Chapter 197: Chapter 197: He Wants to Hide Too

When Qi Dalang and Qi Ercai arrived with the government officials, the Qi Family had already subdued all the kidnappers.

Aside from Qi Quanjin and Qi Sangui staying to help clean the scene and report back at the government office, everyone else escorted Yi Meng and Balang Jiulang back to the second courtyard.

Although Ji Hu and the others didn’t help catch the kidnappers, they assisted in taking the captured children to the county government.

As for those women, they were tacitly forgotten by everyone.

Upon learning the children were safe, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Yi Meng stayed with her two sons all night without sleeping.

Mrs. Qi had the other daughters-in-law brew ginger tea and prepare dumplings to send to both courtyards, as a gesture of gratitude for everyone’s help.

Yin Cheng and Qin Minglang both checked the pulse of the two children, confirming that they had only been given a drug to make them sleep without other issues, putting everyone’s mind completely at ease.

On the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, the county magistrate held court and sentenced the four kidnappers in front of the townspeople.

In other places, this would generally result in a sentence of exile.

But as Concord City was already on the border, even exile wouldn’t send them far, so the county magistrate sentenced them directly to death by immediate execution, skipping the reporting process.

The kidnappers were beheaded, and the townspeople unanimously cheered.

Two days later, Qi Balang and Qi Jiulang had completely recovered and were preparing to resume their medical studies with the teacher on the twentieth day of the first lunar month.

However, on early morning of the twentieth day, before the family’s noodle stall was set up, someone knocked on the door.

“So early, who is it?”

While loading things onto the cart in the front yard, Qi Quanli heard the commotion and mumbled as he went to answer the door.

After narrowly avoiding the loss of his nephews, Qi Quanli was given quite a beating by the old master, thoroughly whipped with several shoe soles.

Finally, it was Qi Quanjin who intervened, explaining that the kidnappers targeted their family, thus sparing Qi Quanli from mixed-gender thrashing and a continued beating.

But having gone through this ordeal, Qi Quanli became much steadier than before and more diligent in his work.

Upon reaching the front gate, Qi Quanli opened the door and was shocked by the sight, his voice trembling as he asked, “Wh-who are you all? What do you want from my family?”

Outside the gate stood thirty-odd people, each either carrying a yoke, holding a basket, or wearing a backpack, all staring intently at him.

The scene was as horrifying as it was unexpected.

“Is this the Qi Family?”

At the forefront was an elderly woman.

Qi Quanli nodded, “Yes, this is the Qi Family, you all are…”

Before Qi Quanli finished speaking, all thirty-something people knelt down.

“No, what’s the meaning of this?”

Startled, Qi Quanli stepped back several paces.

The leading elderly woman said, “We are here to thank the Qi Family for saving our lives! If it weren’t for your help, my grandson might never have returned.”

Tears fell as she finished speaking.

Others also expressed their gratitude with choked voices.

Realizing the situation, Qi Quanli responded, “Your families’ children were also kidnapped by the kidnappers that day?”

“Yes, my grandson is the family’s only hope, if he were gone, my whole family wouldn’t be able to live.”

The elderly woman cried while wiping her tears, looking as if she wanted to kneel.

Qi Quanli broke out in a cold sweat, quickly waving his hands, “Please don’t do this, I’m not the one who saved them! Why don’t you all come inside, I’ll let my brother talk to you!”

Being the one who nearly lost two nephews, he didn’t have the face to accept such sincere gratitude.

“Thanks, young man!”

The elderly woman didn’t waste words, having her son help her up as they led the way into the Qi Family’s gate.

Qi Quanli wiped the sweat off his forehead and hurried into the yard, calling as he went, “Second brother! Fourth brother! We have guests!”

His voice was quite loud, letting those busy in the backyard all hear.

A group of Qi Family members hurried out to see the strangers in the yard, their expressions turning to astonishment.

Wang Daya was the first to ask, “What’s happening, old man?”

“Sister-in-law, these people’s children were kidnapped that day, and they’re here to express gratitude.”

Qi Quanli said, and he edged a bit to the side, fearing they might kneel to him next.

Already just eighteen, having so many older folks kneeling before him might shorten his lifespan.

Wang Daya exclaimed in surprise, unable to say anything, and merely looked towards Qi Ercai and Qi Quanjin.

Qi Ercai and Qi Quanjin were equally dumbfounded.

It was Qi Quanjin who spoke first, “You don’t need to do this. You thanked us at the government office that day.”

That day at the government office, families whose children were missing came to claim them, and they knelt and thanked Qi Quanjin and Qi Sangui on the spot, the scene more imposing than even the county magistrate.

“No, no, this is a lifesaving grace, it can’t be brushed over like that.”

The lead elderly woman glanced at her son beside her, who immediately stepped forward with the burden carrier.

The elderly woman introduced, “These are homemade pickles, smoked meat, all homemade. We hope your family won’t mind.”

“And us too!”

“And my family!”

The people in the back hurried forward, unloading baskets, backpacks, placing them in front of the Qi Family.

When the cloth covering the baskets was lifted, the contents were revealed.

There were jars and pots, along with smoked and preserved meat, even fresh meat.

In addition to winter vegetables like cabbage and potatoes, there was even a sack of rice flour.

Truly, a wide array, a bit of everything.

Qi Quanjin and Qi Ercai exchanged glances, both feeling somewhat helpless.

Qi Quanjin stepped forward, “There’s no need to be so gracious. We didn’t save people for these gifts. We already said at the government office, our family also had two children kidnapped. We acted out of urgency to find them.”

“So at its core, it was about finding our own children, we really can’t accept such generous gifts. Please take them back! In the future, pay more attention to the children to avoid such incidents.”

Qi Quanjin finally understood why Qi Quanli had been trying to sidestep earlier.

In these circumstances, he also wanted to avoid the attention.

He spoke clearly, but those offering gifts didn’t see it that way.

Especially the leading elderly woman who had everyone kneel and bow, then led them away.

The Qi Family couldn’t get them to stay no matter how they pleaded or called after them.

“What’s going on here!”

Qi Quanjin chased out the door but couldn’t get them to stop.

And since the visitors were here to offer thanks, not to create conflict, he couldn’t grab them by the arm or force them to take the gifts back, leaving him to look at the pile of goods in the yard with a bit of worry.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep