Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Li Hui stood at the alley entrance for a good while. When he came out with a somewhat strange look, Li Xia went up to him worriedly, “Big brother, what’s wrong? They didn’t run away, did they?” She shook her head. That’s impossible. Li Xia was very sure she had dealt them a heavy blow and it was impossible for those people to have escaped.

“Did you see anyone else go in?” Li Hui dismissed his odd expression and asked Li Xia.

“No.” Li Xia shook her head, very certain she didn’t see anyone go in. Of course not counting herself. She wasn't "anyone else".

"Big brother, what exactly happened?"

"Nothing. This is not a place for a young lady like you. Qing Zhu, send Miss Li back home." Li Hui didn't answer Li Xia's question. Instead, he ordered Qing Zhu to take Li Xia back.

Li Xia also knew it wasn't proper for her to stay here any longer. She briskly followed Qing Zhu back. No sooner had Li Xia left than Li Ming rushed over with a group.

"Father, there are 16 children inside." Li Hui's words greatly changed Li Ming's expression. Li Ming turned to the doctor who followed him and ordered, "Hurry in and take a look at the children!"

These children must not come to any harm. The doctor who came with them hurried inside with a medicine box to examine the children.

Li Ming asked Li Hui, "The human traffickers, did they reveal where their base is? How are those traffickers now? Chief Constable Zhang..." Before Li Ming could finish, he was interrupted by a burst of crying.

A woman suddenly appeared at the alley entrance, crying and shouting while trying to get in, "My child is inside. Let me in, let me in..." Her family also pleaded loudly, "Sir, our child was kidnapped. There could be our child inside. Please let us in to take a look!" The officers blocked them from rushing in.

Li Ming frowned. He had wanted to interrogate them for further clues and catch the masterminds. Now the parents of the missing children were here and it would startle the snakes in the grass.

Suppressing his emotions, Li Ming stepped forward and announced in a clear voice, "Everyone, I am Li Ming, the magistrate of Bailang County. Doctors are examining the children now. They will be taken to the county government office later. Parents whose children are missing can come to the county office to register and verify if you can claim your child back."

Li Xia didn't expect not only no punishment from Mrs. Lu but even a reward. She reached out and took the rather weighty box, hearing the pleasing sound of coins clinking inside. Li Xia felt very satisfied with this reward. She was lacking money. "Your daughter will bear your teaching in mind," Still, Li Xia didn't say she wouldn't intervene next time she encountered such a situation again.

Mrs. Lu could tell Li Xia didn't really take her words to heart, "You may leave now."

"Your daughter bids farewell." Li Xia curtsied and left. At the entrance she saw Li Xin walking over briskly.

"Big sister!" In high spirits, Li Xia greeted her.

Li Xin looked Li Xia up and down, "Second sister, you're not hurt, are you?"

"Why would I be hurt?" Li Xia shook the box in her hand, the clinking of coins inside was really pleasant to the ear.

Seeing Li Xia's expression, Li Xin felt relieved, "That's good then."

"Big sister, I'll head back first." Li Xia moved aside to let Li Xin pass.

Once inside, Li Xin asked Mrs. Lu doubtfully about rewarding Li Xia with money, "Why did you give second sister money, Mother?" To Li Xin, directly giving money seemed rather vulgar. For a daughter of the family, rewards should be fabrics, jewelry and the like.

"For Young Miss San, giving money would be inappropriate, but for Young Miss Er, only money will delight her." Mrs. Lu understood Li Xia well. She then told Li Xin about the things Li Xia had exchanged her red envelope money for over the years, as well as some unimportant items Mrs. Lu had rewarded her with that Li Xia sold off to buy food. Although Li Xia did these things furtively, how could she hide anything from Mrs. Lu? She had a clear grasp of everything happening in the magistrate's residence.

"Second sister is far too gluttonous!" Li Xin found it hard to understand Li Xia's immense love for food. The education she always received emphasized balance and restraint, not greed. Then doubtfully, she asked again, "Hasn't Auntie Mei disciplined her?"

"Auntie Mei just has a beautiful face." Among the three aunties, Auntie Mei did have the most outstanding looks, but compared to that, she had the least astute mind. Otherwise, Mrs. Lu wouldn't have kept her and let her give birth to Li Xia back then. Speaking of this, Mrs. Lu took the chance to teach her daughter, talking about many matters within the household concerning managing servants, concubines and more.