Chapter 171: Your Third Brother is Gone

Lin Zhao looked calm on the surface, but her heart was already tight!

She brought a small bamboo stool, sat quietly at the door of Lin Shifan's room, and sat there guarding, propping up her ears to listen to the movement inside.

At first, it was dead silent inside, not a sound.

A few minutes passed like torture.

"... Damn!" A suppressed, hoarse male voice sounded.

Lin Zhao's hanging heart fell a few points, and the corners of her mouth almost couldn't hold back from curving up.

Still had the strength to curse? Looks like he's fine!

She held her breath, all her heart and soul hanging behind the door panel.

Da Dan and the others were hooked by the atmosphere here and wanted to come over, their feet lifted and they wanted to lean in.

Lin Zhao swept her eyes, waving her hands quickly.

Several children were like little wooden puppets pressed with a pause button, nailed to the spot in unison, not daring to move forward another step, leaving only those bright eyes stuck on their little aunt.

"..."

These children whose curiosity was so strong it was about to break the sky!

Time ticked by, slowly and grindingly.

The sound of gasping in pain inside also stopped completely.

"?"

What's the situation?

Lin Zhao's heart shrank suddenly, and she bounced off the stool "with a thud," rushing to the door in a few steps, raising her hand to smash the door panel.

Just at this moment, a "thud" sound came from the door crack.

The sound of bone hitting a hard object.

"Third Brother?" Lin Zhao softened her voice and shouted, "Are you okay?"

Lin Shifan supported the stool and stood up, the veins on the back of his hand bulging, his movements slow, as if he weighed a thousand pounds. He loosened a finger that was stiff and white, then loosened another... loosening the last finger, his whole body's weight pressed on his legs.

He couldn't feel a trace of pain in his leg bones!!

He looked dazed, hard to believe.

Tentatively took a step forward, one step, two steps... walked very steadily.

Lin Shifan almost suspected that anesthetic was applied to his legs, no, no, he didn't need crutches to stand up, he was... really healed!!

"Awesome!"

Outside the door, this shout made Lin Zhao's mouth twitch.

Fine, looks like nothing happened.

Lin Zhao nodded to the others in the family, made an OK gesture, picked up her small bamboo stool, sat down with light footsteps, picked up the pomegranate juice squeezed by her eldest sister-in-law, and tilted her head to take a big gulp.

"Is your Third Brother okay?" Lin Heling saw some clues, but didn't hear a real answer, so he couldn't rest assured in his heart.

Lin Zhao put down the enamel mug, wiped her mouth, and nodded extremely firmly.

"He's fine!" She raised three fingers and lifted them up. "I guarantee. Third Brother's leg is fine, he doesn't need to retire, he can stay in the military steadily and continue to do the things he likes."

Lin Heling and Song Xiwei's expressions relaxed.

The cloud of sorrow that had lingered for many days between their brows dissipated in an instant.

During this time, Third Brother was forcing a smile, but in fact, he had no spirit in doing anything. It wasn't that he didn't have regrets in his heart; he wanted to stay in the military, dreamed of it, how could his parents not see it?

Now that he could stay, they were certainly worried, but they were also happy for their son.

Just thinking of this, the room door creaked and opened slowly.

Lin Shifan walked out.

Seeing the family in the courtyard, he grinned, that smile brighter than the sun.

He walked toward Lin Zhao and the others.

Didn't use that annoying crutch, but walked steadily.

One step after another, he walked firmly in front of his family.

"Father, Mother, I'm healed!" Lin Shifan's voice was loud, without waiting for Song Xiwei to dislike him for being noisy, he played poor with a nimble tongue: "I feel full of strength, especially my legs, I can kick a wild boar flying. Father, Mother, I'm afraid I can't stay at home and be a filial son, do you think it's a pity?"

Song Xiwei looked at his cheeky face and turned her face away. "Your father and I don't just have one son. At worst, there's still Zhaozhao."

Besides, she didn't need anyone to take care of her.

Lin Zhao nodded. "Right, right, right, Father and Mother live with me! I just love living with Father and Mother!"

Before Father Lin and Mother Song could open their mouths to respond, Chen Yu hurriedly expressed her stance. "That won't do. Da Dan and the others can't bear to part with Gu Laoyezi and Grandma. Zhaozhao's little abacus is afraid it will fall through."

Other little daughters-in-law didn't love living with their parents-in-law, but Chen Yu didn't; her parents-in-law were both sensible and never interfered with things in their son's room, so living in the same courtyard with them was stress-free.

Lin Zhao changed the topic and asked Lin Shifan, "Third Brother, when does your vacation end?"

"It was supposed to be a month, but I want to go back early." Lin Shifan's expression became a bit serious.

He wanted to go back early not for himself. "The medicine Fourth Brother made is unusual, very unusual! I want to go back and report it, he made such a great merit, if operated well... it's not impossible to get rid of the hat!"

"Third Brother and I thought of the same thing." Gu Chenghuai's calm voice intervened at the right time.

"Hmm?" A questioning nasal sound came from Lin Shifan's mouth.

"What should be done, I've already done it first." Gu Chenghuai said concisely. "I sent an urgent telegram. Afraid someone would pick the peach halfway, I also sent one to the capital."

Old Mr. Yun was in a high position, and with him watching, things would go smoothly.

Guard against villains, not gentlemen. This world had many fair and selfless people, but there was no lack of petty people who abused power for personal gain. Especially at present, the country was being watched by the opposite shore and the ocean side, with internal ghosts and external thieves infiltrating in various ways, so one had to be on guard.

"Who did you find? Is it reliable?" Lin Shifan asked.

He was righteous, had many good comrades-in-arms, and there was no lack of those with top-notch family backgrounds.

"The Yun family." Gu Chenghuai spat out two words.

As soon as he said the Yun family, Lin Shifan's pupils shrank, and he understood in seconds.

The Yun family, it was deafening!

Old Mr. Yun was the role model worshiped by countless little soldiers, the kind that you would stand in awe of just by hearing his name.

That was a true, old revolutionary who waded out of a hail of bullets!

A legendary hero with brilliant military exploits!

With Old Yun, this pillar of the sea, watching, Lin Shifan was very relieved.

His eyes carried surprise as he looked at Gu Chenghuai. "Didn't expect you to have a way into the Yun family..." His tone carried a bit of small envy, not envious of anything else, after all, such a heroic figure wouldn't help people walk through the back door, just envious that his brother-in-law's name was registered with the old hero, what kind of glory was this!

Tsk, sour, sour.

Gu Chenghuai's expression was as usual, his handsome face still upright, and he said modestly: "It was also good luck. Was in the same dormitory as Old Yun's grandson, and accidentally saved Yun Jian's life once, he regards me as a close friend."

So smug.

Really so smug.

Lin Shifan was indignant in his heart, curled his lips, and used a volume that only he could hear to mutter: "Who doesn't have a few close friends who have gone through life and death..."

This bit of showing off wasn't important, what was important was that his old leg injury was healed, completely healed, that stiffness and weakness were all gone!

His heart became hot, and his heroic spirit was born. He bent down, grabbed Xibao's armpits, easily lifted the person over his head, and laughed loudly: "Xibao, Third Uncle can throw you high again!"

Xibao laughed gigglingly, and didn't know fear at all when she was tossed nearly two meters off the ground, happy like a little fish.

The little girl was very smart, noticed Third Uncle's arms were exceptionally strong, and shouted like a series of sounds: "Third Uncle is really amazing. Throw higher! Not high enough, not high enough!"

Lin Shifan was happy to cooperate, laughing loudly and continuing to exert force to toss upward.

As for this tiger-like courage, it still had to be his family's Xibao.

The courtyard was lively, and a small head quietly poked into the door.

A little girl named Zhao Zhao Daya in the village stood at the door timidly, wanting to say something, her small mouth opened and closed, hesitating for several seconds without saying it.

Xibao saw her when she fell, immediately hugged Lin Shifan's neck. "Third Uncle, I don't want to play anymore. Zhao Zhao Daya sister is calling us to play."

Lin Shifan patted his niece's head casually and put her down. "Little girl who crosses the river and tears down the bridge!"

Xibao giggled, and ran to meet Zhao Zhao Daya in a flash, asking crisply: "Zhao Zhao Daya sister, where are we going to play?"

Zhao Zhao Daya said in a low voice: "Not playing, there's a big excitement to watch at the Liu family, are you going?"

The younger generation of the Lin family knew that their family was almost harmed by the Liu family, and they were vengeful! Now that there was excitement to watch, how could they miss it!

"Watch, watch, watch." Xibao's little head nodded quickly, saying it three times.

Immediately called friends and companions, called her brothers and sisters, and ran out of the door with a pitter-patter.

Lin Zhao heard the movement. "What's wrong with the Liu family?"

"Without that prestigious son-in-law, isn't life hard? People's stomachs need oil, without oil, their tempers are bad, and if their tempers are bad, they will argue." Chen Yu's tone was still gentle, but carried some coldness.

Regarding the Liu family's plan to harm people, she was also angry. Almost, almost her children were going to be capped!

Lin Zhao just asked casually; regarding the Liu family's situation, she was very calm in her heart and couldn't stir up waves.

Chen Yu touched her big belly, thinking of Li Song's legs and feet recovering well, and changed the topic: "Xiangxiang's city object's legs and feet are agile now, will he dislike our country girl, want to climb a higher door, and break up with Xiangxiang?"

Xiangxiang had retired from marriage before, if it broke up again this time, the eldest aunt would go crazy.

The others' faces paused slightly, and the atmosphere condensed slightly.

Song Xiwei said: "That young man's brows and eyes are upright, he doesn't look like someone who climbs."

"Xiwei, don't have expectations for other people's character." Lin Heling intervened, a cold light flashing in his eyes. "Especially people you've only met once."

In the face of huge interests, people with close relationships will also become strangers, stabbing you hard, leaving no room.

Song Xiwei looked at her husband's face and knew he thought of something again, and it was a bad memory.

"Listen to you."

Lin Heling never threw bad emotions at close people; he was disgusted, so he revealed a trace.

He adjusted his mood, his brows and eyes dyed with smiles again, and his gaze turned gently to Gu Chenghuai: "Chenghuai, Jiusi's matter troubled you."

Gu Chenghuai didn't care. "Father is polite, not troubled."

For him, things that could be done with favors didn't count as anything.

After finishing the business, Lin Zhao didn't stay long, left the oil and soap for her mother's family, and... took the zongzi and salted duck eggs away!

The twins hadn't eaten zongzi, so she took them back for Da Zai and Er Zai. As for the salted duck eggs? For the cubs' father. Gu Chenghuai was someone who had lived through bitter days and liked heavy tastes with big oil; this salted duck egg would ooze oil with a light poke, he would definitely like it.

Da Dan and the others? Wait a bit, wait until she draws them one day and then sends them over.

The setting sun plated the village entrance with a golden edge.

The couple riding the bicycle home had just driven into the familiar tree shade at the village entrance, Lin Zhao's smile hadn't dissipated, and she saw two people guarding by the stone pier at the village entrance, both members of the village's security team, their expressions rarely solemn.

Gu Chenghuai's eyes were sharp like a hawk, capturing the anxious breath of the two at a glance, he narrowed his eyes, his heart sank.

... Something happened?

While thinking, his fingers flicked the bicycle bell.

The crisp bell sound broke the stagnant air.

"Ding ling ling!"

The two people's thoughts were interrupted, they looked over at the sound, and seeing Gu Chenghuai and his wife return, their faces showed joy.

But their mouths said a sentence that made Lin Zhao and her husband liver and gallbladder split.

"Chenghuai, your Third Branch is gone!"

Gu Chenghuai and Lin

Who could have imagined it? They had just gone out as usual, and their own child... disappeared?! And there were so many adults at home!

The bicycle stopped in front of the two of them.

Lin Zhao jumped off the back seat with weak legs.

"What do you mean?" She looked at them, her voice strained. "... The 'third one' you mentioned, is that my Seeing Qian Bao?"

At this moment, her mind was a blank.

"Yes, your Seeing Qian Bao is missing!" Uncle Changsheng's voice cracked with anxiety as he shouted: "Even your Seeing Da Huang is gone. Your Alan had her head broken by someone, and blood was all over the ground. You all should hurry back and check."

The young man with Uncle Changsheng added quickly: "No need to be too anxious; there are people guarding the village entrance, so the evildoers shouldn't have left the village yet. The captain suspects your Seeing Qian Bao was taken into the mountains, and he has already led people into the mountains to search!"

Thus, Lin Zhao learned the cause and effect.

The color drained from Lin Zhao's face in a flash, leaving it deathly pale.

She heard clearly and understood; all her hopes were shattered!

The next second, she ran toward home like a madwoman.

She first saw Yubao and Hengbao standing in the courtyard, looking like they had lost their souls.

The two older brothers were badly frightened by the atmosphere at home; their little faces were pale, and their eyes were swollen like peaches.

Seeing Lin Zhao rush in, they didn't dare approach for fear of being scolded by their mother. They hung their heads, tears dripping onto the mud, their shoulders heaving, their faces full of despair.

It's over...

They lost their little brother.

Mother... will never like them again.

Lin Zhao felt a dull, stabbing pain in her chest, as if she had been struck.

She stepped forward and hugged the twins, one on each side, her arms trembling with panic as she tried her best to remain calm. "Don't be afraid, it's alright... Seeing Qian Bao will be fine. Didn't they say... Seeing Da Huang is by his side? Seeing Da Huang is smart; it will protect Seeing Qian Bao. He will be fine... he will be fine..."

She didn't know if she was comforting the children or herself.

Just then.

The cold, bone-chilling description from the original book, those words about the third cub's ending, burrowed into Lin Zhao's mind.

【"Mother, Third Cub is so cold... so cold... Third Cub... Third Cub can't find the way home..." The little boy, thin as a skeleton, curled up in the corner of the wall. Snow drifted down, covering his small body. The child's breathing was very shallow. Gradually, he stopped moving. Two days and two nights passed, and the snow finally stopped. Every household began to sweep the snow. Someone saw a child's corpse in a neglected corner. He was so thin he was unrecognizable, and he didn't even have a tattered cotton jacket on his body. He just froze to death on some snowy night. No one knew where he came from, or whose child he was...】

Her emotions completely collapsed; her tear ducts seemed to lose control, and tears flowed uncontrollably.

Her Seeing Qian Bao...

Now is not the time to cry, stay calm first! Lin Zhao took a deep breath, steadied herself, and tried to keep her voice calm, though it still trembled. "Where is sister? Is Yaobao alright?"

Yubao shook his head, choking back sobs.

"Yaobao is with Second Aunt."

Lin Zhao said nothing more, forced herself to calm down, and found Gu Father and Gu Mother in the main room.

"Father, Mother, what exactly happened..." She spoke as soon as she entered, every nerve in her body pulled tight. "How did Seeing Qian Bao go missing?!"