CHAPTER 207: CHAPTER 206: BOTH FIERCE AND REASONABLE

"How was I supposed to know the Old Mu Family would be this shameless? This brat, you can’t hit or scold him, and when you try to touch him, he screams louder than anyone else. What can I do?"

Zhuangzi’s mother was a bit deflated. Xiao Mizi had been taken away by kidnappers several days ago, and the villagers had searched frantically but found nothing. If this continued, her Xiao Mizi...

Thinking of her obedient eldest grandson, Zhuangzi’s mother grabbed a broom from the ground and said, "Since the Old Mu Family doesn’t want that lazy thief, I’ll take him. I’m going to beat him to death right now!"

Mrs. Zhou hurriedly stopped her furious mother-in-law.

"Mother, our sister-in-law is already crying her eyes out every day. If something else happens, what will we do?"

"I don’t care. The Old Mu Family has to hand that wretch over to me. I will drown her in the pig cage!"

"Zhuangzi, get out here! Bring that lazy wife of yours back, or you’re in big trouble..."

Zhuangzi’s mother shouted angrily toward the house while jumping up and down.

She was like a person driven to madness.

Since Xiao Mizi went missing, Zhuangzi’s family had been like this. Every day, Zhuangzi’s mother cursed at the top of her lungs, cursing everyone from Mu Zhenzhen to the ancestors of the Old Mu Family.

When Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng arrived at Zhuangzi’s house, Zhuangzi’s mother was still cursing. Mu Shuangshuang remembered that voice; it was the old lady who carried a hoe and led people to ruin the Old Mu Family.

Unfortunately, those cunning folks were unwilling to come out one by one.

Zhuangzi’s mother didn’t gain any substantial benefits.

"Grandma, I’m the eldest daughter of the Third Branch of the Old Mu Family, Mu Shuangshuang. Can you please open the door? We are here to help."

Mu Shuangshuang knocked on Zhuangzi’s courtyard door. Upon hearing that someone from the Old Mu Family had come, Zhuangzi’s mother suddenly became revitalized.

Hatred controlled her mind. She returned to the kitchen, grabbed a kitchen knife, and muttered to herself.

"Good timing. Today I’ll chop off these dogs’ heads from the Old Mu Family."

"Mother, what are you doing? Killing someone will lead to a lawsuit. Put the knife down!" Mrs. Zhou’s face turned pale with fright.

Now, except for Zhuangzi and our sister-in-law, everyone in the family had gone out to search for Xiao Mizi. Our sister-in-law hadn’t gone out since Xiao Mizi went missing.

Zhuangzi was even less reliable. Since he returned the day before yesterday, he locked himself in his room, doing everything in there. He simply wasn’t coming out.

"Even if it means dying, I want the Old Mu Family to pay for it!"

The moment the courtyard door opened, Zhuangzi’s mother charged in with the kitchen knife. Lu Yuanfeng moved swiftly, easily sidestepping to her, not only snatched the knife but also subdued Zhuangzi’s mother.

With her arms restrained and unable to move, Zhuangzi’s mother started screaming.

"Help, murder, someone’s trying to kill me... wuh wuh wuh wuh..."

The rest of her words were blocked because Mu Shuangshuang had covered her mouth.

She said, "Grandma, I’m not here to take the blame for the Old Mu Family. I’m here to help you solve the problem. Don’t you want to find Xiao Mizi? Only I can help you!"

Upon hearing Xiao Mizi’s name, the woman’s eyes filled with tears. She looked at Mu Shuangshuang, full of doubt and a bit of hope for her words.

It’s often said that a child is their mother’s treasure, the flesh of their palm. Losing a child is like tearing a piece of the mother’s flesh.

Another person who can deeply feel this is a child’s grandmother.

As for Old Mrs. Mu, Mu Shuangshuang didn’t say much. She was too biased, having long neglected the family to focus on Mu Dade and her daughters.

But Zhuangzi’s mother, standing there, Mu Shuangshuang believed she was truly in pain.

Being able to scream in anger or cry in sadness, perhaps she was true to her emotions.

"Grandma, our third branch has already separated from the Old Mu Family. I’ve come only for the purpose I mentioned. I’ll let go of you now. Can you promise not to call out? Let’s solve this problem together..."

Mu Shuangshuang released her hand, and Zhuangzi’s mother indeed did not scream.

From the hopeful look in her eyes, Mu Shuangshuang had already guessed she wouldn’t.

Seeing the old lady calm down, Lu Yuanfeng also promptly released her hand.

Mrs. Zhou came out due to her concern for Zhuangzi’s mother, but by the time she appeared, Zhuangzi’s mother was no longer causing a ruckus.

"Follow me!"

These few words vividly expressed Zhuangzi’s mother’s sense of helplessness.

"Grandma, can you tell me what the situation was like at that time?"

Mu Shuangshuang wasn’t a psychic. With no surveillance or modern facilities, she could only rely on the information from the Zhao family to find what she needed.

"That day..." Zhuangzi’s mother and Mrs. Zhou rambled incoherently about the whole event. Mu Shuangshuang pieced together something like this.

Mu Zhenzhen took Zhuangzi to the Old Mu Family. The Zhao family was short-handed, so they called out the eldest and second daughters-in-law to work. Only when it was nearly noon did they go home early to cook for the whole family.

That day it was Mrs. Zhou who cooked. When she returned home, she didn’t see Xiao Mizi. Initially, she thought the child was just playing around, but when everyone came back for lunch and Xiao Mizi still hadn’t returned, they realized there was trouble.

Upon further inquiry, there were several cases in the village where children had gone missing like this.

Everyone desperately searched, but couldn’t find the child.

"So what you’re saying is, the child went missing in broad daylight, and disappeared while you all were out working?" Mu Shuangshuang extracted a useful thread of information.

"Yes, exactly!" Mrs. Zhou replied from the side.

By now, Zhuangzi’s mother, having recalled the past, was crying terribly.

Mu Shuangshuang sensed something unusual. If it were really kidnappers, they wouldn’t be so blatant.

Moreover, kidnappers wouldn’t dare to abduct so many children at once.

Something is fishy!

"Aunt Zhou, can you take me to the families who’ve lost children nearby? I might have stumbled upon some clues."

Mu Shuangshuang spoke honestly. She knew her appearance would definitely make those families anxious or even hit their sore spot. But if the mystery wasn’t solved, the children would have even slimmer chances of returning.

Mrs. Zhou hesitated a bit, knowing that Mu Shuangshuang was from a different village, and visiting families at a time like this was not a wise choice.

"Let’s go! I’ll take you. As long as it helps find my grandson, I’m willing to do anything!"

Zhuangzi’s mother suddenly wiped her tears dry and looked firmly at Mu Shuangshuang. Now, she had no one else to rely on but her.

"Mother, aren’t you scared..." Mrs. Zhou hinted slightly.

"What should I fear? My grandson is missing too, and my heart aches. I can tell others what happened; can’t they? As long as we find the children, I believe everyone will be willing to help.