang had no milk and cried incessantly from hunger. Lin Xiaoyue's mother-in-law could only try her best to make him porridge and some rice paste.
The military could not grant Wu Zheng leave indefinitely. Just as Lin Xiaoyue was despairing and about to give up, the police suddenly sent news that they had caught the culprit.
The couple rushed to the police station, only to receive the news that only Qiu Peng had been apprehended. During the interrogation, they learned that Lin Xiaohui had been sold by him.
Sold...
Sold!
Lin Xiaoyue couldn't bear the blow and fainted.
Knowing that she had fainted from too much shock and couldn't handle it, Wu Zheng quickly helped her to a stool and pinched her philtrum. Not long after, Lin Xiaoyue slowly regained consciousness. Upon remembering the news she had just heard, she threw herself into Wu Zheng's arms and burst into tears.
"We will apprehend the suspect as soon as possible based on the clues. Once there are further developments, we will notify you immediately."
Wu Zheng: "Comrade, thank you."
"It's nothing, the military and police are like family. We will definitely do our best to help you find her."
As the couple came out of the police station, Lin Xiaoyue thought that Chen Lishu had been helping to take care of Lu Yang for the past two days. She spoke with a hoarse voice, "Yangyang is still with Lishu. Let's go pick up the child first."
"Okay." Wu Zheng looked at her with great heartache, knowing that she wouldn't be at ease until the child was found, but he couldn't help but persuade her, "Now that Xiaohui has some news, we've done our best. We still have three children at home, especially the second one, who has lost weight these past two days."
Lin Xiaoyue nodded and said softly, "I'm fine. Actually, I've thought a lot these past two days. Xiaohui's situation today is all her own doing."
Perhaps from the very beginning, when she proposed coming to the provincial capital, she should have refused. Lin Xiaohui wouldn't have become increasingly arrogant, nor would the subsequent events have happened.
Wu Zheng held her hand, and they walked together towards Chen Lishu's house.
Chen Lishu had also been feeling anxious these past few days. This feeling was like a knife hanging over her head, ready to fall at any moment. Sometimes, she even had a "what the heck" attitude, thinking that perhaps when it finally fell, everything would be settled.
She didn't have classes in the morning, so she was at home. She found a set of Rui Rui's outgrown clothes and asked Zhao Qiuyue to boil a pot of hot water, preparing to bathe Lu Yang.
Since being brought back, the child had been listless, crying intermittently and asking for his mother. Chen Lishu feared he was frightened and bought some medicine for infants who were easily startled. After taking it for two consecutive days, seeing that his spirits seemed better today, Chen Lishu dared to bathe him.
After mixing the hot water, she took off Lu Yang's clothes. Seeing that his buttocks and the backs of his legs were red, swollen, and broken, Chen Lishu's brow furrowed.
Many other places were also discolored, with patches of lighter and darker shades. This was likely from scratching and then scabbing. The lighter areas were where the scabs had just fallen off, while the darker areas were probably from long-term, repeated bruising.
As soon as the hot water touched him, Lu Yang couldn't help but start scratching. Chen Lishu quickly held his little hands and asked Zhao Qiuyue to help scrub him.
"This mother's heart is quite big. How could the child be like this, and she didn't even try to manage him or think of a solution?" Zhao Qiuyue couldn't help but complain, feeling distressed at the child's condition.
Because Chen Lishu held his hands to prevent him from scratching, little Lu Yang cried out in discomfort.
"Okay, okay, we'll be done washing you soon. Auntie will get you something good to eat and your big brother's paper airplane to play with."
Chen Lishu comforted him in a gentle voice, while Zhao Qiuyue also sped up her actions, quickly cleaning the child. Chen Lishu took a towel and wiped his body dry. Lu Yang, perhaps tired, lessened his crying.
"Sister Qiuyue, please watch the child for a moment. I'm going to the pharmacy to buy some medicine for him," Chen Lishu said, getting up.
Her own children used to have low immunity, often getting fevers and colds, and even developing eczema. Eczema was very stubborn and not easy to get rid of completely. It required meticulous care, paying close attention to everything from the fabrics they touched to their food. Only by strengthening their immunity could the eczema gradually improve.
The pharmacies at that time were still state-run, with one every few blocks. After Chen Lishu explained the situation to the staff, she bought two kinds of medicine: an ointment for topical application and pills for allergies.
After paying, she was walking back when she saw Wu Zheng and Lin Xiaoyue coming towards her. The three of them went upstairs together.
When she heard that Qiu Peng had been caught, Chen Lishu's heart skipped a beat, thinking that what was meant to come would eventually come.
"Auntie~" Lu Yang had been unhappy for the two days he hadn't seen his relatives. Seeing Lin Xiaoyue now, his eyes lit up, and he immediately ran over with his little hands outstretched.
"Oh dear, he's not wearing shoes yet. The floor is cold," Zhao Qiuyue quickly followed with his shoes.
Lu Yang had already thrown himself into Lin Xiaoyue's arms.
Seeing the child, Lin Xiaoyue thought of Lin Xiaohui again. She quickly wiped her eyes before picking up Lu Yang.
"Thank you very much, sister-in-law, for taking care of the child these past two days," Wu Zheng said gratefully.
"Brother Wu, you're too kind." Seeing that they were about to leave, Chen Lishu quickly handed over the medicine in her hand and explained the situation she had discovered to them.
"...I suspect that the child's condition may be caused by low immunity. You can take him to the hospital for a check-up to determine the specific situation."
Lin Xiaoyue had also noticed something was not right with Lu Yang before, but every time she mentioned it to Lin Xiaohui, she would say it was fine. She was also busy, having to take care of the child and run a stall, so she didn't pay much attention.
Now that she heard Chen Lishu say it was serious, she decided to take the child for a check-up later.