Chapter 67: Dawn Breaks ◇

◎Dear Sister-in-law, please think of us!◎

The night had been excruciatingly long.

Almost the entire Upper Village had not slept. Upon hearing the incident, many villagers brought small stools and gathered in Yu Lian's spacious courtyard, waiting anxiously for their safe return.

All the village's young men had been dispatched. Some carried hoes, others axes or kitchen knives – whatever tool they could find at home became a weapon, ready to fend off any danger, be it a wild boar or otherwise.

The exact number of missing individuals remained unknown. In the darkness of the mountain trails, a group of villagers scoured the area, only aware that those who accompanied Hua Zhan on his rescue mission had vanished, as well as the few who were chased by wild boars.

The village chief's anxiety had turned several strands of his hair white. If any misfortune occurred, not to mention fatalities, even a few injuries would overwhelm their village's limited resources. How could he face the villagers then?

Older Uncle Two, despite his advanced age, couldn't sleep after hearing the news. His wife, Second Grandma, along with Mrs. Chen, the eldest daughter-in-law, and several other women, gathered in Yu Lian's kitchen to cook porridge, make steamed buns, providing sustenance for the young men when they returned from their arduous search.

Mrs. Chen, having fainted, was already taken inside to rest. The matriarch, determined not to sleep or lose consciousness, was propped up in a comfortable reclining chair in the courtyard by Aunt Mei, draped with a light blanket.

Yu Lian stood in the courtyard, surrounded by the chattering voices of the villagers, yet she seemed to have tuned them out. With clasped hands, her gaze was fixed outside, anxiously scanning the surroundings. The twins, sensing her preoccupation, gently tugged on her sleeves, but Yu Lian, lost in thought, failed to notice at first.

After a while, they began to sob softly, their voices tinged with tears, "Sister-in-law... What's wrong? What happened to Father? Please talk to us."

Looking down, Yu Lian saw that the twins, usually mischievous, were unusually well-behaved. Their sun-baked, peeling cheeks gazed up at her with red-rimmed eyes, filled with worry and fear.

Where was the slightest trace of the playful young lords they once were? They appeared as two small, vulnerable souls.

She sighed and knelt down, placing her hands on their shoulders. "There's nothing wrong with me, and Father will be fine too. Don't worry, don't be afraid. As soon as the sun rises, Father will return."

The twins, who had been holding back their tears, broke down into sobs at their sister-in-law's gentle consolation. They threw themselves into her arms, their small shoulders quivering with sorrow.

"Sister-in-law, you're lying. They said Father fell off a cliff and he'll die. If they can't find him by now, the wolves will take him away."

"Father is missing, Mother fainted, and Grandmother is ignoring us. Please don't abandon us, Sister-in-law. We promise we'll behave and won't be mischievous anymore..."

Yu Lian felt a pang in her heart, almost shedding tears herself. She took out a handkerchief and lifted the two children's faces, gently wiping away their tears.

"Whether Father comes back or not, you are both the little heroes of this family. You have to protect Grandmother, Mother, Sister-in-law, Aunt Mei, and your little sister, Little Guo'er. Will you behave and help Father protect us?"

The twins managed to hold back their tears and nodded solemnly. "Okay!"

Little Guo'er had fallen asleep earlier but was awakened by the commotion. Running into the courtyard, she discovered that her father was missing and that a significant event had occurred at home. With tears in her eyes, she made her way to Yu Lian.

In no time, Yu Lian's arms were filled with the three children, who clung tightly to her clothing.

After comforting the youngsters, Yu Lian led them to Grandmother and Aunt Mei, fetching a long bench for them to sit on.

As night deepened, the late-night dew carried a chill. Despite their determination to stay awake without seeing their father, the children eventually dozed off.

Aunt Mei and Yu Lian carried the three children inside, and around this time, Mrs. Chen also woke up.

With red-rimmed eyes, she wiped away her tears and asked Yu Lian if her husband had returned.

Yu Lian sighed and shook her head.

"Mother, don't worry. Since this has happened, we mustn't panic. Father must have some confidence in himself to have gone up the mountain. Haven't you forgotten that he used to be the War God Marquis, a man who has come out of battlefields? He won't be afraid of a few wild boars," Yu Lian reassured her.

Mrs. Chen was prone to overthinking, and those who often cried tended to have a pessimistic inclination, tending to anticipate the worst in situations.

Despite Yu Lian's reassurance, she remained unconvinced, her eyes rimmed with red as she spoke, "Ever since our family's calamity, your father hasn't been the same. In the first night of his imprisonment, he and your brother suffered punishment. Then, the grief of Hua'er's death and the turmoil at home almost took his life. He may seem strong, but in reality, his health isn't as robust as you imagine, Lian'er."

"Moreover... with the dark of night, treacherous mountain paths, and fierce wild boars, how could he endure such a journey? I'm truly afraid that any unforeseen incident might occur. Lian'er, your father is all I have left. After Hua'er's tragedy, I was helpless, finding solace only in the fact that your father was still alive, our support. If anything were to happen to him, I don't know how I could go on."

Yu Lian gently wiped away her tears with a handkerchief.

"It's not that dire yet. Don't dwell on the worst-case scenario. What if you exhaust yourself with worry before Father returns? What then?"

"It's already late. Would you like to rest a while longer until I wake you at dawn, or would you prefer to sit in the courtyard for a bit?"

Mrs. Chen pondered for a moment before asking, "How is your grandmother?"

Yu Lian replied, "Grandmother is still holding on, but she's quite elderly. I'm afraid the strain might be too much for her."

Wiping away her tears, Mrs. Chen got out of bed. "I'll get up and persuade your grandmother to rest for a while. Lian, I'll stay here and wait for Father's return. You should also go and have a nap with Grandmother."

Yu Lian shook her head. "I won't be able to sleep until Father comes back. I'm young; one night without sleep won't harm me."

The two women went out and, after much coaxing and persuading, convinced the elder lady to rest in her chamber for a while.

In the village, there were no night watchmen to announce the time, so everyone relied on the darkness of the sky for estimation.

Yu Lian reckoned it must be around two or three in the morning. As sleepiness began to weigh down more and more villagers, the warmth of the summer night made it impossible to find much relief from the heat. Village life was simple, and nobody was too particular about their habits; they either sprawled out in their courtyards or moved chairs against the walls to catch some rest.

Some were able to stay awake and wait with Yu Lian for news.

Among them were a few younger wives, as well as Sanshu, the wife of Dashu, whose husbands had followed Hua Zhan, seemingly entangled in some trouble. The two women, though not as prone to tears as Mrs. Chen, were still deeply worried. They sat together, bolstering each other's spirits, assuring themselves that everything would be fine.

Who dared to think otherwise?

Men were the pillars of the family. If anything happened to them, how would their elders, children, and wives manage? Who would work to provide for the family and earn silver? What if their homes were bullied?

The village chief, accompanied by a group of older men, also refused to sleep. Most of these men were the fathers of the young men who had gone up the mountain to search. With such a serious incident unfolding, they dared not doze off, choosing instead to wait anxiously.

As the night dragged on, just before dawn, the chickens in the courtyard began to crow, and a faint blue tinge appeared on the horizon. The men finally descended the mountain, their faces and heads etched with exhaustion.

But on their countenance shone a look of joy and relief.

At the forefront were the sons from Second Uncle's family and the village chief's household, rejoicing as they exclaimed, "We've found them! We've found them!"

Upon hearing this, everyone rushed out of the courtyard with faces brimming with joy.

"Where is she? Where are they?"

The crowd made way, revealing several makeshift wooden stretchers carrying the individuals in question.

Too tired now, will continue tomorrow.