Zhou Dahua also began to recall along with her daughter.
"At that time, Mother and I were in the kitchen preparing lunch, while Auntie and Third Aunt were in the main room. I only heard Third Aunt say she was going to pick you up when she went out, but I didn't hear anything else."
Third Brother's Wife?
Qin Sang turned around to look for her, only to realize she was gone.
"Let's go, let's head home first."
Qin Sang walked quickly and reached the front door at almost the same time as Third Brother and his Wife.
"Third Brother's Wife, come with me. I have something to ask you."
Zhao Huan saw her Mother-in-law walking briskly toward the main room, and her eyes couldn't help but panic.
"Mother, what's the matter? I'm exhausted after that walk. If there's nothing else, I'll head back to my room first."
Qin Sang had originally only wanted to ask if anything unusual had happened, but seeing Zhao Huan's desperate attempt to avoid her, suspicion naturally arose in her heart.
"Your Younger Sister-in-law is missing and her fate is unknown, yet you can sleep?"
Zhao Huan felt her legs go weak upon hearing this. She leaned against her husband for support before managing to stand and answer.
"I'm certainly anxious too, but I'm currently pregnant. Even if I wanted to help find her, I wouldn't be of much use. The best help I can give is to rest well and ensure nothing happens to the baby."
Qin Sang stared at her face. That forced, defensive smile seemed wrong no matter how she looked at it.
"True, you really can't help with the search. Then tell me, after they finished their work today, what did you and Si Jin do and say in the main room?"
Qin Sang's voice was very stern, and combined with the Original Body's sharp and mean-looking face, it was even more terrifying.
Zhao Huan was already feeling guilty and hadn't prepared an excuse, so her answer was stumbling.
"Nothing... we didn't say much... I just asked if she was tired, if she was thirsty, if she wanted... some water or something..."
Qin Sang felt more and more that something was wrong. Her fourth daughter and Third Son's Wife had never gotten along; Third Son's Wife wouldn't be so concerned about Si Jin.
"You'd better tell the truth. If I find out that Si Jin's disappearance has anything to do with you, I'll make sure you pay dearly."
Seeing everyone's eyes fall on her—looks that made her feel like the culprit who had killed Si Jin—Zhao Huan's anger flared up.
"What do you mean 'pay dearly'? Mother, don't forget, I'm carrying the Golden Grandson you value most. I only said a few words; it's not like I forced Si Jin to go out. What does it have to do with me?"
"My maternal family has four brothers. If you Tians dare to bully me, don't blame my brothers for coming to your door and tearing this house down."
Qin Sang didn't care about any maternal brothers. She slapped the table and stood up, startling everyone.
"What did you say to Si Jin?"
Zhao Huan also shrank back in fear.
"I just said... Mother, you want to buy paper and pens for Younger Brother-in-law and aren't selling Eldest Girl anymore, so maybe you're planning to sell her instead. That's it, nothing else."
Qin Sang glared at her and shouted angrily.
"Is your mouth so idle because you've eaten too much salt? When did I ever say I was going to sell her?"
Qin Sang's appearance was incredibly frightening. Tian Sangui hurriedly shielded his wife to prevent his Mother from slapping her.
"Mother, please calm down. Huan'er was surely just making idle talk. Who knew Si Jin would actually believe it? The most important thing now isn't to hit Huan'er—she's still pregnant—the most important thing is to find Si Jin."
Qin Sang knew that, of course, but she was infuriated by Zhao Huan's nonchalant attitude.
"Your sister is probably afraid of being sold by me, so she's hiding on purpose. All of you, think now—where could she possibly be hiding?"
"We'll split up to search. Go to the places she frequents. Da Zhuang, go to that cave on the mountain and see if your sister is there."
After Qin Sang gave the orders, she also stepped out of the house. Zhou Dahua took her daughter and searched toward the east, Da Zhuang went to the mountain, and Tian Sangui went to the west. Only Zhao Huan was left in the thatched cottage. She sat alone in the main room, feeling a chill down her spine as the draft blew over her sweat-drenched body.
Could something have really happened to Tian Si Jin?
After leaving the house, Qin Sang went straight to the Village Chief. After explaining the situation, Tian Yougen's three brothers and their wives also joined the search, and the older children followed as well. Tianjia Village had about fifty households, occupying the area at the foot of two mountains. Qin Sang was now worried that Tian Si Jin might have gone to Town on her own, or worse, to the back mountain.
Tian Yougen's Wife brought her to Hunter Xu's house. Only hunters were familiar with the conditions on the mountain, and Qin Sang wanted to ask the father and son for help.
When the door opened, only Hunter Xu was home. Qin Sang explained her purpose.
"I'm afraid Si Jin might not have gone to yesterday's cave. Could I ask you and your son to help search the mountain? If it gets dark and Si Jin is still up there, it will be dangerous."
Hunter Xu did not refuse, but said:
"My boy Huzi isn't home. I'll take some people up the mountain for a look."
Qin Sang felt the mountain was more likely, so she followed Hunter Xu up.
Along the way out of the village, Qin Sang asked as she walked.
"Huzi isn't home at this time?"
Hunter Xu walked ahead with large strides.
"Yeah, he said he wanted to check the traps on the mountain for any prey. If there are, he can go to Town to trade them for some grain."
"Huzi is quite filial and capable. He's not back yet? Did he go hunting on his own?"
Qin Sang thought that traps were usually checked in the morning. In this heat, it was only cool in the morning and at night. She hadn't seen Huzi when the gong was sounded earlier, and it had been all morning, so she asked casually.
Hunter Xu replied offhandedly.
"He left at noon; he should be back soon."
Qin Sang's heart skipped a beat.
"He left at noon?"
Tian Si Jin had also gone to the village entrance at noon.
"Do you usually check the traps at noon?"
Hunter Xu was stumped by the question and stopped in his tracks.
"Usually only in the morning or evening. Noon is a first."
The Cousin-in-law nearby instinctively guessed.
"Both at noon... could it be that Huzi took Si Jin up the mountain?"
The more Hunter Xu thought about it, the more he felt his son's reaction at noon was unusual. Recalling how nervous Huzi had been when talking to him, could Qin Sang be right?
If it were true, given Sister-in-law Qin's sharp temper, Huzi would really be in trouble this time.
Qin Sang felt it was very likely.
"It's possible Si Jin followed Huzi up the mountain. If that's the case and Huzi is looking after her, Si Jin is at least safe. I'm actually not that worried anymore."
"Hunter Xu, do you usually have any resting points on the mountain? If Huzi really is helping Si Jin, where do you think he would take her?"
Hunter Xu was stunned. He hadn't expected Qin Sang not to blame them at all, but instead to speak to him so kindly.
"There are fixed resting points, usually caves and such. When we go into the mountains, we might not be back for a day or two, so we leave some water, dry rations, and bedding at the resting points."
After hearing this, Qin Sang felt even more certain that Si Jin was on the mountain.
"Take us to the cave at the resting point to have a look."