Lady Chiang couldn’t help but inform Lian Shouxin the moment she discovered Lian Duoduo had disappeared. Because it wasn’t right to let Lian Duoduo go missing without doing anything about it, and to retrieve Lian Duoduo, the strength of Lian Shouxin’s side was necessary. Of course, there was another important reason.

Although Lian Duoduo was Lian Shouren’s daughter, over at the old residence, including Lian Shouren, decisions regarding Lian Duoduo relied on Lian Shouxin’s side. In essence, Lian Duoduo was under the old residence’s supervision. Now that they failed to keep an eye on her and she ran away, Lady Chiang had to inform Lian Shouxin immediately for them to respond accordingly.

After deciding to look for Lian Duoduo, Wu Lang, Lian Manman, and Lian Shouxin headed to the old residence first. Lian Yeye went back home to inform Lian Shouli and Lady Zhao, who would also come to the old residence to discuss how to find Lian Duoduo.

The old residence was silent. The debris from the canopy built by Old Master Lian, paper money, paper figures, and the like had long been cleaned up completely.

Old Master Lian’s funeral was over. During the funeral process, there wasn’t much feeling, but now stepping into the old residence again, especially into the Upper Room, seeing only Lady Zhou sitting cross-legged on the kang, with Old Master Lian’s original place empty, Lian Manman clearly realized that Old Master Lian was gone.

Lian Shouxin felt this more deeply than Lian Manman and Wu Lang. Entering the room, his eyes reddened slightly. Lian Shouxin pretended to wipe his face, trying to cover his emotions randomly.

The family greeted Lady Zhou, who responded with a deliberately indifferent expression.

Everyone was used to Lady Zhou’s behavior long ago and didn’t take it to heart; they just sat in the room.

"You’re here for Lian Duoduo?" Lady Zhou spoke first.

"Yes," Lian Shouxin nodded, "Jizu’s wife just informed us, and we came over right away."

"That girl, who knows whom she’s run off with. Why bother searching so hard for her? She can go wherever she wants. Her heart has long been wild; you didn’t know, the way she usually looked at me... Just like Si Lang, a wolf cub, the farther she goes, the better. No need to find her!" Lady Zhou waved her hand dismissively as if swatting a fly.

Lian Shouxin responded with a vague "Oh." He now clearly understood that discussing serious matters with Lady Zhou was impossible, and her words could only be heard without taking them seriously. If things were really done according to Lady Zhou’s way, life would undoubtedly be a mess.

"Sister-in-law, please check again whether Lian Duoduo’s clothes and belongings are still here," Lian Manman asked Lady Chiang to go and see if Lian Duoduo’s things were still there. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Lady Chiang went out and soon returned. Having come back from Taicang, everyone at the old residence only had their personal clothes, with the finances controlled by Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou, and naturally, they wouldn’t buy anything new for Lian Duoduo. Hence, Lian Duoduo’s things were pitifully few.

"...They’re all gone, just a pair of worn-out shoes that haven’t been mended and a ragged jacket left," Lady Chiang told Lian Manman.

"She definitely ran off with someone!" Lady Zhou seemed to seize upon something and immediately said, "Shameless thing, there were no such people in the Old Lian Family. She takes after her mother, you didn’t see her mother’s antics when she was young, like a little actress. I never approved of her, but Old Master insisted on arranging it. Look at the two daughters she bore, even Huahua is just like her!"

Even if it meant stepping on two people already dead, Lady Zhou was quite willing.

Soon, Lian Shouli, Lady Zhao, and Lian Yeye arrived, and Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu returned from outside, naturally having not found Lian Duoduo.

The Lian family met village relatives on their way to the old residence. Now, with rumors of Lian Duoduo’s disappearance spreading, neighbors came to inquire and, learning Lian Shouxin was seeking Lian Duoduo, volunteered to help.

Much like the first time Lian Duoduo disappeared. Back then, it was mostly out of respect for Old Master Lian and Lian Shouren, but today, it was for Lian Shouxin and Wu Lang’s sake.

Lian Manman and Wu Lang had just discussed things and decided on a plan.

The villagers volunteered to help, and the offer was too generous to refuse. The villagers were divided into two groups: Lian Shouli led one group, while Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu led the other, searching east towards Liu Village, and south towards Xiao Shen Tun respectively.