Missing Villager

Xing Chen scolded Xie Cunhua angrily, “You’ve slandered Qiao An time and time again. I didn’t argue with you in the past because I overestimated your kindness and tolerance. In the future, you have to remember that Qiao An is my wife. I won’t allow anyone to make her sad.”

Qiao An shook her head helplessly.

The more Xing Chen doted on her, the more it would backfire. This group of girls would only be even more jealous of her and make things difficult for her.

Xing Xiaoya cried pitifully. “Brother Xing Chen, in the past, you were gentle and elegant and liked our sisters. But ever since Qiao An came, you’ve been bewitched by her and become more and more unreasonable. You actually offended all our sisters for an outsider.”

Xing Chen frowned. “She’s not an outsider. She’s my wife. And your sister-in-law.”

Qiao An looked at Xing Xiaoya. This girl looked pure and harmless, but her words were scheming.

It was difficult for her to save her. She might as well leave her alone. She didn’t want to be a savior anymore anyway.

Just as the men and women were splitting into two factions to argue over Qiao An, something happened in the village. A middle-aged woman with a flowered scarf wrapped around her head staggered over.

“Oh no, Chen Jing is missing. Stop playing. The village head wants you to hurry up and find her.”

Everyone became nervous when they heard that someone had disappeared.

It was as if someone had pressed the time pause button at the bonfire party. Everyone dispersed.

Qiao An held Xing Chen’s hand and asked him, “Who’s Chen Jing? Why did she get lost?”

Xing Chen explained, “Chen Jing is the daughter-in-law of our village’s Uncle Wang. Her brain is a little inflexible.”

“I see. Then let’s help find her.” Qiao An and Xing Chen took their torches and mixed into the crowd as they ran down the hill.

They searched for the entire night until dawn, but no one found Chen Jing.

Qiao An was exhausted.

Xing Chen’s heart ached for Qiao An. He said to her, “An’an, I’ll send you home. Go back and rest first.”

Qiao An’s feet were indeed weak. If she continued to look like this, she would only cause trouble for others. She said to Xing Chen, “Don’t worry about me. I have a phone flashlight. I can go back by myself. Keep looking.”

Xing Chen handed her the torch, then carried her on his back despite her objections. “Chen Jing has so many people looking for her. It doesn’t matter if I’m there. But I’m worried about you going back alone.”

Unable to dissuade him, Qiao An let him carry her back up the mountain.

They had been living in the back mountain these past few days to avoid conflict with Xing Xiaoya.

Xing Chen carried Qiao An on his back as she stepped on the dark mountain path. Qiao An’s heart ached for Xing Chen. Along the way, she nagged, “Brother Xing Chen, you’re tired too. Put me down. I can walk by myself.”

However, Xing Chen refused to let her down. “An’an, I can’t give you good material conditions now. Can’t I dote on you this way?”

Qiao An lay on his warm and open back and was touched. “Brother Xing Chen, you’re so good.”

“Silly girl, you’re too easily satisfied.”

They were halfway up the mountain when they suddenly heard a shuffling sound not far away.

Qiao An’s heart hung in her throat. “Who?”

Xing Chen said, “Cast a light with your phone.”

Qiao An moved the phone flashlight to the source of the sound, only to see a patch of red fabric.

It was clearly a human.

Qiao An and Xing Chen were stunned. Xing Chen said, “Sister Chen Jing?”

Qiao An slid off Xing Chen’s back, walked up to the woman, and patted her back. She jumped in shock.

“Ah, don’t hit me, don’t hit me. I’ll listen to you,” she muttered.

Qiao An was dumbfounded.

Chen Jing’s reaction was clearly a reflexive response to long-term abuse.

“Brother Xing Chen, does Chen Jing often get beaten up by her husband?”

Xing Chen was puzzled. “I don’t know. I’ve never heard of her being beaten. But judging from her reaction, she does seem to be beaten often.”

Chen Jing calmed down and looked at Qiao An steadily. Then she probed, “You’re not a local girl?”

Qiao An nodded. “I’m from the capital.”

Chen Jing immediately held her hand excitedly and muttered, “Run quickly. If you don’t, it’ll be too late.”

Qiao An realized that Chen Jing had a secret. She said to her, “Chen Jing, why did you ask me to run?”

Chen Jing looked deeply at Xing Chen with a timid gaze.

Xing Chen was stunned, afraid that Qiao An would misunderstand him as someone who had colluded with Chen Jing’s husband. He immediately defended himself anxiously, “Sister-in-law, don’t be afraid of me. I won’t hurt you.”

Chen Jing shrank into Qiao An’s arms, not daring to look at Xing Chen.

Xing Chen was even more afraid that Qiao An would misunderstand him. He explained desperately, “An’an, I really don’t know why she’s afraid of me. Believe me, I’ve never bullied her?”

Qiao An couldn’t help but laugh when she saw Xing Chen’s helpless expression. She gently scratched his nose and said, “I believe you.”

Xing Chen was dumbfounded.

Did Qiao An believe him so easily?

Qiao An said, “Who else can I trust?”

Xing Chen was Huo Xiaoran, the hero who fought with his life against the criminals. He hated those bad people so much. How could he turn himself into that kind of person?

“Brother Xing Chen, let’s bring Chen Jing home first.”

Xing Chen nodded. “Okay.”

Qiao An took Chen Jing to the cabin at the back of the mountain. Xing Chen gave up the bed to Qiao An and Chen Jing. Meanwhile, he carried the recliner out of the house. He sat outside all night and listened to Qiao An and Chen Jing chat.

Inside the house, Qiao An washed Chen Jing’s face and combed her hair. Then she talked to her gently. Like a caring sister.

“Chen Jing, tell me, who hit you? Tell me, and I’ll avenge you,” Qiao An asked patiently.

Chen Jing kept quiet at first. “I can’t say. Otherwise, I’ll get beaten up.”

Qiao An squatted in front of her. “Chen Jing, perhaps I’m the only person who can save you. If you have any grievances, you have to tell me. I can help you.”

Chen Jing still shook her head, but tears streamed down her face.

Qiao An exclaimed when she saw the shocking scars on her body as she undressed her.

“Ah.”

“An’an, what’s going on?” Xing Chen broke in.

Seeing Chen Jing’s exposed back, Xing Chen turned immediately. “Sorry, sorry. I was too anxious. I didn’t knock.

But Qiao An said, “Brother Xing Chen, turn around.”

Star was slightly stunned and slowly turned around. When he saw the burns and whip wounds on Chen Jing’s back, he was extremely surprised.

“What’s going on?”

Fortunately, Chen Jing slowly regained consciousness after being confused for a while.

When she was awake, she told Qiao An excitedly, “My mind alternates between clear and blurry. Now while I’m awake, I’ll tell you everything. Please, you have to tell my parents about me. Let them save me.”