Wu Lang told Lian Manman that the reason the Huo Lang could successfully take Lian Duoduo away was because Si Lang passed on the message.

"Si Lang? When did he become so close with Lian Duoduo? Is he grateful to Lian Duoduo for not shouting when she spotted him last time, and for helping to conceal it and fool Da Niuniu? How did Si Lang recognize the Huo Lang, and when did he pass on the message?" Lian Manman asked a string of questions.

Lady Zhang also nodded in agreement beside her, urging Wu Lang to answer quickly. The mother and daughter didn’t ask Lian Shouxin, because Lian Shouxin was clearly very angry. Besides, in situations like this, Wu Lang’s explanations were always clearer and more understandable.

"Si Lang and Lian Duoduo aren’t particularly close." Wu Lang said, "Lian Duoduo helped cover up for Si Lang the last time she saw him, likely because she knew Si Lang’s return wasn’t for anything good, she was willing to help him succeed. Si Lang passed on the message for her with the same intent."

Lian Manman nodded secretly; Wu Lang indeed had a clear understanding of the situation. In the old residence, neither Si Lang nor Lian Duoduo were favored; though they weren’t exactly pity comrades, their attitudes and stances occasionally aligned. They both were happy to see the family in turmoil, happy to see Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou embarrassed.

"I asked that Huo Lang, he got to know Si Lang in Taicang." Wu Lang continued.

"That Huo Lang has been to Taicang, did he follow Lian Duoduo there?" Lady Zhang wondered.

"Said he was worried about Lian Duoduo, heard those people from our old residence went to Taicang, so he went there to do small businesses." Wu Lang replied, "He couldn’t enter the Yamen, just wandered outside, later he was spotted by Erlang. Erlang recognized him, cursed him out, and chased him away. Si Lang was with Erlang, that’s how he got to know him."

"Oh, so that’s how it happened." Lian Manman contemplated. The Huo Lang was a person from Shu Central; his stature and appearance were quite different from the locals of Liaodong Prefecture, plus his accent wasn’t the same, so he was easy to recognize when encountered.

"Later, when Lian Duoduo returned from Taicang, he was still in another place in Hejian Prefecture, upon hearing about this, he got worried again, so he returned to Liaodong Prefecture. The last time we saw him when we went to see the lanterns was when he had just returned and started selling candied hawthorn. Speaking of which, I asked him, he was quite honest, he said everything. Said it was because he knew Duoduo’s father messed things up, so he worried about her, even came to our village to sell candied hawthorn. Unfortunately, he didn’t see Lian Duoduo. He inquired about her, only to learn that she never left home."

Since he couldn’t meet Lian Duoduo, and the old residence was quite strict, the Huo Lang had no way.

At that time, the Huo Lang’s only wish was to see Lian Duoduo once; as for what would happen thereafter, according to him, he hadn’t thought about it. As long as he could see with his own eyes that Lian Duoduo was okay, he would be relieved.

"Last time, when Si Lang returned and stole some money, he went to the county town and coincidentally saw this Huo Lang." Wu Lang continued, "Si Lang told him how Lian Duoduo was suffering at home, being mistreated. Hearing this, the Huo Lang became anxious. He told me that after hearing Si Lang’s words, he started planning to rescue Lian Duoduo, to take her away."

"Si Lang must have exaggerated and caused trouble on purpose." Lian Manman sneered.

"Indeed." Wu Lang nodded.

Si Lang wanted to make the Lian Family even more chaotic and troublesome, that’s why he spoke like that, essentially encouraging the Huo Lang to create a disturbance.

"And there’s something else quite laughable; the Huo Lang still thinks Lian Duoduo has always been neglected at home, without love from dad and mom, living a miserable life." Wu Lang added.

"This... is fate." Lady Zhang said, "Putting it aside now, during the head of the family’s prosperous time, Duoduo lived no worse than a young lady from a large, wealthy family. He only needed to inquire a little outside to know. Just because Duoduo ran out and told him a few words, he believed it completely, oh!... It’s fate for each person."

With this mindset, the Huo Lang left Jinyang County Town, went to Qingyang Town, and Thirty Mile Camp to sell candied hawthorn. Immediately afterward, hearing about Old Master Lian’s passing and seeing the increased flow of people in and out of the Lian Family, the Huo Lang came up with an idea.

"...He pushed a cart pretending to be loaded with firewood, on that day when the funeral was at its busiest, he blended into the old residence..."

After that, without much effort, the Huo Lang convinced Lian Duoduo, taking her out and hiding her among the firewood in the cart, the two planned to leave Liaodong Prefecture. The Huo Lang pushed Lian Duoduo all the way without stopping. Unfortunately, Lian Duoduo was pampered and couldn’t endure the cold night, refusing under any circumstances to sleep outdoors. The Huo Lang had to find a farmhouse to stay overnight, which led Wu Lang to catch them.