Chapter 195: Chapter 195: The Courtyard at the End of the Alley

“Uncle Qi’s Balang and Jiulang have gone missing, who can go out now, let’s help look for them together!”

After Ji Hu said this, he turned around and ran to his own room, quickly wrapping himself in a worn cotton-padded coat and rushed outside.

Er Laizi was the first to react, supporting his old mother into the house: “Mom, I’m going out to search, you wait at home.”

“You go quickly, make sure you look carefully! There are many kidnappers at the lantern festival, make sure the kids aren’t taken away by them.”

Mrs. Lai Sr.’s voice was choked with emotion as she said this.

Back in the village, she used to make a fuss for the sake of her son, but now, having escaped to Concord City and gone through life and death, her son has changed for the better, and she understands now the importance of gratitude and cannot behave like before.

Er Laizi agreed, put on his outer coat with one hand, and walked out.

Meanwhile, several other people from Yongping Village were also putting on their coats and heading out.

Among the thirteen people in the old junior scholar’s group, except for the eldest staying at home to watch over the children, everyone else went out searching.

They knew Qi Family’s Balang and Jiulang, a pair of twins, very adorable and lively.

Previously, when Qi Quanjin brought them to the courtyard to deliver New Year gifts, the two little ones greeted everyone politely and would even share candies and snacks with the children in the courtyard.

Thinking about how such adorable and well-behaved children might be taken by kidnappers made everyone’s heart uneasy.

The people in the big courtyard were unaware, but Mrs. Lai Sr. shouted in their backyard, and upon hearing a response, she explained the situation.

Some in the courtyard had taken grandchildren out to play, but not all had.

Upon hearing this news, everyone was alarmed.

First, there was worry for Qi Family’s children, and secondly, fear that the children they had taken out might encounter kidnappers.

In a short period, only a few adults remained guarding the children in their houses across the three courtyards, while everyone else, regardless of age or gender, went out to search.

After seeing their parents leave with Qi Manman, Qi Dafu asked Qi Quanjin, “Fourth Brother, what do we do now?”

Qi Quanjin’s gaze fell on the dark alleyway.

Looking into the alley from the brightly lit street brought a feeling of inexpressible fear.

Taking a deep breath, Qi Quanjin said, “Let’s go in and take a look first.”

“Alright.”

Qi Dafu and Qi Sangui naturally had no objections and immediately followed him.

The three of them were unfamiliar with this alley and became much more cautious as they walked.

There was a small door every ten meters or so on both sides of the alley, but it was quiet inside, not only was there no light behind the doors, there were also no lanterns lighting the entrance.

The less than two-meter-wide alley had a layer of compacted snow on the ground, causing slips if not careful.

After walking over twenty meters, the alley ended, with a turn leading to another alley.

This time there was some light, coming from dim candlelight diffused from the yard of the household at the front.

The more he walked in, the more nervous Qi Quanjin became.

Even though there was light ahead, he felt more uncomfortable, oppressed, even more so than when they hid in the mountain cave before.

When he was less than three meters from that small door, Qi Quanjin stopped.

“Fourth Brother?”

Qi Dafu whispered.

Qi Quanjin waved his hand, “You two go out first. Find my second brother and have him report to the authorities, then come back and keep watch at the alley entrance.”

“What about you?”

Qi Sangui suddenly asked.

Qi Quanjin looked around, “I’ll climb over the wall to move forward, if I go directly to the door, I’m afraid I won’t see anything.”

The courtyard walls on both sides were about two meters and three or four in height, which was nothing for Qi Quanjin, who grew up in the mountains.

Qi Dafu and Qi Sangui exchanged a glance, worry evident in their eyes.

Qi Quanjin gave them no time to hesitate, “Hurry! Something’s off about that courtyard, I think I heard some crying.”

During such a festival, unless there’s a funeral, why would anyone let their family cry?

Something is definitely wrong!

After saying this, Qi Quanjin moved to the other side of the wall, propelled himself against the opposite wall, and quickly grabbed the edge of the courtyard wall with a foot-lift and a jump.

But there was snow on top of the wall, and as soon as he grabbed it, the snow scattered.

Qi Quanjin’s body fell, and Qi Sangui and Qi Dafu hurriedly stepped forward to support him.

“You can’t do it alone.”

Qi Dafu said, “Third Brother, the two of us will give you a hand, Fourth Brother can step on us to get over, then we’ll go find help.”

“Alright!”

Qi Quanjin, from the earlier fall, knew climbing the wall was not easy alone, probably needing two tries to clear the snow on top.

Qi Dafu and Qi Sangui held each other’s wrists, forming a tight box shape, Qi Quanjin stepped onto it and with a lift from his brothers was able to lie across the wall, quickly maneuvering to straddle it.

The courtyard on one side was pitch dark, with no light visible.

Qi Quanjin ignored this, moving along the wall to the point where it joined the inner household’s wall.

Seeing him succeed, Qi Dafu and Qi Sangui immediately turned back towards the alley’s outside.

Qi Quanjin lay on the wall, almost pressing his chin against it.

He doubted his hearing, perhaps the children were scolded for misbehavior by their families.

But upon looking into the courtyard from this point, his face turned grim.

In the middle of the small courtyard stood a table occupied by a candelabra covered with a lampshade.

Next to the table sat two men, one holding a stick, the other a whip, drinking and chatting casually.

Not far from them, five women sat squeezed together on the ground.

All five women had their hands tied and mouths gagged.

The faint crying he heard earlier came from their muffled sobs.

Even though Qi Quanjin had never encountered such a scene before, he knew something was wrong.

At this moment, a side door across the courtyard was knocked.

The man with the stick said something low before opening the door.

The sight made Qi Quanjin’s pupils shrink.

Unfound Balang and Jiulang were being held by two women, their bodies limp against them, heads resting on their shoulders.

They remained motionless, appearing to be asleep.

Qi Quanjin nearly lost control, ready to jump down and save his sons, but was interrupted by a suddenly opened door on his side…

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