Chapter 286: Chapter 286: Not Worth It! Not Worth It!
Upon hearing these words, many people’s faces turned a bit grim.
Helping to find someone wasn’t an issue, but if it involved searching each other’s homes, that felt different.
Qi Quanjin, desperate to find the girl, immediately nodded in agreement, "Yes, search every house!"
Qi Zheng, freshly awakened, quickly protested, "No, that’s not right!"
Qi Quanjin looked at his father, those bloodshot eyes sent shivers down the spine of anyone they landed on.
Qi Zheng took a deep breath, calming the chill he felt before continuing, "We’re not government officials. If we rashly search other people’s homes, that’s not appropriate."
"Father, Manbao is missing! Manbao is missing!"
Qi Quanjin shouted twice, suddenly squatted down, covered his face, and burst into tears.
Though she wasn’t his biological daughter, after two years of being together, he had long treated the little girl as a piece of his heart; even his sons couldn’t compare to her importance in his heart.
Seeing this scene, everyone felt a pang of discomfort.
Some women even couldn’t help wiping the tears from the corners of their eyes.
At that moment, Liu Qinghe stepped forward.
Liu Qinghe was also in a disheveled state.
He had been helping out at the construction site like everyone else, his body covered in dust.
Upon hearing the child was missing, he hadn’t even washed his hands or face but urgently joined the search.
Due to shouting so much, his voice, like Qi Quanli’s, had become hoarse.
At this point, he stepped out, walked to the front of the crowd, and said, "I’m a Government Official, a representative of the government. Now that a child is missing in the village, it’s a serious matter. I’ll conduct the search of each house. If anyone feels this is inappropriate, report me to the county government; I’ll bear any consequences myself!"
"Count me in!"
Qi Quanli immediately stepped forward.
Qi Dafu also stepped out right away, "Count me in too!"
"And me."
Qi Quanjin also stood up, wiped the tears from his face, and choked out, "Manbao is my daughter. As long as we find her, I’ll bear any consequences!"
The remaining members of the Qi Family, and even the two elders of the Liu Family, stepped forward, indicating they would share the consequences together.
Seeing this determination from everyone, it became clear that the search of each home was decided, and no one could object, thus they had no choice but to acquiesce.
Behind the crowd, a thin silhouette visibly trembled, looked around, and seeing no one noticed her, hurriedly turned and headed home.
Her pace quickened, eventually breaking into a run.
"Hey? Where’s Chen Xiaomei? She was just here standing a moment ago!"
Someone suddenly voiced their confusion.
Someone next to him replied, "Yeah, I just saw her, how come she’s gone now?"
"Who’s missing?"
Liu Qinghe’s keen hearing caught the exchange between the two.
Immediately, all eyes turned to those two.
The two, overwhelmed by the attention, stuttered as they recounted their conversation.
Liu Qinghe’s gaze sharpened, "Where’s the Chen Family located?"
"At the village entrance!"
Someone suddenly shouted.
Liu Qinghe said, "Lead the way!"
But truthfully, there was no need for direction since everyone in Yongping Village knew where the Chen Family was located.
The crowd quickly made their way to the Chen Family.
Before even reaching the Chen Family’s gate, through the low courtyard wall, they saw Chen Xiaomei running toward the back of the house.
"Chen Xiaomei, stop!"
Qi Quanli shouted loudly.
Chen Xiaomei paused, but quickly she took off again, even faster than before.
Her unusual reaction made it clear even to the dullest person that something was amiss.
"Chase her!"
Liu Qinghe commanded as he took off in pursuit.
But the men of the Qi Family were even faster.
The Qi Family men didn’t bother with the gate, one after another they jumped over the Chen Family’s courtyard wall.
Though Liu Qinghe wasn’t young, he stayed fit and agile, similarly jumping the wall.
The others weren’t as skilled; they could only run to the gate.
They pushed but it wouldn’t budge.
Someone shouted to break it down, and two men at the front began kicking.
After a few tries, the wooden door fell with a crash.
Meanwhile, the first group that jumped into the Chen’s yard was already in the middle of the courtyard, not far from the roof’s edge.
The crowd surged forward, heading toward where Chen Xiaomei had just run.
Before they reached the backyard, a loud cracking sound stopped them.
Out of nowhere, the clear sky became shrouded with thick clouds.
After a bright flash, a deafening thunder followed.
"Ah!"
A woman’s wretched scream echoed from behind the house.
The crowd, initially stunned, rushed to the backyard.
Yet upon seeing the scene there, their eyes widened in shock, mouths agape as if they could swallow several eggs.
On the open area behind the Chen’s house, lay three people.
Two small bodies, evidently children.
The third person was charred black, motionless on the ground, with black smoke rising from their figure.
"Manbao!"
Qi Quanjin screamed, dashing toward the two children, clutching one in his arms, crying out broken-heartedly, "Manbao! My dear Manbao! Open your eyes, don’t scare Dad!"
Behind him, Qi Dalang also took the other child in his arms, crying and calling "Shilang."
The Qi Family crowded around, tears flowing freely.
Liu Qinghe squeezed into the huddle, checked the breathing of both children, and finally exhaled a sigh of relief, "The children are alright, just passed out."
Upon hearing this, the Qi Family could finally settle their hearts a bit.
Liu Qinghe made his way to the charred person.
The person reeked of burnt flesh and fabric, an awful stench.
Despite having seen many decomposed corpses, Liu Qinghe winced from the smell, covering his nose with his sleeve while feeling for a pulse.
Thinking the person was deceased, he was surprised to find a faint breath.
"This person isn’t dead either."
Upon hearing Liu Qinghe’s words, the Qi Family and the others who followed, all turned their eyes to the charred figure.
Especially the Qi Family, who rushed forward, looking ready to beat the person to death.
Liu Qinghe quickly intervened, loudly saying, "Don’t be rash, leave her to the government! If you beat her to death like this, you won’t escape the consequences, it’s not worth it! Not worth it!"
"To hell with ’not worth it’! Even if I lose my head, I’ll kill her today!"
Qi Quanli shouted as he lunged forward.
