Chapter Thirty-Seven Forgotten

  When night falls, the snow also stops. Under the shining red lanterns, the courtyard is a beautiful sight with sparkling frost everywhere.

  The women hastily opened the door, and a warm atmosphere rushed out, accompanied by Mrs. Zhou, who walked in with a tired face, and let out a gentle sigh.

  "How is it? Is it still noisy?" Old Mr. Zhou asked hastily.

  The servant woman took off Mrs. Zhou's cloak and hastily retreated, closing the door behind her.

  "It's fine." Madame Zhou sat down, took a sip of brewed tea, and rubbed her forehead with one hand. As she spoke, the two servants entered the room, quiet as if they didn't exist, but why did she still feel an unfamiliar fatigue? "They've settled into the small kitchen, made their own dinner, and gone to sleep."

  Old Zhou also let out a sigh of relief.

  In the afternoon, the Chen family also sent someone over, saying that they wanted to invite Miss Cheng to come again tomorrow to see Old Master.

  Just left today, what else can be seen tomorrow?

  It's obvious that the Chen family has come to ask whether Jiangniang is leaving or staying.

  If Programme Jiao Niang says go, on the pretext of giving Old Master Chen a medical examination, then the Zhou family cannot stop her.

  Old Zhou was furious in his heart, blaming his son for causing this trouble, which was all useless and ended up offending both Cheng Jiaoniang and the Chen family.

  I don't know what to do, but Cheng Jiaoniang actually told the Chen family that they didn't need to look for her tomorrow. When it's time for them to see her, she will naturally go and see them.

  This time face is finally saved.

  Old Zhou let out a sigh of relief.

  "That's all because of Liu Lang." said Madame Zhou, wiping away her tears with a handkerchief. "You didn't see how he himself hit his own servant so hard, in the freezing cold, just for a little maid, what does it count as? She doesn't care about her reputation and is recklessly throwing a tantrum... if anything happens to Liu Lang, I will not forgive her..."

  "What's good or bad, that's just a minor injury." Old Master Zhou said nonchalantly, taking a comfortable and refreshing sip of tea, "As long as the family is safe and sound, that's all that matters."

  Peaceful and stable family life.

  Mrs. Zhou couldn't help but think of the messy things that had happened in just one day.

  I suppose this matter is now in the past, and from now on, we can live a peaceful life at home?

  Why does she always feel a little inexplicably anxious?

  At this moment, Cheng Jiaoniang and her maid almost sat up on the couch at the same time.

  "Girl, you've forgotten about Brother Jin!" The maid said.

  The lights in the house lit up, followed by the entire courtyard lighting up, and then the whole Zhou family became lively.

  "What's going on?" Old Lady Zhou hastily put on her clothes, "It's already late at night and you still want to go out?"

  "The young master is lost, and the maid wants to go find him," said the servant woman.

  "What's wrong, little servant? Why are you crying?" Madam Zhou asked with a frown.

  "This is just an excuse to go and cause trouble!" Old Master Zhou said with hatred, "I knew it, they're not so easy-going, storing up energy to torment people, don't let them out!"

  The women were at a loss, Zhou Lang strode in wearing his cloak.

  "Father and mother needn't worry, wherever they want to go, I'll accompany them there." he said.

  "Sixth Master, you're still injured, how can you run around on a cold winter's night like this?" Madam Zhou hastily said.

  Zhou Lang has already gone out with a casual wave of his hand.

  There was no sign of the woman under the corridor, only a well-dressed maid.

  "How dare I trouble the Sixth Master?" she exclaimed in surprise. "Just have someone prepare a carriage to send me to the Chen residence to ask."

  Only maids? Not that woman?

  Saturday Lang frowned and looked at the house, the lights were dim.

  "The young lady has fallen asleep," said the maid.

  Is it really just looking for a small servant?

  This woman is used to pretending to be silly, don't believe her!

  "Isn't it urgent to find someone? Hurry up and go." Zhou Liu Lang said, taking the lead to follow outside.

  Even if it snows during the day, Beijing's winter nights are still bustling with people flowing and chattering on the streets.

  Zhou Lang drove his horse-drawn carriage straight to the Chen's house.

  Because he had to go to his hometown to live, Jin Ge was sent to his hometown first.

  In this sudden chaos, both the masters and servants were dragged to the Zhou's house, the Chen's family was also in a flurry, the Zhou's family was also in a flurry, and they all forgot about Jin Ge.

  It's also unknown whether anyone from Chen's family went to pick him up or even informed this child, so as not to leave him at a loss.

  The Chen family was startled by a knock on the door in the middle of the night and got up.

  "I thought Zhou's family had taken him away, we didn't even go see."

  After asking around, he finally asked someone who knew, and the person in charge slapped his thigh and regretfully said.

  "Hum, it was you who sent him away, and the house is also rented by you. How can we go to pick him up?" Zhou Liulang spat out a mouthful of anger at that person's face.

  "Zhōu Líu Láng, if you weren't so shameless, how could this have happened!" A young man from the Chen family, who had been holding in his anger, immediately pointed and scolded, "In the capital city, there are many swindlers. That little fellow is only twelve years old, and it's his first time entering the capital. He doesn't know the way or recognize people. What if he gets lost? How will you explain this to Madame Cheng?"

  Four or five young men beside him immediately responded and came to his aid.

  The young lady was forcibly taken away by the Zhou family. Alas, being a blood relative, she couldn't express her grievances, which is truly pitiful and makes one resentful to the extreme.

  Zhou Lang's voice was cold and he smiled fearlessly, his eyes fixed on him as if they were about to fight in the courtyard.

  "Go find someone first, if you can't find anyone, then we'll settle the account!" The maid shouted, stamping her foot.

  People and horses trampled the snow on the flying street.

  When the sky was vaguely bright, the chaotic footsteps broke through the tranquility of the Zhou family's morning.

  The maid's face was frozen bright red, her eyes were also red, she opened the door and stepped inside.

  Jiang Yao was already dressed and sitting in the room, holding a book in her hand, but she wasn't reading or writing like she usually did.

  "My daughter..." The maid couldn't help but choke back a sob.

  "Speak first, cry later," said Cheng Jiaoniang.

  The maid swallowed her tears with effort.

  "...asked people around, some saw Jin Ge'er first standing at the door, then walking towards the alley..."

  "...along the way, someone saw him wiping his nose and asked where the Chen family was, but he couldn't say which Chen family and gave up..."

  The maid trembled and said, "Let's stop here."

  "So he can't find the Chen's house, doesn't know where the Zhou's house is, and has even forgotten his own home, getting lost without a clue." said Cheng Jiaoniang.

  The maid nodded and sobbed.

  "My daughter, don't worry, I've already reported it to the authorities and they're still searching. The city gate is being guarded, so she probably hasn't left the city yet."

  Jiang Nang didn't say anything and stood up.

  "Miss, are you going out too?" The maid asked, looking up.

  "Yes, I'll go find him," said Jingniang, "I'm the one who lost him, I need to get him back."

  It is said that Chiang Niang will go out, and Mr. and Mrs. Zhou are anxious again.

  "Still making excuses to run away..." Old Man Zhou said, "A small servant got lost, that's all. If he's found, then he's found. If not, then so be it! What's the big deal?"

  Cheng Jiuniang walked up to the gate and looked at the steward blocking her way.

  "You won't let me go out?" she asked.

  The servant was made somewhat nervous by the wooden expression of this woman.

  "No, no." Mrs. Zhou and Old Man Zhou hurried over.

  Mrs. Zhou grasped her hand.

  "Jiaojiao." She looked worried, "It's not that you're not allowed to go out, it's just cold today, they'll come find you themselves, you can just stay home."

  "It's no use," said Cheng Jiaoniang.

  Why does this kid speak so awkwardly?

  "What's all the fuss about." Old Master Zhou said with a hint of seniority, while stretching out his hand to point at the steward, "Just go buy a few more servants for her, that's all."

  Jiang Yao turned her head and looked at him.

  This is the first time she has looked straight at her uncle since coming to Beijing.

  Mr. Zhou also saw the child's eyes for the first time.

  These eyes are still as ugly as they were when I was a kid, especially when they involuntarily roll upwards...

  "Is it you, not letting me go?" Cheng Jiaoniang looked at him and asked.

  Mr. Zhou was slightly stunned and inexplicably felt a chill run down his spine.