Chapter 382: Asking for Help to Find a Child
"Big sister, please get up, don’t do this."
Zhan Hanjue was startled when a woman in her thirties grabbed his pant leg, luckily Wu reacted quickly and hurriedly pulled the woman away.
However, after being forcibly pulled away by Wu, the woman broke free and kneeled down again.
"I know you’re all good people, very capable people. I beg you, please help me find my son. He’s my only child, I can’t lose him." The woman continued kneeling on the ground, crying and pleading.
Zhan Hanjue stopped Wu and asked the woman, "What happened to your child?"
"My child is missing, he’s gone, please help me find him," the woman sobbed.
Even after pleading for a while, she still didn’t mention how the child went missing, or where they should look.
Fortunately, there were others in the village who understood the situation.
A village cadre came over and explained to Zhan Hanjue, "Her husband unfortunately fell to his death in the mountains two years ago, leaving behind just her and a four-year-old child. During the earthquake, the child was playing outside, and everyone was in a panic, no one noticed. It was only after things calmed down that she realized her son was missing. Her son is only six years old. In such chaos, who knows where he might have run off to, it’s impossible to find him. Our village also organized a search, but we looked everywhere inside and outside the village and saw no sign of him. She pleads with everyone she sees, but nobody knows where her son could be or how to find him."
"Did he run into the mountains? Neither alive nor dead, he likely ran to the mountains," Ye Ningwan came over.
The village cadre shook his head, "That’s unclear. Our area is surrounded by mountains on three sides, and before, one of the mountains was occupied by someone and not allowed access. The other two mountains are very steep, even adults are hesitant to climb, how could a six-year-old manage?"
"Because he’s a child, he doesn’t know any better. Maybe he ran up the mountain. We should still send people to search the mountains," Ye Ningwan suggested.
The village cadre showed a troubled expression, "Searching is difficult. Many people in the village are injured now. Every family has one or two injured, they’re all home taking care of their own, it’s hard to find willing volunteers. Furthermore, with three mountains and no idea which one, how do we search?"
"Just because it’s difficult, does that mean we do nothing? A life is at stake," Ye Ningwan argued sharply, "You are a village cadre, how can you say such a thing? Of course, I won’t force anyone. If anyone is willing to search voluntarily, then I offer 200 yuan a day, and if they find him, an additional 5,000 yuan each. Ask who’s willing and organize them."
"Doctor Ye, do you really mean that? Are you truly willing to pay so much?" The village cadre was stunned, stammering as he spoke.
"Of course, I wouldn’t deceive you. If you don’t believe..."
"Put this money in the village first. If it’s not enough, I’ll cover the rest," Zhan Hanjue placed a wad of cash in front of the village cadre.
The village cadre nodded vigorously, "I believe, I sure believe."
He knew about this wealthy man too. When he first came to the village, he wanted to stay. However, there was no suitable place in the village for him to live, and he didn’t want to impose on others, so he gave a wad of cash to the village chief and moved into the ancestral hall.
Fortunately, by staying in the ancestral hall, he avoided injuries.
Later, he even called for a helicopter, saying he was going to the mountains to save people.
It was obvious he was wealthy.
With their assurance, the village cadre quickly gathered personnel.
He himself was definitely going, and he called his twelve-year-old son, making three from his own family.
No choice, people in the mountains are too poor.
To earn so much money at once, even if he had to climb a mountain of knives, it wouldn’t be a problem.
Soon, the village cadre organized dozens of people to climb the mountain.
Anyone in the village who could move came, those who couldn’t even wanted to crawl over, and were only discouraged by being scolded by nurses.
"We will go too," Ye Ningwan said.
Zhan Hanjue nodded.
Since the exact location was unknown, they split into many routes.
But Ye Ningwan told them they must return by nightfall. No matter if they find him or not, they must come back.
Though the child is important, these people’s lives are important too.
They can’t sacrifice more people for one person.
"Alright, we understand," the villagers agreed.
Ye Ningwan also had them carry some herbs with them, so if someone fell and got injured, they could be treated promptly.
She and Zhan Hanjue formed one team, while two other bodyguards formed another, and set off for the mountains.
Xunyou originally wanted to go too, but Shuixian was unwilling.
Ye Ningwan then left Xunyou to watch over Shuixian, to prevent her from running away.
"Hah, stupid, where could I run in this place? Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t get away," Shuixian scoffed.
Ye Ningwan said, "Running is secondary, the main concern is you slacking off. With me gone, the remaining two doctors will be even busier. If you slack again, won’t they be even more exhausted? Xunyou, if she lazes around, use the method I taught you to deal with her no matter what. I’ve disliked her for a long time, just deal with her, no need to hold back."
"Yes, Miss Ye, I will remember." Xunyou replied with a smile.
Shuixian was so angry she kept stomping her feet, but was helpless against Xunyou’s force.
On the way, Zhan Hanjue curiously asked Ye Ningwan, "What grudge do you have with Shuixian that makes you hate her so much?"
"Hate her? I don’t think so! You’re overthinking it, I just simply don’t like her, there’s no hatred," Ye Ningwan denied.
Zhan Hanjue frowned suspiciously, his eyes filled with disbelief at her explanation.
Feeling awkward under his gaze, Ye Ningwan admitted, "Alright, you guessed right, there is indeed some animosity. It’s from the past when we were both learning medicine under our master. However, my talent was better than hers, and she was more beautiful than me."
"She’s more beautiful than you? I didn’t notice," Zhan Hanjue immediately replied.
Ye Ningwan said, "I meant back then, not now. She was indeed prettier than me before. I used to be disfigured, how could I look any good?"
"So, is that why you resent her?"
Zhan Hanjue was puzzled, he found it hard to believe. Though he’d forgotten past events, Ye Ningwan said she was narrow-minded. However, from their time together, he sensed that despite claiming to be narrow-minded, she was a righteous person with a sense of universal love.
She wouldn’t provoke if unprovoked, but if provoked, she would fiercely retaliate.
To envy Shuixian simply because she was prettier seemed unlikely.
"It wasn’t me who was jealous of her, she was jealous of me," Ye Ningwan shrugged.
"Why? Because you were more skilled than her?"
This made sense, often people are envious of those more capable than themselves.