Chapter 332: Cub, Repaying Kindness with Enmity
"What’s in here?"
While Han Xiaoyun was fighting the shadowy figure, Han Fengyun heard the commotion and quickly ushered the little ones into the courtyard.
Just as he was about to go out and help Han Xiaoyun, Han Xiaoyun walked in carrying a burlap sack.
He opened the sack, and inside was a five or six-year-old child!
The people in the kitchen noticed the commotion outside. Xue Ying took a look and exclaimed, "Isn’t that Aunt Zhang’s little grandson?"
As Han Xiaoyun was explaining what had happened, the shouts of several people came from outside. Xue Ying hurriedly carried the child out the door.
Aunt Zhang had only turned her back for a moment when her little grandson disappeared. The recent surge in missing children came to her mind, and she immediately panicked.
Seeing her unconscious grandson and hearing Xue Ying’s explanation, she was moved to tears with gratitude.
"Little Ying, please thank your guest for me! If someone had taken him, where would I have ever found him!"
"Could you let me meet this benefactor? This is a debt I could never repay, even if I slaved away for the rest of my life!"
None of the families whose children went missing before ever got them back. They might have already met a terrible fate!
"Aunt Zhang, that’s too much to say."
Xue Ying quickly added, "My guest said it was no trouble at all. The child might have been drugged. You should hurry and take him to a clinic to get checked out."
The neighbors were all kind-hearted people. Hearing Aunt Zhang’s cries, they all came out to help.
Seeing that the crisis had been averted, they went back home, even taking the children playing in the alleyways back with them.
Daring to steal children in broad daylight! It was best to keep the kids at home for a while. If they were taken, where would one even begin to look for them!
Tongtong’s plan to show off her little brothers failed. Even though she was all better, she still had to play at home.
"Darn kidnappers," she said, clenching her fists. "Snatching children from all over. They’re the worst!"
Xue Ying instructed her, "So you and your little brothers have to play at home. If you go out, an adult must be with you, understand?"
Tongtong nodded. "I know."
Yu An gave the same warning to her Zaizai. The little ones had cultivated with Little Stone for a long time, but they were still children. If they truly encountered someone with malicious intent, it would be dangerous.
"It’s strange," Xue Ying mused. "It’s not that child kidnappings never happened before, but I’ve never seen so many children disappear like this."
"The Tian Family is such a huge clan. Could they really be the ones stealing children?"
Xue Ying was a bit skeptical. Big families adopted orphans simply to train them as useful subordinates. There were plenty of orphans and young beggars; they could easily train those people instead.
Why go through all the trouble to steal children who have families? If they were exposed, not even a top-tier family like the Tian Family could quell the anger of so many common people.
"Young Master Yu is investigating," Yu An said, not telling her the whole truth. "The truth should come to light soon."
"By the way, Sister Xiao Ying, what’s the spiritual power Level of Aunt Zhang’s grandson?"
"Advanced, I think? I remember they threw a huge banquet when he was tested. I even sent a gift over. Tongtong wasn’t well back then, so I didn’t go congratulate them in person."
Yu An understood and changed the subject.
Tongtong’s father, Zhang Cheng, and the other members of his team were away on a mission. They were a mercenary squad of sorts, taking any and all missions to make a living.
There were quite a few people, so they sat at two tables. The children sat at a smaller table with Han Li, who was busy wiping one’s mouth one moment and putting food on another’s plate the next.
Meanwhile, Ao Wu was at the main table taking care of Yu An, which earned him a good deal of teasing from Xue Ying.
"An’an, you’re so lucky. Both of your husbands are dragons among men, and so caring, too."
"Not like my husband," Xue Ying sighed. "He used to be away all year round. Every time he came back, he’d only stay for a few days before having to leave for another mission."
This was the life for the families of mercenary squads. Xue Ying was just venting a little, not truly blaming her husband, Zhang Cheng.
She used to be a member of the squad herself, only staying home after she had Tongtong.
"But it’s alright," Xue Ying said with a smile before Yu An could comfort her. "Tongtong’s all better now. The only reason I didn’t take her on the mission with the squad this time is because she wanted to wait for little sister Fu Fu."
"Once that child Fu Fu gets back and they’ve met, she can join us on the next mission."
In the Upper Realm, just like in the Beastman World, children began cultivating from a young age. Children from poor families started their training even earlier, honing their skills.
Hearing Xue Ying say this, Yu An realized she might have been a bit too overprotective of her Zaizai.
’It makes sense. I lived in the modern world for twenty or thirty years, so my mindset and parenting style are unconsciously modern.’
’Da Hu and the others aren’t even three yet. In the modern world, they wouldn’t even be in preschool.’
’Some parents who dote on their children even spoon-feed them and carry them everywhere.’
Yu An said thoughtfully, "A Wu, should we also let the Zaizai go out to get some experience?"
"That would be fine," Ao Wu said, placing a peeled shrimp in her bowl. "But things aren’t very peaceful right now. After that incident with the Tian Family, Tian Fu probably hates my guts."
"Then let’s wait a while."
’Yu An thought Ao Wu was right. Tian Fu was far from a good person.’
Da Hu overheard the adults’ conversation and whispered to Han Li, "Beast Father, from what Female Mother said, does that mean we can go out to train?"
The other Zaizai also looked over in unison.
They had long wanted to go out and gain some experience, but their Female Mother was worried, and they didn’t want to be away from her for too long either.
"Maybe," Han Li said, not daring to make any promises. "But not right now. There are too many child kidnappers around."
"Once things have calmed down a bit and your spiritual power has improved some more, Beast Father will help remind your Female Mother."
’He knew Yu An couldn’t bring herself to let the Zaizai go out, but the little ones were eager to venture out and explore. I’ll have to persuade her properly when the time comes.’
"Then let’s use this time to keep Female Mother company," Xiao Yu suggested. "Big Brother, let’s take turns."
Da Hu agreed, and the other brothers didn’t object.
Only Han Li was a little confused.
’Kids! After all I just did for you!’
After saying goodbye to Xue Ying and her daughter and returning to their rented courtyard, Da Hu monopolized Yu An’s embrace.
The other four Zaizai split into two teams, each team hugging a Beast Father’s leg to stop them from competing with their big brother for Female Mother.
Ao Wu was puzzled. "What’s gotten into the Zaizai?"
Han Li said gloomily, "I don’t want to talk about it. Just know that the two of us won’t be getting into An’an’s room anytime soon."
Ao Wu: "???"
He was completely baffled. Inside, after hearing what Da Hu had to say, Yu An didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
’Still, Han Li and Ao Wu had been a bit too much lately. A few days of abstinence would do them good.’ So she agreed to the Zaizai’s "sleepover rotation service."
"Then my baby should go get all clean," Yu An said, pinching Da Hu’s little cheek. "Do you need Female Mother to help?"
Da Hu covered his face shyly. "No, no, I can do it myself!"
Ever since he got younger brothers, the little guy had always pretended to be a grown-up, acting all serious in his speech and actions. It was rare to see this adorable side of him.
’Yu An couldn’t help but remember how cute and clingy Da Hu was when he was just born. She had been so busy lately that she felt she had been neglecting the Zaizai.’