Even until he arrived at his home, he was still shaking. He knocked on the door, his face extremely pale.

His heart was really in turmoil.

Originally, he just passed by his grain barn after he returned from a relative’s house. Before he knew it, he had returned so late. The noise inside the grain barn made him think that there were rats eating his grain.

In his anger, he hadn’t thought about the possibility that there were people inside the house instead of rats. After all, the incident where rats were eating his grain had happened a few times.

Impulsively, he barged into his grain barn. He wanted to see whether the traps he had put all over the grain barn had managed to catch some rats.

He hadn’t expected that his grain barn had become a den of child traffickers instead.

"Husband, why have you returned so late?" The sleepy voice of his wife jolted him to reality.

He gathered his thoughts and looked at his exhausted wife, slowly entering the door, his steps filled with hesitation.

They were merely a farming family, earning money from their fields. The grain in his grain barn was the harvest of several families, not just his own. They were in a cooperative relationship with a merchant who would always buy their grain, offering a decent price.

How could he inform them that the grain was stolen this time?

His heart was filled with deep guilt. The grain in the grain barn wasn’t only the source of his livelihood. Other families’ lives also depended on this batch of grain. Otherwise, they would have nothing to eat.

"Sorry, I forgot about time..." Guo Tiansheng trailed off.

Zeng Qingmei yawned, and then she glanced at her husband. The sleepiness was slowly going away, and her mind cleared up a bit.

"What did you do with your brother until you returned so late?" She stretched her body a little, going back to the wooden divan to pick up their children, a pair of a six-year-old boy and a two-year-old girl.

"We are still looking for ways to get rid of the pests." Guo Tiansheng took large steps and scooped up the older one. Their children were already asleep. They had been waiting for their father for too long.

As they waited for Guo Tiansheng in the wooden divan, Zeng Qingmei had used her lap as their pillow while she drifted to sleep in a sitting position.

Guo Tiansheng lowered his eyes, his thoughts unknown. Once they arrived in the bedroom, they put their kids in the middle.

Originally, Zeng Qingmei was puzzled; her husband also carried their son to the bed even though he already had his own room. She scanned his figure, worry gripping her heart.

He looked somewhat out of sorts. There seemed to be something in his mind that plagued him.

"Husband, what’s wrong with your foot?" Zeng Qingmei finally noticed something off about the way he walked.

Guo Tiansheng’s heart tightened. He had accidentally let it slip...

"I bumped into a rock on the way back and fell down. It was dark, so I couldn’t see things properly." He made up a reason on the spot.

He could feel that his wife had some doubt. Luckily, she was quite understanding and didn’t ask further. His clothes were dirty, so he went to change it before preparing to sleep.

As they laid down on either side of the children, Guo Tiansheng just realized that he had brought their son to their bed. No wonder his wife had such a worried look on her face.

His heart was currently in turmoil. If the authorities took him away, what would happen to his wife and kids? The lives of women and children without an adult man supporting at home was hard.

For the rest of the night, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

He was truly afraid that the authorities would bring him away because his grain barn had housed the child traffickers. Hence, he didn’t even dare to report it to the authorities...

Even if he lost the grain, he could plant some more.

His gaze involuntarily fell on her son’s sleeping face, then her daughter. They looked peaceful, nestling in their parents’ embrace—their safe haven.

***

Xiao Qingya had fallen asleep before the light from the oil lamp went out. When she woke up again, darkness had embraced the entire room.

She sighed, unable to see anything.

[System, can you see in the dark?]

The System’s reply was quick. It was merely a string of data, so it never felt sleepy and didn’t feel dazed upon waking up.

[Of course, Host. Do you need me to scan the room? Don’t worry, I will be your eyes.]

The little one nodded earnestly. [Do you think the uncle from before is fine?]

That man looked like he was in his early thirties, still someone in the prime of his time. Moreover, he was also a kind person, so Xiao Qingya was quite worried about him.

Will others be able to smell his blood or has his condition worsened?

[Let me see... hmm, he is really fine. He also had just woken up like you.]

She sighed in relief, and then soon became worried. It had been quite a while since she was gone, and undoubtedly, her family must have found out about it.

Should she ask that uncle to untie her ropes? An idea suddenly popped up in her mind. Oh, yes, isn’t that a good idea? Why hasn’t she thought about it yet? How stupid silly of her!

[Where is that uncle? I will drag myself closer to him. If we ask him to untie us, he will definitely be able to help us. We will be able to finally run away from here.]

[System, be quick. I already miss Mother, Second Brother, and my sisters.]

The System fell silent for a while. It actually knew why that injured man hadn’t helped Xiao Qingya with her ropes.

Although it was quiet all around, they still couldn’t get out because either He Lang or Liu Hei were always keeping watch at the door. They only left their post for a few minutes before going back.

[Little Ya, wait for a bit, don’t be so hasty.] She persuaded the little one. [One of the bad guys is always keeping watch outside. Even if we try to run away, they will catch us.]

Xiao Qingya pursed her lips, which had become dry due to the lack of water. She knew it, things wouldn’t be so easy.

A moment later, the System’s surprised cry echoed in her mind. She winced slightly. [Calm down, stinky System.]

[Little Ya, there is shocking news. I don’t know if it’s good or bad. Do you want to hear it?] The System asked in a slightly enthusiastic tone.

Xiao Qingya’s curiosity was instantly piqued. [What is it? What is it?]

The System didn’t keep her in suspense for long. [The grain barn owner from before is gone! His presence disappeared from the room?]

[Maybe they moved him to another place...] She speculated.

[Little Ya, the ropes they used to bind him are all over the floor. The cloth for gagging his mouth too.]

Just as the System finished reporting its finding, the door was opened.

He Lang brought the new oil lamp. After he changed it, the darkness finally faded. He Lang’ eyes suddenly trained to the empty spot on the ground and his expression abruptly turned ferocious.

"Where is he?!" He roared, waking up the children. He pointed at them one by one, "Tell me where is he? Tell me!"