FID – Chapter 587

Chapter 587: The Disappearance of the Elderly Couple

The group exchanged glances and quickened their pace towards the inside.

In the hall, Fu Yuzheng appeared frantic, and Xue Qinglian sat beside her, his brows furrowed tightly.

When Liu Zhixia and the others arrived, Fu Yuzheng almost rushed up to them. “Zhixia, Nannan, Grandpa and Grandma haven’t returned. We don’t know when they went out, and they still haven’t come back…”

She was already so anxious that she was speaking incoherently.

Liu Yusheng and the others immediately felt a sinking feeling in their hearts.

Seeing his wife’s lips trembling, looking lost and anxious, as well as filled with guilt, Liu Zhixia held her tightly in his arms, trying to calm her down as he patted her back. “Don’t worry, take it slow and tell us what happened.”

“Sister-in-law, please sit down and explain. When was the last time you saw Grandpa and Grandma?” Liu Yusheng’s hands trembled at her sides.

Qian Wanjin and Shi Xianrou also exchanged serious looks and turned to Fu Yuzheng.

“It was at noon. We had lunch together, and I chatted with them for a bit. Afterward, I felt a bit tired, so I went back to my room to rest. When I woke up, it was around the afternoon, and I came out, but I couldn’t find Grandpa and Grandma. I thought maybe they were tired of staying inside, so they went out for a walk.” Fu Yuzheng tried to steady herself, explaining everything slowly. “It’s all my fault. I didn’t pay attention, thinking they’d come back soon. I should have sent someone to look for them earlier. I…”

“Yuzheng, relax, relax, it’s not your fault,” Liu Zhixia said, seeing how guilty the woman felt. It wasn’t her fault in the first place, so there was no reason to blame her. “Don’t worry, Grandpa and Grandma will come back safely. Someone, immediately send people to search the city, and also seal the city gates! No one is allowed to leave without permission!”

“Brother, I want to go look for them too!” Liu Yusheng turned and rushed out. She couldn’t stay calm, and she couldn’t wait here.

When she heard her sister-in-law say that their grandparents hadn’t returned, she felt a coldness spread throughout her body.

Those were her grandparents. They were the first to warm her when she came into this world, and they were among the most important people she couldn’t lose!

“Nannan, come back!” Liu Zhixia quickly shouted.

Xue Qinglian stopped her as fast as he could. “Nannan, calm down first…”

“I can’t calm down!” Liu Yusheng shouted, her usually calm eyes were red now, filled with panic and fear that made people’s hearts ache.

He tightened his grip on her arm, not letting go no matter how she struggled. “Rushing around like this isn’t going to help. Grandpa and Grandma are not the kind of people who act without sense. If they haven’t returned by this time, there must be a reason. We need to analyze the situation first! Once we understand the reason, we can search more effectively. Otherwise, it’ll all be in vain!”

Liu Yusheng grabbed onto the man’s arm, her eyes filled with tears, and her chest was rising and falling rapidly.

But she didn’t speak.

Xue Qinglian looked at her. He knew she had listened to his words and was forcing herself to calm down.

Her fingers were gripping his arm tightly, almost digging into the flesh. It hurt, but he didn’t even frown. “Let’s first analyze the possible situations and identify the most likely target. Don’t worry, I’ll bring them back. I promise.”

“Will we find them…”

“We will. If I say we will, we definitely will.”

Qian Wanjin also spoke, “Nannan, listen to Xue Qinglian this time. Don’t worry, I’ll have all of Qians’ people help as well. Grandpa and Grandma are both people with great blessings. They will definitely be fine.”

Shi Xianrou, the calmest of them all, spoke up, “Everyone sit down first. The more we face a situation, the calmer we need to be. Panicking won’t solve anything.”

Liu Yusheng heard everything they said. She took deep breaths and slowly released Xue Qinglian’s arm, then lifted her gaze, which was now cold and composed. “Grandpa and Grandma must have left after Sister-in-law went to rest. The doorman should know the exact time.”

“I’ve already asked. The doorman said he saw both elders leave at exactly noon, but he didn’t dare to ask any further!” Fu Yuzheng quickly explained. She had just asked all the servants in the household, and was about to send someone out to search when they returned.

“They left at noon, and it’s been three hours since then. Grandpa and Grandma don’t have any acquaintances in the city, so they wouldn’t stay outside for too long. The fact that they haven’t returned by now means they were either delayed by something, or…” Liu Yusheng, at this moment, seemed like an entirely different person. Not only was she calm, but there was something unsettling about her composure.

It was still her, but she gave off a different feeling.

It was as if she had suddenly grown sharp thorns, becoming forceful and piercing.

“It’s impossible for them to be delayed. Even if they were, Grandpa and Grandma would have someone notify the governor’s office. There’s no way there’d be no news at all right now. The prefecture capital is still in the process of rebuilding, and there are many beggars and wandering refugees here. If someone knows their identity, kidnapping for ransom isn’t out of the question,” Liu Zhixia pondered. 

After a moment, he looked up and, almost in unison with Qian Wanjin, said the two words, “Kidnapping!”

“No.” Liu Yusheng shook her head. “To kidnap two defenseless elderly people would be too easy, and three hours is enough time for the kidnappers to set things up. If it were for money, they should have come for the ransom earlier.”

“If it’s not for money, then it must be for power,” Xue Qinglian spoke slowly, the words hanging in the air.

The entire living room fell into silence after her statement.

To kidnap two people in the city without making a sound was not something ordinary beggars or refugees could achieve.

During this time, Liu Zhixia had been tirelessly working on disaster relief, and many of the citizens were grateful to her. If someone had noticed anything, they would have reported it.

But three full hours had passed, and no one had come to the yamen to report anything.

At this moment, Liu Yusheng’s heart became calmer.

“Brother, let’s have the soldiers search the city. Qian Wanjin, please have your people help too. Most of your men are regular folks, not as conspicuous as soldiers, so they can look for clues discreetly. If we can’t find anything in the city, then it would mean Grandpa and Grandma are still safe.”

Liu Zhixia nodded. “As long as there is no bad news, that’s good news for us.”

At this point, the possibility of the elders having wandered off on their own was ruled out.

With their analysis complete, the group quickly got to work.

Fu Yuzheng wanted to help, but Liu Zhixia gently reassured her to stay back.

If Grandpa and Grandma had really encountered something, Fu Yuzheng couldn’t afford to get involved in the search. Her presence could potentially make things worse, even putting two lives at risk.

After working for so long, everyone was starving, but there was no time to think about food now.

Liu Zhixia personally led the soldiers to guard the city gates while the rest of the group went door-to-door, conducting searches and interrogations.

Qian Wanjin and Shi Xianrou headed to the Wanjin Restaurant, where they had the shopkeeper send a message to the Qian family to coordinate with Liu Zhixia, searching for clues both openly and covertly.

Liu Yusheng stood on the brightly lit street, watching the soldiers move back and forth, her lips tightly pressed, her eyes cold.

It was Grandpa and Grandma who taught her to be kind, and it was they who taught her to spread warmth to others.

If something had happened to them, she didn’t know if she would still be the same Liu Yusheng she was now.