Jian Qingqing waited outside the door for quite a while before she saw Sun Shaoning walk out with a troubled expression.
She subconsciously felt that something was wrong and her heart panicked. She quickly went forward and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Sister Qingqing, I didn’t find them. I’ve asked my classmates. They haven’t seen Xiao Hu since they finished eating. Did they go out to eat?”
Jian Qingqing denied, “Impossible. If they went out to eat, they would have told me. They wouldn’t have disappeared for no reason. Something must have happened to them.”
Sun Shaoning comforted her, “It can’t be. They are already familiar with the county. Perhaps they forgot to tell you when they went home for some urgent matter.”
Jian Qingqing still felt very uneasy. Xiao Hu and Xiao Ye were both very sensible children. Xiao Hu was carefree and Xiao Ye was careful. They were not children who would make their families worry. They knew that she was waiting for them. They would definitely tell her wherever they went.
She said to Sun Shaoning, “Can you take me to see your teacher? I want to ask him some questions.”
Sun Shaoning hesitated for a moment, but still agreed, “Then you can follow me in.”
The guards of the academy saw that she was brought in by Sun Shaoning, so they did not stop her. They went all the way to the courtyard where the gentlemen were working.
The teacher who taught Xiao Hu and the others was an old gentleman with white hair, beard, and eyebrows. When he saw Sun Shaoning bring a woman in, he asked in surprise, “Shaoning, who is this lady?”
Jian Qingqing stepped forward and said anxiously, “Hello, Sir. I Am Jian Hu and Jian Ye’s sister. I have been waiting for them for a long time today, but I haven’t seen them. Student Sun also said that they haven’t seen them since class ended. I want to ask if there were any abnormalities in class today?”
Mr. Liang was shocked. Xiao Hu and Xiao Ye were both his students. Especially Xiao Ye, who was very smart. He had been specially trained in the academy, and now that he heard that they had disappeared, he was also very anxious.
He thought for a moment and said, “I didn’t see anything unusual in the class. Don’t be anxious. I’ll ask the people of the academy to look for them.”
Jian Qingqing said gratefully, “Thank you, Sir!”
Although the people of the academy helped her to look for them, she could not sit still and wait. She decided to report to the authorities. The missing child was at a crucial time within three hours. It would be much more difficult to find him after that time.
When the bailiff saw her, he subconsciously asked, “Miss Jian, are you reporting it to the officials again?”
Jian Qingqing nodded and quickly said, “My two younger brothers are missing. Can you send people to help me find them?”
Hearing that the child was missing, the bailiff’s face turned cold and he said seriously, “Miss Jian, don’t worry. I will report it to the officials and send people to find them!”
“Thank you. My brothers are studying at Detian Academy. I waited outside the academy after school today and did not see them. Later, I asked his classmates and teacher, and they also had not seen them. So, they probably disappeared outside the academy at noon.”
“Yes, I understand. We will go and look for them now!”
After reporting to the officials, Jian Qingqing went to look for the workers who had built her house before. They had already settled down in Shifeng County with the help of the officials and were now building their own house.
Their settlement was in the outskirts of the county town, not far from the county town. Jian Qingqing rode the horse carriage and ran there quickly.
Ma Jiacai saw her and asked in surprise, “Miss Jian, why are you here? Is there something you need help with?”
Jian Qingqing was already very familiar with them. She hurriedly said, “Uncle Jiacai! Xiao Hu and Xiao Ye are missing. Can you help me return to Jian village to see if they have gone back? Regardless of whether they are here or not, please go to the Detian Academy and inform me.”